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 sandwiching machine includes a wafer conveying mechanism including multiple wafer conveyance rows and a pair of spaced apart belts. Each belt is positioned toward respective sides of the mechanism such that the belts are located laterally away from the wafer conveyance rows. A plurality of pusher bars extend laterally between the spaced apart belts and connected for movement therewith. Each pusher bar extends beneath a conveyance path of each wafer conveyance row and includes at least one pusher pin extending upward into the conveyance path. At least one stencil assembly extends over the wafer conveyance paths for depositing material onto wafers traveling along at least one of the wafer conveyance paths, wherein a deposit location of the stencil assembly is laterally spaced from each of the belts.

One variation of a method for slicing a type of whole bread buns includes: retracting a cutting block along a chute into a load position; dispensing a whole bread bun into the chute between the cutting block and a blade extending across the chute; advancing the cutting block along the chute toward the blade; detecting contact between the cutting block and the blade at a contact position; at a first time, advancing the cutting block into a pierce position offset from the contact position toward the blade by a pierce distance less than a common width of the type of whole bread buns; and, at a second time succeeding the first time by a pierce duration, advancing the cutting block from the pierce position into a slice position adjacent the blade to drive the whole bread bun fully through the blade.

A stamp system includes a top portion and a bottom portion, each shaped to resemble a slice of bread. The top portion has a lower surface that forms a pattern to be stamped into an edible item. The bottom portion has an upper surface that is configured with a tray that is shaped to carry an edible ink. The stamp system is used to stamp both a physical impression and a pattern in edible ink onto an edible item, such as a sandwich made of sliced bread.

Described herein is a filled biscuit characterized in that it comprises: a biscuit body (2) shaped like a container, defining a cavity (2A) contained in which is a filling material (4); a cover (6) made of biscuit designed to close said cavity (2A) from outside, either partially or completely; and a second filling material (8) that is set in contact simultaneously with said cover (6), said container body (2), and said filling material (4), so as to seal said cover to said container body and withhold said first filling material within said cavity.

A cake surfacing device that includes: a base; a pedestal extending vertically from the base; a turn table at the top of the pedestal adapted to receive a cake; an arm support extending from the pedestal; a swivel arm attached to the arm support, where the swivel arm includes a connecting end; a plastic container, where the plastic container surrounds the cake; and a surfacing blade within the plastic container where the surfacing blade extends from a top center of the plastic container to one side of the plastic container. The turn table is preferably adapted to rotate. The swivel arm includes a connecting end with a connecting pin, where the connecting pin engages the plastic container. The plastic container includes a connecting crown which receives the connecting pin.

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 particulate dispenser configured to deposit particulate material onto food products includes a hopper and a brush assembly inside the hopper. The hopper has a front panel that has a lower extent and a hinge connected to the lower extent. The hopper also includes an access panel connected to the hinge on the lower extent of the front panel. The access panel is configured to be moved about the hinge between open and closed positions. The brush assembly is removable from the hopper when the access panel is in the open position.

A method and template for preparing small, tender cakes is provided. The method includes preparing sheet cakes and slicing them into sleeves of cake. Frosting is template and frozen, and then rolled around the narrow cake leaf. Fillings may be added inside the cake leaf before rolling. The cake is then rolled similarly to maki-style sushi, sliced into shorter segments, and presented vertically on a serving dish. Decorations and additional frosting may be used.

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.