GB846008A - Improvements relating to glazing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

846,008. Coating baker's goods. DOUGHNUT CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Jan. 10, 1957, No. 1023/57. Class 28(1) [Also in Group XXX]. An apparatus for handling comestibles comprising a cabinet and means for depositing comestibles on a first set. of regularly spaced trays moving along a closed path with vertically spaced opposite runs and second trays moving along a second closed path vertically spaced runs below and above those of the first trays, comestibles being transferred from the first trays to the second trays by intermeshing thereof. Doughnuts are fed in continuous rows from a deep fat frier into a cabinet 10 on a belt conveyer A and are transferred in groups by a sweep blade 19, carried by a conveyer belt 17, on to transfer platform 13 consisting of a plurality of fingers 14 mounted on a cross piece 16. The doughnuts are slid from platform 13 in rows on to the trays 20 of conveyer C by the vertical fingers 27 of trays 20 of conveyer C. These trays consist of bent wire elements each forming a vertical finger 27 and a horizontal finger 26, mounted on a rod 21 whose ends 22 are bent parallel with the fingers 26. Wire brackets are secured to ends 22 and have eye portions 24 by which they are pivotally suspended from pins on sprocket chains 30. A plate 36 is provided immediately below the upper run of trays 20 to prevent their being tipped by the glaze as it is deposited from a trough 77 on to the doughnuts on fingers 26. The fingers 43 of the trays 39 of conveyer D mesh with fingers 26 to remove the doughnuts and carry them through a heated zone separated from the glazing zone by baffles 130, 131 and heated by warm air from duct 126. Trays 39 mesh with similar trays 65 of cooler conveyer E to transfer the doughnuts. The band and chain conveyers are carried on drums and sprockets respectively suitably driven and synchronized to carry out the above operations. The glaze depositing mechanism F is supported above the upper run of trays 20 and comprises upper and lower troughs 76, 77. A slit 80 is provided in the bottom wall of trough 77 and a plate 85 with a slit 86 is slidably mounted against the outside of the bottom wall and has an apertured ear 88 engaged by an eye 89 at the end of a rod 90 connected by a link mechanism extending through the wall of cabinet 10 so that the width of the slot formed where slits 80, 86 coincide may be adjusted. A screen 97 is supported within trough 77. Upper trough 76 is supported on trough 77 and has openings 99 in its bottom wall from whose inner edges baffle plates 100 extend upwardly to join within trough 76. Beneath the return run of chain 30 is a glaze receiving trough G with an oil jacket heated by a thermostatically controlled electric heater. An agitator 108 in trough G is rocked when conveyer C is driven. The glaze is pumped from trough G to the glaze fountain F being deposited on the junction line of baffles 100. A blast of air from nozzle 119 removes excess glaze from the doughnuts which flows into trough G to which fresh glaze is supplied through pump 122 from tank 120.