Order Fulfillment System Using Package Identifier Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

In foodservice settings, managing complex customer orders with numerous menu options and customizations leads to challenges in inventory management, assembly instructions, and potential errors in food item packaging, increasing the likelihood of missed steps in order fulfillment.

Innovation Solution

A dispensing system that associates a unique identifier with each package, allowing communication between dispensers and an order fulfillment system to track ingredient dispensing, verify order completeness, and provide notifications to ensure accurate assembly and payment processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of menu options and customizations is increased, then customer personalization and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of operation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomer personalizationVSAvoidassembly instructions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses digital copies of order information stored in the order fulfillment system to track and verify each ingredient dispensing step, replacing the need for workers to remember complex assembly instructions. The system creates a digital record of the order and compares it against actual dispensing actions to ensure accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides real-time feedback to workers by comparing the actual ingredients dispensed against the ordered item specifications stored in the order fulfillment system. This feedback mechanism helps workers verify they are assembling the correct ingredients, reducing errors in complex orders.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of assembly steps is increased, then order customization is improved, but productivity and speed of preparation decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveorder customizationVSAvoidspeed of preparation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual tracking of assembly steps with an automated electronic system. The order fulfillment system electronically tracks which ingredients have been dispensed and provides notifications when steps are complete, eliminating the need for workers to manually monitor complex multi-step assembly processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If manual tracking of assembly steps is used, then flexibility in operation is improved, but reliability and accuracy of order fulfillment decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in operationVSAvoidorder fulfillment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-verification by automatically comparing dispensed ingredients against the ordered item specifications. The order fulfillment system independently tracks and validates each assembly step without requiring manual verification, ensuring accurate fulfillment while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11748827B2Order fulfillment system

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 MARMON FOODSERVICE TECH INC

AI summary

Foodservice customer order fulfillment includes an identifier is associated to a package. A customer order of an ordered item is received at an order fulfillment system. An indication of the ordered item is stored in association to the identifier in the order fulfillment system. The identifier associated to the package is read at a reader associated with a dispenser of at least one ingredient. The identifier is communicated from the reader to the order fulfillment system. A dispenser receives a dispense instruction from the order fulfillment system and operates to dispense at least one ingredient.