Abstract:
A method and apparatus for vending food products from a roller-type grilling machine includes a packaging system that extends the product life on the grilling machine by keeping the food product from directly contacting the grilling machine. By packaging the product in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the food product is kept in a controlled environment until it is opened by the ultimate consumer after being heated by the grilling machine. The packaging is comprised of a cylindrical tube having a diameter that is sufficient to contain the desired food product and that will properly rotate on a roller-type grilling apparatus. Such packaging may comprise an elongate tube formed from heat tolerant plastic, cardboard-type paper lined with metal foil, or other materials known in the art. End caps are attached to the ends of the elongate tube and sealed relative thereto. At least one of the caps is designed to be relatively easily removed from the tube to allow an end user to open the packaging and remove the food product contained therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for vending and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for vending food products on a roller-type grilling apparatus that is typically used to grill hot dogs and other sausage-type products; such roller-type grilling machines being common at convenience stores, concession stands and the like. 
     2. Background of the Invention 
     One of the first roller-type grills was disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,604,842 entitled “Sausage Grill” which issued on Jul. 29, 1952, the teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference. This type of grill has been modernized over the years, but the basic concept remains. That is, a plurality of elongate cylindrical rods are placed in parallel relationship so as to support a hot dog between the rods. The rods are heated to a desired temperature and continuously rotated. As the rods rotate, the hot dogs rotate in an opposite direction within the space created between the rods. By rotating the hot dogs, the hot dogs remain hot without becoming burned, as would be the case if the hot dogs were to be heated by a grill without rotation. 
     Another common type of roller-type grilling apparatus is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,486 (the &#39;485 patent) to Miller, the teachings of which are herein incorporated by reference, in which a plurality of rods extend transversely across an inclined platen. Food items are positioned on the platen between adjacent rods. The rods are then moved a predetermined distance over the platen by in a reciprocating matter to cause the food items to roll on the inclined platen. 
     More modern roller-type grills are similar in size to that shown in the &#39;485 patent and include such features as the ability to create various zones of heat on a single roller-type grill to accommodate different types of foods. For example, the front rollers may be heated to a first temperature with the back rollers heated to a second higher temperature. The front rollers may then be employed to heat a first food product that requires less heating than a second food product placed on the back rollers. More recently, such roller grill units have been utilized to heat in a vending situation food products other than hot dogs. For example, burrito products have been manufactured to roll on and be heated by a roller grill. Such other products, however, have not been successful because of the relatively short product life experienced by such products. 
     Hot dogs have a product life on a roller grill of approximately twenty minutes. It takes approximately twenty minutes for hot dogs to even reach their desired vending temperature. After one hour of exposure, the hot dogs should be discarded and replaced by new products. Thus, the hot dogs only have approximately forty minutes of total vending time, after which they should are be disposed of and replaced with fresh product. It is often the case, however, that hot dogs remain on the grill well after their product life has expired. 
     In addition to the fact that the hot dogs become over cooked if left on a roller grill for more than one hour, the hot dogs can become contaminated with enough bacteria to become harmful to the consumer. Because the food product is not packaged, the food product is touched by hand when placed on the grill. In the case of a convenience store, it is typically the store clerk that is operating the roller grill and placing the food product on the grill. This is typically the same person handling money at the cash register. Thus, cross-contamination between bacteria on money and the food product is highly likely. In addition, if the grill itself is not properly maintained and cleaned, bacteria can be picked up from the grilling apparatus onto the food product. Moreover, the extended period of non-refrigeration of the food product can allow bacteria to grow to dangerous levels on the food product as well. 
     Another problem with roller grills exists with the products themselves. That is, food products such as hot dogs are typically frozen prior to being placed on the grill. If the hotdog or other food product is not sufficiently linearly straight, the food product can “crawl” from roller to roller until the food product falls off of the roller grill and onto the floor. Furthermore, if the hot dogs are not straight, they are commonly placed aside until thawed to allow them to straighten. If not carefully monitored, the hot dogs can sit unheated for an extended period of time even before being placed on the grill, again shortening the product life. 
