WO2018222168A2

WO2018222168A2 - Improvement of a toast vending machine system

Info

Publication number: WO2018222168A2
Application number: PCT/TR2018/050218
Authority: WO
Inventors: Serhan Polat
Original assignee: Serhan Polat
Priority date: 2017-05-29
Filing date: 2018-05-09
Publication date: 2018-12-06
Also published as: WO2018222168A3; WO2018222168A4; TR201707852A2

Abstract

The invention is an improvement on the toast vending machine system and it is a toast vending machine which comprises; a cassette module (1) which enables to make different varieties of toasts (product) and which has a product feed (drive) mechanism (1.1), a feed driving motor (1.2), a feedback channelling (1.3) and a top guiding fixing plate (1.4), a heater module (2) having an induction and/or resistance system which has a stationary heater tin (2.1) that contacts the bottom side of the toast to be heated and a moving heater jaw (2.2) that contacts the top side of the toast to be heated, a cooler module (3) which enables the temperature inside the vending machine to be kept constant and which prevents the product in the vending machine to be deteriorated.

Description

IMPROVEMENT OF A TOAST VENDING MACHINE SYSTEM Technical Field

The invention is related to the improvements made on a toast vending machine system which can serve different varieties of hot toasts and hot and cold beverages along with these toasts, for use in airports, military posts, subway stations, bus terminals, schools, campuses, shopping centres, parks; and any other place that is crowded with people.

Prior Art

Toast is a food product commonly preferred for its quick preparation within the rush of daily life, as it is fulfilling and economical. It is possible to buy a toast nearly in every coffee house and kiosk. However, since toasts are preferred mostly during work and school rush hours where time is limited, people need to wait in the line to buy a toast. Considering that the time is limited, this is not a desirable situation. In addition, in places like outdoor snack bars in which food is sold outdoors, there is no protection insects and the toxin levels may rise because of the influenza pathogen viruses suspended in the air; the products may be stale and as the food is prepared by hand and also as these people come in contact with money, proper hygiene cannot be provided.

The toasts made with home type toasters are made as a result of prolonged labour which includes warming up the toaster and waiting for the toast to be ready for consumption. The metropolitan who is always in a hurry to go somewhere does not have the time to wait for breakfast. It has become a luxury to find practical, healthy and fulfilling snacks or meals in the rush of the city. The need for a food vending machine has arisen with the purpose of decreasing the waiting period and encouraging the consumption of healthy and fulfilling food.

Use of vending machines is common in the food sector and they have been used for canned beverages, packed snacks etc. for a long time. The existing vending machines have been improved for these beverages and/or foods and their use for other food products have been enabled.

The mechanism used in the first vending machines was operated by lining up of canned beverages on top of each other or back-to-back, the money being disposed in the pay box and the can to be passed over to the chamber. When the system was improved, it turned into a spring-like system with the products being placed into the spaces between the springs, money being disposed, the shelf carrying the product being chosen and the spring releasing the product into the chamber by rotating.

In the mentioned systems, the products having the same price and packages need to be aligned on the shelves or the springs by a service personnel one by one. This leads to inefficient use of both time and workforce. Sometimes it is not possible for the foods which do not have the same package size to be aligned on the shelves with fixed gaps or springs with fixed spaces. In these circumstances, the product range cannot be increased. When a change in the prices of the food products which come into the market in vending machines occurs; it becomes necessary for the prices to be modified manually by an authorized person one by one for each shelf or each spring system. In this situation, prices may be entered incorrectly because of absent-mindedness of the person, stress or other reasons and there can be a loss in profits. In the vending systems for packed food, by choosing glass or other transparent material for the front surface, it is enabled for the product type and all the movement until the product drops into the chamber to be seen. These front faces which are fragile and delicate, inclined to be scratched and deformed are not resistant against impact and seasonal changes. Since they need to be changed frequently, considering the material to be used, maintenance and repair service personnel and the time factor, the costs will continually rise. In the previous vending machine applications, the front surface is completely closed. As long as obtaining an elegant display is not aimed, both usages are still common. Especially for the hot beverage vending machines used for tea and coffee service, closed display is preferred. The vending machines can provide the sale of any kind of cosmetics, books, umbrellas, clothes and hygiene products by means of the present spring systems. Therefore, in case of an urgent need, the supply of any kind of material can be provided anytime, anywhere. The use of this spring system changes according to the need in every field and becomes widespread depending on the location.

