ES2211349B1 - AUTOMATIC MACHINE DISPENSING FOOD PRODUCTS. - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic food dispensing machine. Automatic dispensing machine (1) for food products, comprising, integrated in a cabinet (2): storage means (3) for food products; drive and control means (5) of the storage means; a receptacle (20) where the products to be dispensed fall by gravity, from the storage means, which are accessible to the user from the outside through a dispensing opening (6); and a purse device (7) that controls access to the delivery receptacle. The automatic dispensing machine (1) is equipped with an oven (8) adapted to heat the products to be dispensed in an optimum time, said oven (8) being provided with a lid (9) that guarantees the safety of the user during the process of heating of the product dispensed.

Description

Automatic product dispensing machine food.

Technical sector of the invention

The present invention refers to a automatic food product dispensing machine of the type of which they comprise, integrated in a closet, some means of storage of food products to be dispensed, said means constituted by a plurality of compartments; means for actuating and controlling the means of storage, to dispense food products from a delivery receptacle, arranged at the bottom of the cabinet, Controlled accessible from outside and where they fall by severity, from the storage media, the products that must be dispensed, which are accessible to the user from the outside through a dispensing opening; and a purse device that controls access to the receptacle of delivery.

Background of the invention

In the food industry sector there are multiple varieties of automatic dispensing machines or Food and beverage vending. Normally such machines they are located in office halls, service stations, cafes, bars, schools, etc. In the specific case of products food that is desired be dispensed hot, the use of infrared radiation furnaces makes dispensing impractical of said product in a reasonably short time. For this reason, it is already known in the field of marketing popcorn for example, the use of radiation furnaces of microwave to minimize their heating time. Usually, but such machines incorporate complex gadgets. for dispensing the product in the oven cavity where it must be heated, and said oven is usually arranged external to The dispensing machine. Food products dispensed by automatic machines are usually wrapped in paper and / or plastic, so that by its very nature, microwave radiation cause the condensation of water droplets in said wrappers and they moisten the dispensed food product, making it less appetizing, especially in the case of solid products, such as croissants, rolls, etc.

The problems stated are resolved with the object of the present invention.

Explanation of the invention.

The automatic product dispensing machine Foods object of the present invention, is characterized essentially because it comprises a delivery receptacle constituted by a microwave and / or infrared oven, provided in its upper face open from an articulated lid to one of its edges and adapted to receive and heat, in each operating cycle, a food product unit.

According to another feature of the invention, the front of the microwave oven top cover and / or infrared prevents the opening of the dispensing opening, when said lid is closed in the operative position of oven heating.

In accordance also with the present invention, the dispensing opening is made in one of the walls of the closet and consists of a swinging door articulated to the upper edge of the dispensing opening, and disposed of so that when the user introduces the hand to extract from delivery receptacle the food product, pushes said tilting door which prevents direct contact between the hand of the user and the top cover of the oven.

An important aspect of the dispensing machine of food products object of the present invention, is that the emission time of infrared radiation and / or radiation microwave during an operating cycle, it is variable and programmable independently by groups of homogeneous food products arranged in storage media.

Brief description of the drawings

The attached drawings are illustrated by way of non-limiting example, an embodiment of the object of the present invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic front view of the automatic food dispensing machine with the delivery receptacle in open position;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic view in microwave and / or infrared oven perspective;

Fig. 3 represents a schematic side view of the machine in the food product collection position and / or dispensing cold product; and Fig. 4 represents a schematic side view of the machine in operational position of oven heating.

Detailed description of the drawings

In these drawings it can be seen that, of according to the object of the present invention, the machine Automatic dispenser 1 of food products comprises, integrated in a cabinet 2, storage means 3 constituted by a plurality of compartments 4; a means of  drive and control 5 of the storage means 3, for Dispense food products from a receptacle delivery 20, arranged in the lower part of the cabinet 2, which it is accessible from the outside through an opening of dispensing 6, said delivery receptacle 20 being an oven 8 microwave and / or infrared; a means of product selection 14, and a purse device 7.

In the case shown, the microwave oven 8 and / or infrared is provided on its open upper face, with a lid 9 articulated to one of its edges, and is adapted to receive in each operating cycle, one unit of food product per means of ramps 19, allowing said ramps 19 the channeling of the food product dispensed from the means of  Storage 3 to delivery receptacle 20. Cover 9 top of said microwave and / or infrared oven 8, is provided on its inner face 11 with at least one radiation tube 12 infrared, said tube 12 allowing homogenization of the product outside temperature and water vapor drying produced by the initial effect of microwaves.

