Nestec S.a.

Nils E Hansson

Yngve R Akesson

Mats Olofsson

Guiliano Pegoraro

A foodstuff coated with batter and then with fresh root vegetables which are coated with a predusting flour provides a pre-fried frozen food product having coating particles which do not stick together and agglomerate and a fat content which is lower than pre-fried foodstuffs prepared with conventional breading materials.

Coated foodstuff

Automatic cutting of pieces of material for obtaining a cut portion having a predetermined weight is performed by an apparatus and process in which the pieces to be cut are first weighed and then cut to obtain a portion having a predetermined weight. The pieces to be cut are transported on adjacent parallel conveyors adapted to travel in the same direction at substantially the same speed, a portion of each piece being transported on each conveyor. At least one of the conveyors includes at least one load-bearing platform, each load-bearing platform being associated with a weighing machine for performing, at least once, weighing of at least a portion of each piece to be cut at least once. After weighing, the pieces then may be moved transversely relative to the direction of travel of the conveyors for positioning the pieces for cutting by a cutting device which receives the transported pieces from the conveyors and then cuts them parallel to their direction of travel for obtaining a cut portion having the predetermined weight. Alternatively, the cutting device is moved transversely for cutting for obtaining a cut portion having the predetermined weight. A control device provides for controlling movement of the means for moving the pieces transversely and for controlling movement and positioning of the cutting device with respect to the weights determined.

Cutting of material for obtaining a portion of predetermined weight

An apparatus for coating a foodstuff with particulate coating material includes conveyors and means for applying the particulate material. A first conveyor has a horizontal upper run and a second conveyor has an upper run which includes an inclined portion positioned beneath the first conveyor which extends upwards towards the leading edge of the first conveyor and terminates in a horizontal upper run portion which extends to the leading edge of the second conveyor. Means are provided for applying particulate material onto another portion of the second conveyor prior to the inclined portion. The first conveyor transports pieces of a foodstuff to be coated to its leading edge whereat the foodstuff is deposited upon particulate material transported on the second conveyor, the pieces of foodstuff and particulate material then being further transported on the horizontal portion of the second conveyor to a position whereat means are provided for applying particulate material onto the foodstuff. The coated foodstuff is then further transported towards a third conveyor which is positioned such that its trailing edge is positioned a distance sufficient from the leading edge of the second conveyor for forming a space for allowing particulate material to fall through the space between the two conveyors and for receiving the coated foodstuff and transporting it from the second conveyor.

Apparatus for preparing a coated foodstuff

Fresh root vegetables coat a battered foodstuff for a prefried and deep-frozen food product. The vegetables may be coated with a predusting flour. To prepare the food product, the vegetables, which may include predusting flour, are coated on the battered foodstuff, prefried and then deep-frozen. The battered foodstuff may be fed onto the vegetables on a conveyor and then more vegetables are fed onto the foodstuff.

Growing community of inventors

Bjuv, Sweden

Nils E Hansson