US-20260125216-A1 - Modular Vertical Helix Rack

Abstract

An automated transport system is provided for vertically and laterally moving pans or other flat food-supporting objects within a food preparation environment. The system includes a cabinet and a vertical transport device having first and second rotatable elements that define corresponding support surfaces for engaging and vertically advancing a plurality of pans in a stacked arrangement. A lateral transport device extends into a dispensing area beneath the vertical transport device and receives a pan released from the support surfaces. The lateral transport device displaces the pan from a first position beneath the vertical transport device to a second position laterally offset from the cabinet, such as through a pan-receiving opening of an adjacent food preparation station.

Inventors

• Samuel Lewis Tanaka

Assignees

• LAB2FAB, LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20251219

Priority Date

20240927

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A system comprising: a cabinet including a dispensing area; a vertical transport device located within the cabinet and configured to support a plurality of pans in a vertically stacked arrangement and to vertically transport the plurality of pans to the dispensing area; and a lateral transport device extending into the dispensing area and configured to receive a pan from the vertical transport device and laterally displace the pan from a first position beneath the vertical transport device to a second position laterally offset from the first position.
2. 2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the lateral transport device is configured to slide the pan laterally outward from the cabinet.
3. 3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the lateral transport device includes a receiving plate positioned beneath the vertical transport device and a pan pusher configured to advance along the receiving plate to engage and displace a pan from the plurality of pans.
4. 4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the pan pusher is coupled to a linear actuator mounted to the receiving plate, the linear actuator configured to drive the pan pusher between a retracted position and an extended position along the receiving plate.
5. 5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a food preparation station positioned adjacent the cabinet and defining a pan-receiving opening, wherein the linear actuator is configured to advance the pan pusher to displace a pan from the plurality of pans through the pan-receiving opening into the food preparation station.
6. 6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the cabinet defines a lateral-transport compartment located below the vertical transport device, the receiving plate extending into the lateral-transport compartment.
7. 7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the lateral transport device is mounted on the food preparation station adjacent the pan-receiving opening and the cabinet is configured for relative movement with respect to the food preparation station.
8. 8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vertical transport device includes first and second spiral drive members spaced from one another about a periphery of the plurality of pans and defining support surfaces for the plurality of pans.
9. 9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising a drive motor configured to rotate the first and second spiral drive members and vertically advance the plurality of pans upon rotation of the first and second spiral drive members by the drive motor.
10. 10 . A system comprising: a cabinet including a dispensing area; vertical transport means secured within the cabinet for supporting a plurality of pans in a vertically stacked arrangement and displacing the plurality of pans vertically to the dispensing area; and lateral transport means extending into the dispensing area for receiving a pan from the vertical transport means and displacing the pan laterally from a first location below the vertical transport means to a second location laterally offset from the first location.
11. 11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the lateral transport means includes a pan pusher configured for linear displacement along a receiving plate, wherein the receiving plate is located beneath the vertical transport means and receives a pan from the plurality of pans in the dispensing area.
12. 12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the lateral transport means includes a linear actuator coupled to the receiving plate and drivingly engaged with the pan pusher.
13. 13 . The system of claim 10 , further comprising a food preparation station adjacent to the cabinet and including a pan-receiving opening, the lateral transport means coupled to an exterior of the food preparation station and configured to displace a pan through the pan-receiving opening and into the food preparation station.
14. 14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the cabinet defines a lateral transport means receiving area below the vertical transport means with the lateral transport means extending into the lateral transport means receiving area.
15. 15 . A method comprising: supporting a plurality of pans on a vertical transport device within a cabinet; vertically advancing the plurality of pans on the vertical transport device to position a selected pan at a dispensing area of the cabinet; transferring the selected pan onto a lateral transport device extending into the dispensing area; and laterally displacing the selected pan via the lateral transport device from a first position beneath the vertical transport device to a second position laterally offset from the first position.
16. 16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising pushing the selected pan along a receiving plate of the lateral transport device positioned beneath the vertical transport device along a displacement path extending away from the cabinet.
17. 17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the pushing includes advancing a pan pusher along the receiving plate to engage and displace the selected pan.
18. 18 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising operating a linear actuator coupled to the pan pusher to move the pan pusher between a retracted position and an extended position along the receiving plate.
19. 19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising advancing the pan pusher to displace the selected pan through a pan-receiving opening of an adjacent food preparation station.
20. 20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the lateral transport device is coupled to the food preparation station and the cabinet is a first movable cabinet, further comprising displacing the first movable cabinet relative to the food preparation station and positioning a second movable cabinet adjacent to the food preparation station such that the lateral transport device is located below and aligned with the plurality of pans on the vertical transport device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/899,145 filed on Sep. 27, 2024. This application also claims priority to PCT International Application Number PCT/US2024/049101 filed on Sep. 27, 2024. Each of the aforementioned applications claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/541,125 filed Sep. 28, 2023 and of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/631,441 filed Apr. 8, 2024. The disclosures of each application are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties for all purposes. INTRODUCTION The present disclosure is directed to a transport device, and more particularly, to a transport device for food items in an automated food system. BACKGROUND Yeast in a pizza dough or other bread products may be activated prior to baking in a process called proofing. Generally, proofing involves placing the dough in an oven or other enclosure at a desired temperature for a period of time. The proofing process generally occurs within an environmentally controlled cabinet before assembly and baking of the pizza. In some cases, pizza dough is kept at room temperature or slightly above, e.g., at 100 degrees Fahrenheit, for a period of several hours. During proofing, dough may generally rise. Systems have been developed for automated production of pizza and other food products. Merely as examples, automated pizza production systems and methods are known from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/819,326 (filed on Mar. 15, 2019), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/780,797 (filed on Feb. 3, 2020), U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/885,093 (filed on Aug. 10, 2022), and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/885,104 (filed on Aug. 10, 2022), each of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties for all purposes. Accordingly, it is desired to enhance existing automated pizza production systems and methods by automating the production and/or dispensing of pizza dough or other bread products. SUMMARY In at least some example approaches, a system for proofing dough comprises a first rotatable element having a first support surface extending about a first axis. The system also comprises a second rotatable element having a second support surface extending about a second axis spaced from the first axis. The first and second rotatable elements are configured to move a pan engaged with the first and second support surfaces by rotating the first and second rotatable elements. The system further includes a cabinet having a temperature-controlled enclosure containing the first rotatable element and second rotatable element. The cabinet is configured to proof dough on the pan by maintaining a predetermined temperature, thereby exposing the dough to the predetermined temperature within the enclosure for a predetermined period of time. In at least some examples, a vertical transport comprises a first rotatable element having a first support surface extending about a first axis. The vertical transport further includes a second rotatable element having a second support surface extending about a second axis spaced from the first axis. The first and second rotatable elements are configured to move a pan engaged with the first and second support surfaces in a vertical direction by rotating the first and second rotatable elements. In at least some example illustrations, a method for transporting dough through a proofing enclosure comprises providing a first rotatable element and a second rotatable element. The first rotatable element includes a first pan support surface extending about a first axis, and the second rotatable element includes a second pan support surface extending about a second axis spaced from the first axis. The method also includes rotating the first and second rotatable elements, thereby moving a pan engaged with the first and second pan support surfaces through the enclosure. In at least some examples, a system is provided that includes a cabinet, a vertical transport device, and a lateral transport device. The vertical transport device is configured to support a plurality of pans in a vertically stacked arrangement and to vertically transport the pans to a dispensing area. The lateral transport device extends into the dispensing area and is configured to receive a pan from the vertical transport device and to laterally displace the pan from a first position beneath the vertical transport device to a second position laterally offset from the first position. In at least some examples, a system is provided that includes a cabinet, vertical transport means, and lateral transport means. The vertical transport means supports a plurality of pans in a vertically stacked arrangement and displaces the pans vertically to a dispensing area. The lateral transport means extends into the dispensing area for receiving a pan from the vertical transport means and displacing the pan laterally from a first lo