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.

The invention relates to a device for portioning a dough mass, comprising a receiving chamber for holding said dough mass comprising a discharge opening, a pair of opposing rotary cutters provided at the discharge opening and arranged for rotation in mutually opposite directions, wherein each cutter comprises at least one blade rotatable around a rotary axis, which blade cooperates with the blade of the other cutter for cutting the dough mass into separate portions, and a release agent delivery system for applying a release agent onto the blades of the rotary cutters, wherein the release agent delivery system is configured for applying the release agent on opposing sides of each of the blades. The invention further relates to a release agent delivery system for use in such a device and a method for portioning a dough mass using such a device.

The invention relates to a device for portioning a dough mass, comprising a receiving chamber for holding said dough mass comprising a discharge opening, a pair of opposing rotary cutters provided at the discharge opening and arranged for rotation in mutually opposite directions, wherein each cutter comprises at least one blade rotatable around a rotary axis, which blade cooperates with the blade of the other cutter for cutting the dough mass into separate portions, and a release agent delivery system for applying a release agent onto the blades of the rotary cutters, wherein the release agent delivery system is configured for applying the release agent on opposing sides of each of the blades. The invention further relates to a release agent delivery system for use in such a device and a method for portioning a dough mass using such a device.

A food product flavoring apparatus is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a removable container configured to contain a flavor target, a means for agitating the flavor target, and a housing. The housing is configured to receive the agitated flavor target when the removable container is adjacent the housing such that the container opening is aligned with the housing opening. The apparatus further includes a means for applying a flavoring agent to the agitated flavor target a means for removing substantially all residual flavoring agent from the housing after the flavor target has been flavored. A method of applying a flavoring agent to a flavor target is also provided.

A powder-dispensing system includes a first rollable member and a second rollable member. The first rollable member has a first pressure surface, a threaded interior chamber internal to the first pressure surface and an entrance to the threaded interior chamber. The second rollable member has a second pressure surface and an interior chamber internal to the second pressure surface. A threaded exterior surface external to the interior chamber is configured for interlocking/threaded engagement with the threaded interior chamber. A plurality of perforations extend through the threaded exterior surface into the interior chamber of the second rollable member.

A system for dispensing toppings onto a topping vehicle may include a hopper platform, hoppers, a retaining plate, a blade, and a hopper-advancing pin. The hoppers each include a hopper bracket slidably engaging the hopper platform. The blade is mounted on the retaining plate and may reciprocate relative to the retaining plate. The hopper-advancing pin is movable relative to the hoppers between deployed and stowed positions. The hopper-advancing pin may engage one of the hopper brackets in the deployed position such that movement of the retaining plate between retracted and extended positions causes movement of the hopper bracket and a respective hopper along a length of the hopper platform. The hopper-advancing pin may be disengaged from the hopper brackets in the stowed position to allow movement of the retaining plate between the retracted and extended positions without causing movement of the hopper brackets.

A food product flavoring apparatus is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a removable container configured to contain a flavor target, a device for agitating the flavor target, and a housing. The housing is configured to receive the agitated flavor target when the removable container is adjacent the housing such that the container opening is aligned with the housing opening. The apparatus further includes a device for applying a flavoring agent to the agitated flavor target a device for removing substantially all residual flavoring agent from the housing after the flavor target has been flavored. A method of applying a flavoring agent to a flavor target is also provided.

A food product flavoring apparatus is provided. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a removable container configured to contain a flavor target, a device for agitating the flavor target, and a housing. The housing is configured to receive the agitated flavor target when the removable container is adjacent the housing such that the container opening is aligned with the housing opening. The apparatus further includes a device for applying a flavoring agent to the agitated flavor target a device for removing substantially all residual flavoring agent from the housing after the flavor target has been flavored. A method of applying a flavoring agent to a flavor target is also provided.

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.

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.