Patent ID: 7258247

Claim:
A system for dispensing food products, the system comprising: a first dispenser defining a first output channel; a first magazine for feeding a first set of rigid condiment packets to the first dispenser; and a controller for sending a first control signal to the first dispenser, the first control signal instructing the first dispenser to dispense a first specified quantity of the first set of rigid condiment packets from the first output channel, wherein each of the rigid condiment packets comprises a flange having a flange outline, wherein the first magazine defines a first guide channel having a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being larger than and substantially congruent to the flange outline, and wherein the first dispenser comprises: a first fixed support extending into the first output channel for supporting a first portion of the flange of a selected condiment packet; a first movable support; and a first actuator for extending and retracting the first movable support into and from, respectively, the first output channel in response to the first control signal, wherein when the first movable support is extended, the first movable support supports a second portion of the flange of the selected condiment packet.