GB2251538A

GB2251538A - Food coating machine

Info

Publication number: GB2251538A
Application number: GB9100755A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Maurizio Scarascia
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-01-14
Filing date: 1991-01-14
Publication date: 1992-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 2011-01-14
Also published as: ES2051192A2; ES2051192R; GB9100755D0; ES2051192B1; GB2251538B

Abstract

A food coating machine eg. a self-contained unit for coating nuts, comprises a mixing receptacle 21, mixing means 31, means 23, 24 for rotating the receptacle about a vertical axis relative to the mixing means, and pump means 18 for supplying a viscous syrup for coating the food to the mixing receptacle. <IMAGE>

Description

FOOD COATING MACHINE The invention relates to improvements in food coating machines, in particular to a self-contained unit for coating nuts or other items of food.

Street vendors wishing to sell small edible items such as caramel coated nuts currently have to prepare their nuts manually by adding to a bowl the nuts and the correct amount of caramel syrup, heating the contents and stirring for just the right amount of time before removing from the heat.

Because of the changing consistency in the caramel syrup when it is heated, this manual operation requires dexterity and skill so that the nuts are coated adequately and look pleasing in appearance. Furthermore, because of the consistency of the syrup it takes a reasonable degree of strength to manipulate the spoon to stir the nuts and syrup whilst heating to mix them adequately. If the stirring is not carried out uniformly, the resulting product is not good quality and is unlikely to sell well.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome these disadvantages by providing an automatic self-contained machine.

According to the invention there is therefore provided a food coating machine comprising a mixing receptacle, mixing means, means for rotating the receptacle about a vertical axis relative to a mixing means, and pump means for supplying a viscous syrup for coating the food to the mixing receptacle. The advantage of an automatic food coating machine is that skill and dexterity required with manual coating machines is eliminated and the quantity of syrup to be added can be more accurately measured.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention there are further provided means for heating at least a lower portion of the mixing receptacle.

This enables the coating to take place more easily as the syrup becomes more viscous on heating.

Preferably the heating means comprise a gas supplying gas burner. The advantage of this embodiment is that the machine can be made to be self-contained and not rely on external supplies.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the heating means comprise a gas burner which is connected to an outlet to which an external gas supply may be connected. The advantageously gives the option of using an external supply rather than one permanently attached to the machine.

The heating means may comprise an electric element as electrical supply, which again allows for the machine to be fully independent.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention the heating means comprise an electrical heating element and a plug which may be connected to an external electrical supply, which again allows the plug to be switched in whether it stands without the line on an internal source.

Preferably the machine comprises a first storage container for the food before cooking. This again allows the machine to be self-contained with the supply of food to be coated.

Preferably the machine further comprises a second storage container for coated food. This advantageously allows the product to be displayed or provides an area where the product may be packaged.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention which further comprises a reservoir for the storage of the thick viscous syrup, pipe means connecting the reservoir to an outlet located to inject the syrup into the mixing receptacle, wherein the pump is connected so that in operation it pumps syrup from the reservoir to the mixing receptacle. This enables the transfer to take place automatically, without the operator having to tip the sticky liquid into the bowl manually, and can lead to better measurement of the quantity required.

Preferably machine further comprises tipping means to lift and tip the mixing receptacle to transfer the contents into the second storage container after processing. This automatic process again eliminates the need for the operator to have to lift the bowl containing the finished products manually and avoids the risk of the product being dropped or spilt elsewhere. It also eliminates any danger which may exist in burning the operator, if the bowl is still too hot. Furthermore, the operator does not require the strength to lift the bowl as in the manual versions.

Preferably the machines comprise electronic unit mounted on wheels. This enables the self-contained unit to be pushed around to an appropriate location by the operator.

Preferably the first storage container, the reservoir and the heating means are mounted within the trolley unit and the mixing receptacle and second storage container mounted on the top of the trolley unit. This provides a pleasing appearance and enables purchases of the product to watch how the food is made and enables the unit to be made more aesthetically pleasing.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the heating means are located within the trolley unit, which makes this entirely self-contained.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig.

1 is a schematic representation of a food coating machine A coating machine 10 comprises a trolley unit 11 supported on four wheels 12, only two of which are shown in Fig. 1. The trolley unit 11 has four side walls 13, a base 14 and a top surface 15. The side walls 13 may have one or more removable panels or doors therein to allow easy access to the contents of the unit 11.

Within the unit 11 is a container 16 in which nuts or other small items of food to be coated are stored. Also located within the unit 11 are a reservoir 17 for storing the viscous caramel or other syrup before it is required in the mixing process and a pump 18 for pumping the syrup from the reservoir 17 to the mixing area. Located in the top of the reservoir 17 is a port 19 by which the reservoir 17 can be refilled. A fixed or removable funnel 20 may be positioned with the port 19 to enable easy filling of the reservoir 17 from an external source. Equally any other suitable means may be used to refill the reservoir.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the pump is a manual pump, which requires no external power source.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention the syrup reservoir 17 and container 16 may be removable such that when they are empty they are simply replaced by fresh full ones.

