Abstract: An automatic food preparation line for automatically preparing bread products for making sandwiches or burgers comprises an automatic bread product handling system containing a plurality of different types of bread products, an automatic toaster appliance for toasting the bread products, an automatic packaging system for automatically dispensing both box and wrapping paper packaging, an automatic sauce dispensing system for dispensing a plurality of different sauces onto the bread product, an automatic non-sauce condiment dispensing system for dispensing one or more different condiments onto the bread product, and an automatic conveyor system for conveying the bread product between the various systems.

Abstract: A vehicle-based, automated pizza-making system including a two-piece pizza pan conveyed between pizza-making components on a series of pan drive rails. The two-piece pizza pan can include a base and a removable ring for containing the unfinished pizza and toppings. The rails can include timing belts for conveying the two-piece pizza pan through the system with improved positional control and accuracy.

Abstract: A system and method of sandwich preparation are disclosed. The sandwich is formed by filling a bread roll having a lengthwise cavity, closed at a distal end and open at a proximal end by inserting food items through said proximal end. A device for baking a bread roll with a pre-formed cavity is also disclosed. Device for inserting food items and condiments into the cavity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A cooked rice molding method includes a first supplying step of spreading cooked rice in a plate form on rolling-up plates deployed horizontally, a second supplying step of placing a dried laver sheet and ingredients on the cooked rice, a first pressing step of folding a first rotating plate and a second rotating plate disposed on two sides of a base plate in a direction to erect at approximate right angles with respect to the base plate, and a second pressing step of folding the third rotating plate rotatably attached to the first rotating plate at a side opposite to the base plate, to a base plate side. Then, the method includes a repositioning step of deploying the rolling-up plates in the horizontal state, and rotating the cooked rice about 90 degrees on the rolling-up bamboo plate. Finally, the first pressing step is repeated again.

Abstract: An encrusting machine is revealed. The encrusting machine mainly includes a power source disposed on a power unit of a machine body. A force output end of the power source is disposed with a first drive belt for driving a cut unit and a second drive belt for driving a food receiving unit. A plurality of cutting blades is mounted in a cutting opening on a middle part of a cut-off base of the cut unit. The blades are controlled by the power unit and vertical movement of the cut-off base is also controlled by the power unit. In the food receiving unit, a toggle set on a cam is used to control vertical movement of a catch basin on top of a push set. The structure is simplified so that the machine is with reduced cost, easy assembly, reduced failure rate reduced, convenient maintenance and high practicality.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses and processes for the production of sandwich food items that include filler.

Abstract: There is provided a system for continuously producing edible products filled with liquid material at the center, having a high liquid material filling factor without leakage of liquid material. The system for continuously producing edible products filled with liquid material at the center is characterized in that atmospheric air is sucked in extrusion of an edible product rope.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for performing multiple folding on a pastry case enclosing a stuffing so as to made stuffed foods with pastry cases, such as Chinese spring rolls and Mexican tacos. The device is characterized in that a stuffing feeder, a pastry case front folding plate, a pastry case front pressing stand, a pastry case two-sided folding plate, a pastry case flanging and pressing stand, and a consecutive folding and pressing stand are disposed on a conveyor belt of an apparatus in sequence, for performing the steps of: upon entry of the pastry case onto the conveyor belt, feeding a stuffing automatically and continuously, and then performing single folding, two-sided folding, and secondary bending-pressing, to thereby form stuffed foods with pastry cases by multiple folding.

Abstract: An fully automatic egg roll making machine includes a machine bed, a loading device, a loading device disposed on the machine bed, a material-pouring unit for pouring a dough material onto a lower frying tray, a baking unit for baking the dough material on the lower frying tray to form a baked dough sheet on the lower frying tray, and a wrapping unit operable to allow the sheet to form an egg roll product. The baking unit includes two upper frying trays positioned such that, when one of the upper frying trays is moved to a working position for baking the dough material, the other one of the upper frying trays is moved to a non-working position whereat it can be cleaned easily and conveniently.

