System and method for dispensing toppings
First Claim
1. A system for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
- a first topping module comprising a first hopper and a first blade, the first hopper configured to dispense a first topping sample of a first topping type, the first blade adjacent a discharge end of the first hopper, defining a smooth leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from the first topping sample;
a second topping module comprising a second hopper and a second blade, the second hopper configured to dispense a second topping sample of a second topping type distinct from the first topping type, and the second blade adjacent a discharge end of the second hopper, defining a serrated leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from the second topping sample;
a conveyor configured to sequentially index a series of topping vehicles from a first position adjacent the first topping module to a second position adjacent the second topping module;
a beam extending across the first topping module and the second topping module;
a first selection actuator supported by the beam adjacent the first topping module and configured to selectively couple the first blade to the beam during a dispense cycle in response to entry of a first topping vehicle into the first position, the first topping order specifying a second combination of topping types comprising the first topping type;
a second selection actuator supported by the beam adjacent the second topping module and configured to selectively decouple the second blade from the beam during the dispense cycle in response to entry of a second topping vehicle into the second position, the second topping order specifying a second combination of topping types excluding the second topping type and distinct from the first combination of topping types;
a beam actuator configured to advance and retract the beam, relative to the first topping module and the second topping module, during the dispense cycle to slice a first topping serving from the first topping sample onto the first topping vehicle.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module comprising a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module comprising a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.
72 Citations
14 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
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a first topping module comprising a first hopper and a first blade, the first hopper configured to dispense a first topping sample of a first topping type, the first blade adjacent a discharge end of the first hopper, defining a smooth leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from the first topping sample; a second topping module comprising a second hopper and a second blade, the second hopper configured to dispense a second topping sample of a second topping type distinct from the first topping type, and the second blade adjacent a discharge end of the second hopper, defining a serrated leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from the second topping sample; a conveyor configured to sequentially index a series of topping vehicles from a first position adjacent the first topping module to a second position adjacent the second topping module; a beam extending across the first topping module and the second topping module; a first selection actuator supported by the beam adjacent the first topping module and configured to selectively couple the first blade to the beam during a dispense cycle in response to entry of a first topping vehicle into the first position, the first topping order specifying a second combination of topping types comprising the first topping type; a second selection actuator supported by the beam adjacent the second topping module and configured to selectively decouple the second blade from the beam during the dispense cycle in response to entry of a second topping vehicle into the second position, the second topping order specifying a second combination of topping types excluding the second topping type and distinct from the first combination of topping types; a beam actuator configured to advance and retract the beam, relative to the first topping module and the second topping module, during the dispense cycle to slice a first topping serving from the first topping sample onto the first topping vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A system for dispensing toppings onto a first topping vehicle, comprising:
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a first topping module comprising; a first hopper of a first axial length, defining a closed cross-section, and configured to dispense topping samples of a first topping type; a succeeding hopper configured to dispense topping samples of the first topping type; a first blade adjacent a discharge end of the first hopper, defining a smooth leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from a topping sample dispensed from the first hopper; a chute defining a second axial length less than the first axial length and interposed between the first blade and the discharge end of the first hopper; and a hopper magazine supporting the first hopper, supporting the succeeding hopper behind the first hopper, aligning the first hopper axially with the chute, and indexing the second hopper into position over the chute in response to exhaustion of topping samples from the first hopper; a second topping module comprising a second hopper and a second blade, the second hopper configured to dispense topping samples of a second topping type distinct from the first topping type, and the second blade adjacent a discharge end of the second hopper, defining a serrated leading edge, and configured to slice a topping serving from a topping sample dispensed from the second hopper; a conveyor configured to advance the first topping vehicle from a first position adjacent the first topping module to a second position adjacent the second topping module; and a set of actuators; configured to selectively retract and advance the first blade to dispense a topping serving from the first topping sample in response advancement of the first topping vehicle into the first position by the conveyor; and configured to selectively retract and advance the second blade independently of the first blade, to dispense a topping serving from the second topping sample onto the first topping vehicle in response to advancement of the first topping vehicle from the first position into the second position by the conveyor. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification