EP1490847A1 - Distributeur automatique de pizzas chaudes et similaires, et procede d'utilisation correspondant - Google Patents

Distributeur automatique de pizzas chaudes et similaires, et procede d'utilisation correspondant

Info

Publication number
EP1490847A1
EP1490847A1 EP03712659A EP03712659A EP1490847A1 EP 1490847 A1 EP1490847 A1 EP 1490847A1 EP 03712659 A EP03712659 A EP 03712659A EP 03712659 A EP03712659 A EP 03712659A EP 1490847 A1 EP1490847 A1 EP 1490847A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plate
pizza
designed
film
assembly
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP03712659A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Marco Furlanetto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cibotec Srl
Original Assignee
Cibotec Srl
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Cibotec Srl filed Critical Cibotec Srl
Publication of EP1490847A1 publication Critical patent/EP1490847A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • G07F11/00—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles
    • G07F11/46—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports
    • G07F11/60—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports the storage containers or supports being rectilinearly movable
    • 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 present invention relates to an automatic dispenser of hot pizzas and the like, and to the corresponding method of operation.
  • the present invention relates to an automatic dispenser of hot pizzas obtained starting from pizzas packaged inside containers made of plastic material suitable for packaging foodstuffs.
  • automatic dispensers of hot pizzas are able to offer to the user the possibility of selecting, via a purposely designed control panel, a given pizza from a list of pizzas, and of obtaining, after prior payment and in an extremely rapid way, the desired hot pizza.
  • Automatic dispensers of hot pizzas comprise: a refrigerating unit designed for storing the containers of the pizzas; an oven for baking the pizza; a displacing assembly, capable of taking the containers out of the refrigerating unit; a cutting assembly, designed to open the container that contains the pizza; a transfer assembly, designed for transferring the pizza from the cutting assembly to the oven; a magazine for storing delivery trays; and a delivery assembly.
  • the refrigerating unit is designed to keep the pizzas at a pre-set temperature of refrigeration and is provided with a plurality of shelves on which are set the pizza containers, whilst the displacing assembly is designed to pick up each container from the shelves of the refrigerating unit to transfer it to the cutting assembly, which co-operates with the displacing assembly itself for opening the container and performing complete removal of the pizza from the container.
  • the displacing assembly following upon the removal of the pizza, puts the open container out of which the pizza was taken back in the shelves of the refrigerating unit, or else, alternatively, deposits the container itself in a magazine, which is purposely provided for recovery of the packaging, set inside the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas.
  • the transfer assembly transfers the pizza into the internal chamber of the oven, in which baking is carried out, and subsequently takes the pizza out of the oven to transfer it into the tray magazine, in which the hot pizza is deposited on a delivery tray.
  • the delivery assembly effects, following upon loading of the hot pizza on the delivery tray, transfer of the latter to an output station, from which a user picks up the tray containing the hot pizza.
  • the automatic dispensers of pizzas mentioned above present the serious drawback of being extremely complex to produce and of having particularly large overall dimensions, which prevents their installation in public premises or in environments of limited dimensions. Said impediment represents a serious commercial limitation for the sector of automatic distribution of hot pizzas, in so far as it renders impossible an extension of the market to all those public premises which, albeit of limited dimensions, are frequented every day by a large number of potential consumers of pizza.
  • the automatic dispensers of hot pizzas mentioned above present, moreover, the drawback of using, for distribution of each pizza, a considerable amount of packaging material.
  • the purpose of the present invention is therefore to provide an automatic dispenser of hot pizzas that is constructionally simple, is of reduced dimensions, and at the same time, will enable a reduction in the amount of packaging material used.
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pizza container used in the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1;
  • Figure 3 is a perspective view of a loading platform included in the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1;
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a film-removal assembly included in the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a pizza-removal assembly included in the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1;
  • Figure 6 is a perspective view of a delivery assembly included in the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1;
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the pizza-removal assembly during a step of picking up a pizza from a plate, performed by means of the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas illustrated in Figure 1.
