Apparatus for producing a dough product topped with assorted toppings and a dough product

Abstract

Apparatus for producing a flat dough product, in particular a pizza, topped with assorted toppings, is provided with a plurality of topping dispensers and at least one movable positioning mechanism, which is provided vertically below a plane spanned by the topping dispensers and to which a dough carrier is associated which may be supported such that it can rotate; the positioning mechanism actuated by an actuating mechanism to position the dough carrier underneath a topping dispenser to allow topping to be dispensed. The topping dispensers are arranged in a matrix configuration, distributed in two mutually perpendicular spatial directions x,y and the positioning mechanism is configured for positioning the dough carrier in the two mutually perpendicular spatial directions x,y corresponding to the matrix configuration. The topping dispensers are actuated passively to dispense topping by rotating the dough carrier and / or by means of the lifting mechanism.

Description

[0001]The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §120 to co-pending, commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 486,960, filed 13 Jul. 2006, which in turn claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to German Patent Application No. 10 2005 034 510.7-23, filed 20 Jul. 2005, the entirety of both of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth in their entireties.SCOPE OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates in general to an apparatus and a process for producing a dough product topped with various toppings or ingredients, particularly a pizza, and relates in particular to such an apparatus and a corresponding process for producing pizzas and comparable dough products with suitability for use in catering concepts comparable to fast-food restaurants and also suitable for applications in themed restaurants.BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION[0003]In small-scale catering, pizzas and comparable dough products are conventionally prepared and sold individually. ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus with which flat dough products can be topped individually at low cost, and with low purchase and maintenance costs for the apparatus. According to further aspects of the present invention, a corresponding production process and a topped dough product, in particular pizza, with an even more convenient arrangement of toppings are to be provided.

Problems solved by technology

The production of individually topped pizzas is comparatively labor intensive.

Such concepts are not suitable for small-scale catering, however, as the purchase and running costs are too high and the necessary size of the apparatus is too large.

A further disadvantage lies in the fact that individual production of pizzas, which is precisely what is required in small-scale catering, is not feasible with such concepts.

Automated concepts for such an individual production of pizzas are scarcely known from the prior art, however.

However, the revolver arrangement of topping dispensers used in this concept does not in principle allow a large number of different topping dispensers to be distributed around the center of rotation of the apparatus.

Mixed toppings, for example diced ham and cheese cubes combined, must therefore be dispensed from a single topping dispenser, further restricting the diversity and flavors that can be obtained.

The positioning of the pizza doughs underneath the topping dispensers is comparatively difficult and can only be achieved with an appropriate choice of angle of the supporting arms and radial position of the dough carriers.

This requires special mechanisms and control systems, which further increases the costs of the apparatus.

Nevertheless, a precisely indexed positioning of the dough carriers in the chosen revolver arrangement frequently cannot be reliably guaranteed.

Furthermore, the distance between the dough carrier and the lower end of the topping dispenser is comparatively large, causing the apparatus to become soiled and hence leading to unnecessary cleaning costs.

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