AUTOMATIC DISPENSER FOR DOUGHY FOOD PRODUCTS

Abstract: Automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows exposing ice-creams, ice-cream cakes and fancy cakes, characterised in that it comprises a taking unit (6), which is mounted on a structure (36) movable with respect to at least a tray (8, 78), on which the product to be taken is placed, and in that it comprises mechanical, electric or electronic means which are in all organized for the accomplishment of the sorting, taking and dispensing of the desired portion of product.

Description: _ _ Automatic dispenser for doughy food products The present invention refers to an automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows exposing ice-creams, ice-cream cakes and fancy cakes. At present the sale of ice-creams occurs in two fundamental ways: one of these foresees the preservation of the ice-cream in a packet corresponding to the single portion and the sale of such a packet to the customer requiring it. The other way foresees the preservation of ice-cream in little basins or other containers and the taking away by the ice-cream man, with a little shovel, of a quantity corresponding to a portion, which is given to the customer generally in a cup, a cone or a wafer- A more precise determination and shape of the quantity of ice-cream corresponding to the single portion can be obtained by using particular shovels having a semi-sphere shaped head. While the first way is suitable to an automatic distribution of the single packets of ice-cream through suitable apparatus, but requires the produc ion and the packaging in the factory, the second way, -which is suitable to the sale of the so called "handicraft" ice-cream or in any case of ice-cream packaged in multi-por ion containers, cannot be automatized and requires the direct presence of the ice-cream man. Furthermore, due to the obvious need of having access from the outside to the basins of ice-cream, this second way implies from one hand the risks of a non perfect observance of the hygienic rules, which require the product quite dust- proof and germ-proof, and from the other hand a high thermic dispersion which, besides implying high energy consumptions, also can cause a deterioration of the product, due to its possible preservation in conditions different from those optimal • Really automatic dispenser apparatus, or in any case dispenser apparatus which can be automatized are known, usable to deliver ice-cream from multiportion packs- Such dispenser apparatus from one hand require the use of a compressed gas or a pressure pump, having the double function of making soft the ice-cream and causing its co ing out from a dispenser neck, and from the other hand requires that the ice-cream has a semifluid consistency, well different from that of the so called "handicraft" ice-cream. An aim of the invention is to realize an automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows exposing ice-creams, ice-cream cakes and fancy cakes. A further aim of the invention is to realize a product dispenser which is at the same time also a mechanized or even automatic εlicer. A further aim of the invention is to realize a dispenser which can be used with containers having different sizes, even always being capable to be adapted to these- A further aim of the invention is to realize a product automatic dispenser, which allows to take away all the product contained in the container without any considerable waste. These and further aims which will be apparent from the following description are attained according to the invention through an automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows exposing ice-creams, ice-cream cakes and fancy cakes as disclosed in claim 1. The present invention is hereinafter further clarified with reference to the enclosed drawings in which: Figure 1 schematically shows in side view an automatic dispenser for ice-creams according to the invention, Figure 2 shows it in plan view, Figure 3 shows in vertical section the enl-arged particular of the taking unit. Figure 4 schema ically shows in side view an automatic dispenser for ice-cream in a different embodiment, Figure 5 shows in vertical section view the enlarged particular of the taking unit, used in the embodiment according to figure 4, Figure 6 schematically shows in side view an automatic dispenser for ice-creams in a third embodiment, Figure 7 shows in plan view a different taking unit usable in the automatic dispenser of figure 6, and Figure 9 shows in lateral view another taking unit usable in the automatic dispenser of figure 3. As it can be seen from the drawings, the dispenser apparatus according to the invention comprises a refrigerant structure with a substan ially paralieiepipediσ shop window 2, mounted on an underlying container 4 in which the refrigerant apparatus is housed, which keeps the temperature at the inside of the shop window 2 in the conditions suitable to correctly preserve the ice-cream. The shop window 2 is substantially divided into three zones: a central one, which can be called the operating zone of a taking unit 6 of the ice-cream, and two side zones, one forming the parking area for little basins or trays 