A metering apparatus (1) for metering frozen piece goods, comprising a housing (10) which defines a refrigerated chamber (11), wherein a piece goods container (3), a first conveyor unit (4), and a weighing unit (5) are arranged in the refrigerated chamber (11), wherein piece goods can be transported from the piece goods container (3) via the first conveyor unit (4) to the weighing unit (5), wherein an airlock (13) is arranged below the weighing unit (5), through which piece goods can pass out of the refrigerated chamber (11).

A robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least one kitchen appliance such as a fryer comprises an automated bin assembly, a robotic arm, and a basket held by the robotic arm. The automated bin assembly comprises at least one automated bin for holding the food items. A camera or sensor array collects image data of the food items in the bin(s). A central processor is operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm and automated bin assembly based on the image data and stored data to (a) move the robotic arm to the bin; (b) actuate the bin to drop the food items from the bin into the basket; (c) and to move the basket into the fryer all without human interaction. Related methods are also described.

A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium, at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber, and a chain conveyor for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber along a movement path. The chain conveyor includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of baskets extending therebetween. The movement path includes a series of legs, including a first leg wherein the food product moves substantially vertically from above the cooking medium to a greatest depth within the cooking medium and including a second leg subsequent to the first leg wherein the food product moves substantially horizontally at the greatest depth within the cooking medium. Automated filtering systems and methods for removing debris from cooking medium are also provided.

Systems, devices, and methods are directed to automated preparation of food or consumable items, such as for preparation of fried foods. An example cooking apparatus may include processing devices for the consumable items. In some examples, a robot arm is provided that extends from a moveable base. Locators may define a relative position of the moveable base relative to processing device(s) of the cooking apparatus, such that the robot arm is configured to determine robot arm movements to move the consumable items to and from the processing device(s). In some examples, one or more zones may be used to detect movement near a robot arm, with one or more restrictions being placed upon robot arm and/or base movement in response. In some examples, a cooking apparatus provides automated transport of food ingredients for preparation of food or other consumable items.

A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.

A fryer includes a cooking chamber for holding a cooking medium at least one heating element positioned within the cooking chamber, and a chain conveyor for selectively advancing food product through the cooking chamber along a movement path. The chain conveyor includes first and second chains coupled together by a plurality of baskets extending therebetween. The movement path includes a series of legs, including a first leg wherein the food product moves substantially vertically from above the cooking medium to a greatest depth within the cooking medium and including a second leg subsequent to the first leg wherein the food product moves substantially horizontally at the greatest depth within the cooking medium. Automated filtering systems and methods for removing debris from cooking medium are also provided.

A system for automating the removal of cooking racks or trays laden with food items. The automatic rack lifting system includes a fryer assembly having a frypot and a liftable traveler assembly with a removable rack carrier or cooking carriage that carries a plurality of removable cooking baskets for food into and out of the cooking medium or oil disposed within the frypot. The system may further include lift arms removably secured to an actuation support structure. The automatic rack lifting system comprises a lift system for automated (e.g. under software program control) or manually controlled automatic lifting of a cooking carriage.

A deep fryer and related methods of frying a whole turkey in a reduced cooking oil volume. A frying basin can have a rounded profile avoiding dead spaces within the frying basin. The frying basin can include a recessed channel at a bottommost portion of the frying basin to accommodate a heating element, such that the heating element does not project above a floor of the frying basin. The deep fryer can have a rotisserie assembly for mounting and rotating the whole turkey such that only a lower half of the whole turkey is submerged within the cooking oil at any one time. The deep fryer can include a kick-stand feature that allows a user to lower and raise the rotisserie assembly including the whole turkey using only one hand such that a user need not lean over or otherwise put their hands or body above the frying basin.

An automatic fryer apparatus and method of frying food products includes a cooking chamber, a heating mechanism disposed in the cooking chamber, and a pump disposed at an end of the cooking chamber to circulate cooking medium within the cooking chamber. Food product is added to the cooking chamber and flows along with the cooking medium in a flow direction. A controller controls a plurality of gates by individually actuating each gate. The controller stores data regarding predetermined time periods, which regulate when to raise and lower each gate. Food product moves downstream of each gate along a flow direction when each respective gate is raised. Food product is automatically transferred to a holding station when it reaches an outlet end of the cooking chamber.

An automatic fryer system includes a fry basket; a fryer unit having a fry vat for housing heated cooking oil and receiving the fry basket; the fryer unit including a rear wall having a fry basket hooking member located thereon for parking the fry basket; a horizontal drive system for moving the fry basket in a horizontal direction; a vertical drive system, operatively connected to the horizontal drive system, for moving the fry basket in a vertical direction; an end effector for grasping and holding the fry basket; a food product loading unit for loading food product into the fry basket; and a controller, in operational communication with the horizontal drive system; the vertical drive system, and the end effector, to control a location and an orientation of the fry basket.