Make line optimization
AssigneeChipotle Mexican Grill, Inc.
InventorM. Steven Ells
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A make line for preparing food in a restaurant includes ingredient containers and food preparation stations. The make line is provided with a line level lighting system that illuminates one or more ingredient containers as well as one or more of the food preparation stations to indicate which ingredient(s) are to be added to the food order being prepared at the illuminated food preparation station(s). The make line may also comprise an overhead lighting system to selectively illuminate a heating surface, a scanner for detecting which order is currently being prepared, a sensor system for detecting which ingredient container(s) are being accessed, a label printer for printing a label for a given order, and other features to enhance the efficiency of the make line.
Claims20
A make line, comprising:
- a heating surface comprising a plurality of heating stations;
- a product preparation surface comprising a plurality product preparation stations;
- a plurality of ingredient containers proximate the product preparation surface;
- and
- a line level lighting system, comprising:
- a plurality of ingredient lights, at least one ingredient light positioned adjacent each one of the plurality of ingredient containers;
- a plurality of target lights, at least one target light positioned adjacent each one of the plurality of product preparation stations;
- and
- a line level lighting system controller comprising an ingredient light interface, a target light interface, a first processor, and a first memory storing first instructions for execution by the first processor that, when executed by the first processor, cause the first processor to generate and transmit signals for selectively operating the plurality of ingredient lights and the plurality of target lights.
A method of operating a make line, comprising:
- receiving, at a processor of an order server, order information from at least one of a cashier terminal and a wide area network, the order information corresponding to at least one order;
- and
- transmitting, to a line-level lighting system comprising a plurality of ingredient lights and a plurality of target lights, a first instruction signal comprising first instructions for selective operation of the plurality of ingredient lights and the plurality of target lights, the first instructions based on the order information.
A make line comprising:
- a product preparation surface comprising a plurality product preparation stations;
- a plurality of ingredient containers proximate the product preparation surface;
- a line level lighting system, comprising:
- a plurality of ingredient lights, at least one ingredient light positioned adjacent each one of the plurality of ingredient containers;
- and
- a plurality of target lights, at least one target light positioned adjacent each one of the plurality of product preparation stations;
- and
- an order server comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- a memory, the memory storing instructions for execution by the processor that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- receive order information from at least one of a cashier terminal and a wide area network, the order information corresponding to at least one order;
- and
- transmit a first instruction signal to the line-level lighting system, the first instruction signal comprising first instructions for selective operation of the plurality of ingredient lights and the plurality of target lights based on the order information.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.