Abstract:
The invention concerns a prepayment device for dispensing French fries. The pre-cooked and frozen French fries are discharged from storage, and a determined amount is weighed corresponding to one or more portions. The French fries are then received by a receiver which moves between the weighing zone, and the cooking zone, followed by conveyance of the discharged and transported cooked French fries to a container from storage. The device uses a swinging movement of the receiver, enabling the French fries to be mixed and turned ensuring that they are homogeneously cooked. An additional feature of the device is that the cooked French fries are discharged with a tilting movement about an axis towards the transport for the cooked French fries to the container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     (1) Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a prepayment device for dispensing French fries. This device is designed capable of ensuring, on the one hand, the storage of precooked and frozen French fries and, on the other hand and automatically, cooking a determined quantity of French fries before dispensing them, contained in a container, to a consumer.  
         [0003]     The invention relates to the field of the manufacture of the automatic devices for dispensing French fries to a consumer against previous payment.  
         [0004]     (2) Description of the Prior Art  
         [0005]     There are already known a number of devices of the above-mentioned type. In particular, from EP-0,636,334 is known a prepayment dispenser for French fries, in which precooked and frozen French fries are stored before being conveyed into a container consisting of a plate edged by rims. This container is brought at the level of a cooking station for French fries where this container is shaken through a vibrating device so that the French fries move and jump on the plate, in order to ensure a homogenous cooking.  
         [0006]     However, in addition to the fact that this vibrating device proves far from being efficient and does not at all allow a homogenous cooking of French fries, this vibrating device, on the one hand, requires a particular and complex installation of the French fries dispenser (fixed slides, movable slides, helical springs, . . . ) and, on the other hand, causes premature dysfunctions and degradations at the level of the dispenser because of the repeated vibrations.  
         [0007]     Moreover, this dispenser comprises means for ensuring the discharge of cooked French fries towards a station for dispensing these French fries to the consumer, these discharge means consisting in mounting the plate of the container in a retractable way. In this respect, it should be noted that this mounting has a number of drawbacks related to the retractable design of this plate as well as to the (greasy) nature of the French fries arranged on this plate. In fact, these drawbacks consist in that, during the discharge of the French fries through retraction of the plate, a number of these French fries remain clamped or hooked at the level of the plate and do not fall into said container. This causes, on the one hand, dissatisfaction of the consumer and, on the other hand, generation of bacteria that adhere to the French fries that remain on the plate and are dispensed at the next dispensing cycle.  
         [0008]     This dispenser also comprises means for storing the containers aimed at containing French fries. These storage means have, they too, a number of drawbacks consisting in that, on the one hand, these containers are stored with their mouth turned upwards, which favors the deposit of dust or the like on the bottom of such a container and, on the other hand, the suction cup effect between the containers and the smoothness of the edges of these containers prevent a suitable seizing and an easy separation of a container from another one.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The invention pretends to be capable of coping with the drawbacks of such an dispenser and consists of a number of improvements that have been made to such a device.  
         [0010]     To this end, the present invention relates to a prepayment device for dispensing French fries, this device being in the form of a cupboard, on the one hand, at the level of which is defined a recess for receiving and dispensing to a consumer a container containing cooked French fries as well as means for receiving payment means and, on the other hand, inside which are installed: 
        means for storing, at a suitable temperature, precooked and frozen French fries;     means for discharging these French fries from these storage means;     means for weighing a determined quantity of French fries, coming from the discharge means and the storage means, and corresponding to one or several portions of French fries;     means for receiving the weighed French fries coming from the weighing means;     means for cooking the weighed French fries received by the receiving means;     means for discharging from the receiving means the cooked French fries received by the receiving means;     means for conveying the French fries discharged from the receiving means towards the recess for receiving and dispensing a container of French fries;     means for ensuring a displacement of the means for receiving French fries between the weighing means, the cooking means and the conveying means;     means for storing the containers aimed at containing French fries as well as means for dispensing these containers one by one and inside the recess;     control means for triggering a cycle of dispensing the French fries associated with the means for receiving the payment means;     means, in particular activated by said control means, and arranged in order to ensure the management of the carrying out of the various steps of the cycle of dispensing of French fries.        
