Automated kitchen workspace with robot

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10154756-B2
Application number	US-201615095591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 11, 2016
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

A method of preparing meals in a computerized kitchen workspace is set forth. The computerized kitchen workspace includes one or more robots for preparing and cooking food in the kitchen workspace. Kitchen appliances may be automatically controlled according to a recipe. The one or more robots may access kitchen items necessary for meal preparation by rotating automated shelves. The meal may then be automatically prepared by the one or more robots. Automated storage shelves may be provided with electrical power for powering kitchen appliances found on the shelves.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of preparing a meal comprising:
a non-transient computer program product implemented on a processor of a computer which automatically:
preheats one or more food cooking devices according to a recipe, the food cooking devices disposed within a rotating vertical module comprising a plurality of walls arranged in an alternating first and second plurality of adjacent box configurations comprising alternating first and second shelves respectively, the respective first plurality of alternating boxes and shelves being deeper than the respective second plurality of alternating boxes and shelves to allow passage around vertically opposed pulleys in the vertical module within the vertical module, such that the one or more food cooking devices and the plurality of the alternating first and second shelves are accessible by a user standing at a fixed position;
rotates the respective alternating first and second boxes and shelves to bring specific items for a recipe located on the alternating first and second shelves to the user;
moves one or more robot arms to access the specific items; and
directs the one or more robot arms to prepare the meal using the specific items and the one or more food cooking devices according to the recipe.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electrical power is supplied to at least some of the respective alternating first and second shelves.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a sink disposed within the vertical module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein a kitchen appliance is electrically powered and operational while sitting on the respective alternating first and second shelves.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein one or more kitchen appliances are operational while sitting on the alternating first and second shelves while the alternating first and second shelves are rotating.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more robot arms prepare the meal using the specific items, the one or more food cooking devices, and the one or more kitchen appliances.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more food cooking devices include one or more of microwaves, stoves, ovens, ranges, convection ovens, or toaster ovens.

8. The method of claim 3 , further comprising a cooktop device built into a counter top adjacent to the sink.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a refrigerator disposed within the vertical module in front of the alternating first and second shelves.

10. A computerized kitchen workspace comprising:
one or more food cooking devices disposed within a rotating vertical module comprising a plurality of walls arranged in an alternating first and second plurality of adjacent box configurations;
the alternating first and second plurality of adjacent box configurations comprising alternating first and second shelves respectively, the first plurality of the respective boxes and shelves being deeper than the second plurality of the respective alternating boxes and shelves to allow passage around vertically opposed pulleys in the vertical module and
the one or more food cooking devices are accessible by a user standing at a fixed position, each of the respective alternating first and second shelves being accessible at the fixed position by rotating the alternating first and second boxes and shelves to the fixed position;
one or more robot arms; and
a computer system, wherein the computer system controls the one or more robot arms to:
access specific items at the fixed position according to a recipe by rotating the respective alternating first and second boxes and shelves, and
prepare a meal using the specific items and the one or more food cooking devices in the computerized kitchen workspace according to the recipe.

11. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein electrical power is supplied to at least some of the plurality of the respective alternating first and second shelves.

12. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein the vertical module further comprises a cooktop.

13. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein one or more kitchen appliances are electrically powered and operational while sitting on one or more shelves of the alternating first and second shelves.

14. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein the computer system controls a cook time and cook temperature of the one or more food cooking devices according to the recipe.

15. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein more than one kitchen appliance is operational while sitting on one or more of the alternating first and second shelves while the respective shelves are rotating.

16. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein the one or more food cooking devices include one or more of microwaves, stoves, ovens, ranges, convection ovens or toaster ovens.

17. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , wherein the vertical module further comprises a sink.

18. The computerized kitchen workspace of claim 10 , the vertical module further comprising a refrigerator disposed in front of the alternating first and second shelves.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Blanch Josephe
• Hall Labs Llc

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Priddis Andrew
• Blanch Josephe

Classifications

• A47J37/08 Primary

  Bread-toasters · CPC title

• A47B77/08

  for incorporating apparatus operated by power, including water power; for incorporating apparatus for cooking, cooling, or laundry purposes · CPC title

• A47J39/00

  Heat-insulated warming chambers; Cupboards with heating arrangements for warming kitchen utensils · CPC title

• A23L5/17

  in a gaseous atmosphere with forced air or gas circulation, in vacuum or under pressure · CPC title

• A47B77/06

  for incorporating sinks, with or without draining boards, splash-backs, or the like (constructional features of draining boards A47L19/02; sinks E03C1/18) · CPC title