Vending-kiosk based systems and methods to vend and/or prepare items, for instance prepared foods

Abstract

Kiosks, components, and methods are disclosed for preparing food to be vended to customers. The kiosk may be part of a multi-modal food distribution system in which the kiosk may operate in one or more various modes, including a kiosk vending mode, a constellation mode, and a cook en route mode to vend hot, prepared food to customers. The kiosks in the system may be configurable to change between each of the different modes depending upon information received by the system. The kiosk may be part of a kiosk-based food preparation system in which the kiosk vends prepared food items to customers. The kiosk may transmit information that may be used to provide replenishment to the kiosk. Such information may include the number of items vended, the number of items and/or supplies remaining, and/or a replenishment signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]This description generally relates to food cooking, delivery, distribution and / or vending, for instance using a food distribution system employing one or more vending kiosks. In some implementations the vending kiosks can selectively operate in one of two or more modes of operation.DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART[0002]Historically, consumers have had a choice when hot, prepared, food was desired. Some consumers would travel to a restaurant or other food establishment where such food would be prepared and consumed on the premises. Other consumers would travel to the restaurant or other food establishment, purchase hot, prepared, food and transport the food to an off-premises location, such as a home or picnic location for consumption. Yet other consumers ordered delivery of hot, prepared food, for consumption at home. Over time, the availability of delivery of hot, prepared, foods has increased and now plays a significant role in the marketplace. Delivery of such ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]Kiosks may be used to vend hot, prepared food items to customers. In some implementations, kiosks may be used to prepare and vend hot, prepared food items to customers. In some implementations, a kiosk may vend items to multiple customers while remaining stationary in a location when the kiosk is operating in a kiosk vending mode. As such, customers may travel to the location of the kiosk to retrieve food items that the cus

Problems solved by technology

The inherent challenges in such a delivery method are numerous.

In addition to the inevitable cooling that occurs while the hot food item is transported to the consumer, many foods may experience a commensurate breakdown in taste, texture, or consistency with the passage of time.

For example, the French fries at the burger restaurant may be hot and crispy, but the same French fries w

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