Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
  • H05B6/00—Heating by electric, magnetic or electromagnetic fields
  • H05B6/64—Heating using microwaves
  • H05B6/80—Apparatus for specific applications
  • H05B6/808—Microwave heating adapted for vending machines
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F17/00—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services
  • G07F17/0064—Coin-freed apparatus for hiring articles; Coin-freed facilities or services for processing of food articles
  • G07F17/0078—Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a hot or cooked condition, e.g. popcorn, nuts
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07F—COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS
  • G07F9/00—Details other than those peculiar to special kinds or types of apparatus
  • G07F9/10—Casings or parts thereof, e.g. with means for heating or cooling
  • G07F9/105—Heating or cooling means, for temperature and humidity control, for the conditioning of articles and their storage

Definitions

• the invention has for its object a vending machine for ready meals.
• the automatic dispenser is specific for hot cooked dishes using one or more microwave ovens.
• the invention relates to a set of distribution of cooked dishes, stored at low temperature, under vacuum, sterilized or other, and served hot in a fully automated manner. It is composed of a electronic part programmable by its keyboard which is the brain of the distributor, of a refrigerated storage compartment of cooked dishes, of an automatic conveyor device of a group of microwaves ovens for the heating of a group
• the refrigerator according to the invention is particularly intended for the automatic distribution of hot cooked dishes.
• This device clearly defines the state of the art. It has the main drawback of making it available to the public. a battery of ovens at jnic_ro-o___.es. Microwave ovens must meet very strict safety conditions. However, make ovens available to the public microwave problematic. Thus, these ovens can be subject to vandalism or misuse.
• the present invention relates to an automatic device for serving in the hot or cold state, a dish contained in an airtight can.
• This device comprises several storage cabinets, several microwave ovens , a system for transporting dishes from stock to ovens, as well as an order payment system.
• the distributor can offer several choices in his dishes, but it is above all characterized in that it serves hermetically sealed tins instead open dishes, hence a new storage architecture.
• the invention relates to a type of automatic distributor of hot and cold meals with electronic control. It comprises four essential elements which are: a power compartment grouping together the electronic which controls the functions and the motor unit of the fridge; a distribution compartment grouping together two microwave ovens which can also operate with a cold outlet and which act as a serving hatch; a refrigerated compartment grouping the double rows shelves of stored dishes; a device for gripping dishes consisting of a shovel which moves between the two rows of shelves of dishes.
• the invention will advantageously be used to obtain a dispenser for hot and cold meals, making it possible to contain a large number of dishes prepared and stored in a small footprint, ensuring optimum profitability of the machine.
• the invention relates to a distributor of food products at controlled temperature, making it possible to store foodstuffs which would otherwise be perishable. These foodstuffs are heated by a microwave oven at the time of their The invention relates to the local consumer industry. "
• the automatic vending machine for hot meals according to the invention tends to solve all these problems. In particular, it allows hot meals to be distributed, without the public having access to microwave ovens.
• the dispenser according to the invention has many other advantages.
• the distributor comprises columns of consumable products integral with a cabinet which is placed in the chassis of the distributor, the cabinet and the columns are adaptable to the products to be distributed and not specific to a particular product. Distribution is carried out by gravity to simplify the mechanics.
• the dispenser includes a piercing system which can perforate, depending on the use, the hermetic packaging of the consumable products so that they do not explode by the compression of the steam when heated and sanitize the piercing needles after their use.
• the distributor can process consumable products at room temperature, positive cold, negative cold.
• the distributor includes a programmable automaton. It can be connected to a microcomputer for inventory management and after-sales service.
• the automatic dispenser according to the invention is of the type using means for storing consumable products, one or more microwave ovens, means for conveying dishes from stock to ovens, as well as a payment system (coin operated) and control.
• the dispenser is characterized by the fact that it comprises modular cabinets which are fixed in the upper part of the frame of the distributor frame, said cabinets are provided with lugs acting as a support adaptable to columns adjustable in size to receive the consumable products.
