Abstract: A storage and transport cart is described. The cart includes a holding body forming an interior compartment, a door attached to the body and moveable between an open position and a closed position, and a latch for releasably securing the door to the holding body in the closed position. The latch includes a base, a bracing member extending from the base, a first engaging member extending from the base and spaced apart from the bracing member, and a second engaging member extending from the base and spaced apart from first engaging member and the bracing member.

Abstract: A display and dispensing rack comprises: a base and at least one shelf, each having a top surface and each attached to a left and a right side frame; at least one inclined slide defined by the top surface and inclined upwardly from a front edge to a rear edge; a front article stop adjacent to the front edge limiting forward sliding of the articles; a pushplate; at least one guide rail for the pushplate defining a path between the rear edge and the front stop; and, the pushplate having a front face inclined at a generally upright orientation as the pushplate urges the articles along the path toward the front article stop.

Abstract: An twisted pretzel producing apparatus has a conveyor with a surface for receiving and transporting a rope of dough. An anvil engages the rope of dough so that continued conveyor movement form a curved dough portion. A twister assembly grabs the two ends of the rope of dough and rotates to form a twisted section of dough. The twister assembly includes a set of plungers that press the two ends against the curved portion to form a twisted pretzel. The exact location and degree to which the ends are pressed against the curved portion are randomly varied so that each pretzel has a different appearance as occurs with pretzels made by hand.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for prioritized distribution of dough logs from a dough mixing or supply system to a series of production lines. The device includes an input conveyor and an output conveyor, each having an upstream end and a downstream end, a plurality of distribution conveyors placed in succession to one another along a conveying path and capable of transversely carrying dough logs downstream thereon in a first direction. Each of the distribution conveyors has an upstream end and a downstream end and is upwardly inclined in one direction with the downstream end of each of the distribution conveyors overlapping an upstream end of a successive one of the distribution conveyors. Sensor are provided and associated with each of the input conveyor, the distribution conveyors, and the output conveyor, for detecting dough logs transported thereon.