Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus and method for preparing and cooking pizza using fresh ingredients, the apparatus being in the form of a vending type of machine. By way of a keypad, touchpad, display or other user interface provided on the machine, a user specifies the type of pizza that they want. The machine then proceeds to combine the ingredients needed to create the requested pizza, cooks the pizza, as appropriate, places it in a box, and dispenses the boxed pizza to the user or customer. The dough may be provided in the form of sealed canisters or tubes, which are opened in an automated fashion. Slices of dough may be cut from the dough canisters for each pizza which is to be made. Sauce may be provided in the form of sealed tubes, bags, or containers, whereby a controlled amount of the sauce may be dispensed by way of a controlled dispensing system, such as a pump or similar mechanism. Finally, the cheese may be provided in a bag or other container, whereby a measured amount of cheese may be dispensed and provided on each pizza as it is prepared. The pizza preparation machine may also include a refrigerated section for maintaining ingredients which need to be refrigerated at an appropriate temperature in order to maintain the freshness of such ingredients, as well as to maintain a proper sanitary and food handling environment. The pizza preparation machine may also include an oven section where the pizza is cooked. Additionally, the pizza preparation machine may also include a box formation section where a box may be formed for the pizza to be placed inside the box.

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First Claim