Automated food processing system and method
First Claim
1. A food packaging device comprising an automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container, the automated device comprising:
- a carriage mounted to the food packaging device, the carriage being movable in at least one linear direction;
a mechanical arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed to the carriage and the second end having an end-of-arm tool;
wherein the end-of-arm tool comprises a scoop and a French fry carton grasping mechanism for picking up and grasping an erected individual portion-sized French fry carton from an erected carton pick-up location, and scooping the erected carton while held by the end-of-arm tool into a quantity of cooked French fries located at a filling location to fill the French fry carton; and
the carriage and arm being movable for transporting the filled French fry carton and depositing the filled French fry carton at a drop-off location spaced from the filling location.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated food processing system and method that allows food to be dispensed, fried and packaged in a suitable container, such as an individual portion-sized container. The system includes separate automated modules for dispensing, frying and packaging the food. The food is fried and thereafter 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 filled by an automated container handling and filling system. After a food container is filled, an automated device transports the filled container to a suitable pick-up location.
264 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A food packaging device comprising an automated device for packaging cooked French fries into an individual portion-sized French fry container, the automated device comprising:
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a carriage mounted to the food packaging device, the carriage being movable in at least one linear direction; a mechanical arm having a first end and a second end, the first end being affixed to the carriage and the second end having an end-of-arm tool; wherein the end-of-arm tool comprises a scoop and a French fry carton grasping mechanism for picking up and grasping an erected individual portion-sized French fry carton from an erected carton pick-up location, and scooping the erected carton while held by the end-of-arm tool into a quantity of cooked French fries located at a filling location to fill the French fry carton; and the carriage and arm being movable for transporting the filled French fry carton and depositing the filled French fry carton at a drop-off location spaced from the filling location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification