In order to be able to shingle articles individual slices or partial portions of slices shingled in a longitudinal direction in a transverse direction relative to the running direction of conveyor units on which these articles are transported, the two conveyor units, on each of which one of the two articles is fully supported, are not brought to overlap in order to achieve the transverse shingling, but one of the articles is transported on its conveyor unit with a lateral overhang to the other conveyor unit, and the other article placed there on the edge side with such a height difference that the two articles can finally overlap and be placed on top of each other. However, the two conveyor units only have to be guided closely next to each other for this purpose without overlapping themselves. This simplifies the design of the overlapping unit and reduces its overall height.

In order to be able to shingle articles individual slices or partial portions of slices shingled in a longitudinal direction in a transverse direction relative to the running direction of conveyor units on which these articles are transported, the two conveyor units, on each of which one of the two articles is fully supported, are not brought to overlap in order to achieve the transverse shingling, but one of the articles is transported on its conveyor unit with a lateral overhang to the other conveyor unit, and the other article placed there on the edge side with such a height difference that the two articles can finally overlap and be placed on top of each other. However, the two conveyor units only have to be guided closely next to each other for this purpose without overlapping themselves. This simplifies the design of the overlapping unit and reduces its overall height.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises: (1) a track with specifically designed conveyor blades for cutting; (2) a motor for conveying the conveyor blades over each other; (3) a tumble blade to gently move or tumble the flowers over the conveyor blade; and, (4) trimmed flower excavation chute for collecting trimmed buds.

In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus comprises: (1) a track with specifically designed conveyor blades for cutting; (2) a motor for conveying the conveyor blades over each other; (3) a tumble blade to gently move or tumble the flowers over the conveyor blade; and, (4) trimmed flower excavation chute for collecting trimmed buds.

A household appliance for preparing food cooked in the presence of fat is described. The appliance includes: a container for receiving at least one raw food item; a preparation chamber; at least one cutting body designed to chop the raw food item into chopped-up parts and to transfer the chopped-up parts into the preparation chamber; a water-spraying device for spraying water onto the chopped-up parts inside the preparation chamber; evacuation means for evacuating the liquid water accumulated in the preparation chamber; means for spraying fat onto the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber; heating means for drying and cooking the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber; a controller connected to the water-spraying device, to the means for spraying fat and to the heating means, the controller being designed such that the food preparation appliance carries out a step of spraying water onto the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber, a step of drying the chopped-up parts, a step of spraying fat over the chopped-up parts, and a step of cooking the chopped-up parts.

A household appliance for preparing food cooked in the presence of fat is described. The appliance includes: a container for receiving at least one raw food item; a preparation chamber; at least one cutting body designed to chop the raw food item into chopped-up parts and to transfer the chopped-up parts into the preparation chamber; a water-spraying device for spraying water onto the chopped-up parts inside the preparation chamber; evacuation means for evacuating the liquid water accumulated in the preparation chamber; means for spraying fat onto the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber; heating means for drying and cooking the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber; a controller connected to the water-spraying device, to the means for spraying fat and to the heating means, the controller being designed such that the food preparation appliance carries out a step of spraying water onto the chopped-up parts in the preparation chamber, a step of drying the chopped-up parts, a step of spraying fat over the chopped-up parts, and a step of cooking the chopped-up parts.

A method of manufacture of a bread, the bread comprising a pocket and having at least one open edge, the method comprising: preparing a dough; working the dough into a sheet including dusting a surface of the sheet of dough with additional flour; proofing the sheet of dough in a proofing room having a pre-determined humidity level, such that a moisture content of the additional surface flour is increased; cutting the proofed sheet of dough into a plurality of substantially tessellating shaped portions; baking each portion to form a bread, such that steam is generated during baking and forms a pocket in the bread; and cutting each bread into at least two parts, each part forming a pocket bread having at least one open edge, the open edge providing access to the pocket, wherein a secondary opening process is not required to provide access to the pocket.

The invention is directed to a foodstuff extrusion portioning device and more specifically a cutter head assembly on such an extruder having a servo motor, a cutter shuttle coupled to a cutting element, a controller and being programmed via a product variable to provide a velocity profile. The cutter in the velocity profile has a first velocity and it reduces speed to a second velocity and goes more slowly through the last portion of the foodstuff. The at least two velocities being fully programmable and the controller can provide for instantaneous and additional programmed velocities throughout the cutting profile. The cutter further providing tilt control so it can drop the portion at the moment the portion detaches from the extruded foodstuff stream. It cuts and/or breaks off portions in a far more uniform and controllable manner to more accurately portion and better place the cut portions. This also provides the portion with minimal residual energy pushing it forward as it drops through the effect of gravity and the cutter can be used so as to further direct and push the portion downward so as to optimally place it.

The invention is directed to a foodstuff extrusion portioning device and more specifically a cutter head assembly on such an extruder having a servo motor, a cutter shuttle coupled to a cutting element, a controller and being programmed via a product variable to provide a velocity profile. The cutter in the velocity profile has a first velocity and it reduces speed to a second velocity and goes more slowly through the last portion of the foodstuff. The at least two velocities being fully programmable and the controller can provide for instantaneous and additional programmed velocities throughout the cutting profile. The cutter further providing tilt control so it can drop the portion at the moment the portion detaches from the extruded foodstuff stream. It cuts and/or breaks off portions in a far more uniform and controllable manner to more accurately portion and better place the cut portions. This also provides the portion with minimal residual energy pushing it forward as it drops through the effect of gravity and the cutter can be used so as to further direct and push the portion downward so as to optimally place it.

A food cutting device for cutting a food item into a plurality of individual portions having a base portion including a bottom panel with a substantially-planar top surface, a top portion including a housing and a cutting assembly including a plurality of elongated blades, the top portion being pivotably-connected to the base portion, the top portion being movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein the cutting assembly is movable between a first position in which the blades of the cutting assembly extend outwardly from the housing, and a second position in which the blades are disposed entirely within the housing.