A robotic system for preparing layered foodstuffs comprises a conveyor subsystem having an intelligent working member that travels through an equipped loading and unloading area, within the operating region of which are equipment for storing and supplying bases and, adjacent thereto, a food primary processing subsystem. The storage and supply equipment is configured in the form of an automated refrigeration unit having a rotating manipulator mechanism for the bases, which is combined with an integrated device for picking up and supplying the bases to an active surface of the working member for the subsequent culinary processing of said bases. The combined working of the different systems is controlled by an intelligent device connected to a central server, providing the high-speed, faultless and precise application of ingredients.

An ingredient feeding, cooking and heating system comprises a cooking cavity (100) formed by a hollow shell in a sealed manner and main cooking equipment arranged in the cooking cavity (100), the main cooking equipment comprises a wok device and an ingredient feeding device (2), a cooking area for accommodating the wok device is arranged at a middle portion of the interior of the cooking cavity (100), a feeding area for accommodating the ingredient feeding device (2) is arranged at an upper portion of the interior of the cooking cavity (100) and above the cooking area; the wok device comprises a wok (1), a furnace body device (13) adapted for bearing and heating the wok (1), and a wok rotating device (14) adapted for controlling the wok (1) to rotate. A full-closed cooking machine comprises the ingredient feeding, cooking and heating system.

The present application discloses an automated kitchen system comprising a first computer and a plurality of second computers which are connected so that the first computer may communicate with any of the second computers. The automated kitchen system also comprises: a plurality of ingredient containers each configured to contain or store food ingredients; caps configured to close on the ingredient containers; a storage apparatus comprising compartments each configured to store a plurality of ingredient containers and refrigeration mechanism configured to cool the food or food ingredients in the containers of the storage apparatus; transport boxes each configured to contain capped ingredient containers; a transportation apparatus configured to move the transport boxes wherein the transportation apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a cap opening apparatus configured to remove a cap from a capped container wherein the cap opening apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a first transfer apparatus configured to move a capped ingredient container from a transport box to the storage apparatus, and also configured to move a capped ingredient container to a location on the cap opening apparatus, wherein the first transfer apparatus comprises motors and sensors; a cyclic transport apparatus comprising a cycle of container holders each configured to hold an ingredient container; a transfer apparatus configured to move an ingredient container from the location of cap opening apparatus to a position on a container holder of the cyclic transport apparatus wherein the second transfer apparatus comprises motors and sensors; and a plurality of cooking systems. Each cooking system comprises a cooking container configured to hold food or food ingredients during a cooking process, a stirring motion mechanism configured to produce a motion in the cooking container as to stir, mix or distribute food or food ingredients held in the cooking container, wherein the stirring motion comprising motors, sensors, and a stove; a cyclic transport apparatus comprising a cycle of container holders each configured to hold an ingredient container; an unloading apparatus configured to unload food ingredients from an ingredient. The above mechanisms and apparatuses comprise electrical or electronic devices and sensors, which are configured to be connected to the second computers. The first computer is configured to store various sub-programs and other lists that are useful to control the electric or electronic devices in the mechanisms, apparatuses or systems in the kitchen system.

A cooking system includes a grill, a first arm assembly and a second arm assembly. An electronic hardware controller is in signal communication with the at least one grill, the first arm assembly and the second arm assembly. The controller operates the first arm assembly to transfer a prepared product to the grill, and operates the second arm assembly to transfer a cooked product from the grill.

An apparatus and method for controlling the movement of a food product in a container is described. The apparatus can be cleanable, portable, and fully automated. It can include a main container for holding the food product and one or more other containers for holding a substance, such as liquid. The main container can be moved between the one or more other containers so that the food product is immersed in the substance (e.g., liquid) in the one or more other containers. Any of the containers can be heated to heat the food product. This movement of the main container can be used run fully automated cycles (e.g., sprouting, rinsing, soaking, cooking, cleaning, etc.) that do not require user interaction.

Described herein are systems and methods for automatedly preparing food items for consumption. In one aspect, a food preparation system may comprise a refrigeration unit, a cooking unit, a control unit, and a transportation unit configured to transport food items from the refrigeration unit to the cooking unit. The refrigeration unit and the cooking unit may each comprise an aperture configured to receive a portion of the transportation unit such that food items located in the refrigeration unit can be collected by the transportation unit and placed into the cooking unit. In another aspect, a portion of the transportation unit may be placed adjacent the aperture of the cooking unit when a food item is delivered to the cooking unit such that the portion of the transportation unit can function as a lid to the cooking unit.

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.

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.

The present disclosure provides a fries box-packing machine, relating to the technical field of food packaging. The fries box-packing machine includes a frame body, a box storage component, and a box-taking mechanism. The box-taking mechanism is arranged on the upper mounting plate, and the box-taking mechanism is configured to sequentially move the paper box of the box storage component below the upper mounting plate. The lifting mechanism of the box-taking mechanism of the fries box-packing machine provided by the present disclosure can elevate the rotating mounting frame, thereby adjusting the height of the suction cup assembly. This allows the suction cup assembly to move the paper box from the upper end of the upper mounting plate to the lower end of the upper mounting plate. When the suction cup assembly attaches to the paper box, the lifting mechanism separates the paper box from the box storage component.

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.