One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module including a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module including a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.

A frame operable to hold a stencil taut and secure for decorating a food product such as a cookie, baked good or the like. An embodiment of the frame is comprised of a bottom sub-frame having a first height and a top sub-frame having a second height, the second height being less than the first height, such that the frame accommodates one size of cookie when the bottom sub-frame is placed around the cookie, and accommodates a thinner cookie when the frame is flipped 180 degrees about a lateral axis and the top sub-frame is placed around the cookie.

A station for covering a bread roll half of a bread roll with a sauce in a preparation line of a fast food restaurant, comprising: a table by which a user standing at a front side can cover a bread roll half with sauce, a container comprising the sauce and arranged over the table at a working distance from the front side and from which an outlet nozzle oriented towards the table protrudes at a vertical distance from the table, so that the bread roll half which is to be covered with sauce can be placed on the table below the outlet nozzle, and a pressure actuator that can be actuated by the user and which is designed to dispense the sauce from the container onto the bread roll half when actuated by the user.

Provided is a method of ordering a consumer-customized cake using a cake ordering system, including transmitting, to a management server, a cake image selected among a plurality of displayed cake images, transmitting, to the management server, a cake image selected among a plurality of displayed cake images, receiving, from the management server, a cake model matched with the selected cake image and a decoration model matched with the selected cake image and displaying the cake model and the decoration model, placing the decoration model on the cake model in response to selection for a movement of the decoration model and transmitting, to the management server, location information of the decoration model on the cake model, receiving, from the management server, a decoration cake model which is a composite model of the cake model and the decoration model based on the location information of the decoration model on the cake model, and receiving delivery information to which a cake on which decorations have been shaped by a food printer that receives food printer model data for the decoration model is to be reached, and transmitting the delivery information to the management server.

A cake-making implement is disclosed for smoothing icing on a top surface and a side surface of a cake and creating a planar top surface. The cake-making implement may include a top smoother connected to a side smoother and configured to move with respect to the side smoother while maintaining an angle between the top and side smoothers.

One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module including a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module including a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.

An automatic sandwich maker designed to automate the process of preparing sandwiches, including hamburgers, is included. This automated sandwich maker is designed for use in commercial kitchens, including small commercial kitchens, such as fast-food kitchens. The apparatus and method for automatically making sandwiches overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of the prior art. The individual sandwich process can be controlled by communications interface with a point of sales system. The inventive apparatus and method reduces manpower requirements for restaurants, provides enhanced ingredient control, and improves overall product quality.

The invention relates to a baked product which is adapted before during and/or after baking to have one or more images on at least one surface thereof. The image can be applied to an external surface or a surface of a portion of the baked product which is formed, typically by cutting. The portions can be reformatted into the baked product shape and packaged as a retail item after the one or more images have been applied thereto and the images are only exposed when the portions are subsequently removed for consumption. The substance used to form the image can be applied using contactless application apparatus.

An automated food preparation system includes a seasoning-dispensing system, a sauce-dispensing system, and a conveyance system. The seasoning-dispensing system includes a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle. Each vessel contains one of a plurality of seasonings. The vessels are in selective communication with the conduit. The sauce-dispensing system includes a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes. Each sauce reservoirs contains one of a plurality of sauces. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with one of the sauce reservoirs via one of the tubes. The conveyance system transports a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings. The scanning head is movable to dispense one or more sauces onto the foodstuff.

A system includes a first topping module with a first hopper holding a first topping sample of a first topping type and a first blade to cut a first topping serving. A second topping module includes a second hopper holding a second topping sample of a second topping type and a second blade to cut a second topping serving. A conveyor moves a topping vehicle between a first position below the first hopper and a second position below the second hopper. An order specifies the first topping type and the second topping type. An actuator system moves the first blade to cut the first topping serving according to the order to dispense the first topping serving onto the topping vehicle. The actuator system moves the second blade to cut the second topping serving according to the order to dispense the first topping serving onto the topping vehicle.