Spray apparatus for applying ingredient coatings to food products

Claim 1

A spray apparatus comprising: conveyor means for transporting a product to be sprayed along a predetermined path; a plurality of spray heads arranged along said path each including a first interlocking member that defines an ingredient delivery chamber, a second interlocking member that defines an air delivery chamber substantially coextensive with said ingredient delivery chamber, a divider plate disposed between said first and second interlocking members and interlocked therewith that separates said chambers, and a plurality of spray nozzles directed at said path each having an outer orifice communicating with said air delivery chamber and an inner orifice communicating with said ingredient delivery chamber, said interlocking members being separable to expose the interior of said ingredient delivery chamber for cleaning; means for supplying said ingredient to said ingredient delivery chamber; and means for supplying air to said air delivery chamber.

Claim 14

An apparatus for spraying an ingredient coating onto a food product comprising: endless conveyor means for transporting said food product to be sprayed along a predetermined horizontal path; a plurality of spray heads arranged along said path, each of said heads comprising (i) a first elongated member defining an ingredient delivery chamber, (ii) a second elongated member opposing said first elongated member and defining an air delivery chamber coextensive with said ingredient delivery chamber, and (iii) a divider plate disposed between said first and second elongated members, separating said delivery chambers and having a plurality of inner orifice defining passages projecting therefrom into said air delivery chamber, said second elongated member defining a plurality of outer orifices each of which surrounds one of said inner orifices to form a spray nozzle, said first and second elongated members and said divider plate being of mutually interlocking configuration but being freely separable; a cradle for supporting and positioning said spray heads, said cradle defining a plurality of recesses in which said spray heads are nested; fastening means for releasably securing said spray heads to said cradle in their nested position and for retaining said spray heads in an assembled condition; means for supplying said ingredient to said ingredient delivery chamber; and blower means for supplying air to said air delivery chamber.

Claim 15

An apparatus for spraying an ingredient coating onto a food product comprising: endless conveyor means for transporting said food product to be sprayed along a predetermined horizontal path; a plurality of spray heads arranged along said path, each of said heads comprising (i) a first elongated member defining an ingredient delivery chamber, (ii) a second elongated member opposing said first elongated member and defining an air delivery chamber coextensive with said ingredient delivery chamber, and (iii) a divider plate disposed between said first and second elongated members, separating said delivery chambers and having a plurality of inner orifice defining passages projecting therefrom into said air delivery chamber, said second elongated member defining a plurality of outer orifices each of which surrounds one of said inner orifices to form a spray nozzle, said first and second elongated members and said divider plate being of mutually interlocking configuration but being freely separable; a cradle for supporting and positioning said spray heads, said cradle defining a plurality of recesses in which said spray heads are nested; fastening means for releasably securing said spray heads to said cradle in their nested position and for retaining said spray heads in an assembled condition; means for supplying said ingredient to said ingredient delivery chamber; and blower means for supplying air to said air delivery chamber.

Claim 22

An apparatus for spraying an ingredient coating onto a food product comprising: a base; conveyor means for transporting said food product along a predetermined horizontal path, said conveyor means including a conveyor frame, an endless belt movably supported by said frame for circulatory movement thereon, said belt having openings therein to permit said food product to be sprayed from beneath, and means for pivotally mounting said conveyor frame on said base; a plurality of spray heads of generally rectangular outline arranged above and below said path, each of said heads comprising a first elongated member defining an ingredient delivery chamber, a second elongated member opposing said first elongated member and defining an air delivery chamber, a divider plate disposed between said first and second chambers and having a plurality of tubular inner orifice defining passages projecting therefrom into said air delivery chamber, said first and second members and said divider plate being of mutually interlocking configuration but being freely separable, said second elongated member defining a plurality of outer orifices each of which surrounds one of said tubular passages to form a spray nozzle directed toward said path, horizontally adjacent spray heads having different orientations; a cradle for supporting and positioning said spray heads, said cradle defining a plurality of V-shaped recesses in which said spray heads are nested; fastening means for releasably securing said spray heads to said cradle in their nested positions and for retaining said spray heads in an assembled condition, said fastening means comprising a plurality of bolts threadedly received by said cradle and a plurality of fastening plates, each plate being retained by one of said bolts and engaging at least two of said spray heads; means mounted on said base for supplying said ingredient to said ingredient delivery chamber; and blower means mounted on said base for supplying air to said air delivery chamber.

Claim 23

An apparatus for spraying an ingredient coating onto a food product comprising: a base; conveyor means for transporting said food product along a predetermined horizontal path, said conveyor means including a conveyor frame, an endless belt movably supported by said frame for circulatory movement thereon, said belt having openings therein to permit said food product to be sprayed from beneath, and means for pivotally mounting said conveyor frame on said base; a plurality of spray heads of generally rectangular outline arranged above and below said path, each of said heads comprising a first elongated member defining an ingredient delivery chamber, a second elongated member opposing said first elongated member and defining an air delivery chamber, a divider plate disposed between said first and second chambers and having a plurality of tubular inner orifice defining passages projecting therefrom into said air delivery chamber, said first and second members and said divider plate being of mutually interlocking configuration but being freely separable, said second elongated member defining a plurality of outer orifices each of which surrounds one of said tubular passages to form a spray nozzle directed toward said path, horizontally adjacent spray heads having different orientations; a cradle for supporting and positioning said spray heads, said cradle defining a plurality of V-shaped recesses in which said spray heads are nested; fastening means for releasably securing said spray heads to said cradle in their nested positions and for retaining said spray heads in an assembled condition, said fastening means comprising a plurality of bolts threadedly received by said cradle and a plurality of fastening plates, each plate being retained by one of said bolts and engaging at least two of said spray heads; means mounted on said base for supplying said ingredient to said ingredient delivery chamber; and blower means mounted on said base for supplying air to said air delivery chamber.