Patent Application
20110253482
Generally, the invention relates to quick-service restaurant equipment and methods. More particularly, the equipment includes a device for assembling orders that may be used in conjunction with a food preparation device.
In quick-service restaurants, hundreds or even thousands of orders may be served in a day at a single restaurant. The orders must be served quickly even though the food items may be made-to-order. To serve an order first requires assembly of the order, which may be composed of prepared and packaged items, including, for example, food items, condiments, napkins, promotional items, toys and to place the food items on a tray or in a bag. There is a need for a device that allows for the efficient assembly of food orders, a system incorporating such a device, and a method of assembling food orders using the device.
Quick-service restaurants are typically relatively small compared to the volume of food served. In addition, at peak times, the area where orders are taken, assembled and served can be very busy, with a plurality of workers in a relatively small area with several workers assembling orders. There is a need for a device for assembling food orders that is both compact and allows several workers to assemble orders simultaneously.
In accordance with the present invention, a multi-sided, self-contained order assembly device and method for assembling food orders for customers from prepared food items at a quick-service restaurant is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly device includes a first side having an outer periphery at which food orders can be assembled by a first worker, the first side having a plurality of first side receptacles accessible to the first worker located at the outer periphery of the side. The device includes a second side having an outer periphery at which food orders can be assembled by a second worker, the second side having a plurality of second side receptacles accessible to the second worker located at the outer periphery of the second side. An at least generally centrally located food item holding area is provided for holding prepared food items. The food item holding area is accessible by a worker located at the outer periphery of either of the first and second sides. The order assembly device includes a food inlet side, distinct from the first and second sides through which the prepared food items may pass to the food item holding area.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the food inlet side has an inlet portion that slopes downwardly from the inlet and towards the food item holding area for encouraging prepared food items to slide towards the food item holding area.
The order assembly device may further include a heater for heating the food item holding area. This can be conveniently accomplished by, for example, any suitable heater which can be a radiant heat source or a forced air heater, for example. At least a portion of the food item holding area can have a dark surface for absorbing radiant heat from the radiant heat source. Preferably, the dark surface is black and may be black anodized aluminum or other metal, which can be configured to act as a heat sink for the radiant energy.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the assembly device may further include a third side at which food orders can be assembled by a third worker, the third order side having a plurality of third side receptacles accessible to the third worker at the outer periphery of the third side with the food item holding area being accessible by a worker located at the outer periphery of the third side.
The plurality of side receptacles, including for the first, second and/or third sides can be configured to contain items needed for food order assembly as desired and may include, for example, one or more bag receptacles sized and configured to hold a plurality of folded bags in a substantially vertical alignment.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a system for assembling food orders from customers at a quick-service restaurant is provided that is composed of a multi-sided, self-contained order assembly device. In one embodiment, the device includes a first side having an outer periphery at which food orders can be assembled by a first worker, the first side having a plurality of first side receptacles accessible to the first worker at the outer periphery of the first side. The device further includes a second side having an outer periphery at which food orders can be assembled by a second worker, the second side having a plurality of second side receptacles accessible to the second worker at the outer periphery of the second side. The device further includes an at least generally centrally located food item holding area for holding prepared food items, the food item holding area accessible by a worker located at the outer periphery of either of the first and second sides. The system may further include a food inlet side, distinct from the first and second sides, through which the prepared food items may pass to the food item holding area.
In accordance with another aspect, the system may further include a sandwich preparation device for preparing sandwiches. The sandwich preparation device may include cold storage for holding condiments selected from the group of onions, tomatoes, lettuce, combinations thereof and other items as desired.
The system may also include structure for transferring sandwiches prepared at the sandwich preparation device to the food item holding area. The structure for transferring sandwiches may include a ramp connected to and sloping towards the heated holding area. Alternatively, a conveyor may be used to transport the sandwiches to the heated holding area.
The system may further include a human-readable display for displaying orders to be assembled. The display typically will be oriented to be viewable by a worker working at one of the order assembly sides.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of assembling an order of food at a multi-sided, self-contained order assembly device for assembling food orders for customers from prepared food items is provided. The self-contained order assembly device can be as previously described. The method includes ascertaining food order items needed to fill an order, selecting an appropriate order container from one of the first or second side receptacles, obtaining order items from the food item holding area and placing the obtained order items into the selected order container.
In another aspect, the method may further include placing prepared food order items into the holding area for subsequent selection and placement into an order container.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the ascertaining food order items needed to fill an order may be information obtained from a video display.
The food order assembly device of the invention may be in a desired configuration selected from a number of different suitable configurations. Referring to
Order assembly areas 106a-c have various receptacles that provide supplies for assembling a food order. These supplies are typically non-perishable and can be stored safely at ambient temperature. Of course, the invention is not limited to the storing or use of non-perishable supplies. As shown in
Receptacles 110 are sized and configured to hold a plurality of folded bags 118 or paperboard containers 120 in a substantially vertical alignment. Container receptacle 110d may be sized and configured to hold paperboard containers or boxes 120 while the other receptacles 110 are sized and configured to hold bags 118. As can be seen in
Some or all of order assembly areas 106a-c may have receptacles 136 associated with one or more of order assembly areas 106a-c. Receptacles 136 have open tops and are located at the top of order assembly areas 106. They may also be located interiorly of container receptacles 110. Receptacles 136 may include open top pans 138 sitting in wells. Pans 138 can be used to store straws and condiments, for example. Condiments that may be stored in the different receptacles 136 or pans 138 include ketchup, mustard, barbecue sauce, relish, dipping sauces, salt, pepper, salsa, etc. The condiments may be packaged in commercially sterile disposable packages that are usually less than 1 oz, more typically less than 0.5 oz. Unlike food preparation devices, wells are typically neither heated nor cooled. Receptacles 136d and 136e may be used to store toys, for example.
Top-accessible and top-mounted receptacles in addition to receptacles 110 and 136 include a receptacle 142 for holding napkins 143, straw receptacle 144 for holding straws 145, and receptacle 148 for holding plastic bags that are relatively wide compared to their height and which are often used for holding salads. Receptacle 148 may have a bar or divider 148′ for hanging the plastic bags.
Receptacles 110a-110b are oriented to face a worker at order assembly area 106a so that the contents of these receptacles are apparent to a worker standing at order assembly area 106a. Receptacles 110a-110b are part of order assembly area 106a and are readily accessible to a worker standing at order assembly area 106a. Similarly, receptacles 110c-110f, 136a-136g and 148 are oriented to face a worker at order assembly area 106b so that the contents of these receptacles are apparent to a worker standing at order assembly area 106b. Also, receptacles 110g-110i, 136d-136g, 142, and 144 are similarly oriented to face a worker at order assembly area 106c so that the contents of these receptacles are apparent to a worker standing at order assembly area 106c. For purposes of this patent, receptacles 136d-136g can be considered to be part of both order assembly areas 106b and 106c as they are located so that their contents are readily accessible to workers standing at order assembly areas 106b and 106c and their contents are apparent to workers standing at order assembly areas 106b and 106c. As used herein, “accessible” means that an average adult human worker can reach the receptacle and the contents therein without the need for moving the position of the worker's feet.
Order assembly area 106c has a work area 150. Work area 150 is an open planar, substantially horizontal area on top of side region 102c where bags 118 or boxes 120 may be placed. Orders including prepared sandwiches, condiments, napkins 143, and straws 145 may then be placed in bags 118 or boxes 120 on work area 150. Front counter order assembly areas 106a and 106b generally do not have a dedicated work area as orders may be assembled on a tray 152 placed on top of tray holder 154 and receptacles 136a-136c, respectively. Tray holder 154 may be a receptacle for holding trays 152 at order assembly area 106a.
Food order assembly device 100 has a holding area 158 heated by a heating device 159. Heating device 159 is sized to maintain food warm in the holding area, but preferably without cooking the food. As shown, the heating device 159 can be one or more heat lamps 160. Alternatively, heating device 159 may include a heated surface, such as a bottom or supporting surface 162 of heated holding area 158, heated from below by a resistance heater, a hot air curtain, or a combination of any of the three. If desired, only part of the holding area is heated. The remainder of the holding area may be at ambient temperature. Alternatively, a portion of the holding area is heated, a portion chilled or cooled and still another portion could be at ambient temperature. For example, a central portion of the holding area could be heated or cooled and the surrounding or peripheral area of the holding area could be cooled or heated. The heated or cooled area could also be composed of a cabinet, the interior of which is heated or cooled and could be accessible from each of the work areas of the food order assembly device 100. The cabinet could have doors or vertically hanging curtains to help contain the heated or chilled air inside the cabinet. Preferably, supporting surface 162 is made of a suitable heat absorbing material when used in combination with heat lamps 160 such as aluminum anodized with a dark color such as black, brushed stainless steel, and colored plastics having a suitable heat resistance.
Holding area 158 can also include an inlet 163 and a portion 164 that is proximate order assembly areas 106a-c. Inlet 163 is where prepared sandwiches from a sandwich preparation area are placed. Inlet 163 may include ramp 166 which extends beyond base 168 of food order assembly device 100 and side region 102d. Holding area 158 slopes away from inlet 163 and downwardly towards centrally located portion 164 so that food items placed in inlet 163 tend to slide to portion 164. Portion 164 is located substantially central to food order assembly device 100 and proximate to order assembly areas 106a-c so that prepared food items are readily accessible to workers at order assembly areas 106a-c.
