Abstract: A food winding apparatus, system, and method of forming a rolled food item utilizing a slotted spool or cup and a push plate to eject the rolled food item from the spool. A food winding unit utilizes a motor to rotate a slotted spool. The leading end of a supported strip of food is detected by a sensor and directed into the slot of a spool. A micro-controller triggers a motor in response to the sensor signal to rotate and form a rolled food item after a predetermined number of rotations. An actuator is activated to displace an ejection plate to eject the rolled food item from the slotted spool. The winding unit can be integrated into a system including an extruder to deposit food onto support strips, a series of conveyors, and a rotary knife to cut the supported strip of food into predetermined lengths suitable for being rolled into a food item by the winding unit.

Abstract: A food winding apparatus, system, and method of forming a rolled food item utilizing a slotted spool or cup and a push plate to eject the rolled food item from the spool. A food winding unit utilizes a motor to rotate a slotted spool. The leading end of a supported strip of food is detected by a sensor and directed into the slot of a spool. A micro-controller triggers a motor in response to the sensor signal to rotate and form a rolled food item after a predetermined number of rotations. An actuator is activated to displace an ejection plate to eject the rolled food item from the slotted spool. The winding unit can be integrated into a system including an extruder to deposit food onto support strips, a series of conveyors, and a rotary knife to cut the supported strip of food into predetermined lengths suitable for being rolled into a food item by the winding unit.