A method of preparing a composite foodstuff is provided and comprises providing a core, providing a barrier composition and applying the barrier composition to at least a portion of the core and providing a fat based coating having a lower fat content than the core. The fat based coating is applied to the barrier coated cores. The hardness of the fat based coating does not decrease over a period of storage.

A method of preparing a composite foodstuff is provided and comprises providing a core, providing a barrier composition and applying the barrier composition to at least a portion of the core and providing a fat based coating having a lower fat content than the core. The fat based coating is applied to the barrier coated cores. The hardness of the fat based coating does not decrease over a period of storage.

A system for dispensing toppings onto a topping vehicle may include a hopper platform, hoppers, a retaining plate, a blade, and a hopper-advancing pin. The hoppers each include a hopper bracket slidably engaging the hopper platform. The blade is mounted on the retaining plate and may reciprocate relative to the retaining plate. The hopper-advancing pin is movable relative to the hoppers between deployed and stowed positions. The hopper-advancing pin may engage one of the hopper brackets in the deployed position such that movement of the retaining plate between retracted and extended positions causes movement of the hopper bracket and a respective hopper along a length of the hopper platform. The hopper-advancing pin may be disengaged from the hopper brackets in the deployed position to allow movement of the retaining plate between the retracted and extended positions without causing movement of the hopper brackets.

A system for dispensing toppings onto a topping vehicle may include a hopper platform, hoppers, a retaining plate, a blade, and a hopper-advancing pin. The hoppers each include a hopper bracket slidably engaging the hopper platform. The blade is mounted on the retaining plate and may reciprocate relative to the retaining plate. The hopper-advancing pin is movable relative to the hoppers between deployed and stowed positions. The hopper-advancing pin may engage one of the hopper brackets in the deployed position such that movement of the retaining plate between retracted and extended positions causes movement of the hopper bracket and a respective hopper along a length of the hopper platform. The hopper-advancing pin may be disengaged from the hopper brackets in the deployed position to allow movement of the retaining plate between the retracted and extended positions without causing movement of the hopper brackets.

A particulate matter supply device capable of suppressing leakage of particulate matter includes an accommodation region formed so as to penetrate a rotating member along a facing direction in which a spiral member and a fixing plate face each other. The spiral member includes a level-off portion that levels off particulate matter in excess of the capacity of the accommodation region when the rotating member moves from a position where the accommodation region communicates with a flow path for supplying particulate matter to the accommodation region to a position where the accommodation region communicates with a discharge port.

A particulate matter supply device capable of suppressing leakage of particulate matter includes an accommodation region formed so as to penetrate a rotating member along a facing direction in which a spiral member and a fixing plate face each other. The spiral member includes a level-off portion that levels off particulate matter in excess of the capacity of the accommodation region when the rotating member moves from a position where the accommodation region communicates with a flow path for supplying particulate matter to the accommodation region to a position where the accommodation region communicates with a discharge port.

A transfer conveyor for food process lines is equipped with hardware to enable pivoting in place and other hardware to enable and reversible expansion and contraction of the transfer conveyor, or at least the upper, food-product carrying run of the endless conveyor belt therefor.

A transfer conveyor for food process lines is equipped with hardware to enable pivoting in place and other hardware to enable and reversible expansion and contraction of the transfer conveyor, or at least the upper, food-product carrying run of the endless conveyor belt therefor.

Suction device includes swirl flow-forming body that forms a swirl flow to apply suction to material by use of Bernoulli's principle, and case that houses swirl flow-forming body, and guides flow of a fluid flowing out of concave part of swirl flow-forming body. Case includes guide part, flange part, and cover part. Guide part controls flow of a fluid flowing out of concave part of swirl flow-forming body and flowing along end face, such that the fluid flows in a direction away from a position of material. Flange part forms, between flange part and end face, a flow path for a fluid to flow out of concave part. Cover part is fixed on the top surface of main body of swirl flow-forming body.

Suction device includes swirl flow-forming body that forms a swirl flow to apply suction to material by use of Bernoulli's principle, and case that houses swirl flow-forming body, and guides flow of a fluid flowing out of concave part of swirl flow-forming body. Case includes guide part, flange part, and cover part. Guide part controls flow of a fluid flowing out of concave part of swirl flow-forming body and flowing along end face, such that the fluid flows in a direction away from a position of material. Flange part forms, between flange part and end face, a flow path for a fluid to flow out of concave part. Cover part is fixed on the top surface of main body of swirl flow-forming body.