GB438726A - Improvements in methods and apparatus for coating confections - Google Patents

Abstract

438,726. Vacuum apparatus. CLOUD, W. S., 625, Park Avenue, Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.A. May 22, 1934, No. 15258. Convention date, May 25, 1933. [Class 102 (ii)] [See also Group VI] In the coating of nuts or other confection centres, the coating- material is elevated from the catchment tank, beneath the pervious coating conveyer to the flooding tank by a difference of atmospheric pressure. As shown, the flooding tank 6 is supplied from duplicate vessels 9 in communication with the catchment tank 8, which is heated by burners 42, through pipes 10. On the top of each vessel 9 is arranged a cylinder 11 in which works a piston 12, the piston rod 13 carrying a valve 14 at its lower end. When a sub-atmospheric pressure is admitted through the pipe 15 to the top of the piston 12, the piston rises and closes the valve 14. The subatmospheric pressure is then communicated to the vessel 9 through the byepass 16 and the liquid is drawn into the vessel through the pipe 10. Atmospheric or super-atmospheric pressure is then admitted to the top of the piston 12 to open the valve 14 and the contents of the vessel 9 is discharged, either by gravity or by the leakage of pressure past the piston. The vessels 9 operate alternately, one being filled whilst the other is emptying. For this purpose, the pipes 15 are each connected to a separate three-way valve 17, and each valve is connected to both the pressure side and the suction side of a compressor. The valves are operated by a common lever 26, by hand if desired, but preferably by a rod 28 having at its end, a piston slidable in a cylinder 29, the cylinder having its ends connected to the pressure pipe 25 through valves 32, 33. The control shaft 34 of the valves is rotated slowly by a belt 35, so that the ends of the cylinder are alternately connected to the pressure, and the piston-rod 28 is reciprocated to actuate the valves 17 controlling the admission of pressure to the cylinder 11.