Food dispensing device and method
First Claim
1. An automated dispensing device for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
- a freezer;
a storage container located in the freezer for containing food to be dispensed;
means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, said means for dispensing located in the freezer; and
means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside of the freezer.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated food processing system and method is provided that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, which may be an individual portion-sized container. In one embodiment, the system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging the food.
In one embodiment, an automated dispensing device dispenser a predetermined portion of food from a bulk storage container or food dispensing magazine. Food is dispensed from the automated dispensing device to an automated fry device that can include at least one circular fry wheel having a plurality of food containing compartments. After the food is fried it is dispensed from the fry device to an automated packaging device. The automated packaging device dispenses food to a container that may be an individual portion-sized container that is retrieved, erected and held into position for filling by an automated container handling system. After a food container is filled, a conveyor system transports the filled container to a suitable pick-up location.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An automated dispensing device for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
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a freezer;
a storage container located in the freezer for containing food to be dispensed;
means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, said means for dispensing located in the freezer; and
means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside of the freezer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 24)
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19. An automated method of dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
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storing food items in a storage container located in a freezer;
dispensing food items from the storage container to a conveyor;
conveying the food items on the conveyor to a secondary container located in the freezer;
monitoring the amount of food items delivered to the secondary container;
terminating delivery of the food items to the secondary container when a desired amount of food items are determined to be present in the secondary container as determined by said monitoring; and
dispensing the food items from the secondary container and out of the freezer by at least partially inverting the secondary container. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
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storing food items in a storage container;
dispensing food items from the storage container to a conveyor;
conveying the food items on the conveyor to a secondary container;
monitoring the amount of food items delivered to the secondary container;
terminating delivery of the food items to the secondary container when a desired amount of food items are determined to be present in the secondary container as determined by said monitoring;
dispensing the food items from the secondary container by at least partially inverting the secondary container. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification