Method and apparatus for automatically packaging and dispensing food products

A food product gathering system, comprising:

• a frame having a dispenser of a consumable conveyer mounted thereon, said consumable conveyer being fed in a single layer along an upward facing surface of a conveyer bed mounted on said frame, and adapted to convey thereon separately supplied individualized food product units toward a folding means for said conveyor, said folding means including a series of successively up-turned opposed finger elements engaging and, initially, lifting respective opposed edges of said conveyor to a vertical position and, thereafter, engaging successive upright legs of E-shaped finger elements, wherein each of said successive legs of E-shaped elements is inclined at progressively smaller angles to the conveyor bed, thereby folding said respective opposed conveyor edges one toward the other so as to form a longitudinally folded conveyor shape and folding said conveyor around said food product so as to form an unsealed tube encapsulating said food product, and at least one spool element configured to wind said folded consumable conveyer, with said food product units, onto said spool.