Granted Patent B1

US 12,708,131 · App. 17/490,741 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Inventors: Jessica Gwozdz (Winthrop, MA); Braden E. Knight (Somerville, MA); Layne S. Whitaker (Arlington, MA); Luke Schlueter (Somerville, MA)

Assignee: Wonder Group Robotics, LLC

A23P20/15B65G19/02B65G2203/0283B65G2811/097B67D3/0003

Abstract

Claims (24)

1 . A method of operating a meal production system, comprising:

receiving a first meal receptacle on a first meal receptacle holder and receiving a second meal receptacle on a second meal receptacle holder, the first and second meal receptacle holders being positioned on a track;

determining a first threshold distance between the first and second meal receptacles;

determining a second threshold distance between the first and second meal receptacle holders;

moving the first meal receptacle along the track;

moving the second meal receptacle along the track behind the first meal receptacle;

slowing the first meal receptacle at a position associated with a first meal ingredient dispenser positioned above the track;

dispensing a first meal ingredient automatically onto the first meal receptacle from the first meal ingredient dispenser based on a user order;

slowing the second meal receptacle behind the first meal receptacle while keeping the distance between the meal receptacles greater than or equal to the first threshold distance and keeping the distance between the meal receptacle holders greater than or equal to the second threshold distance;

moving the first meal receptacle automatically along the track after the first meal ingredient is dispensed; and

moving the second meal receptacle automatically along the track after the first meal ingredient is dispensed into the first meal receptacle wherein the first meal receptacle and the second meal receptacle are movable independently along the track, and wherein the first and second meal receptacles are of a greater length than the first and second meal receptacle holders, respectively, and wherein the length of the meal receptacles and meal receptacle holders is defined as a dimension parallel to a direction of the movement along the track.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein slowing the first meal receptacle includes stopping the first meal receptacle.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein slowing the second meal receptacle includes stopping the second meal receptacle.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

slowing the first meal receptacle at a second position associated with a second meal ingredient dispenser positioned above the track;

dispensing a second meal ingredient onto the first meal receptacle from the second meal ingredient dispenser; and

slowing the second meal receptacle behind the first meal receptacle such that the distance between the meal receptacles is greater than or equal to the first threshold distance.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

moving the first meal receptacle after the second meal ingredient is dispensed into the first meal receptacle;

moving the second meal receptacle after the second meal ingredient is dispensed into the first meal receptacle;

bypassing the first meal ingredient dispenser with the second meal receptacle;

slowing the second meal receptacle at the second position; and

dispensing the second meal ingredient onto the second meal receptacle.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first threshold distance of the meal receptacles is different than the second threshold distance of the meal receptacle holders.

Assignments (3)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (80)