A drum coater for applying a surface layer on bulk-like materials includes a rotatably mounted drum for accommodating bulk-like materials, inlet and outlet openings, at least one spray nozzle for applying the surface material, a drying device for a drum interior, at least first and second radially-offset mixing tools in the drum, the first mixing tool protruding into the drum interior. The at least one second mixing tool has at least one mixing surface such that the first mixing tool is at least partially arranged on the drum inner surface and the at least one second mixing tool has at least one opening on the at least one mixing surface. A mixing tool to be used in a drum coater to gently blend and/or homogenize bulk-like materials has a first mixing surface angled relative to a second mixing surface, at least one mixing surface having at least one opening.

The invention relates to a film-coating apparatus (1) for coating foods with a coating material, more particularly with sugar solution or with a solution based on sugar substitute, having a housing (2), a coating chamber (9) within the housing (2), in which a delivery means (6) for delivering the coating material can be placed, and having a circulating belt (3) which in sections forms part of the walls of the coating chamber (9) and is provided as a bearing surface for the foods. The invention relates more particularly to a film-coating apparatus in which the belt (3) has a multiplicity of gas ports (30) which are designed for the accelerated solidification of the coating material.

The invention relates to a film-coating apparatus (1) for coating foods with a coating material, more particularly with sugar solution or with a solution based on sugar substitute, having a housing (2), a coating chamber (9) within the housing (2), in which a delivery means (6) for delivering the coating material can be placed, and having a circulating belt (3) which in sections forms part of the walls of the coating chamber (9) and is provided as a bearing surface for the foods. The invention relates more particularly to a film-coating apparatus in which the belt (3) has a multiplicity of gas ports (30) which are designed for the accelerated solidification of the coating material.

An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

An adjustable breading machine for applying a coating material onto a food product, the machine includes a frame and a breading chamber enclosure through which the food product travels along the food path to receive a coating material. The adjustable breading machine may also include a hopper fixedly connected to the frame to deliver a coating material into the breading chamber enclosure. At least partially within the breading chamber enclosure is a main conveyor and an outfeed conveyor. In a first mode of operation, the outfeed conveyor lies in the food path and receives food product from the main conveyor. The adjustable breading machine includes a drum assembly operatively disposed above the outfeed conveyor having a rotatable drum for transporting food product and coating material to the outfeed conveyor. The adjustable breading machine also includes a drum adjustment assembly for moving the drum assembly between modes of operation.

A drum coater device (10) for coating tablets, comprising a mixing drum (18) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (20) and which has an interior (24) for arranging a tablet batch to be coated, further comprising a spraying device for introducing a coating material into the interior, wherein the mixing drum has a hollow-cylindrical, perforated wall which delimits at least part of the interior of the mixing drum, wherein mixing elements for mixing the tablets of a tablet batch are arranged on the inner side, which faces the interior, of the wall, wherein pairs (36) of mixing elements (34a, 34b) form legs which are oriented with respect to one another in a V shape, wherein the distance between the legs of a pair widens from a central annular region, as seen along the axis of rotation, of the wall in the direction of lateral annular regions adjacent to the central annular region.

A drum coater device (10) for coating tablets, comprising a mixing drum (18) which can be rotated about an axis of rotation (20) and which has an interior (24) for arranging a tablet batch to be coated, further comprising a spraying device for introducing a coating material into the interior, wherein the mixing drum has a hollow-cylindrical, perforated wall which delimits at least part of the interior of the mixing drum, wherein mixing elements for mixing the tablets of a tablet batch are arranged on the inner side, which faces the interior, of the wall, wherein pairs (36) of mixing elements (34a, 34b) form legs which are oriented with respect to one another in a V shape, wherein the distance between the legs of a pair widens from a central annular region, as seen along the axis of rotation, of the wall in the direction of lateral annular regions adjacent to the central annular region.

A roasting and glazing apparatus includes a housing having a top peripheral surface with an opening defined by an interior edge, a roaster bowl movable from within the housing, through the opening, to an elevated position above the housing, and a pour tray configured to detachably couple to the interior edge, and to receive and guide a fluid exiting the roaster bowl when the roaster bowl is in the elevated position. The pour tray has a bottom surface and a mounting bracket extending from the bottom surface. The mounting bracket is configured to detachably couple to the interior edge of the housing defining the opening. In an assembled configuration, the bottom surface of the pour tray is oriented at an angle relative to the top peripheral surface of the housing and supported by a shoulder or side peripheral surface of the housing.

A roasting and glazing apparatus includes a housing having a top peripheral surface with an opening defined by an interior edge, a roaster bowl movable from within the housing, through the opening, to an elevated position above the housing, and a pour tray configured to detachably couple to the interior edge, and to receive and guide a fluid exiting the roaster bowl when the roaster bowl is in the elevated position. The pour tray has a bottom surface and a mounting bracket extending from the bottom surface. The mounting bracket is configured to detachably couple to the interior edge of the housing defining the opening. In an assembled configuration, the bottom surface of the pour tray is oriented at an angle relative to the top peripheral surface of the housing and supported by a shoulder or side peripheral surface of the housing.

A system and method for applying a reduced sugar coating to a food product is provided. The system uses separate applications (simultaneous or sequential) of a non-sucrose carbohydrate syrup from a first applicator and a sucrose syrup from a second applicator. The dual applications of the syrups are applied without an active drying step between applications. The process results in a coated food product with reduced clumping and a desired crystallized appearance even with the reduced levels of sugar.