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US 8,276,505 B2Granted
Food preparation system
OwnerDavid Benjamin Buehlerinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated food preparation system is described. It allows precise, automated control of the food preparation process, and has the ability to perform an automated cleanup. It comprises at least one manipulator to process and move ingredients, a control system, an autonomously accessible ingredient storage system, and at least one cooking receptacle.
Claims22
A food preparation system comprising:
- a housing comprising a wall having a surface;
- a control subsystem configured to control a plurality of food preparation processes capable of preparing a meal comprising a variety of foods based on user selection of the foods;
- a plurality of ingredient storage containers comprising dry ingredient storage containers and liquid ingredient storage containers;
- a storage module configured to store the ingredient storage containers and a variety of ingredients contained within the ingredient storage containers for an extended period;
- an ingredient manipulator configured to access and remove a plurality of ingredients from the ingredient storage containers, as commanded by the control subsystem;
- a cooking receptacle disposed within the housing, the cooking receptacle being configured to cook ingredients placed therein by the ingredient manipulator;
- a dish and food transfer area that comprises an internal access door, an external access door, and shelves for trays;
- and
- a cleaning subsystem configured to clean the cooking receptacle and the surface of the wall of the housing.
6 more elements
A food preparation system comprising:
- a housing comprising a wall having a surface;
- a control subsystem configured to control a plurality of food preparation processes capable of preparing a meal comprising a variety of foods based on user selection of the foods;
- a plurality of ingredient storage containers comprising dry ingredient storage containers and liquid ingredient storage containers;
- a storage module configured to store the ingredient storage containers and a variety of ingredients contained within the ingredient storage containers for an extended period;
- an ingredient manipulator configured to access and remove a plurality of ingredients from the ingredient storage containers, as commanded by the control subsystem;
- a cooking receptacle disposed within the housing, the cooking receptacle being configured to cook ingredients placed therein by the ingredient manipulator;
- a cleaning subsystem configured to clean the cooking receptacle and the surface of the wall of the housing,
- wherein the control subsystem is further configured to optimize recipe quality by:
- obtaining taste ratings from users through a user interface for recipes prepared using the food preparation system,
- communicating the recipe and user taste ratings with other food preparation systems that have prepared similar recipes and receiving ratings from other users,
- varying the recipe by combining different variations of highest rated versions of the recipe the next time the recipe is prepared, and
- repeating the process each time the recipe is prepared to improve the recipe.
9 more elements
A food preparation system comprising:
- a housing comprising a wall having a surface;
- a control subsystem configured to control a plurality of food preparation processes capable of preparing a meal comprising a variety of foods based on user selection of the foods;
- a plurality of ingredient storage containers comprising dry ingredient storage containers and liquid ingredient storage containers;
- a storage module configured to store the ingredient storage containers and a variety of ingredients contained within the ingredient storage containers for an extended periods;
- an ingredient manipulator configured to access and remove a plurality of ingredients from the ingredient storage containers, as commanded by the control subsystem;
- a cooking receptacle disposed within the housing, the cooking receptacle being configured to cook ingredients placed therein by the ingredient manipulator;
- a cleaning subsystem configured to clean the cooking receptacle and the surface of the wall of the housing;
- and
- a rotating attachable tool rack configured to hold attachable tools for use by the ingredient manipulator.
6 more elements
A food preparation system comprising:
- a control subsystem configured to control a plurality of food preparation processes capable of preparing a meal comprising a variety of foods based on user selection of the foods;
- a plurality of ingredient storage containers comprising dry ingredient storage containers and liquid ingredient storage containers;
- a storage module configured to store the ingredient storage containers and a variety of ingredients contained within the ingredient storage containers for an extended period;
- an ingredient manipulator configured to access and remove a plurality of ingredients from the ingredient storage containers, as commanded by the control subsystem;
- a cooking receptacle configured to cook ingredients placed therein by the ingredient manipulator;
- a cleaning subsystem configured to clean the cooking receptacle utilizing water;
- and
- a rotating attachable tool rack configured to hold attachable tools for use by the ingredient manipulator.
5 more elements
A food preparation system comprising:
- a housing comprising a wall having a surface;
- a control subsystem configured to control a plurality of food preparation processes capable of preparing a meal comprising a variety of foods based on user selection of the foods;
- a plurality of ingredient storage containers comprising dry ingredient storage containers and liquid ingredient storage containers;
- a storage module configured to store the ingredient storage containers and a variety of ingredients contained within the ingredient storage containers for an extended period;
- an ingredient manipulator configured to access and remove a plurality of ingredients from the ingredient storage containers, as commanded by the control subsystem;
- a cooking receptacle disposed within the housing, the cooking receptacle being configured to cook ingredients placed therein by the ingredient manipulator;
- and
- a cleaning subsystem configured to clean the cooking receptacle and the surface of the wall of the housing, the cleaning subsystem comprising cleaning tools operated by a cleaning manipulator.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.