WO1992002004A1

WO1992002004A1 - Automatic dispenser for food products

Info

Publication number: WO1992002004A1
Application number: PCT/FR1991/000611
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antoine-Jean Voigt
Original assignee: Voigt Antoine Jean
Priority date: 1990-07-25
Filing date: 1991-07-24
Publication date: 1992-02-06
Also published as: FR2673351B3; FR2673351A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an automatic dispenser for food products of the type comprising a storage compartment (1) provided with a stack (2) of food products, an evacuation device (3) comprised of a trigger (4) arranged at the upper end of a bar (5) of which the opposite end is provided with a transverse axis (6) cooperating with a translation means (7), said trigger (4) being movable about a transverse axis (8) and provided with a positioning part (9). Furthermore, said automatic dispenser has a heating compartment (18) provided with a backfoldable flap (19) or with an opening which can be shut down by means of a guillotine closing device (31).

Description

Automatic food dispenser

The present invention relates to an automatic distributor of food products performing both the storage and cooking of products.

At present, there is no automatic vending machine directly distributing ready-to-eat food products.

The present invention is particularly suitable for food products such as ready meals, pizzas, etc.

The aim of the present invention is to develop a dispenser making it possible both to store the food product, either under positive temperature conditions, or under negative temperature conditions if it is a frozen product, then evacuate them in a cooking compartment before it is directly consumed by the user.

To this end, the dispenser according to the invention, of the type comprising a storage compartment provided with a stack of food products, further comprises a device for discharging food products disposed under the stack of food products, this so-called device evacuation being constituted by a trigger disposed at the upper end of a bar whose opposite end is provided with a transverse axis cooperating with a translation means, this trigger being movable around a transverse axis passing through said trigger and l 'upper end of said bar, while the upper part of said trigger is provided with a positioning piece.

In this way, the automatic dispenser according to the invention produced, by means of the discharge device provided with a trigger, the pushing of a food product so that it is distributed to the user.

On the other hand, so that this dispenser also performs cooking of the food product, the automatic dispenser according to the invention further comprises a heating compartment disposed downstream of the storage compartment, this heating compartment being provided, facing the product. food evacuated by the evacuation device, a flap oscillating between an open and closed position or a guillotine device.

Thus, once the food product has been pushed by the evacuation device present in the storage compartment, the product food then passes through the opening device in the cooking compartment.

The cooking compartment used can be constituted by a conventional oven or, advantageously, by a microwave oven. Indeed, the main advantage of this type of device is to allow the heating and cooking of the food product in a very short time, a particularly appreciable advantage in the context of the automatic distribution of food products. When the product to be dispensed consists of a frozen or deep-frozen product, it is particularly important to reduce the heating time.

However, one of the problems posed by microwave ovens is to control the leakage thereof, taking into account their great harmfulness. The manufacturers of domestic microwave ovens have therefore sought to stop this very energetic radiation. A microwave barrier can for example be constituted by holes judiciously arranged on the door of the oven.

However, in the context of automatic food dispensers, it is not possible to make such holes and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a reliable device for eliminating microwave leaks during oven operation.

According to the invention, the warming compartment is constituted by a microwave oven located downstream of the food product storage compartment. This microwave oven is provided on its rear with an opening allowing the evacuation device to introduce the product inside the oven.

The invention is also characterized by the fact that the opening situated at the rear of the microwave oven can be closed by means of a guillotine closing device making it possible to eliminate microwave leaks. Thus, when the evacuation device for the food product is in operation, the guillotine closing device is positioned so as to make the interior of the oven communicate with the storage compartment and, when the evacuation device has ceased its action , the guillotine closing device locks the oven which is prohibited from leaving the microwave oven.

Preferably, the guillotine closing device comprises a laminate sliding in two slides, sliding being controlled through a lifting piece.

Advantageously, the laminate consists of a support plate coated on each of its faces with a metal plate. The internal metal plate oriented towards the oven helps to block microwaves. The support plate serves as a sizing substrate for the metal plates and the external metal plate makes it possible to promote the movement of the laminate in the slides.

In the context of a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, a PVC support plate will be used to form this laminate on the faces of which two stainless steel plates will be glued.

Additionally, the laminate forming part of the guillotine closing device will be secured to a stiffener consisting of a piece having a sufficiently high rigidity to avoid deformation of the laminate under the effect of heat.

