Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FOOD PREPARATION ROBOT AND METHOD FOR USE
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for assembling food
products.
More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus and methods for
associating foodstuff and
liquid with a base. Foodstuff may include food items such as meats,
vegetables, cheeses, amongst
others. Liquids include those food items that have low viscosities (e.g.
sauces, dressings, oils),
high viscosities (e.g. peanut butter, frosting), and anything in between. A
base can be anything on
which foodstuff or liquid may be associated (e.g. bread, cake, cookies, pizza
dough, a bowl in
which to place foodstuff).
In a commercial kitchens, the process of associating foodstuff to a base is
labor intensive
and expensive. Consider, for example, assembling a pizza. Pizza dough must be
prepped and
formed into the correct size base and a specified amount of sauce and bulk
ingredients (e.g.
mushrooms, olive, pepperoni, green peppers, amongst others) must be applied to
the base.
The application of a specified amount of sauce and bulk ingredient is
important for a few
of reasons. First, a specified amount of sauce and bulk ingredients allows
diners to have a
consistent experience. If, for a cheese pizza, for example, a three to one
cheese to sauce ratio
provides the best dining experience, then each time that pizza is ordered the
three to one ratio
should be used. Second, the amount of sauce and bulk ingredients delivered to
a base will
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determine the profit margin for a pizza. If too much sauce and bulk
ingredients are delivered to a
base, profit margins will be lower or lost. If too little sauce and bulk
ingredients are delivered to
a base, customers may be lost. In both of these scenarios, tolerance for error
is low.
There is a need for a fully automated, easy to operate, apparatus which
consistently,
associates foodstuff and liquid with a base. Such an apparatus may be used as
an operator-assisted,
vending machine; diner operated, stand-alone vending machine, which may be
used on campuses,
cafeterias, commissaries, etc.; a kitchen operated machine which can be
operated by a cook, for
example; amongst others.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
A general object of the invention is to provide an automated, self-contained
apparatus
which will associate foodstuff with a base.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved dispensing assemblies
for
associating selected quantities of at least one foodstuff and/or liquid from a
plurality of
foodstuffs and/or liquids to at least one base.
Another object of the invention is to provide a liquid dispensing apparatus
that effectively
distributes liquid over a base.
Another object of the invention is to provide a foodstuff dispensing apparatus
that
effectively distributes foodstuff onto a base.
Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus in which foodstuff
and/or
liquid may be preselected by a diner and cooked an amount which is dependent
upon the selected
foodstuff and/or base.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in
the
following detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment with reference to
the accompanying
drawing.
Fig. lA is a block diagram of an embodiment of apparatus for a self-contained
system to
associate foodstuff and/or liquid with a base;
Fig. 1B is a block diagram of an embodiment of apparatus for a self-contained
system to
associate foodstuff and/or liquid with a base;
Fig. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the liquid distribution station;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the liquid distribution
station;
Fig 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the liquid distribution station;
Fig. 5 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the liquid distribution station;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the foodstuff distribution
station;
Fig. 7 is a top view of an embodiment of the foodstuff distribution station;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the cheese grater and
distribution station;
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the meat slicer and
distribution station;
Fig. 10 is a front view of an embodiment of the granular foodstuff
distribution station;
Fig. 11 is a front view of an embodiment of the granular foodstuff
distribution station;
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the granular foodstuff
container;
Fig. 13 is an exploded view of an embodiment of the granular foodstuff
container;
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Fig. 14 is a side view of an embodiment of the handler;
Fig. 15 is a flow chart showing an embodiment of a control system for the
apparatus for a self-
contained system to associate foodstuff and/or liquid with a base;
Fig. 16 shows a vehicle is which the apparatus for a self-contained system to
associate foodstuff
and/or liquid with a base is located.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying
drawings,
which form a part hereof. In the drawings, the use of similar or the same
symbols in different
drawings typically indicates similar or identical items, unless context
dictates otherwise.
The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings,
and claims
are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other
changes may be
made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter
presented here.
One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components
(e.g.,
operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used
as examples for
the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications
are contemplated.
Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the
accompanying discussion
are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general,
use of any specific
exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion
of specific
components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken as
limiting.
