The present disclosure teaches systems and methods for coating and cooking goods. One system for coating of goods can comprise a source of powder for coating the goods, a source of gas to create a gas stream to carry the powder and the goods in a combined stream through a tunnel or chamber comprising air bearings to keep the goods and the powder from contacting the inner surface of the tunnel or chamber, and a system for recirculating unused powder for reuse. One method for coating goods can comprise combining additive powder with at least one gas stream in a powder circulation chamber and forming a powder gas stream, forming an air bearing on an inner surface of the powder distribution tunnel wherein the powder distribution tunnel comprises an inner tube and outer tube can be separated by a plenum, wherein the air bearing is formed by directing a gas stream through the at least one compressed air inlet causing the tunnel gas stream to form a circular vortex ring having a centrifugal force equal to a pressure gradient outward and releasing goods into the powder distribution tunnel to coat the goods.

A dusting powder sprinkling apparatus comprises a frame body, a hinge, a hook, and a toggle latch. The frame body presses the entire circumference of a mesh body, excluding the portion provided with through-holes, along the outer peripheral surface side of the mesh body to fix the mesh body to the hopper. The hinge rotatably fixes a first frame side extending along the rotation axis direction of the brush to the outlet of the hopper. The hook is fixed to a second frame side extending along the rotation axis direction of a brush in the frame body. A tip portion of the hook projects from the outer periphery of the frame body. The toggle latch is fixed to the outlet of the hopper facing the hook and is capable of engaging with the tip of the hook.

A dusting powder sprinkling apparatus comprises a frame body, a hinge, a hook, and a toggle latch. The frame body presses the entire circumference of a mesh body, excluding the portion provided with through-holes, along the outer peripheral surface side of the mesh body to fix the mesh body to the hopper. The hinge rotatably fixes a first frame side extending along the rotation axis direction of the brush to the outlet of the hopper. The hook is fixed to a second frame side extending along the rotation axis direction of a brush in the frame body. A tip portion of the hook projects from the outer periphery of the frame body. The toggle latch is fixed to the outlet of the hopper facing the hook and is capable of engaging with the tip of the hook.

An automated food preparation system includes a sauce-dispensing system with sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and tubes. Each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective sauce. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with a respective sauce reservoir via a respective tube. A conveyance system transports a foodstuff between first and sauce positions. The scanning head is movable to dispense a selected sauce onto one or more regions of the foodstuff. A motor assembly is mounted to a mounting structure. The motor assembly is drivingly coupled to the scanning head and rotates the scanning head relative to the mounting structure. The scanning head includes a plate and a cylindrical shroud fixed relative to the plate. The openings extend through the plate. The plate is disposed within a cavity defined by the cylindrical shroud. The motor assembly rotates the plate and the cylindrical shroud about a longitudinal axis.

An automated food preparation system includes a sauce-dispensing system with sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and tubes. Each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective sauce. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with a respective sauce reservoir via a respective tube. A conveyance system transports a foodstuff between first and sauce positions. The scanning head is movable to dispense a selected sauce onto one or more regions of the foodstuff. A motor assembly is mounted to a mounting structure. The motor assembly is drivingly coupled to the scanning head and rotates the scanning head relative to the mounting structure. The scanning head includes a plate and a cylindrical shroud fixed relative to the plate. The openings extend through the plate. The plate is disposed within a cavity defined by the cylindrical shroud. The motor assembly rotates the plate and the cylindrical shroud about a longitudinal axis.

An apparatus for coating a food product with a batter, includes a frame having a conveyor belt mounted on a rotatably driveable belt support member. The coating apparatus has a batter pump for pumping batter from a batter container towards an upper applicator positioned over the conveyor belt to form a stream of batter flow from the applicator to the conveyor belt to provide batter to an upper surface of the food product. The front roller is positioned at the food product entry section to provide a layer of batter on the conveyor belt at the entry section by a thrust on the batter towards the entry section by the front roller and/or the conveyor belt. The coating apparatus comprises a batter overflow device positioned at the entry section and is mounted between the transport run and the return run of the conveyor belt.

An apparatus for coating a food product with a batter, includes a frame having a conveyor belt mounted on a rotatably driveable belt support member. The coating apparatus has a batter pump for pumping batter from a batter container towards an upper applicator positioned over the conveyor belt to form a stream of batter flow from the applicator to the conveyor belt to provide batter to an upper surface of the food product. The front roller is positioned at the food product entry section to provide a layer of batter on the conveyor belt at the entry section by a thrust on the batter towards the entry section by the front roller and/or the conveyor belt. The coating apparatus comprises a batter overflow device positioned at the entry section and is mounted between the transport run and the return run of the conveyor belt.

An in-line coating machine adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material has a food products conveyor; a coating device; an excess coating material separation station; an excess coating material recovery conveyor; and a particulate coating material elevator device. An elevator device fill assembly along the recovery conveyor is configured to fill the elevator device with recovered excess coating material. An adjustable discharge opening device controls a discharge opening in the recovered excess coating material bed support. An adjustable upper layer diverter device engages an upper layer of the recovered excess coating material bed passing over the recovered excess coating material bed support and diverts at least a portion of the upper layer at an adjustable rate into the particulate coating material elevator device.

An in-line coating machine adapted to coat food products with a particulate coating material has a food products conveyor; a coating device; an excess coating material separation station; an excess coating material recovery conveyor; and a particulate coating material elevator device. An elevator device fill assembly along the recovery conveyor is configured to fill the elevator device with recovered excess coating material. An adjustable discharge opening device controls a discharge opening in the recovered excess coating material bed support. An adjustable upper layer diverter device engages an upper layer of the recovered excess coating material bed passing over the recovered excess coating material bed support and diverts at least a portion of the upper layer at an adjustable rate into the particulate coating material elevator device.

Batter is applied to food products by depositing the products atop a coating pan which vibrates such that the products are transported along the pan. As this occurs, batter is supplied atop the coating pan and the products. The coating pan is preferably configured such that the products tumble across the pan, thereby better ensuring that the products are coated on all sides with batter. The products are then received on a vibrating drainage pan having a perforated drainage pan surface, whereby excess batter drains from the batter-coated products through the perforations as the products are transported across the drainage pan. Batter-coated products leaving the drainage pan can then be received by a fryer, oven, conveyor, or other food processing equipment.