Patent Application
20180060849
The instant disclosure relates to a meal making system; in particular, to a meal making system that can be adapted to any kind of POS (Point of Service) system.
The food and beverage industry has grown with the customers' needs. For example, in terms of coffee, there are many options for customers, such as the Espresso, the Americano, the Syphon coffee or the like. These different kinds of coffee are made of different kinds of beans and there may be different ways to grind the beans. Several grinders need to be used in different coffee making processes. Speaking of tea, there are more options for the customers to choose from. In addition, the size of the beverage is another decision for the customers to make, such as the small size, the medium size and the large size. Moreover, there are several kinds of syrups for the customers to choose from and the sugar usage is another concern for the customers, such as full sugar, half sugar, less sugar or sugar free. Therefore, it always takes time to train the clerks to make different kinds of beverages. However, it is still hard for the clerks to learn and remember all kinds of meal making processes to make coffee, tea and other beverages, and inevitably the clerks make mistakes.
Generally, when buying a meal, the first thing to do is make an order. Usually, the clerk uses the POS (Point of Services) machine to help the customer make his order. By using the POS machine, the clerk can input the information relevant to the ordered meal, such as the item, the meal size, the sugar usage, the price or the like. There are more and more different kinds of POS machines and corresponding applications used in different restaurants, coffee shops and beverage shops. However, it is difficult to make a meal making system that can be adapted to all kinds of POS machines and corresponding applications.
The instant disclosure provides a meal making system. This meal making system is easy to operate, and thus it will not take much time to train new employees. Also, there is a less possibility that the clerks make mistakes when operating the meal making system. All data generated when a meal is made will be automatically recorded as references in the future and any needed equipment can be added to this meal making system. Moreover, this meal making system can be connected to any POS system.
The meal making system provided by the instant disclosure comprises a pre-processing system and a post-processing system. The pre-processing system comprises a setup unit for a user to preset each meal making process of each kind of meal. An identification code is correspondingly generated after the user finishes presetting each meal making process of each kind of meal. The post-processing system comprises a plurality of processing devices and receives each preset meal making process of each kind of meal from the pre-processing system. An operator operates the processing devices to finish each preset meal making process of each kind of meal, and each processing device comprises at least one meal making machine for the operator to execute the steps of each preset meal making process. The processing device comprises a scanner to scan the identification code of each meal making process of each kind of meal. The meal making machine comprises an operation interface to display the steps of each preset meal making process for the operator to operate. During the time when the operator operates the processing devices to finish the preset meal making process, the scanner scans the identification code, the operation interface displays the corresponding steps of the preset meal making process, and the operator operates the operation interface to finish all steps of the preset meal making process. The operation interface displays the corresponding steps of the preset meal making process according to the identification code, so the system specifications of the pre-processing system and the post-processing system can be the same or different.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the identification code is a barcode, a pattern code, a QR code or a text code.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the user and the operator are different people or the same person to preset and finish each meal making process of each kind of meal.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the pre-processing system is a POS terminal, a laptop or a personal computer.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the setup unit is a smart phone, a tablet or a POS terminal.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the processing devices comprise a first processing device, a second processing device and a third processing device. The first processing device comprises a first meal making machine and a second meal making machine. The second processing device comprises a third meal making machine and a fourth meal making machine. The third processing device comprises a fifth meal making machine and a sixth meal making machine. The first meal making machine and the second meal making machine are a first grinder and a second grinder, the third meal making machine and the fourth meal making machine are a first beverage machine and a second beverage machine, and the fifth meal making machine and the sixth meal making machine are a first syrup machine and a second syrup machine.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the meal making system further comprises a plurality of tray devices. Each identification code is attached at a predetermined position on the tray device, and each tray device has a first positioning means.
In one embodiment of the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure, the tray device supports a container and the container is a beverage cup, a coffee cup, a meal bowl or a soup bowl.
For further understanding of the instant disclosure, reference is made to the following detailed description illustrating the embodiments of the instant disclosure. The description is only for illustrating the instant disclosure, not for limiting the scope of the claim.
Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references indicate similar elements and in which:
A meal making system is provided by the instant disclosure, which can be adapted to many kinds of POS systems that are commonly used in the food and beverage industry. This meal making system is the first to preset a meal making process for each kind of meal and steps thereof, and to execute the steps of each preset meal making process according to a meal order sent from the POS system. The meal making system provided by the instant disclosure is easy to use, and by using it, all meals can be quickly and correctly provided to the consumers. Additionally, this meal making system can receive relevant data downloaded through the Internet and can communicate with other control devices to realize an automatic management for the entire system. The POS system can be, for example, a customized POS system or any POS system that is commonly used in the food and beverage industry.
Referring,
The pre-processing system 10 is for a user to preset each meal making process of each kind of meal. The meal making system records the information relevant to many kinds of meals. Each meal has its meal making process, and each meal making process comprises a plurality of steps. A user A can use the setup unit 12 in the pre-processing system 10 to preset each meal making process of each kind of meal, and an identification code is correspondingly generated after the user finishes presetting each meal making process of each kind of meal.
For example, the pre-processing system 10 can be a POS terminal, a laptop or a personal computer, and the setup unit 12 can be a smart phone or a tablet. Thus, in another embodiment, instead of using the setup unit 12, a user can directly use the pre-processing system 10 to preset each meal making process of each kind of meal.
The post-processing system 20 receives each preset meal making process of each kind of meal from the post-processing system 10. The data transmission between the pre-processing system 10 and the post-processing system 20 can be implemented through wireless communication or wired communication. Moreover, the data relevant to any meal making process can be can be downloaded through the Internet by this meal making system, and an auto management for the entire meal making system can be realized by some control devices that can communicate with this meal making system.
The first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 respectively execute one step of a meal making process. Thus, an operator B can use the first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 to finish an entire meal making process, wherein the first processing device 22 at least comprises a first meal making machine 22a and a second meal making machine 22b, the second processing device 24 at least comprises a third meal making machine 24a and a fourth meal making machine 24b, and the third processing device 26 at least comprises a fifth meal making machine 26a and a sixth meal making machine 26b. Each meal making process has a corresponding identification code. The scanners 23 of the first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 are to scan the identification code of each meal making process. Details about the second positioning means 25 are later provided by
For example, the first processing device 22 can be a grinder, and the first meal making machine 22a and the second meal making machine 22b are respectively a first grinder and a second grinder, which can grind beans or other food. The first meal making machine 22a and the second meal making machine 22b have the same meal making function. Likewise, for example, the second processing device 24 can be a beverage machine, and the third meal making machine 24a and the fourth meal making machine 24b are respectively a first beverage machine and a second beverage machine; the third processing device 26 can be a syrup machine, and the fifth meal making machine 26a and the sixth meal making machine 26b are respectively a first syrup machine and a second syrup machine.
The grinder, the beverage machine and the syrup machine are only examples for illustrating the processing devices 22, 24 and 26. In other words, the processing devices 22, 24 and 26 can also be, for example, ovens, electric cookers, electric casseroles, microwave ovens, induction cookers, ceramic stoves or other food processing or meal making machines.
The operation interface 27 of each meal making machine 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a and 26b displays steps of each meal making process of each kind of meal. In practice, the operation interface 27 can be, for example, a touch panel, and the operator B can operate the touch panel to execute the steps of a meal making process of a meal.
The following description is to illustrate how the operator B operates the processing devices 22, 24 and 26 to finish a preset meal making process of a meal. First, the scanners 23 of the first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 respectively scan an identification code of the preset meal making process of the meal, and then the operation interface 27 of the first processing device 22 displays the step of the preset meal making process that the first meal making machine 22a or the second meal making machine 22b needs to execute, the operation interface 27 of the second processing device 24 displays the step of the preset meal making process that the third meal making machine 24a or the fourth meal making machine 24b needs to execute, and the operation interface 27 of the third processing device 26 displays the step of the preset meal making process that the fifth meal making machine 26a or the sixth meal making machine 26b needs to execute. The operator B can operate each meal making machine to execute each step of the preset meal making process of a meal. The operation interface 27 displays the corresponding steps of the preset meal making process only according to the identification code, so the system specifications of the pre-processing system 10 and the post-processing system 20 can be either the same or different. In brief, the meal making system provided by the instant disclosure can be adapted to any kind of POS system.
