Disclosed are 3D printing equipment, a system, and a method for food design and production. The 3D printing equipment has a bipolar microwave heating antenna for focusing heating on a material in an extrusion nozzle. The extrusion nozzle is between the anode antenna and the cathode antenna of the bipolar microwave heating antenna. The anode antenna and the cathode antenna limit a microwave electric field between them, thereby implementing focused heating on the material.

A cartridge assembly, a cartridge device, a food forming module, and a cooking apparatus capable of using three-dimensional (3D) printing technology to form and cook food are provided. The cooking apparatus includes a main body, a cooking compartment is provided in the main body, and a cartridge assembly is installed in the cooking compartment to be capable of linear motion and rotational motion. The cartridge assembly includes a cartridge body having cartridge mounts formed therein, cartridge cases are mounted on the cartridge mounts, and cartridges are disposed in the cartridge cases and include food ingredients that are accommodated therein.

A cooking system is provided. The cooking system includes a user equipment and one or more cooking apparatuses. The user equipment may include a user interface configured to receive an input of a food model including at least one of a shape, an ingredient, or a color of a food in accordance with a touch input of a user, a first transceiver configured to transmit information on the food model to the one or more cooking apparatuses, and a first processor configured to transmit information of the food model to the plurality of cooking apparatuses via the first transceiver. Each of the one or more cooking apparatuses may include a second transceiver configured to receive information on the food model from the user equipment, a food shaping device configured to discharge food ingredients, a food heating device, and a second processor.

A user equipment is provided. The user equipment includes a user interface, a transceiver and a processor. The user interface may receive an input of a food model including at least one of a shape, an ingredient, or a color of a food in accordance with a touch input of a user. The transceiver may transmit information of the food model to a cooking apparatus capable of shaping and heating the food. The processor may transmit the information of the food model to the cooking apparatus via the transceiver to allow the cooking apparatus to shape the food according to the food model. Further, the user interface may display an automatic cooking button, a draw button, a cooking method button, and an output button.

The present invention relates to an article fabrication system having a plurality of material deposition tools containing one or more materials useful in fabricating the article, and a material deposition device having a tool interface for receiving one of the material deposition tools. A system controller is operably connected to the material deposition device to control operation of the material deposition device. Also disclosed is a method of fabricating an article using the system of the invention and a method of fabricating a living three-dimensional structure.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for fabrication of a three-dimensional edible product having two or more edible components. The system comprises a processor configured to receive an edible product design having pattern coordinates, and to provide pattern address signals, a printing mechanism having a printing head with two or more sets of a plurality of discrete applicators, each one of the two or more sets is configured to receive and dispense a different edible component, each of said discrete applicators being configured to receive and selectively dispense, its corresponding edible component onto a printing support bed in accordance with said pattern address signals, and a driving mechanism configurable to control the position of said printing head with respect to a printing support bed.

Embodiments of the invention relate to an apparatus, method and article of manufacturing for producing an edible multi-color ink image. In some embodiments, first and second fluids are provided where: i. the first fluid is an acidic edible and aqueous ink whose color is pH sensitive, the first fluid comprising anthocyanin-containing extract of anthocyanin-containing plant matter (ACE-ACPM), or solids of the ACE-ACPM; ii. the second fluid is an edible pH-adjusting liquid which is clear, or whose primary colorant is riboflavin or riboflavin-phosphate.

A printer and corresponding method of printing an image on a surface of a plurality of food products by providing a system having a printer with an extendable and retractable receiving arm and a rotating food product delivery tray for continuously and automatically providing delivery of unprinted food products which are retracted into the printer, printed on, and returned by the receiving arm to the rotatable delivery tray and the tray further moves to deliver subsequent food products for printing.

Alcohol-based, edible ink formulations comprising scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles are provided. The calcium carbonate particles can act as a white pigment to impart white color properties to the edible ink formulations. The edible ink formulations can be printed onto a variety of surfaces, including the surfaces of food products such as confectionery products and snack food products.

A support apparatus for use in conjunction with an ALM system having a printing head being movable with respect to the support apparatus. The support apparatus a dynamic surface configured to support a printed 3D item thereon during fabrication thereof by the printing head, the dynamic surface being manipulable between a first position, at which the dynamic surface has a first concavity with respect to the printing head, and a second position, at which the dynamic surface has a second concavity with respect to the printing head, the second concavity being greater than the first concavity; and a manipulating mechanism operable to induce manipulation the dynamic surface at least from the first position to the second position.