  • the reference number 1 designates as a whole an automatic dispenser of hot pizzas capable of enabling any user to select, through a purposely designed control panel 2, a given pizza from a list of available pizzas, and to obtain, after prior payment and in an extremely rapid way, the desired hot pizza.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 of hot pizzas is provided with a casing 3 defined by a frame and by a series of vertical panels appropriately fixed to the frame itself, and comprises, inside the latter, a refrigerating unit 4, which is designed for storing inside it a plurality of pizzas 5, and an electric oven 11 of a known type, such as for example an electric oven provided with a series of infrared lamps, which is designed to carry out baking of the pizza 5.
  • each pizza 5 is pre- packaged, i.e., is set inside a respective container 6, made of plastic material of a known type (suitable for alimentary use) , which consists of a tray or plate 7 for containing the pizza 5 and of a film 8 having the function of sealing the plate 7 at its top opening.
  • a container 6 made of plastic material of a known type (suitable for alimentary use) , which consists of a tray or plate 7 for containing the pizza 5 and of a film 8 having the function of sealing the plate 7 at its top opening.
  • each plate 7 is substantially circular and is provided with an outer annular rim 7a, on which is fixed the film 8, so as to obtain the closing of the container 6. It should be pointed out that the containers 6 can be stored in a protective atmosphere and that the pizzas 5 can be deep-frozen.
  • this is made of a plastic material and is provided with a label 8a made of ferromagnetic material or the like, set centrally on the film 8 itself.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 moreover comprises an elevator assembly 9, which is able to transport the container 6 of the pizza 5, starting from the refrigerating unit 4, along a displacement path A that is substantially vertical, and a separation assembly 10, which is set along the displacement path A, and is designed to carry out removal of the film 8 from the plate 7 of the container 6, keeping the pizza 5 inside the plate 7 itself.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 moreover comprises a pizza-removal assembly 12, which is set above the separation assembly 10, along the displacement path A of the elevator assembly 9, and is designed to co-operate with the latter for picking up the pizza 5 from the plate 7 and inserting it in the oven 11.
  • the pizza-removal assembly 12 is moreover able to take the pizza 5 out of the oven 11, following upon baking, for depositing it again inside the same plate 7 out of which it has been taken.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 moreover comprises a delivery assembly 13, set along the displacement path A of the elevator assembly 9 and having the function of transferring the plate 7 containing the hot pizza 5, to an outlet opening 14 made on the casing 3 and designed to enable the user to pick up the plate 7 containing the desired hot pizza 5.
  • the refrigerating unit 4 comprises a refrigerator 15 designed for storing inside it a series of containers 6 of the pizza 5 and having a window 22 made on its side wall facing the elevator assembly 9, and a loading station 18 set on the bottom 15a of the refrigerator 15 and designed for transferring towards the elevator assembly 9, through the side window 22, each container 6 present inside the refrigerator 15.
  • the magazines 16 are able to receive inside them a given number of containers 6 of the pizza 5 stacked on top of one another, so as to form a vertical pile, and are mounted so that they are free to slide on respective horizontal guides 15c fixed on the top wall of the refrigerator 15 to enable advantageously removal (as illustrated in Figure 1) of each magazine 16 from the refrigerator 15 and thus to enable loading of the containers 6 of the pizza 5 inside the magazines 16.
  • each magazine 16 is provided with a conveying device 17, which is able to convey the pile of containers 6 towards the opening 16a of the magazine 16, so as to enable transfer by gravity of each container 6 onto the bottom 15a of the refrigerator 15 to the loading station 18.
  • each conveying device 17 comprises: at least one pair of helical springs 19, which are arranged with their respective longitudinal axes perpendicular to the bottom 15a and are designed to support the pile of containers 6 of pizzas 5; and a rotation device 20 consisting, for example, of an electric motor reducer 20, which is able to set simultaneously in rotation the pair of helical springs 19 about the respective longitudinal axes, so as to convey the pile of containers 6 towards the opening 16a of the magazine 16.
  • Each helical spring 19 extends starting from the top of the refrigerator 15 to the top opening 16a, and is provided with a pre-set number of coils, which are sized so as to support an outer portion of the container 6.
  • each container 6, when inserted in the magazine 16 has a first outer annular portion and a second outer annular portion inserted between two consecutive coils of a corresponding helical spring 19, which co-operates with the other helical spring 19 to keep the containers 6 on horizontal planes and set vertically at a distance apart from one another, the said distance corresponding substantially to the thickness of the container 6.
  • this is set underneath the magazines 16 and comprises a first pusher assembly 24 designed to displace the container 6 deposited on the bottom 15a of the refrigerator 15, towards the side window 22, along a rectilinear path B so as to enable transfer of the container 6 from inside the refrigerator 15 towards a platform 23 of the elevator assembly 9, on which loading of the container 6 is performed.
  • the loading station 18 moreover comprises a second pusher assembly 25, which is designed to displace the container 6, starting from any position on the bottom 15a, towards the rectilinear path B.
  • the first pusher assembly 24 comprises: a horizontal contrast element 24a, which is preferably, but not necessarily, C- shaped, is set facing the side window 22, and extends resting on the bottom 15a; and a displacing device (not illustrated) of a known type, designed to displace the contrast element 24a away from and towards the side window 22 along the path B, between a position of rest, in which the contrast element 24a is set in a position corresponding to a side wall of the refrigerator 15 opposite to the side window 22, and a loading position, in which the contrast element 24a is set at the side window 22.
  • a horizontal contrast element 24a which is preferably, but not necessarily, C- shaped, is set facing the side window 22, and extends resting on the bottom 15a
  • a displacing device (not illustrated) of a known type, designed to displace the contrast element 24a away from and towards the side window 22 along the path B, between a position of rest, in which the contrast element 24a is set in a position corresponding to a side wall
  • this comprises a vertical shovel 25a that extends over the entire width of the bottom 15a, parallel to the path B, and a displacing device (not illustrated) , which is designed to displace the shovel 25a orthogonally to the rectilinear path B, between a position of rest, in which the shovel 25a is set at the front wall of the refrigerator 15, and an advanced position, in which the shovel 25a is set at a distance from the rear wall, such as to enable displacement of the contrast element 24a, between the shovel 25a and the rear wall itself.
  • the refrigerating unit 4 finally comprises a door 26, which is hinged on the side wall of the refrigerator 15, so as to be able to rotate outside the refrigerator 15 itself about a horizontal axis, between a position of closing, in which the door 26 is set resting on the side wall of the refrigerator 15 so as to close the side window 22, and a top opening position, in which the door 26 is set on a substantially horizontal plane.
  • this is set alongside the refrigerating unit 4, at the side window 22, and comprises, in addition to the platform 23: a pair of vertical guides 27, which extend parallel to one another and to the displacement path A; a carriage 28 that is mobile on the vertical guides 27 and is designed to support the platform 23; and a displacing mechanism 30, designed to displace the carriage 28 along the displacement path A so as to translate the platform 23 between a loading position (illustrated in Figure 1), in which the platform 23 is set at the side window 22, and a delivery position, in which the platform 23 is set at the outlet opening 14.
  • the displacing mechanism 30 comprises: a worm screw 9a, which extends parallel to the vertical guides 27 and on which is mounted the carriage 28; and a rotation device 9b, which is designed to set in rotation the worm screw 9a about the respective longitudinal axis in a first direction of rotation or in a second direction of rotation, so as to determine lowering or, respectively, raising of the carriage 28 and of the platform 23 along the displacement path A.
  • the platform 23 comprises: a top plate 23a, which extends in cantilever fashion from the carriage 28 and is set horizontally; and a bottom plate 23b set underneath the top plate 23a, and engaged to the latter through vertical pins 29 designed for enabling the bottom plate 23b to displace vertically between a first position, in which the bottom plate 23b is set bearing upon the undersurface of the top plate 23a, and a second position, in which the bottom plate 23b is set parallel to and at a distance from the top plate 23a.
  • the top plate 23a has an internal hollow opposite to the carriage 28, shaped and sized so as to receive and support the body of the container 6 at an outer annular rim 7a of the plate 7, allowing a front portion 7c of the container 6 itself to project, whilst the bottom plate 23b has preferably, but not necessarily, a substantially rectangular shape and is sized so as to support the bottom of the plate 7 of the container 6.
  • the bottom plate 23b comprises a first horizontal portion 23c and a second flexible portion 23d, which is connected to one end of the first portion 23c and is mobile, against the action of a spring (not illustrated) , between a position of rest (indicated with a solid line in Figure 3), in which it is co-planar with the first portion 23c, and an operative position (indicated with a dashed line in Figure 3), in which it is bent downwards.
  • the separation assembly 10 is set in an intermediate position along the displacement path A of the elevator assembly 9, and is designed to carry out removal of the film 8 from the plate 7 of the container 6, and to transfer the film 8 removed from the plate 7 to a film bin 34, included in the automatic dispenser 1 of pizzas and set inside the latter so as not to interfere with the displacement of the platform 23.
  • the separation assembly 10 comprises a film-removal unit 33, and a displacing mechanism 36 capable of displacing horizontally the film-removal unit 33 between an operative position, (indicated with a solid line in Figure 4), in which the film-removal unit 33 is set above the platform 23 along the displacement path A, and a film-unloading position, (indicated with a dashed line in Figure 4), in which the film- removal unit 33 is set above the film bin 34, aligned with the opening of the latter.
  • the displacing mechanism 36 comprises: a pair of horizontal guides 36a, fixed to the frame of the casing 3; a slide 35, mounted so that it is free to slide on the guides 36a from which there extends, in cantilever fashion, a bracket 35a; and a displacement device of a known type (not illustrated) , capable of displacing the slide 35 between the operative position and the film-unloading position.
  • this is fixed to the bracket 35a and comprises: a rotation device 32, for example an electric motor set with its shaft facing downwards; a gripping device 39, fixed to the shaft of the electric motor 32; a pair of blade-holder arms 37, which extend radially starting from the gripping device 39 in a position diametrally opposed to one another; and a pair of vertical blades 38, each of which is fixed on a free end of a respective blade-holder arm 37, from which it extends downwards, and each of which is designed to incise, during the movement of rotation of the shaft of the motor 32, the film 8 along the inner perimetral rim 7d of the plate 7.
  • a rotation device 32 for example an electric motor set with its shaft facing downwards
  • a gripping device 39 fixed to the shaft of the electric motor 32
  • a pair of blade-holder arms 37 which extend radially starting from the gripping device 39 in a position diametrally opposed to one another
  • a pair of vertical blades 38 each of which is fixed on a free
  • the gripping device 39 has the function of separating the film 8 from the plate 7 following upon the operation of incision of the film 8, and in the example illustrated consists of an electromagnet 39 or by a similar device, which is designed, upon command, to generate a magnetic field that is able to attract the label 8a fixed on the film 8 so as to separate the latter from the plate 7.
  • the pizza-removal assembly 12 is set in an intermediate position along the displacement path A and above the separation assembly 10, and is designed to pick up the pizza 5 from the plate 7 for inserting it into the baking chamber of the oven 11, leaving the plate 7 itself on the platform 23 outside the oven 11.
  • the pizza-removal assembly 12 comprises: a mechanism of deformation 47 capable of temporarily bending downwards the portion 7c of the plate 7 when the platform 23 moves to the entrance of the oven 11; a horizontal shovel 43; a displacing mechanism 46, which is capable of displacing the shovel 43 along a horizontal path between a loading position, in which the shovel 43 is inserted at the bent portion 7c of the plate 7 (between the base of the pizza 5 and the bottom of the plate 7) and a position of baking, in which the shovel 43 is completely inside the baking chamber of the oven 11.
  • the deformation mechanism 47 comprises: a projecting appendage 44, which is fixed along the displacement path A at the entrance of the oven 11, from which it extends towards the elevator assembly 9, and is designed to engage the portion 7c of the plate 7, during the vertical displacement upwards of the platform 23, so as to determine a temporary bending downwards of the portion 7c of the plate 7 that is sufficient to enable insertion of the shovel 43 between the pizza 5 and the plate 7.
  • the displacing mechanism 46 comprises (in the example illustrated) : a pair of horizontal guides 40, fixed to the frame of the casing 3; a slide 41, which is mounted so that it is free to slide on the guides 40, and from which there extends, in cantilever fashion, a horizontal arm 40a, on which there is fixed the shovel 43; and a displacement device of a known type (not illustrated) , which is capable of displacing the slide 41 between the loading position of the shovel 43 and the baking position.
  • the pizza-removal assembly 12 finally comprises a contrast device 45, which is designed to co-operate with the shovel 43 for depositing the hot pizza in the plate 7.
  • the contrast device 45 comprises a shovel 45, which is mobile vertically away from and towards the surface of the shovel 43 so as to set itself, when the shovel 43 is positioned above the platform 23 (for depositing the pizza 5 on the plate 7) between the rim of the pizza 5 and the entrance of the oven 11.