Another use of vending machines is vending machines with completely automatic arms. In these vending machines, the electronic arm retrieves the product and transfers it to the chamber part. As a result, the product can be retrieved from the chamber. Although this application has become more widespread with the help of the ongoing studies, it is not preferred since the arms are programmed and the costs increase depending on the changes that are desired to be made in relation to the usage angles. In the vending machine applications providing hot beverage service; different hot beverage services, primarily tea and coffee are enabled. These systems are systems in which the hot water is kept in one reservoir and the coffee and tea are kept in another reservoir and they are brought together afterwards. Another example of the hot beverage vending machines is where the coffee is prepared by vaporization and dripping systems, just as it is prepared in the present filtered coffee machines. The common use of both systems continues today.

Following the opportunity provided in automats for hot serving of beverages, not only different types of food and beverages were enabled to be sold but also additions have been made to the beverage automats and developments have been carried out and an automat system which provides both food and beverages have been created. These systems are mostly used in countries such as China, United States of America and India where the population is crowded and the working hours are intense, and in places occupied with subways, grand plazas and factories. As a result, any kind of food and beverage service is provided in these places.

As the mechanism used in vending machines changes, sales of the foods having the desired taste will be provided. By this means, with every alteration made, presenting the foods and beverages which need to be served hot and produced according to the culture and delight of the countries will be provided by means of the vending machines.

In some present vending machines, the opportunity to serve many different type of food products to the consumer as hot food is presented; such as pizzas, sandwiches and fast food by the use of a microwave heating system. This system cannot meet the modern-day consumer's demands considering that the warm-up period of each meal is different and the smell and taste of the food mixes since the same heating chamber is used for all food products, and structural deterioration occurs when heating greasy food products.

An invention used in the known state of the art is the patent number TR2015 16622 titled Toast Vending Machine.' The invention is a toast vending machine characterized by at least two different and / or same toast placement chambers in which different toast ingredients are ready, pressure toaster which provides the warm-up and compression of the toast, travelling band which enables the movement of the toast ingredients dropping form the chamber, beverage vending machines which provide for the preparation of hot and / or cold beverages, toast and beverage retrieval chambers, cooling fan which enables the cooling of the toasts in the chamber and cold beverage vending machine and the payment system which enables the payment with cash or credit card. As can be seen in the detailed description of the invention; the travelling band and the press system is removed in the present system and the cassette module, heater module using the induction heating system and the automation system is added instead. By this means, the improvement of the present invention and complete differentiation as a system is provided.

The invention is a vending machine improved for hot toast service to the consumers and in one embodiment, hot and / or cold beverage service is also enabled.

Figures for the Description of the Invention

The toast vending machine developed according to the purpose of this invention is shown in the attached figures according to these figures;

Figure 1 is the Front View of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 2 is the Perspective View of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 3 is the Top View of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 4 is the Side View of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 5 is the View of the Inner Mechanism of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 6 is the Perspective View of the Inner Mechanism of One Embodiment of the Toast Vending Machine

Figure 7 is the Front View of One Embodiment of the Cassette Structure

Figure 8 is the Side View of One Embodiment of the Dual Cassette Structure

Figure 9 is the Perspective View of One Embodiment of the Dual Cassette Structure

Reference Numbers for the Description of the Invention

The parts in the figures are numbered one by one and the references are given below.