8 containing the various sorts of ice-cream and the other forming the parking area for stacks of cones 10 or cups, or wafers or other containers, the washing area of the taking unit 6 and the dispenser area of the packaged ice-creams. Close to the two upper longitudinal edges of the shop window 2 there are provided, near the operating zone of the taking unit 6, two guides 12 formed by two shafts provided with a helical groove 14. One of the two shaft 12 is rotated by an electric step-by-step motor 16 and the other shaft is coupled to the first shaft through a toothed belt link 18 to ensure their synchronism in rotation. On said guides 12, corresponding carriages 20 slide, connected to each other through a further guide, even formed by a shaft 22 provided with a helical groove 24 and driven by another electric step-by-step motor 26- This transverse guide 22 is surronded by an external tubular guide 28, provided with a rectilinear longitudinal groove 30, having the purpose, as it will be later clarified, of preventing the rotation of a transverse carriage 32, mounted on the shaft 22, and of allowing at the same time its displacement from one end to the other of the guide. For this purpose the transverse carriage 32 is provided with a portion 34 projecting downwards and passing through the rectilinear groove 30 of said external tubular guide 28- A taking and slicing member of the ice-cream to be dispensed is connected to the projecting portion 34. This member is supported by the transverse carriage 32 through a vertical support 36, which is telesσopiσally extensible and may be controlled during its extension. At the lower end it is provided with a sliσer, shown overall with 38- It is provided with a parallepipediσ square base body 40, upperly 5 connecting with a substantial hemispheric portion 42- At its inside a hemispheric bowl 44 is foreseen, supported by a hollow rod 46 axially movable with respect to the vertical support 36 and coaxially housing at the inside a shaft 48, to the lower end of which a blade 50 is fixed which is curved 0 according to the curvature of said hemispheric bowl . To the side wall 52 of the parallelepipedic body 40, opposite to the parking area of the trays 8 of the ice¬ creams, a scraper is applied, substantiall formed by a thin sheet 54 horizontally movable along the free edge of the body 1540 and driven in this movement by an actuator 56, pneumatically operated, between a rest position, in which it sets free the edge of the body 40, and a work position, in which it completely closes the lower opening of the same body 40. 20 The parking area of the shop window 2 comprises a plurality of trays 8 selectively movable from a rest position, far from the taking unit 6 and superimposed to the other trays, to a work position, close to the taking unit 6 and external to the stack of the other trays. A selective moving system is also provided which foresees to horizontally slide, on command, the chosen tray 8 on corresponding rails 58. The parking zone of cones 10 or cups comprises a plurality of tubular containers 60, each housing a stack of cones, or cups or wafers. These tubular containers 60 are mounted on a rota ing support 62, able to positionate the chosen stack in correspondence of a taking unit- This is formed by a vice 64 mounted on an arm 66 movable between a taking position of the lowest cone 10 <ur cup) of the stack, and a receiving position of the portion of ice-cream- Near this position a rotating box 68 is foreseen for transferring the packaged product outside the shop window 2. This box 68 has the function of preventing the direct connection between the inside and the outside of the shop window and this with the double purpose of avoiding any contamina ion of the products housed at the inside of the shop window and of avoiding at the same time any thermic loss * in the case the cones or cups are replaced by wafers, near the arm 66 a further arm (not shown) is foreseen, also provided with a vice, which has the function of taking from the same stack another wafer and to place it with a slight pressure on the ice-cream which has previously been placed on the lower wafer hold by the vice 64. The box 68 is placed in the operating zone of the taking unit 6, and a washing station is foreseen in a zone different from this. It is substantially formed by a small basin 70 provided with nozzles 72 spraying a washing liquid and with a drain, as it will be better clarified, for the liquid which washed the taking unit - All the motors and actuators which actuate the various part are independently driven and controlled by a microprocessor, which co-ordinates their operation according to a prefixed operating program, which will be described herebelow. To better understand the operating of the dispenser according to the invention it is preferable to start, for semplicity reasons, with reference to a rest condition in which: - all trays 8, each containing a rectangular layer of ice¬ cream, are stacked in the parking area of the shop window 2, - the taking unit 6 is in a prefixed raised stand-by position, in correspondence to the underlying washing area, with the hemispherical bowl 44 adhering to the hemispheric