Automated cooking systems and methods of operating thereof

A method of cooking food items by using an automated cooking apparatus comprising (1) a storage unit comprising an uncooked food container unit, an insulating enclosure, and a refrigeration unit, (2) a delivery unit, (3) a cooking unit comprising a food transporter comprising a plurality of food compartments, a cooked food receiver, and a cooking tank comprising a cooking tank opening and a plurality of heating elements, and (4) a main controller electronically coupled with the storage unit, the delivery unit, the cooking unit, and the food transporter, the method comprising:

• positioning the food items in the storage unit;
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to align one of the plurality of food compartments with the delivery unit;
• instructing the delivery unit by the main controller to transfer a portion of the food items from the storage unit to the one of the plurality of food compartments aligned with the delivery unit, such that the portion of food items is positioned within the one of the plurality of food compartments;
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to transport the one of the plurality of food compartments through the cooking tank opening and into the cooking tank;
• and
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to transport the one of the plurality of food compartments from the cooking tank to the cooked food receiver and to transfer the portion of food items from the one of the plurality of food compartments to the cooked food receiver, wherein:
• the uncooked food container unit further comprises a container delivery opening aligned with the delivery unit,
• the automated cooking apparatus further comprises a horizontal belt feeder comprising a flexible belt, a plurality of pulleys, a dozer container, and a dozer container track,
• the flexible belt is positioned between the container delivery opening and the insulating enclosure opening and moves in translation relative to both the uncooked food container unit and the container delivery opening,
• the plurality of pulleys is positioned such that the plurality of pulleys supports the flexible belt,
• the dozer container track comprises a dozer track cover and a dozer track opening,
• the insulating enclosure opening is aligned with the dozer track opening,
• the dozer container comprises a first dozer container opening and a second dozer container opening opposite the first dozer container opening and facing the dozer container track,
• the first dozer container opening is aligned with an end of the flexible belt while the second dozer container opening is aligned with the dozer container cover when the dozer container is in a receiving position,
• the second dozer container opening is aligned with the dozer track opening when the dozer container is in a delivering position, and
• when the main controller instructs the delivery unit to transfer a portion of the food items from the storage unit to the one of the plurality of food compartments aligned with the delivery unit, the main controller instructs the horizontal belt feeder to transfer a set portion of food items from the storage unit to the one of the plurality of food compartments.

A method of cooking food items by using an automated cooking apparatus comprising (1) a storage unit comprising an uncooked food container unit, an insulating enclosure, and a refrigeration unit, (2) a delivery unit, (3) a cooking unit comprising a food transporter comprising a plurality of food compartments, a cooked food receiver, and a cooking tank comprising a cooking tank opening and a plurality of heating elements, and (4) a main controller electronically coupled with the storage unit, the delivery unit, the cooking unit, and the food transporter, the method comprising:

• positioning the food items in the storage unit;
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to align one of the plurality of food compartments with the delivery unit;
• instructing the delivery unit by the main controller to transfer a portion of the food items from the storage unit to the one of the plurality of food compartments aligned with the delivery unit, such that the portion of food items is positioned within the one of the plurality of food compartments;
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to transport the one of the plurality of food compartments through the cooking tank opening and into the cooking tank;
• and
• instructing the food transporter by the main controller to transport the one of the plurality of food compartments from the cooking tank to the cooked food receiver and to transfer the portion of food items from the one of the plurality of food compartments to the cooked food receiver, wherein:
• the storage unit further comprises a cassette comprising a plurality of cassette compartments, a cassette axis, a cassette door, a cassette shroud, and a cassette opening,
• the cassette opening is an opening in the cassette shroud and is aligned with the container delivery opening,
• the plurality of cassette compartments is radially arrayed about the cassette axis and rotationally coupled to the cassette,
• each one of the plurality of cassette compartments comprises a compartment opening,
• the compartment opening is aligned with the cassette opening when the one of the plurality of cassette compartments is aligned with the cassette opening,
• the compartment opening of each one of the plurality of cassette compartments is aligned with the cassette shroud when the one of the plurality of cassette compartments is not aligned with the cassette opening,
• the cassette door is positioned between the one of the plurality of cassette compartments and the cassette opening when the cassette door is in a closed position,
• the cassette door is not positioned between the one of the plurality of cassette compartments and the cassette opening when the cassette door is in an open position,
• when the food items are positioned in the storage unit, at least one portion of food is positioned in at least one of the plurality of cassette compartments, and
• when the main controller instructs the delivery unit to transfer a portion of the food items from the storage unit to the one of the plurality of food compartments, the main controller also instructs the storage unit (1) to rotate the plurality of cassette compartments such that the compartment opening of one of the plurality of cassette compartments in which the portion of the food items is positioned is aligned with the cassette opening, and (2) to open the cassette door.