Automated food processing system and method
First Claim
1. An automated system for dispensing, frying and storing cooked food comprising:
- an automated dispensing device contained in a first housing, capable of dispensing a desired quantity portion of food to be cooked;
an automated fry device contained in a second housing, separate from the first housing and located proximate the dispensing device to directly receive and fry the portion of food dispensed from the dispensing device, and to produce and dispense a quantity of fried food, the fry device further comprising a fry wheel;
a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel;
a food receiving device contained in a third housing, separate from the first and second housings and located proximate the fry device to directly receive and store the cooked food received from the fry device; and
a control system for causing the drive mechanism to periodically rotate the fry wheel back and forth through a relatively small amount of angular rotation to simulate shaking of a fry basket.
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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 dispenses 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
17 Claims
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1. An automated system for dispensing, frying and storing cooked food comprising:
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an automated dispensing device contained in a first housing, capable of dispensing a desired quantity portion of food to be cooked; an automated fry device contained in a second housing, separate from the first housing and located proximate the dispensing device to directly receive and fry the portion of food dispensed from the dispensing device, and to produce and dispense a quantity of fried food, the fry device further comprising a fry wheel; a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel; a food receiving device contained in a third housing, separate from the first and second housings and located proximate the fry device to directly receive and store the cooked food received from the fry device; and a control system for causing the drive mechanism to periodically rotate the fry wheel back and forth through a relatively small amount of angular rotation to simulate shaking of a fry basket. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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2. An automated modular system for dispensing, frying and packaging food into individual portion-sized containers comprising:
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an automated dispensing module contained in a first housing, capable of dispensing a desired quantity of food to be fried; an automated fry module, having a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil, at least one circular fry wheel, a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel, and a control system for the drive mechanism, the fry module being contained in a second housing, separate from the first housing and located adjacent the dispensing module to receive and fry the quantity of food dispensed from the dispensing module, and to produce and dispense a quantity of fried food, the at least one fry wheel having a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment for containing a quantity of food to be fried and each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the fry wheel, which radial axis is fixedly disposed above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat, the fry wheel configured so that during operation of the fry module, including during cooking and discharge of the quantity of food therefrom, when one compartment is in a position above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to dispense the quantity of fried food contained therein, another compartment is entirely below the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to cook the quantity of food contained therein;
the control system being programmed to cause the drive mechanism to periodically rotate the fry wheel back and forth through a relatively small amount of angular rotation to simulate shaking of a fry basket; andan automated packaging module contained in a third housing, separate from the first and second housings and located adjacent the fry module to receive and package the fried food from the fry module into an individual portion-sized container. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An automated system for dispensing, frying and packaging French fries into individual portion-sized containers comprising:
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an automated dispensing device contained in a first housing, capable of dispensing a desired quantity portion of French fries to be fried; an automated fry device, having a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil, at least one circular fry wheel, and a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel, the fry device being contained in a second housing, separate from the first housing and located proximate the dispensing device to receive and fry the portion of French fries dispensed from the dispensing device, and to produce and dispense a quantity of fried French fries, the at least one fry wheel having a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment for containing a quantity of French fries and each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the fry wheel, which radial axis is fixedly disposed above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat, the fry wheel configured so that during operation of the automated fry device, including during cooking and discharge of the French fries therefrom, when one compartment is in a position above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to dispense the quantity of French fries contained therein, another compartment is entirely below the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to cook the quantity of French fries contained therein; and
a control system for causing the drive mechanism to periodically rotate the fry wheel back and forth through a relatively small amount of angular rotation to simulate shaking of a French fry basket; andan automated packaging device contained in a third housing, separate from the first and second housings and located proximate the fry device to receive and package the fried French fries from the fry device into an individual portion-sized French fry container. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An automated system for dispensing, frying and storing cooked food comprising:
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an automated dispensing device contained in a first housing, capable of dispensing a desired quantity portion of food to be cooked; an automated fry device contained in a second housing, having a fry vat for containing and heating cooking oil, at least one circular fry wheel and a drive mechanism for rotating the fry wheel, the fry module being separate from the first housing and located proximate the dispensing device to directly receive and fry the portion of food dispensed from the dispensing device, and to produce and dispense a quantity of fried food, the at least one fry wheel having a generally circular perimeter and a plurality of compartments, each compartment for containing a quantity of food and each compartment having an opening towards the perimeter, the fry wheel mounted for rotational movement relative to the radial axis of the fry wheel, which radial axis is fixedly disposed above the normal operating level of the frying oil in the fry vat, the fry wheel configured so that during operation of the automated fry device, including during cooking and discharge of the fried food therefrom, when one compartment is in a position above the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat to dispense the quantity of fried food contained therein, another compartment is entirely below the normal operating level of the cooking oil in the fry vat; and
a control system for causing the drive mechanism to periodically rotate the fry wheel back and forth through a relatively small amount of angular rotation to simulate shaking of a fry basket; anda food receiving device contained in a third housing, separate from the first and second housings and located proximate the fry device, to directly receive and store the cooked food received from the fry device. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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Specification