System for dispensing toppings

• US 10,292,415 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2016
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creator, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Creator, Inc.
• Inventors: Vardakostas, Alexandros, Frehn, Steven, McDonald, John Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phuong T
• Application Number:
  US15/082,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20160213054A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,149 Days
• Field of Search: 994505, 994504, 99325, 99326, 99357, 99334, 99352, 99358, 99355, 99443 C, 99443 R, 99494, 99451, 426274, 426275, 426574, 426629, 426641, 426656, 426634, 426516-519, 426531, 426802
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 15/002 Apparatus for spreading granular material on, or sweeping or coating the surface of baked articles of pieces of dough A21C9/04; for confectionary A23G3/28
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/20 Making of laminated, multi-layered, stuffed or hollow foodstuffs, e.g. by wrapping in preformed edible dough sheets or in edible food containers
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/0078 Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts

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.

Claims

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 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.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first topping module further comprises a first hopper configured to store the quantity of the first topping type and a first blade arranged across a discharge end of the first hopper; and

the actuation system is configured to selectively advance and retract the first blade to dispense servings of the first topping type from the first topping module during the first time period.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first topping module is configured to store the quantity of the first topping type comprising units of substantially whole vegetables; and

the third topping module is configured to store the quantity of the third topping type comprising a volume of a sauce.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first hopper:

defines an internal volume configured to hold units of the first topping type,

is configured to release units of the first topping type through the discharge end, and

comprises a stake configured to pass through units of the first topping type, wherein the stake extends toward the discharge end.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the actuation system comprises:

a first linear actuator integrated into the first topping module,

a third linear actuator integrated into the third topping module, and

a processor configured to (i) control the first linear actuator to actuate the first blade during the first time period and (ii) control the third linear actuator to actuate a third blade in the third topping module during the second time period.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first topping module is configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle and is removable from the first topping module receptacle in a singular unit with the first linear actuator.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein:

the first topping module comprises a magazine configured to receive an array of hoppers;

each hopper in the array of hoppers is configured to store a set of uncut units of the first topping type; and

the magazine is configured to sequentially and intermittently index hoppers in the array of hoppers into a discharge position to feed uncut units of the first topping type into the first blade during the first time period.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein:

the first topping module receptacle comprises a chute extending above the first blade opposite the conveyor, defining an axial length less than an axial length of a hopper in the array of hoppers, defining an axial length exceeding a common length of units of the first topping type, and configured to receive substantially whole servings of the first topping type from a hopper in the array of hoppers arranged over the chute; and

the magazine is configured to sequentially align hoppers in the array of hoppers with the chute.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first topping module receptacle comprises a first blade;

the actuator system is configured to advance and retract the first blade to dispense servings of the first topping type toward the first dispense position during the first time period; and

the actuator system is configured to advance and retract the first blade to dispense servings of the third topping type toward the first dispense position during the second time period.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the conveyor is configured to advance a first topping vehicle into the first dispense position;

the first topping module receptacle comprises a first retaining plate offset from and rigidly coupled to a first blade in a slicer assembly;

a leading edge of the first blade is laterally offset from a leading edge of the first retaining plate;

the first topping module is configured to release a unit of the first topping type toward the slicer assembly;

the first food order corresponds to the first topping vehicle; and

the actuator system is configured to advance the slicer assembly forward to slice and dispense a serving from the unit of the first topping type toward the first topping vehicle in the first dispense position based on a specification for the first topping type in the first food order.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the first topping module is configured to store the quantity of the first topping type comprising a first optional ingredient of a lunch menu item;

the second topping module is configured to store the quantity of the second topping type comprising a second optional ingredient of the lunch menu item;

the third topping module is configured to store the quantity of the third topping type comprising a first optional ingredient of a dinner menu item; and

the fourth topping module is configured to store the quantity of the fourth topping type comprising a second optional ingredient of the dinner menu item.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the conveyor is configured to sequentially advance topping vehicles comprising sliced bread from the initial position to the first dispense position and from the first dispense position to the second dispense position.

13. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:

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.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the first topping module further comprises a first hopper configured to store the amount of the first topping type and a first blade arranged across a discharge end of the first hopper; and

the actuation system is configured to selectively advance and retract the first blade to dispense servings of the first topping type from the first topping module toward the first dispense position in the first configuration.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the first topping module is configured to store the amount of the first topping type comprising units of substantially whole vegetables; and

the third topping module is configured to store the amount of the third topping type comprising a volume of a sauce.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the second topping module further comprises a second hopper configured to store the amount of the second topping type and a second blade arranged across a discharge end of the second hopper;

the conveyor is configured to simultaneously support a first topping vehicle in the first dispense position and a second topping vehicle in the second dispense position during the first time period;

a first food order corresponds to the first topping vehicle;

a third food order corresponds to the second topping vehicle;

the third food order is distinct from the first food order; and

the actuator system is configured to, in response to a request for the first topping type in the first food order and a request for the second topping type in the second food order, selectively advance the first blade relative to the first topping module receptacle and the second blade relative to the second topping module receptacle, substantially simultaneously, to dispense a serving of the first topping type from the first topping module onto the first topping vehicle in the first dispense position and to dispense a serving of the second topping type from the second topping module onto the second topping vehicle in the second dispense position, substantially simultaneously.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein:

the actuator system comprises a first actuator and a second actuator;

the first actuator is transiently coupled to the first blade in the first topping module in the first configuration and is transiently coupled to the second topping module in the second configuration; and

the second actuator is coupled to the second blade and is operable independently of the first actuator.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the actuation system comprises:

a first actuator integrated into the first topping module,

a third actuator integrated into the third topping module, and

a processor configured to (i) control the first actuator to actuate the first blade in the first configuration and (ii) control the third actuator to actuate the third topping module in the second configuration.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the set of topping module receptacles is configured to selectively dispense ingredients of the first menu item corresponding to a first seasonal menu item in the first configuration; and

the set of topping module receptacles is configured to selectively dispense ingredients of the second menu item corresponding to a second seasonal menu item distinct from the first seasonal menu item in the second configuration.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein:

the first topping module further comprises a heating element configured to heat a portion of the amount of the first topping type; and

the first topping module is configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle and is removable from the first topping module receptacle in a singular unit with the heating element.