WO1985001821A1 - Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches - Google Patents

Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1985001821A1
WO1985001821A1 PCT/US1983/001649 US8301649W WO8501821A1 WO 1985001821 A1 WO1985001821 A1 WO 1985001821A1 US 8301649 W US8301649 W US 8301649W WO 8501821 A1 WO8501821 A1 WO 8501821A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
skewer
skewers
path
support means
dispensing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1983/001649
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Michael G. Boosalis (Deceased)
George M. Boosalis
Wayne Ferrin
Original Assignee
Boosalis, Frieda
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 Boosalis, Frieda filed Critical Boosalis, Frieda
Priority to PCT/US1983/001649 priority Critical patent/WO1985001821A1/fr
Priority to EP19830903712 priority patent/EP0160644A1/fr
Publication of WO1985001821A1 publication Critical patent/WO1985001821A1/fr

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
    • G07F11/58—Coin-freed apparatus for dispensing, or the like, discrete articles from movable storage containers or supports the articles being supported on or by endless belts or like conveyors
    • 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

  • Apparatus of the type useful for sequentially dispensing food items to be cooked to a cooking unit are well known in the art. Such apparatus have particular application in short-order vending opera ⁇ tions, particularly coin-operated vending machines of the type employing an endless belt to convey dis ⁇ claimedd raw food past a cooking element. Difficulties have been encountered, however, in the practical use of such apparatus, both with respect to the dispensing means and the endless belt systems employed to convey the food for cooking. Owing to the great variability in the physical characteristics of different foods, dispensing units have been typically restricted to dispensing only one type of foodstuff, characteristi ⁇ cally hot dogs and acx_ ⁇ mpanyin buns.
  • the invention provides an endless conveyor system for both food and non-food items, but particularly for conveying skewered raw food items past a cooking assembly and for manipulating the food during transport to insure proper cooking and a palat ⁇ able product.
  • the invention provides a dispenser for both food and non-food artoicles, but par ⁇ ticularly for skewered food items. Owing to the uniform ⁇ ity of the skewers employed, a wide variety of disparate food items can be reliably dispensed, including many food items not previously dispensible in an automated opera ⁇ tion. Further, the dispensation of foodstuffs on skewers particularly facilitates use of the dispenser with a variety of endless conveyor means for conveying the raw food through a cooking unit.
  • the invention comprises a dispenser for sequen ⁇ tially dispensing articles, particularly skewered food items.
  • the dispenser includes a removable dispensing cartridge for storing the articles to be dispensed, which, includes means for supporting the articles within the cartridge in spaced vertical relationship and means for guiding the articles stepwise through the cartridge to a discharge outlet.
  • the cartridge may be supplied as a filled disposable unit for use in the dispenser, or may be refillable.
  • the dispenser further includes means for urging the articles through, the dispensing cartridge, and is advantageously employed in combination with a cooking assembly of the type employing endless conveyor means for conveying food past a series of cooking elements in a combined dispensing and cooking apparatus.
  • the invention further comprises a cooking assembly including an endless conveyor system for the simul ⁇ taneous conveyance and rotation of articles, particularly skewered foods.
  • the conveyor system comprises endless conveyor means and rotation means for conveying and rotating articles, especially for conveying skewered foods past a cooking element to a product discharge outlet, with simultaneous rotation to ensure even exposure to the elements.
  • the conveyor system of the invention includes a pair of vertically disposed end ⁇ less belts driven by sprocket wheels in a conventional manner.
  • Each belt includes a plurality of receiving brackets extending from the outer surface -thereof; each of the brackets is horizontally aligned with a corres ⁇ ponding bracket on the opposing belt for receiving the free ends of a skewer to thereby convey the skewered food.
  • the brackets are sufficiently angled to retain the skewers, and are provided with bearing means in the vertex of the angle, upon which the skewer bears to permit facile rotational movement of the skewer in the bracket.
  • the rotation means of the invention comprises means for imparting rotational movement to the skewers lodged in the brackets such as a rack gear disposed for interaction with the skewers as they are conveyed by the conveying means; the rack gear acts in cooperation with biasing means for urging the skewers against the gear teeth, for example a spring biased roller arm acting against the endless belt conveyor.
  • the skewers are thus pressed between the gear teeth and the barcket bearing means, resulting in even rotational movement of the skewers as they are moved along by the endless belt.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a combined dispensing and cooking apparatus according to the invention
  • Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of an alternate embodiment of the combined dispensing and cooking apparatus
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the combined dispensing and cooking apparatus of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the dispenser of the apparatus of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a partial detail of the dispenser of the apparatus of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 6 is a view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;
  • Fig. 7 is a partial detail of the conveyor system of the apparatus of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of an alternate embodiment of the apparatus of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 9 is a cross-section partial detail of the dispenser of the apparatus of Fig. 2;
  • Fig. 10 is a view along the line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
  • Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the dispensing cartridge of the invention, packaged for sale;
  • Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a detail of the apparatus of Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 9;
  • Fig. 13 is a perspective view of the actuating mechanism of the apparatus of Fig. 1.
  • the dis ⁇ cardiac of the present invention generally indicated at 1, comprises a housing 2 for a removable dispensing cartridge 3 adapted for storing and feeding the articles to be dispensed.
  • the cartridge 3 Includes a frame 4 having a first pair of vertical side members 5 including a plurality of support means comprising horizontally aligned notches 6 for supporting the articles to be dispensed in vertical relationship within the cartridge 3.
  • the articles to be dispensed comprise food items such as hot dogs 7 sup ⁇ ported in notches 6 by skewers 8.
  • the dispenser 1 is useful for dispensing a large variety of both food and non-food items, but is particularly useful for skewered foods including those commonly served en brochette, such as kabobs.
  • the cartridge 3 further includes guide means for guiding the skewers 8 holding the hot dogs 7 to the next subjacent notches 6 as the skewers 8 are dis ⁇ placed during the dispensing process, as by a push bar 9.
  • the guide means exemplified comprise a second pair of vertical side members 11 in the frame 4 having vertically disposed pins 12 corresponding with, and extending into the notches 6.
  • the skewers 8 are dislodged from the notches 6 and drop on to the subjacent pins 12, which guide them into the corresponding subjacent notch.es 6, or, in the case of the lowermost hot dog 7a, through a discharge outlet 13 in the cartridge 3-
  • the outlet 13 communi ⁇ cates with discharge means in the housing 2 comprising an opening 14 in the floor of the housing 2.
  • the housing 2 is optionally refrigerated, and In this event, the opening 14 is provided with a door 16, and the housing 2 is insulated with, insulating material 15, as best seen in Fig. 3-
  • the cartridge 3 ma be supplied for disposition In the housing 2 as a disposable filled "blister pack" as shown In Fig. 11, or may be intended for reuse, in which case means such as hinge 17 (Fig. 4) are included to permit the pairs of vertical side members 5 and 11 to be separated so that the cartridge 3 may be refilled.
  • the displacing means comprising push bar 9 may be associated with the cartridge 3, as shown in Fig. 4, or more preferably, associated with the housing 2.
  • the push bars 9 include a pin and slot mechanism 18 for translating downward motion from associated levers 19 into horizontal motion of the push hars 9 so that the skewers 8 are displaced from the notches 6.
  • the levers 19 are actuated by actuating means such as lever solenoids 21 to move from the position indicated by solid lines to the position indicated by dotted lines; the levers 19 are retracted to their original position by countersprings 22.
  • actuating means such as lever solenoids 21 to move from the position indicated by solid lines to the position indicated by dotted lines; the levers 19 are retracted to their original position by countersprings 22.
  • the push bars 9, guided by a pin and slot mechanism l8a, are displaced horizontally by levers 19a, preferably actuated by lever solenoids 21a.
  • the levers 19 and 19a are either secured to the push bars 9 so that the push bars automatically return to their original positions as the levers are retracted, or the push bars 9 are biased towards the inoperative pssition by biasing means such as biasing spring 23 shown in Fig. 4.
  • Both the push bars 9 and the door l ⁇ to the discharge opening 14 in the housing 2 may be manually operated, if desired. However, for commercial vending operations, both mecha- ⁇ ; nisms are preferably automatically actuated.
  • the door 16 is conveniently operated by actuation of a linkage 24 by door solenoid 21b and closed by the action of a counterweight 26.
  • the dispenser 1 or a similarly useful conven ⁇ tional dispenser may be employed for dispensing food to be cooked, particularly skewered food, to a cooking assembly including the endless conveyor system of the invention.
  • the dispenser and cooking assembly are disposed in a combined dispensing and cooking apparatus of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8, wherein skewered food discharged from the dispenser 1 is conveyed by endless conveyor means past a series of cooking elements to a discharge outlet.
  • the endless conveyor system of the invention may be used independently in other applications, .however.
  • the cooking assembly of the present invention is generally indicated at 27 and disposed in a common housing 25 with dispenser 1.
  • the cooking assembly 27 includes a vertical array of cooking elements such as infrared lamps 28 disposed In a parallel plane to the dispensing cartridge 3, and an endless conveyor* system including endless belts 31 of the chain link type (only one of which is shown) disposed parallel to the vertical array of cooking ele ⁇ ments 28.
  • the cooking elements 28 are associated with reflecting means for reflecting heat toward the belt 31 and the food It carries, comprising a polished reflector 32 of known type.
  • the belts 31 are driven by spaced sprocket wheels 33 supported on shafts 3 ⁇ which extend between opposite side walls of the common housing 25. (Each shaft carries two sproc ⁇ ket wheels 33 .
  • each belt 31 includes spaced receiving means for receiving and carrying food from dispenser 1, comprising a plurality of brackets 36 extending from the face of each belt 31.
  • Each bracket 26 is horizontally aligned with a corresponding bracket on the opposing belt (not shown) which are adapted to receive and carry the free ends of the skewers 8 piercing the food articles -discharged from the dispenser 1.
  • Each bracket is angled sufficiently to retain the skewer 8 and includes bearing means for bearing the weight of skewers 8 such as roller bearings 35 in the vertex of the angles.
  • the common housing 25 suitably includes a ramp 37 or similar gravity conveying means for conveying the material discharged from the dispenser 1 to the receiving brackets 36 dis ⁇ posed on the belt 31.
  • the endless conveyor system of the invention further includes ro ⁇ tating means for rotating the skewers 8 carried by the brackets 36 as the belts 31 move past the cooking elements 28.
  • the rotating means comprises a rack gear 38 in coop ⁇ eration with biasing means for biasing the belt 31 toward the rack gear 38 such as plurality of spring-biased roller arms 39 pivotally secured to a section of the housing 25.
  • the biasing action of the roller arms 39 positively engages the skewers 8 with the rack gear 38 against the bearings 35, causing rotation of the skewer 8 and the associated food article as the endless belt 31 is driven by the sprockets 33.
  • the bearing means be provided for bearing the weight of the skewer 8 on the bracket 36. Without such bearing means, the skewer will not be rotated, or will be rotated only erratically, and the product will not be properly cooked.
  • a cooking assembly 27a includes a similar endless belt 31 driven by sprockets 33 which conveys skewered food discharged from- the dispenser 1 past a double array of cooking elements 28.
  • the cooking elements 28 are disposed in spaced vertical arrays parallel to the dispensing cartridge 3 so that dispensed food picked up by receiving brackets 3 ⁇ a disposed on belt 31 is carried between the two arrays of cooking elements 28.
  • no provision is made for rotation of the skewered food carried by brackets 36a, and the brackets 36a accordingly are not provided with the bearings 35 illustrated in the embodiment of Fig. 7.
  • skewered food is dispensed through discharge chute 41 as previously described, on passing over the uppermost sprocket 33-
  • a fan 43 driven by motor 45 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be provided for the cook ⁇ ing assembly 27 to assist in the evacuation of vaporized water and grease particles.
  • a fan will not be required for some cooking operations, for example, bun warming.
  • the common housing 25 for the dispenser 1 and cooking assembly 27 may include either a top access 44 (Fig. 1) or side access 46 (Fig. 2) for insertion of cartridges 3 « Fig. 13 is a detailed illustrated of the top access apparatus of Fig. 1 associated with the actuating means of Figs- 5 and 6.
  • the dispenser 1 is shown employed with both a cooking asembly 27 of Fig. 3 and a cooking assembly 27a of Fig. 8, suitable for cooking hot dogs and warming buns.
  • one or more filled dispensing cartridges 3 are placed in the dispenser 1.
  • the lever solenoids 21 or 21a are energized to activate the levers 19, which in turn actuate the push bars 9 to displace the skewers 8 from the notches 6 in the vertical side members 5.
  • the pins 12 of the guide means then direct each of the skewers 8 holding hot dogs 7 to the next subjacent notches 6; the lowermost pins 12 direct the skewers 8 holding hot dog 7a through the outlet 13 in the cartridge 3 and the opening 14 in the floor of the housing 2. If the opening 14 is provided with a door l ⁇ , a door solenoid 21b is activated to open door 16 to dispense the hot dog 7a.
  • the skewered hot dog 7a proceeds down ramp 37 to the endless conveyor means 29, where the skewers 8 are picked up by a pair of brackets 36 on endless belts 31.
  • the skewers 8 are positively engaged between the bearings 35 on the brackets 36 and the rack gear 38 by the action of the roller arms 39 urging the belts 31 toward the rack gear 38, and are caused to rotate as the hot dog 7a passes the cooking elements 28.
  • the bracekts 36 are inverted, and the cooked hot dog 7a is discharged onto discharge chute 41 and dispensed.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Baking, Grill, Roasting (AREA)