     Thus, it would be advantageous to provide a food product that can be vended from a roller-type grilling apparatus that has a relatively long product life once placed on the grilling apparatus and that does not directly contact the surface of the grilling apparatus. These and other advantages will become apparent from a reading of the following description of the illustrated embodiments of a method and apparatus for vending food products from a roller-type grilling apparatus in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A method and apparatus for vending food products from a roller-type grilling machine includes a packaging system that extends the product life on the grilling machine by keeping the food product from directly contacting the grilling machine. By packaging the product in accordance with the principles of the present invention, the food product is kept in a controlled environment until it is opened by the ultimate consumer after being heated by the grilling machine. The packaging apparatus and method of vending of the present invention typically increases the product life on the grill from about twenty minutes to over six hours. 
     The present method and apparatus for vending food products from a roller-type grilling apparatus also improves the storage characteristics of the food product. In many case, the food product packaged in accordance with the principles of the present invention need not be refrigerated prior to vending and has a shelf life of several weeks without refrigeration. In other cases where refrigeration is recommended or where the food product is frozen prior to vending, the storage life of the food product is increased from minutes to hours. Thus, an entire day&#39;s supply of product can be thawed overnight on the night before sale and then simply placed as needed on the grilling apparatus as sales warrant during the day. 
     The present invention also improves the handling characteristics for storage and transport prior to sale. That is, because the food product of the present invention is packaged through the vending process and only opened by the end consumer, the operator of the grilling apparatus never touches the edible portion of the product. 
     Furthermore, because the food product is packaged and thus substantially sealed from the external environment, the food itself never touches the grill. Thus, the present invention virtually eliminates the need to clean the roller grill after use. 
     Additionally, the present invention reduces the loss associated with the product becoming stale on the grill. Because the product life on the grill is significantly increased (i.e., from minutes to hours), the timing decisions associated with turning over stale product is removed from the sales staff. That is, based upon the projected sales for a given day based upon prior sales, product can be placed on the grill that is likely to be sold during a period of time. Because that period of time is relatively long, there is significantly less chance that the product in accordance with the present invention will become stale prior to sale. 
     The packaging system of the present invention provides all of the foregoing advantages as well as others not specifically enumerated by comprising either an airtight or pressure relief packaging apparatus to prevent the food contained within the package from becoming contaminated from the package&#39;s external environment until it is opened by the end consumer after heating on a roller grill. Such food products may include hot dogs, hot dogs in a bun, pizza rolls, cinnamon rolls, soups, bagels, pastas, and any other type of food product in which it is desired to vend the food product in a heated state. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the packaging is comprised of a cylindrical tube having a diameter that is sufficient to contain the desired food product and that will properly rotate on a roller-type grilling apparatus. Such packaging may comprise an elongate tube formed from plastic, cardboard-type paper lined with metal foil, or other materials known in the art. End caps are attached to the ends of the elongate tube and sealed relative thereto. At least one of the caps is designed to be relatively easily removed from the tube to allow an end user to open the packaging and remove the food product contained therein. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the packaging is comprised of an elongate tube to which end caps are attached. The end caps have a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the tube. As such, the end caps raise the tube off of the surface of the roller grill to prevent over heating and/or burning of the food product contained therein. Depending upon the heat of the roller grill, the end caps may be formed from a heat resistant material. 
     In another embodiment, the packaging of the present invention is comprised of a cylindrical tube defining a first food product chamber, a first end cap attached to one end of the tube and a second removable end cap attached to the other end of the tube. The second removable end cap defines a second food chamber therein and is sealed from contact with the first food chamber. With such a device, a first food product such as a bread stick can be placed in the first food chamber and a second liquid-type food product such as dipping sauce can be placed in the second food chamber. Thus, once the second end cap is removed and opened by the end user, the first food product can be removed from the first food chamber and dipped into the second food chamber containing the second food product. 
     In yet another embodiment, the packaging of the present invention is configured to rest on a roller grill, but not necessarily rotate with the rollers. The packaging comprises on or more elongate semicircular recesses along the bottom thereof, for receiving a portion of one or more rollers therein. Thus, the packaging rests on top of the roller grill allowing the rollers to spin without any significant movement of the packaging relative to the rollers. In such a way, the packaging can be maintained in an upright position. Such a package may be desired where pressure relief of the packaging is desired as is the case where the food product is primarily in liquid form (e.g., soups). One or more pressure relief valves can be placed in the top of the packaging to allow pressurized steam to escape from the package without the food product from spilling from the packaging. Such a non-rotating package can also be used to house food products that are not typically cylindrically configured such as bagels, cinnamon rolls, and the like. 
