A breading machine for dispensing a coating material onto a food product
includes a breading chamber, a continuous conveyor for transporting food
products through the breading chamber, a hopper including at least one
downspout and a sloped bottom for dispensing coating material onto the
food products, a hopper conveyor positioned within the hopper. At least
one of an angular position or a vertical position of the hopper conveyor
is adjustable to accommodate a variety of free flowing and non-free
flowing coating materials. One or more air knives may be positioned in
the downspouts to fluidize the coating material to alleviate bridging
and/or build-up of the coating material within the downspout.