The present application uses formal outline headings for clarity of
presentation. However,
it is to be understood that the outline headings are for presentation
purposes, and that different
types of subject matter may be discussed throughout the application (e.g.,
device(s)/structure(s)
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may be described under process(es)/operations heading(s) and/or
process(es)/operations may be
discussed under structure(s)/process(es) headings; and/or descriptions of
single topics may span
two or more topic headings). Hence, the use of the formal outline headings is
not intended to be
in any way limiting. Given by way of overview, illustrative embodiments
include apparatus for
a self-contained system to associate of foodstuff and/or liquid with a base
("apparatus") (100)
and methods.
In one example, the base may be bread and the liquid may include a condiment,
and the
foodstuff maybe deli meat. In another example, the base may be a cookie and
the liquid may be
frosting. In another example, the base may be a bowl and the foodstuff may be
greens for a salad
and the liquid may be a salad dressing. Exemplary embodiments discussed below
describe the
assembly of pizza.
In the following specifications, reference will be made to conveyor belt
systems.
Generally, as used herein, a conveyor belt system is comprised of at least two
pulleys, with an
endless loop of carrying medium¨the conveyor belt¨that is rotated by pulleys.
One or both of
the pulleys are powered moving the belt and the material on the belt in a
defined direction. The
powered pulley is called the drive pulley while the unpowered pulley is called
the idler pulley.
Generally, the powered pulley is motor driven. The motor may be an electric
motor, air motor,
hydraulic motor, amongst others.
Referring to Fig. 1A, in an embodiment, the apparatus (100) is comprised of a
main
conveyor belt system (20) having at least one conveyor belt (21) and at least
one distribution
station chosen from the set consisting of a liquid distribution station (200)
and a non-liquid (or
foodstuff) distribution station (300). Although two distribution stations
(200, 300) are shown, it
will be obvious that the apparatus (100) may have any number of distribution
stations in any
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combination. In embodiments, bases (10) are sequentially loaded onto the of
the main conveyer
belt (21). The bases (10) are conveyed through at least one distribution
station (200, 300) in
which foodstuff and/or liquid is associated with the bases (10).
In an embodiment, the main conveyer belt system (20) is comprised of a single
conveyor
passing beneath each distribution station (200, 300). In another embodiment,
the main conveyor
belt system (20) may be comprised of several interconnected conveyor sections.
Referring to Figs. 2 through 5, in an embodiment, the liquid distribution
system (200) is
comprised of at least one set of liquid distribution tracks (210) and at least
one conduit (220) that
provides liquid to at least one liquid distribution nozzle (230). In an
embodiment, the conduit
(220) is in fluid communication with a container (not shown) that holds the
liquid that is to be
associated with a base. In an embodiment, a pumping mechanism (222) moves
fluid from the
container through the conduit (220) into the liquid distribution nozzle (230).
In an embodiment,
the pumping mechanism (222) is a peristaltic pump.
The liquid distribution nozzle (230) is operably connected to the liquid
distribution tracks
(210) so as to allow movement of the liquid distribution nozzle (230) along
the liquid
distribution tracks (210). The liquid distribution nozzle (230) is operably
connected to a
motorized pulley system (240) which enables the movement of the liquid
distribution nozzle
(230) along the liquid distribution tracks (210).
According to an embodiment, the liquid distribution nozzle (230) is supported
by a frame
(235). The frame (235) is operably mated to the liquid distribution tracks
(210). According to an
embodiment, the frame (235) is operably connected to a motorized pulley system
(240) which
enables movement of the liquid distribution nozzle (230) along the
distribution tracks (210).
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According to an embodiment, the liquid distribution tracks (210) are
configured to lie
approximately perpendicular to the main conveyor (20). According to an
embodiment, the
movement of the liquid distribution nozzle (230) is timed so that when the
conveyor moves a
base (10) underneath the liquid distribution station (200) the liquid
distribution nozzle (230)
moves from a first location (211) on the liquid distribution tracks (210) to a
second location
(212) on the liquid distribution tracks (210) to associate liquid with the
base (10). According to
an embodiment, the liquid distribution nozzle (230) may travel from more than
one first location
(211) to more than one second (212) location on the liquid distribution tracks
(210) as the base
(10) is conveyed under the liquid distribution station.
According to an embodiment, the liquid distribution nozzle (230) moves from a
first
location to a second location on the liquid distribution tracks (210) to
deposit liquid based upon
the size or location of the base (10) or the type of liquid to be distributed
over a base (10).
