US3709193A

US3709193A - Breading machine

Info

Publication number: US3709193A
Application number: US00085464A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Moore
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1970-10-30
Filing date: 1970-10-30
Publication date: 1973-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1990-01-09

Abstract

A machine for breading pieces of food wherein the latter is disposed in a closable, perforate cylindrical body that is rotated about its horizontal axis in a housing containing breading. The body has an internal vane for tumbling the food and external ribs for agitating and elevating breading about the body. The machine includes an accessory perforate basket mountable within the body for removal of lumps from breading. A housing cover is provided that serves as a worktable when the cover is opened.

Description

United States Patent Moore 1 1 Jan. 9, 1973 [54] BREADING MACHINE 601,232 3/1898 Blanton ..2s7 10s [76] inventor: George A. Moore, 843 N. Dellrose, sig l g Wlchlla, Kans- 67208 1,460,400 7/1923 Belknap ..134/158 x [22] Filed: Oct. 30, 1970 Primary ExaminerJohn P. McIntosh [21] PP 85,464 Attorney-Robert E. Breidenthal 52 us. c1 ..118/19, 259/89 1 1 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. ..A23g 3/26 A machine for breading pieces f f d wherein the F|eldfSearch-----118/19, 418;259/31 81 R, 89; latter is disposed in a closable, perforate cylindrical 1 17/109; 51/164; 287/108 body that is rotated about its horizontal axis in a housing containing breading. The body has an internal References Clted vane for tumbling the food and external ribs for agitating and elevating breading about the body. The UNITED STATES PATENTS machine includes an accessory perforate basket 1,199,211 9/1916 Simons ..134/159 mountable within the body for removal of lumps from 1,315,665 9/1919 Hamilton ..l 18/ 19 breading. A housing cover is provided that serves as a 1,718,418 6/1929 Hatch ..1 18/19 worktable when the cover is opened, 1,881,549 10/1932 Hatch ..l18/19 1,955,552 4/1934 Kruger ..1 18/418 X 20 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9 ma SHEET 1 [IF 4 Z INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. MOORE wwfzlwf/ ATTORNEY PATENTEDJAN 9 I975 3,709,193

snmzura 5 /g zmfl flgg/m INVENTOR,

GEORGE A MOORE BY Maw ATTORNEY PATENTEDJMI 9 Ian SHEET 3 [IF 4 INVENTOR. 8 GEORGE A. MOORE WZW ATTORNEY PATENTEU JAN 9 SHEET 4 [IF 4 lli-fillllllllil I44 F/ G. /4 INVENTOR.

GEORGE A. MOORE ATTORNEY breaded, said body having a horizontal axis and including a perforate peripheral wall of cylindrical configuration connecting end walls that are at its opposite axial ends, means for supporting the cylindrical body within and in spaced relation to the housing for rotation about its axis, said cylindrical body including as part thereof a hingedly connected door that is swingable between a first position closing the cylindrical body and a second v position opening the body and affording access thereinto, means for releasably retaining the door in its first position, means operable from outside the housing and connected to the means for supporting the cylindrical body for rotating the latter, housing cover means for selectively closing the open top of the housing.

An important feature of the invention resides in the means for supporting and rotating the cylindrical body being such that the cylindrical body can be readily decoupled from a shaft that drives the same forrotation and also supports one end thereof, whereby the cylindrical body can be easily removed from the housing for cleaning of the machine.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the provision of a vane in the body for tumbling pieces of food being breaded, as well as in the provision of an internal rib on the body for agitating and elevating breading over the body. I

Another important feature of the invention resides in the cylindrical body being formed of two sections that part upon a plane parallel to and spaced from the axis so that the smaller section can constitute a door affording easy access to the interior of the body.

An important feature'of the invention resides in the provision of a perforate basket removably'mountable in the cylindrical body, whereby breading containing FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a modified form of the breading machine;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the machine shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken upon the plane of the section line 10-10 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an isometric view of the cylindrical body used in both of the machines of FIGS. 1 and 8, the same being shown with a portion of the perforate peripheral wall broken awayto reveal a perforate basket mounted in the cylindrical body;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line 12- 12 in FIG. 1 1;

FIG. 13 is a substantially enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating particularly one of the basket brackets that supports the basket within the cylindrical body; and,

