FR2458851A1 - Automatic hot food vending machine - uses microwave heating of food stored in frozen state - Google Patents

Abstract

The automatic food dispenser holds food in a freezer compartment till an item is required. The item is automatically selected from frozen storage and passed through a microwave oven, and an infrared heater if required, to provide heated food. A double glazed facing allows the food to be seen, while the refrigerator (5) condensing radiator (7) is at the back of the freezer enclosure. When a coin is introduced (15) the appropriate retaining door (11) is electrically opened allowing food to slide out of the storage tray (10) and to pass through a microwave oven (9). After the required heating time a trap (14) opens allowing the food to slide to the serving tray (17). A trap (13) at the entrance to the microwave oven prevents loss of cold air from the refrigerated chamber, and automatic defrosting may be provided.

Description

DESCRIPTION the subject of the present invention is, as new industrial products, a distributor of food products, solid or liquid, at controlled temperature,
Distributors of products are already known, mainly consisting of a cabinet in which are placed lockers intended to contain the goods. 0 By introducing a coin into an opening provided for this purpose, the user can unlock one of his lockers choice, to take the goods there I1 there is a wide variety of execution of this device.

However, these devices have 2 major drawbacks a) It is not possible to distribute perishable foodstuffs, since the recharging of the device is only done in a period of time, most often very widely spaced.

b) It is not possible to distribute hot food there.

The present invention aims to remedy these drawbacks and relates to an apparatus consisting of a refrigerated and transparent enclosure, in which foodstuffs are stored in selectable racks from the outside, as well as a microwave in which the food selected by the buyer is automatically reheated.

the advantages of such a device are considerable - possibility of keeping food which is normally perishable - possibility of distributing hot consumable products of perfect quality.

By way of nonlimiting example, an embodiment of such an invention is described below
Thus referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the dispenser, Figure 2 a section of the device0
Thus in 1 is shown the packaging of the dispenser.

In 2 the access door allowing in particular the recharging of the distributor
In 3 is shown an insulated and armored double glazing allowing the user to see the goods.

In 4 is shown an insulated wall
In 5 a refrigeration unit.

In 6 the refrigeration coils0
In 7 the radiator of the refrigeration unit.

In 8 the tank for receiving the thawing water.

In 9 a microwave oven.

In 10 inclined lockers intended to receive the goods.

In 11 of the goods retention shutters0
In 12 inclined slopes.

In 13 a section for the passage of goods.

In 15 the device for introducing and controlling the currency.

In 16 an electrical and electronic servo device.

In 17 a table for receiving the goods by the user.

the dispenser works as follows
A coin is introduced into the device 15 which gives an impulse to the control center 16, the latter triggers a retaining flap 11. When this flap opens, the goods which are contained in the locker 10 fall in the enclosure 18 to be reheated by the microwave oven 9. After the reheating time, the flap 14 in turn opens and the goods slide on the shelf 17 to be presented to the buyer.

the refrigeration unit maintains a selected temperature in the storage enclosure.

the airtight shutter 13 prevents loss of cold by gravity.

it is understood that the present description is not limiting and is simply an embodiment to which numerous modifications can be made, without however departing from the scope of its application.

Thus in particular - The temperature inside the storage enclosure can be defined either for frozen or deep-frozen products or simply for fresh products.

- the microwave oven can be completed with an infrared ramp.

- the refrigeration unit can be equipped with an automatic defrosting system, defrosting taking place either at a regular time interval, or when there is ice on the refrigeration coils.

- food products can be packaged in packaging.

- A towel, for example cellulose, can be placed in or on each package.

- there may be an opening in the dispenser connected to a plastic bag c This opening is intended to receive packaging and used paper.

- there may be liquid in impermeable packaging.

- The goods can be distributed cold.

- there may be several different foods in the m3me packaging c

Claims (7)

 CLAIMS 1) Automatic device for distributing food products, characterized in that said products consist of individual doses stored in a refrigerated enclosure and reheated at the time of their distribution. 2) Automatic vending machine according to claim 1 characterized in that the operations of leaving the refrigerated storage enclosure, reheating and presentation to customers are carried out automatically0 3) Automatic dispensing device according to the above claims characterized in that the refrigeration of the enclosure is obtained by a refrigeration unit placed dan6 read distributor0 4) Automatic dispensing apparatus according to the above claims characterized in that the heating of the products is obtained by exposure to microwave radiation from an incorporated generator, with or without the addition of ramped infrared ramps. 5) Automatic dispensing device according to the above claims characterized in that the products are stored in inclined racks of which the lowest part consists of a flap which opens during selection, to let escape the product in a reception enclosure. 6) Automatic dispensing device according to one of the above claims characterized in that the products can be packed with or without a cellulose or other towel in the packaging or fixed on the packaging. 7) Automatic dispensing device according to the above claims characterized in that the packaging of the products can between waterproof, dewlap to be able to contain viscous or even liquid products.