The invention relates to a temperature conditioned, refrigerated or heated, food ingredient dispenser for automated or robotic apparatus. And more particularly it relates to using plurality of dispensers, stacked in an array, for minimizing space occupied and wherein the components of the ingredient dispenser are removable and replaceable.

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.

Provided is a device, comprising: a barrier configured to impeded or prevent particles shed by a robot in a first volume of space from entering a second volume of space in which the robot manipulates a workpiece; and a robot having three or more degrees of freedom, the robot comprising: a first portion disposed on a first side of the barrier in the first volume, the first portion comprising an actuator of the robot, the actuator being configured to drive movement of the robot to manipulate the workpiece; and a second portion disposed on a second side of the barrier in the second volume, the second portion comprising an end-effector of the robot by which the robot makes contact with the workpiece.

A method for controlling a serving robot is provided. The method includes the steps of: acquiring situation information on at least one customer; dynamically determining a workflow for the at least one customer on the basis of the situation information on the at least one customer, using a workflow determination model for determining workflows related to services capable of being provided in a serving place; and causing a target service to be provided to the at least one customer on the basis of the determined workflow.

Provided is an ingredient extraction device which measures weight information of an ingredient extracted by a gripper, determines ratio information between a plurality of ingredients on the basis of order information on an order ordered by a customer using a server, controls the gripper to extract the plurality of ingredients in a preset order, and calculates extraction weight information of an ingredient to be extracted later from one or more pieces of weight information of an ingredient extracted in a previous turn on the basis of the ratio information.

A robotic systems for preparing meals having: a robotic arm with a controller and a motor drive unit, an end of arm tool; a plurality of ingredient holding and dispensing assemblies, each comprising a container for holding and dispensing the ingredients; a cooking receptacle to cook ingredients placed therein; dishes storing device; a tray adapted to receive ingredients from the dispenser and be releasably gripped by the gripper; a dish and food transfer area having at least one compartment, comprising an internal access door, an external access door and at least one surface adapted for placing a dish or food; a cleaning subsystem to clean the cooking receptacle and the tray. The end of arm tool is provided with a rotary drive adapted to releasably engaged the plurality of the containers for holding a ingredients so that the rotation of the rotary drive causes the dispenser to dispense the ingredient.

The present technology relates to an information processing device, an information processing method, a cooking robot, a cooking method, and cooking equipment capable of generating a new recipe. An information processing device of one aspect of the present technology generates a new recipe on the basis of chemical structure information representing chemical structures of food ingredients used for cooking, sensing information obtained by measuring flavors of food ingredients using a sensor, and flavor subjective information representing subjective evaluation of people with respect to flavors of food ingredients. The present technology can be applied to a computer prepared in a kitchen.

A tray assembly is provided. The tray assembly includes a first tray configured to be mounted to a robot; and a second tray provided above the first tray and configured to be rotatably coupled to the first tray. The second tray includes at least one first rolling member provided on a lower surface of the second tray, which faces the first tray, and an elastic member having at least one end which is fixedly connected to the lower surface. When the second tray is rotated relative to the first tray, the second tray is configured to be returned to its original position by virtue of a restoring force of the elastic member of the second tray.

An automated unloading machine for unloading cut and trimmed raw poultry meat pieces from an upstream poultry meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine is operably associated with a feed conveyer configured to support the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces provided by the meat cutting machine. The automated unloading machine comprises one of an exit conveyor movable in a second direction and a packaging machine, an electronic controller configured to receive and process position and orientation data of the poultry meat pieces located on the feed conveyer, and a robotic picking device operatively associated with the electronic controller and configured to pick the poultry meat pieces from the feed conveyer and place them onto one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine so that the cut and trimmed poultry meat pieces are arranged on one of the exit conveyor and the packaging machine in a desired orientation.

The foodstuff assembly system can include: a robot arm, a frame, a set of foodstuff bins, a sensor suite, a set of food utensils, and a computing system. The system can optionally include: a container management system, a human machine interface (HMI). However, the foodstuff assembly system 100 can additionally or alternatively include any other suitable set of components. The system functions to enable picking of foodstuff from a set of foodstuff bins and placement into a container (such as a bowl, tray, or other foodstuff receptacle). Additionally or alternatively, the system can function to facilitate transferal of bulk material (e.g., bulk foodstuff) into containers, such as containers moving along a conveyor line.