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the cylindrical body with the door section thereof being omitted to show the top of the basket.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals reveal like parts throughout the various views, the reference numeral 10 designatesthe breading machine generally. The machine 10 comprises an optn-topped housing designated generally at 12' that is supported upon a frame designated generally at 14 that includes lumps can be placed in the basket for sifting therefrom 1 unlumped breading on rotation of the cylindrical body.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the machinetaken upon the plane of the section line 4-4 in FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary isometric view on an enlarged scale of the means detachably coupling the drive shaft to the cylindrical body, with hidden details being shown in dashed outline;

F IG. 6 is an isometric view of the cylindrical body;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary isometric view of one of the hinge means connecting the sections of the cylindrical body;

U-shaped

end portions

16 and 18 that are formed of steel angle pieces. I I

The housing 12 is comprised of vertical front and

rear walls

20 and 22 that merge with and are integrally connected by an arcuate bottom wall 24 of semicylindrical configuration. The housing 12 includes

vertical end walls

26 and 28. The

U-shaped portions

16 and 18 of the frame 14 are welded to the housing 12 in the relationship shown.

The open-topped housing 12 is provided with a rectangular cover 30 for selectively closing the same, such cover 30 is comprised of an open rectangular metal frame 32 that seats upon and about the top edges of the housing 12, and which is secured to a rectangular transparent panel 34 disposed therein about the periphery of the latter. The rear edge of the cover frame 32-is hingedly connected to the upper margin of the rear housing wall 22 by hinges 36 of conventional character, preferably of thetype shown that limits opening hinge movement to slightly in excess of so that when the cover 30 is opened to about a vertical position by use of a handle 38, the cover 30 is gravitationally retained in such position against the limiting action of the hinges 36. The transparent panel 34 (which may be of glass or preferably of any suitable clear synthetic resin or plastic material such as based on methyl methacrylate, and marketed under trademarks PLEXIGLAS, LUCITE, etc.) enables visual inspection of the interior of the housing 12 for purposes to be presently'explained when the cover 30 is closed.

A hollow cylindrical body designated generally at 40 is rotatably mounted within the housing 12 by means that includes structure indicated at 42 that enables easymounting of the body 40 as well as easy dismounting and removal of the same from within the housing 12. The structure indicated at 42 constitutes a part of means indicated generally at 44 for rotating the cylindrical body 40 about its central axis.

The cylindrical body 40 is formed of two sections indicated at 46 and 48, and as will be seen presently, the section 48 constitutes a door affording access to the interior of the cylindrical body 40. The

sections

46 and 48 part upon and when the door 48 is in its illustrated closed position abut upon a plane parallel to and spaced from the axis of the body 40 as at the juncture indicated at 50 in FIG. 11.

The cylindrical body 40 is essentially symmetrical about the central axis thereof and comprises a perforate cylindrical wall 52 having

portions

54 and 56 respectively associated with the

separable body sections

46 and 48. The opposite ends of the cylindrical body are closed by

circular end walls

58 and 60 that respectively include integral peripheral flanges 62 and 64 that snugly receive and are suitably fixed to the opposite axial extremities of the cylindrical wall 52. The end wall 58 is comprised of

portions

66 and 68 respectively associated with

body sections

46 and 48. Similarly, the end wall 60 is comprised of

portions

70 and 72 respectively associated with

body sections

46 and 48.

In fabricating the cylindrical body 40 as thus far described, the

sections

46 and 48 can be made separately or made as a single entity and thereafter separated or severed in any suitable manner along the plane of the juncture 50, as by sawing.

The

sections

46 and 48 are hingedly connected by

hinges

76 and 78 connecting the

end wall portions

66 and 68 of the end wall 58, whereby the door or section 48 can be swung radially outward by use of a handle 80 fixed to the end wall portion 72. The hinges 76 and 78 are similar to each other, and as shown in FIG. 7,- the hinge 78 is comprised of a wire 82 fixed to the wall portion 66 that has a loop 84 formed therein adjacent the juncture 50, such loop 88 rotatably receiving therethrough a pin 86 suitably secured to the wall portion 68.