Food order assembly device 100 may also have an order communication system 173 or components thereof. Order communication system 173 is used to communicate orders to be assembled to workers at food order assembly device 100. System 173 preferably has a human-readable display 174 for each order assembly area 106. Each display 174a, 174b and 174c can then display orders to be assembled at the corresponding order assembly area 106a, 106b or 106c, respectively. System 173 also has one or more input interfaces 175, typically one interface 175 for each display 174. Input interface 175 may allow a worker to indicate that an order has been assembled so that the order is no longer shown on display 174 and a new order is shown instead. Input interface 175 may be a bump bar 176, for example, which has a keypad 177 having typically less than 10 keys, allowing a worker to signal completion of an order which is then removed from the screen(s) by the worker depressing the bump bar in reference to that particular order. Bump bars 176 may be located at the order assembly areas 106, such as bump bars 176a and 176b at order assembly areas 106a and 106b, or at a different location (not shown) such as where the order is delivered to a customer, for example, a drive-thru window. The drive-thru bump bar and label printer may be located in a location as desired, for example, at the drive through window or at the order assembly table.
Displays 174 may be connected to a suitable computer processor (not shown) that is connected to printers 178 and to POS terminals (not shown) for taking orders from customers. Each display 174 may have a corresponding printer 178. Printers 178 are typically found adjacent to bump bars 176. Typically, food order assembly device 100 will have at least one display 174, at least one input interface 175, such as bump bar 176, and one printer 178. More typically, front-counter order assembly areas 106a and 106b will each have one display 174a or 174b, at least one input interface 175a or 175b, such as bump bar 176a or 176b, and one printer 178a or 178b. Drive-thru order assembly area(s) 106c typically have a display 174c, but frequently do not have an input interface and printer, as the input interface and printer may be located elsewhere. Printers 178 may print labels that may be adhered to a bag 118 for identifying the order in bag 118. Suitable printers include thermal printers such as Ithaca 8000 and 8040 receipt printers. Suitable label stock includes 40 mm and 80 mm NCR linerless label rolls designed to be used with the Ithaca 8000 and 8040 printers. Printers 178 and input interfaces 175 are preferably located so that they are readily accessible to a worker at the corresponding order assembly area 106. For example, printers 178 and input interfaces 175 may be located on a stand 180 attached to a column 182, such as printer 178a and input interface 175a are for order assembly area 106a. Alternatively, they may be located in base 168, such as printer 178b and input interface 175b. Input interface 175b is mounted to base 168 so that keypad 177b faces outwardly of base 168. Printer 178b is partially covered by cover 184. However, labels output by printer 178b are accessible to a worker at order assembly area 106b without removing cover 184.
Displays 174 and heat lamps 160 may be attached to stand or column 182. Ramp 166 may extend around opposing sides of column 182. Conceivably, displays 174, lamps 160, printer 178a and input interface 175a could be hung directly or indirectly from the ceiling of the restaurant. Conceivably, some storage could also be provided above base 168 supported by base 168, stand or column 182, or the ceiling.
Food order assembly device 100 and order assembly areas 106 typically have underneath storage 188 as desired in base 168 accessible from side regions 102. Underneath storage 188 may be used to store items needed to replenish whatever condiments, trays, napkins, bags, promotional items, toys or other consumables are needed to fill an order and may include receptacles of various kinds such as open shelving 190, closed shelving, bins 192, bins 194, drawers and combinations thereof. Underneath storage 188 may be used for storing items for which top-accessible storage is lacking. For example, as illustrated, order assembly area 106a lacks receptacles 136 like primary order assembly area 106b but has side-accessible bins 192 and 194, which are readily accessible to a worker at order assembly area 106a and are oriented so that their contents are apparent to a worker standing at order assembly area 106a. Bins 192 and 194 are particularly suitable for storing condiments, toys and the like. Underneath storage 188 may be used for storing items which can be used to refill top-accessible receptacles 110, 136, 148 and 154. For example, shelving 190a-190c is shown holding trays 152 and bags 118 which are used to replenish top-accessible receptacles 154 and 110, respectively.
An alternate embodiment food order assembly device 200 in accordance with the invention is shown in
A second two-side embodiment of a food order assembly device 300 is shown in
Drawer 396b is configured to hold bags 318 and boxes 320 so that bags 318 and boxes 320 are positioned to easily reload receptacles 310a-310g. For example, bags can be contained in a quantity and arrangement similar to the bags contained in receptacles 310a-310g to permit easy replenishment of bags into receptacles 310a-310g.