Abstract

Dispositif permettant de stocker, transporter, cuire et servir des aliments sur broches, tels que les "kebâbs" ou les "hot dogs". Les dispositifs de l'art antérieur sont généralement limités à un type d'aliment uniquement, souvent des "hot dogs" (sans broche) et des petits pains qui les accompagnent, à cause des différences physiques et dimensionnelles entre ces deux mets. La présente invention élimine ces désavantages en utilisant un transporteur comportant des consoles servant à recevoir et à transporter les broches en les faisant défiler devant les éléments de cuisson. Grâce à l'uniformité des broches utilisées, il est possible de servir de manière fiable une grande variété de mets différents. Le dispositif comprend une cartouche amovible de distribution (3) pour stocker des aliments (7) ou d'autres articles à distribuer. La cartouche comprend une paire d'organes latéraux verticaux (5) pourvus d'une pluralité d'entailles orientées horizontalement (6) permettant de supporter les broches (80) verticalement, ainsi qu'une deuxième paire d'organes latéraux verticaux (11) munis d'ergots (12) correspondant aux entailles (6) et s'étendant dans celles-ci pour guider les broches jusqu'aux entailles suivantes sous-jacentes lorsque les broches sont déplacées par des tiges-poussoirs (9). Une variante de la présente invention comprend un dispositif de cuisson dans lequel les mets sur broches défilent devant les éléments de cuisson (28) en étant transportés par des bandes transporteuses sans fin (31). La bande est munie de consoles (36) qui reçoivent les broches et les font défiler devant les éléments de cuisson, tout en les faisant tourner pour obtenir une cuisson uniforme du met. La rotation des broches est facilitée par une crémaillère (38) agissant de concert avec des bras à rouleaux à ressorts (39) et des paliers à rouleaux (35).
PCT/US1983/001649 1983-10-21 1983-10-21 Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches WO1985001821A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1983/001649 WO1985001821A1 (fr) 1983-10-21 1983-10-21 Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches
EP19830903712 EP0160644A1 (fr) 1983-10-21 1983-10-21 Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US1983/001649 WO1985001821A1 (fr) 1983-10-21 1983-10-21 Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1985001821A1 true WO1985001821A1 (fr) 1985-04-25

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ID=22175512

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1983/001649 WO1985001821A1 (fr) 1983-10-21 1983-10-21 Dispositif de transport et de distribution d'aliments sur broches

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WO (1) WO1985001821A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2597239A1 (fr) * 1986-04-14 1987-10-16 Castel Alain Ensemble de distribution automatique de plats cuisines chauds
WO2022020051A1 (fr) * 2020-07-22 2022-01-27 Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Distributeur automatique pour produits alimentaires

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US863842A (en) * 1907-03-02 1907-08-20 Morgan Construction Co Conveyer for metal bars.
US2244670A (en) * 1939-10-30 1941-06-10 Edward L Benedict Cooking and vending machine
US2602392A (en) * 1950-09-20 1952-07-08 Panken Albert Frankfurter grill
US3391633A (en) * 1966-12-16 1968-07-09 Mike Boosalis Apparatus for heating and dispensing food articles
US3477560A (en) * 1967-12-08 1969-11-11 Accum Matic Systems Inc Automatic accumulating down elevator
US3734740A (en) * 1971-05-24 1973-05-22 S Zenos Continuous food cooking device
US4034661A (en) * 1976-06-08 1977-07-12 Michael Boosalis Apparatus for heating and dispensing food articles
US4273253A (en) * 1978-10-26 1981-06-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Automatic vending machine

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US863842A (en) * 1907-03-02 1907-08-20 Morgan Construction Co Conveyer for metal bars.
US2244670A (en) * 1939-10-30 1941-06-10 Edward L Benedict Cooking and vending machine
US2602392A (en) * 1950-09-20 1952-07-08 Panken Albert Frankfurter grill
US3391633A (en) * 1966-12-16 1968-07-09 Mike Boosalis Apparatus for heating and dispensing food articles
US3477560A (en) * 1967-12-08 1969-11-11 Accum Matic Systems Inc Automatic accumulating down elevator
US3734740A (en) * 1971-05-24 1973-05-22 S Zenos Continuous food cooking device
US4034661A (en) * 1976-06-08 1977-07-12 Michael Boosalis Apparatus for heating and dispensing food articles
US4273253A (en) * 1978-10-26 1981-06-16 Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. Automatic vending machine

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2597239A1 (fr) * 1986-04-14 1987-10-16 Castel Alain Ensemble de distribution automatique de plats cuisines chauds
WO2022020051A1 (fr) * 2020-07-22 2022-01-27 Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Distributeur automatique pour produits alimentaires
US11398125B2 (en) 2020-07-22 2022-07-26 Frito-Lay North America, Inc. Vending machine for foodstuffs

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0160644A1 (fr) 1985-11-13

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