Patent ID: RE42280

Claim:
A bun dispensing device for a hot dog dispensing machine operative for dispensing buns from a bun containing element which includes a plurality of individual bun containers and a common film to which the bun containers are releasably attached one after the other , the device comprising pulling means for pulling the bun containing element , the bun containing element including a plurality of bun containers each having a bun accommodated therein and a common film to which the bun containers are releasably attached, such that the common film seals an opening of each bun container when the bun container is attached to the film; separating means for separating the bun containers with buns accommodated therein from the film of the bun containing element and located upstream of said pulling means , said separating means being formed so that each of the bun containers with the bun accommodated therein is individually separated from the film under the action of said separating means ; and guiding means for guiding the bun containing element and located upstream of said separating means , said separating means being formed so that each of the bun containers with the bun accommodated therein is individually separated from the film under the action of said separating means ; wherein said separating means includes a first element having an edge over which the film passes and a second element spaced apart from the first element so as to form a gap through which the film of the bun containing element passes, the second element having a surface in a substantially planar relationship to a portion of the first element adjacent to the edge, the first element and the second element being arranged so that during pulling of the bun containing element by said pulling means only the film passes through said gap and a respective one of the bun containers is separated from the film such that the opening of the bun container sealed by the film is unsealed and such that the bun container is spaced apart and disconnected from other bun containers, the edge of the separating means being located at a point at which film is separated from the bun container; and wherein the pulling means and the guiding means are arranged such that the film changes direction, and each bun container is below the film, at the point at which film is separated from the bun container .