Abstract: A layered food product is prepared with strips of flexible food material wherein one of a plurality of previously formed strips is guided onto a first advancing conveyor belt and transported on the belt, and a second strip is guided onto a second advancing conveyor belt and transported on then off of that belt and then guided so that the off-transported strip is guided to lie over and advance with the first strip transported on the first advancing belt to form a layered product which is transported on the first advancing belt. A filling may be deposited upon the first transported strip prior to guiding the second strip to lie over the first strip, and further strips may be guided onto further belts and transported and guided sequentially to lie over the layered product to form a further layered product, and a filling again may be deposited so that the filling is present between each of the strips.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparation of a layered food product has two conveyor belts, wherein a first conveyor belt is positioned beneath a second conveyor belt, and has a first guide for guiding a plurality of strips of a food material so that one strip is guided onto the first conveyor belt and another strip is guided to the second conveyor belt for transport by the conveyor belts. The conveyor belts extend so that the second conveyor belt has an end positioned above the first conveyor belt at a position between the ends of the first conveyor belt, and a product-forming strip guide is positioned to guide a strip delivered from the end of the second conveyor belt for deposit onto a strip transported on the first conveyor belt for forming a layered food product.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing food materials includes a conveyor and a valve housing positioned above the conveyor. The valve housing has an inlet opening, a dosing opening and an outlet opening, there being no conduit extending between the outlet opening and the conveyor below. A valve tap rotatably positioned in the chamber has an arcuate recessed portion extending between tap edges, one edge being shaped to define a triangular cutting portion having an apex which, upon rotation of the valve tap in the chamber, passes through a midpoint of the outlet opening and closes a central portion of the outlet opening before closing outer portions. When the valve tap is rotated in the chamber to a first position, a channel is formed communicating between the inlet opening and the dosing opening and the outlet opening is closed. Upon opposite rotation of the tap to a second position, a channel is formed communicating between the dosing opening and the outlet opening and the inlet opening is closed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for contact frying a foodstuff wherein the foodstuff is transported on the upper run of a single solid endless thin steel conveyor belt which is heated from below by short wave infrared radiation.