Automated System for Food and/or Beverage Preparation

An automated system for food and/or beverage preparation, comprising:

• a plurality of path segments that together form a path between a plurality of preparation stations, the path segments being positioned above or beneath a surface on which the preparation stations are positioned, each path segment comprising:
• a segment path element;
• a guide actuator moveable along the segment path element;
• and
• a magnetic guide, the magnetic guide being controllable to couple the magnetic guide to a magnetic portion of an object placed above or below the magnetic guide on the surface;
• wherein at least one segment provides two-dimensional movements of at least one magnetic guide to permit non-linear advancement of the object between at least two positions;
• and
• a computing system, the computing system being connected to the guide actuator of each of the plurality of path segments, the computing system comprising a controller operable to have the guide actuator move along its segment path element and operable to couple and decouple the magnetic guide to selectively interact with the object, wherein the computing system is coupled to at least one dispensing equipment at a corresponding preparation station to selectively operate the dispensing equipment when the receptacle is positioned at that station.