System and method for dispensing spices and sauces on foodstuffs
First Claim
1. An automated food preparation system comprising:
- a seasoning-dispensing system including a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle, wherein each of the vessels is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of seasonings, wherein the vessels are movable relative to the conduit, and wherein the vessels are in selective communication with the conduit;
a sauce-dispensing system including a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes, wherein each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of sauces, and wherein the scanning head includes a plurality of openings each coupled with a respective one of the sauce reservoirs via a respective one of the tubes; and
a conveyance system configured to transport a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings,wherein;
the scanning head is movable relative to the sauce position to dispense a selected one or more of the sauces onto a selected one or more regions of the foodstuff,the seasoning-dispensing system includes a holding chamber including a cavity having a seasoning inlet and an outlet,the vessels are in selective communication with the seasoning inlet such that the seasoning inlet receives seasoning dispensed from a selected one of the vessels, andthe outlet is in fluid communication with the conduit.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An automated food preparation system includes a seasoning-dispensing system, a sauce-dispensing system, and a conveyance system. The seasoning-dispensing system includes a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle. Each vessel contains one of a plurality of seasonings. The vessels are in selective communication with the conduit. The sauce-dispensing system includes a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes. Each sauce reservoirs contains one of a plurality of sauces. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with one of the sauce reservoirs via one of the tubes. The conveyance system transports a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings. The scanning head is movable to dispense one or more sauces onto the foodstuff.
17 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automated food preparation system comprising:
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a seasoning-dispensing system including a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle, wherein each of the vessels is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of seasonings, wherein the vessels are movable relative to the conduit, and wherein the vessels are in selective communication with the conduit; a sauce-dispensing system including a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes, wherein each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of sauces, and wherein the scanning head includes a plurality of openings each coupled with a respective one of the sauce reservoirs via a respective one of the tubes; and a conveyance system configured to transport a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings, wherein; the scanning head is movable relative to the sauce position to dispense a selected one or more of the sauces onto a selected one or more regions of the foodstuff, the seasoning-dispensing system includes a holding chamber including a cavity having a seasoning inlet and an outlet, the vessels are in selective communication with the seasoning inlet such that the seasoning inlet receives seasoning dispensed from a selected one of the vessels, and the outlet is in fluid communication with the conduit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An automated food preparation system comprising:
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a seasoning-dispensing system including a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle, wherein each of the vessels is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of seasonings, wherein the vessels are movable relative to the conduit, and wherein the vessels are in selective communication with the conduit; a sauce-dispensing system including a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes, wherein each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of sauces, and wherein the scanning head includes a plurality of openings each coupled with a respective one of the sauce reservoirs via a respective one of the tubes; and a conveyance system configured to transport a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings, wherein; the scanning head is movable relative to the sauce position to dispense a selected one or more of the sauces onto a selected one or more regions of the foodstuff, the dispersion nozzle defines a cavity having an inlet fluidly coupled with the conduit and an outlet disposed below the inlet, the dispersion nozzle includes a deflector disposed within the cavity between the inlet and the outlet, the deflector includes a surface aligned with the inlet and configured to deflect seasoning falling into the cavity from the inlet, and the deflector is movable relative to the inlet between a first position whereby the surface of the deflector is positioned to deflect seasoning in a uniform pattern across the cavity and a second position whereby the surface of the deflector is positioned to deflect a majority of the seasoning toward a selected region of the cavity. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An automated food preparation system comprising:
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a seasoning-dispensing system including a plurality of vessels, a dispersion nozzle, and a conduit coupled to the dispersion nozzle, wherein each of the vessels is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of seasonings, wherein the vessels are movable relative to the conduit, and wherein the vessels are in selective communication with the conduit; a sauce-dispensing system including a plurality of sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and a plurality of tubes, wherein each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective one of a plurality of sauces, and wherein the scanning head includes a plurality of openings each coupled with a respective one of the sauce reservoirs via a respective one of the tubes; and a conveyance system configured to transport a foodstuff between a seasoning position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the dispersion nozzle and a sauce position in which the foodstuff is disposed below the openings, wherein; the scanning head is movable relative to the sauce position to dispense a selected one or more of the sauces onto a selected one or more regions of the foodstuff, the sauce-dispensing system includes a mounting structure and a motor assembly mounted to the mounting structure, the motor assembly is drivingly coupled to the scanning head and operable to rotate the scanning head relative to the mounting structure, the scanning head includes a plate and a cylindrical shroud fixed relative to the plate, the openings extend through the plate, the plate is disposed within a cavity defined by the cylindrical shroud, and an output shaft of the motor assembly is received in the plate and rotates the plate and the cylindrical shroud about a longitudinal axis of the cylindrical shroud. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification