An apparatus for mixing and dispensing viscous food products is described herein. The apparatus may include a pump device for drawing the viscous food product from a container and distributing over a rotating turntable. The apparatus includes a cassette device with replaceable pliable food containers connected to the pump device through a friction-fit connection. The cassette device includes a sliding roller assembly and a door, with the container installed between the sliding roller assembly and the door such that the roller assembly applies force against the door and container as the sliding roller assembly descends under gravity. The sliding roller assembly includes level indicators visible through the door that provide visual indication of the level of food product remaining within the container.

An apparatus for mixing and dispensing viscous food products is described herein. The apparatus may include a pump device for drawing the viscous food product from a container and distributing over a rotating turntable. The apparatus includes a cassette device with replaceable pliable food containers connected to the pump device through a friction-fit connection. The cassette device includes a sliding roller assembly and a door, with the container installed between the sliding roller assembly and the door such that the roller assembly applies force against the door and container as the sliding roller assembly descends under gravity. The sliding roller assembly includes level indicators visible through the door that provide visual indication of the level of food product remaining within the container.

Provided is a sauce dispenser module used in an automatic hamburger production system. The sauce dispenser module includes a sauce storage unit for storing a sauce to be dispensed, a sauce transfer unit configured to transfer the sauce of the sauce storage unit, a nozzle unit configured to dispense the sauce transferred by the sauce transfer unit in various forms, a sensor configured to monitor a state of the sauce dispensed by the nozzle unit, and a control unit configured to control the sauce transfer unit according to monitoring with a signal of the sensor.

Provided is a sauce dispenser module used in an automatic hamburger production system. The sauce dispenser module includes a sauce storage unit for storing a sauce to be dispensed, a sauce transfer unit configured to transfer the sauce of the sauce storage unit, a nozzle unit configured to dispense the sauce transferred by the sauce transfer unit in various forms, a sensor configured to monitor a state of the sauce dispensed by the nozzle unit, and a control unit configured to control the sauce transfer unit according to monitoring with a signal of the sensor.

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 food preparation system includes a sauce-dispensing system with sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and tubes. Each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective sauce. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with a respective sauce reservoir via a respective tube. A conveyance system transports a foodstuff between first and sauce positions. The scanning head is movable to dispense a selected sauce onto one or more regions of the foodstuff. A motor assembly is mounted to a mounting structure. The motor assembly is drivingly coupled to the scanning head and rotates the scanning head relative to the mounting structure. The scanning head includes a plate and a cylindrical shroud fixed relative to the plate. The openings extend through the plate. The plate is disposed within a cavity defined by the cylindrical shroud. The motor assembly rotates the plate and the cylindrical shroud about a longitudinal axis.

A process for producing foodstuff products provided with a respective decoration having a given configuration, the process including the steps of: making a plurality of foodstuff products each having a surface cavity and a profile in plan view that is predetermined to reproduce the given configuration of the respective decoration; advancing the foodstuff products on a conveying line in a direction of advance; via a camera, detecting, for each foodstuff product, the respective cavity; determining one or more data indicating a volume of the cavity of the foodstuff product; providing a fluid foodstuff material dispensing unit, including a plurality of rows of nozzles transverse to the direction of advance; dispensing an amount of fluid foodstuff material in the cavity of each foodstuff product substantially equal to the volume of the cavity.

A method and a food processing system for distributing within a specific time interval a batch of a specific weight of food products onto the top surface of a dough base, such as a pizza base, cake base or the like the food processing system comprising a dosing mechanism, a weighing system, a conveyor system and a controller. The method comprises the steps of: i. defining a target time interval constituting 40-90 percent of the specific time interval, ii. determining the actual weight of the batch received within a receptacle of the weighing system when the target time interval has passed, iii. dependent on the actual weight, a. determining a first operational mode provided the actual weight being reached in respect of the target weight within the target time interval, then continuing operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at the identical speed, or b. determining a second operational mode provided the actual weight exceeding the target weight within the target time interval, then operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at a decreased speed, or c. determining a third operational mode provided the actual weight being below the target weight within the target time interval, then operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at an increased speed.

A method and a food processing system for distributing within a specific time interval a batch of a specific weight of food products onto the top surface of a dough base, such as a pizza base, cake base or the like the food processing system comprising a dosing mechanism, a weighing system, a conveyor system and a controller. The method comprises the steps of: i. defining a target time interval constituting 40-90 percent of the specific time interval, ii. determining the actual weight of the batch received within a receptacle of the weighing system when the target time interval has passed, iii. dependent on the actual weight, a. determining a first operational mode provided the actual weight being reached in respect of the target weight within the target time interval, then continuing operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at the identical speed, or b. determining a second operational mode provided the actual weight exceeding the target weight within the target time interval, then operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at a decreased speed, or c. determining a third operational mode provided the actual weight being below the target weight within the target time interval, then operating the first conveyor controlled by the controller at an increased speed.