The identification code corresponding to each meal making process of each meal can be, for example, a barcode, a pattern code, a QR code or a text code. Thus, the identification code corresponding to each meal making process of each meal is unique. The user A and the operator B can be different people or the same person to preset and finish each meal making process of each kind of meal. For example, the user A can be a manager to preset each meal making process of each kind of meal, the operator B can be a clerk to finish the preset meal making process of each kind of meal.
As described, the pre-processing system 10 can be, for example, a POS terminal, and it can generate a unique identification code corresponding to each meal making process of each kind of meal. By reading the identification code, the information relevant to the meal can be obtained. For instance, the information may comprise the item of the meal (e.g., Americano), the size of the meal (e.g., medium or large), the additives, the sugar usage/sweetness (e.g., full sugar, half sugar, less sugar or sugar free), and the price. Moreover, taking a coffee making process for example, the needed equipment, which is a meal making machine, may comprise at least one grinder, a coffee/beverage machine, a syrup machine or more.
When a user presets each meal making process of each beverage item, he can use his tablet, smart phone, laptop or personal computer to make a list of all kinds of beverages and their corresponding identification codes. After that, for each kind of beverage, the user chooses corresponding meal making machines that are used in the meal making process of this beverage. Also, the user makes each needed meal making machine record a meal making process of this beverage, and record a relationship between an identification code of this beverage and the meal making process of this beverage.
For example, there are two grinders which are a grinder No. 1 and a grinder No. 2. The user can choose one of them to be used in the meal making process of a beverage. After that, the auto control system of this grinder No. 1 or grinder No. 2 can record a meal making process of this beverage, and can record a relationship between an identification code of this beverage and the meal making process of this beverage. Moreover, the same things can be done for other meal making machines that are needed in the meal making process of this beverage, such as a syrup machine or the like.
The equipment used in a meal making process of each meal has a communication module. Thus, by using a tablet, a smart phone, a computer or a POS terminal, the data of each meal making process can be wired or wirelessly transmitted to all equipment that may be used. After that, the auto control system of each making machine will store the received identification code and the corresponding meal making process.
The first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 respectively have a scanner 23. One identification code is generated for one kind of beverage. This identification code is written in a tag and this tag is attached at a place easy to be scanned on a container. The first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 can read the tag and further execute a corresponding meal making process. According to the above, the user can preset the processing machines to record each meal making process of each meal, and a relationship between an identification code of a meal and its meal making process. Thus, when the operator operates the processing machine, the processing machine can correctly execute the corresponding meal making process of the meal by the chosen meal making machines.
In one example, if there are coffee and tea provided in a beverage store, there may be a grinder, two beverage machines (e.g., a coffee machine and a tea-making machine), two syrup machines and the like in the store. Steps to preset each meal making process of each kind of beverage may be as follows.
Step 1: Making a list of all kinds of beverages and their corresponding identification codes, such as the table 1 as below.
Step 2: According to the list, for each kind of beverage, choosing one meal making machine in each processing machine and setting is as the equipment to be used in the meal making process. A user can use the setup unit 12 to execute step 2. The setup unit 12 can be, for example, a tablet, a personal computer or a POS terminal. Moreover, software can be installed in the setup unit 12 to execute step 2. Step 2 can be illustrated by the following table 2.
Step 3: Setting the meal making process for the Americano having an identification code “12340001” as shown in table 2, and the steps are as follows.
In step (a), the table 2 is displayed by the setup unit 12. A user clicks the identification “12340001” and chooses the grinder machine No. 1, and then a setup image of the grinder machine is displayed on the setup unit 12. The setup image of the grinder machine is shown as
In step (b), a user clicks the identification “12340001” and chooses the beverage machine No. 1, and then a setup image of the beverage machine, as shown by
In step (c), a user clicks the identification “12340001” and chooses the syrup machine No. 1, and then a setup image of the syrup machine, as shown by
Step 4: Setting the meal making process for the Black Tea having an identification code “12340002” as shown in table 2, and steps are as follows.
In step (a), the table 2 is displayed by the setup unit 12. A user clicks the identification “12340002” and chooses “none” shown in the column of the grinder because there is no need to use a grinder for making the black tea. After that, “none” shown in the column of the grinder is highlighted by a special color because the setting for not using a grinder has been done, and the table 2 is again shown by the setup unit 12.