 
         [0022]     This device for dispensing French fries is characterized in that it comprises means for communicating to the means for receiving French fries a swinging motion about an axis, this when these receiving means are positioned at the level of the means for cooking these French fries.  
         [0023]     According to an additional feature, the discharge means consist of means for communicating to the means for receiving French fries a swinging motion about an axis and towards the conveying means.  
         [0024]     According to another feature of the invention, the means for ensuring a displacement are comprised, on the one hand, of a carriage, which the means for receiving French fries are made integral with, on the other hand, a guiding path on which this carriage is movably mounted and, still on the other hand, of motorized means for driving this carriage on this guiding path, this between the weighing means, the cooking means and the conveying means.  
         [0025]     An additional feature consists in that the carriage comprises means for rotationally mounting, on the latter and according to a substantially horizontal axis, means for receiving the French fries, these means for rotationally mounting being comprised, on the one hand, of bearings defined at the level of the carriage and, on the other hand, of shaft lengths defined at the level of the receiving means and designed capable of cooperating with said bearings.  
         [0026]     In fact, the means for communicating to the means for receiving the French fries a swinging motion consist of driving means capable of cooperating with a first shaft length defined at the level of the means for receiving the French fries for driving the latter according to a swinging motion, this in the cooking position of these receiving means.  
         [0027]     The means for communicating a swinging motion to the means for receiving the French fries consist of second driving means capable of cooperating with a second shaft length defined at the level of the means for receiving the French fries, in order to drive the latter according to a swinging motion, this in the discharge position of these receiving means.  
         [0028]     According to another feature of the invention, the means for discharging the French fries from the storage means consist of at least two rotating brushes installed at the outlet of said storage means, having an opposite direction of rotation, in order to ensure the driving of the French fries, and the rotational actuation of which is, at least partly, controlled by the weighing means.  
         [0029]     Still another feature relates to the fact that the means for dispensing containers comprise, on the one hand, means for seizing, in particular means forming a suction-cup, such a container stored at the level of the storage means and, on the other hand, means for turning such a container upside down in a filling position.  
         [0030]     The advantages of this invention reside in that the means for receiving the French fries can adopt a swinging motion when these receiving means are located at the level of the means for cooking the French fries. Such a swinging motion allows mixing and turning the French fries upside down, thus authorizing a homogenous cooking of the latter.  
         [0031]     Other aims and advantages of this invention will become clear when reading the following description related to embodiments which are given only by way of illustrative and non-restrictive examples. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0032]     This description will be better understood when referring to the attached drawings, in which:  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a schematic and perspective view of the front face of a prepayment device for dispensing French fries according to the invention;  
         [0034]      FIG. 2  is a schematic and front view of part of the internal installation of the technical means the device according to the invention internally comprises;  
         [0035]      FIG. 3  is a schematic and side view of part of the internal installation of the technical means the device according to the invention internally comprises;  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a schematic front and detail view of the means for storing and dispensing containers, this in various positions of the latter;  
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a schematic side and detail view of the means for dispensing containers shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0038]     The present invention relates to the field of the manufacture of prepayment devices  1  for dispensing French fries.  
         [0039]     In  FIG. 1  is shown the front face of such a device  1 , which is, usually and externally, in the form of a cupboard  2 , in particular a metal and generally parallelepiped-shaped cupboard.  
         [0040]     The front face of this device  1  comprises means  3  for receiving payment means (not shown). Such receiving means  3  can be in the form of at least a slot for inserting, as the case may be, coins and/or a payment card (magnetic, chip card or the like) forming said payment means.  
         [0041]     As can be seen in this same  FIG. 1 , there is defined, at the level of the front face of this cupboard  2 , an opening  4  providing access to a recess  5 , namely likely to be closed by a (for example vertically movable) trap door  6 . This recess  5  is designed, on the one hand, for receiving a container  7  (for example a tray, a goblet or the like), namely waiting for containing cooked French fries and, on the other hand, for dispensing to a consumer such a container  7  containing cooked French fries.  
         [0042]     In the further description, reference will be made, more particularly and except otherwise specified, to arrangements and technical means, which the device  1  internally comprises.  
