Food dishing robot

Citation

(2003), "Food dishing robot", Industrial Robot, Vol. 30 No. 5. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2003.04930ead.011

Food dishing robot

Food dishing robot

Keywords: Patents, Food, Robots

Applicant: Fanuc Ltd, Yamanashi, JapanPatent number: US20030075051Publication date: 24 April 2003Title: Food Dishing Robot System

An object of this invention is to provide a robot system capable of securely performing dishing operations of various foods. The invention enables mechanization and robotization of all processes of processing, conveyance, cooking and dishing of foods to contribute automation and energy-saving in a food processing factory as well as in a food processing workshop.

The food dishing robot system comprises: a robot having a hand for handling a food conveying container, and a controller for controlling the robot to hold the food conveying container containing a food.

Trays are supplied to vicinities of food dishing robots by food supplying lines. Four food conveying containers are placed on each tray. Each of the robots handles a food conveying container containing a food on the tray to move the food conveying container over a lunch box supplied by a lunch box supplying line at a predetermined position, and dishes the food on a predetermined space in the lunch box. The food contained in the food conveying container is discharged through a cut-out or an opening formed at a side thereof by inclining the food conveying container. The food conveying container may have a bottom plate to be opened/closed or the robot may have an auxiliary member in the form of scoop to forcedly discharge the food from the food conveying container. After completing the dishing of the food, the food conveying container is returned on the tray. Shaped, shapeless, solid, powdery, granular and liquid food can be dished onto the lunch box.