A dismountable pump system for quick and efficient cleaning of all pump components. The system includes a container associated with a back pump unit, a pump unit, a fastener and a lock member. The back pump unit defines a flow bore in fluid communication with an interior cavity of the container. The pump unit is removably attached to the back pump unit allowing for disassembly. The pump unit includes a pumping chamber in fluid communication with the flow bore when the pump unit is mounted to the back pump unit. The fastener is pivotably associated with the back pump unit, and the lock member is pivotably associated with the pump unit. The fastener can be pivoted to a locked position to secure the pump unit to the back pump unit, and an unlocked position to allow the pump unit to be removed from the back pump unit.

A food product is coated by applying a first coating to an exterior of the food product with a first depositor. Next, the food product is located in a dough proofer. Then, a second coating is applied to the exterior of the food product with a second depositor. Afterwards, the food product is baked in an oven. Optionally, prior to applying the first coating, a tacking agent is applied to the exterior of the food product with a third depositor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple coatings of a combination sugar and cinnamon are applied to filled dough products.

A food product is coated by applying a first coating to an exterior of the food product with a first depositor. Next, the food product is located in a dough proofer. Then, a second coating is applied to the exterior of the food product with a second depositor. Afterwards, the food product is baked in an oven. Optionally, prior to applying the first coating, a tacking agent is applied to the exterior of the food product with a third depositor. In a preferred embodiment, multiple coatings of a combination sugar and cinnamon are applied to filled dough products.

This invention relates to an apparatus for assembling food products.

This invention relates to an apparatus for assembling food products.

A pizza saucer having a housing in which components may be mounted. The housing includes a base having an upwardly facing deck, a neck that extends from the base to a head, and a manifold mounted to the head facing the deck. The housing contains at least one pump to convey pizza sauce from a source to the manifold, and a computer that controls a rotary prime mover in the base with a driveshaft extending through the deck to a tray drivingly linked to the driveshaft. An input, such as a touchscreen, is mounted to the head and faces the user during operation. With the touchscreen, the user may input the crust size. The computer actuates the pumps and the rotary prime mover, simultaneously causing the crust to rotate 360-370 degrees and the manifold to dispense sauce onto the crust until the crust is coated.

A pizza saucer having a housing in which components may be mounted. The housing includes a base having an upwardly facing deck, a neck that extends from the base to a head, and a manifold mounted to the head facing the deck. The housing contains at least one pump to convey pizza sauce from a source to the manifold, and a computer that controls a rotary prime mover in the base with a driveshaft extending through the deck to a tray drivingly linked to the driveshaft. An input, such as a touchscreen, is mounted to the head and faces the user during operation. With the touchscreen, the user may input the crust size. The computer actuates the pumps and the rotary prime mover, simultaneously causing the crust to rotate 360-370 degrees and the manifold to dispense sauce onto the crust until the crust is coated.

An automated pizza-making system builds and bakes a pizza according to a customer order. The system includes a pizza assembly route and a plurality of ingredient dispensing stations for dispensing ingredients onto the pizza along the route. The uncooked pizza is automatically transferred to the oven for cooking. After the pizza is cooked, the system automatically slices and boxes the cooked pizza. A motion translator places the closed pizza box containing the pizza in a storage locker for customer pickup. A computing device is operable to manage the orders, manage the cooking steps for preparing each order, controls each functional station to build, cook, box, and store the pizza, and notify the customer for pickup when the pizza is ready. Related methods are also described.

An automated pizza-making system builds and bakes a pizza according to a customer order. The system includes a pizza assembly route and a plurality of ingredient dispensing stations for dispensing ingredients onto the pizza along the route. The uncooked pizza is automatically transferred to the oven for cooking. After the pizza is cooked, the system automatically slices and boxes the cooked pizza. A motion translator places the closed pizza box containing the pizza in a storage locker for customer pickup. A computing device is operable to manage the orders, manage the cooking steps for preparing each order, controls each functional station to build, cook, box, and store the pizza, and notify the customer for pickup when the pizza is ready. Related methods are also described.

An apparatus is provided for assembling a pizza, including a pizza sauce spreading station, a cheese spreading station and a pepperoni applying station. A robot including a stationary base and an articulating arm having a gripper attached to the end is operable to grip a pizza pan having pizza dough therein to allow said robot to move the pan throughout the pizza sauce spreading station, and to a rotary dial system including the cheese spreading station and the pepperoni applying station. The robot arm manipulates the pizza pan in the sauce spreading station and the rotary dial system manipulates the pizza pan in the cheese station and the pepperoni applying station to properly distribute the cheese and pepperoni on the pizza.