  • the delivery assembly 13 is set in a position corresponding to the delivery position of the elevator assembly 9 and is designed for transferring the plate 7 containing the hot pizza 5 from the platform 23 towards an inclined chute 50, which is fixed to the frame of the casing 3 at the outlet opening 14.
  • the delivery assembly 13 comprises a thrust head 49 and a mechanism of translation 51, capable of displacing the thrust head 49 horizontally between a resting position, in which the thrust head 49 sets itself resting on the platform 23 (between the outer annular rim 7a of the plate 7 and the carriage 28) and an unloading position, in which the thrust head 49 is set at the entrance of the chute 50.
  • the translation mechanism 51 comprises: a pair of horizontal guides 52, fixed to the frame of the casing 3; a slide 53, mounted so that it is free to slide on the guides 52 and designed to support the thrust head 49; and a displacement device of a known type (not illustrated) capable of displacing the slide 53 between the resting position and the unloading position.
  • the thrust head 49 in the example illustrated, consists of a horizontal shovel 49, which has a hollow that is shaped and sized so as to receive a portion of the outer annular rim 7a of the plate 7 and is fixed on the slide 53, from which it extends in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of displacement of the slide 53 itself.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 comprises an electronic control unit 21 (illustrated in Figure 1), which is capable of controlling the operations performed by the refrigerating unit 4, the elevator assembly 9, the separation assembly 10, the pizza- removal assembly 12, and the delivery assembly 13.
  • the containers 6 of the pizzas 5 are stacked and divided inside the magazines 15, according to the type of pizza, into different sets of pizzas.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 of hot pizzas will be able to provide four different types of pizzas 5, each of which is associated to a respective magazine 16 present in the refrigerator 15. It is further assumed that initially the platform 23 is positioned at the delivery assembly 13.
  • control panel 2 The user is able to select the desired pizza by means of the control panel 2, after prior payment of a pre-set sum, which may be made, for example, by means of an electronic payment device of a known type (not illustrated) , which is capable of communicating to the electronic control unit 21 confirmation of the payment.
  • the control panel 2 may be made up of a keyboard for selecting the desired pizza, and possibly a display device of a known type, such as, for example, a liquid-crystal display.
  • the electronic control unit 21 activates the conveying device 17 associated to the magazine 16 containing the type of pizza selected, which effects the displacement of the pile of containers 6 towards the top opening 16a of the magazine 16, in this way bringing about expulsion and dropping of a container 6 onto the loading station 18.
  • the displacement of the pile is controlled by the electronic control unit 21, which activates the rotation device 20 associated to the magazine 16, bringing about rotation of the helical springs 19, which, by rotating about the respective longitudinal axes, progressively displace the containers 6 towards the top opening 16a of the magazine 16, causing dropping of a container 6 onto the bottom 15a of the refrigerator 15.
  • the electronic control unit 21 activates the elevator assembly 9 and the first pusher assembly 24 and second pusher assembly 25 so as to carry out loading of the container 6 on the platform 23.
  • the elevator assembly 9 displaces the platform 23 downwards along the displacement path A so as to place it in the loading position.
  • the platform 23, during displacement towards the loading position causes displacement of the door 26 from the position of closing to the position of opening.
  • the platform 23 is provided with a fork-like element 55 (illustrated in Figure 3) , which is capable of engaging, during displacement of the platform 23, a pin (not illustrated) fixed outside the door 26, in this way bringing about the opening of the latter.
  • the electronic control unit 21 controls advance of the shovel 25a towards the rear wall of the refrigerator 15 so as to ensure positioning of the container 6 on the rectilinear path B.
  • the electronic control unit 21 controls advance of the contrast element 24a towards the side window 22, in this way causing loading of the container 6 on the platform 23.
  • the electronic control unit 21 activates the elevator assembly 9 so as to displace the platform 23 along the displacement path A towards the separation assembly 10, and displaces the film-removal unit 33 in the respective operative position, in which cutting of the film 8 of the container 6 is performed.
  • the electronic control unit 21 controls displacement of the film-removal unit 33, positioning it above the platform 23, and at the same time activates the displacement upwards of the platform 23 so as to cause penetration of the blades 38 into the film 8.
  • control unit 21 activates the rotation device 32, which, by setting in rotation the blade-holder arms 37 and hence the blades 38, causes cutting of the film 8 along the inner perimetral rim 7d of the plate 7.
  • control unit 21 activates the electromagnet 39, which by attracting the label 8a integrated in the film determines separation of the film 8 from the plate 7 and subsequently controls displacement of the film-removal unit 33 into the unloading position above the film bin 34, and when this position is reached, the electromagnetic device 39 is de-activated, bringing about the consequent release of the label 8a and hence depositing of the film 8 inside the film bin 34.
  • the elevator assembly 9 displaces the platform 23 to the entrance of the oven 11 so as to place the bottom plate 23b in a position substantially co-planar with the shovel 43.
  • the projecting appendage 44 engages the perimetral rim 7a of the projecting portion 7c of the plate 7, bringing about temporary bending downwards of the projecting portion 7c (illustrated in Figure 7) .
  • the temporary bending downwards of the projecting portion 7c is advantageously guaranteed, during engagement of the projecting appendage 44, by bending downwards of the flexible portion 23d of the bottom plate 23b.
  • the control unit 21 controls displacement of the shovel 43 into the loading position. It is evident that the bending downwards of the portion 7c of the plate 7 enables the shovel 43 to be inserted between the bottom of the pizza 5 and the top surface of the bottom of the plate 7, thus causing loading of the pizza 5 above the shovel 43. Once loading of the pizza on the shovel 43 is completed, the control unit 21 controls a limited displacement downwards of the platform 23, thus causing the complete removal of the pizza 5 from the plate 7, which remains empty on the platform 23, and end of the bending of the projecting portion 7c by the projecting appendage 44.
  • the shovel 43 is brought into the baking position inside the baking chamber of the oven 11 for a preset interval of time so as to guarantee baking of the pizza 5.
  • the shovel 43 is brought back into the loading position towards the platform 23.
  • the shovel 43 is positioned above and outside the plate 7, which has remained on the platform 23.
  • the control unit 21 controls lowering of the shovel 45 towards the shovel 43, and simultaneously activates the displacement of the latter towards the oven 11. It is evident that in this step the rim of the hot pizza 5 set on the shovel 43 is contrasted, during displacement of the shovel 43, by the shovel 45, which, by preventing displacement towards the oven 11 of the pizza 5, determines loading by gravity of the latter inside the underlying plate 7. At this point, the platform 23 containing the plate 7 with the hot pizza 5 is displaced towards the delivery assembly 13, and the thrust head 49 is displaced into the position of resting, i.e., between the perimetral rim 7a of the plate 7 and the carriage 28.
  • the platform 23, during displacement towards the delivery position co-operates with a lever element 54 (illustrated in Figure 3) , which is set on the elevator assembly 9 and designed to displace, when it reaches the delivery position, the bottom plate 23b upwards so as to set it bearing upon the top plate 23a.
  • the displacement upwards of the bottom plate 23b determines partial removal of the plate 7 from the hollow of the top plate 23a and at the same time alignment of the plate 7 itself with the entrance of the chute 50.
  • the electronic control unit 21 controls translation of the shovel 49 towards the unloading position, bringing about in this way displacement of the plate 7 containing the hot pizza 5 onto the chute 50, which conveys the plate 7 containing the hot pizza 5 towards the outlet opening 14, from which the user is able to pick up the hot pizza 5.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 of hot pizzas is advantageous in so far as it has extremely small overall dimensions as compared to the automatic dispensers of pizzas currently available on the market.
  • the automatic dispenser of hot pizzas has, moreover, the considerable advantage of using the plate 7 of the pizza 5 also for delivery of the hot pizza, thus eliminating the need to use disposable trays and the corresponding magazine inside the automatic dispenser. It is evident that the use of the plate 7 for a dual function determines a considerable reduction in the packaging and a consequent reduction both in the costs of production of the pizza and in the costs of disposal of the packaging.
  • the automatic dispenser 1 is able to deliver, on request of the user, in addition to hot pizzas, also the deep-frozen pizza contained in the container 6. It is evident that in this case, following upon loading of the container 6 on the platform 23 by the loading station 18, the elevator assembly 9 displaces the platform 23 itself directly to the delivery position, in which the delivery assembly 13 actuates the transfer of the container 6 towards the outlet window 14. It should be pointed out that in this case, the oven 11, the separation assembly 10, and the pizza-removal assembly 12 remain inactive.