In these drawings it can also be seen that, according to the object of the present invention the front part 13 of the top 9 of the microwave and / or infrared oven 8 hinders the opening of the dispensing opening 6, in furnace heating operating position, preventing access from the user to the delivery receptacle 20.

Also in the case represented, it can be seen that the dispensing opening 6 is made in one of the walls 22 of the closet and consists of a tilting door 21 articulated to the upper edge of the dispensing opening, preventing said tilting door 21 from entering the user contact with the upper cover 9 of the oven 8 at the time of removal the food product dispensed.

In the embodiment represented in the drawings, an endless ribbon 17 consisting of a plurality of parallel folding blades 18, is arranged on a guide support 15, on which it is displaced by actuating a motor 16, all arranged in such a way that each sheet 18 foldable constitutes a compartment 4 of the means of storage 3. Said preferred arrangement of the means of Storage 3, allows the food product dispensed in each operating cycle, corresponds to the product located on the sheet 18 lower end of the endless belt 17. In the case represented the automatic dispensing machine 1 is provided with four groups 23 of storage media 3, being optimal for operation of the machine 1 that in each group 23 products are available food for similar heating requirements and / or for Need for product homogeneity.

Each operating cycle of the automatic machine Dispenser 1 of food products consists, first of all, in the introduction of the amount of coins necessary to purse device 7 and in the selection of the food product wanted; secondly the cycle option is preselected operating with heating or operating cycle without heating; then the drive and control means 5 are activated of storage media 3, allowing the product selected food is dispensed to the delivery receptacle twenty; then in the operating cycle option without heating, the user can access the food product, while in the operating cycle option with heating, the upper cover 9 of the oven 8 is closed and said oven 8 is activated, the opening of the dispensing opening 6 being hindered by means of the front part 13 of said upper cover 9, until the at which time said oven is deactivated 8. In the option of operating cycle with heating, the operating time of the tube 12 of infrared radiation and / or radiation emission of microwave, is independently programmed and can be different for each type of product dispensed, depending on the group 23 of storage medium 3 that comes.

The automatic product dispensing machine 1 Foods object of the present invention, is perfectly applicable to dispensing machines for products such as croissants, milk bread, ensaimadas, cakes, snacks, food pre-cooked drinks in suitable containers, drinkable foods (broths, soups, consommés ...), etc., no represented in the cited illustrative drawings.

Naturally, this technical solution of incorporation of a delivery receptacle 20 consisting of a 8 microwave and / or infrared oven in an automatic machine 1 dispenser of food products, is applicable to machines dispensers with other configuration and size, without leaving of the scope of the invention. For example, it is possible to incorporate in the closet 2 a refrigerator group for the preservation of food products both frozen and just cooled.

Claims (4)

1. Automatic dispensing machine (1) of food products, of the type of which, integrated in a cabinet (2), includes storage means (3) of the food products to be dispensed, consisting of a plurality of compartments (4) ; drive and control means (5) of the storage means, to dispense food products from a delivery receptacle (20), arranged in the lower part of the cabinet, accessible controlled from the outside and where they fall by gravity, from the storage means, the products to be dispensed, which are accessible to the user from the outside through a dispensing opening (6); and a purse device (7) that controls access to the delivery receptacle, characterized in that the delivery receptacle is constituted by a microwave and / or infrared oven (8), provided on its upper open face with an articulated lid (9) to one of its edges and adapted to receive and heat, in each operating cycle, a unit of food product. 2. Automatic dispensing machine (1) for food products according to claim 1, characterized in that the front part (13) of the top cover (9) of the microwave and / or infrared oven (8) prevents the opening of the dispensing opening (6), when it is closed in the oven's operative heating position. 3. Automatic dispensing machine (1) of food products according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dispensing opening (6) is made in one of the walls of the cabinet and is constituted by a tilting door (21) articulated to the edge upper of the dispensing opening (6), and arranged in such a way that when the user introduces the hand to extract the food product from the receptacle (20), it pushes to said tilting door which prevents direct contact between the user's hand and the top (9) of the oven (8) 4. Automatic dispensing machine (1) for food products according to claim 1, characterized in that the emission time of infrared radiation and / or microwave radiation during an operating cycle is variable and programmable independently by groups (23) of homogeneous food products, arranged in the storage media (3).