The door section 48 is releasably retained in the closed position shown thereof by means of coacting spring latch means 88 fixed to the

end wall portions

70 and 72 adjacent the juncture 50. The arrangement is such that forcing the door section 48 to its illustrated closed position causes the means 88 to retain the door 48 closed, with the door 48 being released or openable against the action of the means 88 only upon the application of an appreciable opening force on the handle 80. This arrangementpermits convenient opening and closing of the cylindrical body 40, but precludes inadvert'ent opening of the same. 7 i

The end wall 60 has centrally attached thereto a stub axle or trunnion 90 of sphere-like end configuration that is rotatably and oscillatably received in the socket portion of a bearing means 92 suitably fixed to the inner side of the housing wall 28. The other end wall 58 of the cylindrical body 40 has centrally attached thereto a stub shaft 94 of square or non-circular cross section that extends toward the housing wall 26 and the driving means 44 to constitute a part of the supporting means 42.

The driving means 44 comprises a mounting plate 96 disposed on the exterior side of the housing wall 26 and is secured by threaded fasteners. 98 extending thereinto through the wall 26. A bushing or bearing member 100 is press fitted through aligned openings 102 in the wall threaded fasteners 108 extending thereinto through an i enlarged end portion 1 10 of the shaft 104 as shown best in FIG. 3. A collar 112 is secured on the shaft 104 by a set screw 1 14 to retain the shaft 104 in the bushing 100.

An end portion 116 of the shaft 104 is of a square or noncircular configuration corresponding to that of the stub shaft 94, and a sleeve 118 embraces the adjacent aligned end portions of the

shafts

94 and 104. The internal configuration of the sleeve 118 corresponds to that of the adjacent end portions of the

shafts

94 and 104 to afford support of the shaft 94 from the shaft 104 as well as a rotary driving connection therebetween. The sleeve 118 constitutes a detachable coupling of the

shafts

94 and 104 in that the sleeve 118 is axially slidable from the position shown thereof overlapping the

shafts

94 and 104 to a non-overlapping position solely on the shaft 94, whereupon the cylindrical body 40 can be moved to clear the shaft 94 and the sleeve 118 of the shaft 104 sufi'rciently to allow withdrawal of the trunnion' from the bearing 92, whereupon the cylindrical body 40 can be removed in its entirety from the housing 12.

A hand crank 120 has the drive shaft portion 122 thereof journaled through the plate 96 and the housing wall 26, and a collar 124 provided with a set screw 126 retains the crank l20'in the assembled relation shown. A gear wheel 128 is fixed on the drive shaft portion 122 of the crank 120 by a set screw 130. H

A cover 132 is disposed about the

meshed gears

106 and 128 and embraces the periphery of the plate 196, and is secured to the latter by threaded fasteners 134. The crank portion 122 extends through an opening 136 in the cover 132, with the seal 138 being provided to prevent the ingress of foreign matter into the cover 132 through the opening 136.

Preferably, the ratio of the number of teeth on the gear 106 to the number of teeth on the gear 128 is a small integer, such as 3, whereby the crank 120 will or;- cupy the same position foreach full revolution of the cylindrical body 40. Thus the crank 120.can be in its downward position every time the door section 48 is uppermost and disposed for upward opening movement through the open upper end of the housing 12.

The cylindrical body 40 as well as all structure exposed to the interior of the housing 12 'are made of materials compatible with all desideratums relative to health in the handling of foods. Numerous materials are suitable for such purposes; such. as stainless steel, nickel-plated steel, and certain synthetic resins or plastics such as polytetrafluoroethylene, etc. The perforate cylindrical wall 52 can, for example, be a mesh formed of niclel-plated steel wire and the end walls can. i

trademark TEFLON). For example, the end ofthe trunnion 90 that projects into and has sliding contact with the bearing means 92 is coated with such material.

Similarly, the inside of the bushing and/or the ex terior of the portion of the shaft 104 extending therethrough can be coated by such antifriction material.

An axially extending vane 140 is fixed to the door section 48 in the medial plane thereof, such vane 140 being disposed therein and being coplanar with and projecting radially inward toward the central axis of the cylindrical body 40. The vane 140 has two principal functions, one of which is to tumble pieces of food (in addition to distributing and agitating breading) when the cylindrical body 40 is rotated in breading partially filling the lower part of the housing 12. The other of such two principal functions will be later described in conjunction with accessory apparatus for freeing breading of lumps that can form in the breading.

The section 46 of the cylindrical body 40 has fixed to the exterior thereof axially extending

ribs

142 and 144 that project directly outward radially therefrom. The

ribs

142 and 144 are diametrically opposed to each other and at positions at right angles to the vane 140 with respect to the circumference of the body 40. The

ribs

142 and 144 are preferably inclined'to the axis of the body, that is to be of a form approximating that of a partial helix along its axial extent. The angle of inclination is about f, with the

ribs

142 and 144 being oppositely inclined. The

ribs

142 and 144 are of composite character and each includes a metallic wiper blade mounting strip 146 secured to the exterior of section 46 of the body 40, with such mounting strip 146 carrying a radially-outwardly extending strip or wiper blade 148 of a flexible and resilient material such as neoprene. The radially outward or free edges of the strips or blades 148 are spaced from the axis of the body 40 so as to make wiping contact with the inner surface of the bottom wall 24, it being noted that such surface is semi-cylindrical about such axis.

The rib or

wipers

142 and 144 serve two primary functions during rotation of the body 40, namely, that of elevating breading so that breading elevated thereby will fall down into the interior of the body 40, and that of agitating or working breading in the bottom of the housing so as to maintain breading well mixed.

Breading is a mixture of finely divided ingredients, some of which differ markedly in density as, for example, wheat flour and pulverized table salt. Because of such differences in density such ingredients may tend to separate so that relatively dense salt preferentially accumulates in the bottom of the housing 12. The ribs or

wipers

142 and 144 serve to prevent any such separation by the bottom of the housing 12 being wiped with the material wiped therefrom beingelevated and mixed with the entire mass of breadingmaterial. The desired mixing action is still further enhanced by the opposite inclinations of the wiper ribs 142 and [44 as breading is alternately urged in opposite axial directions. This action virtually assures, uniformity in the composition of the breading along the axial extent of the housing 12.

The use of the apparatus thus far described will be readily understood. The cylindrical body 40 is mounted in the housing 12 as shown, use being made of the sleeve 118 for this purpose, it being noted that the latter has a handle 150 fixed thereto to facilitate manipulation thereof as previously explained.

An amount of breading is put in the housing 12 sufficient to reach a height spaced above the bottom of the cylindrical body 40, but spaced below the axis of the latter. Greater or lesser amounts of breading can be used as the amount is somewhat a matter of personal judgment of the user.

With the door 48 opened through the top of the housing 12 (which prevents inadvertent rotation of the cylindrical body 40), pieces of meat, chicken, or pieces of other types of foods to be breaded are placed in the cylindrical body 40. Such pieces will have naturally moist or tacky surfaces and/or have been treated to possess such property (as by dipping or rolling in water or batter) so that breading will adhere thereto; all this by very old and well known techniques in the cooking art. As few pieces of food may be placed in the cylindrical body 40 as desired, but it is preferred that the same not be filled to such an extent that the pieces are packed together and not be free to tumble about to some extent during subsequent rotation.

The cylindrical body 40 is then closed as in the housing cover 30. The crank is then turned to rotate the cylindrical body 40 one or more times sufficient to ac.- complish the desired coacting of the pieces of food with breading. If desired, the cylindrical body 40 can be rotated in first one and then the other direction, though this is not necessary. The progress of the breading action can be observed through the cover 30, and when complete such observation will aid in rotating the door 48 to be uppermost. This is made easier by the crank being in the'same position on concluding the breading operation as when such operation is commenced. The cover 30 and the door 48 are then opened for removal of the breaded food for subsequent cooking, and the procedure repeated with another batch of food pieces.

The breading machine can be of such size as to be positioned on and operated on a table top or counter in a kitchen. It can also be conveniently stored.

In FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 is a modification of the machine 10 such as to stand on a floor. The machine shown in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 differs from the machine 10 solely in two respects, namely, (1) the extension downwardly of the

frame portions

16 and 18 thereof to constitute elongated

U-shaped legs

162 and 164 for supporting the housing 12 a substantial height about the supporting floor surface 166, and (2) the substitution of a different housing cover means 168 for the cover means 30 of the machine 10.

The housing cover means 168 of the breading machine 160 comprises

guide members

170 and 172 fixed to the housing 12 along the outside of the upper edges of the front and

rear walls

22 and 24. The

members

170 and 172 have elongated guide slots or

grooves

174 and 176 respectively therein. The cover means 168 is in the form of an open rectangular metal frame 178 secured to and embracing a transparent panel 180 analogous to the previously described panel 34. The

FIGS. 8 and 9 wherein the housing top is opened, and a position to the left thereof (as viewed in FIGS. 8 and 9) such as to cover and close the top of the housing 12. A

pin 190 is attached to the frame 178 by a chain 192,

and such pin 190 can be inserted through vertically aligned openings in the frame 178 and the guide member 170 to secure cover means in its extended and open position shown,

To provide support for the free end 194 of the cover means 168 when the latter is in its illustrated extended position, a pair of spaced

legs

196 and 198 are dependingly fixed to the frame 178 at the forward and rear corners of the free end 194 thereof, and the lower ends of

such legs

196 and 198 are provided with

support wheels

200 and 202 respectively. The arrangement is such that the

wheels

200 and 202 roll upon the supporting floor surface as the cover means 168 is extended and retracted.

When extended to open the housing 12, the flat top surface of the cover means 168 affords a well supported work surface to be used in connection with preparing food for placement in the opened cylindrical body 40 within the opened housing, or for placement of breaded food as it is removed from the cylindrical body 40. It is noted that the extended cover means 168 substantially precludes inadvertent actuation of the crank 120.

The operation of the breading machine 160 is thought to be evident in the light of the previous description of the operation of the breading machine 10.

An accessory means istprovided'that is equally useful with either of the

machines

10 and 160, such accessory means, designated generally at 210, beingfor the purpose of freeing breading from lumps that tend to form therein. The means 210, shown in FIGS. 11-14, comprises an open-topped wire basket 212 of generally rectangular configuration that is receivable in the cylindrical body and to be supported therein by outwardly extending arms or brackets 214 secured thereto thatare engageable over the

edges

216 and 218 of the cylindrical wall portion 54 of the section 46. The basket 212 is preferably of nickel-plated steel and of a tighter mesh than that of the cylindrical wall 52.

The basket 212' is provided with a top closure member 220 having a peripheral skirt. 222 that embraces the upper portion of the basket 212 when in position to close the latter; the arms 214 being attached to the basket 212 immediately below the lower edge of the skirt 222. Y

The basket 212 and its closure member 220 can be readily placed in the operative position shown thereof or removed by-simply grasping the arms 214. With the basket 212 in its illustrated operative position, the closure' member 220 can-be removed and replaced by grasping the handles 230 fixed to the skirt 222, or by grasping the handles 232 spaced closely on opposite sides of its axial and medial plane which coincides with the plane of thevane 140.

With the basket 212 and its closure member 220 in their illustrated operative positions, they are securely retained in such positions when the door 48 is closed inasmuch as the free edge 234 of the vane engages the top surface of the closure member 220 intermediate the handles 232 when the door 48 is closed.

The use of the means 210 will be readily understood. The housing 12 is emptied of all but lump-free bread ing. When the cylindrical body 40 is assembled with the means 210 as shown in FIG. 11, with lamp containing breading in the basket 212,'rotation of the cylindrical body 40 and the accompanying rotation of the means 210 will result in lump-free breading sifting free of the basket 212 and into the bottom of the housing 12, with lumpy breading being retained in the basket 212. As lump-free breading escapes from the basket 212, it can be replaced with breading containing lumps and the sifting continued to remove effectively lumps from the breading. As the basket 212 commences to become filled with lumps, it is removed and dumped of its lumps for discard or possible reprocessing of the latter for recovery. The lumpy material may be simply dried in an over and thereafter rolled or crushed to a usable condition. Lumps tend to form from moisture encountered during breading operations.

It will be noted that'the above procedure for lump removal results in lump-free breading being disposed in the housing for immediate use in breading operations.

If desired, the cylindrical wall 54 can along its

edges

216 and 218 be provided with attached angle members 240 to provide additional support or bracing for the load constituted be the means 210. Further rigidity can be given the section 46, if desired, by attaching a similar angle 242 as shown in FIG. 12.

Such angles

240 and 242 will, of course, not only brace or reinforce the structure but augment the tumbling action caused by the vane 140. The vane 140, needless tosay, serves to reinforce the door section 48.

Attention is now directed to the appended claims.

' Iclaim:

1. A breading machine comprising an open-topped housing, a hollow cylindrical body for 7 containing pieces of food to be breaded, said body having a horizontal axis and including a perforate peripheral wall of cylindrical configuration connecting end walls that are at its opposite axial ends, means for supporting the cylindrical body within and in spaced relation to the housing for rotation about its axis; said housing including spaced vertical side walls extending downwardly from a height above the top of the cylindrical body, said side walls being .connected by a semicylindrical bottom wall that is concentric about the cylindrical body, said cylindrical body being comprised of first and second sections that are separable upon a plane parallel to and spaced from the axis thereof, means at one axial end ofthe cylindrical body pivotally connecting .the corresponding end sections, whereby the remote end of the second section can be swung radially outward to open the cylindrical body for access :thereinto with'the second section constituting a door, means at the other end of the cylindrical body for releasably retaining the second section in closed-relationship with respect to the first section, said second, door-constituting, section of the cylindrical body extending upwardly through the open top of the housing when the cylindrical body is opened, with the housing and said second section being so constructed and arranged that they coact to limit and substantially to prevent rotation of the cylindrical body when the second section'is opened, said cylindrical body being provided with an external axially extending and radially outwardly projecting rib for agitating and lifting breading in the housing on rotation of the cylindrical body, means operable from outside the housing and connected to the means for supporting the cylindrical body for rotating the latter, said side walls having upper edges defining the open top of the housing therebetween, and flat housing cover means mounted on the upper edges of the side walls for selectively closing the open top of the housing.

2. The combination of claim I, wherein the housing cover means comprises a cover hingedly mounted on the top of the housing for upward swinging movement from a position closing the top of the housing, said cover including a transparent portion for enabling visual inspection of the cylindrical body when the cover is in its closed position.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said housing cover means comprises a horizontally disposed cover, means mounting said cover on the housing for horizontal sliding movement between a first position closing the top of the housing and-a second position opening the top of the housing wherein one end of the cover overlies the housing for support therefrom and the other end of the cover projects horizontally from the housing, and said other end of the cover havinga wheeled support leg dependingly attached thereto, whereby said cover is fully supported in its second position for use as a worktable in connection with breading operations.

4. The combination of claim 1, wherein the cylindrical body is provided with means operative in response to rotation of the cylindrical body to tumble food pieces therein.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the means operative to tumble food pieces comprises an axially extending and radially inwardly projecting vane disposed within the cylindrical body.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein the vane is fixed to the second, door-constituting, section of the cylindrical body.

7. The combination of claim 1, together with means for enabling the breading machine to be employed for removal of lumps from breading, said last recited means comprising a perforate basket removably received within the cylindrical body, means carried by the second, door-constituting, section for engaging and holding the basket fixed in relation to the cylindrical body when the second, door-constituting, section is retained in its closed position, and said basket including a removable closure member.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein it is the'closure member of the basket that is engaged by said means carried by the second, door-constituting, section.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein the basket is provided with means engageable with the first section for limiting movement of the basket into the first section, and wherein said means carried by the second, door-constituting, section comprises an axially extending and radially inwardly projecting vane.

10. The combination of claim I, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a shaft journaled for rotation through an end wall of the housing in alignment with axis of the cylindrical body, axially extensible means for detachably coupling an axial extremity'of said shaft to the adjacent axial extremity of the cylindrical body, with axially separable bearing means at the opposite extremity of the cylindrical body for releasably supporting the latter, whereby the axially extensible means can be retracted to detach the cylindrical body from the shaft and the cylindrical body moved to release said opposite extremity of the cylindrical body whereupon the cylindrical body is freed for removal from the housing.

a 11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a non-cir cular shaft centrally carried by the cylindrical body and projecting toward the shaft, said first mentioned shaft including a non-circular end portion directed toward the pin, and a sleeve having a non-circular opening therethrough complementary to the shafts'and slidingly receiving the latter therethrough, and said shafts and sleeve being so constructed and arranged that the sleeve can be axially moved between positions overlapping and non-overlapping the shafts for respectively 1 coupling and decoupling the shafts.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein the means for rotating the cylindrical body comprises hand crank means disposed on the outside of the housing and drivingly connected to the shaft.

13. A breading machine comprising an open-topped housing, a hollow cylindrical body for containing pieces of food to be breaded, said body having a horizontal axis and includinga perforate peripheral wall of cylindrical configuration connecting end walls that are at its opposite axial ends, means for supporting the cylindrical body within and in spaced relation to the housing for rotation about its axis, said housing including spaced vertical side walls extending downwardly from a height above the top of the cylindrical body, said side walls being connected by a semicylindrical bottom wall that is concentric about the cylindrical body, said cylindrical body including as a part thereof a hingedly connected door that is swingable between a first position closing the cylindrical body and asecond position opening the body and affording access thereinto, means for releasably retaining the door in its first position, said door extending upwardly through the open top of the housing when the cylindrical body is opened, with the housing and said door being so constructed and arranged that they coact to limit and substantially to prevent rotation of the cylindrical body when the door is opened, said cylindrical body being provided with an external axially extending and radially outwardly projecting rib for agitating and lifting breading in the housing on rotation of the cylindrical body, means operable from outside the housing and connected to the means for supporting the cylindrical body for rotating the latter, said side walls having upper edges defining the open top of the housing therebetween, and'flat housing cover means mounted on the upper edges of the side walls for selectively closing the open top of the housing.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said housing cover means comprises a horizontally disposed cover, means mounting said cover on the housing for horizontal sliding movement between a first position closing the top of the housing and 21 second ponilion opening the top of the housing wherein one end of thc cover overlies the housing for support therefrom and the other end of the cover projects horizontally from the housing, and said other end of the cover having a wheeled support leg dependingly attached thereto, whereby said cover is fully supported in its second position for use as a worktable in connection with breading operations.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein the cylin-' drical body is provided with means operative in response to rotation of the cylindrical body to tumble food pieces therein.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the means operative to tumble food pieces comprises an axially extending and radially inwardly projecting vane disposed within the cylindrical body. 7

17. The combination of claim 13, together with means for enabling the breading machine to be employed for removal of lumps from breading, said last recited means comprising a perforate basket removably received within the cylindrical body, means for preventing movement of the basket relative to the cylindrical body when the door is closed, and said basket including a removable closure member.

18. The combination of claim 13, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a shaft journaled for rotation through an end wall of the housing in alignment with the axis of the cylindrical body, axially extensible means for detachably coupling .an

axial extremity of said shaft to the adjacent axial ex-' tremity of the cylindrical body, with axially separable bearing means at the opposite extremity of thecylindrical body for releasably supporting the latter, whereby the axially extensible means can be retracted to detach the cylindrical body from the shaft and the cylindrical body moved to release said opposite extremity of the cylindrical body whereupon the cylindrical body is freed for removal from the housing.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a non-circular shaft centrally carried by the cylindrical body and projecting toward the shaft, said first mentioned shaft including a non-circular end portion directed toward the pin, and a sleeve having a non-circular opening therethrough complementary to the shafts and slidin'gly receiving the latter therethrough, and said shafts and sleeve being so constructed and arranged that the sleeve can beaxially moved between positions overlapping and non-overlapping the shafts for respectively coupling and decoupling the shafts.

20. The combination of claim 18, wherein the means for rotating the cylindrical body comprises hand crank means disposed on the outside of the housing and drivingly connected to the shaft.

Claims

1. A breading machine comprising an open-topped housing, a hollow cylindrical body for containing pieces of food to be breaded, said body having a horizontal axis and including a perforate peripheral wall of cylindrical configuration connecting end walls that are at its opposite axial ends, means for supporting the cylindrical body within and in spaced relation to the housing for rotation about its axis, said housing including spaced vertical side walls extending downwardly from a height above the top of the cylindrical body, said side walls being connected by a semicylindrical bottom wall that is concentric about the cylindrical body, said cylindrical body being comprised of first and second sections that are separable upon a plane parallel to and spaced from the axis thereof, means at one axial end of the cylindrical body pivotally connecting the corresponding end sections, whereby the remote end of the second section can be swung radially outward to open the cylindrical body for access thereinto with the second section constituting a door, means at the other end of the cylindrical body for releasably retaining the second section in closed relationship with respect to the first section, said second, doorconstituting, section of the cylindrical body extending upwardly through the open top of the housing when the cylindrical body is opened, with the housing and said second section being so constructed and arranged that they coact to limit and substantially to prevent rotation of the cylindrical body when the second section is opened, said cylindrical body being provided with an external axially extending and radially outwardly projecting rib for agitating and lifting breading in the housing on rotation of the cylindrical body, means operabLe from outside the housing and connected to the means for supporting the cylindrical body for rotating the latter, said side walls having upper edges defining the open top of the housing therebetween, and flat housing cover means mounted on the upper edges of the side walls for selectively closing the open top of the housing.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein the housing cover means comprises a cover hingedly mounted on the top of the housing for upward swinging movement from a position closing the top of the housing, said cover including a transparent portion for enabling visual inspection of the cylindrical body when the cover is in its closed position.

3. The combination of claim 1, wherein said housing cover means comprises a horizontally disposed cover, means mounting said cover on the housing for horizontal sliding movement between a first position closing the top of the housing and a second position opening the top of the housing wherein one end of the cover overlies the housing for support therefrom and the other end of the cover projects horizontally from the housing, and said other end of the cover having a wheeled support leg dependingly attached thereto, whereby said cover is fully supported in its second position for use as a worktable in connection with breading operations.

8. The combination of claim 7, wherein it is the closure member of the basket that is engaged by said means carried by the second, door-constituting, section.

10. The combination of claim 1, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a shaft journaled for rotation through an end wall of the housing in alignment with axis of the cylindrical body, axially extensible means for detachably coupling an axial extremity of said shaft to the adjacent axial extremity of the cylindrical body, with axially separable bearing means at the opposite extremity of the cylindrical body for releasably supporting the latter, whereby the axially extensible means can be retracted to detach the cylindrical body from the shaft and the cylindrical body moved to release said opposite extremity of the cylindrical body whereupon the cylindrical body is freed for removal from the housing.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a non-circular shaft centrally carried by the cylindrical body and projecting toward the shaft, said first mentioned shaft including a non-circular end portion directed toward the pin, and a sleeve having a non-circular opening therethrough complementary to the shafts and slidingly receiving the latter therethrough, and said shafts and sleeve being so constructed and arranged that the sleeve can be axially moved Between positions overlapping and non-overlapping the shafts for respectively coupling and decoupling the shafts.

13. A breading machine comprising an open-topped housing, a hollow cylindrical body for containing pieces of food to be breaded, said body having a horizontal axis and including a perforate peripheral wall of cylindrical configuration connecting end walls that are at its opposite axial ends, means for supporting the cylindrical body within and in spaced relation to the housing for rotation about its axis, said housing including spaced vertical side walls extending downwardly from a height above the top of the cylindrical body, said side walls being connected by a semicylindrical bottom wall that is concentric about the cylindrical body, said cylindrical body including as a part thereof a hingedly connected door that is swingable between a first position closing the cylindrical body and a second position opening the body and affording access thereinto, means for releasably retaining the door in its first position, said door extending upwardly through the open top of the housing when the cylindrical body is opened, with the housing and said door being so constructed and arranged that they coact to limit and substantially to prevent rotation of the cylindrical body when the door is opened, said cylindrical body being provided with an external axially extending and radially outwardly projecting rib for agitating and lifting breading in the housing on rotation of the cylindrical body, means operable from outside the housing and connected to the means for supporting the cylindrical body for rotating the latter, said side walls having upper edges defining the open top of the housing therebetween, and flat housing cover means mounted on the upper edges of the side walls for selectively closing the open top of the housing.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein said housing cover means comprises a horizontally disposed cover, means mounting said cover on the housing for horizontal sliding movement between a first position closing the top of the housing and a second position opening the top of the housing wherein one end of the cover overlies the housing for support therefrom and the other end of the cover projects horizontally from the housing, and said other end of the cover having a wheeled support leg dependingly attached thereto, whereby said cover is fully supported in its second position for use as a worktable in connection with breading operations.

15. The combination of claim 13, wherein the cylindrical body is provided with means operative in response to rotation of the cylindrical body to tumble food pieces therein.

16. The combination of claim 15, wherein the means operative to tumble food pieces comprises an axially extending and radially inwardly projecting vane disposed within the cylindrical body.

18. The combination of claim 13, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a shaft journaled for rotation through an end wall of the housing in alignment with the axis of the cylindrical body, axially extensible means for detachably coupling an axial extremity of said shaft to the adjacent axial extremity of the cylindrical body, with axially separable bearing means at the opposite extremity of the cylindrical body for releasably supporting the latter, whereby the axially extensible means can be retracted to detach the cylindrical body from the shaft and the cylindrical body moved to release said opposite extremity of the cylindrical body whereupon the cylindrical body is freed for removal from the housing.

19. The combination of claim 18, wherein the means for supporting the cylindrical body includes a non-circular shaft centrally carried by the cylindrical body and projecting toward the shaft, said first mentioned shaft including a non-circular end portion directed toward the pin, and a sleeve having a non-circular opening therethrough complementary to the shafts and slidingly receiving the latter therethrough, and said shafts and sleeve being so constructed and arranged that the sleeve can be axially moved between positions overlapping and non-overlapping the shafts for respectively coupling and decoupling the shafts.