Method and apparatus for applying dry toppings to baked goods

Abstract

The method for applying dry toppings to baked goods includes the steps of pre-treating a surface of the baked goods, after baking, with an adhesive substance such as a pregelatinized wheat starch suspended in a solution and thereafter applying the dry toppings to the treated surface. Such an application has been shown to decrease wastage of such items as sesame seed topping from as much as 50% to as little as 5%.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A method for applying toppings to baked goods comprising the steps of: 
 applying a starch-based solution onto a surface of the baked goods after baking to form a treated surface; and    applying toppings onto the treated surface of the baked goods.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the starch-based solution is formed of a starchy substance and water in a ratio of between approximately 1:20 and 1:4.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the starchy substance is a pregelatinized wheat starch.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying the starch-based solution onto the surface of the baked goods including the steps of: 
 transporting the baked goods beneath spray nozzles, said spray nozzles located within a spray chamber and in communication with a source of the starch-based solution; and    spraying the solution onto a surface of the baked goods as the baked goods are moved proximal the spray nozzles.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further including the steps of: 
 detecting the proximity of the baked goods to the spray nozzles; and    activating the spray nozzles responsive to a positive detection of the baked goods.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of applying toppings onto the treated surface of the baked goods includes the steps of: 
 transporting the baked goods beneath a topping applicator;    detecting the proximity of the baked goods to the topping applicator; and    activating the topping applicator responsive to a positive detection of the baked goods.    
     
     
         7 . An apparatus for applying dried toppings to baked goods of a type emerging from an oven along a conveyor belt, the apparatus comprising: 
 a source of starch-based solution;    a source of dry topping material;    a spray station having a spray chamber and a spray station conveyor passing through the spray chamber, the spray chamber including at least one nozzle coupled to the starch-based solution and arranged for spraying the solution toward the spray station conveyor, the spray station conveyor arranged for receiving baked goods from the conveyor belt and moving the baked goods through the spray chamber; and    a topping station having a dry topping dispenser and a dispenser conveyor in communication with the spray station conveyor passing underneath the dispenser for applying dry topping material to a surface of the baked goods.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said starch-based solution is formed of a starchy substance and water in a ratio of between approximately 1:20 and 1:4.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the starchy substance is a pregelatinized wheat starch.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said spray station conveyor operates at a slower speed than the conveyor belt so that the baked goods are grouped closer together on the spray station conveyor than they are on the conveyor belt.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further including a first detector arranged upstream of the spray station for detecting the proximity of baked goods to the spray station and for activating the spray station nozzle responsive to a positive detection.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , further including a second detector arranged upstream of the topping station for detecting the proximity of baked goods to the topping station and for activating the dry topping dispenser responsive to a positive detection.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , the dry topping dispenser including a hopper and a filler in communication with the hopper for supplying the hopper with dry topping material.  
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the filler includes a third detector arranged for detecting the amount of dry topping material within the hopper and transporting dry topping material from a topping reservoir responsive to a low amount signal.  
     
     
         15 . An apparatus for transporting granulated material comprising: 
 an elongate hollow wand having a proximal end and a distal end;    vibration means attached adjacent the proximal end of the wand for imparting vibrational forces to the wand; and    vacuum means coupled to the proximal end of the wand for imparting a vacuum force at the distal end of the wand and thereby drawing material adjacent the distal end of the rod up through the rod to the proximal end.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a flexible hose coupled at one end to the proximal end of the wand to communicate the granulated material drawn up through the wand to an opposing end of the flexible hose.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further including a hole formed through a wall of the wand to the hollow interior for communicated air into the wand.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , the distal end of the wand formed at an oblique angle.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the oblique angle is approximately 45 degrees.  
     
     
         20 . A method for transporting granulated material out of a container, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an wand having a wall defining an elongated hollow interior and a wand tip located at a distal end of the hollow interior;    placing the distal end of the elongated hollow wand into the container containing the granulated material such that the wand tip is located adjacent the granulated material;    applying a vibrational force to a wall of the wand and conducting the vibrational force through the wand and to the granulated material; and    applying a vacuum force to the hollow interior of the wand and communicating the vacuum force to the wand tip thereby pulling the granulated material adjacent the wand tip up through the hollow interior to a proximal end of the wand.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further including the step of forming the wand tip at an oblique angle to the wall of the wand.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further including the step of coupling a flexible hose to the proximal end of the wand.