DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to the field of food dispensing systems, and more particularly the present invention relates to an automatic food dispensing system with a multi-viscosity food dispenser and multi-axis food collection system.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] As standard of living of people is improving there is increase in choices of food. People want to try different food items at a time this creates increased number of customers in hotels and restaurants. To serve the demands, the hotels and restaurants are increasing food items in their menu, which leads to burden on the owners of hotels since they have to prepare meal plates faster and faster. Making all the food items manually takes more time and also requires a lot of manual interaction of workers/chefs, which can leads to rise hygiene concern too. Automatic food dispensing systems are widely used in hotels and restaurants nowadays, and this has solved this problem to an extent. For an example, the hotels and restaurants that are providing home delivery of their food items are widely using such type of systems due to time constraints in preparing the food items.
[0004] Automatic food dispensers are used to dispense food into some collection area. The dispensers must be able to provide reliable dispensing, precise quantity of food dispensing and spill avoidance. Currently available automatic food dispensers commonly use a hopper along with an agar screw and a flapped rotating wheel with a nozzle region to dispense foods. Conventional automatic food dispensing systems dispenses food on the basis of weight measurements of the food items. Weighing of foods and then dispensing is not efficient since the food stored might not be a homogenous mixture of all the components. Most of the foods are a mix of multiple components, non-homogeneous and multi-viscous in nature. Heavy ingredients in the food items (e.g. chicken pieces in chicken curry) are settled down due to gravity. This makes it difficult to dispense based on weight of the food item can leads to uneven dispensing of the food items. Sometimes the automatic food dispensing system can dispense more gravy item and sometimes it may dispense more chicken pieces.
[0005] There is, therefore, a need of an improved automatic food dispensing system that can dispense food item as an even mixture of both gravy and non-gravy food items.

OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE
[0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below.
[0007] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an automatic food dispensing system.
[0008] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an automatic food dispensing system that can dispense a more precise and even mixture of gravy and non-gravy items.

SUMMARY
[0009] The present disclosure relates to the field of food dispensing system, and more particularly the present invention relates to an automatic food dispensing system with a multi-viscosity food dispenser and multi-axis food collection system.
[0010] An aspect of the present disclosure pertains an automatic food dispensing system, the system comprising at least one first tray that may be configured with plurality of channels. Each of the channels may be configured with plurality independently movable separating walls at predefined positions along a length of said plurality of channels in the corresponding at least one first tray, and a space between adjacent separating walls may be configured to store ingredients. A drive mechanism may be operatively configured with the plurality of movable separating walls, and the drive mechanism may be configured to dispense the ingredients stored between the space. A detaching mechanism may be operatively configured with the plurality of independently movable separating walls. The detaching mechanism may be configured to stack the adjacent separating walls together after the ingredients stored between the space are dispensed.
[0011] In an aspect the at least one first tray may be configured in a storage rack.
[0012] In an aspect the drive mechanism may comprise a motor that can be operatively configured with the channels using a latching mechanism.
[0013] In an aspect the latching mechanism may be controlled by any or combination of mechanical, magnetic, pneumatic, and electronic control.
[0014] In an aspect the plurality of independently movable separating walls may be configured on a railing being configured along said plurality of channels, to facilitate stacking of the plurality of independently movable separating walls.
[0015] In an aspect the detaching mechanism may comprise any or combination of snaps, telescopic shafts, multi-radius pipes, spring-based detacher, friction-based separation, electric or magnetic based actuators, pneumatic-based controls.
[0016] In an aspect the detaching mechanism may allow controlled movement of the plurality of independently movable separating walls.
[0017] In an aspect the controlled movement may comprise moving one of the plurality of independently movable separating walls while keeping others fix.
[0018] In an aspect the ingredients may be stored between the space between adjacent separating walls may be dispensed in atleast one second tray.
[0019] In an aspect the system comprise a tray alignment system that may be configured to hold the atleast one second tray, and move the atleast one second tray in horizontal and vertical direction.
