The invention relates to a food-preparation apparatus, in particular baking apparatus, for forming and baking a food product (5), preferably a flat bread from a dough portion (2) accommodated in a capsule (12), having a housing (3), having a capsule-handling device (4) for opening and/or emptying the capsule (12), and having an upper plate (14), and a lower plate (11), arranged in the housing (3), it being possible for the lower plate to be adjusted in a guide device between a receiving position (A) for receiving the dough portion (2) from the capsule (12), a position of interaction (W) for interacting with the upper plate (14) for baking and/or forming, in particular pressing, the dough portion, and an emptying position (E), in which the lower plate (11) is inclined relative to a base surface (46) of the food-preparation apparatus (1), wherein the guide device has a diverter (20) with a diverter element (21), which can be switched between at least two switching positions and is intended for predetermining an adjustment distance of the lower plate (11) in the guide device, wherein the diverter element (21) is assigned an electromotive drive (M) for switching the diverter element (21) automatically.

A comestible processing machine including a loader plate comprising a plurality of spaced apart openings passing through the loader plate, a first flattener and a second flattener pivotably attached to the loader plate at each of the openings, a sensor configured to detect a comestible disposed within one or more of the plurality of openings, and an actuator coupled to the loader plate and configured to assist in removal of the comestible from the one or more of the plurality of openings.

A vehicle-based, automated pizza-making system including a two-piece pizza pan conveyed between pizza-making components on a series of pan drive rails. The two-piece pizza pan can include a base and a removable ring for containing the unfinished pizza and toppings. The rails can include timing belts for conveying the two-piece pizza pan through the system with improved positional control and accuracy.

Dispensing units for baked products, in particular, baguettes, and devices for dispensing baked products which include a dispensing unit are described. Such dispensing units can be found, for example, in supermarkets, with a continuous baking oven being connected upstream of said dispensing units. At a customer's request by pushing on a button it is possible for various, freshly baked or crisped-up baked products to be dispensed from the dispensing unit.

An automated pan shaker has a central longitudinal axis and a central lateral axis. The automated pan shaker includes a shaker assembly that has a carriage assembly, a clamping assembly supported by the carriage assembly and an actuation assembly. The actuation assembly further includes an actuator post connected to the carriage assembly, a first actuator assembly that includes a first actuator linkage connected to the actuator post, and a second actuator assembly that includes a second actuator linkage connected to the actuator post. Also disclosed is a method for inducing orbital movement in a bakery pan using a plurality of offset actuation assemblies.

A process for grilling pizza includes grilling one side of a shaped pizza dough on a design bearing grate, applying condiments to the grilled side, and baking the partially cooked pizza.

Devices for discharging bakery goods, to be combined with an upstream continuous baking oven, are described. The device has transfer means for transferring bakery goods from a storage unit to discharging means, wherein the discharging means direct the bakery goods to a discharging compartment. The discharging means include a conveying installation and a dispensing installation, wherein the dispensing installation is suppliable by the conveying installation with bakery goods.

A bagel cookware comprises a round bagel tray sized to hold about four bagels in a twelve-inch pot of boiling water. The bagel tray has about four vertical bagel support rods and a central socket comprising a cylindrical collar. This cylindrical collar has a pair of bosses to receive a hollow end of a lifting handle. When the handle is twisted the bosses engage a pair of L shaped retainer channels in a hollow mouth at the bottom of the handle. The handle also has a series of anti-floatation screens so the bagels cannot float while boiling. The chef can use the removable handle to place the cookware in boiling water, then pick up the cookware, tilt the cookware, and place it in an oven. Commercial embodiments could use robotics and hold dozens of bagels on an equivalent apparatus. Alternative embodiments include a stamped anti-flotation screen, a hollow central socket, and hollow, tapered bagel support rods. The hollow mouth of the handle allows a controlled tilting of the entire bagel cookware during the phases of cooking.

A scooped out bagel dough product, bagel mold halves, and an apparatus using the bagel mold halves for making a scooped out bagel product. The scooped out bagel product is a baked bagel product half having: a crunchy blistered outer shell with a substantially reduced amount of doughy inner chamber that provides its unique flavor. This scooped out bagel product utilizes a predesigned custom mold that creates stalactites, i.e., flavor spikes, and holes or flavor pit formations that each encapsulate the soft doughy inner contents within a boiled and baked blister shell and increases a surface area of dough on an inner surface thereof. The product is a scooped out half bagel crunchy on its outer surface but filled with the flavor spikes, and flavor pits in which substantially reduced amounts of dough are encased relative to a comparable sized whole bagel.

The invention relates to a device for guiding and supplying dough to a dough processing or transporting means comprising a receiving chamber with at least one belt conveyor comprising a conveyor belt forming at least part of a side wall of the receiving chamber. The receiving chamber is further provided with at least two sealing strips mounted at opposing side ends of the conveyor, wherein the sealing strips create a seal between the conveyor belt and an adjacent stationary wall forming another part of the side wall of the receiving chamber. The invention further relates to a chunker for subdividing dough into smaller parts comprising said device.