Apparatus and method for transporting food products

Abstract

An automated system for a "food transport" is disclosed that transports food. The food may include food items such as pizza dough or crust, cookies, bread, meat, vegetables, among others, or items that hold food such as bowls, plates, take-out containers, etc. The food transport comprises a rectangular or square frame and its motion is linear. However, the frame may be of any shape and may use the same or similar components to deliver food from a first location to a second location. Additionally, the frame may be in the shape of a circle or semicircle, or a sphere or hemisphere.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No. 16360487, filed March 21, 2019, and U.S. Patent Application No. 16360279, filed March 21, 2019, which are incorporated herein in their entireties. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT N / A INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC N / A [Background technology]

[0002] Moving food in a commercial kitchen is labor intensive. For example, in a pizzeria setting, dough may be moved from a storage location to a pizza assembly location to an oven and serving location. Timing is important. For example, putting a pizza in the oven later than expected, or over- or under-cooking it, results in customer service delays and food waste. For example, people moving food in and out of the oven may be burned. For example, the risk of burns increases when workers are stressed during busy production periods. Additionally, every time food is handled by a person, it may become contaminated by items that should not be consumed. Automating the movement of food in a commercial kitchen is difficult because different commercial kitchens have different footprints and different operating requirements. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0003] The purpose of an automated system for transporting food is to reduce labor costs.

[0004] Another objective of an automated system for transporting food products is to reduce customer service delays or errors.

[0005] Another objective of an automated system for transporting food products is to reduce contamination of the food products.

[0006] Another objective of an automated system for transporting food products is to reduce the risk of injury in commercial kitchens.

[0007] Another objective of an automated system for transporting food products is to provide a system that supports different footprints and operational needs.

[0008] Description of some of the figures in the drawing The following detailed description can be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which are shown by way of example embodiments, but it should be understood that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for transporting food products. [Figure 2A] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for transporting food products. [Figure 2B] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for transporting food products. [Diagram 3] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for transporting food products. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates an embodiment of a system for transporting food products. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, the use of similar or identical symbols in different drawings generally indicates similar or identical items, unless the context dictates otherwise.

[0011] The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting, as other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein.

[0012] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and accompanying descriptions described herein are used as examples to clarify concepts, and various configuration variations are contemplated. Thus, as used herein, the specific examples described and the accompanying descriptions are intended to represent their more general classes. In general, the use of any specific example is intended to represent the class, and should not be construed as limiting the inclusion of the specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects.

[0013] This application uses formal outline headings for clarity of presentation. However, it should be understood that the overview headings are for presentation purposes and that different types of subject matter may be discussed throughout this application (e.g., a device / structure may be described under a process / operation heading, and / or a process / operation may be described under a structure / process heading, and / or a description of a single topic may span two or more topic headings). Thus, the use of formal overview headings is in no way limiting.

[0014] Described herein is an automated system for transporting food products ("food transport unit") (100). The food products may include food items such as pizza dough or crust, cookies, bread, meat, vegetables, among others, or items that hold food products, such as bowls, plates, take-out containers, etc. For ease of explanation, the food transport unit (100) is shown and described as a square rectangle, and its motion is coordinated linearly. However, the frame may be any shape and may use the same or similar components to deliver food products from a first location to a second location. In certain embodiments, the frame may be in the shape of a circle or semicircle, or a sphere or hemisphere.

[0015] 1, 2A, 2B, and 3, in one embodiment, the food transport section (100) comprises at least one tray (110) operably attached to a guide rail system (130). The guide rail system (130) comprises at least one horizontal guide rail (131) and at least one vertical guide rail (132). A guide rail is a device or mechanism that guides an object through a channel. In one embodiment, the guide rail comprises at least one tooth or wheel that moves along a frame that is operably mated to the tray (110) and defines a channel (channel and tooth or wheel not shown). The guide system (130) is supported within a frame (150).

[0016] In one embodiment, tray (110) is equipped with a motor and pulley system (not shown) or other mechanism that allows tray (110) to move along vertical guide rails (132) (i.e., along the y-axis) and allows tray (110) to extend outside the parameters of frame (150) in the horizontal (x-axis) direction along horizontal guide rails (131). Movement of tray (110) along the x-axis outside and back into the parameters of frame (150) is indicated by directional arrows A1 and A2.

