Abstract: A fried pizza crust and a complete pizza product are produced with a method in which perforations are formed in a pizza dough sheet by removing small plugs of dough. Each perforated dough piece is then submerged in a hot oil bath until the crust is fried. The fried crust is removed from the oil and drained, after which it is topped with sauce. The sauce flows into funnel shaped depressions formed over each perforation, some of the sauce flowing through the perforations before congealing. Other topping materials are then applied to the sauce covered crust. The finally topped pizza includes small pools of sauce and flavor enhanced crust areas.

Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly dispensing particulate food materials onto a moving article which comprises a hopper for holding a supply of the particulate and having a horizontally disposed orifice through which the particulate material can exit, a rotatable drum located below the orifice and having a plurality of spaced fins protruding radially therefrom and disposed on a zig-zag pattern and operable to counteract the tendency of the particulate material to fall off the drum, and a scraper adapted to engage the drum surface between the fins and operable to follow the zig-zag pattern of the fins to lift particulate material off the surface of the drum and guide it to a discharge precipice over which it falls onto the moving article.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for draining and expunging excess oil from delicate pizza crusts which have been fried in oil, adapted for association with discharge mechanism of a crust fryer, functioning in cooperation therewith to receive, drain, and manipulatively reposition the crusts for packing into shipping cartons. Crusts discharged from the fryer at the infeed end fall into slots formed by adjacent vertical flights provided at spaced intervals on an inclined drain conveyor. The delicate crusts are held against deformation in upright position by the flights during their traverse of the conveyor length thus allowing for dripping drainage of oil from their respective surfaces. The oil so drained is collected in a drain pan positioned beneath the conveyor and at an angle sloping towards the frying mechanism at the infeed end of the conveyor. Oil collected by the drain pan is thus directed into an associated catch tank for subsequent return to the fryer.

Abstract: An improved food preparation process is disclosed. In order to practice the process, a container is provided which has a centrally-depressed receptacle with an outwardly and downwardly extending rim. A food filling is first deposited in the container receptacle. The container receptacle and rim are then covered with a sheet of unbaked dough so that the dough conforms to the container rim. The now-filled and covered container which comprises the food product is then frozen. The frozen product filled container is inverted in a conventional oven and heat is applied. A seal is formed between the dough sheet and the container at the juncture of the container walls and rim. The filling heats to a fluid state. When the container is removed, the filling flows outwardly to fill the upstanding crust formed by the baked dough.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cutting bread is disclosed. The apparatus includes a conveyor which conveys bread through a positioner to a circular, vertically disposed, rotatably mounted cutting blade. The positioner positions the bread with respect to the cutting blade to control the size and configuration of the pieces of bread cut by the cutting blade. A displacement member separates the upper portions of the cut pieces of bread, thus causing the pieces to separate and drop downwardly with the cut face of each piece of bread facing upwardly.

Abstract: A display package comprising a semi-rigid outer container having a front wall and a back wall with a cutout creating an opening in the front wall. The outer container encloses an inner container, the latter comprising a sheet or pouch of film plastic on a food product base, a plurality of intermediate pouches loosely enclosing separate food product ingredients, and an outer pouch of shrink film plastic heat shrunk onto the base over the intermediate pouches so as to hold them in place. The film forms a window for viewing the food products through the cutout.

Abstract: Apparatus for the continuous production of fried dough crusts is disclosed in which the dough pieces are retained between a pair of endless conveyors, one above the other, the upper conveyor being of balanced-weave construction, the lower conveyor being of flat-flex construction, the designs of said conveyors being incapable of registering with one another. The endless conveyors traverse a part of a hot oil bath, beneath the surface of the oil in uniform, spaced, parallel relation to each other, the spacing between the conveyors being maintained within the range of 1/8 inch to 3/8 inch for confinement of the dough pieces therebetween. The oil in the cooking zone of said bath is maintained at a temperature range of about 360.degree.-410.degree. F. After exiting from the cooking bath and prior to reaching a delivery point, crusts are continuously confined and rapidly cooled.

