Automated Topping Dispensing Mechanism for Food Assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

The labor-intensive process of customizing hamburgers and sandwiches in restaurants often results in mishandled food and incorrect orders due to the need for human input in assembling toppings.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising topping modules with hoppers, blades, and retaining plates that automate the dispensing of toppings onto edible vehicles, allowing for precise slicing and distribution based on custom orders, using a conveyor to advance vehicles through modules and an actuator system to manage blade and plate movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If human input is used to assemble custom hamburgers and sandwiches, then customization of toppings is achieved, but labor intensity increases and food handling errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidlabor efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system allows the food assembly machine to automatically dispense and place toppings without human intervention. The controller manages the entire process of selecting, dispensing, and positioning toppings based on customer orders, eliminating the need for human operators to manually assemble each ingredient while maintaining full customization capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual human assembly with an automated mechanical system consisting of dispensing mechanisms, conveyors, and positioning devices. The mechanical system automatically transports ingredients from storage containers to the assembly point and places them on buns according to the specified order, substituting human labor with automated mechanical operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If human input is used to assemble custom hamburgers and sandwiches, then customization of toppings is achieved, but food handling errors and incorrect orders increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecustomization capabilityVSAvoidorder accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system incorporates sensors and controllers that monitor the dispensing process to ensure accurate topping placement. The controller receives order information, manages the dispensing sequence, and can verify that the correct toppings are dispensed in the correct amounts, providing feedback control to prevent errors and ensure order accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The automated system eliminates human error by having the machine independently and accurately dispense the correct toppings according to the digital order specification. The system self-regulates the dispensing process to ensure consistency and accuracy without relying on human judgment or manual handling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If automated topping dispensing is implemented, then labor intensity is reduced and order accuracy improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelabor efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated system is divided into separate functional modules: ingredient storage containers, dispensing mechanisms for each topping type, conveyor systems for transporting ingredients, and a central controller. Each module performs a specific function and can be independently managed, making the overall complex system more manageable through functional segmentation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If multiple toppings are dispensed simultaneously, then assembly speed increases, but precision in placing correct toppings decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly speedVSAvoidtopping placement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-positions ingredients in designated storage containers before dispensing begins. The controller pre-plans the dispensing sequence based on the order requirements, and ingredients are positioned in advance in the correct locations, allowing simultaneous or rapid sequential dispensing while maintaining precision through pre-established positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9295282B2System and method for dispensing toppings

Publication Date: 2016.03.29 CREATOR INC

AI summary

One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module comprising a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module comprising a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.