According to an embodiment, the movement of the liquid distribution nozzle
(230) is controlled
by computer numerical control or other software that provides a similar
function.
According to an embodiment, the liquid distribution nozzle (230) distributes
liquid while
moving in one direction along the liquid distribution tracks (210). That is,
liquid is distributed
while moving from a first location to a second location; or liquid is
distributed while moving
from a second location to a first location.
Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, non-liquid foodstuff may be associated with a base
(10) using
a foodstuff distribution station (300). According to an embodiment the
foodstuff distribution
station (300) is comprised of a foodstuff conveyor belt system (310) having at
least one food
stuff conveyor belt (311) and a carriage (320). The carriage (320) is
comprised of a motor and
pully system (321) allowing it to move from a first location (313) to a second
location (312).
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The foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is comprised of a near end (325) and a far
end (326).
The foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is operably attached to the carriage (320)
so that when the
carriage (320) moves from a first location (313) to a second location (312)
the foodstuff
conveyor belt (311) moves from the first location (313) to the second location
(312) while
continuing to rotate around its pulleys. According to one embodiment, when the
carriage (320)
moves from the second location (312) to the first location (313), the
foodstuff conveyor belt
(311) is locked so that it is no longer rotating around its pulleys. In
another embodiment, when
the conveyor belt (311) moves from the first location (313) to the second
location (312) the
speed of the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is modulated. In another
embodiment, when the
conveyor belt (311) moves from the second location (312) to the first location
(313), the speed of
the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is modulated. In another embodiment, the
speed of the
foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is continually modulated.
According to an embodiment, the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) is located
approximately
perpendicular to the main conveyor (21). According to an embodiment, as
foodstuff conveyor
belt (311) is timed to deliver foodstuff to a base (10) as it passes under the
foodstuff conveyor
system (300). According to an embodiment, the foodstuff conveyor associates
foodstuff with the
base (10) based upon the size or location of the base (10) or the type of
foodstuff to be
distributed over a base (10). According to an embodiment the movement of the
foodstuff
distribution station (300) is controlled by computer numerical control or
other software that
provides a similar function.
According to an embodiment, when the carriage (320) moves from the first
location (313)
to the second location (312), foodstuff is associated with the foodstuff
conveyor belt (311). The
carriage (320) is then moved from the second location (312) to the first
location (313) and the
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.. food stuff conveyor belt (311) is prevented from rotating; consequently,
foodstuff is associated
with the base (10). According to an embodiment, the carriage (320) may have a
plurality of first
locations (313) and a plurality of second locations (312).
In one embodiment, the foodstuff conveyer belt (311) is a single conveyor. In
another
embodiment, the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) may be comprised of several
interconnected
conveyor sections.
Referring to Figs. 6 through 8, according to one embodiment, the foodstuff
distribution
station (300) may be operably attached to a shredder (330). The foodstuff
distribution station
(300) has a near end (331) and a far end (332). According to an embodiment,
the shredder (330)
is operably attached to the near end (331) of the foodstuff distribution
station (300) with a
commonly known fastening system. According to one embodiment, the shredder
(330) is
operably attached to the near end (331) of the foodstuff distribution station
(300) at an angle
(338) between 10 and 90 relative to the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) which
is approximately
horizontal. Although a disk shredder is shown in drawings for exemplary
purposes, the shredder
can be any other apparatus that accepts foodstuff and associates the foodstuff
to the foodstuff
conveyor belt (311) in a smaller portion by slicing, dicing, or otherwise
cutting the foodstuff.
According to an embodiment, the shredder (330) may be cooled by an external or
internal
heat exchange system. According to an embodiment, a conduit (332) may be
located near or
operably attached to the shredder (330) or foodstuff distribution station
(300) allowing delivery
of foodstuff (21) to the shredder. According to an embodiment, the foodstuff
(21) delivered to
the shredder (330) is cheese. Referring to Fig. 1B, for exemplary purposes,
this is called the
cheese distribution station (600) below.
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Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, according to one embodiment, the foodstuff
distribution
station (300) may be operably attached to a slicer (340). The foodstuff
distribution station (300)
may have a near end (331) and a far end (332). According to an embodiment, the
slicer (340) is
operably attached to the near end (331) of the foodstuff distribution station
(300) with a
commonly known fastening system. According to one embodiment, the slicer (340)
is operably
attached to the near end (331) of the foodstuff distribution station (300) at
an angle (338)
between 10 and 90 relative to the foodstuff conveyor belt (311) which is
approximately
horizontal. According to an embodiment, the slicer may slice foodstuff to
various thicknesses.
