Heating assembly and automated food vending machine

Abstract

The application discloses a heating assembly and an automatic meal vending machine. The heating assembly comprises a body, a cover and a heating body. The body has a space for containing a meal to be heated. The cover is movably arranged relative to the body to cover or open the body. The cover and the body cover to form a heating cavity. The heating body is arranged on the body and / or the cover to realize at least one of grilling heating, water bath heating or steam heating. One of the body and the cover has a meal inlet so that the meal is put into the body through the meal inlet by the meal taking assembly. The heating assembly can improve the heating mode of the meal in the automatic meal vending machine, meet the demand that different meals can adopt different heating modes, and is more healthy, environmentally friendly and low in cost.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of food vending machine technology, and in particular to a heating component and an automatic food vending machine. Background Technology

[0002] Because most traditional foods involve complex and intricate preparation processes, and are difficult to scale up and standardize for sale, the rising costs of labor and rent have led to a decline in the availability of many traditional delicacies. For example, reports indicate that several long-established food shops in Hong Kong have closed due to excessive costs. While vending machines have gained popularity in today's fast-paced lifestyle, they primarily sell boxed fast food, rarely incorporating traditional dishes like roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) or ganmianpi (cold skin noodles). Furthermore, fast food is typically heated using microwaves or a combination of microwaves and light waves. This requires high-quality packaging materials, usually PP plastic, which is costly and environmentally polluting. Additionally, the excessively high temperatures generated by these heating methods can produce substances harmful to health. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The main objective of this invention is to provide a heating component that can heat different food items in different ways, making it a healthier, more environmentally friendly, and lower-cost heating component for automatic food vending machines.

[0004] To achieve the above objectives, the heating component proposed in this invention is applied to an automatic food vending machine for heating food. The automatic food vending machine includes a housing and a food dispensing component disposed within the housing. The food dispensing component is used to deliver the food to the heating component. The heating component includes:

[0005] The container body has a space to accommodate food to be heated;

[0006] A cover, movably disposed relative to the body, for closing or opening the heating groove, wherein the cover and the body together form a heating cavity; and

[0007] A heating element, disposed on the body and / or the cover, is used to realize at least one of grilling heating, water bath heating and steam heating;

[0008] One of the container body and the lid has a food inlet so that the food retrieval component can place the food into it through the food inlet.

[0009] In an optional embodiment, when the heating component uses grilling heating, the body of the appliance is formed with a heating groove, the wall of the heating groove is provided with the food inlet, and the heating element is disposed on the surface of the appliance body away from the heating groove and / or in the lid.

[0010] In an optional embodiment, the vessel body includes a base plate and a side plate disposed around the periphery of the base plate. The base plate and the side plate together form the heating groove. The side plate has the food inlet. The cover includes a cover plate and a surrounding plate disposed around the periphery of the cover plate. The surrounding plate has a clearance hole. The cover is fitted onto the vessel body. The side plate covers the clearance hole and the surrounding plate covers the food inlet.

[0011] In an optional embodiment, when the heating component uses steam or water bath heating, the body is a cylindrical structure with one end open, the heating element is disposed on the body, the body contains a certain amount of water, the cover is provided with a food storage part facing the body, the food storage part has the food inlet, and the food storage part is located above the water or immersed in the water.

[0012] In an optional embodiment, the cover further includes a top cover, the food storage section has a cylindrical structure with one end open, the top cover is connected to the opening edge of the food storage section, the food inlet is opened on the peripheral side of the food storage section, and the height of the food storage section is less than the depth of the container body.

[0013] In an optional embodiment, the food storage section has multiple micropores on its surface facing the bottom of the container body, and the multiple micropores are spaced apart.

[0014] The present invention also proposes an automatic food vending machine, the automatic food vending machine comprising:

[0015] The housing has a heating zone, a refrigeration zone and an electronic control zone arranged sequentially in a vertical direction;

[0016] A food storage rack, located within the refrigerated area, has multiple storage spaces;

[0017] A heating component, wherein the heating component is disposed in the heating zone, and the heating component is any of the heating components described above;

[0018] A food dispensing component, movably disposed between the refrigeration zone and the heating zone, is used to retrieve food from the storage space and deliver it through the food inlet to the heating component for heating; and

[0019] An electronic control component is located in the electronic control area and is electrically connected to both the heating component and the food dispensing component.

[0020] In an optional embodiment, the food retrieval component includes a food storage unit and a pusher rod. The food storage unit is vertically movable relative to the food storage rack, and the pusher rod is telescopically located on one side of the food storage unit. When the food storage unit is flush with the food inlet, the pusher rod pushes the food on the food storage unit into the heating component through the food inlet.

[0021] In an optional embodiment, the food retrieval component further includes a punch, which is fixed above the food storage unit. The punch has needles on its surface facing the food storage unit to punch holes in the packaging box of the food on the food storage unit.

[0022] In an optional embodiment, there are multiple food storage racks arranged side by side at intervals in the refrigeration area; there are multiple food retrieval components, each corresponding to one of the food storage racks; there are multiple heating components, each corresponding to one of the food retrieval components; and the heating method of the heating components is at least two of grilling, water bath heating, or steam heating.

[0023] And / or, the heating assembly further includes a supply unit located in the electrical control area and connected to the body and / or cover via a pipe or wire to achieve the heating function of the body and / or cover.

[0024] The heating component of this invention is applied to automated food vending machines. Unlike existing structures that use light waves or microwave heating, this heating component includes a body and a cover, which together form a sealed heating chamber. The cover is movable relative to the body to close or open it. The heating element can be located on the body and / or the cover. Food is heated using at least one method: grilling, water bath heating, or steam heating. This significantly reduces the requirements for the outer surface material of the food, effectively lowering costs. Furthermore, the temperature is not excessively high during heating, and the method can be adapted to different types of snacks, combining traditional food with automated vending and expanding application scenarios. Additionally, depending on the heating method, one of the body or the cover has an inlet, allowing the food dispensing component to easily place the food into the heating chamber, simplifying the operation. Attached Figure Description

[0025] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the drawings used in the description of the embodiments or the prior art will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the drawings described below are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on the structures shown in these drawings without creative effort.

[0026] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the automatic food vending machine of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the automatic food vending machine after removing the casing and electronic control components.

[0028] Figure 3 for Figure 1The diagram shows the structure of the automatic food vending machine, including the casing, food storage rack, food dispensing components, and heating components.

[0029] Figure 4 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food storage rack and food dispensing assembly in the automatic food vending machine.

[0030] Figure 5 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food storage rack, food dispensing component, and heating component in the automatic food vending machine.

[0031] Figure 6 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the heating component in the automatic food vending machine.

[0032] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the heating component, food dispensing component, and food transfer device in the automatic food vending machine shown.

[0033] Figure 8 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food dispensing and transfer device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0034] Figure 9 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the food dispensing and transfer device and the packaging device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0035] Figure 10 for Figure 1 The diagram shows the structure of the packaging device in the automatic food vending machine.

[0036] Figure 11 for Figure 10 The diagram shows the structure of the support arm and connecting arm in the packaging device.

[0037] Explanation of icon numbers:

[0038]

[0039]

[0040] The realization of the objective, functional features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained in conjunction with the embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings. Detailed Implementation

[0041] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, and not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0042] It should be noted that all directional indications (such as up, down, left, right, front, back, etc.) in the embodiments of the present invention are only used to explain the relative positional relationship and movement of each component in a certain specific posture (as shown in the figure). If the specific posture changes, the directional indication will also change accordingly.

[0043] In this invention, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "connection," "fixed," etc., should be interpreted broadly. For example, "fixed" can mean a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; it can mean a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; it can mean a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; it can mean the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise explicitly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention according to the specific circumstances.

[0044] Furthermore, in this invention, descriptions involving "first," "second," etc., are for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying their relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of technical features indicated. Therefore, a feature defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. Additionally, the technical solutions of the various embodiments can be combined with each other, but only on the basis of being achievable by those skilled in the art. When the combination of technical solutions is contradictory or impossible to implement, such a combination of technical solutions should be considered non-existent and not within the scope of protection claimed by this invention.

[0045] Currently, most vending machines on the market sell fast food meals or snacks. This invention proposes a heating component and an automatic vending machine, primarily targeting the automatic sale of traditional-style snacks and meals. It comprehensively utilizes intelligent control modules and other methods to ensure the preservation of popular classic traditional foods, allowing users to conveniently enjoy authentic and affordable traditional delicacies. Here, traditional foods can include rolled noodles, cold noodles, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), and various other handmade foods. Of course, this automatic vending machine can also be applied to the automatic sale of fast food. Furthermore, by improving the heating component of the automatic vending machine, a more environmentally friendly and low-cost vending machine can be obtained.

[0046] Please refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6This invention proposes a heating component. In order to adapt to traditional snacks, the heating component 50 installed in the automatic food vending machine 100 of this application operates differently from the existing light wave or microwave heating methods. The heating component 50 is used to heat the food. The automatic vending machine 100 includes a housing 10 and a food dispensing component 70 disposed within the housing 10. The food dispensing component 70 is used to deliver the food to the heating component 50. In an optional embodiment, the heating component 50 includes: a body (51a, 51b), a cover (53a, 53b), and a heating element. The body (51a, 51b) has a space to accommodate the food to be heated. The cover (53a, 53b) is movably disposed relative to the body (51a, 51b) to close or open the body (51a, 51b). The cover (53a, 53b) and the body (51a, 51b) close together to form a heating cavity. The heating element is disposed on the body (51a, 51b) and / or the cover (53a, 53b) and is used to achieve at least one of grilling heating, water bath heating, and steam heating.

[0047] One of the body (51a, 51b) and the cover (53a, 53b) has a food inlet (51a, 51b, 53b11) so that the food retrieval component 70 can place the food into it through the food inlet (51a, 51b, 53b11).

[0048] Please refer to Figures 1 to 5Understandably, the automatic food vending machine 100 is generally placed near office buildings or office buildings. Due to the special nature of the food offered by the automatic food vending machine 100 in this application, it can serve as an option for office workers' breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Of course, the vending machine can also be placed in shopping malls or other places where there is demand, and this is not limited here. In this embodiment, the automatic food vending machine 100 includes a housing 10, which includes an outer shell 11 and a partition plate 13 disposed therein. The outer shell 11 forms a receiving space for protecting the components disposed therein. Specifically, the outer shell 11 includes a bottom shell 117, a top shell, and a side shell plate connecting the bottom shell 117 and the top shell. Depending on the shape of the outer shell 11, the structure of the side shell plate can be different. Here, taking the shape of the outer shell 11 as a cuboid as an example, the bottom shell 117 and the top shell are both rectangular and vertically arranged on the ground to ensure the maximum surface area for storing food. The side shell includes a front panel (not shown), a rear panel 111, and a left side panel 113 and a right side panel 115 connecting the two. The side shell facing the user is designated as the front panel, and the opposite side is designated as the rear panel 111. The user's left hand corresponds to the left side panel 113, and the right hand corresponds to the right side panel 115. Of course, in other embodiments, the housing 10 can also be set as a cylinder or an irregular shape to achieve a certain aesthetic effect. To facilitate the assembly of internal components, the housing 11 can be a detachable split structure. For example, the bottom shell 117 and the top shell are detachably connected to the side shell, or the front panel is detachably connected to both the left side panel 113 and the right side panel 115. The connection method can be at least one of snap-fit ​​connection, threaded connection, or plug-in connection, which facilitates maintenance and cleaning.

[0049] Understandably, in order to place the food into the food storage rack 30 inside the casing 10 before sale, the casing 10 needs a food storage door (not shown). This food storage door can be a front panel or a rear panel 111. The food storage door can be a single piece, rotatably connected to the left side panel 113 or the right side panel 115 on one side, or it can be a two-part structure, with the two parts rotatably connected to the left side panel 113 and the right side panel 115 respectively, thereby rotating to open the food storage door and placing the food on the food dispensing rack. Of course, for the convenience of users to take the food, a food dispensing port (not shown) is provided on the front panel. Here, the material of the casing 10 can be metal or alloy, such as iron, stainless steel, aluminum, etc., with high structural strength, good corrosion resistance, and a certain weight to ensure the stability of the automatic food vending machine 100. Of course, the material of the casing 10 can also be wood or plastic or other materials, which are not limited here. Optionally, one side of the outer casing 11 is a food storage door, and a food dispensing port is opened on the food storage door. Understandably, setting the front panel as the food storage door, unlike the existing panel which is set as the food storage side away from the food outlet, allows the internal structure to be installed on the partition plate 13, the rear panel 111, the left side panel 113 and the right side panel 115, making the structure more compact and preventing the frequent opening and closing of the food storage door from affecting the fit of the food retrieval component 70.

[0050] Divider 13 is connected to the inner wall of the outer casing 11. Specifically, there are two dividers 13, which are vertically spaced apart, thereby dividing the storage space into a heating zone 10a, a refrigeration zone 10b, and an electronic control zone 10c. This division of different areas ensures that the operation and performance of each component are not affected, improving the overall structural safety and efficiency. The food storage rack 30 is placed in the refrigeration zone 10b, and its storage space 30a is used to place food items. When the food storage door is opened, the food items can be placed one by one into the storage space 30a. Since the food items are located in the refrigeration zone 10b, this achieves the purpose of refrigerating and preserving the food, improving the user's taste. Heating zone 10a is the area for heating food items. It is equipped with a heating element 50, which heats the food items refrigerated in refrigeration zone 10b. The structure of the heating element 50 varies depending on the food item; for example, it can be a grilling heater, a water bath heater, or a steam heater, thereby improving the taste of the food and enhancing the user experience of freshly prepared meals. Electrical control zone 10c houses the electrical control element 90, such as a controller 93, a battery, or other electrical components. This element is electrically connected to the heating element 50 and the food dispensing element 70, controlling their respective functions and ensuring the automatic operation of the vending machine 100. To achieve the refrigeration function, a compressor 91 is also installed in electrical control zone 10c. Located away from heating zone 10a, electrical control zone 10c is protected from overheating, improving safety. The function of the food retrieval component 70 is to move to the corresponding storage space 30a under the control program to retrieve the food, and then transport it to the heating zone 10a for heating. Therefore, it moves back and forth between the refrigeration zone 10b and the heating zone 10a. Of course, depending on actual needs, two or more partitions 13 can be set to form more independent spaces.

[0051] In this embodiment, the heating assembly 50 includes a body (51a, 51b) fixed to the heating zone 10a of the housing 10. Specifically, the body (51a, 51b) has a space to accommodate food to be heated. A cover (53a, 53b) is movably mounted on the housing 11, allowing it to be movable relative to the body (51a, 51b) to close or open. Depending on the heating method, a heating element can be disposed on the body (51a, 51b) and / or the cover 53a to heat the food. The body (51a, 51b) can be fixedly connected to the housing 11, for example, on a side panel, thereby creating a certain distance between the body (51a, 51b) and the partition plate 13 to prevent excessive heat transfer to the refrigeration zone 10b and improve the refrigeration effect of the refrigeration zone 10b. When the lids (53a, 53b) are closed onto the body (51a, 51b), they cooperate to form a heating chamber, triggering the heating of the food placed inside. The movable design of the lids (53a, 53b) can be achieved by setting a drive cylinder. Optionally, the piston of the drive cylinder is connected to the surface of the lids (53a, 53b) opposite to the body (51a, 51b). This drive cylinder is fixed to the top shell and moves up and down reciprocally under the drive of the cylinder. Of course, the drive cylinder can also be an electric motor or similar device, connected to a transmission component that converts rotary motion into linear motion.

