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US 11,178,879 B2Granted
Automated pizza-making system
OwnerJames R. Keslerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vehicle-based, automated pizza-making system including a two-piece pizza pan conveyed between pizza-making components on a series of pan drive rails. The two-piece pizza pan can include a base and a removable ring for containing the unfinished pizza and toppings. The rails can include timing belts for conveying the two-piece pizza pan through the system with improved positional control and accuracy.
Claims34
An automated pizza system comprising:
- a two-piece pizza pan including a base plate having an upper surface and a bottom surface, and a removable ring having an upper rim, a lower rim, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the removable ring configured to couple with a groove or slot in the upper surface of the base plate;
- and
- a pan conveyance system, the pan conveyance system configured to convey the two-piece pizza pan through a plurality of stations to prepare a pizza;
- wherein removal of the removable ring from the base plate configures the upper surface of the base plate such that a finished pizza can be removed from the upper surface by a sliding motion.
1 more element
An automated pizza system comprising:
- a two-piece pizza pan including a base plate having an upper surface and a bottom surface, and a removable ring having an upper rim, a lower rim, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the removable ring configured to couple with the base plate;
- and
- a pan conveyance system, the pan conveyance system configured to convey the two-piece pizza pan through a plurality of stations to prepare a pizza;
- wherein removal of the removable ring from the base plate configures the upper surface of the base plate such that a finished pizza can be removed from the upper surface by a sliding motion;
- and
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises a finishing system configured to remove the removable ring from the base plate and slide the finished pizza off the base plate with the removable ring removed therefrom.
3 more elements
An automated pizza system comprising:
- a pizza pan including:
- a base plate having an upper surface and a bottom surface and a first edge and a second edge, the first edge opposite the second edge;
- and
- a removable ring having an upper rim, a lower rim, and a sidewall extending therebetween, the removable ring configured to couple with the base plate such that removal of the removable ring from the base plate configures the upper surface of the base plate such that a cooked pizza can be removed therefrom by sliding motion;
- and
- a pan drive including:
- a first rail including:
- a first rail member having a first pan slot extending along a length of the first rail member, the first pan slot configured to receive the first edge of the pizza pan therein;
- a first drive wheel coupled with a drive motor;
- a first belt positioned within the first pan slot and coupled with the first drive wheel, the first drive wheel and motor configured to advance the first belt;
- and
- a second rail including a second rail member having a second pan slot configured to receive the second edge of the pizza pan therein, a second belt positioned within the second pan slot, the second belt coupled with a second drive wheel;
- wherein the first pan slot is aligned parallel with the second pan slot and the first and second belts are configured to advance the pizza pan through the first and second pan slots.
10 more elements
An automated pizza system comprising:
- a two-piece pizza pan including a base plate having an upper surface and a bottom surface, and a removable ring having an upper rim, a lower rim, and a sidewall extending therebetween, wherein the removable ring is configured to couple with the base plate;
- and
- a pan conveyance system, the pan conveyance system configured to convey the two-piece pizza through a plurality of stations with a dough disposed on the base plate and within the removable ring to prepare a finished pizza;
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises a dough press configured to press the dough;
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises a sauce dispenser configured to dispense a sauce onto the dough;
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises a bulk food slicer configured to dispense bulk food slices onto the dough;
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises a loose topping dispenser configured to dispense loose toppings onto the dough;
- wherein a station of the plurality of stations comprises an oven configured to cook the dough into the finished pizza;
- and
- wherein removal of the removable ring configures the upper surface of the base plate such that the finished pizza can be removed from the upper surface by a sliding motion;
- wherein the pan conveyance system includes:
- a first rail including a first pan slot configured to receive a first edge of the two-piece pizza pan;
- and
- a second rail including a second pan slot configured to receive a second edge of the two-piece pizza pan.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.