         [0043]     In this respect, it should be noted that this device  1  comprises, internally, means  8  for storing (empty) containers  7  aimed at containing French fries as well as means  9  for dispensing these containers  7  one by one and in said recess  5 .  
         [0044]     According to the invention, the means  9  for dispensing these containers  7  comprise, on the one hand, means for seizing  10  such a container  7  stored at the level of storage means  8  and, on the other hand, means for turning  11  such a container  7  upside down designed capable of bringing the latter  7 , after it has been seized by the seizing means  10 , into a filling position (mouth of the container turned upwards) in which the seizing means  10  releases said container  7 .  
         [0045]     In this respect, it should be noted that the seizing means  10  releases said container  7  at the level of means for receiving  9 A this container  7  the means for dispensing  9  such a container  7  comprise, and which ( 9 A) adopts the shape of a pair of parallel rods, on the one hand, which are designed capable of being separated (namely through rotation about an axis as can be seen in  FIG. 5 ), in order to release such a container  7 .  
         [0046]     In fact, this container  7  is released vertically with respect to the recess  5 , which is supplemented with sucking means  9 B, which obliges such a container  7  to integrate into this recess  5  and to remain in place there at least during its filling with French fries.  
         [0047]     In this respect, it should be noted that this sucking means  9 B can also be designed capable of sucking eventual French fries fallen outside a container  7  during the phase of filling the latter  1 .  
         [0048]     As regards said seizing means  10 , it consists of means forming a suction cup  12  designed capable of cooperating with the bottom  13  of a container  7  and associated to said means for turning upside down  11 .  
         [0049]     Such means forming a suction cup  12  preferably consists of a silicone suction cup connected to a vacuum pump.  
         [0050]     As regards said meaning for turning upside down  11 , it consists of an arm  14  mounted in a hinged way at the level of its one end  15  and receiving, at the level of its other end  16 , said means for seizing  10  a container  7 .  
         [0051]     In fact, these dispensing means  9  are, at least partly, designed capable of seizing a container  7  stored at the level of the storage means  8  comprising, on the one hand, means  17  for receiving piled-up containers  7  so that their bottoms  13  are turned upwards and their mouth downwards and, on the other hand, means  18  for automatically raising the level of the receiving means  17  as the dispensing of containers  7  progresses, this so that the upper container of the pile is always at the level of the seizing means  10 .  
         [0052]     The device  1  also comprises, internally, means for storing  19 , at an appropriate temperature (generally about ˜18° C.), precooked and frozen French fries as well as means  20  for discharging these French fries from said storage means  19  and supplementing the latter  19 .  
         [0053]     In this respect, the invention consists in that the means  20  for discharging the French fries from the storage means  19  consist of at least two rotating brushes  21 ,  21 ′ installed at the outlet of said storage means  19  and having an opposite direction of rotation, in order to ensure the driving of the French fries.  
         [0054]     Such rotating brushes  21 ,  21 ′ turn about two preferably parallel axes the distance between which is substantially equal to the diameter of such a brush.  
         [0055]     Such discharge means  20  allow, on the one hand, gathering the French fries at the outlet of the storage means  19  and, on the other hand, retaining some French fries in the tangle of the bristles of the brushes  21 ,  21 ′ and inside the storage means  19  at an adequate deep-freeze temperature.  
         [0056]     The device  1  comprises, in addition, means  22  arranged so as to ensure weighing a determined quantity (predetermined weight) of French fries coming from the discharge means  20  and the storage means  19 , and corresponding to one or several portions of French fries.  
         [0057]     Such weighing means  22  adopt, for example, the form of two cups, articulated according to two parallel axes, and mounted on two parallel arms integral with an electronic weighing system.  
         [0058]     In this respect, it should be noted that, according to the invention, the actuation in rotation of the rotating brushes  21 ,  21 ′ is, at least partly, controlled by the weighing means  22 . In fact, the device  1  can be designed so that, when the weight of French fries detected by these weighing means  22  corresponds to a portion of French fries, these weighing means  22  control the stoppage of the rotation of the brushes  21 ,  21 ′ and prevent the dispensing of new French fries by the discharge means  20 .  
