Abstract: A grill plate for grilling food, and in particular, frozen meat patties, is coated with a mixture of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and a far-infrared radiation substance. The PTFE, being an abherent, prevents food from sticking to the grill plates, while the far-infrared radiation substance facilitates heating the inner portion of the food by the far-infrared radiation emitted from the far-infrared radiation substance. The entire piece of food is cooked evenly before the outer portion is overcooked.

Abstract: A food material conveyor mechanism for a sandwich fixing apparatus includes a continuously moving conveyor line. A food conveying plate carried along the conveyor line is stopped at predetermined stop positions along the conveyor line so food materials can be automatically added to an unfinished sandwich. The mechanism is controlled by a microprocessor such that the food conveying plate is stopped only at selected stop positions depending on the type of sandwich ordered by a customer. The conveyor line continues to move even while individual conveying plates are stopped.

Abstract: A food material heating mechanism includes at least an upper and a lower heating plate. Food material is placed on a food material tray which is then placed on the lower heating plate. The upper and lower heating plates are moved toward each other to cause an upper surface of the food material to make contact with a bottom surface of the upper heating plate for a heating process. Heating is enhanced by adding a layer of a far infrared radiation substance to surfaces of the heating plates and food material tray which make contact with the food material. The food material tray is preheated to a temperature that is substantially lower than a temperature of the upper heating plate, whereby during the heating process, a soft surface is produced by contact of the food material with the food material tray, and a crusty surface is produced by contact with the upper heating plate. A fluororesin, such as TEFLON, can be added to the surfaces which come into contact with the food material to prevent sticking.

Abstract: A sandwich preparation apparatus includes a plurality of sandwich production lines disposed parallel to each other. A width of each line is slightly wider than a width of a sandwich prepared in the apparatus. Each sandwich production line includes an automatic heel toasting device, an automatic patty grilling device, and an automatic crown toasting device. A heel stocker, a patty stocker, and a crown stocker are optionally included in the apparatus. A heel adding section, a patty adding section, and a crown adding section are optionally included in the apparatus. A manual preparation section is optionally included for enabling an operator manually to add additional required food materials to the sandwich. This apparatus produces a variety of sandwiches and hamburgers and is compact enough to fit in a relatively small kitchen.

Abstract: A sandwich preparation apparatus includes a food material conveyor having an upstream end region and a downstream finishing end region. The bottom part of a sandwich or burger, including a bun half or slice of bread, has sauces and condiments, and a patty if necessary, automatically added by a first automatic fixing section in the upstream end region. The upper part of the sandwich, optionally including additional sauces, condiments, and patties, is completed by a second automatic fixing section in the downstream finishing end region. Between the two regions is a manual fixing section for an operator to manually add various food materials to the sandwich. The operator controls the automatic fixing sections through first and second input devices and an order display device. The operator is able to change the order or sequence of sandwiches between the upstream end region and the downstream end region using the second input device.

Abstract: A sandwich preparation apparatus includes an automatic crown preparation section, an automatic heel preparation section, an automatic patty preparation section, and a manual preparation section. The automatic crown preparation section discharges individual crowns from a crown stocker and sequentially toasts them with a toasting device. The automatic heel preparation section discharges individual heels from a heel stocker and sequentially toasts them with a toasting device. The automatic patty preparation section discharges individual patties from a patty stocker and sequentially heats them with a grilling device. In the manual preparation section, prepared crowns, heels, and a patty, if necessary, are manually fixed along with other necessary food materials. The apparatus also includes conveying devices which transfer crowns, heels, and patties prepared at each section to the manual preparation section or its vicinity.

Abstract: A hamburger fixing apparatus has a food material feeding line conveyor. Various kinds of sandwiches or hamburgers, as indicated on an order display board, are prepared by an automatic feeding mechanism controlled by a computer and an operator in a manner such that each of the food materials necessary for the ordered items is added one on another while being conveyed on the food material feeding line conveyor. The food material feeding line conveyor has a first automatic fixing section in its upstream starting end region, a second automatic fixing section in its downstream finishing end region and a manual fixing section between the two regions. The apparatus further has a stopping mechanism to accumulate an intermediate ordered item.