MODULARIZED FOOD PREPARATION DEVICE AND TRAY STRUCTURE FOR USE THEREOF

• US 20170150843A1
• Filed: 06/18/2015
• Published: 06/01/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Serenete Corporation
• Original Assignee: Serenete Corporation
• Inventors: Rosalia, Jesse Austin, Chen, Haidee
• Granted Patent: US 10,674,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2201/00 Devices having a modular construction
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/12 Multiple-unit cooking vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/13 Tier cooking-vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 43/044 with tools driven from the top side
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 44/00 Multi-purpose machines for preparing food with several driving units
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/12 Hotels or restaurants

Abstract

A food preparation device or system which utilizes pre-packaged food containers to prepare a food item for consumption.

Claims

1. A food preparation device comprising:

a housing including one or more compartments;

a receptacle provided on a cooking surface to retain food items during preparation;

a manipulator to perform a manipulation action on food items in the receptacle;

wherein the one or more compartments and the receptacle are modularized to be exchangeable with other components in order to alter r augment a function or purpose of the food preparation device.

2. The food preparation device of claim 1, wherein the manipulator includes multiple segments, including an end segment, and wherein at least the end segment is modularized to enable different types of end segments to be attached to the manipulator.

3. The food preparation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more compartments can be exchanged for other compartments in order to add one or more of a refrigeration compartment, a warmer, or a waste disposal compartment.

4. The food preparation device of claim 1, wherein the one or more compartments include a tray retention assembly for retaining a plurality of trays.

5. The food preparation device of claim 4, wherein the tray retention assembly includes a carousel that retains and rotates the trays.

6. The food preparation device of claim 1, wherein the receptacle can be exchanged for another receptacle having a different shape or geometry that is suited for a particular form of food preparation.

7. A tray assembly for a food preparation device, the tray assembly comprising:

a cartridge including a plurality of receiving structures to receive a plurality of trays; and

a rail structure to support the one or more trays in the cartridge;

wherein the cartridge is structured to be received in a food preparation device.

8. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein the cartridge includes a moveable perimeter structure to move trays within the food preparation device.

9. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein the plurality of receiving structures are dimensioned to interface with a robotic grabber which grabs individual trays.

10. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein the receiving structure includes one or more rails and one or more tracks, the tracks and the individual trays being engaged so that the tray can be removed from the receiving structure by lifting the individual trays upward.

11. The tray assembly of claim 7, wherein the receiving structure of each tray is structured to receive a tray that varies one of shape or material.

12. The tray assembly of claim 7, further comprising individual trays which include a ridged bottom surface to prevent food adhesion.