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 magazine of hoppers configured to contain topping samples of a first topping type, hoppers in the magazine of hoppers selectively indexed over the receiver to dispense topping samples of the first type into the receiver; a retaining plate adjacent and offset from the blade opposite the magazine of hoppers; a conveyor sequentially advancing a first topping vehicle from an initial position to a dispense position adjacent the receiver and advancing a second topping vehicle, in series behind the first topping vehicle, from the initial position to the dispense position; and an actuator selectively advancing and retracting the blade and the retaining plate relative to the receiver to dispense a serving of the first topping type from the receiver onto the first topping vehicle in the dispense position, at a first time, based on a first food order corresponding to the first topping vehicle, and the actuator selectively advancing and retracting the blade and the retaining plate relative to the receiver to dispense a serving of the first topping type from the receiver onto the second topping vehicle in the dispense position, at a second time succeeding the first time, based on a second food order corresponding to the second topping vehicle, the second food order distinct from the first food order.