System for dispensing toppings
First Claim
1. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
- a first topping module receptacle;
a second topping module receptacle adjacent the first topping module receptacle;
a conveyor configured to sequentially advance topping vehicles from an initial position to a first dispense position adjacent the first topping module receptacle and from the first dispense position to a second dispense position adjacent the second topping module receptacle;
a first set of topping modules comprising;
a first topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a first topping type, and to dispense servings of the first topping type toward the first dispense position during a first time period; and
a second topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a second topping type, and to dispense servings of the second topping type toward the second dispense position during the first time period, the first topping type and the second topping type comprising ingredients of a first menu item;
a second set of topping modules comprising;
a third topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle in replacement of the first topping module, to store a quantity of a third topping type, and to dispense servings of the third topping type toward the first dispense position during a second time period succeeding the first time period; and
a fourth topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle in replacement of the second topping module, to store a quantity of a fourth topping type, and to dispense servings of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position during the second time period, the third topping type and the fourth topping type comprising ingredients of a second menu item distinct from the first menu item; and
an actuator system configured to;
based on a set of toppings specified in a first food order received during the first time period;
selectively actuate the first topping module to dispense a serving of the first topping type toward the first dispense position andselectively actuate the second topping module to dispense a serving of the second topping type toward the second dispense position;
at a transition between the first time period and the second time period, move the first topping module and the third topping module forward to align the third topping module with the first dispense position;
at the transition between the first time period and the second time period, move the second topping module and the fourth topping module forward to align the fourth topping module with the second dispense position; and
based on a set of toppings specified in a second food order received during the second time period;
selectively actuate the third topping module to dispense a serving of the third topping type toward the first dispense position andselectively actuate the fourth topping module to dispense a serving of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position,wherein;
during the first time period, the first and second topping modules are able to dispense servings of the first and second topping types and the third and fourth topping modules are unable to dispense servings of the third and fourth topping types, andduring the second time period, the third and fourth topping modules are able to dispense servings of the third and fourth topping types and the first and second topping modules are unable to dispense servings of the first and second topping types.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module including a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module including a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
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a first topping module receptacle; a second topping module receptacle adjacent the first topping module receptacle; a conveyor configured to sequentially advance topping vehicles from an initial position to a first dispense position adjacent the first topping module receptacle and from the first dispense position to a second dispense position adjacent the second topping module receptacle; a first set of topping modules comprising; a first topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a first topping type, and to dispense servings of the first topping type toward the first dispense position during a first time period; and a second topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a second topping type, and to dispense servings of the second topping type toward the second dispense position during the first time period, the first topping type and the second topping type comprising ingredients of a first menu item; a second set of topping modules comprising; a third topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle in replacement of the first topping module, to store a quantity of a third topping type, and to dispense servings of the third topping type toward the first dispense position during a second time period succeeding the first time period; and a fourth topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle in replacement of the second topping module, to store a quantity of a fourth topping type, and to dispense servings of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position during the second time period, the third topping type and the fourth topping type comprising ingredients of a second menu item distinct from the first menu item; and an actuator system configured to; based on a set of toppings specified in a first food order received during the first time period; selectively actuate the first topping module to dispense a serving of the first topping type toward the first dispense position and selectively actuate the second topping module to dispense a serving of the second topping type toward the second dispense position; at a transition between the first time period and the second time period, move the first topping module and the third topping module forward to align the third topping module with the first dispense position; at the transition between the first time period and the second time period, move the second topping module and the fourth topping module forward to align the fourth topping module with the second dispense position; and based on a set of toppings specified in a second food order received during the second time period; selectively actuate the third topping module to dispense a serving of the third topping type toward the first dispense position and selectively actuate the fourth topping module to dispense a serving of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position, wherein; during the first time period, the first and second topping modules are able to dispense servings of the first and second topping types and the third and fourth topping modules are unable to dispense servings of the third and fourth topping types, and during the second time period, the third and fourth topping modules are able to dispense servings of the third and fourth topping types and the first and second topping modules are unable to dispense servings of the first and second topping types. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
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a first topping module configured to store an amount of a first topping type; a second topping module configured to store an amount of a second topping type, wherein the first topping type and the second topping type comprise ingredients of a first menu item; a third topping module configured to store an amount of a third topping type, wherein the first topping type and the third topping type comprise ingredients of a second menu item that is distinct from the first menu item; a set of topping module receptacles; comprising a first topping module receptacle and a second topping module receptacle adjacent the first topping module receptacle; operable in a first configuration during a first time period, the first topping module receptacle receiving the first topping module and the second topping module receptacle transiently receiving the second topping module in the first configuration; and operable in a second configuration during a second time period, the first topping module receptacle transiently receiving the third topping module, in replacement of the first topping module, in the second configuration; a conveyor configured to advance topping vehicles between a first dispense position adjacent the first topping module receptacle and a second dispense position adjacent the second topping module receptacle; an actuator system configured to; based on a set of toppings specified in a first food order received during the first time period; selectively actuate the first topping module to dispense a serving of the first topping type toward the first dispense position and selectively actuate the second topping module to dispense a serving of the second topping type toward the second dispense position; at a transition between the first time period and the second time period, move the first topping module and the third topping module forward to align the third topping module with the first dispense position; and based on a set of toppings specified in a second food order received during the second time period; selectively actuate the third topping module to dispense a serving of the third topping type toward the first dispense position and selectively actuate the second topping module to dispense a serving of the second topping type toward the second dispense position, wherein; during the first time period, the first and second topping modules are able to dispense servings of the first and second topping types and the third topping module is unable to dispense servings of the third topping type, and during the second time period, the second and third topping modules are able to dispense servings of the second and third topping types and the first topping module is unable to dispense servings of the first topping type. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification