General Mills, Inc.

Gregory L. Godsey

John G. Roufs

Derek D. Dawes

Gary C. Veenhuis

Ronald D. Hurd

Ronald J. Behnke

Derek D Dawes

John G Roufs

Ronald D Hurd

Gary C Veenhuis

Gregory L Godsey

Ronald J Behnke

An enrober (100) for applying a topical coating to an exterior surface of multiple pieces of a food base is disclosed having a marked decrease in the amount of build-up upon the internal surface of the drum (102) allowing for reductions in cleaning service requirements and its concomitant losses in production capacity and for reductions in undesirable product agglomerates. In the preferred form, the drum (102) is formed by a thin wall in a generally cylindrical shape and formed of hydrophobic material in the form of high-density polyethylene having low-stick characteristics with the topically coated food base. Moisture, in addition to any present in the topical coating, is added to the drum (102) to prevent or practically eliminate build-up on the drum (102). The topical coating in the form of a slurry can be co-sprayed with steam in an atomized intermixed spray onto the food base by a nozzle (10, 80). Also, a renewable barrier between the continuous inner surface of the drum (102) and the food base can be formed by spraying water or steam by nozzles (116) as a thin film of water onto the inner surface of the drum (102) above the food base.

Topical coating applying apparatus and methods

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Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Derek D Dawes