[0052] Here, the heating element is used to achieve at least one of the following heating methods: grilling, water bath heating, and steam heating. The corresponding heating method can be selected according to the different foods being heated. For example, when the food in the storage rack 30 is a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), the meat and bread can be stored separately or sandwiched together. Since the best texture of the bread is crispy and fragrant, the heating element 50 is selected to use grilling to improve the texture. When the food in the storage rack 30 is liangpi (cold skin noodles) or ganmianpi (cold noodles), since liangpi or ganmianpi is a cold food, a high heating temperature is not required. Because the noodles will harden slightly after refrigeration, affecting the texture, steam heating is selected. Only a slight heating is needed to warm them up, improving the texture while avoiding excessive coldness that could affect digestion. When the food is porridge or soup, to avoid it becoming too dry or the heating temperature being insufficient, the heating method is set to water bath heating to increase the heating temperature without losing the original texture of the food.

[0053] Here, the heating component 50 is applied to the automatic food vending machine 100. Unlike the light wave or microwave heating methods in existing structures, the heating element of the heating component 50 heats the food through at least one method: grilling, water bath heating, or steam heating. This significantly reduces the requirements for the outer surface material of the food, effectively reducing costs. Moreover, the temperature is not too high during heating, and it can be adapted to different types of snacks depending on the heating method, satisfying the combination of traditional food and automatic vending, thus expanding the application scenarios. At the same time, depending on the heating method, one of the body (51a, 51b) and the cover (53a, 53b) has a food inlet (51a, 51b, 53b, 11), which facilitates the food dispensing component 70 to place the food into the heating chamber through the food inlet (51a, 51b, 53b, 11), simplifying the operation process.

[0054] Please refer to Figure 6 In an optional embodiment, when the heating component 50 uses grilling heating, the wall of the heating groove 51a1 is provided with the food inlet 51a51, and the heating element is disposed on the surface of the body 51a away from the heating groove 51a1.

[0055] In this embodiment, when the heating method is baking, the body (51a, 51b) forms a heating groove 51a1. For example, the heating component 50 can be a device like an electric griddle, and the heating element is a resistance module, such as a resistance wire or an electromagnetic heating structure, disposed on the surface of the body 51a away from the heating groove 51a1. After being energized, the resistance heats up and transfers the heat to the body 51a, causing the heating groove 51a1 to generate heat to heat the food. Because the heating element in this heating method is disposed on the surface away from the heating groove 51a1, an inlet 51a51 is opened in the groove wall of the heating groove 51a1, so that the food can directly enter the heating groove 51a1 through the inlet 51a51, getting closer to the heating element, thereby improving the heating effect. Under normal circumstances, the lid 53a can be positioned away from the body 51a. A sensor is set to move the food into the heating slot 51a1 when the food-retrieving component 70 transports the food to a position flush with the inlet 51a51. Then, the lid 53a closes the heating slot 51a1, triggering the heating element. Because grilling heats up rapidly, the heating time should not be too long, ideally between 1 and 2 minutes, to ensure a good texture. For hygiene, the food can be wrapped in aluminum foil or similar materials. Aluminum foil can be heated directly without producing harmful substances, effectively improving food safety. Alternatively, heating elements can be installed on both the body 51a and the lid 53a for double-sided heating and even better results.

[0056] Please continue to refer to Figure 6In an optional embodiment, the body 51a includes a base plate 51a3 and a side plate 51a5 disposed around the base plate 51a3. The base plate 51a3 and the side plate 51a5 together form the heating groove 51a1. The side plate 51a5 has the inlet 51a51. The cover 53a includes a cover plate 53a1 and a surrounding plate 53a3 disposed around the cover plate 53a1. The surrounding plate 53a3 has a clearance hole 53a31. The cover 53a covers the body 51a. The side plate 51a5 covers the clearance hole 53a31, and the surrounding plate 53a3 covers the inlet 51a51.

[0057] In this embodiment, to simplify the structure, the body 51a includes a base plate 51a3 and a side plate 51a5 disposed around the base plate 51a3. The body 51a is disc-shaped, matching the shape of the steamed bun or similar food to be heated. The cover 53a includes a cover plate 53a1 and a surrounding plate 53a3. The cover plate 53a1 matches the shape of the base plate 51a3, thereby making the shapes of the side plate 51a5 and the surrounding plate 53a3 also compatible, ensuring that the two cover each other. An inlet 51a51 is provided on the side plate 51a5. Specifically, the inlet 51a51 extends vertically from the edge of the side plate 51a5 away from the bottom plate 51a3 directly to the periphery of the bottom plate 51a3, thereby maximizing the depth of the inlet 51a51. The width of the inlet 51a51 is set to match the size of the food to be heated, ensuring that the food can smoothly enter the heating tank 51a1, thereby improving heating efficiency. At the same time, in order to achieve closed heating, when the lid 53a is closed on the body 51a, the surrounding plate 53a3 can cover the inlet 51a51 to prevent heat loss and improve the heating effect. To further ensure the sealing of the cover, a clearance hole 53a31 is provided on the position of the surrounding plate 53a3 corresponding to the side plate 51a5. In this way, when the cover is closed for heating, the surrounding plate 53a3 can be inserted into the opening 51a51, and the side plate 51a5 can be inserted into the clearance hole 53a31, so that the surrounding plate 53a3 and the side plate 51a5 are on the same circumferential surface, further preventing heat loss and improving the heating effect.

[0058] Of course, in other embodiments, the body 51a may be plate-shaped without side plates 51a5, and the enclosure 53a3 may not need to have holes, which can also achieve the effect of closed heating.

[0059] Please refer to this again. Figure 6In an optional embodiment, when the heating component 50 uses steam or water bath heating, the body 51b has a cylindrical structure with one end open, the heating element is disposed in the body 51b, the body 51b contains a preset capacity of water, the cover 53b is provided with a food storage part 53b1 facing the body 51b, the food storage part 53b1 has the food inlet 53b11, and the food storage part 53b1 is located above the water or immersed in the water.

[0060] In this embodiment, water can be heated to hot water using a resistive or electromagnetic heating element, thereby achieving steam heating or water bath heating. This is specifically designed to improve the taste of heated food and reduce heating costs. Here, it is mainly for dishes like cold noodles or rolled noodles, which only need to be kept soft and slightly moist, so steam heating can be used. Specifically, the container body 51b has a cylindrical structure with one open end. Water is stored inside the container body 51b, allowing for a larger capacity of hot water for heating. The water is heated to hot water through a heating element, generating steam, or hot water can be directly introduced into the container body 51b. Correspondingly, an inlet 53b11 is provided on the lid 53b, with the lid 53b facing the food storage section 53b1 of the container body 51b. This food storage section 53b1 not only has the inlet 53b11 but also provides space for holding food. When the food storage compartment 53b1 is placed inside the container body 51b, its surface facing the hot water is isolated from the hot water, i.e., positioned above the hot water, to achieve steam heating. For porridge or soup, the food storage compartment 53b1 can be immersed in the hot water, allowing the food to be heated through heat exchange with the hot water. Of course, all food items are packaged in boxes; these boxes can be made of ordinary plastic, which is low-cost and effectively saves on production costs.

