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US 11,528,913 B1Granted
Automated food preparation apparatus
AssigneeKent Deemter
InventorKent Deemter
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated food preparation apparatus configured to provide a completed provision, such as a bagel, optionally toasted, and optionally with a spread. The automated food preparation system includes a food placement and pickup station, a cutting station assembly, a toasting station assembly and a spread applying station assembly. The provision is directed between the station assemblies through a grasping, locating and moving system. The system includes a plurality of food engaging forks that are configured to releasably grasp the food preparation, and, in turn, to locate and move the food preparation therethrough.
Claims17
An automated food preparation station comprising:
- one of a food placement and a food pickup station providing at least one of ingress into and egress from a housing;
- a cutting station assembly, having a cutting blade, the cutting station being positioned within the housing;
- and
- a grasping system within the housing, the grasping system further including,
- a first food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- a second food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- and
- a carrier, the carrier including a first fork coupling and a second fork coupling, the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling structurally configured to move together with the carrier, with at least one of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling being able to pivot relative to the other of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling;
- wherein the carrier further includes a fork pivoting assembly, defining a fork pivot axis, with the first fork coupling being fixedly coupled to the fork pivot axis, so that the first fork coupling can pivot about the fork pivot axis
- wherein the first fork coupling is structurally configured to pivot between a first orientation wherein the first food engaging fork and the second food engaging fork are positioned in a side by side configuration defining a first open configuration and a second orientation wherein the first food engaging fork and the second food engaging fork are positioned in a stacked orientation defining a second closed configuration.
7 more elements
An automated food preparation station comprising:
- one of a food placement and a food pickup station providing at least one of ingress into and egress from a housing;
- a cutting station assembly, having a cutting blade, the cutting station being positioned within the housing;
- and
- a grasping system within the housing, the grasping system further including,
- a first food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- a second food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- and
- a carrier, the carrier including a first fork coupling and a second fork coupling, the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling structurally configured to move together with the carrier, with at least one of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling being able to pivot relative to the other of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling;
- wherein the carrier is configured to translate across the cutting station assembly, with the cutting station assembly having a cutting blade, wherein in a second closed configuration, the carrier translates across the cutting station so that the cutting blade proceeds between the first food engaging fork and the second food engaging fork.
6 more elements
A grasping system within a housing of an automated food preparation station, the grasping system comprising:
- a first food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- a second food engaging fork having a central body and a plurality of fork prongs extending from the central body;
- and
- a carrier, the carrier including a first fork coupling and a second fork coupling, the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling structurally configured to move together with the carrier, with at least one of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling being able to pivot relative to the other of the first fork coupling and the second fork coupling;
- wherein the carrier further includes a fork pivoting assembly, defining a fork pivot axis, with the first fork coupling being fixedly coupled to the fork pivot axis, so that the first fork coupling can pivot about the fork pivot axis
- wherein the first fork coupling is structurally configured to pivot between a first orientation wherein the first food engaging fork and the second food engaging fork are positioned in a side by side configuration defining a first open configuration and a second orientation wherein the first food engaging fork and the second food engaging fork are positioned in a stacked orientation defining a second closed configuration.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.