1. Cassette Module

1.1. Product Feed (Drive) Mechanism

1.2. Feed Driving Motor

1.3. Feed Back Channelling

1.4. Top Guiding Fixing Plate

2. Heater Module

2.1. Stationary Heater Tine

2.2. Moving Heater Tine

3. Cooler Module

4. Product Delivery Unit

5. Touch Control Panel 6. Display

7. Hatch

8. Base Frame

9. Automatization System

10. Payment Module

10.1. Banknote Module

10.2. Coin Module

10.3. Credit Card Module

11. Sensor

12. Representational Hot Beverage Vending Machine

13. Representational Cold Beverage Vending Machine

Description of the Invention The invention is an improvement on the toast vending machine system and the toast vending machine which contains; a cassette module (1 ) which provides making different varieties of toasts (product) and which has a product feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ), a feed driving motor (1 .2), a feedback channelling (1 .3) and a top guiding fixing plate (1 .4), heater module (2) having an induction heating system which has a stationary heater jaw (2.1 ) that contacts the bottom side of the toast to be heated and a moving heater jaw (2.2) that contacts the top side of the toast to be heated, a cooler module (3) which enables keeping the temperature inside the vending machine fixed and preventing the deterioration of the products inside the vending machine, a product delivery unit (4) where the consumer can receive the product, a touch control panel (5) which enables managing the operations of product load, discharge, exchange etc. by means of the suitable software for the vending machine, display (6) which enables the information flow about the product and/or advertising and promotion, a hatch (7) which can be opened by the authorized personnel only and which enables the cassettes to be placed inside the inner chamber or replaced, a base frame (8) which enables the size of the vending machine to be changed according to the product number variety in which all the components are included, an automatization system (9) which enables obtaining the work flow and the statistical data during product loading and discharge, payment module (10) having a banknote module (10.1 ), coin module (10,2) and credit card module (10.3) according to the need, sensors (1 1 ) which provide for the communication of the location and information of the malfunction to occur in the components, the location of the vending machine, the temperature of the vending machine and the humidity to the headquarters, hot beverage vending machine (12) and/or cold beverage vending machine (13) which can serve hot and / or cold beverage service depending on the preference. In this vending machine, the toasts which have been previously wrapped inside waxed paper or foil according to the variety are placed into the cassette modules (1 ) of the invention. The consumer can choose one of several of different product varieties and can pay through the payment module (10) with a credit / debit card, cash or coin. By means of the top guiding fixing plate (1 .4) which enables the product to be held on top of each other in the cassette system (1 ) without being scattered and the upper limit inside the cassette to be determined and the feedback channelling (1 .3) and feed driving motor (1 .2) which is at the bottom part of the fixed cassette module, the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) which moves forward on the horizontal plane conveys the requested product from the cassette structure (1 ) to the heater module (2). The heater module (2) heats the toast placed inside it at the desired temperature and time with the induction heating system. With the induction heating system, the temperature of the heater jaws (2.1 , 2.2) can increase up to 1200°C within seconds and it can heat only the parts of the heater jaws (2.1 , 2.2) wished to be heated. When the product is ready for consumption, the task of the heater module (2) is completed and the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) kicks in again and conveys the product to the product delivery unit (4) by moving back and forth on the horizontal plane. The consumer is alerted for the product reaching at the product delivery unit (4) by a stimulus such as a signal/colour/light/sound.

In one embodiment of the invention the toasts wrapped in waxed paper/foil, sorted according to their varieties by a centre are aligned in the cassettes. On the cassette (1 ), there is a quick response code (QR code) or a barcode on which the necessary information related to the number of the products, variety, production and expiration dates, identity of the service personnel who placed the cassette (1 ) into the vending machine are imprinted with detail. While the filled cassette (1 ) is being placed into the vending machine at the sales point, the empty cassettes (1 ) are taken out, the QR code or barcode of the cassettes (1 ) are scanned on the code reader of the vending machine again. In the principle of the automatization system (9) developed by using square code or barcode, the cassettes (1 ) are replaced periodically based on product life. When the lower limit determined for the products in the cassette (1 ) is exceeded, "low-in-product" notice is sent to the headquarters automatically. The expired products are removed from the stock system by scanning the QR codes or barcodes again as the periodically replaced cassettes (1 ) are taken out from the vending machine.

This way, information such as the amount of the lost product during the shipment of the cassettes (1 ) transported at the sales point from the centre, shipment duration, the amount and variety of the expired product, the amount and variety of product requested according to the sales point can be obtained and stock, cost, gain or loss charts can be generated by the centre. In addition, the sensors (1 1 ) placed in the vending machine sends the information related to the location of the vending machine, the temperature inside the vending machine and the amount of humidity, the location and information of the malfunction to occur in the components and whether the vending machine operates properly to the centre automatically. This way, the malfunctions to occur in the vending machine can be intervened as soon as possible.

In one embodiment of the invention, procedures such as instantaneous price changes and campaigns can be carried out by the persons/managers authorized by the headquarters or from the headquarters with the automatization system (9).

In one embodiment of the invention, the touch control panel (5) can detect voice commands and provide ease of use for disabled users.

