FR2812430A1 - AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR OF MEAL TRAYS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an automatic distributor of meal trays (1) of the type essentially comprising a refrigerated box (2) containing the unit (3) for storing the trays (1) and the mechanism (4) allowing the selection, displacement and presentation of said plates; a door (5) allowing access to said box; at least one opening (6) allowing the passage of the trays (1); a control unit and a refrigeration unit (8). The dispenser according to the invention is characterized in that the unit (3) for storing the meal trays (1) consists of least a fixed ladder placed in the bottom (A) of the box and in that the mechanism (4) consists of a single carriage, placed at the front (B) of the box, which comprises a first means (9) allowing its lateral displacement so as to center it with respect to the scale (3) concerned, a second means allowing its vertical displacement so as to position it with respect to the selected level, a third means (11) capable of removing the tray from its housing and a fourth means (12) capable of presenting said tray to the exterior of the box (2) through a single opening (6) made on the single door (5) placed at the front of the box.

Description

AUTOMATIC DISTRIBUTOR OF MEAL TRAYS

DESCRIPTION

  The invention relates to an automatic distributor of meal trays of the kind essentially comprising: - a refrigerated box containing the tray storage unit and the mechanism allowing the selection, movement and presentation of said trays; - a door allowing access to said box, mainly for loading; at least one opening, provided with a hatch, allowing the passage of the trays; - a control unit comprising, accessible from the front face of the dispenser, electronic payment equipment and a display screen allowing dialogue with the user;

- a refrigeration unit.

  The known devices of the genre in question are generally of two types: - those having drawers on the entire facade and which have as many opening hatches as trays; - those having hatches only on a column and which have as many hatches as levels of trays which are arranged on a rotating storage assembly. They have in common the drawback of multiplying the number of openings, and therefore of mechanisms, on the front face. The second, although significantly reducing the number of openings, has the disadvantage of requiring a rotating assembly of high technical design and high cost (rectangular trays on a

polygonal set).

  It is with the aim of remedying these various drawbacks that the depositor has designed a dispenser which is essentially characterized in that the storage unit for meal trays consists of at least one fixed ladder placed in the bottom of the box and in that the mechanism, allowing the selection, movement and presentation of said trays, consists of a single carriage, placed at the front of the box, which has a first means allowing its lateral movement so as to center it relative to on the scale concerned, a second means allowing its vertical displacement so as to position it relative to the selected level, a third means capable of removing the tray from its housing and a fourth means capable of presenting said tray outside the box through

  a single opening made on the single door placed at the front of the box.

  The tray is therefore always accessible in the same place and at an ergonomic height

  on a tablet located at the outlet of the single distribution opening.

  -2- The distributor, according to the invention, therefore comprises a single mechanism, a single opening associated with a single hatch, ladders of simple design, removable,

  facilitating restocking (loading by the front door).

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more

  clearly on reading the following detailed description of at least one mode of

  preferred embodiment thereof given by way of nonlimiting example and shown in

attached drawings.

  In these drawings: - Figure 1 is a detailed front view of the extraction assembly; - Figure 2 is a detail profile view of said assembly; - Figure 3 is a front sectional view of the automatic distributor of meal trays according to the invention; - Figure 4 is a sectional profile view of the dispenser with the extraction assembly in the intermediate position; - Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the dispenser with the extraction assembly engaged with a plate; - Figure 6 is a sectional profile view of the dispenser with the tray carrier extraction assembly facing the outlet; - Figure 7 is a sectional side view of the dispenser with the tray in position

exit.

  The automatic distributor of meal trays (1) shown in the figures is of the type essentially comprising: - a refrigerated box (2) containing the unit (3) for storing the trays (1) and the mechanism (4) allowing the selection, the movement and presentation of said trays; - A door (5) allowing access to said box, mainly for loading; - at least one opening (6), provided with a hatch, allowing the passage of the plates (1); - a control unit (7) comprising, accessible from the front face of the dispenser, electronic payment equipment and a display screen allowing dialogue with the user;

  - a refrigeration unit (8).

  According to essential characteristics of the invention: - the unit (3) for storing meal trays (1) consists of at least one fixed ladder placed in the bottom (A) of the box; -3- - the mechanism (4), allowing the selection, movement and presentation of said trays, consists of a single carriage, placed at the front (B) of the box, which comprises a first means (9) allowing its lateral displacement so as to center it relative to the scale (3) concerned, a second means (10) allowing its vertical displacement so as to position it relative to the selected level, a third means (11) capable of removing the tray of its housing and a fourth means (12) capable of presenting said tray outside the box (2) through a

  single opening (6) made on the single door (5) placed at the front of said box.

  According to other characteristics of the invention: - the first means, allowing lateral movement of the carriage, consists of a transverse rail (9) on which slides the chassis (4) of said carriage; - The second means, allowing the vertical movement of the carriage, consists of a riser (10) on which slides the frame (4) of said carriage and a notched drive belt associated with an incremental encoder; - The third means, capable of removing the tray (1) from its housing, consists of an extractor element (11) which moves relative to the frame (4) to be housed under the selected tray and return to said carrier frame said tray; - the fourth means, capable of presenting the plate (1) outside the box (2) through the single opening (6) made on the front door (5), consists of a final extractor element ( 12) which moves relative to the frame (4) to push said plate through said opening (6); the extractor element (11) comprises, at its front end, two tilting pins (13) capable of straightening behind the plate (1) selected to position it on the

chassis (4).