Located in a hole in the top surface 15 of the unit 11 is a mixing bowl 21. The bowl 21 is driven to rotate around a vertical axis relative to the unit 11 by a motor 22 which in turn drives a bowl support 23 which is in contact with the bowl 21. A fan (not shown) may be located adjacent the motor 22 to keep it cool. The bowl support 23 can be fixedly attached to the bowl 21, or it can rely on friction between the support 23 and the bowl 21 to enable it to rotate to bowl 21.

In yet another alternative embodiment the container 16 is located above the mixing bowl 21 and may be released automatically by a valve means.

Also located beneath the bowl 21 is a heating element 24. The heating element 24 is preferably a gas burner, connected via a pipe 25 to a gas cylinder 26 located within the trolley unit 11. The gas pipe 25 shown in Fig. 1 has a branch to the gas cylinder 26 and to an external outlet 27 which would enable the heating element 24 to be supplied by an external gas source. A valve 28 determines to which source the pipe 25 is connected. Alternatively a pair of taps may be used to replace the valve 28, one on the branch of pipe 25 leading to the gas cylinder 26 and another on the branch leading to the outlet 27.

Alternatively, the heating element 24 may be electrical, in which case the gas cylinder 26 and pipes 25 are not required. In this embodiment either an independent electricity supply will be required located within trolley unit 11 or socket means for connecting the heating element 24 to an external electricity supply.

The syrup is transferred from the reservoir 17 to the bowl 21 by means of a pipe 29 and tap 30 arrangement.

Also located on the top surface 15 of the trolley unit 11 is a mixing paddle 31 which is fixed such that when the bowl 21 is driven to rotate it rotates relative to the paddle 31. The paddle 31 is suitably shaped to ensure that the contents of the bowl 21 are thoroughly mixed as they pass it. The paddle 31 and tap 30 are also pivotal to move them away from the bowl 21 to allow it to be removed without obstruction.

Adjacent the bowl 21 is a tray 32 for storing the coated nuts before being sold.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention means are provided to automatically pivot the bowl 21 out of the top surface 15 of the trolley 11 to tip the contents into the tray 32.

Operations of the coating machine 10 are controlled from a control panel 33. The control panel 33 also has an electrical plug means so that the unit can be connected to an external power source. An internal power source may be located within the trolley unit 11 to drive the motor and pump.

In operation, the motor 22 is switched on to rotate the bowl 21 and the heating element 24 switched on to warm it. The food to be coated, such as nuts, are transferred from the container 16 into the bowl 21 and the pump 18 switched on to inpump the correct amount of syrup from the reservoir 17 into the bowl 21. The bowl 21 is rotated for the correct amount of time to enable the nuts to be sufficiently coated with the syrup which becomes less viscous when heated. When sufficient mixing has taken place, the nuts are transferred from the bowl 21 into the tray 32 either manually or automatically, ready for consumption.

The machine 10 may be a self-contained unit having the heating and power supply means contained within. Alternatively, a version of the machine may be used by which an external gas source or power supply means are used to heat the burner 24 and an external power source used to drive the motor 22 and pump 18.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A food coating machine comprising a mixing receptacle, mixing means, means for rotating the receptacle about a vertical axis relative to a mixing means, and pump means for supplying a viscous syrup for coating the food to the mixing receptacle.

2. A food coating machine further comprising means for heating at least a lower portion of the mixing receptacle.

3. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the heating means comprises a gas supply and gas burner.

4. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the heating means comprise a gas burner which is connected to an outlet to which an external gas supply may be connected.

5. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 2 in which the heating means comprises an electrical heating element and electrical supply.

6. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 2 or claim 5 in which the heating means comprise an electrical heating element and a plug which may be connected to an external electrical supply.

7. A food coating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a first storage container for the food before coating.

8. A food coating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a second storage container for the coated food.

9. A food coating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising a reservoir for the storage of the viscous syrup, pipe means connecting the reservoir to an outlet located to inject the syrup into the mixing receptacle, wherein the pump is connected so that, in operation, it pumps the syrup from the reservoir to the mixing receptacle.

10. A food coating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims further comprising tipping means to lift and tip the mixing receptacle to transfer the contents into the second storage container after processing.

11. A food coating machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the machine comprises a trolley unit mounted on wheels.

12. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 11 in which the first storage container, the reservoir and the heating means are mounted within the trolley unit and the mixing receptacle and second storage container mounted on top of the trolley unit.

13. A food coating machine as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 in which the heating means are located within the trolley unit.

14. A food coating machine as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.