portion 42 and with the scraper 54 in rest condition, - the arm 66 of the vice 64 keeps it in the taking station, with an empty cone between its jaws. At this time, if a customer wishes an ice-cream, he put the corresponding amount in a traditional collection and counting device and from a suitable keyboard gives the necessary informations corresponding to the desired ice¬ cream. These instructions start the automa ic taking cycle, which foresees, first of all, the shifting of the tray 8 containing the chosen ice-cream towards the taking unit 6. At> the tray 8 reaches its end of travel position, it gives the taking unit the command to take away a portion of ice-cream- For this purpose the memory of the system, which had memorised the co-ordinates of the last taking of such a sort of ice-cream, orders the taking unit 6 to displace of one step from the previous one, to allow it to take an adjacent portion of ice-cream- Firstly the motor 16 is energized, which causes rotating the two horizontal grooved shafts 12 and then advancing the corresponding longitudinal carriages 20 until the sliσer 38 is positioned on a transverse zone of the ice-cream, containing the portion to be taken; then the motor 16 is stopped and the motor 26 is energised, which causes advancing the transverse carriage 32 along said transverse zone of ice-cream until the taking unit 6 is positioned over the portion to be taken; lastly the elongation of the telescopic support 36 is ordered, which makes the slicer 38 to descend until its edge plunges completely into the ice-cream to εepare the desired portion. At this time the actuator 56 is driven, which actuates the scraper 54, thus lowerly closin 'the slicer 38; then an axial movement is given to the rod 46, thus causing the descent of the hemispheric bowl 44 to press the ice-cream already contained within the slicer 38 between the hemispheric bowl 44 and the scraper 54, thus giving it the traditional hemispheric shape. At the end of this phase t e telescopic support 36 is withdrawn and then a command is given to the motors 16 and 26, which drive the longitudinal 20 and transverse 32 carriages to move the slicer 38 towards the dispensing station, where a further order of elongation to the telescopic support 36 causes the descent ' of the slicer 38 above the cone 10 in stand-by position in the dispensing station, where it was brought by the vice 64. When the slicer 38 has reached the dispensing sta ion, the actuator 56 is driven, which brings the scraper 54 in a condition to let free the bottom of the slicer, so that a subsequent rotation order to the curved blade 50 causes the separation of the ice-cream from the hemispheric bowl 44 and its fall on the cone 10. When this dispensing phase is ended, from one hand the suitable orders are given to the actuators of the slicer 38 for its transferring to the washing station, and from the other hand an order is given to the vice 64 to transfer the cone 10 into the box 68, whose subsequent rotation of 180° allow the customer standing at the outside of the shop window to take the packaged ice-cream. In the meantime a jet of liquid causes the washing of the slicer 38 for preparing the dispenser to the subsequent operating cycle, which starts with the new request by the customer. In addition to the illustrated embodiment, further embodiments can be foreseen. For example the parking area can be formed, rather then by superimposed trays which can be translated from the stand-by position to the taking one, by trays rotating near an edge around a common vertical shaft, and coupled to suitable selective means connecting each tray to the shaft. Again the parking area can consist of a single plane on which several trays or basins are placed, containing the various sorts of ice-cream- In such a case the division between the operating area of the taking unit and the parking area of the ice-cream is vertical instead of horizontal. In the case of basins which obviously have a certain depth, it is foreseen that a wall, and more precisely the wall from which the taking of the portions of ice-cream begins, is lacking, to allow the scraper 54, which in this case forms a cutter, to lowerly separate the portion of ice¬ cream from the remaining body. In this case the microprocessor must also memorize the vertical position of τ e portion of taken ice-cream, in order to give the suitable commands to the slicer 38 in the successive taking operation. For what relates to the taking uni , it has been shown of a single kind, even if for some requirements a multiple taking unit may be foreseen, formed by more taking members, which have different capacities and may be chosen according to customer's specific requirements. Furthermore the above described example foresees a completely automatic operating, controlled by the microprocessor at introducing into the collection device the amount corresponding to the desired ice-cream. It is also provided a keyboard, through which the ice-cream man can give the same commands with a sequence, not automatized, but manual - In the embodiment shown in figures 4 and 5 the shop window 2 houses at its inside a taking unit 6 similar to the previous one both from the