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.

The present disclosure relates to a device for embossing, imprinting, cutting or stamping dough pieces, and the device includes a positioning unit and a tool. The tool includes at least one stamp adapted to be brought into engagement with a dough piece. When the dough pieces are arranged in an undefined position on a flat support, the positioning unit is capable of detecting at least a position of one dough piece, and the tool is adapted to be centered at a target position above the one dough piece.

The present disclosure relates to a device for embossing, imprinting, cutting or stamping dough pieces, and the device includes a positioning unit and a tool. The tool includes at least one stamp adapted to be brought into engagement with a dough piece. When the dough pieces are arranged in an undefined position on a flat support, the positioning unit is capable of detecting at least a position of one dough piece, and the tool is adapted to be centered at a target position above the one dough piece.

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.

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.

One variation of a method for preparing a foodstuff includes: loading a first batter into a first cook chamber; inserting a first core insert into the first cook chamber to form a first thin-shell cavity of a first geometry; heating the first chamber to cook the first batter into a brittle edible shell of the first geometry; loading a second batter into a second cook chamber; inserting a second core insert into the second cook chamber to form a second thin-shell cavity approximating the first geometry; heating the second chamber to cook the second batter into a soft edible shell approximating the first geometry; applying a binding promoter to the soft edible shell; nesting the soft edible shell inside of the brittle edible shell to form a multilayer edible carrier; and loading a set of fillings into the multilayer edible carrier to complete a foodstuff.

A device for orienting wound dough products includes a first conveyor belt circulating with a first conveying speed and transporting a wound dough product having an end protruding from a circumference of the dough product. A second conveyor belt receives the wound dough product from the first conveyor belt and circulates with a second conveying speed which is different from the first conveying speed. The difference between the first conveying speed and the second conveying speed sets the wound dough product received from the first conveyor belt in a desired rolling motion on the second conveyor belt, wherein after the wound dough product has reached a defined end position in which the end of the wound dough product abuts on the second conveyor belt, the rolling motion of the wound dough product stops.

A device for orienting wound dough products includes a first conveyor belt circulating with a first conveying speed and transporting a wound dough product having an end protruding from a circumference of the dough product. A second conveyor belt receives the wound dough product from the first conveyor belt and circulates with a second conveying speed which is different from the first conveying speed. The difference between the first conveying speed and the second conveying speed sets the wound dough product received from the first conveyor belt in a desired rolling motion on the second conveyor belt, wherein after the wound dough product has reached a defined end position in which the end of the wound dough product abuts on the second conveyor belt, the rolling motion of the wound dough product stops.

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 pizza making system in an automated kitchen, where the pizza making system includes a pneumatic arm having a gripper supported on a base in the automated kitchen, a storage box arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm; a press arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm; a dosing and distribution device arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm; a toppings device arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm; an oven arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm; and a cutting station arranged in the automated kitchen, within a reaching distance of the pneumatic arm. The storage box, press, dosing and distribution device, toppings device, oven, and cutting station are in a substantially ring-shaped production line around the pneumatic arm.