         [0059]     It should be noted that the storage means  19 , the discharge means  20  and the weighing means  22  can be enclosed in a heat-insulated and cooled chamber so as to maintain, inside this chamber, an adequate temperature (usually about −18° C.) for preserving said French fries in a deep-frozen state.  
         [0060]     In this respect, it should be noted that this insulated chamber can be closed with a closing system designed, on the one hand, to open an opening this chamber comprises vertically with respect to the weighing means during the discharge of a determined quantity of French fries from this chamber and, on the other hand, to close this opening again after such a discharge of French fries.  
         [0061]     In fact, this closing system comprises two sliding carriages on common slides. One of the carriage bears a trap door through hinged arms. The other carriage is motorized and pushes the first carriage through a spring connected to the hinged arms of the trap door, which is, by gravity, in the lower position. When the first carriage arrives at the end of travel through a stop, the motorized carriage continues its travel, actuating the hinged arms, which apply the trap door against the opening of the chamber. The second carriage is locked at the end of travel, ensuring a constant pushing of the trap door through the spring.  
         [0062]     The device  1  also comprises means  23  for receiving the weighed French fries coming from the weighing means  22 . Such receiving means  23  are preferably in the form of a basket or the like, comprising a bottom, upright edges as well as an opening allowing the entering and the leaving of the French fries.  
         [0063]     In fact and as can be seen in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , such receiving means  23  preferably adopt the form of a cylinder, closed at its end, and truncated according to a plane of cutting parallel to an axis of rotation described more in detail in the following description.  
         [0064]     Such receiving means  23  can namely be defined, at least partly, by a grid, an openwork metal sheet or the like.  
         [0065]     This device  1  also comprises means  24  for cooking the weighed French fries received by the receiving means  23 . Such cooking means  24  are, at least partly, in the form of one of several resistors, one or several lamps, namely infra-red, halogen lamps or the like, under which are positioned the means  23  for receiving the French fries.  
         [0066]     According to the invention, the device  1  comprises means  25  for communicating a swinging motion about an axis (in particular a substantially horizontal axis) to the means  23  for receiving the French fries, this when these receiving means  23  are positioned at the level of the means  24  for cooking these French fries.  
         [0067]     Such means  25  for communicating a swinging motion allow ensuring turning upside down and mixing the French fries  4  inside the means  23  for receiving these French fries, which advantageously authorizes a homogenous cooking of the latter.  
         [0068]     Another feature consists in that the device  1  comprises means for managing this swinging motion (namely the speed and/or the amplitude of this motion) namely as a function of the weight, the quantity and/or the shape of the French fries contained in the receiving means  23 .  
         [0069]     Moreover, the device  1  comprises, on the one hand, means  26  for discharging from the receiving means  23  the cooked French fries received by these receiving means  23  and, on the other hand, means  27  for conveying the French fries discharged from the receiving means  23  towards the recess  5  for receiving and dispensing a container  7  with French fries. Such conveying means  27  can consist of a channel or the like ending into the recess  5  and above the mouth of a container  7 .  
         [0070]     According to the invention, the discharge means  26  consist of means  28  for communicating to the means  23  for receiving the French fries a swinging motion about an axis (in particularly, a substantially horizontal axis) and towards the conveying means  27 , this in order to proceed to emptying said receiving means  23 .  
         [0071]     Another feature of the invention consists in that the device  1  comprises means  29  for ensuring a displacement of the means  23  for receiving the French fries between the weighing means  22 , the cooking means  24  and the conveying means  27 .  
         [0072]     According to the invention, these means  29  for ensuring a displacement of the receiving means  23  are comprised, on the one hand, of a carriage  30 , which said means  23  for receiving the French fries are made integral with, on the other hand, of a guiding path  31  on which this carriage  30  is movably mounted, still on the other hand, of motorized means  32  for driving this carriage  30  on this guiding path  31 , this between the weighing means  22 , the cooking means  24  and the conveying means  27 .  