     In another embodiment, the packaging includes an outer package containing an inner bag. Such a configuration may be employed with liquid type food products, such as soups. The bag as well as the outer package may include one or more pressure relief valves to allow pressurized steam from escaping from the packaging without causing spilling of the food product. 
     In yet another embodiment, the packaging is comprised of an outer housing that is cylindrical in shape containing an inner housing separated from the outer housing by a plurality of bearings that allow the outer housing to rotate while the inner housing remains in a relatively upright orientation. By weighting the bottom of the inner housing, the inner housing will not rotate as the outer housing rotates. A pressure valve can then be provided in the top or near the top of the inner housing to allow pressurized steam to escape from the inner housing while the outer housing rotates. 
     The packaging system of the present invent on can be configured to provide a standard shape and size of the food product to maximize roller grill space. Because there is typically a cost associated with any vending space, there is a premium on maximizing the space. The packaging system of the present invention can be configured to maximize the amount of food product that can be placed on the grilling apparatus. That is, knowing the size of the grilling apparatus, the packaging containing the food product can be sized and shaped to maximize the surface area of the grilling apparatus so that little space on the grilling apparatus wasted. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIONS 
     In the drawings, which illustrate what is currently considered to be the best mode for carrying out the invention: 
     FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of a second embodiment of a food package containing an edible food product positioned on a pair of rollers of a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a fourth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a fifth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a sixth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is a bottom view of a seventh embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8A is a top view of an eighth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional side view of the food package of FIG. 8; 
     FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a ninth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 10 is an end view of a tenth embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional end view of an eleventh embodiment of food package configured for use with a roller-type grilling machine in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a food packaging apparatus, generally indicated at  10 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The package  10  is relatively simple in construction and comprises an elongate tube  12  and a pair of end caps  14  and  16  that are attached to the ends  18  and  20  of the tube  12 . The tube  12  and end caps  14  and  16  define an inner chamber  17  for housing a food product that can be vended along with the package  10  from a roller-type grilling machine (not shown). The food product is typically a pre-cooked food product that will utilize the grilling machine to heat the food product to a desired eating temperature. Such food products may include, for example, hot dogs, hot dogs with bun, cinnamon rolls, pizza, burritos, breakfast burritos, egg rolls, soup, chili, and any other desired food product. The end caps  14  and  16  may be formed from the same material as the tube  12  or, more likely, formed from plastic or metal with the tube  12  formed from plastic or a cardboard tube with the inside lined with aluminum or other metal foil to prevent moisture from the contents of the package from passing through the tube  12 . In any event, the materials comprising the packaging apparatus  10  is comprised of a material that is capable of withstanding the temperatures associated with roller-type grilling machines known in the art or those designed in the future, which is typically in the range of approximately 90 to 230 degrees Fahrenheit. By packaging the food product while it is being heated, the product life on the grilling machine is extended from about twenty minutes to over six hours without the freshness of the product being significantly diminished. As such, the vendable time period of each product placed on the grilling machine is significantly extended over prior art methods of vending food products from such machines. 
     The end caps  14  and  16  may be adhesively attached to the ends  18  and  20 , respectively, of the tube  12  and are preferably provided with an interference fit between the end caps  14  and  16  and the tube  12 . The end caps  14  and  16  have portions  22  and  24 , respectively, that fit within the tube  12  to better hold the end caps  14  and  16  on the tube  12 . In addition, one or both of the end caps  14  and  16  may be provided with a pull tab  26  to allow the consumer to grasp and pull the end cap  14  from the tube  12 . It is also contemplated that the package of the present invention may be comprised similar to that of a PRINGLES car in which the end cap  14  is scored around its rim such that when the pull tab  26  is pulled, the portion of the end cap  14  that has been scored can be removed while leaving the rim of the end cap  14  attached to the tube  12 . 
