초록 ▼

Apparatus and process 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

Apparatus and process 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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A process for producing a pizza topped with a custom-ordered individually selected combination of assorted toppings by means of an apparatus comprising: a plurality of topping dispensers for dispensing topping, which are arranged in a matrix configuration, distributed in two mutually perpendicula

1. A process for producing a pizza topped with a custom-ordered individually selected combination of assorted toppings by means of an apparatus comprising: a plurality of topping dispensers for dispensing topping, which are arranged in a matrix configuration, distributed in two mutually perpendicular spatial directions;a dough carrier for carrying pizza dough;a movable positioning mechanism which is provided vertically below a plane spanned by said plurality of topping dispensers for positioning said dough carrier underneath selected ones of said plurality of topping dispensers, said positioning mechanism comprising a lifting mechanism for raising and lowering said dough carrier along a central vertical axis and for supporting said dough carrier, a rotary drive being associated with said dough carrier to rotate said dough carrier and the pizza dough resting thereon about said central vertical axis; anda process controller for centrally controlling all stations in said apparatus, said process controller having a central menu selector for displaying different varieties of pizzas and/or toppings which may be individually selected by a user operating said central menu selector;said process comprising the steps of:placing a piece of pizza dough on the dough carrier; andin response to individually selecting a pizza with said individually selected combination of assorted toppings thereon by operating said central menu selector;calculating a sequence of positioning steps for said positioning mechanism in which said positioning mechanism sequentially positions said dough carrier underneath said selected ones of said plurality of topping dispensers in accordance with said individually selected combination of assorted toppings and in correspondence to said matrix configuration of said topping dispensers such that the overall distance travelled by said dough carrier for dispensing said individually selected combination of assorted toppings is minimized; andsequentially positioning the dough carrier underneath selected ones of said plurality of topping dispensers by causing said positioning mechanism to selectively move said dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon in the two mutually perpendicular spatial directions in an indexed sequence and in correspondence to said calculated sequence of positioning steps and said matrix configuration of said topping dispensers;in which processsaid step of sequentially positioning the dough carrier comprisesa first step for causing said positioning mechanism to move said dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon underneath a first topping dispenser of said selected ones of said plurality of topping dispensers while said lifting mechanism is in a home position, actuating said lifting mechanism to raise the dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon along said vertical axis for dispensing a first topping in a raised position of said lifting mechanism and causing said lifting mechanism to lower the dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon along said vertical axis to said home position,a second step for causing said positioning mechanism to move said dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon underneath a second topping dispenser of said selected ones of said plurality of topping dispensers different to said first topping dispenser while said lifting mechanism is in a home position, actuating said lifting mechanism to raise the dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon along said vertical axis for dispensing a second topping different to said first topping in a raised position of said lifting mechanism and causing said lifting mechanism to lower the dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon along said vertical axis to said home position andrepeating said second step until all toppings of said individually selected combination of assorted toppings are dispensed;the dispensing of topping by the selected topping dispenser is triggered only when the dough carrier is positioned underneath the selected topping dispenser and by vertically raising the dough carrier until a predetermined distance or an infinitesimal distance between the dough carrier and a lower end of the selected topping dispenser is reached; andsaid dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon are rotated about said central vertical axis during or after said step of dispensing of topping by the selected topping dispenser such that said topping is evened out on said piece of pizza dough to a topping layer having a uniform thickness. 2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the said dough carrier is rotated about said central vertical axis at a small distance to an annular inner face disposed on an underside of a respective topping dispenser such that said topping is in contact with said annular inner face while said dough carrier is rotated about said central vertical axis for evening out said topping circumferentially. 3. The process according to claim 2, wherein the selected topping dispenser is actuated passively by at least one of the positioning mechanism and the dough carrier for dispensing topping. 4. The process according to claim 3, wherein the dispensing of topping is triggered by the mutual engagement of at least one of the dough carrier and the positioning mechanism with a lower end of the selected topping dispenser. 5. The process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the topping is dispensed in a metered manner by disposing a disc provided with cut-outs underneath at least one of said topping dispensers and between a lower end region of said at least one of said topping dispensers and said dough, rotating said disc about a longitudinal axis of said associated topping dispenser and controlling a topping dispensing rate by means of at least one of configuration and angle of said cut-outs, thickness of said disc and a speed of rotation of said disc. 6. The process as claimed in claim 5, wherein the selected topping dispenser is actuated passively by at least one of the positioning mechanism and the dough carrier for dispensing topping. 7. The process as claimed in claim 6, wherein the dispensing of topping is triggered by the mutual engagement of at least one of the dough carrier and the positioning mechanism with a lower end of the selected topping dispenser. 8. The process according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of topping dispensers is configured for dispensing salami slices, a salami slice supply for dispensing salami slices being positioned eccentrically to said dough carrier and a plurality of salami slices being dispensed and distributed in at least one concentric circle on the pizza dough by rotating the dough carrier about its rotational axis. 9. The process according to claim 8, wherein the salami slices are distributed at predetermined constant angular intervals around the concentric circle. 10. The process according to claim 8, wherein the salami slice supply is radially adjustable or comprises a plurality of salami slice dispensing mechanisms disposed in various different radial positions such that the salami slices can be dispensed and distributed on the pizza dough in at least two concentric circles of differing radii by rotating the dough carrier about its rotational axis. 11. The process according to claim 10, wherein two or more centrosymmetrical configurations of three salami slices, each having trigonal symmetry, aligned at constant angular intervals to one another, are distributed in two or more concentric circles on the pizza dough. 12. The process according to claim 10, wherein two or more centrosymmetrical configurations of four salami slices, each having tetragonal symmetry, aligned at constant angular intervals to one another, are distributed in two or more concentric circles on the pizza dough. 13. The process according to claim 10, wherein a total of nine salami slices are distributed on the pizza dough, two centrosymmetrical configurations of three salami slices, each having trigonal symmetry, being distributed at an angular interval of 45° to one another in a first circle and a further offset centrosymmetrical configuration of three further salami slices having trigonal symmetry being distributed in a second concentric circle of a differing radius. 14. The process according to claim 1, wherein said lifting mechanism comprises an upper lifting cylinder supporting said dough carrier, wherein said step of placing a piece of pizza dough on said dough carrier comprises placing a piece of raw pizza dough on said dough carrier andactuating said lifting mechanism to repeatedly move said dough carrier along said central vertical axis upwards and downwards to thereby vertically stamp and knead said piece of raw pizza dough until forming a free-form pizza dough on which said assorted toppings are dispensed subsequently. 15. The process according to claim 14, wherein the dough carrier is further rotated about said vertical axis against a complimentary part for evening out said piece of dough placed on the dough carrier into said piece of pizza dough, such that said free-form pizza dough is a round, circular piece of pizza dough. 16. The process according to claim 1, wherein the dough carrier is rotated about said vertical axis against a complimentary part for evening out a piece of dough placed on the dough carrier into said piece of pizza dough, such that said piece of pizza dough is a round, circular piece of pizza dough. 17. The process according to claim 1, wherein said dough carrier and said pizza dough positioned thereon are rotated about said central vertical axis against a complimentary part disposed on an underside of a respective topping dispenser such that said topping is evened out on said piece of pizza dough to a topping layer having a uniform thickness.