Preferably, this stiffener will be provided with means allowing the fixing of the lifting part used to operate the guillotine closing device.

Also preferably, the stiffener used is provided with a seal making it possible to ensure thermal sealing with the storage compartment. This is particularly advantageous when the food products consist of frozen products.

According to another advantageous variant of the invention, the opening made in the bottom of the oven is separated from the guillotine closing device by a rigid plate whose purpose is to reinforce the wall constituting the bottom of the oven, a rigid plate which is crossed an opening coming opposite with the opening made therein.

Although it is possible to envisage different types of fixing of the rigid plate on the microwave oven, this

teau is preferably secured to the oven thanks to

which are mounted inside the

oven to further reduce microwave leakage.

Finally, in order to facilitate the sliding of the laminate in the slides, the latter can be provided with spring-loaded push screws making it possible to limit the play existing between the walls of the slide and the laminate. The invention as well as the various advantages which it presents will be more easily understood thanks to the description of a nonlimiting example of embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the dispensing device according to the invention

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dispenser according to the invention,

FIG. 3 represents a front view of the guillotine closing device,

FIG. 4 represents a top view of said device,

- Figure 5 shows a side sectional view of the guillotine closing device in the closed position on the rear of a microwave oven of an automatic food dispenser.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the food dispenser according to the invention of the type comprising a storage compartment (1) provided with a stack of food products (2) further comprises a discharge device (3) located under the product stack (2), this discharge device (3) being constituted by a trigger (4) disposed at the upper end of a bar (5) whose opposite end is provided with a transverse axis (6) cooperating with a translation means (7), this said trigger (4) being movable about a transverse axis (8) passing through said trigger (4) and the upper end of said bar (5), while the upper part of said trigger (4) is provided with a positioning part (9).

More specifically, the translation means (7) is constituted by a jack (10) comprising a rod (11), cooperating with said arm (5) via the transverse axis (6) so that that the trigger (4) oscillates, via the transverse axis (8), between a pushing position (12) corresponding to the re-entry movement of the rod (11) inside the jack (10) and a fold-back position (13) corresponding to the outward movement of the rod (11) of the jack (10).

As it appears in FIG. 2, the bar (5) carrying the trigger (4) is actuated by means of the transverse axis (6) using the jack (10), while this bar (5) is also guided in translation by two slides (14). In fact, these two slides (14) keep the trigger

(4) in the folded position (13), the positioning part (9) abutting on the slides (14) so that said trigger (4) is folded and not completely lying when it passes under the stack (2).

Similarly, as you can see in Figures 1 and 2, the food discharge device (3) has a reversing stop (15) located between, on the one hand, the lower edge of the trigger (4 ), the latter being in the thrust position with complete deployment of the rod (11) of the jack (10), and on the other hand, the two slides (14).

In this way, during the exit of the rod (11) from the jack (10), the trigger (4) being in the folded position (13) and passing under the stack (2), this trigger (4) is returned to thrust position (12) thanks to the reversing stop (15) on which said trigger (4) abuts in the folded-back position.

Finally, as you can see in Figure 2, the translation of the trigger (4) provided with the bar (5), is facilitated by the presence of a guide rod (16) passing through said bar (5) according to the transverse axis (6), said guide rod (16) also cooperating with two gutters (17) located on each side of said bar (5) and corresponding to two openings along the chassis of the storage compartment (1).

Given the description above, the operation of this automatic food dispenser is as follows:

In the rest position, the rod (11) of the jack (10) is completely extended, the trigger (4) then being behind the stack (2) and in the push position (12).

When the user presses the button for dispensing a food product, the rod (11) returns to the inside of the jack (10), the positioning piece (9) of the trigger (4) then being embedded in the food product pushing it to the end of the storage compartment (1); once the food product has been evacuated, the rod (11) being completely entered into the jack (10), the latter again pushes the rod (11) out of the jack (10), the trigger (4) then being tilted in position fallback (13) during its passage under the stack (2) until the rod (11) is again completely extended from the jack (10), the trigger (4) being returned to the thrust position (12) by means of the overturning stop (15).

Another object of the invention is constituted by the distribution of products which can be cooked before being distributed.