[0017] 2 and 3, in a method of using the food transport part (100), the food transport part (100) may be operatively positioned near at least a first unit ("storage unit") (200A) that holds or stores food. The storage unit (200A) may be, among others, a refrigerator, pantry or other storage unit, or an oven. In one embodiment, the storage unit (200A) has a shape and dimensions similar to the food transport part (100). For illustrative purposes, a storage unit (200A) having multiple shelves (210a, 210b, ... 210x) is shown. In one embodiment, operatively positioned near the storage unit means that the food transport part (100) is positioned close enough to the shelves (210) that the trays (110) can extend outside the frame (150) along the x-axis, so that the trays (110) can receive food from the shelves (210) or deposit food on the shelves (210) and be retracted into the frame (150). The tray (110) moves in the y-axis along vertical guide rails (132) and extends along the x-axis outside the frame (150) so that it can receive food items from one or more shelves or selected shelves (210).

[0018] 3, in some embodiments, a food transport portion (100) may be operatively positioned adjacent to multiple storage units, where a tray (110) may extend as indicated by A1 and A2 to retrieve and / or deposit food items from multiple storage units (200A, 200B).

[0019] In one embodiment, the first storage unit (200A) has multiple shelves, each shelf holding pizza crusts. The second storage unit (200B) is an automated system or robot that associates pizza toppings (e.g., sauce, cheese, vegetables, meat, among others) with the pizza crusts, where each shelf of the storage unit 200A may hold, for example, a different type of crust (e.g., flour, thin, thick, partially cooked, frozen). The assembled pizzas may be delivered to an oven. The cooked pizzas may be removed from the oven and delivered to a boxing station. In one embodiment, the movement of the trays (110) may be remotely controlled.

[0020] Referring to Fig. 4, in another embodiment, the food transport machine (100) comprises a plurality of trays (110a, 110b, 110c...110x), each tray (110) operably attached to a guide rail system (130) supported within a frame (150). A guide rail is a device or mechanism that guides objects through a channel. In one embodiment, the guide rail comprises at least one tooth or wheel (not shown) that moves along a frame that is operably mated to the trays (110) and defines a channel. The frame (150) is configured to allow the plurality of trays (110) to be stacked into at least two columns (150A, 150B).

[0021] The guide rail system (130) comprises at least one horizontal guide rail (131) and one vertical guide rail (132). In one embodiment, each tray (110) is operably mounted to at least one horizontal guide rail (131) and one vertical guide rail (132). The horizontal guide rail (131) allows each tray to move horizontally along the x-axis, movements shown as B1 and B3. In one embodiment, each column (150A, 150B) comprises at least one vertical guide rail (132).

[0022] The first column (150A) has a proximal end (151A) and a distal end (152A). The second column (150B) has a proximal end (151B) and a distal end (152B). When the tray (110) reaches the distal end (152A), it is transferred along the horizontal guide rail (131) to the second column (150B). Similarly, when the tray (110) reaches the proximal end (15IB) of the second column (150B), it is transferred along the horizontal guide rail (131) to the first column (150A). In this manner, the plurality of trays (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) move as a carousel. It will be appreciated that the carousel may move in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction.

[0023] In one embodiment, the tray (110) is equipped with a motor and pulley system (not shown) or other mechanism that allows the tray (110) to move along the vertical guide rails (132) (i.e., along the y-axis) and also allows the tray (110) to extend outside the parameters of the frame (150) in the horizontal (x-axis, y-axis) directions.

[0024] In a method of using a foodstuff transporter (100), the foodstuff transport (100) may be operatively positioned near a first storage unit (200A). The first storage unit (200A) has at least one shelf (210A) that is in a horizontal plane of at least one tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x). As at least one tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) rotates into position such that the tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) extends outside the frame (150) along the x-axis or y-axis, the tray delivers food to the first storage unit (200A) and retracts into the frame (150), or vice versa. Each tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) may be loaded with the same food items or may be loaded with different food items.

[0025] Multiple storage units (200A, 200B, 200C...200X) may be stacked on top of each other where there are two or more shelves in the horizontal plane of at least one tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x). At least one tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) rotates into position such that when the tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) extends outside the frame (150) along the x-axis or y-axis, the tray delivers food items to at least one shelf and retracts into the frame (150) or vice versa. Each tray (110a, 110b, 110c...110x) may be loaded with the same food items or different food items.

[0026] In one embodiment, at least the first storage unit (200A) is an automated system or robot that associates pizza toppings (eg, sauce, cheese, vegetables, meat, among others) with pizza crust.

[0027] Here, each shelf can hold a different type of crust (e.g., flour, thin, thick, partially cooked, frozen). The assembled pizzas may be delivered to an oven. The cooked pizzas may be removed from the oven and delivered to a boxing station.