[0061] Unlike the heating component 50 structure of the grilling heating method, in an optional embodiment, the cover 53b further includes a top cover 53b3, the food storage part 53b1 has a cylindrical structure with one end open, the top cover 53b3 covers and connects to the opening edge of the food storage part 53b1, the food inlet 53b11 is opened on the peripheral side of the food storage part 53b1, and the height of the food storage part 53b1 is less than the depth of the body 51b.

[0062] In this embodiment, the cover 53b includes a top cover 53b3 and a food storage section 53b1. The food storage section 53b1 also has a cylindrical structure, with an inlet 53b11 on its circumferential side. The top cover 53b3 is closed and fixedly connected to the opening of the food storage section 53b1, forming a space for placing food. Thus, in use, the cover 53b is away from the body 51b. When the food storage piece 71 moves to a position flush with the inlet 53b11, a push rod pushes the food from the storage piece 71 into the cover 53b. When the cover 53b detects food, it triggers a drive component to move downwards, closing the opening of the heating tank 51b1, thereby triggering heating. Of course, to achieve steam heating, the height of the food storage section 53b1 is less than the depth of the body 51b, ensuring sufficient hot water storage and providing a better heating effect.

[0063] Of course, for both steam heating and water bath heating, to facilitate processing, the heating components 50 can be structurally identical, differing only in the depth of water introduced into the container body 51b. Specifically, the steam heating container body 51b has a lower water level line, ensuring the food packaging does not contact the water; while the water bath heating container body 51b has a higher water level line, allowing the food packaging to be submerged. Simultaneously, the steam heating temperature should not be too high; a temperature detection module can be set to maintain the steam temperature at around 100℃, such as 105℃, with a heating time set to 1-2 minutes to ensure a good texture for the food. Similarly, the water bath heating time should not be too long, maintained at 2-3 minutes to ensure the food is warm but not scalding, providing a better eating experience.

[0064] Please combine Figure 6 In an optional embodiment, the food storage section 53b1 has a plurality of micropores on its surface facing the bottom of the body 51b, and the plurality of micropores are spaced apart.

[0065] In this embodiment, to improve the heating effect, multiple micropores are formed on the surface of the food storage section 53b1 facing the bottom of the body 51b, with the micropores spaced apart. During water bath heating, the multiple micropores increase the contact area between the food and the hot water, thereby improving heating efficiency. Furthermore, when heating is complete and the lid 53b moves upward away from the hot water, the water in the food storage section 53b1 can be drained through the micropores, facilitating smooth movement of the lid 53b, reducing water overflow, improving the functional stability of the heating assembly 50, and minimizing impact on other components. The size and shape of these micropores can be set according to actual needs and are not limited here.

[0066] Please combine Figure 1 and Figure 6Of course, when the heating component 50 is working, in order to ensure that its function is realized smoothly, the heating component 50 also includes a supply unit, which is located in the electrical control area 10c and connected to the body 51b through a pipe or wire to realize the heating function of the body 51b.

[0067] In this embodiment, the supply unit varies depending on the heating method. For example, when the heating method is grilling, the supply unit is a battery assembly or a circuit assembly, connected to the grilling module located in the body 51b via wires. Under the control of the controller 93, the circuit can be opened and closed to power on or off the grilling module, thereby heating the body 51b. When the heating method is water bath heating or steam heating, the supply unit can be a water tank 551 and a heating element. The water tank 551 is located in the electrical control area 10c and is connected to the body 51b via a pipe. The heating element can be located inside the water tank 551 or inside the body 51b, thereby heating the water to convert it into hot water for heating. This supply unit is also electrically connected to the controller 93, thereby achieving automatic heating control and ensuring smooth food storage.

[0068] Furthermore, since the food items are directly immersed in the water in the heating element 50 using the water bath heating method, which can cause some water pollution, the heating element 50 can be equipped with a self-cleaning function. For example, the body 51b is also connected to a drain pipe that extends into the electrical control area 10c, where a wastewater tank 553 is located. Under the control of the controller 93, the body 51b is automatically cleaned during the idle time of the automatic vending machine 100. This involves opening the drain pipe to allow internal water to flow into the wastewater tank 553, then closing the drain pipe and opening the inlet pipe to replenish clean water to the body 51b. This automatic cleaning can take place between 1:00 AM and 5:00 AM to minimize disruption to food sales.

[0069] Please refer to Figures 1 to 4 The present invention also proposes an automatic food vending machine. In one embodiment of the present invention, the automatic food vending machine 100 includes a housing 10, a food storage rack 30, a heating component 50, a food dispensing component 70, and an electronic control component 90. The housing 10 forms a heating zone 10a, a refrigeration zone 10b, and an electronic control zone 10c arranged sequentially in a vertical direction. The food storage rack 30 is disposed within the refrigeration zone 10b. The heating component 50 is disposed within the heating zone 10a. The food dispensing component 70 is movably disposed between the refrigeration zone 10b and the heating zone 10a, and the food dispensing component 70 removes the food from the storage space 30a and delivers it to the heating component 50 for heating. The electronic control component 90 is disposed within the electronic control zone 10c and is electrically connected to both the heating component 50 and the food dispensing component 70. The specific structure of the heating component 50 is as described in any of the above embodiments, and the beneficial effects thereof will not be elaborated here.

[0070] The structure of the casing 10 of the automatic food vending machine 100 is the same as the above structure, and will not be described in detail here.

[0071] In an optional embodiment, the food storage rack 30 has multiple storage spaces 30a arranged circumferentially and axially, and the food dispensing component 70 is partially located in the middle of the food storage rack 30. Specifically, the food storage rack 30 includes multiple storage spaces 30a, which are arranged sequentially in the circumferential and axial directions of the food storage rack 30, thus forming a ring-shaped arrangement of storage spaces 30a. To facilitate food placement and retrieval, the middle part is usually not used for storing food, and this space is not fully utilized. By placing part of the structure of the food dispensing component 70 in the middle of the food storage rack 30, the space occupied by the food dispensing component 70 is reduced, and the idle space is used reasonably, thereby reducing the lateral surface area of ​​the automatic vending machine 100 and reducing the lateral space occupied. In addition, for convenient food placement, the outer peripheral surface of the food storage rack 30 is connected to the accommodating space, that is, the storage space 30a is connected to the refrigeration area 10b. When the food storage door is opened, food can be placed through the opening connecting the storage space 30a and the refrigeration area 10b.

[0072] The automatic food vending machine 100 of this invention includes a housing 10, which forms a vertically oriented heating zone 10a, a cold food zone, and an electrical control zone 10c. A heating component 50 is located in the heating zone 10a, a food storage rack 30 is located in the cold food zone, and an electrical control component 90 is located within the electrical control zone 10c. A refrigeration zone 10b keeps food at a suitable temperature, ensuring its freshness. The heating zone 10a, used for heating food and located above the refrigeration zone 10b, minimizes the impact of heat on the temperature of the refrigeration zone 10b, saving energy. It also keeps the heating zone away from the electrical control component 90, improving its performance. The overall layout of the housing 10 allows for a more regular internal space, effectively reducing the horizontal expansion of the automatic food vending machine 100, thereby reducing its cross-sectional area and floor space requirements. Meanwhile, the food storage rack 30 is equipped with multiple storage spaces 30a arranged circumferentially and axially to store food items, ensuring storage capacity while saving space. Furthermore, part of the food dispensing component 70 is located in the middle of the food storage rack 30, thereby making reasonable use of the space not used for storing food items, reducing the occupation of extra space in the lateral direction, and further reducing the overall volume of the automatic food vending machine 100. This effectively saves space while ensuring the amount of food items that can be stored.

