Patent ID: 8087350
Filing Date: 2012-01-03
Classification: G07F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for providing French fries to a consumer, the apparatus comprising: a cupboard having a recess for receiving and dispensing a container containing cooked French fries to the consumer, said cupboard having a means for receiving a payment; a means of storing precooked and frozen French fries in said cupboard; a first means for discharging the precooked and frozen French fries from the means for storing; a means for weighing a desired quantity of the discharged French fries; a basket suitable for receiving the weighed French fries from said weighing means, said basket being pivotally mounted in said cupboard about a horizontal axis, said basket having a shaft extend outwardly therefrom along said horizontal axis, said basket having a non-retractable bottom; a means for cooking the received French fries from the means for weighing by way of the means for receiving; a second means for discharging the cooked French fries from the means for receiving; a means for conveying the discharged and cooked French fries toward said recess; a means for displacing the means for receiving and the means for cooking and the means for conveying; a means for storing containers that will contain the discharged and cooked French fries; a means for dispensing the containers one by one from the means for storing containers adjacent and inside said recess; a means for triggering a cycle of providing the discharged and cooked French fries cooperative with said means for receiving payment; a means for managing the cycle of providing the discharged and cooked French fries so as to carry out the steps of the cycle; and a driver connected to said shaft of said basket so as to cause said basket to swing about said horizontal axis when said basket is positioned beneath said means for cooking, said shaft rotatably connected to said driver such that said driver swings the basket about said horizontal axis as to mix the French fries inside said basket and to turn said basket upside-down, said horizontal axis being generally parallel to a direction of moving the basket between the means for dispensing and the means for cooking.