×

Automated process for making pizza

  • US 5,997,924 A
  • Filed: 02/04/1997
  • Issued: 12/07/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. An automated pizza process for making a pizza using an automated pizza system, the automated pizza process comprising the steps of:

  • electronically displaying representations of different pizzas, pizza crust sizes, pizza toppings and pizza prices on a monitor for viewing and selecting, said toppings selected from the group consisting of tomato sauce, cheese, sausage, pepperoni, anchovies, onion, green pepper, mushrooms, ground beef, olives, and spices;

    selecting a pizza by engaging a plurality of controls operatively associated with said monitor, said controls corresponding to the representation of a desired pizza crust size and said pizza toppings, said controls being selected from the group consisting of a touch screen display on said monitor or a push button connected to said monitor;

    inserting a card into a card reader to order and pay for said selected pizza, said card being selected from the group consisting of a credit card, a debit card, and an automatic teller machine card, said card reader being operatively connected to said control and said monitor;

    selecting a pizza crust size and selecting pizza topping choices;

    dispensing said selected pizza toppings via a plurality of cartridge tube dispensers containing pizza toppings;

    transporting said pizza crust within the automated pizza system via a robot, said robot having at least four degrees of freedom, said robot further being operatively associated with said plurality of cartridge tube dispensers thus providing means for dispensing pizza toppings;

    building said pizza according to said selected pizza crust size and said selected topping choices;

    cooking said pizza;

    discharging and dispensing said cooked pizza from said oven onto a pizza support member selected from the group consisting of a cardboard box, carton, container, package, pepper plate and plastic plate;

    automatically cutting the pizza into slices with a cutting tool; and

    permitting a consumer to access said sliced cooked pizza on said pizza support member.

View all claims
  • 1 Assignment
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×