Temperature controlled frozen food dispenser

a technology of frozen food dispenser and temperature control, which is applied in the field of dispensing, can solve the problems of unnecessarily complex and expensive equipment, complex apparatus used, and the disclosed apparatus for determining the weight of the articles to be dispensed does not provide highly accurate results

a technology of frozen food dispenser and temperature control, which is applied in the field of dispensing, can solve the problems of unnecessarily complex and expensive equipment, complex apparatus used, and the disclosed apparatus for determining the weight of the articles to be dispensed does not provide highly accurate results

US20050051232A1Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-10AUTOMATED EQUIP
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  • Temperature controlled frozen food dispenser
  • Temperature controlled frozen food dispenser
  • Temperature controlled frozen food dispenser

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0032] The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for dispensing food articles and controlling the temperature of the food articles held in the apparatus. The invention also provides for a method and apparatus for weighing the food articles held in the apparatus and controlling the amount of food articles dispensed based on the weighed amount of food articles.

[0033] The food article receiving container that receives dispensed food articles may include, for example, a basket, tray, a cooking sheet, or other kitchen utensil / container that is suitable for receiving the dispensed food articles. For ease in describing the invention, the food article receiving container will be referred to throughout the specification and some of the claims as a “basket”. The hopper defines a “primary food article storage location” which may be referred to throughout the specification and claims as a “hopper food article storage location.” The accumulator defines an “secondary food article...

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Abstract

An apparatus for dispensing food articles to a food article receiving container that includes a hopper that defines a primary food article storage location configured to hold the food articles, and an accumulator that defines a secondary food article storage location and is positioned adjacent to the primary food article storage location so as to receive food articles held in the primary storage location. The food article receiving container is positioned generally beneath the accumulator so that food articles moving from the accumulator food article storage location land in the food article receiving container. The apparatus also includes a cooling device and a substantially air-tight seal in order to maintain a predetermined temperature range in the primary food article storage location and the accumulator food article storage location. The apparatus may also include a load / weight sensing / measuring assembly in place of or in addition to the cooling device. The load / weight sensing / measuring assembly is configured to weigh the food articles in the primary food article location and generate a weighed signal.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to dispensing; more particularly to dispensing food items; and more particularly still to a temperature controlled dispensing unit for dispensing frozen food items. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Frozen french fry dispensers are known in the art. An example is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,282,498 issued to Cahlander et al; U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,847 issued to Cahlander et al; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,191,918 issued to Cahlander et al. Each of the foregoing patents discloses a french fry dispenser that includes a main storage bin, a device for moving the fries from the main storage bin into a secondary location, a structure for holding the fries in the secondary location, and a complex apparatus for moving empty cooking baskets into position under the secondary storage location. [0003] While the disclosed food dispenser in the Cahlander patents automates the process of dispensing frozen articles and has been successful in the...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
10 Mar 2005
Publication
US20050051232A1
IPC
A47J37/12; G07F9/10
CPC
G07F9/105
Inventors
SCHMOLL, JEREMY A.; KOERNER, BRUCE H.