[0073] Please continue to refer to Figures 3 to 4In an optional embodiment, to reduce the difficulty of retrieving food, the food retrieval component 70 includes a food storage component 71 and a food pushing component 73. The food storage component 71 is disc-shaped or flat and is used to place food. It is located within the food retrieval channel 30b, thus matching the spatial shape of the channel. The food storage component 71 is disc-shaped or triangular. The food retrieval channel 30b is connected to the storage space 30a, meaning food can enter the food storage component 71 within the channel 30b from the storage space 30a. The food pushing component 73 is located on an opening side of the storage space 30a away from the food retrieval channel 30b and can extend and retract. When food needs to be retrieved, it can extend through the opening of the storage space 30a away from the food retrieval channel 30b and push the food onto the food storage component 71, thereby completing the retrieval.

[0074] In an optional embodiment, to further simplify the structure, the food pusher 73 is fixed to the inner wall of the housing 10, for example, on the side panel, and the food pusher 73 is vertically movable, so that it can be moved to a position corresponding to different storage spaces 30a. When the food storage unit 71 is also flush with the corresponding storage space 30a, the food can be pushed into the food storage unit 71 to complete the food retrieval from the storage spaces 30a of different layers in a vertical direction. This reduces the use of the food pusher 73, further reduces the space occupied, simplifies the structure, and reduces the volume.

[0075] In an optional embodiment, to further facilitate food retrieval and placement, the food storage rack 30 is configured to rotate circumferentially relative to the housing 10. Thus, when the food retrieval component 70 automatically retrieves food, the rotation of the food storage rack 30 allows for the retrieval of food from different layers and different positions on the same layer with only one pusher 73, further reducing the number of pushers 73, reducing the occupancy of lateral space, and further reducing the size of the automatic vending machine 100.

[0076] Please refer to this again. Figure 3 and Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the food storage component 71 is disc-shaped to facilitate rotation of the food storage rack 30. In this embodiment, to achieve vertical movement of the food storage component 71, the food retrieval assembly 70 further includes a first drive component 75 and two lead screws 77. Here, the first drive component 75 is taken as a motor. The first drive component 75 can be mounted on the top shell. The lead screws 77 pass through the heating zone and the refrigeration zone 10b. The food storage component 71 is threadedly connected to the lead screws 77. When the two lead screws 77 rotate synchronously in the forward direction, they drive the food storage component 71 downwards. When the motor reverses, it drives the food storage component 71 upwards, delivering the food to the heating assembly 50 for heating. This structure of the food retrieval assembly 70 effectively improves the stability of the movement of the food storage component 71, and the lead screw transmission makes the movement position of the food storage component 71 more precise, ensuring a high success rate of food retrieval. Of course, a transmission belt or chain can also be used for transmission.

[0077] Based on the structure of the first driving member 75, in order to realize the movement and extension of the food pusher 73, the food dispensing component 70 also includes a second driving member. Here, the food pusher 73 is configured to include a connector 731 and a pushing part 733. The connector 731 is columnar and connected to the drive shaft of the second driving member. The pushing part 733 is connected to the end of the connector 731 away from the second driving member. Since the automatic food vending machine 100 of this application is mainly for traditional snacks, such as roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) or liangpi (cold skin noodles), the packaging structure is generally round. Therefore, the surface of the pushing part 733 facing the food storage rack 30 is set as an arc surface 7331, which can well wrap the outer edge of the food, thereby ensuring that the food enters the food storage unit 71 smoothly.

[0078] Please combine Figure 4 In an optional embodiment, the food storage rack 30 includes a storage tray 31 and a support rod 33. The storage tray 31 ensures the stability of the food placement and prevents it from falling. Specifically, the storage tray 31 can be circular in shape, matching the cylindrical food retrieval channel 30b, thereby increasing the volume of each storage space 30a. For a standard-sized vending machine, to ensure sufficient food storage capacity and considering the size of the food, at least two storage trays 31 should be provided. Optionally, the number of storage trays 31 can be 10 to 32 to ensure a large storage capacity and improve the purchasing experience. The support rod 33 is used to space at least two storage trays 31 to form storage spaces 30a for placing food, and to connect multiple storage trays 31 together for convenient food retrieval.

[0079] Please refer to Figure 1 and Figure 2 In an optional embodiment, to further increase the storage capacity of the automatic food vending machine 100, multiple food storage racks 30 are provided, for example, two, three, or more. These multiple food storage racks 30 are arranged side-by-side with intervals. Due to the special design of the food dispensing components 70, multiple food dispensing components 70 are also provided, each corresponding to one of the food storage racks 30. That is, each food storage rack 30 has a movable food storage component 71 within its dispensing channel 30b, and a food pushing component 73 corresponding to the food storage rack 30 is provided on the machine casing 10. This allows for the simultaneous dispensing of multiple food items, improving dispensing efficiency. Depending on the type of food, the dimensions of the multiple food storage racks 30 can be the same or different. Furthermore, the arrangement of multiple food storage racks 30 also makes it possible to sell different food items in combination. For example, traditional snacks are usually served with at least two other food items, such as liangpi (cold skin noodles) and roujiamo (meat sandwich), a traditional snack in Shaanxi province.

[0080] Here, three food storage racks 30 are installed inside the casing 10. One of the food storage racks 30 has a smaller storage space 30a than the other two, and can be used to store the bun for the roujiamo (Chinese hamburger). The other food storage racks 30 have larger storage spaces 30a, and can hold cold noodles, rolled noodles, and porridge / soup, which can be eaten with the roujiamo, greatly improving the customer's shopping experience and increasing the selection of food items. The automatic food vending machine 100 of this application includes a combination of a rotating food storage rack 30, a lifting food storage component 71, and a telescopic food pushing component 73, saving space. Compared with vending machines of similar size on the market, its storage capacity is two to three times that of other vending machines.

[0081] Understandably, the heating component 50 is positioned above the food storage rack 30. During the up-and-down movement of the food storage unit 71, food can be retrieved from the food retrieval channel 30b and moved into the heating chamber within the heating zone 10a. Here, the food retrieval component 70 also includes a pusher rod (not shown), which is retractable and positioned on one side of the food storage unit 71. When the food storage unit 71 is flush with the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11), the pusher rod pushes the food on the food storage unit 71 into the heating component 50 through the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11).

[0082] The structure of the pusher rod can be the same as that of the pusher component 73, which facilitates manufacturing and simplifies the structure. The pusher rod and the pusher component 73 push in opposite directions. The pusher component 73 is located on the rear panel 111, pushing the food from the storage space 30a towards the front panel into the food storage component 71. The pusher rod is located on the front panel. When the food storage component 71 is flush with the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11), the pusher rod pushes the food towards the rear panel 111 into the food inlet (51a, 51, 53b, 11). In this way, the heating component 50 is located above and slightly behind the food storage rack 30, away from the front panel, so that no excessive heat is generated at the food outlet, thereby improving the protection of the user. Of course, in other embodiments, the pusher component 73 can also be located on the front panel, and the pusher rod can be located on the rear panel 111. Alternatively, other transfer components, such as a robotic arm or clamping component, can be used to transfer the food into the heating component 50.

[0083] Please refer to Figure 5 In an optional embodiment, the food retrieval component 70 further includes a hole punch 79, which is fixed above the food storage component 71. The hole punch 79 has a needle 791 on its surface facing the food storage component 71 to punch holes in the food on the food storage component 71.

