System for automatically preparing meals according to a selected recipe and method for operating the same
A system is disclosed for automatically preparing meals according to a selected recipe. The system comprises a food processing unit for performing a set of food preparation tasks, wherein the food processing unit comprises at least one multifunctional cooking device adapted for performing a first food preparation task selected from a group consisting of mixing, stirring and chopping and a second food preparation task comprising heating; a plurality of food containers, each food container for storing a given ingredient; an identification unit for identifying the selected given food container; a collecting element for collecting a selected given food container of either the plurality of food containers located in a vicinity of the collecting element or from another plurality of food containers located in one of a fridge and a freezer located in a vicinity of the collecting element, the collecting element comprising a grabbing member for grabbing the selected given food container; further wherein the collecting element is moveable along a substantially vertical axis and a control system operatively connected to the food processing unit, to the identification unit and to the collecting element, the control system adapted to manage the food processing unit and the collecting element to thereby prepare food according to a selected recipe.
1. A system for automatically preparing meals according to a selected recipe, the system comprising:
a food processing unit for performing a set of food preparation tasks, wherein the food processing unit comprises at least one multifunctional cooking device including at least one load cell and adapted for performing a first food preparation task selected from a group consisting of mixing, stirring and chopping and a second food preparation task comprising heating;
a plurality of food containers, each food container for storing a given ingredient;
an identification unit for identifying the selected given food container;
at least one rail located adjacent to the food processing unit;
a collecting element for collecting a selected given food container of either the plurality of food containers located in a vicinity of the collecting element or from another plurality of food containers located in one of a fridge and a freezer located in a vicinity of the collecting element, the collecting element comprising a grabbing member for grabbing the selected given food container, wherein the grabbing member is adapted to avoid direct interaction with food, and wherein the grabbing member comprises a pair of load cells configured to measure a corresponding weight of a selected food container grabbed by the collecting element;
wherein the collecting element is moveable along the at least one rail to enable smooth movement of the collecting element; and
a control system operatively connected to the food processing unit, to the identification unit and to the collecting element, the control system adapted to manage the food processing unit and the collecting element to thereby prepare food according to the selected recipe,
wherein a preparation of a given meal involving a corresponding plurality of food preparation tasks is performed by a given multifunctional cooking device of the food processing unit, the given multifunctional cooking device performing the corresponding plurality of food preparation tasks without any transfer outside the given multifunctional cooking device to another device in a preparation of a food task prior to completion of the given meal.
2. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the food processing unit further comprises a water cooker adapted for performing a third food preparation task comprising one of a regular cooking task and a sous-vide food preparation task.
3. The system as claimed in claim 2 , further comprising a food container opening mechanism.
4. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one food container is stored in a furniture unit.
5. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of food containers comprises a corresponding identification means.
6. The system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the identification unit comprises an identification camera for identifying the identification means of the at least one food container.
7. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the collecting element comprises at least one member displaceable in a horizontal plane.
8. The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the collecting element comprises:
a proximal member, displaceable along the substantially vertical axis;
at least one intermediate member, rotatable in the horizontal plane and rotatably coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal member, rotatable in the horizontal plane and rotatably coupled to the at least one intermediate member, the distal member comprising the grabbing member for grabbing a selected food container.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grabbing member comprises at least two grippers operated by movable means, each gripper comprising a contact surface for contacting a selected food container and wherein at least one gripper is movable for grabbing or releasing a selected food container.
10. The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein at least one gripper of the at least two grippers comprises a vibrating element for shaking a given food container for dispensing an ingredient.
11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the vibrating element comprises a motor.
12. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the grabbing member comprises a suction assembly for creating a vacuum to thereby grab a mating surface.
13. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control system is operated via a user interface.
14. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the collecting element comprises a portion of a multiaxis robot.
15. The system as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the multiaxis robot comprises a six-axis robot.
16. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a device for detecting a human presence in close vicinity to the system.
17. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the identification unit comprises a lookup table operatively connected to the control system and comprising for each food container an indication of a respective content and a respective physical location.
18. The system as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a camera operatively connected to the control system and providing corresponding positioning data associated with at least one of the food processing unit, the plurality of food containers and the collecting element.
19. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the control system is operatively connected to a point-of-sale system comprising at least one of a payment terminal, a touch screen, a QR code reader and a bar code scanner.
20. The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the collecting element is located inside a fenced area.
21. The system as claimed in claim 20 , wherein at least one part of the fenced area comprises an aperture sized and shaped for allowing an access to the food processing unit.
22. A system for automatically preparing meals according to a selected recipe, the system comprising:
a food processing unit for performing a set of food preparation tasks, wherein the food processing unit comprises at least one multifunctional cooking device adapted for performing a first food preparation task selected from a group consisting of mixing, stirring and chopping and a second food preparation task comprising heating;
a plurality of food containers, each food container for storing a given ingredient; an identification unit for identifying the selected given food container;
a collecting element for collecting a selected given food container of either the plurality of food containers located in a vicinity of the collecting element or from another plurality of food containers located in one of a fridge and a freezer located in a vicinity of the collecting element, the collecting element comprising a grabbing member for grabbing the selected given food container, wherein the grabbing member is adapted to avoid direct interaction with food, and wherein the grabbing member comprises a pair of load cells configured to measure a corresponding weight of a selected food container grabbed by the collecting element;
at least one rail located adjacent to the food processing unit, the at least one rail being configured to enable smooth movement of the collecting element along an axis;
a control system operatively connected to the food processing unit, to the identification unit and to the collecting element, the control system being adapted to manage the food processing unit and the collecting element to thereby prepare food according to the selected recipe.
23. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the at least one multifunctional cooking device includes at least one load cell.
24. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the grabbing member comprises a pair of load cells configured to measure a weight of a selected on of the plurality of food containers grabbed by the collecting element.
25. The system as claimed in claim 22 , wherein the collecting element comprises at least one member displaceable in a horizontal plane.
26. The system as claimed in claim 25 , wherein the collecting element comprises:
a proximal member, displaceable along a substantially vertical axis;
at least one intermediate member, rotatable in the horizontal plane and rotatably coupled to the proximal member; and
a distal member, rotatable in the horizontal plane and rotatably coupled to the at least one intermediate member, the distal member comprising the grabbing member for grabbing a selected food container.
27. The system as claimed in claim 22 , further including at least one load cell located on any one of the proximal member, the intermediate member, and the distal member.
28. The system as claimed in claim 22 , further including at least one load cell remotely connected to the control system to enable the system to follow recipe instruction concerning dosage of ingredients.