     The package  10  may have a cylindrical shape or other round or substantially round shape, such as octagon or other multi-side shape that allows the package to roll relative to the rollers of a roller-type grilling machine. Such a package is particularly useful for containing food products that do not produce a significant amount of steam when heated, such as bread-type products, that may otherwise cause the package to become explosive if pressure within the package is allowed to build beyond the pressure limits of the package. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical food package, generally indicated at  40 , is configured for use on a roller type grilling machine, generally indicated at  42 . The grilling machine  42  is comprised of a pair of heated rollers  44  and  46  that form heating elements of the device and that rotate relative to their longitudinal axis in the direction of the arrows. The food package  40  is placed upon adjacent rollers  44  and  46  and caused to rotate in a direction opposite to the direction of the rollers  44  and  46  as indicated by arrow  48 . The package  40  is comprised of a cylindrical tube  50  that houses a food product such as a hot dog  52  surrounded by a bread product  54  that surrounds the hot dog  52 . By substantially continuously rotating the package  40 , the points of contact between the rollers  44  and  46  and the tube  50  substantially continuously change preventing the rollers from burning the food product  54  contained within the tube  50 . Conversely, if the package  50  were to stay in the position shown in FIG. 2 with the rollers  44  and  46  not rotating, hot spots would develop in the food product  54  originating at the points of contact between the rollers  42  and  44  and the tube  50  that would potentially cause the food product  54  to burn. The food products  52  and  54  substantially fill the inner diameter of the tube  50  so as to provide substantially even weighting of the tube  50  relative to its longitudinal axis. In doing so, the tube  50  will roll more easily relative to the rollers and will be less likely to become “stuck” relative to the rollers as may be the case if the weight of the food product was shifted to one side of the tube  50 . 
     The rollers  42  and  44  typically have a diameter of approximately 1.5 inches. The distance between adjacent rollers  42  and  44 , from center-to-center of the roller-type grilling machine  42  is typically approximately 2 inches. As such, it may be desired to make the diameter of a cylindrical package  40  configured for rolling atop the pair of adjacent rollers  44  and  46  to be in the range of approximately 1.5 to 2.125 inches. In this way, the diameter of the package  40  is maximized while preventing interference with other such packages  50  that are positioned on the next adjacent pair of rollers. Of course, the diameter of the package  50  could be made larger to span more than two adjacent rollers if desired. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, a food package, generally indicated at  100  in accordance with the principles of the present invention, is illustrated. The food package  100  is comprised of an elongate housing  102  with a pair of end caps  104  and  106 . The end caps  104  and  106  are wider than the housing  102  so as to raise the housing  102  above the rollers of the grilling machine (not shown). In the case where the package  100  is substantially cylindrical, the diameters of the end caps  104  and  106  are greater than the diameter of the tube  102 . Thus, the end caps  104  and  106  rest on the rollers of the roller grill (see FIG. 2) and suspend the housing  102  above the rollers. While heat from the grill can reach the package  100  by heat conduction through the end caps  104  and  106  and by heat convection through the housing  102 , the food product contained within the housing  102  is protected from becoming over heated that may otherwise occur by direct contact between the housing  102  and the grilling machine. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of a food package, generally indicated at  150 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The package  150  is provided with a pair of chambers for containing different food products. The package  150  is comprised of an elongate tube  152  a first end cap  154  attached to the distal end  156  of the tube  152  and a second end cap  158  attached to the proximal end  160  of the tube  152 , the tube  152  and end caps  154  and  158  defining a primary food product chamber  165 . The second end cap  158  includes an end portion  162  and a side wall  164  that define a secondary food chamber  166 . A removable membrane  170  is attached to the distal end  172  of the end cap  158  and separates and prevents intermixing of the food products contained in the primary and secondary chambers  165  and  166 , respectively. The membrane  170  may be comprised of an aluminum or other metal foil sheet  174  adhesively attached to the distal end of the end cap  158 . A pull tab  176  is attached to the membrane  170  proximate an edge thereof for grasping by a user and for removing the membrane  170  from the end cap  158 . The end cap  158  is configured to contain a liquid type food product, such as a dipping sauce, with the primary chamber  165  containing a bread-type product that can be dipped into the end cap  158  once the end cap  158  is removed from the tube  152 . Thus, the end user would first remove the end cap  158  from the tube  152  to separate the two food products and remove the membrane  170  from the end cap  158  to allow access to the secondary chamber  166 . The food product contained in the primary chamber  165  can then be dipped as desired into the secondary chamber  166 . 