[0084] In this embodiment, to further improve the heating effect, when the heating component 50 uses steam heating, the corresponding food dispensing component 70 also includes a hole punch 79, which is located above the food storage component 71. Specifically, the hole punch 79 can be disposed on the driving component of the food storage component 71, between two lead screws 77. When the food storage component 71 moves up and down with the rotation of the lead screws 77, the hole punch 79 remains stationary. When the distance between the food storage component 71 and the hole punch 79 reaches a certain preset distance, the piercing needle 791 of the hole punch 79 can contact the food, thereby punching a hole in the food. After punching, it can move downward to the corresponding position on the cover 53a to push the food. In this way, during steam heating, the contact area between the steam and the food can be increased, resulting in more efficient heating and better taste.

[0085] Please continue to refer to Figure 5 and Figure 6 In an optional embodiment, based on the structure of multiple food storage racks 30, in order to heat different food items in different ways or improve heating efficiency, multiple heating components 50 are also provided, and are set one-to-one with the food taking components 70. The heating method of the heating components 50 is at least two of grilling, water bath heating or steam heating.

[0086] In this embodiment, when there are two or more food storage racks 30 and food dispensing components 70, one type of food item is the same. Thus, multiple heating components 50 are provided, each corresponding to a food dispensing component 70. The structures of these multiple heating components 50 are identical; for example, they are all designed for baking flatbreads, water bath heating for porridge / soup, or steam heating for cold noodles / rolled noodles. When multiple food items are purchased, this effectively improves heating and dispensing efficiency, enhancing the user experience. Furthermore, to provide a better purchasing experience, the automatic vending machine 100 places different types of food items on different food storage racks 30, allowing users to freely choose meal sets. Here, considering traditional snack pairing habits, the food items are set to at least two of the following: porridge / soup, roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), cold noodles, and rolled noodles. Therefore, the heating components 50 correspond to at least two of the following heating methods: baking, water bath heating, or steam heating, providing targeted heating methods to improve the taste of the food and the user experience.

[0087] Optionally, when the food storage rack 30 has three units, the three heating components 50 can be configured using the three heating methods mentioned above, thus providing more options for food combinations and ensuring heating effectiveness. In this way, the bodies (51a, 51b) of the three heating components 50 can be connected to the housing 10 via a connecting plate 57, and have a certain distance from the partition plate 13 and the top shell to facilitate heat dissipation. Simultaneously, between two adjacent bodies (51a, 51b), the connecting plate 57 has heat dissipation holes 571, allowing heat from the bodies (51a, 51b) to dissipate upwards through these holes, reducing the likelihood of heat transfer to the refrigeration zone 10b, thereby further promoting food preservation and heat dissipation in the heating zone 10a.

[0088] Please combine Figures 7 to 9 Of course, after heating the food, it needs to be transferred to the serving area. Therefore, a pusher 73 is provided on the side of the heating component 50 away from the food storage container 71. This pusher pushes the food in the heating component 50 towards the food storage container 71, and then from the food storage container 71 pushes it towards the serving area or other components that can receive the food. This pusher 73 has the same structure as the pusher 73 used in the food retrieval process, or it can be moved directly from the pusher 73 used in the food retrieval process to a position flush with the heating component 50, thus achieving the function of pushing and transferring the food. This further reduces the number of components, simplifies the structure, and lowers material and processing assembly costs.

[0089] To better control the placement of food items, a food dispensing box 83 is typically installed at the location corresponding to the food dispensing opening. The food dispensing box 83 has a dispensing space 831 into which food items are pushed to prevent them from falling to other locations. In an optional embodiment, the automatic vending machine 100 also includes a food dispensing transfer device 60, located between the food dispensing component 70 and the food dispensing box 83, for placing heated food items into the food dispensing box 83.

[0090] In this embodiment, the bracket 61 is used to fix the car 63. The bracket 61 is connected to the outer shell 11. The car 63 is specifically located between the food storage unit 71 and the food dispensing box 83, and is used to receive heated food and deliver it into the food dispensing box 83. The car 63 includes a frame body 631, which is generally cuboid or cubic in shape and has six surfaces. A movable base plate 633 is movably disposed on the surface of the frame body 631, and the two cooperate to form a storage cavity. Of course, the frame body 631 can also be cylindrical or other shapes. The storage cavity has a fixed opening 6311, which faces the food storage unit 71 for receiving food. Meanwhile, the bracket 61 can drive the car 63 to move up and down, allowing it to move within the plane of the food retrieval component 70 and the food dispensing space 831 of the food dispensing box 83. Thus, a sensor installed in the car 63 detects that food has been placed in the storage cavity, first moving the car 63 downwards into the food dispensing space 831. Then, the movable base plate 633 automatically opens the bottom of the frame body 631, allowing the food to fall into the food dispensing space 831. Here, the movable connection of the movable base plate 633 can be a rotatable connection or a sliding connection, enabling rotation or translation to open the bottom of the frame body 631; no limitation is made here.

[0091] In this way, the car 63 can control the movable base plate 633 to open the bottom of the frame body 631 after entering the food serving space 831, so that the food will not fall from a height when serving, effectively ensuring the integrity of the food and improving the purchasing experience. Moreover, the transfer structure is simple and has low requirements for the driving precision of the movable base plate 633 and the car 63, so as to ensure fast food serving.

[0092] Please continue to refer to Figure 8 In an optional embodiment, for ease of control, a drive assembly 635 is provided on the car 63. The drive assembly 635 drives the movable base plate 633 to move. The drive assembly 635 can be a motor, cylinder, or other drive component, and is not limited here. Here, the movable base plate 633 is configured with at least two base rods 6331, that is, at least two base rods 6331 form the movable base plate 633. The cross-sectional shape of the base rods 6331 can be circular, square, or polygonal, etc. When it is circular, it can make the food fall more smoothly and improve the efficiency of serving food. When the base rods 6331 are evenly distributed on the bottom surface of the frame body 631, they can support the food. When some of the multiple base plates 51a3 move towards one side of the frame body 631 and the remaining parts move towards the other side of the frame body 631, the bottom surface of the frame body 631 can be opened, and the food can fall out. The movable base plate 633 of this structure can provide relatively stable support, and it does not occupy additional space when the bottom is opened, which can reduce the volume of the food transfer device 60 and make the automatic food vending machine 100 occupy less space.

[0093] Please refer to this again. Figure 8 In an optional embodiment, to reduce the impact of the drive assembly 635 on the smooth transfer of food, the car 63 further includes a movable side panel 637. This movable side panel 637 has the same structure as the movable bottom panel 633, both including at least two side rods 6371. Each side panel 51a5 is connected to the end of a bottom rod 6331. The drive assembly 635 is installed on the side of the frame body. The drive unit 6351 moves the side rods 6371 towards one side of the frame body 631, and the remaining side rods 6371 move towards the other side, thereby driving multiple bottom rods 6331 to move and open the bottom surface of the frame body 631, thus realizing the transfer of food. This structure ensures that the bottom rods 6331 of the movable bottom panel 633 are not interfered with by other structures, allowing the food to slide down more smoothly and improving the food serving effect.

[0094] In an optional embodiment, a side rod 6371 moving towards one side of the frame body 631 is designated as the first side rod 6373, and a side rod 6371 moving towards the opposite side is designated as the second side rod 6375. To further simplify the structure of the car 63 and reduce the number of drive assemblies 635, adjacent side rods 6371 moving towards the same side are connected by a telescopic member 6377. When the movable floor 633 needs to carry food, the telescopic member 6377 can extend to maintain a distance between the two adjacent side rods 6371. When serving food, the telescopic member 6377 can retract or fold as the side rods 6371 move to reduce the distance between the two side rods 6371. When the drive assembly 635 drives the first side rod 6373 located in the middle position, the first side rod 6373 compresses the telescopic member 6377, reducing the distance between it and its adjacent first side rod 6373, until the adjacent first side rod 6373 also moves, and so on, thereby realizing the open state of the movable floor 633. This structure, similar to a curtain opening and closing mechanism, eliminates the need for a drive assembly 635 on each side rod 6371. This allows for the rapid opening or closing of the sides and bottom of the frame body 631 with fewer drive assemblies 635, effectively saving material costs and energy. The telescopic component 6377 can be two hinged metal strips, each connected to a side rod 6371 via a hinge; alternatively, it could be a telescopic rod or similar structure, without limitation.

[0095] Please refer to Figure 8In an optional embodiment, in order to further reduce energy consumption, the drive assembly 635 includes a drive unit 6351, which may be a motor or electric motor, and also includes a transmission wheel 6353 and a transmission belt 6355. The drive unit 6351 drives the transmission belt 6355 to rotate. The two opposing moving surfaces of the transmission belt 6355 face different directions. Therefore, one of the adjacent first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375 is connected to one surface of the transmission belt 6355, and the other is connected to the other surface of the transmission belt 6355. Under the drive of the drive unit 6351, the first side rods 6373 and second side rods 6375 are moved by the transmission belt 6355, thereby opening the movable base plate 633.

[0096] In an optional embodiment, in order to transfer a larger number of meals at once, multiple movable base plates 633 can be provided. Multiple movable base plates 633 are distributed at intervals from the bottom surface to the top surface of the frame body 631, thereby dividing the storage cavity into multiple layers. Each layer can store meals, effectively increasing the storage capacity.

[0097] Please combine Figure 7 and Figure 8 When multiple food storage racks 30 are provided, they are arranged side by side at intervals in the accommodating space. Multiple food retrieval components 70 are provided and are set one-to-one with each food storage rack 30. Multiple heating components 50 are provided and are set one-to-one with each food retrieval component 70, so that the food on each food storage rack 30 is delivered to the corresponding heating component 50 through the corresponding food retrieval component 70, thereby realizing targeted heating methods for different food items, improving food service efficiency and food taste.

[0098] In this embodiment, since multiple dishes need to be served together, to improve serving efficiency, the support 61 extends along the arrangement direction of the food storage racks 30, and the car 63 can be movably arranged along this extension direction. That is, the car 63 can be movably arranged between multiple food storage racks 30 and multiple heating components 50. Specifically, this movement can be driven by a motor and lead screw 77, or by other structures such as a conveyor belt. With this structure, when the user selects at least two dishes, the car 63 moves to at least two heating components 50 to receive the corresponding dishes. When there are multiple movable base plates 633, different dishes are placed on different layers of movable base plates 633. At this time, the storage cavity can be divided into spaces of different sizes according to the volume of the dishes, so as to meet the storage needs of the dishes while reducing the accumulation or compression of the dishes, ensuring the integrity and appearance of the dishes, and improving the purchasing experience. When there is only one movable base plate 633, the dishes can be placed on the same movable base plate 633 and transferred together, which is simple in structure.

[0099] Please combine Figure 7In an optional embodiment, the pusher 73 used to push the food into the movable base plate 633 may have the same structure as the pusher 73 used to push the food into the storage container 71, or the two pushers 73 may be combined into one. That is, the transmission structure used to drive the pusher 73 has its two ends connected to the bottom shell 117 and the top shell, so that the pusher 73 can move between the refrigeration zone 10b and the heating zone 10a, realizing the pushing action of the two processes, thereby effectively reducing the number of driving components and pushers 73, simplifying the structure and reducing processing costs.

[0100] Please refer to Figures 9 to 10 Since the food may be hot to the touch after being heated, in an optional embodiment of the automatic vending machine 100, which includes the above-mentioned food dispensing component 70, food storage rack 30 structure and heating component 50, the automatic vending machine 100 also includes a packaging device 80. The packaging device 80 is located on one side of the food dispensing box 83 and is used to pack the food by placing the packaging bag into the food dispensing space 831.

[0101] In this embodiment, the automatic vending machine 100 is designed to accommodate traditional-style snacks and meals. Therefore, its packaging differs from existing fast food boxes, and the meals lack convenient carrying packaging. Furthermore, considering that the meals may be slightly hot to the touch after heating, a packaging device 80 is installed. This device automatically picks up the packaging bag and places it into the dispensing space 831. Meals from the dispensing transfer device 60's carriage 63 are then packaged in the dispensing space 831. Users can simply lift the packaging bag to retrieve their meals without direct contact with the food, thus reducing the risk of burns and effectively improving the consumer experience. Simultaneously, based on the structure with and without the heating component 50, the multiple food storage racks 30 significantly improve dispensing efficiency when multiple meals are dispensed simultaneously. The packaging device 80 can also package multiple meals, effectively solving the problem of inconvenience when purchasing multiple different meals at the same time. This increases the likelihood of purchasing multiple meal sets, promotes health and hygiene, and enhances convenience and safety.

[0102] Please combine Figure 10 and Figure 11In an optional embodiment, to achieve automatic packaging by the packaging device 80, the packaging device 80 is electrically connected to the electronic control component 90, and the packaging of the food is achieved through the control of the electronic control component 90. Specifically, the packaging device 80 includes a fixed base and a storage bag box 81 fixed relative to the fixed base. The fixed base can be set separately and fixed to the partition plate 13, or the fixed base can be defined as the aforementioned partition plate 13 structure, and the storage bag box 81 can be directly fixed to the side of the food retrieval component 70 near the front panel for storing packaging bags. The shape of the storage box matches the shape of the packaging bag, and in order to increase the amount of packaging bags stored, the packaging bags are folded, and multiple packaging bags are stacked and pressed inside the storage bag box 81. Here, the material of the packaging bags can be paper, which is environmentally friendly, healthy, and relatively low in cost, and can reduce white pollution. Of course, in other embodiments, plastic materials can also be used.

[0103] The food dispensing box 83 is the structure described above, positioned directly opposite the food dispensing opening for easy access by the user. Optionally, the opening shape of the food dispensing box 83 matches the open state of the packaging bag, and the bag-retrieving component 85 is movable relative to the fixed base, i.e., it can be moved on the partition plate 13, allowing it to move back and forth between the bag storage box 81 and the food dispensing box 83. It can also open folded packaging bags to pack food. Specifically, the bag-retrieving component 85 can be a robotic arm or a suction device, etc.

[0104] Please combine Figure 10 and Figure 11 In an optional embodiment, taking a paper bag as an example, the paper bag has better flatness. The bag-retrieving component 85 includes a support arm 851 and a suction cup 853 disposed on the support arm 851. The suction cup 853 is connected to an air pipe, which is connected to a vacuum device (not shown) to adsorb and fix the packaging bag. The support arm 851 is movable relative to the bag storage box 81 and the food dispensing box 83, that is, it can move vertically, horizontally, and forward and backward under the drive of the driving component, thereby realizing the transfer of the packaging bag.

[0105] In an optional embodiment, to improve the stability of the bag-collecting component 85 in adsorbing the packaging bag, the bag-collecting component 85 further includes a connecting arm 855. Two support arms 851 are provided and connected to both ends of the connecting arm 855 respectively, thereby increasing the contact area between the suction cup 853 and the packaging bag and effectively improving the adsorption stability. Of course, multiple suction cups 853 can be provided on each support arm 851 to further improve the adsorption capacity of the bag-collecting component 85 and prevent the packaging bag from falling off during the transfer process. Here, the support arm 851 of the bag-retrieving component 85 is located between the bag storage box 81 and the food dispensing box 83. The support arm 851 faces the food dispensing box 83, that is, the connecting arm 855 faces the bag storage box 81. The bag-retrieving component 85 can move horizontally towards the bag storage box 81, then move downwards, so that the suction cup 853 can adhere and fix the packaging bag, then move upwards away from the bag storage box 81, and then move towards the food dispensing box 83. Since the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces upwards, in order to reduce the interference between the bag-retrieving component 85 and the food dispensing transfer device 60, it is necessary to... The food dispensing box 83 is rotated 90 degrees around the central axis perpendicular to the front panel, i.e., 90 degrees counterclockwise, so that the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces the support arm 851. At the same time, the support arm 851 is rotatably rotated 90 degrees around the rotation axis 84 so that its size matches the opening size of the food dispensing box 83. This allows the end of the support arm 851 to enter the food dispensing space 831, so that the packaging bag can be placed into the food dispensing box 83. This is simple, convenient, and effectively improves the efficiency of transferring packaging bags.