[0020] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.
[0022] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-viscosity dispensing mechanism of the automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates a food tray of the automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIG. 4 illustrates components of the food tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0027] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0028] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.
[0029] If the specification states a component or feature “may”, “can”, “could”, or “might” be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or have the characteristic.
[0030] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0031] The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.
[0032] The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0033] The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention.
[0034] Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all groups used in the appended claims.
[0035] The present disclosure relates to the field of food dispensing system, and more particularly the present invention relates to an automatic food dispensing system with a multi-viscosity food dispenser and multi-axis food collection system.
[0036] An aspect of the present disclosure elaborates an automatic food dispensing system. The system includes at least one first tray that can be configured with plurality of channels. Each of the channels can be configured with plurality of movable separating walls at predetermined positions along a length of said plurality of channels in the corresponding at least one first tray, and a space between adjacent separating walls can be configured to store ingredients. A drive mechanism can be operatively configured with the plurality of movable separating walls, and the drive mechanism can be configured to dispense the ingredients stored in the space between the adjacent separating walls. A detaching mechanism can be operatively configured with the plurality of independently movable separating walls. The detaching mechanism can be configured to stack the adjacent separating walls together after the ingredients stored in the space are dispensed.
[0037] In an aspect the at least one first tray can be configured in a storage rack.
[0038] In an aspect the drive mechanism can include a motor that can be operatively configured with the channel using a latching mechanism.
[0039] In an aspect the latching mechanism can be controlled by any or combination of mechanical, magnetic, pneumatic, and electronic control.
[0040] In an aspect the plurality of movable separating walls can be configured on a railing being configured along said plurality of channels, to facilitate stacking of the plurality of independently movable separating walls.
[0041] In an aspect the detaching mechanism can include any or combination of snaps, telescopic shafts, multi-radius pipes, spring-based detacher, friction-based separation, electric or magnetic based actuators, pneumatic-based controls.
[0042] In an aspect the detaching mechanism can allow controlled movement of the plurality of independently movable separating walls.
[0043] In an aspect the controlled movement can include moving one of the plurality of independently movable separating walls while keeping others fix.
[0044] In an aspect the ingredient stored in the space between adjacent separating walls can be dispensed in atleast one second tray.
[0045] In an aspect the system can include a tray alignment system that can be configured to hold the atleast one second tray, and move the atleast one second tray in horizontal and vertical direction.
[0046] FIG. 1 illustrates an automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0047] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the proposed automated food dispensing system 100 that can include a plurality of food trays 110 (also referred as first tray 110, herein) that can be configured with plurality of channels (also referred to as channels, herein). The channels can be configured with plurality of independently movable separating walls at predetermined positions along a length of the channels in corresponding food tray, and a space between adjacent separating walls can be configured to store ingredients or food content. Different food trays 110 can include separating walls positioned at different positions. The system 100 can include a drive mechanism that can be operatively configured with the channel, and the drive mechanism can be configured to dispense the ingredients stored in the space between the adjacent separating walls. The system 100 can include a detaching mechanism that can be operatively configured with the plurality of independently movable separating walls. The detaching mechanism can be configured to stack the adjacent separating walls together after the ingredients being stored in the space between the adjacent separating walls are dispensed.
[0048] In an embodiment, the proposed automated food dispensing system 100 can include a bottom housing 102. A top housing 104 can be supported on the bottom housing 102. The top housing can enclose the entire system of automated food dispensing system. The bottom housing 102 can be defined only from the ergonomic perspective of user. The top housing 104 can define an access 106. The food trays 110 can be disposed on a storage rack 108 that can be disposed in the top housing 104. The storage rack 108 can act as a heating system which keeps the food materials in the channel warm. The heating system can include a heating element with water and steam mixture in an isolated space in contact with the channels inside which food is stored or any other system might also be used.
