US 5,132,914 AGranted

Food preparation system and method

AssigneeRestaurant Technology, Inc.

InventorsRobert L. Cahlander, David W. Carroll, Robert A. Hanson, Al Hollingsworth, John O. Reinertsen

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A fully automated robotized system and method is provided for cooking food products. The system and method is especially useful for use in a quick service or fast food restaurant and, in one embodiment, is capable of cooking, on a fully automated basis, french fries, chicken nuggets, fish filets and chicken patties. In one embodiment, the system includes a robot, a bulk uncooked food dispensing station, a cooking station and a cooked food storage station. The system can be controlled by a computer operating and control station that controls and directs the robot to obtain bulk food from the dispensing station, place it in cooking position at the cooking station and when cooked, remove the food and deliver it to the storage station, at a rate required to fill anticipated customer orders.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A robotized system for cooking food products comprising:

(a) a robot capable of working in an area that determines a work area;
(b) food dispensing means for dispensing uncooked food pieces into a moveable container located in said work area;
(c) at least one cooking means in said work area cooking food products;
(d) storage means adjacent said work area for receiving and storing cooked food delivered by said robot from said cooking means;
and
(e) an end of arm robot tool forming part of said robot, said robot capable of, in conjunction with said end of arm tool, selectively engaging, disengaging and moving said container to desired locations in said work area and for placing said food pieces in cooking position with respect to said cooking means, said desired locations including an uncooked food dispensing position for receiving food into said container from said food dispensing means, a cooking position at said cooking means for cooking said food pieces and an unloading location where cooked food is unloaded from said container into said storage means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/516,888Filed 30 Apr 1990 · continuation
Priority: 1 Apr 1988
Granted: 21 Jul 1992
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G07F 17/0085
Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts: food articles which for processing need…
A47J 27/14
Cooking-vessels: cooking-vessels for use in hotels, restaurants, or canteens
A47J 37/1228
Deep fat fryers, e.g. for frying fish or chips: automatic machines for frying and dispensing metered amounts of food
G07F 17/0078
For processing of food articles: food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts