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 food processing apparatus includes a pressure vessel defining a compartment having an inlet end for receiving food product and an outlet end for discharging food product, an open-top screen mounted within the compartment and movable relative to the compartment between a first position, for food processing, and a second position, to facilitate cleaning, a rotatable auger mounted such that at least a portion of the auger is within the screen, the auger being operable to advance food product within the compartment from the inlet end of the pressure vessel toward the outlet end, and a transfer mechanism including a conduit in communication with the compartment, a fluid discharge positioned substantially within the conduit, and a pressurized fluid source in communication with the fluid discharge and operable to propel a fluid through the fluid discharge to move food product through the conduit.

The present application discloses a cooking system comprising more than one cooking apparatuses, each capable of cooking a food. A first cooking apparatus can boil or deep fry food or food ingredients to produce a semi-cooked food. The semi-cooked food may be cooked or mixed in a second cooking. The cooking apparatuses work together to produce cooked foods. A computer system is used to control the cooking system.

An apparatus for cooked food includes a spatula assembly defining a plate having a plate first end portion, a plate second end portion, a plate cooking surface and a plate non-cooking surface. The plate first end portion is pivotally in attachment with a spatula assembly cross member of the spatula assembly. The plate is configured to move between a plate upper position and a plate lower position. The apparatus further includes a movable wiper assembly defining an elongated body having a movable wiper cleaning surface along the elongated body. The movable wiper assembly is positioned proximate to the plate and configured to have the movable wiper cleaning surface move across the plate cooking surface when plate is in the plate lower position.

An automatic food-boxing device for cooked food of food frying machines is disclosed, which pushes a container by means of a load stage to a position below the front side of a food frying pot, the, while the food frying pot consistently stirs and rotates the materials poured therein, the container can at the same time move along with the rotation angle such that the food processed in the food frying pot can be completely poured into the container without dropping out of it.

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.

A frying unit, comprising an oil pan (1) which is essentially open on top, a transport unit (2), using which a basket (3) is movable from a filling position into the interior of the oil pan (1) and using which the basket (3) is movable from the interior of the oil pan (1) into an emptying position, wherein the oil pan (1) is designed in such a way that it can accommodate multiple baskets (3) simultaneously, and the transport unit (2) is designed in such a way that the baskets (3) are movable independently of one another.

The present application firstly discloses a cooking system comprising more than one cooking apparatuses, each capable of producing a food from food ingredients. A semi-cooked food is produced in a cooking apparatus and is used as ingredient in another cooking apparatus. The cooking apparatuses work together to produce cooked food from food ingredients. A computer system is used to control the cooking system.