Abstract: Apparatus and method for preparing hot food products in portions of predetermined size by rehydrating a dehydrated food product to provide a dough that can be shaped and heated. The apparatus includes means for storing bags of dehydrated product and for opening individual bags as needed to maintain a desired level of dehydrated product in a hopper. Rehydration means are provided, including a metering chamber to meter a portion of the dehydrated food product, and a rehydration head to uniformly wet the dehydrated food product to form a coherent dough. The dough is passed through a forming means to form it into predetermined pieces that are extruded from a forming chamber, and a wire knife passes linearly across the forming chamber to separate the extruded product therefrom. A product transfer conveyor is provided to convey the shaped dough pieces to a fryer vessel in which heated frying oil is provided.

Abstract: A cup dispenser for housing a plurality of stacks of nested cups in side-by-side relationship and including a dispensing device to sequentially dispense cups from one of the stacks in a dispensing column. A pair of helical feed coils are provided to advance the stacks of cups sequentially to the dispensing column. A support in the form of a pivotable platform is provided below the dispensing column to receive and support the stacks as they enter the dispensing column and drop through a dispensing column opening in order to avoid damage to the outwardly extending lip of the lowermost cup by virtue of the weight of the stack. The support is particularly suitable to catch falling stacks of cups that include packaged materials that are provided with the cup, such as seasonings or condiments carried in the recess at the base of the cups.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product. The apparatus is designed to use a food product provided in a dehydrated form, such food product being readily reconstituted by the addition of a liquid. The apparatus includes a mechanism for delivering an amount of dehydrated food product corresponding to the size of an individual order, a chamber and system for rehydrating the product, a mechanism for cutting rehydrated product forced out of the chamber, a cooking device for the severed product, and a conveyor for delivering cooked product. The invention further provides a lever that combines a closure for a carrier of dehydrated product with a shower head for furnishing water for reconstituting the product, and provides a device for cooking and for conveying rehydrated product.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product. The apparatus is designed to use a food product provided in a dehydrated form, such food product being readily reconstituted by the addition of a liquid. The apparatus includes a mechanism for delivering an amount of dehydrated food product corresponding to the size of an individual order, a chamber and system for rehydrating the product, a mechanism for cutting rehydrated product forced out of the chamber, a cooking device for the severed product, and a conveyor for deliverying cooked product. The invention further provides a lever that combines a closure for a carrier of dehydrated product with a shower head for furnishing water for reconstituting the product, and provides a device for cooking and for conveying rehydrated product.