Meals preparation machine

A meals preparation machine comprising at least:

• a package treatment subsystem configured and located to:
• receive a meal package (MP) placed into the meals preparation machine, each MP contains a freeze-dry food content, wherein each MP has an identifier thereover;
• detect at least one characteristic of the identifier of the received MP, using at least one sensor;
• and
• open and empty the freeze-dry content of the received MP;
• a central controller, configured to:
• control opening and emptying of each received MP by controlling the meal preparation subsystem;
• receive sensor data from the at least one sensor relating to the received MP;
• identify a meal identification code of a specific MP, based on the received sensor data;
• retrieve a meal preparation plan that is associated with the identified meal identification code of the received MP;
• and
• one or more meal preparation mechanisms, including at least one mixing device, the one or more meal preparation mechanisms being configured to receive the freeze-dry content of the emptied MP, from the package treatment subsystem, and automatically and controllably prepare a specific meal at least by mixing the freeze-dry content of the received and emptied MP, using the at least one mixing device, with one or more additional substances, based on the meal preparation plan of the identified meal identification code of the received MP,
• wherein the central controller is further configured to automatically control the preparation of each meal from each received and emptied MP by controlling operation of the one or more meal preparation mechanisms, based on the retrieved meal preparation plan of each received MP;
• further comprising at least:
• a dispensing subsystem comprising one or more controllable dispensers, for dispensing one or more additional substances;
• a mixing subsystem configured and located to
• receive freeze-dry food content of the received MP opened and emptied thereto;
• receive one or more additional substances from the one or more controllable dispensers of the dispensing subsystem;
• and
• mix the freeze-dry food content with the one or more dispensed additional substances, to achieve a mixture of the meal;
• a cooking subsystem configured to receive the mixture of the meal and to cook the mixture by using one or more cooking devices and/or heating elements,
• wherein the dispensing, mixing and cooking of the meal is controllable by the central controller, based on the meal preparation plan of the specific opened and emptied MP;
• further comprising:
• a molding subsystem, configured to receive the mixture from the mixing subsystem and mold it to a desired shape, before it is being cooked by the cooking subsystem, wherein the molding is done based on the meal preparation plan of the MP by placing the mixture into a mold and/or by shaping the mixture into a desired shape.

A method for preparing meals comprising at least:

• providing a meals preparation machine comprising at least:
• a package treatment subsystem configured and located to:
• receive a meal package (MP) placed into the meals preparation machine, each MP contains a freeze-dry food content, wherein each MP has an identifier thereover;
• detect at least one characteristic of the identifier of the received MP, using at least one sensor;
• and
• open and empty the freeze-dry content of the received MP;
• a central controller, configured to:
• control opening and emptying of each received MP by controlling the package treatment subsystem;
• receive sensor data from the at least one sensor relating to the received MP;
• identify a meal identification code of a specific MP, based on the received sensor data;
• retrieve a meal preparation plan that is associated with the identified meal identification code of the received MP;
• and
• one or more meal preparation mechanisms, including at least one mixing device, the one or more meal preparation mechanisms being configured to receive the freeze-dry content of the emptied MP, from the package treatment subsystem, and automatically and controllably prepare a specific meal at least by mixing the freeze-dry content of the received and emptied MP, using the at least one mixing device, with one or more additional substances, based on the meal preparation plan of the identified meal identification code of the received MP,
• wherein the central controller is further configured to automatically control the preparation of each meal from each received and emptied MP by controlling operation of the one or more meal preparation mechanisms, based on the retrieved meal preparation plan of each received MP;
• receiving a meal package (MP) containing freeze-dry content, into the meals preparation machine, the MP having an identifier thereover;
• detecting one or more characteristics of the identifier of the received MP, using the at least one sensor of the meals preparation machine, outputting sensor data indicative of the detected one or more characteristics;
• identifying a meal preparation code of the respective MP, based on the sensor data;
• retrieving a meal preparation plan that is associated with the identified meal preparation code of the respective MP;
• and
• controlling preparation of a meal of the respective MP, based on the retrieved meal preparation plan;
• wherein the meals preparation machine further comprises a package seal-removal mechanism, a mixer bowl, a molding subsystem comprising at least one cooking mold, and a cooking subsystem comprising one or more heating elements, and wherein the preparation of the meal of the received MP comprises the steps of:
• opening the received MP using a package seal-removal mechanism of the meals preparation machine;
• emptying freeze-dry food from the MP into a mixer bowl of the meals preparation machine;
• dispensing at least one additional material into the mixer bowl, using one or more controllable dispensers of the meals preparation machine forming a mixture thereof;
• mixing the freeze-dry food with the at least one additional material forming a mixture of the meal;
• molding the mixture into at least one cooking mold of the meals preparation machine;
• and
• cooking the mixture by using one or more heating elements of the meals preparation machine.