System and method for automated preparation of food-based materials

Abstract

Disclosed is an invention in the field of automated food preparation. The present invention particularly relates to a system and method to prepare food items by automatically placing food items on a food preparation surface utilizing a multi-axis robot. Upon loading predetermined coordinates into a computing device, a computer program calculates the instructs the robot via a controller to load the required food items via one or more food ingredient dispensing heads automatically.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for placement of food items on a three-dimensional object, comprising:
 a. positioning a food preparation surface within reach of a robot assembly having a dispensing master;   b. removably and operably attaching one or more food ingredient dispensing heads to the dispensing master located on the robot assembly, wherein the one or more removably attachable food ingredient dispensing heads are selected from a group consisting of: sauce dispensing heads, cheese dispensing heads, sliced food dispensing heads, and ground food dispensing heads;   c. dispensing at least one food ingredient from the at least one of the one or more food ingredient dispensing heads at a preconfigured location via the robot assembly having attached the at least one food ingredient dispensing head; and   d. repeating steps (a) through (c) for the number of food ingredients desired for the number of food items on the food preparation surface.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising dispensing sauce from the sauce dispensing head onto a food item from a reservoir pressurized by a pump capable of pressurizing sauce from the reservoir, through the sauce dispensing head onto the food item. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising dispensing cheese from the dispensing head onto food items by a grating disk driven by a dispensing master tool motor and a cylinder for applying pressure to a cheese block. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising dispensing ground food from the ground food dispensing head by operating an auger driven by the dispensing master tool motor to move ground food out of a hopper onto food items. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising dispensing sliced food from the sliced food dispensing head by operating a blade for slicing food extruded through a storage tube located on the sliced food dispensing head, said blade driven by a dispensing master tool motor, and wherein the sliced food is sliced to drop onto a food item at a programmed position. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising automatically transferring food items to and from the food preparation surface. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the surface transfer device comprises a conveyor belt on the food preparation surface. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the surface transfer device comprises a tray system removable by the robot assembly.