FR2533811A1 - Automatic restaurant - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic dispenser for reheated, cold or lukewarm products. The system is composed of an isothermal cabinet above which are placed a microwave oven and a refrigeration unit. A number of conveyor belts, superposed one over the other and with sufficiently large spacing between them to enable products to be placed thereon, are arranged inside the said cabinet. On one side of these conveyor belts is another conveyor belt which can slide vertically in the cabinet in order to arrive in an oven; it is in this way that the products arranged on the said shelves can be conveyed into the oven in order to be reheated there and then conveyed towards an exit opening. The invention relates to the automatic dispenser industry.

Description

DESCRIPTION ~~ "
The present invention relates, as a new industrial product, to an automatic distributor of hot foodstuffs.

 We already know refrigerated vending machines in which we have products that are kept cold, in order to preserve their freshness until customers select them.

 There are also known microwave ovens in which the food is heated.

 Distributors6 are also known as described above placed close to a microwave oven, either in a furniture assembly or dressed. The customer having the possibility of heating the selected products himself in the automatic distributor.

 This way of proceeding. has great drawbacks, as well as the multiple handling errors and the deterioration of the microwave generator by the introduction of metal objects such as spoons, forks.

 Also known is the automatic distributor of hot products in which the products are stored in dee refrigerated inclined racks.

 By selecting a product, a check valve opens and lets it escape, which falls by gravity into a microwave oven located at the bottom of the device.

 After a certain time of heating, the door of the oven opens giving access to the user to the product which is in it.

 This procedure has great drawbacks.

- the products, when they fall, are crushed on the bottom of the microwave oven, which limits the diversity of chervis products to a few particularly shock-resistant products.

- the public has access to the microwave oven, which could have very serious consequences in the event of misuse or vandalism.

 The automatic distributor of heated products is also known in which horizontal racks are not fixed on the rear face of a refrigerated case in which the products to be served are stored.

 After the selection by the customer, a characterized robot system searches for the product to bring it into a microwave oven placed on the front side and inside it.

 the said oven itself being characterized by the fact that it comprises two guillotine gates, one of which allows the introduction of the product by the robot and the other allows the product to be extracted by the customer after a certain heating time .

 This system has serious drawbacks - the public has direct access to the microwave oven, which can have very serious consequences in the event of a tank failure.

 It is relatively easy to practice vandalism in the oven by introducing various objects, notably metallic ones.

- The guillotine perrières must always be very correctly adjusted, otherwise the microwave will leak, which could cause severe burns and sequelae for the user. These same leaks can cause disturbances to the control system of this distributor if it is made by integrated circuits.

- the useful floor area is very small compared to the total area occupied by the device on the floor, ie around thirty percent.

the space lost is mainly due to the robot's evolution area
The object of the present invention is to remedy these drawbacks and relates to an automatic distributor of heated products, characterized in that a microwave oven is placed outside the appliance and that an opening is made at both in the oven and in the distributor cabinet, openings through which the selected products can be introduced automatically into said oven, and then extracted therefrom after a certain time.

In the distributor's premises, the products are stored on shelves formed by conveyor belts. An elevator itself constituted by a conveyor belt receives, after their selection, the products from Provence from said shelves to bring them into the microwave oven through said openings mentioned above.
After a certain time of reheating, the elevator leaves the oven and is placed in front of a special shelf called exit bringing the product in front of an opening accessible by the public.

 the advantages of such a process are considerable - Impossibility for the customer-user to have access to the microwave oven.

- Greater sealing of the microwave oven against wave leakage by the use of a single door instead of two doors and by the fact that it is pivoting and not sliding.

- At equal capacity, very significant reduction in floor space up to seventy percent savings.

- Flatter and lighter device, therefore much easier to install and move.

- Elimination of the customer gate, allowing to take the products in the machine with much more ease while preventing the internal access of the machine by the length of the shelf-exit.

- Very easy to replace the oven, just place it or hang it inside the cabinet in the space provided for this purpose.

- Panoramic glass surface much more selling than the hot product dispensers currently existing.

- Direct and total visibility of each product selected by the customer.

- Possibility - to put dishes of different widths - on a shelf without changing the programming of the machine and without having to change the horizontal partitions.

- Very easy change of the spacing of the shelves in the height direction without requiring reprogramming of the machine.

- Service speed very much higher than in current systems.

- Considerable simplification of electronic control compared to currently known systems.

- The particular arrangement of the microwave oven allows the use of a conventional commercial oven without -executions special at the generator and the cavity. Therefore considerably reduces the cost by using such an oven produced in very large series.

 The invention will be better understood with reference to the following description given by way of nonlimiting example and to the accompanying drawings in which - Figure 1 is a front view of the device with all doors closed, as seen in user in front of it.

- Figure 2 is a vertical section of the device with the fridge and microwave oven in place.

- Figure 7 is a perspective view of the body of the device with the two front doors ajar.

- Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the device.

- Figure 5 shows the different possible movements of the moving parts and food products of the device.

