Food dispensing machine and method of use

A food dispensing machine, comprising:

• a housing;
• a first food portion dispenser located in the housing for dispensing a chain of first food portions;
• a first food portion deployment device for expelling each of the first food portions onto a receiving component;
• a first food portion conveyance device for conveying each first food portion via the receiving component;
• a first heating device for heating each conveyed first food portion;
• a second food portion dispenser located in the housing for dispensing a chain of second food portions, wherein each of the second food portions is contained in a container;
• a second food deployment device for separating each container and for delivering each container to a transporting tray;
• a second food portion conveyance device for conveying each second food portion via the transporting tray;
• and
• a second heating device for heating each conveyed second food portion;
• wherein the first food portion conveying device conveys each heated first food portion to a food combining location;
• wherein the second food portion conveying device conveys each heated food portion to the food combining location;
• and wherein each heated first food portion and each heated second food portion are combined.

A method for dispensing food, comprising:

• dispensing a first food portion from a first dispenser;
• a first deployment device expelling the first food portion to a receiving component;
• a first conveyance conveying the first food portion to a first heating device;
• heating the first food portion;
• dispensing a second food portion from a second dispenser;
• a second deployment device expelling the second food portion to a tray;
• a second conveyance for conveying the second food portion to a second heating device;
• heating the second food portion;
• combining the heated first and second food portions;
• and
• dispensing the heated combined first and second food portions.

A system for dispensing food, comprising:

• means for dispensing a first food portion from a first dispenser;
• a first deployment means for expelling the first food portion to a receiving component;
• a first conveyance means for conveying the first food portion to a first heating device;
• means for heating the first food portion;
• means for dispensing an second food portion from a second dispenser;
• a second deployment means for expelling the second food portion to a tray;
• a second conveyance means for conveying the second food portion to a second heating device;
• means for heating the second food portion;
• means for combining the heated first and second food portions;
• and
• means for dispensing the heated combined first and second food portions.

A food dispensing device, comprising:

• a pulling mechanism for pulling a film enclosing a chain of food items;
• a projection past which the pulling mechanism pulls the film, such that the film generally reverses in direction past the projection;
• and
• a cutter adjustably positionable adjacent the film;
• wherein the cutter cuts the film adjacent each of the food items in the chain of food items;
• and
• wherein the reversing in the direction of the film past the projection expels each of the food items having cut adjacent film from the enclosing film.

A method for dispensing food items, comprising:

• pulling a film enclosing the food items, wherein the film and the enclosed food items form a chain of food items;
• passing the film past a projection, such that the film generally reverses direction as the film is pulled past the projection;
• selectively cutting the film adjacent each of the food items as each of the food items is pulled toward the projection;
• and
• expelling each of the food items from the film as the film passes the projection.