[0049] In an embodiment, the storage rack 108 can be relatively fixed entity. The rack 108 cannot move inside the system 100. Hence, to collect food contents (also referred as ingredients, herein) being stored in a space between adjacent separating walls, a container (also referred as second tray, herein) can be move to a location of the channel and the container can be aligned to receive the food content. To achieve this motion, a multi-axis food collection system 300 (also referred as tray alignment system 300, herein) can be installed to hold and move the container. One of the multi-axis can be used to move the container in a horizontal plane and another axis can be used to move the contained in vertical plane. Another motion can also be required i.e. rotation of the container on its own axis. Any combination of multi-axis drives can be used for the multi-axis food Collection System 300. The container can be moved to any location in space with help of a multi-axes drive system 300.
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a multi-viscosity dispensing mechanism of the automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 3 illustrates a food tray of the automated food dispensing system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0052] FIG. 4 illustrates components of the food tray, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure
[0053] As illustrated in the FIG. 2, 3, and 4, in an embodiment, the multi-viscosity dispensing mechanism 200 can include a pusher mechanism 204 (also referred as first drive mechanism 204, herein). The pusher mechanism can be configured with the separating walls 114. The food trays can be disposed over a base plate 202. The pusher mechanism 204 can include a first mechanism (not shown) and a second mechanism 208 that can be configured with the base plate 202. The pusher mechanism 204 can be configured to move the separating wall assembly for dispensing the contents stored therein on the container (also referred as second tray, herein).
[0054] In an embodiment, the food tray 110 can include channels 112 and separating walls 114 can be installed in the channels 112 at predetermined position along a length of the channel 112. The separating walls can be evenly distributed in the channel 112. A slot 116 (also referred as space 116, herein) between adjacent separating walls 114 can be used to store content (also referred as ingredients, herein). Each space 116 can define a fixed volume for storing food content. The food content can be taken on volumetric basis instead of weight measurement. The volume enclosed between adjacent separating walls 114 can be varied or fixed. Each dispensing action will dispense the food content between two adjacent separating walls 114 i.e. one slot 116. The slots 116 can be filled with a mix (food) manually or automatically also the formation of slot 116 can be done in automatic manner. The separating walls 114 can include a gasket which can facilitates leak proof slots 116.
[0055] In an embodiment, the separating walls 114 of the separator assembly can be suspended on a railing 118 running across the length of the channel 112. The separating walls 114 can be fixed on the railing 118 using a snap-fit arrangement further including mechanical snaps 124 (also referred as detaching mechanism 124, herein). The snaps 124 can be of a different length. The length of the snap 124 can play a crucial role in determining the force required to flex the snap out of its place to make way for the separating wall 114 to move freely. When the snap 124 is pressed i.e. when enough force is provided to flex the snap arm, the separating walls 114 can move freely as opposed to fixed/constrained motion before the snapping action takes place.
[0056] The lengths and heights of the snaps 124 can be calculated according to the force required to snap and allow controlled movement of the separators 114. The snaps 124 can allow controlled movement of the separating walls. The controlled movement can refers to a system of motions where the first separating wall moves freely first whereas the rest of the separating wall are fixed and then the second separating wall and then the third separating wall moves freely after subsequent snapping action takes place.. The detaching mechanism can be but not limited to snaps, telescopic shafts, multi-radius pipes, spring-based detacher, friction-based separation, electric or magnetic based actuators, pneumatic-based controls. The snaps 124 can be used to release the separating walls 114 of already dispensed slots 116 from the railing 118 using the controlled movement of the separating walls. The already dispensed slot 116 can occupy space unnecessary which can be avoided using the snaps 124. This can be used to avoid unnecessary space occupied by the slots 116 that have already been dispensed thereby, can optimize space utilization.
[0057] During dispensing action, the pusher mechanism 204 can push the separating walls 114 forward, thereby dispensing the food content inside the corresponding slot 116. The pusher mechanism 204 can move along a single-axis or a multi-axis manner. The pusher mechanism 204 can be latched on to the separating walls 114 using a latching mechanism 122. The latching mechanism which can be achieved by any mechanical, electronic, magnetic and pneumatic actuations. The latching mechanism can facilitates use of a single pusher mechanism 204 for multiple storage channels 112 instead of having a respective pusher mechanism 204 for every separating wall 114. The latching mechanism 122 can be controlled by any of mechanical, magnetic, pneumatic, electronically controlled, or combination thereof. The latching and de-latching of the pusher mechanism 204 is an important and a necessary feature for multiplexing of the pusher mechanism 204 for multiple channels 112.
[0058] In an embodiment, the pusher mechanism 204 can be multiplexed to dispense multiple foods contents stored in storage channels 112. The dispensing action can be (but not limited to) achieved by moving either the pusher mechanism 204 or the food tray 110 in 2D or 3D manner. The food trays 110 can be arranged in circular or any other manner to optimize the pusher usage. The dispensing action can take place when the slots 116 in the channels 110 are filled with food content, and the pusher mechanism 204 is actuated. The dispensing action can take place in a horizontal manner to ensure complete and reliable dispensing of food content. The horizontal dispensing of food can be one of the most crucial aspects of the invention. The food stored inside the slots 116 can be multi-viscous, i.e. the food content can have solid suspended in a semi-liquid or liquid substrate. While dispensing, the pusher mechanism 204 can push the separating walls 114 and the entire separator assembly can move forward. The food content stored in the slot 116 can get dispensed completely.
[0059] In an embodiment, the multi-viscosity food dispenser 200 is a dispensing mechanism for food and other related materials to be stored and dispensed. This can facilitates certain quantity of food to be dispensed at given intervals of time automatically to reduce human effort and can considerably work faster with avoidance of spillage. The dispenser 200 can dispense all kinds of foods in solid, semi-solid and liquid states. It can also have a provision for leak proofing, through the gasket 120, so that liquid items can be stored without any issues.
[0060] Moreover, in interpreting the specification, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refer to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C ….and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.
[0061] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0062] The proposed invention provides an automatic food dispensing system.
[0063] The proposed invention provides an automatic food dispensing system that can dispense a more precise and even mixture of gravy and non-gravy items.
,CLAIMS:1. An automatic food dispensing system, said system comprising:
at least one first tray configured with plurality of channels, and each of said plurality of channels are configured with plurality of movable separating walls being positioned at predefined positions along a length of said plurality of channels in corresponding at least one first tray, wherein a space between adjacent separating walls is configured to store ingredients;
a drive mechanism operatively configured with said plurality of movable separating walls, and said drive mechanism is configured to dispense said ingredients stored in said space between said adjacent separating walls; and
a detaching mechanism operatively configured with said plurality of movable separating walls, wherein said detaching mechanism is configured to stack said adjacent separating walls together after said ingredients being stored in said space are dispensed.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one first tray is configured in a storage rack.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said drive mechanism comprises a motor, and said motor is operatively configured with said plurality of channels using a latching mechanism.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said latching mechanism is controlled by any or combination of mechanical, magnetic, pneumatic, and electronic control.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plurality of movable separating walls are configured on a railing being configured along said plurality of channels, to being configured along said plurality of channels, said plurality of movable separating walls.
6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detaching mechanism comprises any or combination of snaps, telescopic shafts, multi-radius pipes, spring-based detacher, friction-based separation, electric or magnetic based actuators, pneumatic-based controls.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detaching mechanism allows controlled movement of said plurality of movable separating walls.
8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said controlled movement comprises moving one of said plurality of movable separating walls while keeping others fix.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said ingredients being stored in said space between adjacent separating walls are dispensed in atleast one second tray.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein said system comprises a tray alignment system configured to hold said atleast one second tray, and configured to move said second atleast one tray in horizontal and vertical direction.