  • the film-removal unit 33, the shovel 43, and the thrust head 49 can be advantageously displaced in the respective horizontal direction by a single displacing mechanism of a known type, which comprises, for example, a pair of horizontal guides fixed to the frame of the casing 3, and a slide mounted so that it is free to slide on the guides, from which a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket extend, which are designed for supporting, respectively, the film-removal unit 33, the shovel 43, and the thrust head 49.
  • a single displacing mechanism of a known type, which comprises, for example, a pair of horizontal guides fixed to the frame of the casing 3, and a slide mounted so that it is free to slide on the guides, from which a first bracket, a second bracket, and a third bracket extend, which are designed for supporting, respectively, the film-removal unit 33, the shovel 43, and the thrust head 49.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Seeds, Soups, And Other Foods (AREA)

Abstract

Cette invention se rapporte à un procédé servant à préparer des pizzas chaudes dans un distributeur automatique (1) de pizzas chaudes, dans lequel un plateau (7) contenant une pizza (5) et fermé hermétiquement par un film (8) est prélevé d'une unité de réfrigération (4) et transformé le long d'un circuit de déplacement (A) jusqu'à un four de cuisson (11), le film (8) étant retiré du plateau (7) le long de ce circuit de déplacement (A). Dans le four (11), la pizza (5) est retirée du plateau (7), le plateau (7) est lui-même maintenu à l'extérieur du four (11) et il est ensuite introduit dans le four (11). Après cuisson, la pizza est redéposée sur le plateau (7) d'où elle avait été préalablement retirée, et elle est ensuite transférée jusqu'à un poste de distribution (14), où le plateau (7) contenant la pizza chaude (5) est prélevé par l'utilisateur.
EP03712659A 2002-03-08 2003-03-07 Distributeur automatique de pizzas chaudes et similaires, et procede d'utilisation correspondant Withdrawn EP1490847A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO20020202 2002-03-08
IT2002TO000202A ITTO20020202A1 (it) 2002-03-08 2002-03-08 Distributore automatico di pizze calde ed affini e relativo metodo difunzionamento.
PCT/IT2003/000139 WO2003077213A1 (fr) 2002-03-08 2003-03-07 Distributeur automatique de pizzas chaudes et similaires, et procede d'utilisation correspondant

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AT507223B1 (de) * 2009-02-23 2010-03-15 Bistrobox Gmbh Verkaufsautomat mit integriertem umluft-infrarotofen
IT1396044B1 (it) * 2009-10-16 2012-11-09 Cierreci S R L Apparecchio distributore automatico di prodotti alimentari, quali pizze od altri, riscaldati e metodo di funzionamento
DE102009053141B3 (de) * 2009-11-05 2011-05-05 Meteor Ag Verpflegungsautomat
AT510634B1 (de) * 2010-11-05 2012-12-15 Bistrobox Gmbh Entpackvorrichtung
ES2398103B1 (es) * 2011-04-29 2014-11-12 Dt Vending, S. L. Máquina de venta automática de artículos alimenticios fríos y calientes del tipo pizza o similar.
IT201700043109A1 (it) * 2017-04-19 2018-10-19 Martina Lisa Castellano Apparecchiatura per la preparazione e distribuzione di prodotti alimentari da forno, in particolare pizze
WO2019094610A1 (fr) * 2017-11-08 2019-05-16 Commercial Automation, Llc Kiosque de stockage et de vente de produits alimentaires
CN110150441B (zh) * 2019-05-29 2023-10-17 南京宁淳经济发展有限公司 一种山楂饼流水线的铲边工位
WO2023076166A1 (fr) * 2021-10-25 2023-05-04 Edge Exponential LLC Coupe-pizza automatisé

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JP3254803B2 (ja) * 1993-04-26 2002-02-12 富士電機株式会社 袋詰め食品類の貯蔵・払出装置
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ITTO20020202A0 (it) 2002-03-08
ITTO20020202A1 (it) 2003-09-08
WO2003077213A1 (fr) 2003-09-18
AU2003217471A1 (en) 2003-09-22

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