shape point of view and its opera ing and movement point of view. However, in the drawings the taking unit 6 has been shown with the upper part plane, instead of hemispheric, in order to evidentiate a possible different shape, which can be use also in the previous embodiment. According to this different embodiment the shop window 2 houses at its inside a pair of con inuous vertical conveyors, each comprising a pair of chains 74 guided by pinions 76, 76' and a plurality of hanging shelves 78 supporting trays or basins containing the ice-cream. At least a pinion 76' of each chain 74 is rotated by a step-by-step motor (not shown). The two continuous vertical conveyors are separated by a screen 80, which doesn't extend for the whole height of the shop window 2, but ends at a certain height from the upper cover to not obstacle the movements of the taking unit 6, at least when the telescopic support 36 is in its retracted condition. To the screen 80 a wall 82 is connected, which is vertically movable on command of an actuator (not shown) to cause the complete closure of the two areas, housing the two distinct conveyors and therefore to allow the maintenance in such areas of different climatic conditions. The movements of this wall 82 according to the displacements of the taking unit 6 is controlled by the same microprocessor• Also in this case a parking area is foreseen for the cones 10, near an end of travel position of the taking unit 6, as well as a washing area of the taking unit and a dispensing area of the packaged ice-creams. Since these are technical solutions substantially similar to those above described, for semplicity reasons they are neither shown, nor further described. The dispenser according to this second embodiment operates as follows. Depending on the chosen ice-cream, an order given by the microprocessor to the motor driving the pinions 76' , actuates the chains 74 until the hanging shelf 78, on which the basin 8 containing the chosen ice-cream is placed, reaches the highest point of its run and here it stops awaiting that the slicer 38 takes away from the basin a portion of ice-cream to be put on the cone 10 before being dispensed to the outside. It may be noted that if the scraper 54 is actuated when the plane ejector 44' has reached its lower end of travel position, it acts as the blade 50, which can be missing. In the embodiment shown in figure 6, the components of the various zones of the shop window 2 are constructivel different. In particular in the parking area a plurality of trays 8 are foreseen mounted on a vertical support 84 axially tranεlable and rotating. These trays are foreseen for supporting a plurality of ice-cream cakes already divided into single portions. In the operating area facing the parking area again the taking unit is foreseen, which indeed is formed by a simple horizontal shovel 86, connected to the vertical support 36. The trays 8 have circular shape and the shovel 86 doesn't require any transverse displacement along the shaft 22, but only a longitudinal displacement along the middle plane of the shop window 2 according to the direction shown by the arrow 88. The dispenser according to this embodiment operates as follows: when the customer has given to the keyboard the instructions corresponding to the desired sort of ice-cream, firstly the axial movement of the vertical support 84 is ordered, so as to place the tray 8 containing such an ice-cream at the same level of the shovel- Then a further order given to the motor 16 causes the shovel 86 to advance until it takes away a portion of ice-cream already separated from the other portions, and to bring it in the dispensing area, in which such a portion is placed on a plate or on a wafer, preferably with the aid of a pusher 90 actuated by an actuator 92- The microprocessor has memorised this taking away, so that at the request of a further portion of the same ice¬ cream, the support 84 is caused to rotate of such an angle to face to the shovel 86 a new portion to be taken. In the case the trays 8 mounted on the support 84 are rectangular, such a support mustn't rotate, while the shovel 86 must be displaced laterally of a step in a way similar to the previous embodiments. In figure 6 a shovel 86 is shown, which can have either converging edges, to take from a circular cake a segment portion, or parallel edges to take from a quadrangular cake a quadrangular portion. Obviously with an opportune choice of the sizes, it is possible to also utilize a shovel 86 having converging edges to take quadrangular portions and vice versa. In figure 7 a plant view of a different shovel is shown, essentially consisting of a pair of sideboard 94, one of which movable with respect to the other on command of an actuator 96. Also in this case, as in the precedent one, the sideboards 94 can be convergent (cf. dotted lines) or parallel, and in both cases the shovel support is telescopic, to allow the lowering of the sideboard on the ice-cream before their approach. In figure 8 another shovel is shown, derived from the shovel 86 of figure 6 but also provided with an upper pressor 98 vertically actuated by an actuator 100 to clamps the interposed cake portiυii.