  - The final extractor element (12) comprises, at its front end, two tilting pins (14) able to straighten behind the selected plate to drive it out of the box (2); - the final extractor (12) is driven by the extractor (11); - The refrigeration unit (8) is placed under the box (2) and is removable with respect to the latter in order to facilitate after-sales service;

  - the control unit (7) is placed on the side of the box (2).

  The most important operating phases appear in the following figures: - Figure 5: taking charge of the plate (1) selected by the extractor element (11); - Figure 6: presentation of the tray (1) loaded on the extractor element (11) facing the interior opening (6) of the tray outlet; 4- - figure 7: exit of the plate (1) which rests in principle on a shelf located under the

  outlet (6) and which has been pushed by the final extractor element (12).

  The axis (C) is that of the first scale and the axis (D) is that of the second scale placed next to the first. The same mechanism (4) acts equally on one or the other of said scales. In the rest position, it is located

between the two.

  The dispenser according to the invention: - stores at 3 ° C according to the standards relating to the cold chain and distributes complete meal trays; distributes a tray in 25 to 30 seconds, including 12 seconds of machine time; - multiplies the choice of menu to offer: automatic distribution is done via a user-friendly interface equipped with a smart card reader or, as an option, any other electronic payment system; - is transportable and can be set up in all types of establishments

without any particular constraint.

  The single-use tray allows you to receive a mixed meal. The dishes are

  reheatable in the microwave.

  The device is loaded by the front door, access to which is reserved for

  the catering unit. This access is protected by a security system.

  The front panel is customizable.

  The exterior body is produced by a structure assembled with insulating sandwich panels. The outlet of the shelves of the refrigerated enclosure is

  done on an external platform, through a hatch.

  The presentation on the front includes: - a removable exterior door supporting the decoration and the tray receiving hatch; - a hatch integrated in the door equipped with a platform for receiving the tray in the external part; - a user interface located on the left or right side of the facade;

  - a door opening and locking system.

  The automatic tray dispenser according to the invention, intended for catering professionals, provides answers for serving meals in: - the industrial company which works in 3 x 8; The company which wants to suppress a canteen or a self in favor of a cheaper formula; -'5- - hotels without catering; - holiday villages;

  - companies or administrations without self, hospitals, clinics, ...

  - structures already equipped with catering and who want additional service. This new concept: - limits, or even eliminates, the investment and personnel costs (no on-site catering unit); - allows catering professionals to access new markets whose potential cannot make an investment in a kitchen and a restaurant profitable; - simplifies personnel management by concentrating the technical team on a single production site (central kitchen); - does not require on-site staff (kitchen staff, room staff or laundry staff); - improves supply management because delivery can be made 24 hours a day; - provides the customer with a new service 24 hours a day, in optimal hygienic conditions, without however being subject to the constraints of an integrated catering unit (standards linked to production, service and storage premises); The distributor, via a microprocessor, can be connected via a modem to the network

  IT management company.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown for which other variants can be provided, in particular in: - the nature, the types and the number of storage scales of the trays; - the types of means allowing the movement of the various sub-assemblies of the mechanism allowing the selection, movement and presentation of the plates;

  - the type of single hatch fitted to the tray passage opening.

-6-

Claims (10)

  1. Automatic distributor of meal trays (1) of the type essentially comprising: - a refrigerated box (2) containing the unit (3) for storing the trays (1) and the mechanism (4) allowing the selection, movement and presentation of said trays; - A door (5) allowing access to said box, mainly for loading; - at least one opening (6), provided with a hatch, allowing the passage of the plates (1); - a control unit (7) comprising, accessible from the front face of the dispenser, electronic payment equipment and a display screen allowing dialogue with the user; a refrigeration unit (8); characterized in that the unit (3) for storing meal trays (1) consists of at least one fixed ladder placed in the bottom (A) of the box and in that the mechanism (4), allowing selection, the movement and presentation of said trays, consists of a single carriage, placed at the front (B) of the box, which has a first means (9) allowing its lateral movement so as to center it relative to the scale (3) concerned, a second means (10) allowing its vertical displacement so as to position it relative to the selected level, a third means (11) capable of removing the tray from its housing and a fourth means (12) capable of presenting said tray outside the box (2) through a   single opening (6) made on the single door (5) placed at the front of the box.   2. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the first means, allowing the lateral movement of the carriage, consists of a transverse rail (9) on   which slides the frame (4) of said carriage.   3. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the second means, allowing the vertical movement of the carriage, consists of a riser (10) on which slides the frame (4) of said carriage and a belt   notched drive associated with an incremental encoder.   4. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the third means, capable of removing the plate (1) from its housing, consists of an extractor element (11) which moves relative to the frame (4) for stay under the selected board and   return to said supporting frame of said plate.   -7- 5. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the fourth means, capable of presenting the plate (1) outside the box (2) through the single opening (6) formed on the front door ( 5), consists of a final extractor element (12) which moves relative to the frame (4) to push said plate through said opening (6). 6. Distributor according to claim 4, characterized in that the extractor element (11) comprises, at its front end, two tilting pins (13) suitable for   straighten up behind the plate (1) selected to position it on the chassis (4).   7. Distributor according to claim 5, characterized in that the final extractor element (12) comprises, at its front end, two tilting pins (14) capable of being   straighten behind the selected platform to drag it out of the box (2).   8. Distributor according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the extractor   final (12) is driven by the extractor (11).   9. A dispenser according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit of   refrigeration (8) is placed under the box (2) and is removable with respect thereto.   10. Distributor according to claim 1, characterized in that the unit   control (7) is placed on the side of the box (2).