• one or more hoppers arranged under the columns collect the products and direct them above one or more access doors to a microwave oven; said microwave oven is provided with an ejection drawer which ejects the consumable product on a conveyor which conveys the product in front of an access window intended for the consumer, the lower part of the frame of the distributor frame includes a programmable automaton, a control cabinet and an output connectable by modem to a microcomputer, for stock management and after-sales service.
• the storage cabinet has eight columns, below which are arranged two hoppers which give access to two microwave ovens.
• the access hatch is located in the upper part of the microwave oven, it is actuated by a jack.
• the microwave oven is provided with a bottomless drawer, the rear wall of which is in an inclined plane to receive the consumable product which falls from the access door and to act as an ejection rake when the drawer actuated by a another cylinder partially leaves the oven enclosure to eject said consumable product on a conveyor.
• the access window is equipped with a burglar-proof flap which prevents the public from being able to access the conveyors and / or the microwave ovens.
• the hopper is formed by transverse rollers which guide the consumable products towards an inlet hatch of at least one microwave oven.
• the oven entry hatch is of the horizontal hinged mailbox type, with a door suspended from hooks which ensure the opening of the door, when the product strikes the door by falling by gravity from the hopper, and the automatic closing of said door suspended by gravity.
• the means for ejecting the consumable product from the oven is a scraper, such as a vertical wall, which delimits a corresponding space for receiving the consumable product, said scraper is secured to the outlet door of the oven with a vertical hinge.
• the scraper drives the consumable product out of the oven, by its vertical wall, and drops it on a raceway which drives it towards the outlet and the access window to said product.
• the oven exit door is actuated by an electromagnet and a return spring.
• the microwave oven is provided with a perforation means for packaging the consumable product.
• the perforation means is composed of articulated fingers secured to an axis actuated by an electromagnet and a spring, the fingers are provided at their free end with at least one perforating needle.
• the hopper is formed by transverse rollers and it is provided with a tilting plate between the two microwave ovens.
• the consumable product is ejected from one of the storage columns and is positioned on the tilting tray.
• the piercing system lowers the needles to perforate the consumable product and returns them to the standby position to sterilize them with resistors.
• the tilting tray guides the consumable products towards an entry hatch of one of the microwave ovens according to their availability.
• the oven entry hatch is of the horizontal hinged mailbox type with a door opened by a motor. When the consumable product falls by gravity into one of the microwave ovens the door closes with the same motor.
• a tilting tray inside the oven serves as a gravity ejection system for consumable products from the microwave oven, when it is raised it pushes a letter-box type evacuation door with horizontal hinge kept closed by a spring .
• the consumable product slides on a conveyor towards the receptacle intended for the consumers.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the dispenser seen along the cutting axis G-G shown in FIG. 3.
• Figure 3 is a sectional view along the H-H axis shown in Figure 2.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of microwave ovens ' showing the movement of the access doors, ejection drawers, the conveyor.
• Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a microwave oven and in broken lines of the action of the ejection drawer.
• Figures 6, 7 and 8 are views, respectively, from the side, from above and from the front of a hopper according to the invention.
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of two hoppers as arranged in the dispenser.
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of a column loaded with consumables; it highlights its pivoting bar for loading and holding and its device for distributing each consumable product one by one.
• FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the column along the transverse axis A-A shown in FIG. 10.
• FIG. 12 is a sectional view along the axis B-B shown in FIG. 11.
• FIG. 13 is a sectional view along the axis C-C shown in FIG. 11.
• Figure 14 is a schematic view of another embodiment where the hopper is unique and where it is formed by transverse rollers. It highlights the entry and exit of the consumable product in the oven.
• FIG. 15 is a schematic perspective view of the oven showing the entry door, the exit door with its ejection means and the perforation means.
• FIG. 16 is a schematic view of the hooks-hinges of the entry door, door suspended from the oven.
• FIG. 17 is a plan view of the means for perforating the packaging of consumable products.
• Figure 18 is a schematic view of the operating mode according to a third embodiment where the single hopper is provided with a tilting tray surmounted by the drilling system and the ovens with a tilting tray. It highlights the tilting hopper tray, the drilling system, the oven inlet, the baculant tray of the oven and the oven outlet.
• Figure 19 is a schematic view of one of the storage columns. It highlights the hinge support system for the columns.
• Figure 20 is a schematic view of the hopper which shows the tilting tray as well as the drilling and sterilization system.
• FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the microwave ovens showing the movement of the access hatches, of the tilting plate which ejects the consumable product from the oven, from the conveyor and from the support of the microwave ovens.
• Figure 22 is a schematic view of the dispenser door and highlights the storage columns of cutlery boxes and the receptacle.
• the dispenser 1 according to the invention is of the type using a means of storing consumable products
• one or more microwave ovens 21, 22 means of transporting the dishes or consumable products from the stock to the oven, as well as a payment and ordering system.
• the dispenser 1 is in the form of a frame chassis 2, with a door 3 mounted on a hinge
• This front door 3 has on its face an access window 5 which allows the public to take the consumable products chosen. Selection buttons 6 allow the user to select the consumable product he desires. A coin mechanism 7 allows the consumer to pay for the consumable products chosen. A control screen 8 allows the user to know at each stage where the distributor is and his chosen dish. It also allows you to be guided in its operations.
• the distributor 1 comprises two modular cabinets 9 which are fixed in the upper part 10 of the frame chassis 2 of the distributor 1. Said cabinets 9 are provided with transverse support bars 15 which allow the columns distribution 11 to be fixed by means of upper support legs 12 and lower support legs
• hoppers 17 and 18 are arranged under the distribution columns 11 to collect the consumable products 14 and direct them each above an access hatch 19, 20 towards a microwave oven 21, 22.
• Each microwave oven 21, 22 is provided with an ejection drawer 23, 24 which ejects the consumable product 14 on a conveyor 25.
• the conveyor 25 conveys the consumable product 14 in front of the window 5 arranged on the front door 3. This access window 5 is intended for the consumer.
• the lower part 26 of the frame chassis 2 of the distributor 1 comprises a programmable automaton 27.
• this lower part 26 although not shown in the drawings, there is a cabinet control and an output connectable by a modem incorporated or not to the distributor l to a microcomputer for inventory management and after-sales service.
• the cabinets 9 each have four columns, or eight columns 11 for distribution in total. Below these columns are arranged the two hoppers 17 and 18 which allow access to the two microwave ovens 21, 22.
• the access hatches 19 and 20 are located in the upper part of the microwave ovens 21, 22. These access hatches 19 and 20 are actuated by jacks 28 and 29.
• the microwave ovens 21 and 22 are each provided with ejection drawers 23, 24.
• the ejection drawers 23, 24 are bottomless drawers, the rear part of which is in an inclined plane 30, for receiving the consumable product 14 which falls from the access hatch 19 and 20.
• the ejection drawer 23, 24, also acts as an ejection rake, when it is actuated by another cylinder 31 or 32 which leaves or enters the enclosure of the microwave oven 21 or 22, and, this, to eject the consumable product 14 on the common conveyor 25 which is disposed between the two microwave ovens 21 and 22.
• the access window 5 is equipped with a burglar-proof flap 33 which prevents the public from being able to have access to the conveyor 25 and / or to the microwave ovens.
• Figures 10, 11 or 12 and 13 show the device for distributing the columns 11 for storing consumable products 14.
• Figure 10 is a perspective view of a column 11. It highlights in particular the bar 34 which is a swivel bar as shown in phantom. This pivoting bar makes it possible to clear the front entry of the column 11 for its loading with consumable products 14. In the closed position, the bar 34 makes it possible to maintain the consumable products one on the other in the column 11.