To this end, the dispenser according to the invention comprises, downstream of the storage compartment (1), a heating compartment (18), said heating compartment (18) being provided, on its rear part, and facing the food product evacuated by the evacuation device (3) from the storage compartment (1), from a flap (19) oscillating between an open position (20) and a closed position (21) via 'a jack (22).

Preferably, the storage compartment (1) is separated from the heating compartment (18) by a partition (25) having in its lower part an opening (27) for passage of the food product.

More precisely, this partition is provided with a flap (26) for adjusting the height of this opening (27) according to the height of the food product having to pass through this opening (27).

The automatic dispenser according to the invention can be used both for food products maintained at room temperature and then being reheated by passage through the reheating compartment (18) or for food products kept at negative temperature, the products food is then stored frozen before being cooked during its passage in the warming compartment (18).

In the case of frozen food products, said heating compartment (18) preferably comprises a guillotine (23) actuated by a jack (24), this guillotine (23) being disposed behind the flap (19) when that -ci is in the closed position (21), this guillotine (23) then serving as insulation vis-à-vis the storage compartment (1) at negative temperature.

The operation of this automatic distributor is then as follows:

While the trigger (4) pushes the food product, the flap (19) is actuated in the open position (20) by the jack (22) so that the food product arrives in position (28), according to Figure 1 Then the flap (19) in the open position (20) is actuated in the closed position (21) by the jack (22) so as to then eject the food product in position (29) as shown in Figure 1. Thus, thanks to the presence of the flap (19) actuated by the cylinder (22), the dispenser is fully automatic, the flap (19) also playing the role of final positioning of the product inside the heating compartment.

In the case where the automatic distributor comprises a guillotine (23), the latter is released from the shutter (19) in the closed position (21) by means of the jack (24) so that the shutter (19) can switch to the open position (20).

Once the product is introduced into the heating compartment (18), the guillotine (23) is then repositioned opposite the flap (19).

Preferably, the heating compartment (18) according to the invention, consists of a microwave oven with a turntable.

According to Figure 3, a guillotine closure device (41) is positioned on the bitter of a microwave oven not shown. The

, - guillotine closing device (41) is constituted by two slides

-) in which slide a laminate (32) shown in dotted lines and covered with a stiffener (37). The whole constituted by this laminate

(32) and this stiffener (37) can be actuated by means of a lifting means (42) connected to the stiffener (37) by means of fixing means (41).

The rear of the oven is provided with an opening (38) and is equipped with a rigid plate (39) constituted by a circular steel plate, the faces of which have perfect parallelism so as to cooperate with the rear of the oven and participate in blocking microwaves. This metal part (39) is pierced with an opening with a clear outline, thanks to the use of a plasma torch. This opening comes opposite with the opening made on the bottom of the oven. The slides (40) are secured to the metal part (39) by means of fixing (44).

According to FIG. 4, spring-loaded push screws (45) each provided with a ball (46) make it possible to limit the play that exists between the laminate (32) and slides (40). In addition, the metal piece (39) is pierced with multiple threads (49) allowing it to be fixed to the rear (50) of the microwave oven.

According to FIG. 5, the microwave oven (18) is pierced at its rear (5C) with an opening (38) allowing the device for evacuating the automatic distributor for positioning the food product on the oven tray (47).

In order to clarify the diagram, the device is represented with a space between the oven (18) and the guillotine closing device (31). During the manufacture of the automatic distributor, the metal part (39) is secured to the rear (50) of the oven (18) by means of fixing screws (43) mounted inside the oven (18). As can be seen in FIG. 5, the guillotine closing device (1) holds the assembly constituted by the laminate (32) and the stiffener (37) facing the opening (38), thus blocking microwave leakage.

When the cooking of the food product is finished, the lifting device (42) allows the assembly consisting of the laminate (32) and the stiffener (37) to be mounted in the slides (40), again allowing the device machine, to evacuate the food product inside the oven.

An advantage of this invention is constituted by the fact that it is an automatic distributor adaptable to all kinds of food products such as ready meals, pizzas, etc ... whatever the shape and size of these products.

Indeed, the trigger (4) provided with its positioning piece (9) makes it possible to push any food products when these are stacked, the trigger (4) then returning to its initial position by passing under the stack of products food (2).

The evacuation device (3) combined with the folding flap (19) or the guillotine closing device (41) arranged at the rear of a heating compartment (18), allows the direct distribution of a ready hot product consume.

The dispenser according to the invention is connected to an automatic device regulating the operation of the jacks (10,22,24).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown above, but many modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1) Automatic dispenser for food products comprising a storage compartment (1) provided with a stack (2) of food products, characterized in that said storage compartment (1) comprises, under the stack

(2), an evacuation device

(3) constituted by a trigger (4) arranged at the upper end of a bar (5) whose opposite end is provided with a transverse axis (6) cooperating with a translation means (7), said trigger (4) being movable around an axis (8) passing through said trigger (4) and the upper end of said bar (5), while the upper part of said trigger (4) is provided with a positioning part (9).

2) Automatic dispenser of food products according to claim 1, characterized in that said translation means (7) consists of a cylinder (10) provided with a rod (11), said trigger

(4) oscillating between a pushing position (12) and a folding position (13) thanks to the translation of said rod (11) of the cylinder (10).

3) Automatic dispenser of food products according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the bar

(5) carrying the trigger (4) is actuated by the cylinder (10) and is guided by two slides (14).

Automatic dispenser for food products according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the evacuation device (3) comprises a overturning stop (15) located between, on the one hand, the lower edge of the trigger ( 4), the rod (11) of the cylinder (10) being completely extended, and on the other hand, the two slides (14).

5) Automatic dispenser for food products according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that when the trigger (4) is in the folded position (13), the positioning part (9) abuts on said slides ( 14).

6) Automatic dispenser of food products according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said transverse axis (6) passing through the end opposite the trigger (4), of the bar (5) is constituted by a guide rod (16) guiding said bar (5) via two gutters (17) located on each side of the storage compartment (1). 7) Automatic dispenser of food products according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a warming compartment (18) located downstream of the storage compartment (1), this so-called warming compartment ( 18) being provided opposite the product evacuated by said evacuation device (3) with closing means.

8) Automatic dispenser of food products according to claim 7 characterized in that the closing means is a flap (19) oscillating between an open position (20) and a closed position (21) via a jack (22).

9) Automatic dispenser for food products according to claim 8, characterized in that the flap (19), in the closed position (21), is closed by a guillotine (23) actuated by a cylinder (24).

10) Automatic dispenser of food products according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the warming compartment (18) is separated from the storage compartment (1) by a partition (25) provided with an opening ( 27) for passage of the flap (19) and a guide flap (26) adjustable according to the height of the food products to be distributed.

11) Automatic dispenser of food products comprising a warming compartment according to claim 7 constituted by a microwave oven (18) located downstream of the storage compartment, said microwave oven being provided on its rear (50), facing the food product evacuated by the evacuation device, an opening (38), characterized in that said opening (38) can be closed using a guillotine closing device (31) making it possible to eliminate leaks of microwave.

12) Automatic dispenser for food products according to claim 11 characterized in that said guillotine closing device (31) comprises a laminate (32) sliding in two slides (40) thanks to a lifting part (42).

13) Automatic dispenser for food products according to claim 12 characterized in that said laminate (32) consists of a support plate (34) coated on each of its faces with a plate metallic (33.35).

14) Automatic dispenser for food products according to claim 13 characterized in that said laminate (32) consists of a PVC support plate (34) on the faces of which scni. glued to their stainless steel plates (33,35).

15) Automatic dispenser for food products according to one of claims 12 to 14 characterized in that said guillotine closing device (31) consists of a laminate (32) secured to a stiffener (37).

16) Automatic dispenser of ires-fed products according to claim 15 characterized in that said stiffener (37) is provided with means (41) allowing the fixing of the lifting part (42).

17) Automatic dispenser for food products according to one of claims 15 or 16 characterized in that said stiffener (37) is provided with a seal making it possible to ensure thermal sealing with the storage compartment.

18) Automatic dispenser for food products according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that said opening (38) is separated from the guillotine closure device (31) by a metal plate (39) pierced with an opening coming into view with the opening (38).

19) Automatic dispenser for food products according to claim 18 characterized in that said metal plate (39) is secured to the microwave oven (18) by means of fixing screws (43) mounted inside the oven.

20) Automatic food product dispenser according to one of claims 12 to 19 characterized in that said slides (40) are provided with spring-loaded push screws (45).