 - Figure 6 shows a front view of the device with the microwave oven in place and one of the two doors fully open to see what is on the back.

- Figure 7 shows a block diagram of the electronic control of the device.

- Figure 8 shows a variant of a double oven, one operating by microwave, the other by thermal conduction.

 the method according to the invention essentially comprises an insulated cabinet 1 mounted on feet 2, closed by two doors, one made of glass 3, the other of metal 4. the doors are locked by a lock 5.

 A 1- 'inside this cabinet are arranged shelves shown 6 at 6, 7 and 8. Is also arranged inside the cabinet a vertical bar 9 on which moves an elevator consisting of a sleeve 10, a treadmill there and a cylinder 12.

In the ceiling of the cabinet are made two openings 13 and 14. On the opening 13 is placed a microwave oven, 15, while on the opening 14 is placed a refrigeration unit 16
The vertical bar is fixed at its upper part in the microwave oven by a screw 17. the elevator can move into this oven; to do this, it is pulled by a cable 18 which is wound on the pulley of an engine 19.

 In 20, the magnetron of the microwave oven generator is shown. In 21 is shown an enclosure intended to reeevc the supply of the magnetron. In 22, is represented the cavity dar which are heated the products. A conveyor belt intended to convey the products is also placed in the cavity, it is driven by a motor located outside this cavity and the movement is transmitted by an axis shown at 23.

In 24, a product is represented on a shelf. In 25 is shown a product which, for the simultaneous action of the treadmills 26 and 71, is placed on the elevator. In 27 is shown a product on the elevator carpet and in 28 a product placed on the carpet of a shelf in front of the outlet opening. The arrow 29 indicates the path that will take the product 27 and the arrow 30 indicates the path that will take the product 2E
In 31 is represented the opening by which the customer takes 1s product 28.

 the treadmills of the shelves and of the elevator are driven by cylinders represented at 32, rotating on axes 33 and driven by motors 34 and 35 by means of gears represented at 36.

 In 37 is represented the eompreseeur of the frisorific grouse.

In 38, the evaporative unit of the refrigeration unit, in 39 a fan, in 40 an insulated box.

 In 41 and 42, isothermal seals are shown for sealing the front doors. In 43 and 44 are shown the pivots allowing these doors to pivot.

 In 43 is shown a display panel arranged in front of the refrigeration unit.

 the microwave oven and the refrigeration unit are placed outside on the ceiling of the cabinet. the door of the microwave oven is shown at 44, it is operated by an electromagnet with a plunger core 45.

 In 46 is represented a button allowing the selection of a product. At 47 is shown the coin insertion slot and at 48 a button which makes it possible to unlock the coin mechanism 50 placed in door 4.

 the various stages of the mobile system are - 51, departure from the elevator after selection by the customer having pressed the key 46 and having introduced the money into the slot 47.

- 52, stop of the elevator opposite the shelf where the products corresponding to key 46 are stored.

- 53, switching on the two conveyor belts of the shelf and of the elevator to bring the product onto said elevator.

- 54, ascent of the elevator to the oven.

- 55, switching on the elevator conveyor belt and the oven conveyor belt to take the product into said oven.

- 56, immobilization of the product in the oven during the entire heating time of the latter.

- 57, starting the conveyor belt of the oven and that of the elevator in the opposite direction to previously to bring the product onto said elevator.

- 58, descent of the elevator to the front of the exit shelf 8.

- 59, switching on the conveyor belt of the elevator and the conveyor belt of the outlet shelf to bring the product opposite the outlet opening 31.

- 60, return of the elevator to its waiting position and immobilization of the product 61.

 Pans the device are arranged various electrical and electronic organs necessary for the dynamics of the present system. Thus, in 64 and 65 are shown the motors driving the treadmills of the shelves. In 66 is represented the motor of the conveyor belt of the elevator.

 In 67, the motor of the oven conveyor belt. In 68, the engine of the elevator. In 69, the bottom end of the lift. In 70, the top end of the lift. In 71, the probe for the presence of a product in the oven. In 72, the probe for the presence of product on the elevator. In 74, the probe for the presence of a product in front of the dispenser outlet opening. In 73, the counting limit switch 2 'shelf.

 All the electrical and electronic elements described above are connected to a central unit 76 by an electric multicable 75.

 the selection keys 77 are also connected to the central unit 76.

 In 78 is shown the box receiving the coins after having been checked by the coin mechanism 50.

 the central unit is the heart of this device. It can be performed by integrated circuit.

 Thus, at 50 is shown a coin mechanism in which contactors 88 are arranged which are biased by the coins 89.

Each room has a contact.

 In 90 is represented a totalizer of figures, in 92 a memory for the price of each product which corresponds to each shelf.

 In 91 is shown a comparator. If the amount entered in the totalizer is equal to or greater than that entered in the memory and corresponding to the selection key, for example the key 87, an order is transmitted to the relay 98 which establishes contact with the motor of the elevator 68. That -this starts and the limit switch 73 placed on said elevator counts the shelves thanks to a cam placed on each of these and coming to request said limit switch in turn.