[0106] Please refer to this again. Figure 10 In an optional embodiment, to facilitate bag retrieval by the bag retrieval component 85, an insertion hole 8111 is provided on one side of the bag storage box 81. The insertion hole 8111 is adapted to the size of the support arm 851. When the bag retrieval component 85 moves to the bag storage box 81 to retrieve a bag, it is located above the bag storage box 81, with the connecting arm 855 corresponding to the outside of the bag storage box 81 and the support arm 851 corresponding to the inside of the bag storage box 81. Then, the bag retrieval component 85 is driven to move downward, and the support arm 851 enters the bag storage box 81 through the insertion hole 8111 and the opening to adsorb and fix the packaging bag.

[0107] In an optional embodiment, to achieve a better fixing effect, the fixing part of the food dispensing box 83 is a suction cup 853, which is also connected to a vacuum device, so that the adsorption and release of the packaging bag can be realized under the control of the controller 93. Here, when the bag taking part 85 puts the packaging bag into the food dispensing space 831, it moves to make the fixing part adsorb the packaging bag away from the other surface of the bag taking part 85. Then, it moves in the opposite direction so that the packaging bag is opened under the pull of the fixing part and the support arm 851. The bag taking part 85 moves to the opposite side of the food dispensing box 83. Here, the two sides of the food dispensing box 83 are provided with fixing parts. That is, when the fixing parts are also ventilated to adsorb the packaging bag, the bag taking part 85 can close the ventilation to release the adsorption of the packaging bag, so that it can be withdrawn from the food dispensing box 83 and return to the bag taking state. Then, the food dispensing transfer device 60 puts the food from its storage cavity into the packaging bag to complete the packaging.

[0108] Please combine Figure 10 When the food delivery box 83 has fixing parts on both sides, a protrusion 833 can be formed on one side. The protrusion 833 can form a relief groove 835 with the adjacent side. When the support arm 851 moves to this side, the packaging bag abuts against the protrusion 833 and is fixed by the fixing part on the protrusion 833. The support arm 851 can then be located in the relief groove 835, which facilitates the removal of the support arm 851 and improves the transfer efficiency.

[0109] To facilitate food retrieval, in an optional embodiment, since the opening of the food dispensing box 83 faces upwards, the food dispensing box 83 can also be rotatably configured relative to the fixed base, i.e., the partition plate 13. This rotation is relative to the housing 10 and faces towards the front panel, allowing the opening of the food dispensing box 83 to be exposed at the food dispensing port, making it convenient for users to directly retrieve their food and improving retrieval convenience. After the food is retrieved, the food dispensing box 83 automatically rotates back into the housing 10 and can seal the food dispensing port to prevent external dust from entering and contaminating the food, thus improving safety.

[0110] Please combine Figure 9 and Figure 10 To enhance the dining experience, the automatic vending machine 100 is also equipped with a tableware storage box 40, which contains tableware. Users can manually press to remove the tableware when needed, or the tableware can be automatically pushed out for users to use after taking the food.

[0111] The food dispensing box 83 is rotatable relative to the partition plate 13 to facilitate the insertion of packaging bags. A baffle 837 is connected to the surface of the food dispensing box 83 facing the food dispensing opening. A gap is provided between the baffle and the food dispensing box 83 to accommodate the components that drive the food dispensing box 83 to rotate. The baffle 837 is designed to close the food dispensing opening, matching its size and shape. Under the drive of the driving components, the baffle 837 can be rotatable relative to the housing 10. When food needs to be dispensed, it flips outward toward the housing 10, causing the food dispensing box 83 to rotate as well, thereby exposing the opening of the food dispensing box 83 for easy food retrieval.

[0112] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and does not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural transformations made using the contents of the present invention's specification and drawings under the inventive concept of the present invention, or direct / indirect applications in other related technical fields, are included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A heating component for use in an automatic food vending machine for heating food, characterized in that, The automatic food vending machine includes a casing and a food dispensing component disposed within the casing. The food dispensing component is used to deliver the food to the heating component, and the heating component includes: The container body has a space to accommodate food to be heated; A cover, movably disposed relative to the body of the device to close or open the body, wherein the cover and the body, when closed, form a heating chamber; and A heating element, disposed on the body and / or the cover, is used to achieve at least one of grilling heating, water bath heating or steam heating; One of the container body and the lid has a food inlet, so that the food dispensing component can put the food into it through the food inlet; When the heating element is used for grilling, the body of the appliance has a heating groove. The body includes a bottom plate and a side plate located around the bottom plate. The bottom plate and the side plate together form the heating groove. The side plate has an inlet. The cover includes a cover plate and a surrounding plate located around the cover plate. The surrounding plate has a clearance hole. The cover fits onto the body. The side plate covers the clearance hole, and the surrounding plate covers the inlet. The heating element is located on the surface of the body away from the heating groove and / or inside the cover. When the heating component uses steam or water bath heating, the body is a cylindrical structure with one end open, the heating element is located in the body, the body is filled with a preset capacity of water, the cover has a food storage section facing the body, the food storage section is located above the water or immersed in the water; the cover also includes a top cover, the food storage section has a cylindrical structure with one end open, the top cover is connected to the opening edge of the food storage section, the food inlet is opened on the peripheral side of the food storage section, and the height of the food storage section is less than the depth of the body.

2. The heating assembly as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The food storage section has multiple micropores on its surface facing the bottom of the container, and the multiple micropores are spaced apart.

3. An automatic meal vending machine, characterized in that, The automated food vending machine includes: The housing has a heating zone, a refrigeration zone and an electronic control zone arranged sequentially in a vertical direction; A food storage rack, located within the refrigerated area, has multiple storage spaces; A heating assembly, wherein the heating assembly is disposed in the heating zone, and the heating assembly is the heating assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 2; A food dispensing component, movably disposed between the refrigeration zone and the heating zone, is used to retrieve food from the storage space and deliver it through the food inlet to the heating component for heating; and An electronic control component is located in the electronic control area and is electrically connected to both the heating component and the food dispensing component.

4. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The food retrieval component includes a food storage unit and a food pusher. The food storage unit is vertically movable relative to the food storage rack. The food pusher is telescopically located on one side of the food storage unit. When the food storage unit is flush with the food inlet, the food pusher pushes the food on the food storage unit into the heating component through the food inlet.

5. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 4, characterized in that, The food retrieval component also includes a hole puncher, which is fixed above the food storage unit. The hole puncher has needles on its surface facing the food storage unit to punch holes in the packaging box of the food on the food storage unit.

6. The automatic meal vending machine as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The storage racks are provided in multiple ways, and the multiple storage racks are arranged side by side at intervals in the refrigeration area. The food retrieval components are provided in multiple ways, and are set up one-to-one with the storage racks. The heating components are provided in multiple ways, and are set up one-to-one with the food retrieval components. The heating methods of the heating components are at least two of the following: grilling heating, water bath heating and steam heating. And / or, the heating assembly further includes a supply unit located in the electrical control area and connected to the body and / or cover via a pipe or wire to achieve the heating function of the body and / or cover.

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