In one embodiment of the invention, the payment module (10) provides risk analysis for banknotes or coins, which means it checks whether they are counterfeit or not and gives change if necessary. For the credit/debit cards, it takes approval from the related institution systems and the process starts upon approval. With this payment module (10), the use of counterfeit money is prevented. The difference of the invention from other vending machines as a mechanism is that the product does not move by being placed between springs like the present spiral systems but the toasts in the form of cold sandwiches are lined in different cassettes (1 ) such that they are aligned on top of each other. With this cassette system (1 ), the deformation of the components and/or the product and the scattering of the toasts or their ingredients falling into the product delivery unit (4) that could occur in the present spring spiral system will be prevented. This way, proper toast service will be provided with minimum destruction.

In one embodiment of the invention, in the heater module (2) containing the stationary heater jaw (2.1 ) which enables the heating of the toast to be heated by contacting the bottom side and the moving heater jaw (2.2) which enables the heating of the toast to be heated by contacting the top side, by using a resistance or induction system, it is aimed to save time and energy. For the toast to be at the desired toasting temperature and the level of the toasting to be adjusted, the selection of temperature and duration can be also added to the vending machine. In one embodiment of the invention, the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) is preferably coated with insulating material with the purpose of preventing the product to be affected by temperature. In the invention, the present cooling module (3) is placed with the purpose of preventing the ready- for-consumption and foil/waxed paper wrapped toasts in the cassette (1 ) to deteriorate and grow bacteria and keeping the beverages to be served cold from the cold beverage vending machine (13). Without the cooler module (3), both because of the high temperature the heater module (2) in the vending machine creates and the direct sunlight it may be exposed to in the open air; both the risk of deterioration may arise with the ready toasts in the cassette (1 ) and problems may occur with the service to be made from the cold beverage vending machine (13). Therefore, the cooler module (3) is essential both for the present vending machine to operate for a long period of time and for the toasts in the cassette (1 ) to be kept fresh and the cold beverages to be protected. In one embodiment of the invention, preferably, hot and/or cold beverage service can be performed. For hot and/or cold beverage service, a separate unit/unit(s) (12, 13) may be mounted to the vending machine or it may be produced so as to be integrated with the vending machine. In different embodiments of the invention the hatch (7) can be brought to use as covered with a printed or unprinted surface to prevent the inner mechanism to be seen and / or as a television unit, for advertisement and promotion.

The invention is developed with the purpose of enabling the toast which is consumed frequently in the daily life at any time in the day, anywhere with beverages and which saves time for the consumer by preventing long queues to be formed. With this improvement, toast will be consumed more practically and be retrieved from the vending machine in a hot and cooked state. With the addition of different types of beverages along with the toasts, such as tea or coffee and cold beverages such as gaseous/gas free beverages, juices, dairy types, buttermilk, lemonade can also be served.

The invention is related to an improvement on a toast vending machine system and the parts, numbers, figures, materials used and dimensions mentioned herein, do not limit the scope of the invention since they can be variable.

Claims

The invention is an improvement on the toast vending machine system wherein said toast vending machine comprises; a cassette module (1 ) which enables to make different varieties of toasts (product) and which has a product feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ), a feed driving motor (1 .

2), a feedback channelling (1 .

3) and a top guiding fixing plate (1 .

4), a heater module (2) having an induction and/or resistance system which has a stationary heater tin (2.1 ) that contacts the bottom side of the toast to be heated and a mobile heater jaw (2.2) that contacts the top side of the toast to be heated, a cooler module (3) which enables the temperature inside the vending machine to be kept constant and prevents the product in the vending machine to be deteriorated, a product delivery unit (4) where the consumer can receive the product, a touch control panel

(5) which enables the loading, discharging, exchanging, etc. by means of the suitable software for the vending machine, a display

(6) which enables the information flow relating to the product and/or which provides advertising and promotion, a hatch (7) which enables the cassettes (1 ) to be placed in the inner chamber or the cassettes to be replaced and which can be opened only by the authorized personnel, a base frame (8) which enables the size of the vending machine to be changed according to the product number variety in which all the components are included, an automatization system (9) which enables obtaining the work flow and the statistical data during product loading and discharging, a payment module (10) having a banknote module (10.1 ), coin module (10,2) and credit card module (10.3) according to need, sensors (1 1 ) which enable the communication of the location of the vending machine and the temperature and humidity inside the vending machine and the location and information of the malfunction that might occur in the components of the machine, to the headquarters, and a hot beverage vending machine (12) and/or cold beverage vending machine (13) which can serve hot and / or cold beverage service depending on preference.