In step (b), a user clicks the identification “12340002” and chooses the beverage machine No. 2, and then a setup image of the beverage machine, as shown by
In step (c), a user clicks the identification “12340002” and chooses the syrup machine No. 2, and then a setup image of the syrup machine, as shown by
Referring to
In this embodiment, each meal making machine has an operation interface 27, such as a touch screen or a combination of a display device and some physical buttons. There is one scanner 23 configured for the meal making machines having the same function. In other words, there are three scanners 23 configured, one for each of the first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 respectively. For example, one scanner 23 is configured for one grinder, another scanner 23 is configured for two beverage machines, and the other scanner 23 is configured for two syrup machines. The meal making process of the beverage, for example, comprises steps as follows.
Step 1: The pre-processing system 10 generates an identification tag with the identification code “12340001”, and the identification tag is attached at the tag attaching area 72. By using the first positioning means 24 and the second positioning means 25, the scanning precision of the scanner 23 can be increased.
Step 2: The scanner 23 of the grinder reads the identification tag with the identification code “12340001” and then the image displayed by the operation interface 27 is shown as
Step 3: The scanner 23 of the beverage machine reads the identification tag with the identification code “12340001”, and then the image displayed by the operation interface 27 is shown as
Step 4: The scanner 23 of the syrup machine reads the identification tag with the identification code “12340001”, and then the image displayed by the operation interface 27 is shown as
Step 5: The meal making process of a medium cup of the Americano with half sugar has been completed, and the operator B or the clerk continues to operate the system to make the next ordered meal.
In another embodiment, each meal making machine 22a, 22b, 24a, 24b, 26a and 26b has an operation interface 27, such as a touch screen or a combination of a display device and some physical buttons. There is one scanner 23 configured for the meal making machines having the same function. In other words, there are three scanners 23 configured for the first processing device 22, the second processing device 24 and the third processing device 26 respectively. For example, one scanner 23 is configured for one grinder, another scanner 23 is configured for two beverage machines, and the other scanner 23 is configured for two syrup machines. The meal making process of the beverage, for another example, comprises steps as follows.
Step 1: The pre-processing system 10 generates an identification tag with the identification code “12340002”, and the identification tag is attached to the tag attaching area 72. By using the first positioning means 24 and the second positioning means 25, the scanning precision of the scanner 23 can be increased.
Step 2:
(a) The black tea is made from a prepared tea bag, so there is no grinder needed and the beverage machine can directly execute the meal making process of a cup of black tea.
(b) If the operator B is not familiar with the meal making process of a cup of black tea, and he uses the scanner 23 of the grinder scans the identification tag with the identification code “12340002”, and then the image displayed by the operation interface 27 is shown as
Step 3: The scanner 23 of the beverage machine reads the identification tag with the identification code “12340002”, and then the image displayed by the operation interface 27 is shown as
Step 4: The scanner 23 of the beverage machine reads the identification tag with the identification code “12340002”, and then the image displayed by the operation interface of the syrup machine No. 2 is shown as FIG. 16. The image shown as
Step 5: The meal making process of a large cup of the black tea with full sugar has been completed, and the operator B or the clerk continues to operate the system to make the next ordered meal.
To sum up, a meal making system is provided by the instant disclosure. This meal making system is easy to operate, and thus it takes less time to train new employees. Also, there is less possibility that the clerks make mistakes when operating the meal making system. Moreover, all data generated when a meal is made will be automatically recorded as references, and if necessary any needed equipment can be added to this meal making system. This meal making system can be connected to any POS system. There is only one auto button on each operation interface of each piece of equipment or each meal making machine. Each identification code refers to one meal making process, so by recognizing the identification code the meal making system knows which meal making process should be executed. Thus, there is less room for operation errors.
The descriptions illustrated supra set forth simply the preferred embodiments of the instant disclosure; however, the characteristics of the instant disclosure are by no means restricted thereto. All changes, alterations, or modifications conveniently considered by those skilled in the art are deemed to be encompassed within the scope of the instant disclosure delineated by the following claims.