Front-counter side 306b has container receptacles 310d-310g, receptacles 336a-336k, receptacle 348, shelves 390b-390c, and drawer 396c. Shelves 390b-390c are sized to hold trays 352. Drawer 396c is used to hold a plurality of pans 338 of condiments 341, such as 9 pans 338, (6 pans are visible in
A fourth embodiment of the invention is a food order assembly device 400 shown in
As illustrated in
Similar to order assembly device 100, order assembly device 400 has a heated holding area 458, a ramp 466, displays 474, bump bars 476, and printers 478 on stands 480. Ramp 466 at its widest end preferably has substantially the same width as the adjoining end 469 of food preparation device 470 as seen in
Food order assembly devices may be of any suitable construction. Preferably, the food order assembly devices are of modular construction. A most preferred construction is shown in
Modularity provides a number of advantages. For example, the unassembled device may be converted to have three order assembly areas rather than two merely by replacing right module 503c with a module having some or all of an order assembly area. In addition, the unassembled device may have a drive-thru order area on its right side rather than on the left side with the installation of the appropriate modules, in which case the unassembled device can be the same or substantially similar to device 200. Also, the unassembled device may be improved to take advantage of new and better designs by replacing old modules with new modules. Generally, with modularity, the unassembled device may be configured and reconfigured to match the needs of a specific store or restaurant.
The food order assembly devices may be modular and be of different constructions. For example, modules 503a-c could be designed to stand directly on the floor. The unassembled device could be frameless and modules 503a-c could attach to each other to form a base to which core module 503d attaches. Modules 503a-d may attach to each other or to frame 501 by any way known in the art.
The order assembly devices are not limited to specific shapes or geometries and the number of assembly areas may exceed 3. For example, a circular food order assembly device 600 is shown in
A concave embodiment 700 of a food order assembly device is shown in
Device bases 168, 268 and 368 can have a variety of different sizes based on the space available at a restaurant, the things to be held in the device, the types and amount of customers to be served, etc. Device bases 168, 268 and 368 may be nominally about 36″ tall, 48″ deep and 48″ wide, not including any bag receptacles mounted to the exterior of the base. Holding areas 158, 258 and 358 may be, for example, nominally about 20″ deep and 25″ wide, 18″ deep and 20″ wide not including ramps 166, 266 or 366, or any other dimensions suitable for the food to be held. Typically, bottom 162, 262, 362 is recessed below the top of bases 168, 268 and 368 by about 4″ in the back and about 5″ in the front. The center of displays 174 and 274 may be located about 65.5″, about 68.4″, about 79.5″, or any other suitable height above the floor. Devices of the invention could also include cup dispensers. Devices of the invention preferably do not include refrigerated areas. Devices of the invention may be made of any suitable food-safe material such as stainless steel or aluminum, particularly for holding areas 158, 258 and 358, polycarbonate, particularly for pans 338 and 397, wood coated with melamine, polypropylene, polyethylene, and any other suitable material as desired.
The invention also includes a method of assembling an order of food at a quick-service restaurant. At a quick-service restaurant having a plurality of POS terminals, which may be colloquially known as cash registers, food may be ordered at any one of the POS terminals. The ordered food may include food items such as sandwiches, which may be selected from, for example, breakfast, lunch and dinner items, and more particular non-limiting examples are hamburger sandwiches, chicken sandwiches, fish sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and items, for example. The ordered food items are prepared and frequently packaged, typically in response to the order. The prepared food items are placed in a heated holding area of an order assembly device. Typically, the prepared food item is warm or hot. Food items for more than one order may be packaged and present on the heated holding area at the same time. The device has a first side on a first side of the device and a second side on a second side of the device. The first side has a plurality of first side receptacles accessible to a worker at the first side. The second side has a plurality of second side receptacles accessible to a worker at the second side. The heated holding area is adjacent to the first and second sides. The plurality of first and second side receptacles includes a container receptacle for holding food containers, such as a bag, box or tray. Optionally, one of the sides may have a horizontal, planar order assembly surface divided into specific areas, each of the areas designated as corresponding to a specific POS terminal.
A human-readable display displays the order for workers at the device. A food container is obtained from the container receptacle and placed onto the planar order assembly surface in the area corresponding to the POS terminal at which the order was taken. Placed food items are taken from the heated holding area and placed in the placed food container according to the order displayed. Additional items may also be placed in the food container. These additional items may include napkins, potato chips, fries, straws, cutlery, beverages, and various pre-packaged condiments. Some or all of the additional items may be obtained from specific receptacles of the device. It is to be noted that other items needed to entirely complete the order may be necessary, depending on the items contained or in the order assembly device. For example, items not contained on the order assembly device may include, depending upon a particular configuration, ice cream products, fountain beverages, non-fountain beverages, French fries, salads and soups. Alternatively, provision could be made to have all of the items necessary to complete an order contained on and/or in the order assembly device. An input is made into an input interface associated with the device and the human-readable display for indicating that the order has been assembled or served. This input then causes the display to display another order.
While the invention has been described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is to be understood that the invention is capable of numerous changes, modifications and rearrangements and such changes, modifications and rearrangements are intended to be covered by the following claims.