An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized in that it has a top guiding fixing plate (1 .4) which enables the toasts which have been packed previously according to their varieties and placed in the cassette modules (1 ) to be held on top of each other in the cassette system (1 ) without being scattered and the upper limit inside the cassette to be determined, the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) which is located at the bottom part of the fixed cassette module (1 ) and which moves forward in a horizontal plane by means of the feedback channelling (1 .3) and feed drive motor (1 .2) and which conveys the toast/toasts to the heater module (2) and a cassette module (1 ) having a feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) which conveys the toast/toasts to the product delivery unit (4) by moving back-and-forth in a horizontal plane by stepping in again after the task of the heater module (2) is completed.

An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by a heater module (2) having a stationary heater jaw (2.1 ) which enables the heating of the toast to be heated by contacting the bottom side of the toast and a mobile heater jaw (2.2) which enables the heating of the toast to be heated by contacting the top side of the toast which heats the toast delivered therein by the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ), at the desired period of time by heating only the sections that are desired to be heated by the heating jaws (2.1 , 2.2) having an induction heating system.

An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having an automatization system (9) wherein in one embodiment of the invention, a quick response code (QR code) or a barcode is provided on the cassette (1 ) which the necessary information related to the number of the products, variety, production and expiration dates, identity of the service personnel who placed the cassette (1 ) into the vending machine are imprinted with detail, and while the filled cassette (1 ) is being placed into the vending machine at the sales point, the empty cassettes (1 ) are taken out, the QR code or barcode of the cassettes (1 ) are scanned on the code reader of the vending machine again, based on the principle that the cassettes (1 ) are replaced periodically according to the product life, when the lower limit determined for the products in the cassette (1) is exceeded, "low-in-product" notice is sent to the headquarters automatically, the expired products are removed from the stock system by scanning the QR codes or barcodes again as the periodically replaced cassettes (1 ) are taken out from the vending machine and wherein the stock, cost, gain or loss charts can be generated by the headquarters.

An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 4, characterized by having an automatization system (9) wherein in one embodiment of the invention, procedures such as instantaneous price changes and campaigns can be carried out by the persons/managers authorized by the headquarters and/or from the headquarters.

An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having sensors (1 1 ) placed inside the vending machine which sends the information related to the location of the vending machine, the temperature and the amount of humidity inside the vending machine, the location and information of the malfunction to occur in the components and whether the vending machine operates properly to the headquarters automatically and thus enables the malfunctions of the vending machine that might occur to be intervened as soon as possible.

7. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having a touch control panel (5), in one embodiment of the invention, which can detect voice commands and provides ease of use for disabled users.

8. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having a payment module (10), in one embodiment of the invention, which can detect whether the cash or coins are counterfeit, which can give change if necessary, obtain approval from the related institution systems for credit/debit cards and starts the operation following said approval.

9. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by the feed (drive) mechanism (1 .1 ) to be coated by using an insulation material preferably with the purpose of preventing the products to be affected by heat.

10. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having a cooling module (3), in one embodiment of the invention, which enables preventing the ready-for-consumption and foil/waxed paper wrapped toasts in the cassette (1 ) from deteriorating and growing bacteria and if said machine comprises beverages, keeping said beverages to be served from the beverage vending machine (13) cold.

11. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by being the toast vending machine, according to an embodiment of the invention, which comprises a hot beverage vending machine (12) and/or cold beverage vending machine (13) that can serve hot and/or cold beverages, as a unit that is separately mounted on the vending machine or as a monolithic unit of the vending machine.

12. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by having a hatch (7) that can be brought to use as a covered hatch with a printed or unprinted surface to prevent the inner mechanism to be seen and/or as a television unit, for advertisement and promotion.

13. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by the toasts that have been placed into the cassette modules (1 ) of the invention as pre-packed toasts according to their varieties preferably wrapped in waxed paper or foil.

14. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by the consumer to be alerted according to an embodiment, with a signal/colour/light/sound for the product reaching the product delivery unit (4) when it is ready for consumption.

15. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , characterized by the addition of a temperature and duration time option to the vending machine according to an embodiment, for the toast to be delivered at the desired toasting temperature and for the level of toasting to be adjusted.

16. An improvement on a toast automatization system according to Claim 1 , where the "products" mentioned in an embodiment is a variety of sandwiches.