US3685432A — Automatic vending machine for cooked or fried foo…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 261 words

Automatic vending machine for cooked or fried food products, particularly for French-fried potatoes, with a conveyor provided with holders for separate portions of food products to be cooked and which is movable step by step along a closed path, and at least one heated kettle for frying fat in which dips at least one frying basket, whereby means are provided on the one hand for supplying to the frying basket the food products to be fried which are brought by the conveyor, and on the other hand for feeding the products fried in said basket inside a container to a window, in which the holders are subdivided into adjacent compartments which may each contain a portion of food product to be cooked and at least one supply funnel which is also divided into similar adjacent compartments, is provided at a level lying between the level of part at least of the conveyor and the level of the lower-lying frying kettle, whereby said last compartments are each closed underneath by a separate flap and whereby a tipping device for reversing the holders about a substantially horizontal rotating axis cooperates with the holders of that conveyor part which is located above the funnel level, whereby further means are provided for under the influence of gravity, on the one hand directing each one of the portions from a tipped holder to a corresponding funnel compartment and on the other hand, through an open flap, for bringing the concerned portion to the frying kettle, said flaps being each operatable separately according to a predetermined program.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 261 words

Automatic vending machine for cooked or fried food products, particularly for French-fried potatoes, with a conveyor provided with holders for separate portions of food products to be cooked and which is movable step by step along a closed path, and at least one heated kettle for frying fat in which dips at least one frying basket, whereby means are provided on the one hand for supplying to the frying basket the food products to be fried which are brought by the conveyor, and on the other hand for feeding the products fried in said basket inside a container to a window, in which the holders are subdivided into adjacent compartments which may each contain a portion of food product to be cooked and at least one supply funnel which is also divided into similar adjacent compartments, is provided at a level lying between the level of part at least of the conveyor and the level of the lower-lying frying kettle, whereby said last compartments are each closed underneath by a separate flap and whereby a tipping device for reversing the holders about a substantially horizontal rotating axis cooperates with the holders of that conveyor part which is located above the funnel level, whereby further means are provided for under the influence of gravity, on the one hand directing each one of the portions from a tipped holder to a corresponding funnel compartment and on the other hand, through an open flap, for bringing the concerned portion to the frying kettle, said flaps being each operatable separately according to a predetermined program.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 42 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which each flap is rotatable about an axis and is operated by means of a cam which acts on a lever integral with the flap and which is driven in synchroniSm with the conveyor.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 2, in which for the cams and the conveyor is provided a driving device which reverses a holder through the action of the tipping device after all of supply funnel flaps have been opened and closed again.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 94 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 3, in which the driving device is a stepping motor which acts on a shaft of which the cams are mounted with a relative angular displacement and which is so coupled to the conveyor that by a complete revolution of said shaft, the conveyor undergoes a movement which corresponds to the spacing between two succeeding holders, whereby the motor is so adjusted as to perform through an operating member an angular displacement which corresponds to the displacement required from the cam to open or close the corresponding flap.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 18 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 4, in which said motor drives the cam shaft and the conveyor.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 36 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the flaps are provided with a return spring which brings said flaps automatically to the closed position as soon as the corresponding cams reach an idle position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 35 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the holders are hung freely rotatably about an horizontal axis in the conveyor which extends as such above the center of gravity of each said holders.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 7, in which the holders are removably mounted on the conveyor.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 8, in which the holders are subdivided into adjacent compartments along a direction at right angle to the planes in which the chains move.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 52 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveyor is comprised of two closed chains cooperating with one another, each chain being movable in a vertical plane, both said planes being in parallel relationship with one another and having a determined spacing, whereby the holders hang horizontally between said chains.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 68 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 9, in which each holder hangs on two horizontal pins lying on the same rotating axis and which are arranged sidewise on said chains at right angle to said vertical planes, whereby the one pin is located on one of the chains and the other pin is provided on the other chain, on those sides facing one another of said vertical planes.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 81 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 11, in which each holder is provided on the outer side of the walls thereof facing the chains, with a projecting bearing member which is approximately in the shape of an inverted V as considered when the holder is in the normal upright position, the legs of the V which form a groove or slot enclosing said pins on the chains, and which rests freely on said pins by the location where said legs meet.