Abstract: The machine includes a horizontal base plate on which a plurality of vertical tubes are mounted, apertures in said plate being disposed beneath said tubes so food products are free to pass down through the tubes and the plate. Stop means below the plate limit the distance which food products can extend out of the tubes. A blade assembly is rotatable below the plate on a vertical axis between the tubes. A blade assembly includes a freely rotatable circular blade at its outer end which passes under the tubes in sequence and cuts corresponding food products into predetermined length chunks.

Abstract: A commodity can assembly comprising upper and lower cylindrical cans having beads around opposed ends which are releasably gripped by a storage unit connector. The connector is molded of stiff but slightly resilient plastic and includes a cylindrical wall having annular lips inside it which grip the can beads. Between the lips a spaced pair of inwardly extending shoulders serve as stop for the can ends and define a compartment between them in which a third commodity is stored for marketing.

Abstract: A method for producing a laminated, imperforate or non-docked product. The dough is formulated and prepared for cooking by frying, during which partial delamination through the production and coalescence of expanded gas cells within the dough are controlled by the formulation, mixing, sheeting and proofing of the dough prior to cooking, and by the selective confinement of the dough piece during cooking, as in immersion frying and sequentially. The product is suitable for topping, followed by freezing, packaging, and ultimately, for baking into a comestible product, such as pizza.

Abstract: A process for producing a frozen, pre-prepared food product is disclosed. In order to practice the process, a container is provided which has a centrally-depressed receptacle with an outwardly and downwardly extending rim. A food filling is first deposited in the container receptacle. The container receptacle and rim are then covered with a sheet of unbaked dough so that the dough conforms to the container rim. The now-filled and covered container which comprises the food product is then frozen so that when a sufficient amount of heat is applied to the product, the filling heats to a fluid state. Thus, when the food product is inverted and the container is removed, the filling flows outwardly to fill the upstanding crust formed by the baked dough.

Abstract: A method for forming dough shells in a continuously transported web of dough using the steps of proofing the moving dough web, forming the proofed dough web into dough shells, resting the dough shells and reclaiming and blending the trimmings of the dough web into the dough is also shown.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for coating an article of food with a granular food product at a selected density which apparatus is formed of a distributor having a wedged-shaped elongated hopper for enclosing granular material to be metered and coated on the surface an article of food transported thereunder by a conveyor, which housing defines a pair of aligned elongated slots of sufficient dimension to pass the granular material, a pair of orifice plates one moveably mounted adjacent each elongated slot at the bottom of the hopper for setting the opening size, a pair of contra-rotatable distributing augers positioned one above each elongated slot and rotationally mounted in the housing in adjustable eccentric bearings with the height of the distributing augers being adjustable relative to the slot therebelow, an agitating auger rotationally mounted in the housing above the distributing augers in adjustable eccentric bearings for adjusting the height of the agitating auger in spaced parallel alignment to and above the

Abstract: A method of coating a surface of an article of food with a granular material at a selected density by transporting the food along a preselected path at a preselected speed, enclosing and agitating the granular material with a rotating auger, metering the granular material with height adjusting augers, while adjusting the height of the agitating auger, the orifice for metering the granular material and rotating the distributing auger at selected speeds to meter a selected quantity of food onto the food surface; reclaiming excess granular material and reconveying the excess back to the enclosed quantity.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for separating metallic conductor wire from its insulation for reclamation of the metal and secondarily the insulation material. Random-size, non-uniform masses and pieces of the insulated wire are conveyed to an entrance end of a shaftless rotatable drum having helically deployed baffles along the inner surface thereof. The masses and pieces introduced to the drum initially and continuously are exposed therein to cryogenic coolant to freeze the same and render them brittle. The baffles continuously turn the frozen masses and pieces to ensure that all surfaces and areas thereof are exposed to the coolant for thorough freezing. Simultaneously, the action of the baffles and drum move the masses and pieces from the entrance end to an exit end of the drum. The super-cooled brittle masses and pieces are delivered from the exit end to a grinding apparatus where the same are reduced to particles of metal and insulation material.