 The counting pulses are transmitted to a comparator 97.

 when the number of studs counted corresponds to the number of studs represented by the selected key, for example the key 87, information is given to the relay 98 and the motor 68 stops.

 At the same time, when the relays 93 and 99 are activated, the motors 64 and 66 then start simultaneously. The product placed on the shelf corresponding to the motor 64 is placed on the device, then the said product requests the probe 72 which transmits information. to relays 9: 5 and 99 which are switched off, and to relay 98 which starts the motor 68. The latter mounts the elevator into the oven in which another end of travel 70 is placed.

 when the latter is requested by the elevator, it acts on the relay 98 which cuts the motor 68 and it also acts on the relays 99 and 100 which start the motors 66 and 67.

 the product placed on the elevator moves to go into the oven and when it reaches the probe 71, the latter acts on relays 99 and 100 which cut the motors 66 and 67.

 the probe 71 also has the effect of acting on the power relay 92 which simultaneously controls the closing of the gate 44 by the electromagnet 45 and the activation of the magnetron 20.

 Finally, the use of this probe 71 also has the effect of starting the time base, the duration of which is determined by the memory of the heating time 94, each time being defined by a selection key.

when the time has elapsed, information is transmitted to the power relay 92 which cuts the circuit, which has the effect of stopping the magnetron and opening the gate. said information is also transmitted on the relay 93 which starts the motor 68 having the effect of descending the elevator opposite the output rack 80
When the limit switch 73 arrives on the cam of said shelf 8; relay 98 is cut and motor 68 stops. Information is given on the relays 101 and 99, the motors 66 and 811 start and the product which is placed on the elevator - comes to place on the exit shelf 8 and this remains on until that said product comes to request the probe 74 0 The latter then transmits information to the relays 101 and 99 which cut the motors 81 and 66; the same information is also directed to the relay 98 which starts the motor 68 which makes the elevator move to the floor of the distributor where there is another limit switch 69.

 when the elevator requests the limit switch 69, the latter acts on the relay 98 and the motor 68 stops.

 the cycle is finished, the elevator waits in this position until a new selection by a customer.

 It is also possible to make a variant of a double oven, one of which operates in the microwave and the other by thermal conduction obtained by a block 62 in which are embedded heating resistors 63 placed under the conveyor belt which in this case is made of a material resistant to whining, a flexible sheet of stainless steel.

 It is understood that the description given above is not limitative, one can thus make numerous modifications without thereby departing from the scope of the invention.

 Thus, in particular - the shelves can be adjustable in height thanks to vertical perforated profiles fixed in the cabinet on which said shelves are hung or screwed.

- There can be several shelves one behind the other in the direction of the depth, each ordered separately.

- the width of the cabinet can be larger or smaller, there can be several doors made of glass or other material.

- the Elevator can be placed in the middle of the cabinet with shelves to the right and left of the elevator. the products come from one or the other shelf - depending on the selection made by the customer.

- There can be an automatic closure on the opening 43. - There can be a body element on the cabinet in order to hide the oven and the fridge.

- In this body element can be arranged windows for the exhibition of photos, slides, products sold in the device, a television screen.

- the treadmills can be made of plasticized or unplasticized textile material, plastic material or consist of flexible metal sheets.

Claims (10)

1) Automatic dispenser for hot, cold or temperate products, comprising an insulated cabinet, means for cooling the insulated enclosure, means for reheating the products stored therein, shelves made up of conveyor belts and an elevator intended to receive the products coming from the shelf characterized in that said conveyor belts constitute shelves which are deployed in the width direction of the cabinet and that said elevator is placed at one of the ends of said conveyor belts. 2) Distributor according to claim 1 characterized in that the elevator floor consists of a conveyor belt which can be deployed in the same direction as said shelves on which are stored products which can be placed on said conveyor belt of said elevator. 3) Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the oven is located outside the cabinet and that it communicates with the interior thereof through openings made in said oven and in said wardrobe. 4) Distributor according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that the elevator is arranged so as to be able to pass through said openings made in the cabinet and in the oven to come to rest just in front of the heating chamber of said faith 5) Distributor according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that a conveyor belt is arranged in the oven. The function of said conveyor belt is to receive the products placed on said elevator and to return them to said elevator. 6) Distributor according to one of the preceding claims earaeté risé in that the elevator moves on a rod placed in the distributor, which extends into said oven. 7) Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said oven is a completely separate module element from said cabinet and which can be removed or placed at will to obtain an ordinary automatic distributor or an automatic distributor of heated products. 8) Distributor according to one of the preceding claims characterized in that several ovens can be superimposed on each other so that said elevator can stop in front of one or the other. 9) Dispenser according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there may be microwaves, infrared ovens, hot plates or gas.  10) Distributor according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a heat transfer block in which the heating resistors are embedded, can be placed under the upper face of the conveyor belt of the oven.