Abstract: A counter-stacker includes an infeed conveyor having a plurality of lanes for containing planar food articles. A vacuum conveyor system is located adjacent to the infeed conveyor and includes a plurality of vacuum conveyors. Each vacuum conveyor includes a frame, a pair of pulleys rotationally mounted to the frame, a drive shaft coupled to one of the pair of pulleys, a vacuum generator for generating vacuum conditions within the frame, and a vacuum belt mounted to the pair of pulleys. Each vacuum conveyor is pivotable about one of the pair of pulleys. An oscillating catch cup frame containing a plurality of catch cups is used to stack the planar food articles.

Abstract: A food product sheeter includes first, second, third and fourth rollers rotatably supported on a frame. The fourth roller is positioned above the first and second rollers, and is separated from the first roller by gap which serves as the entrance for dough into the sheeter. The fourth roller acts as a pressurizing roller and drives the food product into a slot between the first and second rollers. The third roller engages against the first roller to cut out food product shapes. The first and second rollers can have smooth non-stick surfaces to facilitate release of the cut-out food product shapes, without gaps or voids forming in them. In a second embodiment, the first roller has a pattern of non-stick surfaces, for example, in the shape of circles. The non-stick surfaces facilitate release of the cut food product shapes off the first roller. The pattern of the non-stick surface on the front roller is indexed to the cutting surfaces on the third roller, to maintain them in registration.

Abstract: A dough ball loader includes a conveyor belt supported on a frame. A frame plate is fixed in position over the conveyor belt. Loading tubes on the frame plate are aligned over a loading opening in the frame plate. Pairs of flatteners are pivotably attached to the frame plate adjacent to the loading opening. The flatteners preferably have a flat bottom surface. An actuator is linked to the flatteners and pivots the flatteners from an open position for loading dough balls onto the conveyor belt, to a closed position, for flattening the dough balls and fixing them into position on the belt.

Abstract: A machine for pressing and forming food products has a die including an inner die plate surrounded by an outer die ring. The inner die plate is axially movable relative the outer die ring, between an extended state and a compressed state. A circumferential flexible seal connects the inner die to the outer die ring. During operation, when the inner die moves from the extended state to the compressed state, the seal creates a groove for the formation of a ridge, or crust of pizza dough. The die is more easily manufactured, has a longer useful life, improves the reliability of the machine, and allows for making rising crust pizzas.