GB652068A - Improvements in or relating to the coating of surfaces with liquid or plastic materials - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0652068/III/1> <PICT:0652068/III/2> <PICT:0652068/III/3> A coating machine having a conveyer for feeding therethrough p ice-cream blocks or other articles to be coated on their upper and lower faces, is characterised in that the conveyer comprises laterally spaced chains or the equivalent so that the undersides of the articles may be coated by a drum disposed below such conveyer and this drum is formed at each side of the conveyer with portions greater in diameter than its central part, the coating material on the peripheries of these end portions being removed by a scraper which delivers it to the upper surfaces of the articles. Referring to the drawings, an article is fed on conveyer 5 comprising a plurality of endless bands 6 on to conveyer chains 14 intercalated with bands 6 and is coated on the underside by drum 12 dipping into chocolate container 11. Drum 12 has end portions 12a of larger diameter than the central portion and inclined plate 21 removes chocolate from these end portions and deposits it on the top of the articles. These end portions may have holes in them to enhance agitation of the liquid chocolate. The delivery conveyer 19 is disposed lower than the feed conveyer 5 by the step formed by leading chains 14 round the two rollers 24 and this step is so arranged that the coated articles become inverted as they pass over it to conveyer 19. Nozzle 27 acting on the unturned article and nozzle 28 acting on the inverted article removes surplus liquid by air-blast. A cover 30 is provided. In order to prevent articles sticking to conveyer 19, this is split into a series of intercalated endless chains 20a, 20b, 20c and 20d and scrapers 37 clean material off the spindles carrying these chains.