Patent ID: 8347808

Claim:
An apparatus for applying solid edible particulates to an exposed surface of an edible substrate comprising: a particulate supply comprising a plurality of solid edible particulates; a metered dosing system adapted and configured to receive a predetermined dose of the particulates from the supply; a conduit through which the dosed particulates are delivered from the dosing system to the edible substrate; an applicator nozzle associated with the conduit that is adapted and configured to receive and direct the measured particulates from the conduit onto the exposed surface of the substrate; and a vacuum system operatively associated with the dosing system and the conduit that supplies a directed stream of air to transfer the pre-measured particulates from the dosing system through the conduit and the nozzle at a velocity sufficient to eject the particulates therefrom so as to cut through air currents between the nozzle and substrate, but that is insufficient to fully penetrate the exposed surface of the substrate, to deposit and adhere a substantial amount of the dosed particulates in a desired pattern onto the exposed surface of the substrate, wherein the dosing system comprises a rotating or reciprocal sliding plate, the plate comprising at least one aperture for receiving the predetermined amount of particulates from the supply.