Abstract: An apparatus for depositing a viscous food mix onto a conveyor which carries the deposits of the food mix through an oven. The apparatus includes a hopper into which the food mix is loaded and an array of dies at the underside of the hopper. Counter-rotating rollers are located within the hopper and they are driven at periodic intervals to force a predetermined quantity of the food mix to be extruded downwardly through the dies at the periodic intervals. A shearing mechanism, which includes two reciprocating blades which are mounted in overlapping relationship, is located at the underside of each die for severing the extruded mix from that remaining in the die. The two blades associated with each die are formed with apertures, the blades being driven in such a manner that the apertures align when the blades are located in a first position and move out of alignment when the blades are driven to move into a second position.

Abstract: An oven which is suitable for use in baking bread and which incorporates a baking chamber through which an endless conveyor is driven for transporting product support trays into, through and from the chamber. The conveyor enters the lower region of the chamber, exits from an upper region of the chamber and makes a plurality of horizontal passes in ascending through the chamber. A bank of controller regulated heating elements is located between each of the horizontal passes of the conveyor but tunnels are provided in the lower region of the chamber to prevent heat from being radiated downwardly onto the product support trays during their initial stage of conveyance through the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing articles, particularly, but not necessarily, packaged food articles which are warmed within the apparatus. The apparatus comprises a storage zone, a dispensing zone and a conveyor for conveying articles between the storage zone and the dispensing zone. Articles are loaded into vacant holders in a loading zone and such loading is controlled by a detector which detects for the presence of articles in holders which are at any one time approaching the loading zone. A further detector detects for a vacancy in the dispensing zone and, if such vacancy exists, an article is transferred from an associated holder to the dispensing zone.