Automated food processing system and method

An automated method for dispensing, frying and discharging French fries comprising:

• containing French fries to be dispensed in a storage container located in an environment that is below 32° F.;
• dispensing a predetermined quantity of French fries from the storage container into a secondary container located in an environment that is below 32° F.;
• dispensing the quantity of French fries from the secondary container to a location outside of the environment that is below 32° F. and into a frying module;
• frying with the frying device the French fries dispensed from the dispensing module to produce a quantity of fried French fries;
• and
• discharging the French fries from the frying module.

An automated method of dispensing, frying and discharging food comprising:

• providing an automated dispensing device contained in a first housing, and comprising a freezer, a storage container located in the freezer for containing the food to be dispensed, means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, said means and said secondary container located in the freezer, and means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside the freezer;
• providing an automated fry device contained in a second housing and comprising a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil, at least one circular fry wheel having at least a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the fry wheel, which radial axis is disposed above the normal operating level of the frying oil in the fry vat and a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel;
• dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container to the secondary container;
• dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container from the dispensing device into one of the compartments of the circular fry wheel;
• rotating the fry wheel to move the quantity of food dispensed into the compartment into the cooking oil in the fry vat to fry the quantity of food;
• thereafter rotating the fry wheel to move the fried quantity of food out of the frying oil;
• and
• thereafter discharging the quantity of fried food from the compartment and the fry device.