Patent Overview
Title
Robotic kitchen assistant for frying including agitator assembly for shaking utensil
Inventors
- Ryan Sinnet 🙋♂️
- Robert Anderson
- William Werst
Patent No.
US 11,833,663 B2
Issued
Patent Family
The patent is a continuation patent which extends the following patent(s) (see below for key differences):
US-11192258-B2: Robotic kitchen assistant for frying including agitator assembly for shaking utensil
Abstract
A robotic kitchen assistant for frying includes a robotic arm, a fryer basket, and a robotic arm adapter assembly allowing the robotic arm to pick up and manipulate the fryer basket. The robotic arm adapter includes opposing gripping members to engage the fryer basket. A utensil adapter assembly is mounted to the handle of the fryer basket, and the opposing gripper members are actuated to capture a three-dimensional (3D) feature of the utensil adapter assembly. The robotic arm adapter assembly can include an agitator mechanism to shake the fryer basket or another utensil as desired. Related methods are also described.
The Problem We Solved
Commercial kitchens face several challenges with deep fryers. Hot oil is dangerous for workers, causing burns and injuries. Food tends to clump together, requiring regular shaking, and debris builds up in oil that needs constant cleaning.
But automating these tasks with robots creates its own challenges. Kitchen utensils like fryer baskets aren’t manufactured to precise specifications – they get bent and deformed with use. Standard robot grippers struggle to reliably grab these irregular items. When a robot shakes a basket to prevent food clumping, the violent motion can damage the expensive robot arm joints. And the messy, chaotic environment of a busy kitchen makes it hard for robots to safely and accurately perform these tasks alongside human workers.
These technical hurdles have prevented widespread automation of frying tasks, forcing restaurants to continue putting workers at risk.
The Innovation
I created a robotic system that safely handles the entire frying process. The robot includes:
- A special gripper that can reliably pick up fryer baskets (even if they’re slightly bent)
- A unique “agitator” that gently shakes the basket to prevent food from sticking together
- A clever design that isolates the shaking motion so it doesn’t damage the robot arm
- A system to automatically skim debris from the oil
The robot works alongside kitchen staff through specially designed transfer stations where humans can safely load baskets of uncooked food, while the robot handles the dangerous frying work.
Scope of the Patent
The patent covers the complete robotic frying system, including:
- The mechanical gripping mechanism
- The shaking/agitator assembly
- The oil debris removal system
- Methods for operating these systems in a commercial kitchen
- The basket transfer stations
- Safety features that allow robots and humans to work together
Why It Matters
This technology makes commercial kitchens safer and more efficient. By automating the dangerous, repetitive task of deep frying, it:
- Reduces workplace injuries from hot oil
- Improves food quality through consistent cooking
- Maintains cleaner frying oil
- Frees up kitchen staff to focus on food preparation and customer service
The system is designed to integrate into existing kitchen workflows rather than requiring kitchens to completely change how they operate. This practical approach makes automation accessible to restaurants of all sizes, not just large chains with custom-built facilities.
Key Differences in the Continuation Patent
The present continuation patent (US 11,833,663) builds on the original patent (US-11192258-B2: Robotic kitchen assistant for frying including agitator assembly for shaking utensil) with several key differences:
- Simplified Claims Structure: The new patent streamlines the claims, focusing on core elements while keeping the same fundamental technology. This makes the patent more defensible against potential challenges.
- More Flexible Agitation Claims: The original patent specified an “agitator assembly mounted between the gripper and the distal portion” in claim 1, while the continuation more broadly claims the ability to “shake the gripper assembly and fryer basket” without requiring specific hardware placement.
- Greater Focus on Methods: The continuation patent places increased emphasis on methods for de-clumping food and isolating vibrations (claims 14-20), strengthening protection for the process itself rather than just the hardware.
- Expanded Protection for Debris Removal: The continuation introduces clearer and stronger claims around the skimmer functionality and debris removal systems.
Why This Is Strategically Valuable
The continuation patent provides significant strategic advantages:
- Broader Protection: By rewording claims to focus on functionality rather than specific implementation, it’s harder for competitors to “design around” the patent.
- Extended Timeline: Filing a continuation extends the patent family’s protection timeline, providing longer market exclusivity.
- Multiple Enforcement Options: Having two patents with slightly different claim structures gives Miso Robotics more flexibility in enforcement actions – if one claim is challenged, they can fall back on alternative claim structures.
- Response to Market Evolution: The continuation likely reflects learnings from actual market implementation, closing loopholes that might have become apparent after the original filing.
- Enhanced Defense Against Prior Art: The modified claims may address potential prior art concerns that emerged after the original patent was filed.
Combined Patent Family Value
Together, these patents create a powerful patent family that:
- Creates a Comprehensive Protection Wall: The two patents cover both specific implementations and broader functional concepts, making it difficult for competitors to develop similar technology without infringing.
- Establishes Miso Robotics as a Pioneer: Owning foundational patents in kitchen automation positions Miso as a leader in this emerging field.
- Builds License and Partnership Opportunities: The strong patent family creates opportunities for licensing revenue or strategic partnerships with restaurant chains and equipment manufacturers.
- Increases Company Valuation: A robust patent portfolio covering core technology significantly increases the company’s overall valuation, particularly for a technology startup.
- Provides Protection Through Market Development: As the commercial kitchen robotics market grows, having early, broad patents becomes increasingly valuable – this patent family secures Miso’s position as the market matures.
The combined patents represent significant intellectual property in an industry that’s rapidly moving toward automation, potentially worth millions as labor costs rise and restaurants seek efficiency and safety improvements.