Methods and apparatuses for preparing shawarma, gyros and doner kebab sandwiches and meals

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for preparing sandwiches (subs, wraps) and meal, such as Shawarma, Gyros and Doner Kebab sandwiches and meals. The apparatus includes a grilling mechanism, a smoking mechanism, a slicing mechanism, sandwich and meal assembly mechanism, sandwich wrapping and packing mechanism and accepting money and credit card mechanism. The slicing mechanism is configured to slice a cylinder or cone of meat in an automated, substantially helical slicing pattern. The sandwich assembly includes various components to automatically dispense selected bread, condiments, and other sandwich and meal ingredients and wrapping and packing the sandwich.

1 . An apparatus for rolling and wrapping a sandwich, the apparatus comprising”
 a plurality of cylinders comprising a first cylinder rotatably disposed between a first pair of joint plates and a second cylinder rotatably disposed between a second pair of joint plates; 
 at least one round belt disposed about at least the first and second cylinders so as to create a semi-cylindrical cavity between the plurality of cylinders; 
 a motor operably connected to at least one of the plurality of cylinders to drive rotation of the at least one cylinder, thereby causing the at least one round belt to rotate about the plurality of cylinders; 
 wherein rotation of the round belt about the plurality of cylinders causes sandwich material within the semi-cylindrical cavity to shape the sandwich material into an at least semicylindrical sandwich. 
 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second cylinder is laterally translatable toward and away from the first cylinder to create an open position and a closed position. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the lateral translation is effected by actuation of a pair of hinge joints between the first pair of joint plates and the second pair of joint plates. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cylinders further comprises a third cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of cylinders further comprises a fourth cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of cylinders further comprises a fifth cylinder. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein two or more of the plurality of cylinders are laterally translatable with respect to the first cylinder. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the open position allows sandwich material to be introduced into the semi-cylindrical cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the closed position allows the apparatus to shape the sandwich material into an at least semicylindrical sandwich. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein introduction of a wrapping material into the semi-cylindrical cavity during operation of the apparatus causes the at least semicylindrical shaped sandwich to be wrapped in the wrapping material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a heater for heating the sandwich material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rotating sealing arm and at least one fixed sealing arm, wherein rotation of the at least one rotating sealing arm against the at least one fixed sealing arm causes the wrapping material to be sealed against at least one end of the at least semicylindrical shaped sandwich. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a wrapping material roller; a sizing arm; a sensor for detecting the position of the sizing arm; and a blade for cutting the wrapping material, wherein movement of the sizing arm causes the blade to cut wrapping material dispensed from the wrapping material roller when the sensor detects the sizing arm in a predetermined position. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the at least one rotating sealing arm and at least one fixed sealing arm is positioned to capture wrapping material cut by the blade to be introduced into the semi-cylindrical cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a portion of a vending machine. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the vending machine further comprises a flat bread dispenser comprising a vacuum head plate configured to move vertically and selectively retain a flat bread, and a motor configured to move the vacuum head plate along a rail defining a horizontal path. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the vending machine further comprises a roll bread dispenser comprising a conveying belt; a shelf for raising a roll bread vertically to a level of the conveying belt; and a pusher mechanism configured to push the roll bread horizontally onto the conveying belt. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a dispenser having prongs and a comb configured to mechanically position a meat slice; and a collection shelf configured to release the meat slice when a predetermined weight is collected.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a liquid condiment dispenser comprising a refrigerating element, at least one dropping head, a pipe configured to convey a liquid condiment from the refrigerating element to the dropping head, and a pump to propel the liquid condiment to the dropping head.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is a portion of a vending machine, and wherein the vending machine further comprises:
 a wrapping material roller; a sizing arm; a sensor for detecting the position of the sizing arm; and a blade for cutting the wrapping material, wherein movement of the sizing arm causes the blade to cut wrapping material dispensed from the wrapping material roller when the sensor detects the sizing arm in a predetermined position;   a flat bread dispenser comprising a vacuum head plate configured to move vertically and selectively retain a flat bread, and a motor configured to move the vacuum head plate along a rail defining a horizontal path;   a roll bread dispenser comprising a conveying belt; a shelf for raising a roll bread vertically to a level of the conveying belt; and a pusher mechanism configured to push the roll bread horizontally onto the conveying belt;   a dispenser having prongs and a comb configured to mechanically position a meat slice; and a collection shelf configured to release the meat slice when a predetermined weight is collected; and   a liquid condiment dispenser comprising a refrigerating element, at least one dropping head, a pipe configured to convey a liquid condiment from the refrigerating element to the dropping head, and a pump to propel the liquid condiment to the dropping head.