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 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.

The invention relates to a cutting device (101 . . . 106) for a dough extrusion machine (2), comprising a moveable frame (3), a wire (41) or a blade (42) mounted on said frame (3), and a first drive (51, 52) coupled to said frame (3) causing a movement of the frame (3) in a first direction (x). Moreover, the cutting device (101 . . . 106) comprises a second drive (61, 62, 62′) coupled to said frame (3), which causes a movement of the frame (3) in a second direction (z) transverse to the first direction (x). The second drive (61, 62, 62′) can be actuated independently of said first drive (51, 52). In addition, the invention relates to a method of cutting dough by means of said cutting device (101 . . . 106), wherein the first drive (51, 52) and the second drive (61, 62, 62′) are simultaneously actuated during movement of the wire (41)/blade (42).

The invention relates to a cutting device (101 . . . 106) for a dough extrusion machine (2), comprising a moveable frame (3), a wire (41) or a blade (42) mounted on said frame (3), and a first drive (51, 52) coupled to said frame (3) causing a movement of the frame (3) in a first direction (x). Moreover, the cutting device (101 . . . 106) comprises a second drive (61, 62, 62′) coupled to said frame (3), which causes a movement of the frame (3) in a second direction (z) transverse to the first direction (x). The second drive (61, 62, 62′) can be actuated independently of said first drive (51, 52). In addition, the invention relates to a method of cutting dough by means of said cutting device (101 . . . 106), wherein the first drive (51, 52) and the second drive (61, 62, 62′) are simultaneously actuated during movement of the wire (41)/blade (42).

A forming method of forming a combined food product containing granulated objects and a food dough comprising steps of (a) discharging a tubular food dough from a discharging device and forming a bottom of the tubular food dough; (b) supplying a predetermined amount of granulated objects to an inside of the tubular food dough formed with the bottom; and (c) cutting the tubular food dough to divide the combined food product filled with the supplied granulated objects. In the step (c), the combined food product is formed so that an upper surface of the granulated objects which are filled is partially and ununiformly covered with the food dough.

A forming method of forming a combined food product containing granulated objects and a food dough comprising steps of (a) discharging a tubular food dough from a discharging device and forming a bottom of the tubular food dough; (b) supplying a predetermined amount of granulated objects to an inside of the tubular food dough formed with the bottom; and (c) cutting the tubular food dough to divide the combined food product filled with the supplied granulated objects. In the step (c), the combined food product is formed so that an upper surface of the granulated objects which are filled is partially and ununiformly covered with the food dough.

A plurality of dough pieces are produced using a rotary dough cutter comprises an annular cutter body configured to be rotatably driven, a plurality of arcuate sidewalls extending circumferentially about the cutter body, a plurality of radial divider walls extending across respective sidewalls, and a plurality of interior blades extending radially relative to the body between the sidewalls. The plurality of walls define a plurality of dough cutter molds. During conveying of a sheet of dough to the rotary dough cutter, the plurality of dough pieces are cut by the plurality of walls and scored with the plurality of interior blades. After being cut and scored, the dough pieces are removed from within the dough cutter molds with the assistance of a sequentially timed, regulated and adjustable fluid ejection system, and then frozen.

A plurality of dough pieces are produced using a rotary dough cutter comprises an annular cutter body configured to be rotatably driven, a plurality of arcuate sidewalls extending circumferentially about the cutter body, a plurality of radial divider walls extending across respective sidewalls, and a plurality of interior blades extending radially relative to the body between the sidewalls. The plurality of walls define a plurality of dough cutter molds. During conveying of a sheet of dough to the rotary dough cutter, the plurality of dough pieces are cut by the plurality of walls and scored with the plurality of interior blades. After being cut and scored, the dough pieces are removed from within the dough cutter molds with the assistance of a sequentially timed, regulated and adjustable fluid ejection system, and then frozen.

A food production apparatus, a rotation method and a food production method which stably and accurately rotate a foodstuff workpiece by a desired angle are provided. At least any one of a first rotation unit (31) and a second rotation unit (32) is moved in such a manner that a foodstuff workpiece (W) is nipped and held by the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32). The first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32) which nip and hold the foodstuff workpiece (W) are actively rotated in synchronization with each other. At least any one of the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32) is moved in such a manner that the foodstuff workpiece (W) is released from the first rotation unit (31) and the second rotation unit (32).