Claims:I/We Claim:
1. An automated cooking and vending machine (100), the machine (100) comprising:
a canister (102) configured to store and dispense a food ingredient;
a hopper module (106) configured to receive the food ingredient dispensed from the canister (102), wherein the hopper module (106) further comprises:
an injection mechanism (108) configured to dispense the food ingredient from the hopper module (106);
a plate (110) comprising a plurality of mould cavities, wherein the food ingredient is dispensed into the mould cavities by the injection mechanism (108);
a plate rack (112) configured to receive the plate (110);
a plate moving mechanism (114) configured to:
move the plate (110) from the plate rack (112) to position the plate (110) beneath the injection mechanism (108) for dispensing of food ingredient into the mould cavities: and
move the plate (110) back into the plate rack (112) after the dispensing of food ingredient;
a steamer module (116) configured to receive the plate rack (112) containing the plate (110), wherein in the steamer module (116) comprises a chamber where steam is supplied to cook the food ingredient in the plate (110); and
a dispensing mechanism (118) configured to dispense the cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate (110).

2. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate moving mechanism (114) is configured to move the plate (110) from the plate rack (112) to the dispensing mechanism (118) for dispensing the cooked food.

3. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the dispensing mechanism (118) is configured to receive the plate (110) and rotate along with the plate (110) to dispense the cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate (110).

4. The machine (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the machine (200) further comprises a washing module (202) configured to wash the plate (110) using a water jet after dispensing the cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate (110).

5. The machine (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine (300) further comprises an item dispensing module (302) configured to store and dispense pre-packed food items.

6. The machine (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine (400) further comprises a container storage unit (402) configured to store containers used to packing the cooked food.

7. The machine (400) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the machine (400) further comprises a container dispensing mechanism (404) configured to dispense the containers from the container storage unit (402) for packing the cooked food.

8. The machine (400) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the machine (400) further comprises a conveyor mechanism (406) configured to receive the dispensed container and convey the container beneath the dispensing mechanism (118) for receiving the cooked food in the container.

9. The machine (400) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the machine (400) further comprises a packing mechanism (408), wherein the packing mechanism (408) is configured to seal the container containing cooked food when the container is on the conveyor mechanism (406).

10. The machine (400) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the machine (400) further comprises a storage area configured to store the packed containers containing cooked food, wherein the packed containers reaches the storage area using the conveyor mechanism (406).

11. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a stew dispensing module configured to dispense pre-cooked stew.

12. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 11, wherein the stew dispensing module is configured to continuously stir the stew.

13. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a steam generator configured to generate steam and supply the steam to the steamer module.

14. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the steam is generated in the steam generator using an electric heater.

15. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 13, wherein the steam is generated in the steam generator using a gas heater.

16. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1 further comprises a secondary ingredient dispensing module (410), wherein secondary ingredient dispensing module (410) is positioned to dispense a secondary ingredient into the mould cavities of the plate (110).

17. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 16, wherein the dispensing points of the injection mechanism (108) and the secondary ingredient dispensing module (410) are aligned in a same vertical plane.

18. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hopper module (106) comprises a sensory unit configured to determine the quantity of food ingredient present in the hopper module (106).

19. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the machine comprises a refrigeration module (104) configured to receive the canister (102) and maintain the food ingredient at a desirable temperature.