Claims: C L A I M S 1. Automatic dispenser for doughy food products, particularly for shop windows exposing ice-creams, ice-cream cakes and fancy cakes, characterised in that it comprises a taking unit (6), which is mounted on a structure (36) movable with respect to at least a tray (8,78), on which the product to be taken is placed, and in that it comprises mechanical, electric or electronic means which are in all organized for the accomplishment of the sorting, taking and dispensing of the desired portion of product. 2. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises a plurality of superimposed trays (8) orizontally movable between a rest position and a taking position by said taking unit (6). 3. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises a plurality of shelves (78) mounted on at least a continous conveyor (74) stopping the selected shelf (78) in a taking position near to the taking unit (6). 4. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises a plurality of superimposed trays (8) vertically movable and/or rotating around a vertical axis to face a portion of the product to be taken to the taking unit (6) . 5- Automatic dispenser according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises several trays (8,78) housed in at least two different environments, in which different climatic conditions are kept. 6. Automatic dispenser according to claim 5, characterised in that the two environments are kept separate by a screen (80), provided with an passage that can be opened to allow movements of the taking unit (6) from an environment to the other. 7. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the taking unit (ό) has quadrangular base (40) and is upperly connected with a cylindrical portion. 8. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the taking unit (6) is cylindrical. 9. Automatic dispenser according to claim 7 characterised in that the cylindrical portion (40) of the taking unit (6) is upperly connected with a substantiall hemispheric portion (42). 10. Automatic dispenser according to claim 7 characterised in that a rotating blade (50) is housed inside the upper portion of the taking unit (6). 11. Automatic dispenser according to claim 9 characterised in that the taking unit (6) has the lower shape of a right- prism (40) without base, and the upper shape of a hemisphere (42) and houses at the inside a hemispheric bowl (44), vertically movable with respect to said taking unit and provided at the inside with a rotating curved blade (50). 12. Automatic dispenser according to claim 7 characterised in that the taking unit (6) has the lower shape of a right- prism (40) without base, and the upper shape of a σylindric, housing a discoidal ejector (44') vertically movable and provided with a rotating blade (50). 13. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the taking unit (6) is provided with a scraper (54) movable between a closure position of said taking unit and an opening position. 14. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises several taking units (6) having different capacities, sunburst mounted on a sole support structure. 15- Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the taking unit (6) comprises a shovel (86). 16. Automatic dispenser according to claim 15 characterised in that the shovel (86) of the taking unit (6) is provided with a pusher (90), movable parallely to the surface of said shovel . 17. Automatic dispenser according to claim 15 characterised in that the shovel (86) of the taking unit (6) has converging edges. 18. Automatic dispenser according to claim 15 characterised in that the shovel (86) of the taking unit (6) has parallel edges. 19. Automatic dispenser according to claim 15 characterised in that it comprising a pressor (98) vertically movable with respect to the plane surface of the shovel (86) and cooperating with this to clamp a portion of the product to be 20- Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the taking unit (6) is provided with a pair of sideboards (94), at least one of which being horizontally movable with respect to the other. 21. Automatic dispenser according to claim 20 characterised in that the sideboards (94) are converging, when in clamping conditions. 22. Automatic dispenser according to claim 20 characterised in that the sideboards (94) are parallel, when in clamping conditions. 23. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that the support structure (36) of the taking unit (6) is mounted on a carriage (32) movable along a transverse guide (22) supported at its ends by two carriage (20) movable simultaneously along two longitudinal guides (12) and is provided with means (16,26) to independently cause the movements of the transverse carriage (32) and/or of the longitudinal carriages (20) along the respective guides (22,12). 24. Automatic dispenser according to claim 1 characterised in that it comprises at the inside of the shop window (2) a separating member (64) for the stacked cones (10) or cups and transferring means of the same from a storing zone to a delivery zone of the portion of ice-cream. 25. Automatic dispenser according to claim 24 characterised in that the separating members comprise a vice (64) supported by an arm (66) movable between a taking position of a cone (10) or of a cup from the stack and the delivery position of the portion of ice-cream on said cone (10) or cup. 26. Automatic dispenser according to claim 25 characterised in that near to the delivery position-, a two position rotating box (68) is foreseen to put into communication said cone (10) or cup with the inside or the outside respectively of the shop window (2). 27. Automatic dispenser according to one or more claims 1 to 11 characterised in that it comprises a rest station of the taking unit (6), said station being provided with sprayer members (72) for washing said taking unit (6).

Inventors: ZIZOLA CORRADO, ZIZOLA, CORRADO
Applicants: FADIS SRL, FADIS S.R.L.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: G07F11
IPC codes: A23G9, B65G1, G07F9, G07F11