A system for the automated coating of baked good with a water based icing is provided. In particular, a system for the automated movement of icing and controls of variables such as temperature, moisture, and/or flow rate of the icing is provided to maintain the characteristics of the icing for extended periods of operation of an associated coating system.

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 food product coating apparatus has a main conveyor, a coating-material spreading system for spreading coating material across the main conveyor, and a coating-material recirculation system for recirculating excess-coating material spilling out the discharge end of the main conveyor. The recirculation system has at least one transverse collection conveyor and at least one counter-flow return conveyor, both of which like the main conveyor made of solid web material. The coating-material spreading system comprises a first overhead sifting loader near the intake end and a spaced away second overhead sifting loader. A food-product inflow conveyor transfers an inflow of food product to the main conveyor between the first and second loaders.

A food product coating apparatus has a main conveyor, a coating-material spreading system for spreading coating material across the main conveyor, and a coating-material recirculation system for recirculating excess-coating material spilling out the discharge end of the main conveyor. The recirculation system has at least one transverse collection conveyor and at least one counter-flow return conveyor, both of which like the main conveyor made of solid web material. The coating-material spreading system comprises a first overhead sifting loader near the intake end and a spaced away second overhead sifting loader. A food-product inflow conveyor transfers an inflow of food product to the main conveyor between the first and second loaders.

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 comprising 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 comprising 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.

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 comprising 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 comprising 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 system for the personalized production of foods including an automated selection station of the type of food requested by the customer, including the relative topping, and of the method of preparation thereof, a preparation station of the dough portions (P) that constitute the base of the requested foods (X,X′), a first topping station of the dough portions (P) with ingredients to be cooked, a cooking station of the dough portions (P) with ingredients to be cooked, a delivery station to the customer of the finished foods (X′), means (IS) for transporting the dough portions (P) and/or the foods (X,X′) through the stations. The first topping station includes a counter with worker and a selection counter of the ingredients to be cooked freely accessible to the customers; the transportation means include a sorting device of the dough portions (P) towards the counter with worker or towards the selection counter.

A system for the personalized production of foods including an automated selection station of the type of food requested by the customer, including the relative topping, and of the method of preparation thereof, a preparation station of the dough portions (P) that constitute the base of the requested foods (X,X′), a first topping station of the dough portions (P) with ingredients to be cooked, a cooking station of the dough portions (P) with ingredients to be cooked, a delivery station to the customer of the finished foods (X′), means (IS) for transporting the dough portions (P) and/or the foods (X,X′) through the stations. The first topping station includes a counter with worker and a selection counter of the ingredients to be cooked freely accessible to the customers; the transportation means include a sorting device of the dough portions (P) towards the counter with worker or towards the selection counter.

A system for the automated coating of baked good with a water based icing is provided. In particular, a system for the automated movement of icing and controls of variables such as temperature, moisture, and/or flow rate of the icing is provided to maintain the characteristics of the icing for extended periods of operation of an associated coating system.

This invention relates to a method and device for applying moisture on a piece of dough comprising the steps of: supplying a piece of dough on a substrate; selectively applying moisture on a first predetermined area of the dough piece, while leaving adjacent areas of the dough piece unaltered, characterized in that the application of the moisture takes place: with a controlled density; with controlled dimensions, i.e. a controlled length and width on the dough piece; and free of contact. The device thereto comprises a conveyor, for conveying dough pieces in a first direction of conveyance towards a moisturizing stage; said moisturizing stage, comprising; at least one nozzle, said nozzle located above the conveyor transporting the dough pieces, for applying a stroke of moisture on the transported dough piece; a controller, for controlling a density and/or a width of the stroke of the applied moisture.