SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING TOPPINGS

摘要

One variation of a method for dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles includes: indexing a first topping vehicle to a first position adjacent a first topping module, the first topping module comprising a first hopper containing a first topping of a first topping type; indexing a second topping vehicle to a second position adjacent a second topping module comprising a second hopper containing a second topping of a second topping type; retracting a first blade of the first topping module; advancing the first blade through the first topping; retracting a first retaining plate to dispense a topping slice from the first topping onto the first topping vehicle according to a first topping order for the first topping vehicle specifying the first topping type, the first retaining plate offset from the first blade opposite the first hopper; advancing the first retaining plate; and indexing the first topping vehicle to the second position.

主权项

1. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:
a first topping module receptacle; a second topping module receptacle adjacent the first topping module; a conveyor configured to sequentially advance topping vehicles from an initial position to a first dispense position adjacent the first topping module receptacle and from the first dispense position to a second dispense position adjacent the second topping module receptacle; a first set of topping modules comprising:
a first topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a first topping type, and to dispense servings of the first topping type toward the first dispense position during a first time period; anda second topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle, to store a quantity of a second topping type, and to dispense servings of the second topping type toward the second dispense position during a first time period, the first topping type and the second topping type comprising ingredients of a first menu item; a second set of topping modules comprising:
a third topping module configured to transiently engage the first topping module receptacle in replacement of the first topping module, to store a quantity of a third topping type, and to dispense servings of the third topping type toward the first dispense position during a second time period succeeding the first time period; anda fourth topping module configured to transiently engage the second topping module receptacle in replacement of the second topping module, to store a quantity of a fourth topping type, and to dispense servings of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position during the second time period, the third topping type and the fourth topping type comprising ingredients of a second menu item distinct from the first menu item; and an actuator system:
configured to selectively actuate the first topping module to dispense a serving of the first topping type toward the first dispense position and to selectively actuate the second topping module to dispense a serving of the second topping type toward the second dispense position during the first time period based on a set of toppings specified in a first food order received during the first time period; andconfigured to selectively actuate the third topping module to dispense a serving of the third topping type toward the first dispense position and to selectively actuate the fourth topping module to dispense a serving of the fourth topping type toward the second dispense position during the second time period based on a set of toppings specified in a second food order received during the second time period.