Wet coater with a gutter

Abstract

The invention relates to wet coater with transportation means which transport to a food product a batter application device, which applies a liquid batter to the food product.

Description

Wet coater with a gutter

[0001] The present invention relates to a wet coater with transportation means which transport a food product to a batter application device, which applies a liquid batter to the food product.

[0002] Such wet coaters are well known from the state in the art and are for example utilized to provide food products with a batter / tempura-like coating. For the customer an evenly coated product is important. Consequently, the industry constantly wants to improve the quality of the battered product.

[0003] It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide a wet coater that provides an even coating of the products.

[0004] The problem is attained with a wet coater with transportation means which transport to a food product a batter application device, which applies a liquid batter to the food product, wherein downstream of the batter application device a collection means is provided that collects excess liquid batter.

[0005] The present invention relates to a wet coater, which coats a food product with a liquid substance, preferably a batter / tempura-like substance. The product can, for example, be meat, cheese, a vegetable product, a vegetarian product or a meat substitute product. This product is transported with a transportation means, for example a transportation belt, past a wet batter application device, for example a batter curtain, which applies the liquid batter to the surface of the product.

[0006] According to the invention, the excess batter which does not stick to the product, is collected with collection means, downstream, preferably immediately downstream, from the batter application device and is then preferably recycled to the coating process. Due to the collection means, air entrainment into the liquid batter and therefore foaming of the liquid batter is at least reduced, which improves the quality of the coating. Preferably, there is no contact of the excess batter with an axis of the transportation means.

[0007] Preferably, the collection means extend transversely to a transport direction of the transportation means, preferably along its entire width. Preferably, the transportation means and the collection means overlap, more preferably such that the excess batter on the transportation means and / or the excess batter which flows from the product flows / drips by gravity into the collection means. The collection means is preferably positioned below the transportation means, so that the excess batter flows by gravity into the collection means.

[0008] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the collection means is a gutter, preferably a U-shaped gutter. Preferably, this gutter extends at least overthe entire width of the transportation means and is, more preferably, tilted, so that the collected batter flows by gravity towards one end of the gutter and then preferably into a reservoir, from which it is recycled to the coating process.

[0009] Preferably, the wet coater comprises a batter reservoir, for example a tank. Preferably, the excess batter is guided from the collection means to this reservoir from which it is recycled into the coating process. Preferably, during production, this revoir contains a mixture of fresh- and recycled batter liquid. From this reservoir, a pump supplies the liquid batter material to the batter application device.

[0010] Preferably, the wet coater comprises an inner frame and an outer frame. The inner frame is provided within the outer frame. Preferably, the inner- and the outer frame form a channel through which the excess batter can flow towards the batter reservoir.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the inner frame is removably provided in the outer frame. For example, for cleaning purposes, the inner frame can be removed from the outer frame.

[0012] Preferably, the inner frame comprises the collection means and two side beams and an axis of the transportation means. In this preferred embodiment the collection means not only collect the excess batter, but has also a support- and / or mechanical stability function for the inner frame. Preferably, the collection means is a cross beam of the inner frame.

[0013] Preferably, the collection means, particularly the gutter, extend into a gap between the inner- and the outer frame. In this gap, the excess batter is guided towards the batter reservoir.

[0014] The invention is now explained according to the figures. These explanations do not limit the scope of protection.

[0015] Figures 1 and 2 each depict the inventive coater.

[0016] Figure 3 shows the inner frame.

[0017] Figures 1 and 2 each depict the inventive wet coater 1 , which coats a product, particularly a food product with a liquid coating, for example a batter / tempura-like substance, which is particularly suitable for deep frying. In the present case, the product is transported by a transportation means 7, here an endless belt, in a transport direction 2, here from the left to the right. During this transport, the product is transported past a batter application device 3, which coats the product with liquid batter. In the present case, the application device 3 is anoverflow device, which creates four liquid curtains through which the products are transported and thereby coated. Relative to the transport direction of the product, downstream from the application device 3, a collection means 6 is provided, which collects excess liquid batter 4, that does not get stuck to the product. The collection means 6 is in the present case a gutter, here with a U-shaped cross-section. The shape of the cross section may change along the length of the collection means 6, particularly the shape of the U-shaped cross section, as can be seen in Figure 3. Figure 2 shows that the collection means extend over the entire width of the transportation means 7. It can also be seen that the collection means is tilted, here from left to right, so that the collected batter flows by gravity towards one end, here the right end of the collection means 6. The collected excess batter is subsequently recycled into a batter reservoir 5, as indicated by the arrows. The collection and / or the guiding of the excess batter towards the reservoir 5 is preferably carried out as gentle as possible to avoid or at least reduce air entrainment into the liquid batter.

[0018] Particularly from Figure 2 it can be seen that the inventive wet coater comprises an inner- and an outer frame 8, 10. In the present case, these two frames 8, 10 form a channel which guides the excess batter towards the batter reservoir. The collection means 6, here the gutter extends into this gap. At this end, the collection means are open so that the excess batter can flow out of the collection means 6 into the channel. From Figures 1 and 2, it can also be seen that the collection means avoid contact between the axis of the transportation means 7 and the excess batter, which is also advantageous to avoid foaming.

[0019] Figure 3 shows the inner frame 8, which comprises two side beams 9, which extend parallel to the transport direction of the product. The two side beams are connected by the collection means 6, here a gutter and an axis, here the driven axis of the transportation means. An endless belt or a multitude of endless rings extend around this axis. The inner frame is a self-supporting and / or stable structure that preferably can be removed from the wet coater as one piece, for example for cleaning purposes. The collection means have in the present case not only a collecting function but also contribute to the mechanical stability of the inner frame 8.List of reference signs1 Wet coater2 T ransport direction of the product to be coated3 Batter application device, overflow device4 Excess batter5 Batter reservoir6 Collection means, gutter7 Transportation means, transportation belt8 Inner frame9 Side beam10 Outer frame

Claims

Patent claims:

1. Wet coater (1) with transportation means (7) which transport a food product to a batter application device (3), which applies a liquid batter to the food product, characterized in, that downstream from the batter application device a collection means (6) is provided that collects excess liquid batter.

2. Wet coater (1) according to claim 1 , characterized the collection means (6) extend transversely to a transport direction (2) of the transportation means (7).

3. Wet coater (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that the transportation means (7) and the collection means (6) overlap.

4. Wet coater (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that the collection means (6) is a gutter, that is preferably tilted.

5. Wet coater (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that it comprises a batter reservoir (5).

6. Wet coater (1) according to claim 5, characterized in, that the excess batter is guided from the collection means (6) to the reservoir.

7. Wet coater (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in, that it comprises an inner frame (8) and an outer frame (10).

8. Wet coater (1) according to claim 8, characterized in, that the inner frame (8) is removably provided in the outer frame (10).

9. Wet coater (1) according to claims 8 or 9, characterized in, that the inner frame (8) comprises the collection means (6) and two side beams (9) and an axis of the transportation means.

10. Wet coater (1) according to claims 8 - 10, characterized in, that the collection means (6) extend into a gap between the inner- and the outer frame (8, 10).

11. Wet coater (1) according to claims 8 - 11 , characterized in, that the collection means (6) is a cross beam of the inner frame (8).

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