Applicator for applying liquid coatings

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017332656-A1
Application number	US-201515531191-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 9, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2014
Publication date	Nov 23, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for applying stripes of liquid coating on a confectionery product comprising a rotatable applicator for liquid coating, at least one shield positioned above the rotatable applicator to collect coating material not applied onto the product, a manifold for providing the rotatable applicator with the coating material in a liquid form, and wherein the rotatable applicator is arranged to spin about an axis which is orientated from horizontal and up to 30 deg of deviation from horizontal, and wherein the applicator has openings along it's circumference through which coating material may be projected upon spinning of the applicator. The invention also relates to a method for decorating confectionery products and to the products.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for applying stripes of liquid coating on a confectionery product comprising:
a rotatable applicator for liquid coating; at least one shield positioned above the rotatable applicator to collect coating material not applied onto the product; a manifold for providing the rotatable applicator with the coating material in a liquid form; and the rotatable applicator is arranged to spin about an axis which is orientated from horizontal and up to 30 deg of deviation from horizontal, and wherein the applicator has openings along it's circumference through which coating material may be projected upon spinning of the applicator.

2 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one shield is arranged in a position relative to the rotatable applicator which is such that the portion of the liquid coating projected from the applicator and not meant to hit the product is captured and drained away, without dropping onto the rotatable applicator nor onto the stream of liquid intended to hit the product.

3 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shield positioned above the rotatable applicator is a plate oriented at an angle of 40 to 80 deg as measured from the axis of the rotatable applicator and at an angle of 0 to 60 deg as measured from a horizontal line extending perpendicular to the axis of the rotatable applicator into the direction where the product is located.

4 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shield is a plate and comprises a series of 1 or more flaps oriented with an angle of 20 to 90 deg as measured from the surface of the plate.

5 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the shield comprises a series of 3 or more flaps wherein the flaps are oriented vertical or leaning up to 60 deg in the direction where the product is located, as measured against a vertical line

6 . An apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the flaps are oriented parallel.

7 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotatable applicator is arranged to be turning clockwise and/or counter-clockwise at its axis.

8 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are orientated in one or several rows around the circumference of the applicator.

9 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are oriented in a straight line or in a line that has a curved or zig-zag shape and/or the distance between the opening is equal or of varying distance.

10 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the openings are of varying diameter and shapes.

11 . An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material is project from the applicator capable of rotating at a speed of between 100 and 2500 rpm.

12 . A method for preparing a confectionery product with stripes comprising supplying a liquid coating material to a rotatable applicator:
providing confectionery products; spinning the rotatable applicator to project stripes of coating material onto the product; and shielding with a least one shield the stripes of liquid coating projected upwards and in the direction of the product which do not hit the product, the shielding being done before the stripes of coating material are broken into droplets of coating material.

13 . A method according to claim 12 , which further comprises passing confectionery products by the applicator along a horizontal path or passing the applicator along the products.

14 . A method according to claim 12 , which further comprises a step of applying a layer of confectionery coating onto the product before the application of the stripes of coating material.

15 . A method according to claim 12 , wherein the liquid coating material is fat based material or water based material.

16 . A confectionery product comprising stripes of coating material which has a width between 0.5 mm and 8 mm and which stripes are spaced at a distance between 1 mm and 30 mm.

17 . A confection according to claim 16 , comprising a stick and manufactured on an industrial production line having straight and parallel lines orientated parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stick or with a deviation from that axis of 30 deg towards both sides.

18 . A confection according to claim 16 , comprising decorative lines which have a thickening in the form of a dot or a short stretch of line located in the axis of the line or leaning to one side and being situated either at the beginning or the end of a line and resulting from the start or end of coating material supply to the lines.

Assignees

• Nestec Sa

Inventors

• Amend Thomas Aloisius Valentinus

Classifications

• A23G3/0065

  Processes for making filled articles, composite articles, multi-layered articles · CPC title

• A23G9/24

  for coating or filling the products · CPC title

• A23G9/506

  products with an edible support, e.g. a cornet · CPC title

• A23G9/50

  Products with edible or inedible supports, e.g. cornets · CPC title

• A23G3/54

  Composite products, e.g. layered, coated, filled · CPC title