     As shown in FIG. 5, it is also desirous to provide a package, generally indicated at  200 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention that can be used in combination with a roller-type grilling machine, generally indicated at  202 , in which the heated rollers  204  and  206  rotate as shown by the arrows while the package  200  remains relatively stationary atop the rollers  204  and  206 . Such a package  200  may be utilized where the food product  208  is primarily in liquid form, such as a soup, chili, or the like. With such liquid-type products, there is a need to allow steam created by the heating of the liquid food product to escape from the packaging  200 . Otherwise, the pressure build up within the package  200  could cause the package  200  to rupture. As such, a pressure release valve  210  is provided in the lid  212  of the package  200  to allow steam formed within the food chamber  214  to escape as needed. Similarly, the pressure relief valve may be replaced with a removable seal that opens a small orifice in the lid  212  to allow steam to escape as the food product is heated. As such, the package  200  could be sealed when shipped and stored and then opened as previously described when placed on the roller grill to allow steam to escape. Because, the package  200  is designed to keep the package  200  in an upright position as it is heated, the opening in the lid  212  will maintain its orientation so that the food product contained within the package  200  is not expelled. The lid  212  is attached to a food tub  216  and defines the food chamber  214  thereinbetween. The tub  216  is comprised of a pair of longitudinally extending semi-circular recesses  220  and  222  that extend along the bottom  224  of the tub  216 . The recesses  220  and  222  are configured for resting upon a corresponding pair of adjacent rollers  204  and  206  while allowing the rollers  204  and  206  to rotate without being significantly impeded by the recesses  220  and  222 . As such, heat from the rollers  204  and  206  can be conducted through the bottom  224  of the tub  216  and into the food product  208  while keeping the tub  216  in an upright position. Such an upright position prevents the pressure relief valve  210  from being positioned below the fluid level  226  of the food product  208  that could otherwise result in the food product  208  from being expelled through the pressure relief valve  210 . 
     While not necessarily required, it is also contemplated that a food bag  228  having its own pressure relief valve  230  may be contained within the tub  216  to contain the food product  208 . Such a bag  228  could be employed to further prevent the liquid-type food product  208  from spilling out of the pressure release valve  210 . 
     As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom  250  of a tub, generally indicated at  252  and having a cross-sectional side view such as that shown in FIG. 5, has a rectangular configuration with the recesses  254  and  256  extending along the length thereof. Such a rectangular configuration can be utilized to maximize the grilling surface area of a roller-type grilling machine. As with the tub  216  shown in FIG. 5, the tub  252  extends beyond the lateral edge of the roller so as to allow a similarly configured tub to be positioned on the next adjacent roller proximate the tub  252 . That is, the distance D between the center-line of the recess  254  to the edge  258  is less than half of the distance between longitudinal centers of adjacent rollers of the roller-type grilling machine. 
     Likewise, in FIG. 7, a tub, generally indicated at  300 , has a cross-sectional side view similar to that illustrated in FIG.  5 . In this example, however, the tub  300  has a bottom  302  that is substantially circular in configuration with the recesses  304  and  306  for maintaining the tub  300  on a roller grill extending thereon. Thus, it is contemplated that the shape of such a package may take on any desired shape. Moreover, the recesses  304  and  306  may be replaced with protrusions or other surface features that can engage the rollers of a roller grill to maintain the position of the tub relative to the roller grill. 