20. The machine (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hopper module (108) comprises a hopper cleaning mechanism (204) to clean the hopper module (108) by injecting pressurised water after dispensing the food ingredient.
, Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[0001] The disclosed subject matter relates to the field of automated cooking systems. More particularly, but not exclusively, the subject matter relates to automatic cooking and vending machine.
Discussion of Prior Art
[0002] Automated cooking systems are gaining wide spread popularity because of the efficiency and the hygiene it offers. The advantages that the automated cooking systems offer coupled with the technological leap in internet and internet of things has made automated cooking systems inevitable. It is well known that construction and configuration of an automated cooking system is largely dependent on the dish that is being prepared in the system. As an example, there are existing cooking systems for preparing steamed food. However, the existing systems require human intervention for most critical operations. As an example, operations such as placing the trays inside a steamer unit, removing cooked food from the trays are generally done by a human operator. Therefore, such human intervention defeats the whole purpose of the automated cooking system.
[0003] Additionally, the existing automated cooking systems does not adopt a modular configuration, wherein each modules perform a set of function in process of cooking the food. Therefore, the existing systems that do not adopt a modular configuration are difficult to assemble and maintain.
[0004] In view of this, there is a need for an improved automated cooking and vending machine.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one embodiment an automated cooking and vending machine is disclosed. The machine may comprise a canister, a refrigeration module, hopper module, a plate, a plate rack, a plate moving mechanism, a steamer module and a dispensing mechanism. The canister may be configured to store and dispense a food ingredient and the refrigeration module may be configured to receive the canister and maintain the food ingredient at a desirable temperature. The dispensed food ingredient from the canister is received by the hopper module. The hopper module comprises an injection mechanism to dispense the food ingredient into the plate. The food ingredient in the plate is cooked in the steamer module and the cooked food is dispensed from the plate using the dispensing mechanism.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine, in accordance with an embodiment;
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine, in accordance with an embodiment; and
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine, in accordance with an embodiment;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] The following detailed description includes references to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of the detailed description. The drawings show illustrations in accordance with example embodiments. These example embodiments, which may be herein also referred to as “examples” are described in enough detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the present subject matter. However, it may be apparent to one with ordinary skill in the art, that the present invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. The embodiments can be combined, other embodiments can be utilized, or structural, logical, and design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the claims. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0012] In this document, the terms “a” or “an” are used, as is common in patent documents, to include one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive “or,” such that “A or B” includes “A but not B,” “B but not A,” and “A and B,” unless otherwise indicated.
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine 100, in accordance with an embodiment. The machine 100 may comprise a canister 102, a hopper module 106, a plate 110, a plate rack 112, a plate moving mechanism 114, a steamer module 116 and a dispensing mechanism 118. The canister 102 may be configured to store and dispense a food ingredient, wherein the food ingredient may be batter.
[0014] In one embodiment, the machine 100 may comprise a refrigeration module 104. The canister 102 may further be placed within the refrigeration module 104 such that the food ingredient inside the canister 102 is maintained at a desirable temperature.
[0015] The food ingredient dispensed from the canister 102 may be received by the hopper module 106. The hopper module 106 may comprise a chamber for receiving the food ingredient dispensed from the canister 102. Further, the hopper module 106 may comprise an injection mechanism 108 for dispensing food ingredient from the hopper module 106. The injection mechanism 108 may work on the principle of suction and ejection.
[0016] The injection mechanism 108 may be configured to dispense food ingredient from the hopper module 106 to the plate 110 comprising a plurality of mould cavities. The food ingredient may be dispensed into the mould cavities of the plate 110.
[0017] The plate 110 may be received by the plate rack 112. In an embodiment, multiple plates 110 may be stacked one above other in the plate rack 112.
[0018] The plate moving mechanism 114 may be used to displace the plate 110 from the plate rack 112. The plate moving mechanism 114 may be configured to move the plate 110 from the plate rack 112 to position the plate 110 below the injection mechanism 108 in a manner that the food ingredient from the injection mechanism 108 is dispensed into the mould cavities of the plate 110. Further, the plate moving mechanism 114 may configured to move the plate 110 back into the plate rack 112 after receiving the food ingredient from the injection mechanism 108.
[0019] The steamer module 116 may be configured to receive the plate rack 112 along with the plates 110 containing food ingredient. The steamer module 116 may comprise a chamber where steam may be supplied to cook the food ingredient in the mould cavities of the plate 110. The steam may be separately generated in a steam generator.
[0020] In one embodiment, the steam generator may generate steam using an electric heater.
[0021] In one embodiment, the steam generator may generate steam using an gas heater.
[0022] The dispensing mechanism 118 may be configured to dispense the cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate 110.
[0023] In one embodiment, the plate moving mechanism 114 may be configured to move the plate 110 from the plate rack 112 to the dispensing mechanism. The plate moving mechanism 114 may move the plate 110 from the rack and engage the plate 110 to the dispensing mechanism 118 thereby enabling the dispensing of cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate 110.
[0024] In one embodiment, the dispensing mechanism 118 may be configured to receive the plate 110 from the plate moving mechanism 114 and rotate along with the plate 110 to dispense the cooked food from the mould cavities of the plate 110.
[0025] FIG. 2 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine 200, in accordance with an embodiment. The machine 200 may further comprise a washing module 202. The washing module 202 may be configured to wash the plate 110 after dispensing the cooked food. The dispensing mechanism 118 may dispense the food and move the plate towards the washing module 202 where a jet of water may be sprayed upon the plate 110 to wash the plate 110.
[0026] In one embodiment, the hopper module 108 may comprise a hopper cleaning mechanism 204 configured to clean the hopper module 108 by injecting pressurised water or some suitable food-grade cleaning agent after dispensing the food ingredient.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine 300, in accordance with an embodiment. The machine 300 may further comprise an item dispensing module 302 configured to store and dispense pre-packed food items.
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates an automated cooking and vending machine 400, in accordance with an embodiment. The machine 400 may further comprise a container storage unit 402, a packing container dispensing mechanism 404, a conveyor mechanism 406, a packing mechanism 408 and a storage area. The container storage unit 402 may be configured to store containers used for packing cooked food. The container dispensing mechanism 404 may be configured to dispense the containers from the container storage unit 402 for packing the food. The container dispensing mechanism 404 may dispense only one container at an instance. The conveyor mechanism 406 may receive the container dispensed from the container dispensing mechanism 404 and convey the container beneath the dispensing mechanism 118. Therefore, the cooked food dispensed from the plate using the dispensing mechanism 118 may be received by the container. Further, the packing mechanism 408 may be configured to seal the container containing the cooked food. The packing mechanism 408 may seal the container when the container is on the conveyor mechanism 406. The packed container containing the cooked food may be stored in a storage area using the conveyor mechanism 406. The conveyor mechanism 406 may carry the packed container to the storage area.
[0029] In one embodiment, the machine 100 may further comprise a stew dispensing module configured to dispense pre-cooked stew such as sambar.
[0030] In one embodiment, the machine 100 may further comprise a secondary ingredient dispensing module 410. The secondary ingredient dispensing module 410 may be configured to dispense a secondary ingredient into the mould cavities of the plate. As an example, the secondary ingredient may be sauce or a filling introduced between two layers of food ingredient, dry fruits or spices dispensed on top of the food ingredient so on and so forth.
[0031] In one embodiment, the dispensing points of the injection mechanism 108 and the sauce injection module may be aligned in a same vertical plane.
[0032] In one embodiment, the hopper module 106 may comprise a sensory unit to determine the amount of food ingredient present within the hopper module 106.
[0033] FIG. 5 illustrates a process flow in an automated cooking and vending machine, in accordance with an embodiment. The canister 102 containing the food ingredient (batter) may be enclosed inside the refrigeration module 104. The refrigeration module 104 may be configured to maintain the temperature of the food ingredient at a desirable range. Further, the food ingredient may be dispensed from the canister 102 to the hopper module 106. The hopper module 106 may receive the food ingredient and may further comprise an injection mechanism 108. The injection mechanism 108 may be configured to dispense the food ingredient from the hopper module 106 to the plate 110. One or more plates 110 may be stacked one above other in the plate rack 112. The plate 110 may be displaced from the plate rack 112 by the plate moving mechanism 114 in a manner that the plate 110 is beneath the injection mechanism 108. Thus, the food ingredient may be dispensed from the injection mechanism 108 to the plate 110. After receiving the food ingredient, the plate 110 may be moved back into the plate rack 112 using the plate moving mechanism 114. Similarly, all the plates 110 may receive the food ingredient from the injection mechanism 108. Further, the steaming module 116 may receive the plate rack 112. The steam generator 508 may generate steam and supply it to the steaming module 116. Thus, the food ingredient is cooked using steam inside the steaming module 116. After cooking, the plate moving mechanism 114 displaces the plate 110 containing cooked food from the plate rack 112 and engages the plate 110 to the dispensing mechanism 118. The dispensing mechanism 118 may receive the plate 110 and move laterally to a certain distance and then rotate 180 degree to dispense the cooked food from the plate 110. After dispensing, the dispensing mechanism 118 may move back to its original position where the washing module 202 may wash the plate 110 using a water jet. The plate moving mechanism 114 may further place the plate 110 back into the plate rack 112. Further, the container storage unit 402 may store containers 502 for packing the cooked food. The container dispensing mechanism 404 may dispense one container 502 at a point in time to the conveyor mechanism 406. The conveyor mechanism 406 may receive the container 502 and convey the container 502 beneath the dispensing mechanism 118 to receive the cooked food dispensed from the dispensing mechanism 118. The container 502 containing the cooked food is packed using the packing mechanism 408 when the container 502 is present on the conveyor mechanism 406. After packing, the container 502 may be placed in temporary storage area 506. Additionally, the item dispensing module 302 may dispense pre-packed cooked food on the conveyor mechanism 406. Thus, the cooked food reaches the consumer.
[0034] In one embodiment, the automated cooking and vending machine 100 may be used to prepare idlies. However, a person skilled in the art can adopt the disclosed configuration to prepare food items such as rice, pancakes so on and so forth.
[0035] The processes described above is described as a sequence of steps, this was done solely for the sake of illustration. Accordingly, it is contemplated that some steps may be added, some steps may be omitted, the order of the steps may be re-arranged, or some steps may be performed simultaneously.
[0036] The example embodiments described herein may be implemented in an operating environment comprising software installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination of software and hardware.
[0037] Although embodiments have been described with reference to specific example embodiments, it will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made to these embodiments without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the system and method described herein. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.
[0038] Many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. It is to be understood that the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the personally preferred embodiments of this invention.