         [0073]     In fact, the device  1  is designed so that this carriage  30  adopts a translation motion between these various means  22 ,  24  and  27 . To this end and according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the guiding path  31  preferably consists of at least two rods on which said carriage  30  is slidably mounted.  
         [0074]     According to another feature of the invention, the carriage  30  comprises means  33  for rotationally mounting on this carriage  30  and according to a substantially horizontal axis means  23  for receiving the French fries.  
         [0075]     These means  33  for rotationally mounting are comprised, on the one hand, of bearings  34 ;  34 ′ defined at the level of the carriage  30 , in particular at the level of supporting side plates  35 ;  35 ′ such a carriage  30  comprises on both sides (and in particular at the level of its ends). In particular, these supporting side plates  35 ;  35 ′ are slidably mounted on the rods of the guiding path  31 .  
         [0076]     On the other hand, these means  33  for rotationally mounting consist of shaft lengths  36 ;  36 ′ defined at the level of the receiving means  23  (in particular on both sides of these receiving means  23 , namely at the level of each end of the latter  23 ) and designed capable of cooperating with said bearings  34 ;  34 ′.  
         [0077]     In this respect, it should be noted that the means  25  for communicating a swinging motion to the means  23  for receiving the French fries consist of first driving means  37  capable of cooperating with a first shaft length  36  defined at the level of these receiving means  23  (in particular at the level of a first end of these receiving means  23 ). Such a cooperation is ensured in order to drive this first shaft length  36  according to a swinging motion and, hence, in order to drive the receiving means  23  according to a swinging motion, this in the cooking position of the latter  23 .  
         [0078]     As regards the means  28  designed capable of communicating a swinging motion to the receiving means  23 , the latter  28  consist of second driving means  37 ′ capable of cooperating with a second shaft length  36 ′ defined at the level of the means  23  for receiving the French fries (in particular at the level of a second end of these receiving means  23 , opposite the one comprising the first shaft length  36 ). Such a cooperation is ensured in order to drive according to a swinging motion this second shaft length  36 ′ and, hence, in order to drive according to a swinging motion these receiving means  23 , this in the discharge position of the latter  23 .  
         [0079]     Another feature consists in that the device  1  also comprises means for providing to the consumer at least a small bag containing, each one and namely at the consumer&#39;s choice, a dose of a condiment(ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper, mayonnaise or the like).  
         [0080]     The device  1  also comprises means, associated with the means for receiving  3  payment means, and designed to ensure the control of the triggering of a cycle of dispensing French fries.  
         [0081]     This device  1  comprises, in addition, means, namely activated by said control means, and arranged so as to ensure the management of the carrying out of the various steps of the cycle of dispensing French fries.  
         [0082]     The operation of device  1  according to the invention is now is described.  
         [0083]     After inserting payment means into said receiving means and when the appropriate sum is inserted or debited, there is proceeded to triggering a cycle of dispensing of French fries, this under the impulse of control means said device  1  comprises and which are associated with the receiving means  3 .  
         [0084]     Such a cycle of dispensing of French fries then consists in ensuring the discharge, through said discharge means  20 , a determined quantity of French fries contained in the storage means  19 . Such discharge is ensured towards the weighing means  22 , which consist, for example, of a tilting tray subjected to means forming a counterweight and arranged to bring back said tray into its filling position after discharging a determined quantity of French fries.  
         [0085]     Once weighed, the French fries are conveyed into the receiving means  23 , which are then moved towards the cooking means  24  at the level of which a swinging motion is communicated to these receiving means  23 .  
         [0086]     After cooking of the French fries, the receiving means  23  are moved towards the conveying means  27  at the level of which a swinging motion is communicated to these receiving means  23 , this in order to discharge the cooked French fries from these receiving means  23 .  
         [0087]     The French fries then fall into a container  7  arranged in the recess  5  and previously delivered by the dispensing means  9 .  
         [0088]     After filling the container, the consumer can actuate the trap door  6  and have access to the recess  5 , this through said opening  4  the device  1  comprises.  
         [0089]     The cycle of dispensing French fries is then completed.  
         [0090]     Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is clearly understood that it is no way limited thereto and that various modifications of shapes, materials and combinations of these various elements can be made, without therefore departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.