     Referring now to FIG. 8A, a food product package, generally indicated at  350  is illustrated, in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The package  350  has a configuration similar to that of FIGS. 5 and 7 including a tub portion  352  and a lid portion  354 . The lid portion  354  engages with the top of the base or tub portion  352  to seal the contents of the tub portion  352  therein. The tub portion  352  defines a primary food chamber  356  and includes an interior circumferential ledge  358  for supporting an insert  360  above the bottom  362  of the tub portion  352 . The insert  360  provides a shelf for supporting a food product thereon so that the food product is not likely to become burned or otherwise overheated by the roller-type grilling machine. The base  364  of the insert  360  is provided with a plurality of apertures  366  that allow the transfer of heat from the bottom  362  of the tub portion  352  into the primary chamber  356 . In the center of the base  364  of the insert  360  is a secondary chamber  370  defined by a cylindrically shaped wall  372  depending upwardly from the base  364  in the center thereof. Such a package  350  is configured to contain a bagel or other similarly configured product that can be fitted within the tub portion  352  with the wall  372  positioned within the center of the bagel. The secondary chamber  370  can be filled with cream cheese or other spreadable material for spreading on the bagel by the consumer. The wall  372  prevents the material contained in the chamber  370  from causing the bagel from becoming soggy prior to consumption by the end user. 
     FIG. 9 shows yet another embodiment of a package, generally indicated at  400 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The package  400  is comprised of an elongate housing  402  and a pair of end caps  404  and  406 . The package  400  further includes an internal bag  408  for containing a liquid-type food product, such as soup or chili. Both the bag  408  and the end cap  406  are provided with pressure relief valves  410  and  412 , respectively, that allow steam to escape from the package as the liquid therein is heated. The package is configured so as to not rotate relative to the movement of the roller-type grilling apparatus so as to keep the pressure valves  410  and  412  toward the top of the package  400 . 
     For example, as shown in FIG. 10, the package  450  may have a square shape with its lower sides  452  and  454  abutting the rollers and its square shape preventing the package  450  from rotating along with the rollers. The pressure valve  456  thus remains proximate the top of the package when the product is properly placed on the roller grill. 
     Finally, as shown in FIG. 11, the concepts disclosed herein may be utilized with all types of roller-type grilling machines known in the art. For example, some roller grills include a plurality of laterally extending rods  502  and  504  that move laterally relative to a stationary heated grill  506  that is inclined at an angle. By placing a round food product between the rods  502  and  504 , lateral movement of the rods  502  and  504  causes the food product to roll across the grill  506 . Typically, because of the slope of the grill  506 , the food product will rest against the lower rod  502  with the rod  504  supporting and moving the next adjacent food product. Each of the foregoing examples of a food product package of the present invention may be heated with such grilling machines. Thus, reference to “rolling-type grilling machines” herein is intended to include all grilling machines, now known or developed in the future, that utilize any type of mechanism that is provided to roll the food relative to a heated surface and/or a heat source. 
     FIG. 11 shows yet another embodiment of a package, generally indicated at  500 , in accordance with the principles of the present invention used on an inclined grilling machine. The package  500  is configured with an outer cylindrical housing  506  and an inner cylindrical container  508 . The housing  506  and the container  508  are separated by an annular space  510  defining a bearing race which contains a plurality of roller-type bearings, such as bearings  512 , that allows the outer housing to rotate with movement of the grilling machine while the inner container  508  substantially maintains its orientation. That is, the inner container will stay somewhat upright as the outer housing  506  rotates. The inner container is provided with a weighted bottom portion  514  that is separated from the food chamber  516  by a longitudinally extending wall  518 . The weight  514  maintains the inner container in a relatively upright position as the outer housing  506  rotates. Because the weight  514  is sealed from the food chamber  516 , the weight  514  may be comprised of any suitable material, such as a metal or other dense material. Of course, with the use of such a package  500  on a reciprocating type roller grill as shown will cause the inner container  508  to oscillate as well to some degree. The weight  514 , however, will help prevent the inner container  508  from inverting during such oscillating movement. A pressure relief valve  520  is provided proximate the top of the back wall  522 . In such a position and by maintaining the inner container  508  in an upright position, it is unlikely that the food product contained therein, such as a soup, will be expelled through the valve  520  if the pressure within the container  516  causes opening of the valve  520 . 
     While the method and apparatus for vending food products from a roller-type grilling apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated with respect to certain illustrated embodiments to show what is believed to be the best mode of the invention, it is contemplated that upon review of the present invention, those of skill in the art will appreciate that various modifications and combinations may be made to the present embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as recited in the claims. As such, the claims provided herein are intended to cover such modifications and combinations and all equivalents thereof. Therefore, reference herein to specific details of the illustrated embodiments is by way of example and not by way of limitation.