Abstract:
This invention includes a method and apparatus for vending frozen foods and also for vending hot previously frozen foods. The invention includes the use of a microwave oven, and a delivery system that maintains the food in an upright orientation so as to prevent spilling of hot foods. An important feature is that the invention does not destroy the microwave containment integrity of the microwave oven and therefore is safer from a radiation perspective.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This is generally vending machines for delivering food entries and desserts that are stored at sub-freezing temperatures and are served either hot or frozen. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Since the popularity of the microwave oven, people have been trying to develop a reliable microwave incorporated into a vending machine. Most attempts such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,398,651 to Kumpter and 3,620,341 to Gardner disclose microwave ovens with multiple openings cut therein. These patents teach the use of multiple openings for efficient article handling. Every additional opening cut into a microwave oven decreases its reliability in containing radiation leaks. 
     Applicant&#39;s invention overcomes these short comings of the prior art in part by using a single door microwave oven thus ensuring radiation leak integrity. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is a first object of the invention to provide a system and apparatus for storing food items at sub-freezing temperatures and vend them at appropriate temperatures for public consumption. 
     It is a second object of the invention to provide a system and apparatus for vending frozen food items. 
     It is a third object of the invention to provide a fast and efficient delivery system and apparatus. 
     It is a fourth object of the invention to provide a system and apparatus which incorporates a single door microwave body to insure radiation integrity. 
     It is a fifth object of the invention to provide an electronic inventory control. 
     It is a sixth object of the invention to provide an electronic maintenance diagnostic system. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The above listed objects are realized by the following invention: a vending apparatus including a freezer area having at least one magazine for holding food cartons, some means for transporting the food carton out of the freezer area, and some means for dispensing the food carton to an operator. 
     The objects are also realized in part by the following method: a method of vending food contained in cartons comprising the steps of: 
     a customer making a selection; 
     transmitting that information to a computer; 
     moving a magazine containing one or more cartons containing said customer&#39;s selection into position for dispensing from a freezer area; 
     moving a single carton through a door and out of the freezer area onto a platform which is cooperatively attached to an elevator; 
     opening a door of a microwave oven for heating the food in the carton; 
     lowering the elevator cooperatively such that the carton is deposited onto a platform of microwave translucent material affixed to the door of the microwave oven in the same upright orientation; 
     closing the door and cooking the food by microwave means; 
     reopening the door and collecting the carton of now cooked food on the elevator platform and rotating the carton into position for final dispensing; and 
     dispensing the carton. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 shows a skeletal side view of the apparatus giving relative orientations for the freezer section and the microwave oven and elevator. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of the freezer section with the outer skin removed to show the details of the carosel and magazines. 
     FIG. 3 shows a top section view of a magazine, a front view of a magazine and a side view of a magazine with food cartons loaded therein. 
     FIG. 4 shows a side sectional and top view of the door mechanism between the freezer area and the microwave and processing area in the closed or retracted position. 
     FIG. 5 shows a side view and cross section view through the ramp area of the door of FIG. 4 in the extended or open position. 
     FIG. 6 shows a side view of the elevator through a sectional view of the guide housing and a top view of the platform sectional through the elevator shaft. 
     FIG. 7 shows the oven door platform cooperating with the elevator platform, and a detail view of the tines thereof. 
     FIG. 8 shows a top view of the oven and the automated door opening and closing apparatus. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a view of the skeleton of the invention from a side view. The freezer area 1 is contained by platform 2 and will be maintained at temperatures between 32° F. and -15° F. with the temperature being 0° F. in a preferred embodiment. 
     FIG. 2 shows a top view of the invention with the outer skin and insulation cut away. The food item magazines 3 are arranged on a race track 4. This inventory handling system will be operated in the sub-freezing temperatures of the freezer area 1. 
     FIG. 3 shows a magazine 3 in more detail. Each magazine is open on one side 5 and faces outward when the magazine 3 is mounted on the carousel 4. The open side 5 has a partial door 6 for retaining food cartons 7. FIG. 3 shows the single carton opening 8 and brush 9 which provides that one carton 7 will be moved from the freezer area 1 per operation by application of drag and down force on the carton 7. 
     FIG. 4 shows the freezer area trap door 10 for delivering a single carton from inventory and limiting the amount of time that the freezer area is opened. In FIG. 4 the door is in the closed position. The open position shown in FIG. 5 is achieved by rotating link 11 about an end which drives link 12 laterally, causing tray 13 to slide laterally. Tab 14 rides up on ramp 15 to clear tabs 16 of magazine 3 (shown in FIG. 3) and push a carton 7 into the trap door 10 portion of the tray 13. In the fully extended position the trap door 10 lines up with an opening 17 in platform 2 to deposit the carton 7 on elevator platform 18. 
     After the carton drops through the opening 17 it is received on elevator platform 18. The platform 18 is mounted on elevator shaft 19 which has a radical thread for high operation speed. The elevator 18 moves the carton 7 down and laterally as it rotates platform 18 about the shaft 19 axis. The platform 18 is configured as shown in FIG. 5 having a comb with widely spaced tines 20 at an opposite end from the elevator shaft 19. The rotation about the axis is provided by rotation of the elevator shaft housing 21. The tines 20 of elevator platform 18 cooperate with similar tines 20 of the oven door platform 22 as shown in FIG. 7. The tines are offset to avoid contact but of narrow horizontal dimension in order to avoid damage should contact be made. Oven door platform 22 is attached to the interior of oven 23 and collects carton 7 when elevator platform 18 cooperatively lowers through door platform 22. Said elevator platform 18 continues down to a rest position below the level of the oven door 24 of microwave 23. 
     After the cook sequence, microwave door 24 returns to the same position and platforms 18 and 22 reverse roles as elevator platform 18 rises from it rest position. Elevator shaft housing 21 rotates to an ejection position and the carton is pushed off platform 18 to an opening in the external skin such that a portion of the carton protrudes therefrom. 
     In an alternate operation mode for delivering frozen food products the cooking step is by-passed. 
     FIG. 7 shows the microwave oven unit 23. Door platform 22 is made of a microwave translucent material and attached to the interior of door 24 with a translucent attachment material such as an appropriate adhesive. 
     FIG. 8 shows door 24 is externally fitted with a means for attaching an actuation system shown here as a link and lever arm 25. 
     Motor 26 moves lever 25 to open the door 24 and hold it tightly closed during the cooking sequence. The controls for cooking intensity and time are tapped into the invention&#39;s logic system. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the microwave will have dual microwave generators for faster and more even cooking. 
     The elevator shaft 19, elevator shaft housing 21 and carousel race track 4 are all driven by compact electric motors. 
     The electronic logic system incorporates the following features: 
     In a preferred embodiment, an even number of magazines 3 will consist of two magazines on opposite sides of the carousel having the same food item, thus reducing delivery times. Through a sensor at the magazine position for delivery of a carton and a counting sequence, the magazine position can be known. Failure of magazine to line up generates an error signal. A last carton message and inventory is recorded for each magazine. 
     Obviously, numerous (additional) modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.