Rotating Scanning Head for Automated Sauce Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The preparation of custom-ordered foodstuffs is often time-consuming and labor-intensive, and prone to errors and variations in quality due to the manual process involved in dispensing sauces and seasonings.
Innovation Solution
An automated food preparation system that includes a seasoning-dispensing system with a metering system, a holding chamber, and a dispersion nozzle, along with a sauce-dispensing system featuring a scanning head and tubes, to accurately and efficiently dispense seasonings and sauces onto foodstuffs based on custom orders, utilizing a conveyance system to transport food items between dispensing positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual dispensing of sauces and seasonings is used, then flexibility in custom orders is maintained, but preparation time increases and labor intensity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the food preparation process into separate functional modules: a conveyance system for transporting foodstuffs, a seasoning-dispensing system with multiple vessels for different seasonings, and a sauce-dispensing system with multiple reservoirs. Each module operates independently but coordinates through the control system, enabling automated preparation while maintaining flexibility for custom orders.
Solution Approach 2:
The automated system is designed to handle multiple types of foodstuffs and a wide variety of seasonings and sauces through a single integrated platform. The conveyance system can transport different food items, the seasoning-dispensing system can accommodate multiple vessels with different seasonings, and the sauce-dispensing system can provide multiple sauces, making the system universally applicable to diverse custom orders.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual dispensing is used, then operational simplicity is maintained, but manufacturing precision and quality consistency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control system receives custom order specifications and automatically coordinates the conveyance system, seasoning-dispensing system, and sauce-dispensing system to apply seasonings and sauces according to precise requirements. The system can adjust dispensing amounts and positions based on the specific custom order, ensuring high precision while the automated control reduces variability compared to manual operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical dispensing actions with automated mechanical systems. The conveyance system automatically transports foodstuffs to the correct position, the seasoning-dispensing system automatically meters and applies seasonings, and the sauce-dispensing system automatically applies sauces. This substitution of manual control with automated mechanical control improves precision and consistency.
3Reliability
If automated dispensing systems are implemented, then preparation speed and accuracy improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a nested structure where multiple vessels for different seasonings are arranged within or around the seasoning-dispensing mechanism, and multiple sauce reservoirs are integrated into the sauce-dispensing system. The conveyance system transports foodstuffs through a defined path that passes through both dispensing systems. This nested arrangement allows multiple functions to be integrated in a compact space, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high reliability and quality consistency through automated operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated food preparation system includes a sauce-dispensing system with sauce reservoirs, a scanning head, and tubes. Each of the sauce reservoirs is configured to contain a respective sauce. The scanning head includes openings each coupled with a respective sauce reservoir via a respective tube. A conveyance system transports a foodstuff between first and sauce positions. The scanning head is movable to dispense a selected sauce onto one or more regions of the foodstuff. A motor assembly is mounted to a mounting structure. The motor assembly is drivingly coupled to the scanning head and rotates the scanning head relative to the mounting structure. The scanning head includes a plate and a cylindrical shroud fixed relative to the plate. The openings extend through the plate. The plate is disposed within a cavity defined by the cylindrical shroud. The motor assembly rotates the plate and the cylindrical shroud about a longitudinal axis.