Abstract: A method for application of grated cheese to pizza shells is provided including feeding of cheese to a grating station, intermittent grating of the cheese to produce a predetermined quantity of grated cheese particles in a selected pattern and permitting the particles to freely drop, receiving the grated particles in a plane in the pattern as dropped and then discharging the particles from that plane, along a fixed line while transporting a pizza shell relative to the fixed discharge line in a direction perpendicular thereto to thereby collect the particles in the same specific pattern on the pizza shell. This method enables forming of the particles at a stationary point and to then place those particles in the same pattern on a pizza shell which is continuously moving.

Abstract: A flexible meat slicing blade and support therefor is provided for utilization in apparatus such as pizza forming machines to provide accurately and uniformly sliced meat products of specified thickness for deposit on a surface of a pizza shell. An elongated flexible meat slicing blade of this invention, which may be a continuous band, is supported for longitudinal movement in a cutting plane with the blade disposed at an angle with respect to that cutting plane. A cutting edge of the blade is beveled at an angle which is slightly less than the angle of inclination of the blade to the cutting plane. A support is provided for the portion of the blade passing through the cutting plane to maintain the flexible blade in precise position with respect to the cutting plane. This support includes a structurally rigid bar having a longitudinal groove in which the effective cutting portion of the blade is disposed for relative sliding movement.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the application of grated cheese to pizza shells is provided including mechanism for the automated feeding of cheese to a grating apparatus, intermittent grating of cheese in a predetermined quantity and deposit thereof onto a transfer conveyor, and the intermittent operation of the transfer conveyor for subsequently transferring the cheese particles onto a pizza shell carried by a continuously moving conveyor. The apparatus provides for the automated application of grated cheese to pizza shells in a continuously moving, assembly-line production system in which the pizza shells are transported on an elongated continuously moving conveyor belt. The grating apparatus for the cheese is vertically disposed in superimposed relationship to the pizza shell conveyor and is located immediately above an intermediate transfer conveyor.