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 receiver; a blade supported by the receiver; a set of hoppers comprising a first hopper and a second hopper configured to contain topping samples of a first topping type, the second hopper adjacent and offset behind the first hopper; a magazine operable between a first magazine position and a second magazine position, the magazine aligning the first hopper with the receiver and supporting the second hopper behind the receiver in the first magazine position, the magazine aligning the second hopper with the receiver in the second magazine position; a retaining plate adjacent and offset from the blade opposite the magazine; a conveyor sequentially advancing topping vehicles from an initial position to a dispense position aligned with the receiver; an actuator:
configured to selectively advance and retract the blade relative to the receiver to slice topping servings from topping samples dispensed from the first hopper and to selectively advance and retract the retaining plate relative to the receiver to dispense topping servings from the receiver onto topping vehicles in the first position during a dispense cycle; andconfigured to selectively advance the magazine from the first magazine position into the second magazine position during a magazine cycle in response to evacuation of a last topping sample from the first hopper; and a latch operable between an open position and a closed position, the latch releasing the magazine from the actuator during a segment of the dispense cycle in the open position and yoking the actuator to the magazine during a segment of the magazine cycle in the closed position.