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 112 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the path followed by that part of the conveyor which moves above the supply funnel level, has an horizontal movement component, whereby adjacent said path is mounted the tipping device which has a fixed stop member lying below said path, on the way followed by the holders, in such a way that said holders during the displacement thereof along the path direction engage said fixed member and perform a tipping movement about the horizontal rotating axis thereof, whereby means are provided to retain the tipped holders in such position during a determined period of time so as to allow a complete emptying thereof.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 13, in which said means have a fixed guide member which retains the tipped holders over a determined length of the movement thereof with the conveyor, in tipped condition.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 50 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 14, in which the outer side walls of the holders carry a V-shaped projecting member one leg of which bears on said chain pins, rests and slides on said guide member over said determined length of movement of the corresponding holder in tipped condition.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 83 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 13, in which the extensiOn of said path part with an horizontal movement component undergoes an upwardly-directed change of direction relative to said part, whereby the guide member is formed by a supporting strip which extends below said chain part and which further extends along the upwardly-curved portion thereof in such a way that the holder retained in tipped position by the supporting strip, is gradually returned during the holder rising movement, to the normal upright position.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 123 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 16, in which the means for retaining the holders in tipped condition over a determined movement length during the movement thereof with the conveyor, have a supporting member which is movable alog the conveyor movement direction, said supporting member lying on the upper side of that chain part with an horizontal movement component and retaining the tipped holder in such position while moving together with said holder over a determined path length as long as said tipped holder slides on the guide member, whereby a return spring brings the supporting member back to the original position thereof by the moment where the holder no more cooperates with said guide member and takes the normal upright position again.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 30 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the frying basket is rotatably mounted about an horizontal axis which is located on the upper side of said frying kettle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 28 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 18, in which a hammer is provided for acting upon said frying basket when the basket is rotated out of the kettle.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveyor together with the holders is separated by a partition from the frying section containing the frying kettle.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 48 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 20, in which a supply opening is provided in said partition, said opening being closed by a door which is controlled in synchronism with the flaps closing the supply funnel flaps, said door only being opened together with one of said flaps.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 20 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a single conveyor feeds at least two cooking or frying devices.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 70 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 22, in which for each frying device is provided a separate supply funnel, whereby each holder has at least one compartment corresponding to a compartment of each funnel, in such a way that it is possible at the same time and by means of one and the same holder to feed portions of food products to be fried or cooked in the various funnels.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 17 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which the conveyor is arranged inside a cooled room.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 21 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a closed air-circulating system is provided in the frying or cooking section.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 49 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which above said window is provided a bottom-less shaft wherein hang said containers, whereby means are provided for feeding the containers one by one to the window where opens a chute on which the cooked or fried food products are dumped.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 21 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 26, in which the frying kettle is removably mounted in the cooking or frying section.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 91 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which is provided a control device which is energized through a switch which is for instance operated by introducing a coin, said control device synchronizing the stepping movement of the conveyor, the opening and closing of the funnel flaps, the opening and closing of the door between the conveying section and the frying section, the frying or cooking of the food products in the kettle, the rotating of the frying basket out of the kettle, and the feeding of containers to the window.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 37 words

Vending machine as claimed in claim 1, in which a discharge chute is provided between said frying kettle and said window, said chute slanting downwards to said window, whereby means are provided for heating said discharge chute.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1975-08-22	1976-02-21	1976-08-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1979-08-22	1980-02-21	1980-08-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1983-08-22	1984-02-21	1984-08-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic vending machine for cooked or fried food product particularly for french-fried potatoes

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