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

The patent describes a system for preparing and vending hot, prepared food items using kiosks. The kiosks may be located in various locations and can act as both a vending kiosk and a delivery vehicle. The system can receive orders from customers through a remote order processing system or directly from the kiosk. The kiosks may have heating elements to warm or cook the food items, and may also have a wireless communication system to receive orders. The system can also include a vehicle to replenish the kiosks with food items. The technical effects of the patent include improved efficiency and flexibility in preparing and vending hot food items, as well as improved customer experience and reduced labor costs.

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 will be cold, soggy, and limp by the time they make it home.

While such measures may be at least somewhat effective in retaining heat in the food during transit, such measures do little, if anything, to address issues with changes in food taste, texture, or consistency associated with the delay between the time the food item is prepared and the time the food item is actually consumed.

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