Patent ID: 9278816
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: A21C,A23P,B01J,B29B,B29C,B65G

Claim Text:
1. A product-spreading hood assembly operable to be placed about an outlet die unit presenting a generally horizontal axis in order to receive discrete products issuing from the outlet die unit, said hood assembly comprising: a deflector having a wall structure defining a product inlet opening with a first cross-sectional area, and a product outlet opening with a second cross-sectional area greater than said first cross-sectional area, said product outlet opening presenting an outer margin, said wall structure including a generally frustoconical wall section presenting a central longitudinal axis, said frustoconical wall section located and diverging outwardly from said central longitudinal axis between said product inlet and said product outlet forming a product-receiving area located between said product inlet and outlet openings; a structure mounting said deflector in a generally horizontal orientation with said deflector central longitudinal axis extending substantially horizontally; a product delivery structure located proximal to said product outlet opening and oriented to receive products therefrom, said product delivery structure having sidewalls presenting a product delivery opening located outboard of said product outlet opening's outer margin so that the products received from said product outlet opening gravitate through said product delivery opening in a direction transverse to said central longitudinal axis; an air delivery assembly operable to direct air currents from a point proximal to said product inlet opening and into said product-receiving area in a direction towards said outlet opening; and said product inlet opening located at least in part about said die unit so that said discrete products are directed into said deflector, said air currents operable to substantially maintain said discrete products in a separated condition as the products pass through said product outlet opening.