Automated food management system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automated cooking devices produce cooked food products that are cumbersome to store and organize for further processing or sale, lacking efficient systems for receiving and storing these products.
Innovation Solution
An automated food management system comprising an enclosure with stacked trays, an elevator, and a shuttle mechanism that positions and rotates trays to receive cooked food products, along with a rotatable fork to maintain horizontal orientation and facilitate storage in a heated compartment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cooked food products are stored manually after automated cooking, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but labor burden increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cooking device with an integrated food management system including enclosure, elevator, and shuttle mechanisms. The cooking chamber is merged with the tray handling system, allowing cooked food to be automatically transferred from the cooking surface to trays via the shuttle, eliminating separate manual storage operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-service by automatically receiving cooked food products on the shuttle, transferring them to trays via the elevator mechanism, and organizing them in the enclosure without requiring manual intervention. The fork automatically positions and releases food items onto trays.
2Stability of the object's composition
If cooked food products are organized manually before storage, then proper arrangement is achieved, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical arrangement with an automated mechanical system. The shuttle mechanically transfers food items, the elevator automatically positions trays vertically, and the fork precisely places food items on trays in the correct orientation, eliminating time-consuming manual organization while maintaining proper food arrangement.
3Reliability
If automated cooking is implemented, then cooking consistency is improved, but food storage and handling becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a multi-functional system where the same mechanical components serve multiple purposes. The shuttle both cooks food and transfers it to trays. The elevator both stores trays vertically and retrieves them for service. The fork both positions food items and ensures proper orientation. This universality reduces overall system complexity despite the automated cooking function.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 2a
AI summary
A system to store food products within a heated compartment is provided. The system includes an enclosure that receives stacked trays, and an elevator to lift trays to a position to receive a plurality of food products from a conveyor or another source. A fork may be provided that receives a cooked food product thereon and rotates to allow the cooked food product to fall into the positioned tray while being maintained in a horizontal manner. A shuttle moves a full tray into a heated compartment, which moves trays therewithin to organize them for future use within a restaurant operation.