Automated method for packaging food
First Claim
1. An automated method of packaging French fries in an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
- delivering a quantity of French fries to a holding of a French fry dispensing chute having a chute inlet and a chute discharge, the holding area being located between said chute inlet and said chute discharge;
selecting and holding with an automated device an individual portion-sized container of a desired size from a plurality of different sizes of individual portion-sized containers that can be selected and held by said automated device;
moving the selected individual portion-sized container by the automated device to a location for receiving French fries discharged from the dispensing chute;
maintaining the chute and the holding area in a relatively horizontal position; and
tilting the holding area from the relatively horizontal position to permit the quantity of French fries to be discharged through the chute discharge and dispensed from the holding area when said holding area contains a quantity of French fries sufficient to substantially fill the selected individual portion-sized container.
4 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 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
15 Claims
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1. An automated method of packaging French fries in an individual portion-sized French fry container comprising:
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delivering a quantity of French fries to a holding of a French fry dispensing chute having a chute inlet and a chute discharge, the holding area being located between said chute inlet and said chute discharge; selecting and holding with an automated device an individual portion-sized container of a desired size from a plurality of different sizes of individual portion-sized containers that can be selected and held by said automated device; moving the selected individual portion-sized container by the automated device to a location for receiving French fries discharged from the dispensing chute; maintaining the chute and the holding area in a relatively horizontal position; and tilting the holding area from the relatively horizontal position to permit the quantity of French fries to be discharged through the chute discharge and dispensed from the holding area when said holding area contains a quantity of French fries sufficient to substantially fill the selected individual portion-sized container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification