The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 18, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 17, 1997
Michio Morikawa, Tochigi-ken, JP;
Koichi Hirabayashi, Tochigi-ken, JP;
Hiroyuki Usui, Tochigi-ken, JP;
Abstract
A sprinkling apparatus for sprinkling powder material onto food products. The apparatus includes a hopper for holding the powder material that is mounted above a conveyor. A drum is rotatably mounted within the hopper and stirs the powder material. The drum has a rotation surface provided with recesses thereon for receiving the powder material. A narrow passageway is provided between the rotation surface of the drum and an inner wall of the hopper. The narrow passageway presses the powder material against the rotation surface of the drum. A wiper is attached to an exit opening of the hopper and wipes the compressed powder material from the rotation surface of the drum. The wiped powder material leaves the exit opening of the hopper and is sprinkled on the food products.