Although a slicer is shown in drawings for exemplary purposes, the slicer
(340) can be any
apparatus that accepts foodstuff and associates the foodstuff to the foodstuff
conveyor belt (311)
in a smaller portion by slicing, dicing, or otherwise cutting the foodstuff.
According to an embodiment, the slicer (340) may be cooled by an external or
internal
heat exchange system. According to an embodiment, a conduit (341) may be
located near or
operably attached to the slicer (340) allowing delivery of foodstuff (21) to
the slicer (340).
According to an embodiment, the foodstuff (21) delivered to the slicer (340)
is pepperoni or
other meat. Referring to Fig. 1B, for exemplary purposes, this is called the
meat distribution
station (700) below.
Referring to Figs. 6, 7, 8, 12, and 13, according to one embodiment, the
foodstuff
distribution station (300) may be operably attached to at least one foodstuff
container (350). The
foodstuff distribution station (300) may have a near end (331) and a far end
(332). According to
an embodiment, the foodstuff container (350) is operably attached to the near
end (331) of the
foodstuff distribution station (300) with a commonly known fastening system.
According to an
embodiment, the foodstuff container (350) is located at the near end (331) of
the food stuff
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distribution station (300) allowing foodstuff from the foodstuff container
(350) to associate with
the foodstuff conveyor belt (311).
According to an embodiment, the foodstuff container (350) is comprised of a
foodstuff
conduit (351), a barrel (352), and motor (353). The foodstuff conduit (351)
has a top portion
(354) and a bottom portion (355). The bottom portion (355) of the foodstuff
conduit (351)
defines female end 355a and female end 355b.
The barrel (352) has a near end (357) and a far end (356). The near end (357)
of the
barrel (352) operably mates with female end 355a of the foodstuff conduit
(351). The motor
(353) operably mates with the female end 335b of foodstuff conduit (351) so as
to rotate barrel
(352).
According to an embodiment, the near end (357) of the barrel (352) defines a
cutaway to
form at a set of beater bars or fins (358, 359). In some embodiments, the
barrel (352) may be
replaced by an egg beater or whisk.
Foodstuff (23) is passed from the foodstuff conduit (351) through the barrel
(352) onto
the foodstuff conveyor belt (311). The fins (358, 359) prevent clumping of
foodstuff (23) by
separating the foodstuff as it is associated with the foodstuff conveyor belt
(311).
According to an embodiment, the foodstuff (23) delivered from the container
(350) to the
foodstuff conveyor belt (311) may be onions, peppers, olives, amongst others.
According to an
embodiment, a plurality containers (350) maybe operably associated with the
foodstuff conveyor
belt (311). Referring to Fig. 1B, for exemplary purposes, this is called the
granular delivery
system (800) below.
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Referring to Figs. lA and 14, in an embodiment, the self-contained apparatus
to associate
foodstuff and/or liquid with a base (100) is further comprised of base handler
(50). In an
embodiment, a base (10) is removed from a storage location (40) and placed
onto the main
conveyor (20) by a base handler (50).
In an embodiment, the base handler (50) is comprised of a panel (51) which is
operably
connected to a motorized pulley system (58) that allows the panel (51) to move
along the x-, y-
and z-axis. In an embodiment, the panel (51) is operably attached to a frame
(52) which
provides tracks (53) on which the panel (51) may move; whereby the frame (52)
supports panel
(51). The panel (51) moves along the frame (52) in the x-, y-, or z-axis,
utilizing the motorized,
pulley system (58).
Accordingly, the panel (51) moves along the z-axis, supported by the frame
(52), to a
position along the storage location (40) that holds a base (10); panel (51)
then moves along the x-
axis, outside of frame (52), to receive the base (10); panel (51) and base
(10) move in the x-axis
back into frame (52); next, the panel moves along the z-axis within the frame
(52) to the transfer
height; and, finally, the panel (51) moves along the x-axis (60), inside the
frame, to deliver the
base (10) to the main conveyor (20). In another embodiment, the panel (51) may
move along
the y-axis so as to receive a base (10) at an additional column or set of
storage locations adjacent
to the original storage location (40).