• a distribution device is set up which makes it possible to deliver the consumable products 14 one by one.
• the distribution device of the column 11 consists of a flap 35, actuated by a linkage 36 provided with a counterweight 37.
• a conveyor 38 In order to release the consumable product 14 to be dispensed, a conveyor 38, disposed in the lower part of the column 11, makes it possible to release the consumable product 14. The flap 35 then being open.
• the conveyor belt 38 is provided with an index 39 which carries with it the consumable product 14. Because of its simplicity, this dispensing device provided in the lower part of the bottom of the column 11 for storing consumable products 14 is very simple to operate.
• the hopper 40 is formed by transverse rollers 41. It forms a raceway which guides the consumable products 42 towards an inlet hatch 43 of a microwave oven 44, 48.
• the consumable products 42 come, as in the previous embodiment, from columns 45 which are fixed to the frame 46 of the distributor cabinet.
• the hopper 40 is composed of a large cone open at its tip, which is oriented downward, and which ends in another inverted cone 47, tip up, which distributes the consumable products 42, either towards the oven to the right microwave 44, or to the left microwave oven 48.
• the inlet hatch 43 of the microwave oven 44 or 48 is of the "letterbox" type with a horizontal hinge 49.
• the inlet hatch 43 is a door suspended from hooks 50 which ensure the opening of the entry door 43 when the consumable product 42 strikes the entry door 43 by falling, by gravity, from the hopper 40, 47.
• the entry door 43 rises on the hooks 50, while turning and rising by gravity. The closing of this hanging door 43 is automatic.
• the means 51 for ejecting the consumable product 42 from the microwave oven 44, 48 is a scraper 51, such as a vertical wall which delimits a corresponding space for receiving the consumable product 42.
• Said scraper 51 is integral with the oven exit door, door 52. This door has a vertical hinge 53. As soon as the oven exit door 52 is actuated, the scraper 51 drives the consumable product 42 outside the micro oven -waves 44, 48. The scraper 51, by its vertical wall, scrapes the bottom 54 of the microwave oven 44 or 48 and drives, outside the microwave oven 44, 48, the consumable product 42, when the door 52 is open.
• the outlet door 52 of the microwave oven 44, 48 is actuated by an electromagnet and a return spring.
• the shape of the scraper 51 depends on the average shape of the packages of consumable products 42.
• Each microwave oven 44, 48 is provided with a perforation means 55 of the package of the consumable product 42.
• the perforation means 55 is composed of articulated fingers 56 integral with an axis 57, actuated in rotation by an electromagnet and a spring (not shown in the figures).
• the fingers 56 are provided at their end with at least one perforating needle 58.
• Said fingers 56 are of different sizes and independent of each other to adapt to the different forms of packaging of consumable products 42.
• the programmed automaton actuates an electro- magnet and a return spring which act on the perforation means 55 which acts as a hand which comes to fall on the packaging of the consumable product 42, and by its fingers 56 and its perforating needles 58, pierce the packaging. After this action, the perforation means is raised by a return spring, not shown in the figures.
• the set of perforation means 55 forms a hand, the fingers 56 of which may be straight, of different length, but the hand may also include fingers which, seen from above, form a fan, that is to say that they 'spread apart from each other in the last third of their length.
• the dispenser 3 in FIG. 18 is of the type using a means for storing consumable products 79, one or more microwave ovens 90, 91, means for conveying dishes or consumable products from the stock to the oven, as well than a payment and ordering system.
• the distributor 3 is in the form of a frame chassis, with a door mounted on a hinge.
• This front door has on its face an access window which allows the public to take the consumable products chosen. Selection buttons allow the user to select the consumable product he wants.
• a coin mechanism allows the consumer to pay for the consumable products chosen.
• a control screen allows the user to know at each stage where the distributor is and his chosen dish. It also allows you to be guided in its operations.