Abstract: An apparatus for stuffing a pasty food that includes an applicator sleeve arranged between the inlet end and the outlet end of a stuffing tube. At least a portion of the applicator sleeve surrounds the stuffing tube about part or its complete circumference and the applicator sleeve supplies one or more strips coated and/or impregnated with transferable additives to the stuffing tube, with the strips being ultimately applied to the pasty food. The innovation further relates to a foodstuff in a tubular casing (e.g. sausage skin), in which at least one strip is arranged between the foodstuff and the surrounding casing, the strip being coated and/or impregnated with at least one transferable additive.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device for performing multiple folding on a pastry case enclosing a stuffing so as to made stuffed foods with pastry cases, such as Chinese spring rolls and Mexican tacos. The device is characterized in that a stuffing feeder, a pastry case front folding plate, a pastry case front pressing stand, a pastry case two-sided folding plate, a pastry case flanging and pressing stand, and a consecutive folding and pressing stand are disposed on a conveyor belt of an apparatus in sequence, for performing the steps of: upon entry of the pastry case onto the conveyor belt, feeding a stuffing automatically and continuously, and then performing single folding, two-sided folding, and secondary bending-pressing, to thereby form stuffed foods with pastry cases by multiple folding.

Abstract: A system and method for producing a co-filled product. A center layer is fed through a center channel of a die face and an outer layer is fed through an outer layer of a die face. The center channel is coupled to a fluid control device which controls the flow of the center layer. The position of the fluid control device is determined by the location of a cutting blade located downstream from the die face. In one embodiment the fluid control device is synchronized to ensure that when the product is cut by the cutting blade the cutting blade does not cut through the center layer.

Abstract: A filling extruding machine for making three-layer filled food products is provided. Three independent materials, namely an outer material, an intermediate material, and an inner material, are simultaneously fed by three feeding mechanisms, respectively, and then output and clipped into three-layer filled food products. The filling extruding machine is characterized in that a central guide column, which is connected to a horizontal feeder and a vertical feeder, can have its orientation changed by 180 degrees so as to switch the feeding positions of the outer material and the intermediate material and thereby eliminate the need to change the contents of the feeders.

Abstract: A device and method for making Tamales having: a lower surface, an upper surface, connecting means for attaching said upper surface to the lower surface, the lower surface has means for receiving a tamale wrapper, the upper surface has a cut out portion in the middle of the upper surface for applying a masa spread to the tamale wrapper on the lower surface, wherein a user desires to make tamales, the tamale wrapper is positioned such that the front of the tamale wrapped is positioned over the cut out hole in the upper surface, then the upper surface is positioned on the tamale wrapper to prevent the wrapper from moving, then said masa spread is applied to the tamale wrapper through the cut out portion, then a leveling device is used to compact the masa, then the leveling device is used to scrap away any excess masa spread, and wherein the masa spread has been applied to the tamale wrapper, then a tamale filling is placed on a portion of the masa spread, then the tamale wrapper with the masa spread is folded o

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatuses and processes for the production of sandwich food items that include filler.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for producing and handling sausage-like product S and a method for controlling for controlling said system with the steps of filling a tubular casing with viscous or granular stuff, dividing the filled tubular casing into sausage-like products S and closing the sausage-like S products by closure clips in a clipping machine, feeding the sausage-like product S out of the clipping machine and storing the sausage-like product S on a rod-like element R in a hanging line 16 and gripping the rod-like element R by a robotic device and storing the rod-like element R in a storage frame 30. The method further comprises the steps of sensing the weight of the sausage-like product S after the sausage-like product S is stored on a rod-like element R, deriving a control signal for the clipping machine on the basis of the weight and controlling the clipping machine by a control unit on the basis of the control signal.

Abstract: A system providing for on-site reclamation and re-use of reclaimed antimicrobial solution includes a dispenser, at least one receptacle, piping, and at least one pump. The dispenser sprays antimicrobial solution toward moving raw food products. Unspent antimicrobial solution that did not contact the moving raw food products and rebound antimicrobial solution that did contact the raw food products combine to form a reclaimed antimicrobial solution. The reclaimed antimicrobial solution is collected in the receptacle and is pumped through the piping to a location for reuse.

