System and method for automated preparation of food-based materials

1. An apparatus for preparation of food items, comprising:

a first food ingredient dispensing head defining a first drive lock and a first base member;

a second food ingredient dispensing head defining a second drive lock and a second base member;

a robot assembly within reach of the first and second food ingredient dispensing heads, the robot assembly having a dispensing master comprising:

a product head adapter configured to selectively couple to the first drive lock or the second drive lock of either food ingredient dispensing head; and

clamping arms configured to selectively slide over the base member of either food ingredient dispensing head;

the first and second food ingredient dispensing heads are each selected from a group consisting of: a sauce dispensing head configured to dispense sauce, a cheese dispensing head configured to dispense cheese, a sliced food dispensing head configured to slice and dispense food, and a ground food dispensing head configured to dispense ground food, wherein the dispensing master is operably connectible to each of the first and second food ingredient dispensing heads;

a support surface configured to store the first and second food ingredient dispensing heads within reach of the robot assembly;

a food preparation surface within reach of the robot assembly for preparing food items; and

a controller in electronic communication with the robot assembly via a communication link.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the robot assembly comprises a multi-axis robot configurable to perform predetermined movements.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the dispensing master further comprises a master tool motor operatively coupled to the product head adapter.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the clamping arms further define a gripping device for removably attaching the first and second food ingredient dispensing heads.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a sauce dispensing head comprising:

a static base;

a diffuser retainer coupled to the static base;

a sauce diffuser coupled to the diffuser retainer; and

a hose fitting configured to receive a source of sauce, the hose fitting coupled to the sauce diffuser.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a cheese dispensing head comprising:

a slicer base;

a cheese grater head; and

a drive lock coupled to the slicer base and configured to couple the cheese grater head to the product head adapter of the dispensing master.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a sliced food dispensing head comprising:

a support base configured to couple a slicer tube;

a slicer; and

a drive lock coupled to the support base and configured to couple the slicer to the product head adapter of the dispensing master.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a ground food dispensing head comprising:

a fixed base;

a around product dispenser; and

a drive lock coupled to the fixed base and configured to Couple the around product dispenser to the dispensing master.

9. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the sauce dispensing head further comprises a reservoir and a pump configured to pump sauce from the reservoir onto the food items.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a cheese dispensing head further comprising a grating disk driven by a dispensing master tool motor and a cylinder for applying pressure to a cheese block.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the cheese dispensing head further comprises a thermo-coupler operably connected to a chilled coupler while in storage to maintain temperature of the cheese.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a ground food dispensing head further comprising a paddle wheel or auger driven by a dispensing master tool motor that moves ingredients out of a reservoir onto the food items.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first food ingredient dispensing head comprises a sliced food dispensing head further comprising a blade for slicing meat extruded through a storage tube located on the sliced food dispensing head, said blade driven by a dispensing master tool motor, and wherein the sliced food is sliced to drop onto a food item at a programmed position.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a food preparation surface transfer device configured to transfer food into and from the food preparation surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the surface transfer device comprises a conveyor belt.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the surface transfer device comprises a tray system removable by the robot assembly.