• the distributor 3 comprises in the upper part four double columns for storage and distribution 65 or eight possible choices of consumable products, 79. These columns are fixed by means of supports 77 lower and upper. These storage and distribution columns 65, which are hooked to the transverse support bars 77, are adjustable and adapted to the specific consumable products 79 from which the distributor is supplied. The number of storage and distribution columns 65 of consumable products 79 can vary as required.
• FIGS. 18 and 19 show the device for distributing the columns 65 for storing consumable products 79.
• FIG. 19 is a diagram of a column 65. It in particular highlights the bar 78 which is a pivoting bar. This pivoting bar makes it possible to clear the front entry of the column 65 for its loading of consumable products 79. In the closed position, the bar 78 makes it possible to maintain the consumable products one on the other in the column 65.
• a device 74 is installed which makes it possible to prevent the last consumable product 79 from falling from column 65.
• the dispensing device of the storage column 65 ejects the consumable product 79 to be dispensed, by a dish ejection motor 66, arranged in the lower part of the column 65.
• the mat of the dish ejection motor 66 is provided an index which carries with it the consumable product 79.
• this distribution device provided in the lower part of the bottom of the storage and distribution column 65 of consumable products 79 is very simple to operate.
• a hopper formed of transverse rollers, is arranged under the dispensing columns 65 to collect the consumable products 79 and direct them onto the hopper tilting tray 70 located between the two microwave ovens 90, 91.
• the system piercing 64 lowers the needles 62 to perforate the packaging of the consumable product 79 and raises them back to the standby position to sterilize them with resistors 75.
• the hopper tilting tray 70 switches to one of the microwave ovens 90 or 91 depending on their availability.
• the motor 69 turns slightly, the upper door 80 of the oven closes.
• the microwave oven 90 or 91 starts up during the heating time programmed according to the consumable product 79.
• the motor 69 of the microwave oven 90 or 91 turns until the tilting oven tray 61 provided with two pins at the front on each side of the lower door 81, or towed on one side by the oven tray traction bar 60 which is fixed on the crown driven by the motor 69, or inclined enough to push the lower door 81 of the oven 90 or 91, which was closed by the return spring
• the motor 69 continues to run until the tilting tray of the oven 61 of the oven 90 or 91, pulled by the draw bar of the oven tray 60, has returned to the horizontal and, by the same token, releases the door. lower 81 of the oven 90 or 91, closed by the return spring 92.
• the motor 69 of the oven 90 or 91 turns sufficiently to actuate the opening rod 82 which opens the upper door 80 of the microwave oven 90 or 91 so to let the new selected consumable product 79 pass.
• FIG. 22 represents the view of the door equipped with a cutlery storage column 87, fitted with motors 89 which make it possible to eject a cutlery box 97 in the receptacle 88 on each order of consumable product 79.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Food Science & Technology (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• General Preparation And Processing Of Foods (AREA)
• Heating, Cooling, Or Curing Plastics Or The Like In General (AREA)
• Control Of Vending Devices And Auxiliary Devices For Vending Devices (AREA)
• Constitution Of High-Frequency Heating (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Related Child Applications (2)

Publications (2)

Family

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Family Applications (2)

Family Applications Before (1)

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• 1992
  • 1992-06-29 JP JP5502001A patent/JPH08506668A/ja active Pending
  • 1992-06-29 DK DK92915274T patent/DK0593630T3/da active
  • 1992-06-29 WO PCT/FR1992/000609 patent/WO1993001569A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1992-06-29 ES ES92915274T patent/ES2111073T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-06-29 DE DE69222942T patent/DE69222942T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-06-29 EP EP96115963A patent/EP0945835A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 1992-06-29 US US08/170,334 patent/US5564594A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1992-06-29 AT AT92915274T patent/ATE159830T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1992-06-29 EP EP92915274A patent/EP0593630B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1992-06-29 AU AU22782/92A patent/AU2278292A/en not_active Abandoned

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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