Patent ID: 7384658

Claim:
A method for applying a seasoning onto snack product pieces and reclaiming unadsorbed seasoning using a seasoning apparatus, said seasoning apparatus comprising a seasoning pervious conveyor, a seasoning feeder positioned directly above the seasoning pervious conveyor and having a feeding end, a seasoning recovery conveyor positioned below the seasoning pervious conveyor and aligned directly beneath the seasoning feeder, a sifter for receiving and purifying recovered seasoning from the seasoning recovery conveyor, and an enclosed mechanical particle-transporting conveyor running from the sifter to the seasoning feeder, said method comprising the steps of: a) conveying a plurality of unseasoned snack product pieces on the seasoning pervious conveyor; b) feeding a usable portion of seasoning from the particle-transporting conveyor, off of the seasoning feeder, and onto the unseasoned product pieces, thereby forming a plurality of seasoned product pieces; c) receiving an unadsorbed fraction of seasoning on the seasoning recovery conveyor; d) introducing fresh seasoning along with the unadsorbed fraction of seasoning from the seasoning recovery conveyor into the sifter; e) sifting the fresh seasoning and the unadsorbed fraction of seasoning using the sifter to separate out an unusable portion of seasoning, thereby forming the usable portion of seasoning recited in step b); and f) conveying the usable portion of seasoning along the particle-transporting conveyor to the seasoning feeder.