Automated Burger Machine

Project Title

Automated Burger Machine

Project Area of Specialization Electrical/Electronic EngineeringProject Summary

Our project is called the “The Automated Burger Machine”. The machine will be able to produce burgers just at the press of a few buttons. It will consist of two segments. The first one will be the conveyor belt structure that will hold different dispensers like the bun dispensers, ketchup dispensers, mayonnaise dispensers, etc. The conveyor belt will be responsible for taking the burger through its various stages. The second segment will consist of a patty fryer system that will be responsible for frying the patty at the optimum temperature, for the optimum amount of time. Once the patty is fully fried, the sensors on the patty frier will send the signal to the microcontroller, which will control the whole process. The microcontroller will then initiate the process of making a burger by sending appropriate signals to motor drivers of the conveyor belt, and all the other dispensers. Once the bottom bun dispenser motor is turned on, the bottom bun will be dropped onto the conveyor belt. This bun will then be moved forward until it reaches under the ketchup dispenser. Here the ketchup will be dispensed upon it, and again it will be moved forward. Next, the fried patty will be placed on it with the help of a special mechanism. Once the burger has passed through all its stages, it will be ready to collect in the collection tray.

Project Objectives

Innovation is the way forward in every field and we plan to bring innovative revolution to our fast-food industry. Our Current fast-food joints and restaurants are highly inefficient and labor-intensive. This leads to longer waiting times between orders and dissatisfied customers. In an increasingly fast-moving world, this is not practical anymore. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic has made us realize the importance of introducing human contact-free food that is highly hygienic and safe to consume. Therefore, we plan to introduce an autonomous burger machine that is cost-effective and highly efficient. This machine will be able to solve the above-mentioned problems. 

Project Implementation Method

The machine will have a control unit that will use a microcontroller to control the whole process.

• Patty Fryer & Burner:  This unit would consist of a physical structure that has oil inside it. The oil would be heated to a specific temperature using a burner. Next, the patties would be placed inside the oil.  Using a ripple maker, the patties would travel to the end of the structure where they would be placed on a platform. The hand from the main structure would then place these patties on to the bun.
• Bun Dispenser:  These will hold the bun.
• Mayonnaise Dispenser:  This unit holds mayonnaise.
• Ketchup Dispenser:  This unit holds ketchup.

The process is explained in detail below:

1. To begin with, the machine will be started. The user will give input using the keypad. The microcontroller will then send a signal to start the patty fryer system.
2. The patty fryer will turn on the burner which in turn will heat the oil already inside it. An oscillator will start creating ripples which will move the patties along the length of the fryer.
3. Sensors will be checking patties to see if they are ready. Once the patties are completely fried, the sensor will send an interrupt to the microcontroller.
4. The microcontroller will then send a signal to the motor driver of the lower bun dispenser to drop the lower bun on the conveyor belt.
5. Next, the microcontroller will send a signal to the driver of the conveyor belt and it will start to move until it reaches below the mayonnaise dispenser.
6. The sensor of the mayonnaise dispenser will send an interrupt to the microcontroller which in turn will stop the conveyor belt. The microcontroller will also send a signal to the driver of the mayonnaise dispenser to dispense mayonnaise on the bun placed below.
7. The conveyor belt will be started again by the microcontroller and it will keep moving until it reaches below the robotic hand.
8. Upon reaching below the robotic hand, a sensor will send an interrupt to the microcontroller to stop the conveyor belt.
9. The robotic hand will place the patty on the lower bun.
10. The microcontroller will again start the conveyor belt using its driver. The conveyor belt will move until it reaches below the ketchup dispenser.
11. The sensor the of ketchup dispenser will send an interrupt to the microcontroller which in turn will stop the conveyor belt. The microcontroller will also send a signal to the driver of the ketchup dispenser to dispense ketchup on the bun placed below.
12. The microcontroller will again start the conveyor belt using its driver. The conveyor belt will move until it reaches below the upper bun dispenser.
13. The sensor of the upper bun dispenser will send an interrupt to the microcontroller which in turn will stop the conveyor belt and will send a signal to the driver of the upper bun dispenser. The dispenser will then drop the upper bun, which completes the process of making a burger.
14. Finally, the microcontroller wil move the conveyor belt till the burger reaches the collection tray.

