Abstract: This invention concerns food cooking and dispensing apparatus which includes a container for the foods to be cooked and dispensed, a cooking unit and a food holder. The food holder is movable between a first position in or exposed to the cooking unit. There is also included a metering device which is adapted, when operated, to convey a predetermined quantity of the food from the container to the food holder in its first position. The food holder is such that when moved to its second position it discharges food therein gravitationally to a dispensing unit. The apparatus also includes actuating means for operating the metering device and moving the food holder and also prepaid coin operated means for initiating the action of the actuating means.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing a tubular centerfilled food product having a rigid, friable baked outer shell and a core of edible filling material by a continuous, straight-through process. A semi-liquid batter having a relatively high content of mono-and/or disaccharides is carried between a pair of spaced apart heated moving surfaces and baked to form a continuous, elongated flat thermoplastic sheet having a controlled thickness. The continuous thermoplastic sheet is rolled around its longitudinal axis while warm and pliable to form a continuous tube having a closed longitudinal, non-overlapping seam. As the baked sheet is rolled around its longitudinal axis, a viscous edible filling material is injected into the core of the continuous tube as it is formed. The filled tube is cooled until the outer shell becomes rigid and is then cut into pieces of a desired length.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing lasagne noodles from the stripper of a high production pasta oven and packaging the noodles in a continuous processing line. The output of the stripper is split and directed along separate paths whereby the rate at which product is discharged to each path is reduced in half, as compared to conventional strippers. Conveyors transfer the respective split components of the stripper output away from the stripper and through successive accumulator, inspection and sawing stations. After departing from the sawing stations, the noodles are shingled into sub-components of a predetermined number of noodles and these sub-components are then displaced into containers for final packaging.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the automatic stacking and packaging of potato chips made by mixing potato chip flakes and water to create a dough, which dough is then rolled into a sheet and cut into dough chips. After frying, the dough chips are all of substantially the same size and shape such that the apparatus of the application may automatically stack those chips into stacks of identical quantities and wrap those stacks within individual flexible, impermeable wrappers.

Abstract: A food processing system wherein food is successively treated by washing, blanching, and is thereafter canned and the cans are subjected to retorting, wherein the water, fuel and electrical energy utilized are conserved by efficient utilization thereof.

Abstract: A system for cooking spaghetti and similar pasta products includes a cooking section and a storage section with means for supplying water alternately to either section. The cooking section is equipped with a cook pot having conventional electric or gas heaters for heating water to cook spaghetti. A cooking basket containing spaghetti is suspended in the cook pot by attachment to a basket lifter. Electrical timing means connected to the basket lifter automatically lower the cooking basket at the start of a preselected cook cycle and raise the basket out of the cook pot after the cooking period has ended. The storage section includes a storage tank for rinsing and storing cooked spaghetti in cold water. Multiple rows of nesting cups stacked vertically store individual serving portions of spaghetti in the storage tank. A cup rack is used to reconstitute the spaghetti by suspending the serving cups containing cooked spaghetti in the hot water of the cook pot.