Abstract: An apparatus for stuffing a pasty food that includes an applicator sleeve arranged between the inlet end and the outlet end of a stuffing tube. At least a portion of the applicator sleeve surrounds the stuffing tube about part or its complete circumference and the applicator sleeve supplies one or more strips coated and/or impregnated with transferable additives to the stuffing tube, with the strips being ultimately applied to the pasty food. The innovation further relates to a foodstuff in a tubular casing (e.g. sausage skin), in which at least one strip is arranged between the foodstuff and the surrounding casing, the strip being coated and/or impregnated with at least one transferable additive.

Abstract: A method and system for distributing sauce is disclosed. The method and system may include retrieving runtime parameters from memory or from user input, for distributing sauce onto pizza dough from an arm positioned over a turntable. The method and system may include coordinating turntable speed, sauce dispensing speed, and arm movement speed.

Abstract: A device to inject solid materials into foods comprising a piston, a sleeve, and a penetrating tip. Embodiments are described with both segmented and unitary sleeves. Deformation of the tip during storage is minimized by biasing members which withdraw the piston from the tip when an embodiment is not in use. A method is described for flavoring foods with solid objects.

Abstract: Confectionery, such as a tart and pie, is sequentially made. A generally rectangular mold is filled with food dough. The food dough is baked and taken out of the mold. The food dough is cut and divided in a zigzag pattern into generally triangularly-shaped food dough, so that a tart or a pie is made.

Abstract: The sushi maker machine (10) comprises a base-plate (12) supporting a roll making sheet and a roll-up sheet removably held on the base-plate in a substantially flat condition held by clamps (14) or similar arrangement allowing for the deposit of a layer of seaweed (Nori) and other ingredients over the sheet. When released from the clamps (14) the sheet taking up a cylindrical configuration or rolled up mechanically. A cooked rice container (22) mounted on vertical or horizontal rails (24) or a like supported such as parallel bars, the container having a first position at a side or top of the roll-up sheet wherein the rice may be arranged and a second position, above the roll-up sheet wherein a layer of rice may be deposited onto the seaweed layer.

Abstract: The present disclosure concerns embodiments of an apparatus and method for producing a filled-dough food product, such as a fruit-filled turnover (e.g., an apple turnover) or a single-serve pie, on an industrial scale. In one representative embodiment, the apparatus includes a filling-apportionment mechanism and a filling-transfer mechanism. The filling-apportionment mechanism is configured to apportion or separate a supply of filling pieces (e.g., pieces of fruit, such as apple pieces) into one or more portions of a predetermined size. The filling-transfer mechanism includes a vacuum pick-up device that is configured to pick up one or more portions of filling pieces from the filling-apportionment mechanism and deposit the portions on a sheet of dough.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a forming apparatus comprising (a) first and second forming rolls with forming pockets in corresponding alignment, wherein at least one roll has one or more continuous grooves extending around the circumference of the roll in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the roll and which intersects the forming pockets in the plane, wherein the first and second forming rolls rotate in directions counter to one another, and (b) one or more forming pins positioned between the counter rotating rolls and within the continuous groove of the roll.

Abstract: The invention relates to forming stuffed mincemeat by producing a continuous lower layer of mincemeat, placing a filling on the lower layer, producing a continuous upper layer of mincemeat covering the lower layer and the filling, then cutting the stuffed mincemeat into portions and shaping the portions by compressing them on each side, in order to form the contour thereof, and also vertically in order to provide them with the desired thickness.

Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus for filling a food material into a cavity of an object. The apparatus has a conduit having a conduit inlet port, a conduit outlet port, and an interior passageway extending between the conduit inlet port and the conduit outlet port. The conduit is adapted to permit passage of a dry food material through the interior passageway from the conduit inlet port to the conduit outlet port. The apparatus also has a fluid injector fluidly connected to the conduit and to a fluid source. The fluid injector is adapted to permit injection of a fluid into the interior passageway of the conduit for mixing with the dry food material passing therethrough to obtain a wet food material. The apparatus also has a nozzle having a nozzle inlet port, a nozzle outlet port, and an interior passageway extending between the nozzle inlet port and the nozzle outlet port. The nozzle is fluidly connected to the conduit and the fluid injector.

Abstract: An edible product includes an edible outer cover component in which is located an inner edible component. A system for producing the edible product includes an arrangement for delivering the edible product in the form of an elongated rope-type product to a crimping apparatus. The crimping apparatus receives the longitudinal rope-like product for crimping the longitudinal rope to separate the longitudinal rope into individual edible products.

Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing the properties of a bagel by adding an edible filling in a soft porous interior portion of the bagel. In a first embodiment of the invention, the invention is comprised of a stand for mounting a bagel for rotation about a horizontal axis and an injector for piercing a hard outer crust of the bagel to form apertures at spaced apart locations around the circumference of the bagel and for injecting an edible filling into a soft porous interior portion of the bagel. In a second embodiment of the invention, the invention is comprised of a base for mounting the bagel and an injector for piercing the hard outer crust of the bagel to form apertures at spaced apart locations on a top surface of the bagel and for injecting the edible filling through the apertures into the soft porous interior portion of the bagel.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a rotary sauce dispensing apparatus for applying a sauce on a receiving surface such as a pizza dough. In one embodiment, an apparatus for dispensing a sauce on a receiving surface comprises a rotating table configured to support and rotate the receiving surface thereon around an axis generally perpendicular to the receiving surface for receiving the sauce. A sauce dispensing member has a dispensing outlet disposed above the rotating table to dispense the sauce on the receiving surface disposed on the rotating table. The sauce dispensing member is movable between an edge position above an outer edge of the receiving surface and a center position above a center of the receiving surface. A controller is coupled with the sauce dispensing member and configured to control a speed of movement of the sauce dispensing member between the edge position and the center position to form a layer of sauce on the receiving surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making confectionery pieces, comprising the steps of (a) providing a solid or semi-solid edible slab having at least three layers to at least two forming elements having a nip defined by the forming elements; and (b) passing the edible slab through the nip, thereby forming a sheet of confectionery pieces or individual pieces, wherein the edible slab has a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and at least one inner layer between the first and second outer layers.

Abstract: A method for inserting one foodstuff, such as sandwich fixings, into a second foodstuff, such as a bread bun, which includes forming a cavity in the second foodstuff. The cavity may be formed by drilling with an elongated, cylindrical drill bit. The first foodstuff is inserted into the cavity by placing the first foodstuff into a carrier, and inserting the carrier into the cavity of the second foodstuff. The carrier is withdrawn while preventing the first foodstuff from exiting the cavity. The carrier can be a flexible sheet of material, onto which the first foodstuff is placed, rolled into a sleeve, and inserted into the cavity. The resulting foodstuff, such as a sandwich, has a substantially continuous wall of bread maintaining the first foodstuff within the second foodstuff.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for producing confectionery. In the apparatus for producing confectionery, a material injection unit for supplying materials into a confectionary mold includes a hopper, an injector, a hose, and a piston actuator, which are detachably connected to a main frame. With this configuration, the foregoing elements are detached and cleaned, thereby keeping the elements sanitary.

Abstract: A device for molding spheroidal food products including a set of cutting tool elements, and a central opening which is formed from frontal sections of blades defined on front-ends of the set of cutting tool elements. Convex rails and a slide grooves are formed on an inner and an outer sliding surface of each of the cutting tool elements respectively. During course of the blades of the cutting tool elements converging, the convex rails and the slide grooves knead a circumferential surface of a cylindrical food product passing through the central opening, thereby forming a plurality of position-fixing depressions, and the depressions gradually deepen around a central region of the cylindrical food product as the blades converge. Upon the central opening being closed by converging of the blades, thus the blades making mutually contact sever the cylindrical food product and forms the spheroidal food product therefrom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing co-extruded pasta such as stuffed rigatoni and for providing the ability to make a plurality of end crimps with a single die. The method involves distributing pasta dough from an extruder to multiple co-extrusion die inserts that are arranged in a straight line. The straight-line design allows the co-extruded dough strands to drop directly into a single crimp/cut die that has a selected straight, angular or other cut. The invention may be adapted and utilized on any new or pre-existing pasta dough extruders.

Abstract: A device to inject solid materials into foods and other objects. The device utilizes a hollow needle with a moving cover at one end. A plunger moves inside the hollow needle to push contents from the needle into the object to be injected. Various apparatus for moving the can be utilized.

Abstract: There is provided a method of and apparatus for forming a food by wrapping an inner material with an outer skin material, and the method of and apparatus for sealing the outer skin material more surely in a state where the inner material is disposed on the outer skin material. The food forming apparatus comprises a first shutter (1), a second shutter (2) disposed under the first shutter (1), and support means (6) disposed under the second shutter (2) wherein an operation start timing of the second shutter (2) subsequent to starting of the operation of the first shutter (1) is adjusted appropriately, and a position of the support member (60) is adjusted appropriately, thereby adjusting the amount of collection of the peripheral portion of the curst material (F), thereby wrapping an inner material (G) with the outer skin material (F) in response to the different sizes of the curst material (F) and the inner material (G), thereby surely forming the food.

Abstract: A machine for making sushi rolls has a support base (10) supporting a foldable plate (12) made of four strips of metal pivotally mounted one to the next along three parallel hinge lines (17). Four frame members (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) can be assembled to make a rectangular frame which is locatable on the plate (12) in either of two possible orientations, one of which defines a shallow recess and the other of which defines a deep recess to enable a thinner or thicker layer of rice to be applied to the plate which, after removal of the frame is folded to form a sushi roll having a thinner or thicker layer of cooked rice, so that the machine can produce sushi rolls with different bulks of filling.

Abstract: An automatic filling stuffing apparatus aims to automatically stuff filling in an elongated and unprocessed pastry. It includes a transporting unit and a pastry supply unit to supply the elongated pastry, a cutting unit to cut off the elongated pastry to individual pastry during the pastry supply process, a filling stuffing unit and a compression unit to dispose the filling on the pastry held on the surface of a holder, a forming unit to wrap the pastry with the filling contained therein to form a foodstuff desired, and a conveying unit to carry the formed and finished foodstuff to the next processing step.

Abstract: The present invention provides a kit (200) for producing a high quality sushi product with uniformity and at a high rate of production. The kit (200) includes a Nigiri Sushi mold (10, 110) and a California Sushi Roll apparatus (54, 154.) In a preferred embodiment, the kit (200) includes a traditional Japanese bento box (18,20) that houses both the Nigiri Sushi mold (10, 110) and California Sushi Roll (54, 154.) The Nigiri Sushi mold (10, 110) is made up of a mold (12, 112) having several indentations (28, 128) for supporting the preferred ingredients. The Nigiri mold (12, 112) is joined with the plate (14, 114) and is placed in the bottom half of the Japanese bento box (18) to form the lower portion of the Sushi kit (200) of the present invention. The apparatus (54, 154) used to form the California Rolls sits atop an inverted Nigiri mold (12, 112) with plate (14, 114) and includes a roller sheet (56, 156) that is flexibly attached to a base plate (64, 164.

Abstract: A flattening roller (38) is supported on horizontal guides (32, 34) and rolls alternately in opposite directions along the guides. A tray (30) is arranged horizontally between the guides, and is progressively lifted to approach to the cylindrical surface of the roller. The tray turns by a quarter turn around a vertical axis at the end of each stroke of the roller along the guides. A lump of dough placed on the tray is progressively flattened to a thin, round shape.

Abstract: The present invention of a method and device of making dough mixed with cooking oil, fruit and vegetable filling, more especially, a forward operation of making a dough chunk of a green onion crepe, is mainly characterized that it continuously provides a thin dough skin of a constant breadth and evenly spreads a layer of oil on the surface thereof; it evenly sprinkles a layer of fruit and vegetable filling on the surface of the layer of oil; it rolls the dough skin with layers of oil and filling into a continuous dough bar to be conveyed outwardly; it cuts the dough bar into a circular cylinder with ring-shaped oil and filling layers spread evenly therein; by virtue of the prevent invention, chunks of dough with evenly mixed shortening layers and the filling layers of fruit and vegetable are manufactured in mass production.

Abstract: A machine for making sushi rolls has a support base (10) supporting a foldable plate (12) made of four strips of metal pivotally mounted one to the next along three parallel hinge lines (17). Four frame members (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) can be assembled to make a rectangular frame which is locatable on the plate (12) in either of two possible orientations, one of which defines a shallow recess and the other of which defines a deep recess to enable a thinner or thicker layer of rice to be applied to the plate which, after removal of the frame is folded to form a sushi roll having a thinner or thicker layer of cooked rice, so that the machine can produce sushi rolls with different bulks of filling.

Abstract: Starting with stiff, flat wafers in laminar form, ready-made, the wafers are laid unitarily on trays (3) fitted on a conveyor belt (2), which causes them to pass through a tunnel (5) wherein they are subjected to heating until softened, after which the trays (3), of a three-part structure, have their side segments swivel with respect to their central segment reshaping the respective pieces of wafer into a fluted form having a U-shaped section, assisted in this wafer-shaping process by a pressing mechanism (14) equipped with a plurality of tampers (17) which act sequentially and unitarily on the respective trays, helping in the cooling of the wafers for these to retain their reshaped form in a stable manner, there being mounted immediately thereafter and on the conveyor belt (2) itself an ice-cream feeder mechanism (18), the ice cream filling the fluted bodies defined by the wafers after being reshaped.

Abstract: A substantially horizontal, flat shovel (30), made of thin, perforated metal plate, is integral with a slide (28) which is slidable on a guide (26), itself integral with a mounting (18). The shovel is driven by an actuator (20, 22, 24, 32, 34, 36) for moving forward and backward, while staying tangent to a facing rest shelf, at either of two speeds, a slow speed and a fast speed. The mounting (18) can move to different positions facing respective processing stations (42, 44).

Abstract: A kneading device kneads a main raw material of high viscosity and a secondary raw material of liquid or powder and continuously delivers a kneaded raw material obtained, and a ropesizer includes a sheet forming unit, and a delivering unit applies a second raw material onto a first raw material, which is elongated into a sheet shape and is conveyed by the sheet forming unit, so as to be in a strand form.

Abstract: A food product depositor system utilizes a food product depositor device. Preferably, the food product depositor device includes at least one food product depositor module. In an embodiment, the food product depositor module may include mating features and a plurality of food product depositor modules may be assembled by the mating features to form the food product device. Preferably, the food product depositor module includes a supply port, a rotor positioned within a cavity, at least one sliding vane, and a discharge port. In an embodiment, the food product depositor module includes a cutoff device. Additionally, the present invention is also directed to methods of processing food products by way of such an apparatus.

Abstract: A particulate, such as grated cheese, distributor for breaking up and distibuting clumps of cheese over a defined surface of a tiltable conveyor (30, 31). The distributor includes a housing (10, 11) with a throat axle (22, 23), with a plurality of radial paddles (21), is positioned at the lower end of the throat to strike and break up the clumps of cheese in the charge and distribute the cheese over a wide area. The cheese particles follow trajectories that include a plurality of downwardly extending stationary rods (44, 45) spaced radially outwardly of the axle, and a shroud (42, 43) spaced radially outwardly of the stationary rods.

Abstract: A device to inject solid materials into foods and other objects. The device utilizes a hollow needle with a moving cover at one end. A plunger moves inside the hollow needle to push contents from the needle into the object to be injected. Various apparatus for moving the can be utilized.

Abstract: Apparatus for dispensing a frozen or partially frozen food product has a freezing surface with a central axis and periphery, a motor for rotating the freezing surface about that axis, a turret spaced above the freezing surface for depositing a selected amount of liquid product mix on the freezing surface while it is rotating so that the liquid mix spreads out on the freezing surface and cools to form a flat, at least partially frozen product body and a product delivery assembly disposed between the turret and the freezing surface. That assembly includes a scraper supported above the freezing surface and having a working edge engaging the freezing surface while it is rotating to scrape the frozen product body into a ridge row of scraped product. A vertical forming cylinder positioned adjacent to the periphery of the freezing surface has a side window and a bottom opening.

Abstract: A food material dispensing apparatus for adding a topping to a target food is described. The apparatus comprises a first hopper and a first food distributing system. The first hopper is adapted for receiving the food material at an inlet and delivering the good material through an outlet toward a target location. The first food distributing system is designed for spreading the food material over the target food. The food distributing system includes a motor positioned a horizontal distance from the inlet of the first hopper, a curved conduit, and a flexible, rotary shaft. The curved conduit has a proximal end and a distal end. The proximal end is releaseably connected to the motor, and the distal end is adapted for insertion into the hopper. The flexible, rotary shaft is for stirring and/or mixing the food material. The flexible, rotary shaft passing passes through the curved conduit and is operatively connected at a first end to the motor and at a second end to a distributing blade.