In another embodiment, the handler (50) is further comprised of a conveyor
belt (60).
Accordingly, a base (10) is received from its storage location, as described
above, then the panel
(51) may move along the z-axis to associate the base (10) with conveyor belt
(60). According to
an embodiment, conveyor belt (60) moves the base to the main conveyor belt
(20).
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In an exemplary sequence of events, a base (10) is convey to at least one:
liquid
distribution station where at least one layer of liquid is associated with the
base (10); foodstuff
distribution station (300) where foodstuff is associated with the base (10);
or a combination
thereof.
Referring to Fig. 1B, in an exemplary sequence of events, a base (10), pizza
dough, is
conveyed to a liquid distribution station (200) where at least one layer of
pizza sauce is applied
to the pizza dough (10). The pizza dough (10) may be raw, baked, or par-baked.
The pizza
dough maybe formed as any shape or unformed. The pizza dough (10) then passes
through the
cheese distribution station (600) which deposits cheese onto the base (10). In
a preferred
embodiment, at the cheese distribution station (600) cheese is grated, sliced,
cut, or otherwise
sectioned before the cheese is associated with the pizza dough (10). However,
if the cheese is
pre-shredded, sliced, or otherwise cut, the cheese maybe delivered to the
pizza dough (10) at the
granular foodstuff distribution station (800) below.
The pizza dough (10) then proceeds to the meat distribution station (700)
where meat is
associated with the pizza dough (10). In a preferred embodiment, the meat
distribution station
(700) slices, cuts, or otherwise sections meat before the meat is deposited
onto the pizza dough
(10a). Subsequently, the pizza dough (10) passes through granular food
distribution station
(800). Foodstuffs like olives, green peppers, onions, artichoke hearts,
cheese, amongst others, are
associated with the pizza dough (10). In an embodiment, the pizza dough (10)
with associated
foodstuff and sauce is then conveyed to an oven or other heat source for
cooking.
Referring to Fig. 15, in an exemplary embodiment, functions of the apparatus
for a self-
contained system to associate foodstuff and/or liquid with a base (100)
communicates with
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software (900) that controls metering of liquid and/or foodstuff, recipe
management, amongst
others.
According to an embodiment, the apparatus for a self-contained system to
associate
foodstuff and/or liquid with a base (100) is comprised of at least a liquid
distribution station
(200) and a foodstuff distribution station (300). According to an embodiment,
the apparatus
.. (100) communicates with software (900) where the software (900) is computer
numerical control
system. In some embodiments, each station (200, 300) is independently
controlled by a separate
computer numerical control system. In some embodiments, the computer numerical
control
system may send each station (200,300) a system objective, operation
instructions, core
instructions, or specific instructions to each station (200, 300).
In an embodiment, the apparatus for a self-contained system to associate
foodstuff and/or
liquid with a base (10) communicates with software that receives an order
(910) from a user to
associate foodstuff and/or liquid with a base (100). According to an
embodiment, when an order
is communicated with the apparatus (100), it associates the requested
foodstuff and/or liquid with
a base (10). In an embodiment, a user (920) receives a base with associated
foodstuff and/or
liquid.
Referring to Fig. 16, according to an embodiment, the apparatus for a self-
contained
system to associate of foodstuff and/or liquid with a base (10) is operably
associated with a
vehicle (70). According to an embodiment, the associated foodstuff and/or
liquid is delivered to
the user just as the apparatus (100) has completed associating foodstuff
and/or liquid with a base
(10). According to an embodiment, the apparatus (100), the base (10) and the
associated
foodstuff and/or liquid are cooked in the vehicle before delivery.
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As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the software may
be embodied
as a system, method, or computer product. Accordingly, aspects of the software
may take the
form of an entirely hardware embodiment, entirely software embodiment
(including firmware,
resident software, micro-code, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and
hardware
aspects. Further aspects of the software may take the form of a computer
program embodied in
one or more readable medium having computer readable program code/instructions
thereon.
Program code embodied on computer-readable medium may be transmitted using any
appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical
fiber cable, RF, etc.,
or any suitable combination of the foregoing. The computer code may be
executed entirely on a
user's computer; partly on the user's computer; as a standalone software
package; a cloud
service; partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer; or
entirely on a remote
computer, remote or cloud-based server.