Benefits of the Project

We aim to sell our product to fast food joints, restaurant owners as well as street hawkers. Burgers are one of the most consumed fast-food items and their demand is ever increasing. The owners will benefit in terms of reduced wages of workers and time saved in preparing fast food. These will be able to serve more customers in the minimum amount of time whilst maintaining standards due to the machine. Also due to the automatic preparation of the burger, the covid19 sops can be followed, and contact-free food will be available. 

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

The final deliverable will have a metallic structure with the following specifications:

•  Length:4.5 ft
• Width: 5 inches
• Height: 2 ft

The metallic structure will have a conveyor belt system installed on it. The conveyor belt system will have the following specifications:

• Length: 4 to 4.5 ft
• Width: 5 inches
• Rollers: 2
• Dc motor: 12 V
• Motor Driver: H-bridge.

Input: Signal from the microcontroller to driver of Dc motor

Output: Running and stopping of the conveyor belt.

Nominal Operating values: 0.9A, 6-12V, 50 RPM, 10W  

There will two dispensers in the final deliverable to dispense ketchup and mayonnaise. These dispensers will have the following specification:

• Volume: 350 to 500 ml
• Push-button mechanism

There will be three dispensers, one for each upper and lower bun, as well as another for salad. The specifications of these will be as follows:

• Diameter: 1 ft
• Compartments: 6
• A spinning mechanism for dropping ingredients

Input: The dispensers would have to be filled manually. Once they are ready, the microcontroller will send a signal to the motor driver of each individual dispenser.

Output: The contents of the dispenser will be given out.

Nominal Operating values: 12V, 0.6A 5.625 /64 Step Angle, Phase 4.

We will deliver the physical structure that will hold the oil required for frying the patty. The metallic structure will have an electric heater that will heat the oil. Using an oscillator, ripples would be created in oil that will help the patty move forward until it reaches the collection point. From this collection point, the patty will slide onto the bun already placed on the conveyor belt. The specifications of the Patty fryer are as follows:

• Length: 2.5 ft
• Width: 5 inches
• Depth: 6 inches
• Electric Burner: 500 Watts

Input: The patty fryer needs to be filled with oil and patties need to be placed in the oil. The microcontroller sends the signal and frying starts.

Output: The fried and ready to consume patties are given out.

Nominal Operating values: 500 Watts.

The Power Requirements of the final deliverable will be as follows:

DC Motors Specifications:

Continuous Current(A): 0.9A

Voltage(V): 6-12V

Speed (RPM):50 RPM

Output Power:10W

Stepper Motors:

Phase: 4        

Voltage: DC 12V

Step Angle: 5.625 /64

Rated Current: 0.6A

Battery:

It will be used to provide backup power for the machine.

Specifications:

Voltage: 12V

Capacity: 35 AH

Type: Lead-acid

Final Deliverable of the Project HW/SW integrated systemCore Industry FoodOther IndustriesCore Technology OthersOther TechnologiesSustainable Development Goals Good Health and Well-Being for People, Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	58000
Metallic Base	Equipment	1	1500	1500
Conveyor Belt System	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Metallic Dispensers	Equipment	3	1700	5100
Pressing Dispensers	Equipment	2	1500	3000
Patty fryer	Equipment	1	7000	7000
Heater	Equipment	1	9000	9000
Power Supply	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Battery	Equipment	1	3500	3500
Stepper Motors	Equipment	4	1000	4000
DC Gear Motors	Equipment	6	1200	7200
Microprocessor	Equipment	1	450	450
Keypad	Equipment	1	150	150
LCD	Equipment	1	200	200
Sensors	Equipment	8	50	400
Auxiliary Equipment(Motor Drivers, wires etc)	Equipment	1	5000	5000
Aesthetics	Equipment	1	2000	2000
Shipment Charges	Miscellaneous	1	5500	5500