A stirring apparatus includes a bed, a column, a revolution shaft, a revolution driving device, a support member, and a stirring unit. The revolution shaft is supported by the column and extends in a horizontal direction. The revolution driving device rotates the revolution shaft about a first center line being an axis of the revolution shaft. The support member is fixed to the revolution shaft. The stirring unit includes cups and a self-rotation mechanism. The cups are disposed on a circumference centered on the first center line via the support member. The self-rotation mechanism rotates the cups about a second center line passing through a center of the cups. The cups is provided in an inclined manner so that a perpendicular from the center of a bottom plate to the first center line is shorter than a perpendicular from the center of an opening to the first center line.

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 present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for delivering a comestible coating substance and more particularly, though not necessarily, to an improved apparatus for delivering a powder coating to disc-like or disc-shaped or products such as rice cakes, potato crisps/chips, dairy product and crisp/chip-like products in a manufacturing and/or packaging procedure. The present invention seeks to provide an improved system and provides a delivery system that enables first and second major surfaces of the disc-like products to be coated simultaneously.

A confection spreader may be configured to spread confections (for example sprinkles), for example over a cake. The spreader includes a confection tray that is initially in an upper position on a post, mechanically coupled to an upper tray which supports a confection housing or reservoir in which the confections are initially located. At the bottom of posts are legs that act as a stand for the confection spreader. The post includes a spiral groove that is engaged by the confection tray, such that when a lock holding the confection tray against the upper tray is released, the confection tray spins as it descends along the post, following the spiral groove. The release of the confection tray allows confections to flow out of the confection reservoir, through openings in the upper tray, and onto the confection tray. As the confection tray rotates, the confections are propelled outward by centrifugal forces.

A delivery tray, system, and method for automatically delivering food product to a printer for printing on a surface of the food product. The tray has a main body having a plurality of food product support surfaces spaced apart on the main body and each food product support surface configured for supporting one of a plurality of food products thereon and the main body further comprising at least one positioning mechanism corresponding to each of the plurality of food product support surfaces and each positioning mechanism comprising at least one positioning element for guiding the loading of at least one of the plurality of food products onto the delivery tray. The tray is coupled to a motorized base for automatic movement of the tray.

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.

Systems and methods are provided for placing toppings on a product. In one embodiment, a system comprises a mandrel configured to dispense toppings from a supply hopper, and a topping distributor disposed least partly downstream to the mandrel. The topping distributor comprising at least one opening, wherein at least some of the toppings that fail to exit through the at least one opening of the topping distributor are directed into a reclaim hopper. In one example, the topping distributor comprises at least one rotating drum that encircles the mandrel.

A system and method is provided for dispensing a substance into one of multiple patterns. The system includes a container to hold a substance and a pump in flow communication with the substance. The pump directs the substance from the container to a housing. The housing includes a first removable component with first openings that define a first pattern. The first removable component is in flow communication with the pump. The first removable component is replaceable with a second removable component defining second openings that define a second pattern different from the first pattern. The pump directs the substance through the first openings such that the substance forms a first pattern on a surface positioned proximate to the housing that is based on the first pattern of the first removable component.