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).

A dough dividing system includes a hopper for receiving dough constituent including a hopper inlet and a hopper outlet, a divider assembly including a divider block including a divider block cavity, and a first actuator, and a receptacle including a receptacle inlet. The first actuator moves the divider block to align the divider block cavity with the hopper outlet, the dough constituent enters the divider block cavity when the divider block cavity is aligned with the hopper outlet, the divider block moves to shear a dough form from the dough constituent, and the divider block moves the dough form over the receptacle inlet such that the dough form can empty from the divider block cavity.

A compact motorized tortilla forming machine utilizing rollers for forming a mass of dough or masa into a flat circular configuration prior to cooking or baking that is of a compact size, having a 2′×2′ footprint and can easily fit on and be supported on a countertop or table. The machine includes a roller assembly, a forwardly extending conveyor near its bottom end, a drive motor having a drive sprocket connected with an electrical power source through a relay coupled with a limit switch that provides overload protection, a cover member having an on-off switch, a start button, and an emergency stop button mounted thereon and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor, and an exhaust fan mounted inside of the cover member and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor. A top lid and a rear door are maintained normally closed by magnetic latches and limit switches and when opened, the limit switches prevent electrical current from flowing to the motor.

A compact motorized tortilla forming machine utilizing rollers for forming a mass of dough or masa into a flat circular configuration prior to cooking or baking that is of a compact size, having a 2′×2′ footprint and can easily fit on and be supported on a countertop or table. The machine includes a roller assembly, a forwardly extending conveyor near its bottom end, a drive motor having a drive sprocket connected with an electrical power source through a relay coupled with a limit switch that provides overload protection, a cover member having an on-off switch, a start button, and an emergency stop button mounted thereon and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor, and an exhaust fan mounted inside of the cover member and connected in a circuit between the power source and the drive motor. A top lid and a rear door are maintained normally closed by magnetic latches and limit switches and when opened, the limit switches prevent electrical current from flowing to the motor.

A crimping and cutting assembly includes a first roller engaged with a second roller including a honeycomb pattern of polygonal crimping and cutting members. Various transversely spaced, internally filled dough ropes are fed between the first and second rollers, causing each rope to be continuously crimped and cut at longitudinally spaced locations to create multi-sided food products, specifically polygonal food products having two to six crimped and cut sides. The ropes can permissibly shift or wander laterally during production, resulting in slightly different size or shape food products, while the honeycomb pattern acts to re-align the ropes so as to be tolerant to the ropes wandering while still preventing puncturing of the ropes which could lead to loss of filling and extended production downtime.

A crimping and cutting assembly includes a first roller engaged with a second roller including a honeycomb pattern of polygonal crimping and cutting members. Various transversely spaced, internally filled dough ropes are fed between the first and second rollers, causing each rope to be continuously crimped and cut at longitudinally spaced locations to create multi-sided food products, specifically polygonal food products having two to six crimped and cut sides. The ropes can permissibly shift or wander laterally during production, resulting in slightly different size or shape food products, while the honeycomb pattern acts to re-align the ropes so as to be tolerant to the ropes wandering while still preventing puncturing of the ropes which could lead to loss of filling and extended production downtime.

The present invention relates to a dough processing device, for use on a dough line, comprising at least one dough processing tool, such as a flour dispenser, a roller, a cutter, a folding shoe, for processing the dough on a conveyor; arranged in a frame, arranged for being placed as a bridge over a dough conveyor and thereto having supports at opposite ends; provided with a fastener, for fastening the supports on either side to a dough conveyor housing; wherein at least one support is provided with a transport device, for transporting the dough processing device directly over a conveyor while supporting the dough processing device on said conveyor. The invention further relates to a dough processing line comprising such a dough processing device.

The present invention relates to a dough processing device, for use on a dough line, comprising at least one dough processing tool, such as a flour dispenser, a roller, a cutter, a folding shoe, for processing the dough on a conveyor; arranged in a frame, arranged for being placed as a bridge over a dough conveyor and thereto having supports at opposite ends; provided with a fastener, for fastening the supports on either side to a dough conveyor housing; wherein at least one support is provided with a transport device, for transporting the dough processing device directly over a conveyor while supporting the dough processing device on said conveyor. The invention further relates to a dough processing line comprising such a dough processing device.

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.