Automated Pizza Assembly With Sensor-Guided Ingredient Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food processing systems lack flexibility and efficiency in preparing and cooking food items according to client orders, with existing technologies relying on human-like robot arms or complex CNC machines that are inflexible and limited in throughput and quality.
Innovation Solution
An automated food article making system with a platform moving assembly and sensors to adjust the position and height of food spreaders based on thickness data, ensuring consistent sauce and cheese dispensing on pizza crusts of varying thicknesses, using a computer processing unit to control the platform and spreader movements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If robot arms are used to move pizza between stations, then automation is achieved, but throughput capacity is limited to one employee's speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional robot arms with a CNC-like automated system featuring linear motion modules, precision rails, and programmable controllers. This mechanical substitution enables the system to operate at speeds exceeding human capacity while maintaining precise control over pizza movement and ingredient dispensing, thereby resolving the contradiction between automation and throughput capacity.
2Manufacturing precision
If CNC-like machines with linear motion modules are used, then precision is improved, but flexibility and speed are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically programmable system where the CNC-like machine can be reconfigured through software control. The linear motion modules and automated dispensing mechanisms can be programmed to handle different pizza sizes, crust types, and ingredient combinations, enabling the system to maintain high precision while adapting to varying production requirements, thus resolving the contradiction between precision and flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If pizza thickness varies, then adaptability to different orders is improved, but consistent sauce and cheese dispensing becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates sensors that detect pizza crust thickness in real-time and provide feedback to the control system. The CNC-like machine uses this feedback data to dynamically adjust the height and positioning of sauce and cheese dispensing mechanisms, ensuring consistent ingredient application regardless of varying pizza thickness. This closed-loop feedback system resolves the contradiction between adaptability and dispensing precision.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated pizza making system and method for rapidly and efficiently preparing a pizza utilizing computer controlled components. The system includes a platform moving assembly for moving and rotating a pizza crust, a sauce dispenser assembly for dispensing a sauce on the pizza crust, a cheese dispenser assembly for dispensing cheese on the pizza crust, and a slicer assembly for slicing food items and dispensing the sliced food items on the pizza crust. A time-of-flight sensor can be utilized to scan the pizza crust for determining the amount or placement of ingredients on the pizza crust. A weight sensor can be utilized for determining the amount of ingredients placed on the pizza crust. A computer system can be utilized to execute a user's orders and control all the electrical components based on pizza parameters entered by the user in an automated mode, with minimal human assistance.