Patent Overview
Title
Automated bin system for accepting food items in robotic kitchen workspace
Inventors
- Ryan W. Sinnet 🙋♂️
- Abhimanyu Bhakuni
- William Guffey
- Ryan R. Wach
- Robert Anderson
Patent No.
US 11,744,403 B2
Issued
Patent Family
The patent was extended in the following continuation patent(s) (wherein the key differences are described):
Abstract
A robotic kitchen system for preparing food items in combination with at least one kitchen appliance such as a fryer comprises an automated bin assembly, a robotic arm, and a basket held by the robotic arm. The automated bin assembly comprises at least one automated bin for holding the food items. A camera or sensor array collects image data of the food items in the bin(s). A central processor is operable to compute and provide directions to the first robotic arm and automated bin assembly based on the image data and stored data to (a) move the robotic arm to the bin; (b) actuate the bin to drop the food items from the bin into the basket; (c) and to move the basket into the fryer all without human interaction. Related methods are also described.
The Problem We Solved
Commercial kitchens are dangerous places where hot oil, busy workers, and sharp tools create hazards daily. When adding robots to this environment, traditional approaches require either slowing down the robot when humans are nearby or creating completely separate work zones. Both solutions hurt efficiency. Slowed robots can’t operate at full capacity, while separate zones require workers to constantly move between areas to hand off food. We needed a system that would allow humans and robots to work simultaneously at full speed, maintain a complete safety barrier, and enable smooth food transfer without workflow disruptions.
The Innovation
We invented a smart bin system that creates a physical barrier between humans and robots. Workers place food into bins that stick through a window in a protective shield. The robot then positions a basket underneath the bin, the bin automatically rotates to dump the food into the basket, and the robot moves the basket to the fryer to cook. When cooking is finished, the robot dumps the food onto a chute that slides the cooked food out to another area where it can be sorted and packaged.
Scope of the Patent
The patent covers the entire automated cooking system including:
- The rotating bins that accept food from humans and dump it to robots
- The safety shield design with windows for bins and cooked food
- The robotic arm that positions baskets and handles cooking
- The computer vision system that identifies food types
- The scheduling system that optimizes cooking
- The sorting system that delivers cooked food to appropriate holding areas
Why It Matters
This innovation solves multiple problems at once:
- It keeps workers completely separated from robots and dangerous equipment
- It eliminates the need for workers to handle heavy fry baskets or work near hot oil
- It reduces food contamination by minimizing human contact with food
- It improves kitchen efficiency by automating repetitive tasks
- It’s modular and can be expanded to handle different menu items
The bin system is one of very few practical ways to safely transfer food between humans and robots in a commercial kitchen environment. This makes the patent particularly valuable as restaurants increasingly adopt automation to address labor challenges and improve consistency.