Patent ID: 8651324

Claim:
An apparatus ( 1 ) for the distribution of ready-made food/food products ( 6 ), comprising: a structure defining i) a refrigerated first area ( 2 ) that contains a product ( 6 ) to be distributed, adjacent ii) a second area ( 3 ) defining a food pick-up and delivery area, the first area ( 2 ) being separated from the second area ( 3 ); a partition that divides the first area ( 2 ) from the second area ( 3 ), said partition including an opening ( 12 ); a door ( 11 ) i) sealing and closing the opening ( 12 ) of the partition that divides the first area ( 2 ) from the second area ( 3 ), and ii) providing communication between said first and second areas ( 2 , 3 ) so that said second area ( 3 ) moves, takes up and delivers the product ( 6 ) from said first area ( 2 ) into a manual pick-up area ( 14 ) of said second area ( 3 ); said food pick-up and delivery area of said second area ( 3 ) comprising a turret ( 10 ), said door ( 11 ) being fixed to said turret ( 10 ), said turret ( 10 ) and said door ( 11 ) being rotatable about a vertical axis, said turret ( 10 ) comprising product translating equipment that, via said opening ( 12 ), takes up and delivers the product ( 6 ) from said first area ( 2 ) into said second area ( 3 ), said product translating equipment, including a. a closed enclosure ( 7 ) openable with a loading and unloading door ( 7 A), the enclosure ( 7 ), after movement of the loading and unloading door ( 7 A) to the opening ( 12 ), taking up the product from the first area ( 2 ) with the product contained within the enclosure ( 7 ), and b. a movement element ( 9 ) operatively connected to move said enclosure ( 7 ) longitudinally sliding along said turret ( 10 ).