[0028] The trays (110) may be of any shape or size that allows for the transfer of food products to or from the trays (110). In some embodiments, the trays (110) may be heated, cooled, or a combination thereof.

[0029] 4, in some embodiments, the food transport machine (100) may be controlled by a controller (300). In one embodiment, the food transport machine (100) is in communication with at least one controller (300) that includes software (900) that controls the movement of the tray (110) along the x-, y-, and z-axes. In some embodiments, the controller (300) coordinates the movement of the tray (110) along the x-, y-, and z-axes with the operation of an automated foodstuff assembly apparatus and / or cooking apparatus.

[0030] In one embodiment, at least a first tray (110a) holds a first type of food product and at least a second tray (110b) holds a second type of food product, where the controller (300) coordinates movement of the trays (110a, 110b) along the x-, y-, and z-axes to optimize delivery of food A and delivery of food B to the automated food assembly and / or cooking device. In one embodiment, optimization refers to delivering food products to the automated food assembly and / or cooking device based on the length of time the food products are held on the food transport machine (100). In one embodiment, optimization refers to selecting either the first type of food product or the second type of food product based on the requirements of the automated food assembly and / or cooking device.

[0031] As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the software aspects may be embodied as a system, method, or computer product. Thus, the software aspects may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software, microcode, etc.), or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects. Further software aspects may take the form of a computer program embodied in one or more readable media having computer readable program code / instructions. The program code embodied on the computer readable media may be transmitted using any suitable medium, including but not limited to wireless, wired, fiber optic cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination thereof. The computer code may be executed entirely on the user's computer, partially on the user's computer, as a standalone software package, as a cloud service, partially on the user's computer, partially on a remote computer, or entirely on a remote computer, on a remote or cloud-based server. Those skilled in the art may recognize various alternative possibilities in the individual elements described above and their arrangement while still falling within the spirit of the present invention. Furthermore, while the above describes some embodiments of the present invention used primarily in connection with the production of pizza, those skilled in the art will recognize that there are several alternatives that will still fall within the spirit of the present invention. It should be understood therefore that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and that various other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of this disclosure.

[0032] Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific exemplary embodiments.

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for transporting food products comprising: at least one frame defining at least a first column and a second column; a plurality of trays supported within the frame, each tray operably attached to a guide system, the guide system enabling each tray to traverse from the first column to the second column, the guide system enabling each tray to extend outside of the frame.

2. 10. The apparatus for transporting food products of claim 1 further comprising a controller.

3. 3. The apparatus for transferring food products of claim 2, wherein the controller optimizes delivery of food products from at least one tray to a food assembly device or a food preparation device.

4. 4. An apparatus for transporting food products according to claim 3, wherein optimizing means delivering food products based on the period of time the food products have been held on the tray.

5. 4. The apparatus for transporting food according to claim 3, wherein optimizing means delivering food to the food assembly device and / or the food preparation device based on the output requirements of the food assembly device or the food preparation device.

6. 4. The apparatus for transporting food products according to claim 3, wherein at least two trays hold different types of food products, and the controller enables selection of the type of food products to be delivered to the food assembly device and / or the food preparation device.

7. 10. The apparatus for transporting food products of claim 1, wherein the food products include pizza dough or crust, cookies, bread, meat, vegetables, bowls, plates, and serving containers.

8. 1. A method of using an apparatus for transporting food products comprising at least one frame defining at least a first column and a second column, a plurality of trays being supported within the frame, each tray being operably attached to a guide system that enables each tray to traverse from the first column to the second column, the guide system enabling each tray to extend outside of the frame, the method including operably positioning the apparatus near a storage unit for transporting food products.

9. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the storage unit uses equipment for transporting food, which may be an oven, a pantry, a refrigerator, a storage area, a food assembly device, and / or a food preparation device.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the device for transporting food further comprises a controller.

11. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least a first tray holds a first type of food product and a second tray holds a second type of food product, and the controller coordinates movement of the first tray and the second tray along x-, y-, and z-axes to optimize delivery of the first type of food product and delivery of the second type of food product to an automated food assembly and / or food preparation device.

12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein optimizing means delivering food to an automated food assembly and / or food preparation device based on the length of time the food is held on the device for transporting the food.

13. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein optimizing means delivering food to an automated food assembly and / or food preparation device based on output requirements of the automated food assembly and / or food preparation device.

14. 10. The method of claim 8, wherein the food product comprises a pizza dough or crust, a cookie, a bread, meat, a vegetable, a bowl, a plate, or a serving container.

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