US 5,540,943 A · Sandwich preparation apparatus

Abstract

A sandwich preparation apparatus includes a food material conveyor having an upstream end region and a downstream finishing end region. The bottom part of a sandwich or burger, including a bun half or slice of bread, has sauces and condiments, and a patty if necessary, automatically added by a first automatic fixing section in the upstream end region. The upper part of the sandwich, optionally including additional sauces, condiments, and patties, is completed by a second automatic fixing section in the downstream finishing end region. Between the two regions is a manual fixing section for an operator to manually add various food materials to the sandwich. The operator controls the automatic fixing sections through first and second input devices and an order display device. The operator is able to change the order or sequence of sandwiches between the upstream end region and the downstream end region using the second input device. The operator is thus able to make allowances for different cooking or preparation times for different types of sandwiches.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A sandwich preparation apparatus, comprising:

a food material conveyor having an upstream end region and a downstream end region;
a first automatic preparing section located at said upstream end region;
a second automatic preparing section located at said downstream end region;
a manual preparing section located flow-wise between said upstream starting end region and said downstream end region;
first and second input systems;
said first input system including means for controlling said first automatic preparing section;
said second input system including means for controlling said second automatic preparing section;
means for displaying a plurality of ordered items on a display in response to said first input system;
and
said means for displaying including means responsive to said second input system for changing said display of a selected one of said plurality of ordered items.

7 more elements

An apparatus for preparing a sandwich, comprising:

means for conveying food material from an upstream end region to a downstream end region;
first means for automatically preparing substantially all of a bottom half of said sandwich;
second means for automatically preparing substantially all of a top half of said sandwich;
a manual preparing section located flow-wise between said first automatic preparing means and said second automatic preparing means;
first means for inputting an order for said sandwich;
second means for inputting information about said sandwich;
said first input means including means for controlling said first automatic preparing means;
said second input means including means for controlling said second automatic preparing means;
means for displaying a plurality of ordered items on a display in response to said first input means;
and
said means for displaying including means responsive to said second input means for changing said display of a selected one of said plurality of ordered items.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sandwich preparation apparatus

Life of this patent

Sandwich preparation apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15