Automated device and method for packaging food
First Claim
1. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
- a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location;
an automated French fry container holding device for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing chute; and
wherein said container holding device is capable of moving the French fry container up and down.
2 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
28 Claims
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1. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location;
an automated French fry container holding device for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing chute; and
wherein said container holding device is capable of moving the French fry container up and down. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
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2. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location; and
an automated French fry container holding device for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing; and
wherein said dispensing chute has a French fry holding area in fixed relation to said dispensing chute for holding a quantity of cooked French fries. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An automated device useful for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a holding area for receiving and containing a quantity of cooked French fries from a discharge location;
a monitoring device for determining the quantity of French fries contained in the holding area; and
an automated French fry container holding device for enabling an individual portion-sized container to receive French fries from the holding area when the quantity of French fries contained in the holding area exceeds at least predetermined amount of French fries. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location;
an automated French fry container holding device for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing chute; and
a weighing device associated with said dispensing chute to weigh French fries that are in the holding area. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location;
an automated French fry container holding de ice for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing chute;
wherein said dispensing chute comprises an upper chute having the French fry holding area to contain cooked French fries and a lower chute for receiving French fries from the upper chute and having said discharge location; and
a weighing device associated with said upper chute to weigh French fries that are in the holding area. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. An automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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a French fry dispensing chute to contain and discharge cooked French fries, said French fry dispensing chute having a discharge location;
an automated French fry container holding device for holding the individual portion-sized French fry container in position to receive French fries from the discharge location of the dispensing chute;
wherein the container holding device for holding comprises an axially rotatable generally vertically extending elongated first member, a second member that extends from the elongated member, said second member having a gripping member for grinning an individual portion-sized French fry container; and
wherein said gripping member comprises a suction cup. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification