Automatic packaging and distribution system

Abstract

The automated packaging dispensing system includes a plurality of different packaging boxes arranged in a vertical stack on a plurality of packaging box platforms and a plurality of different wrapping paper packaging sheets arranged in a tray contained within a housing. A vacuum pickup device is positioned at a vacuum pickup station. The vacuum pickup device can pick up a predetermined selected one of the different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packaging sheets and move a predetermined selected one of the plurality of different packaging boxes or a predetermined selected one of the plurality of different wrapping paper packaging sheets toward the vacuum pickup station such that the vacuum pickup device can pick up a predetermined selected one of the different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packaging sheets and move the predetermined selected one of the different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packaging sheets to a downstream location.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to food service equipment, and more particularly to a new and improved automated packaging and dispensing system utilized in restaurants, particularly fast food restaurants, to quickly and accurately prepare food products, such as traditional hamburger sandwiches requiring two buns, Big Mac® sandwiches requiring three buns, or other food items that desire or require the food to be packaged in a specific packaging box or wrapping paper package according to a specific patron's order. [Background technology]

[0002] Background of the Invention Traditionally, particularly in fast food restaurants, when preparing a particular food order, particularly with respect to hamburgers, Big Macs®, Whoppers®, nachos, chicken nuggets, fish fillets, and the like, for example, food preparers have traditionally been required to use different types of packaging for the particular food item, whether such packaging be, for example, a particular box or a particular wrapping paper package, or sometimes both. Obviously, traditional packaging of food items within a particular packaging box or wrapping paper package is somewhat tedious, cumbersome, and time-consuming in that the food preparer must select a particular size packaging box or similarly select a particular size wrapping paper package depending on the food item to be placed in the packaging box. This process becomes particularly tedious when different orders placed sequentially by different patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location require different packaging boxes or wrapping paper packages that are associated with or match the various sequentially placed orders.

[0003] In other words, a first order may be a regular hamburger requiring a first type of wrapping paper packaging, a second order may be a Big Mac® requiring a particular packaging box, a third order may be a fish fillet requiring a second type of packaging box, a fourth order may be an order of chicken nuggets requiring a third type of packaging box, and a fifth order may be a salad requiring a fourth type of packaging box. Thus, it can be appreciated that different types of wrapping paper packaging or different types of packaging boxes may be required at unpredictable times in response to different orders placed by different patrons at point-of-sale (POS) locations. Such order variations, along with a certain requirement for speed in providing the correct food order to the patron, may also impose a certain amount of strain on food preparers. Thus, it can be further readily appreciated that such food preparation procedures are highly inefficient, time-consuming, and labor-intensive, particularly for fast food restaurants, where quick or rapid cooking or toasting food preparation times are necessary or desirable to produce finished food items within a relatively short service time, which effectively defines one of the more important and attractive features or characteristics of a fast food establishment.

[0004] Thus, there is a need in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment. An additional need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment adapted to prepare specific food items. An even further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment adapted to prepare specific food items, such as hamburgers, Big Macs®, Whoppers®, nachos, fish fillets, chicken nuggets, etc. An even further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments. An even further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants. A still further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where a fast turnaround time for preparing food item orders is a highly sought-after function or feature. A further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where the equipment is highly efficient in connection with preparing particular food items ordered by patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location.A further need exists in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where the equipment is highly efficient in connection with preparing food items or products and can be operated by a minimal number of food preparation personnel.

[0005] For example, there is a still further need in the art for new and improved pieces of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where said equipment is highly efficient in connection with preparing food items or products, can be easily operated by a minimal number of food preparation personnel, and can be utilized to prepare multiple food items in an automated, continuous manner, as opposed to food items being individually prepared one at a time.For example, there is a still further need in the art for new and improved food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded into the equipment, particularly during quiet or relatively slow business hours or times, so that multiple food items can be prepared substantially instantly once an order is entered into the system for a patron at a point-of-sale (POS) location, as opposed to being constrained to being processed singly or one at a time.

[0006] An additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded onto the equipment and then automatically dispensed, particularly during quiet or relatively slow business hours or times, so that multiple food items can be prepared substantially immediately according to orders entered into the system for patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location.An additional need exists in the art for a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded onto the equipment and then automatically dispensed, particularly during quiet or relatively slow business hours or times, so that multiple food items can be prepared substantially immediately according to orders entered into the system for patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] Overall Objective of the Invention It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment. An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment adapted to prepare particular food items. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment adapted to prepare particular food items, such as hamburgers, Big Macs®, Whoppers®, nachos, fish fillets, chicken nuggets, etc. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, etc. A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where a quick turnaround time for preparing food item orders is a highly sought-after feature or characteristic. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where said equipment is highly efficient in connection with preparing specific food items ordered by patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location.It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where said equipment is highly efficient in connection with preparing food items or products and can be operated by a minimum number of food preparation personnel.

[0008] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where said equipment is highly efficient in connection with the preparation of food items or products, is easily operated with minimal food preparation personnel, and can be utilized to prepare multiple food items in an automated, sequential manner, as opposed to food items being cooked one at a time.It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded into the equipment, particularly during quieter or relatively slower business hours or times, so that multiple food items can be prepared substantially instantly, as opposed to being constrained to being processed singly or one at a time, when orders are entered into a system for patrons at a point-of-sale (POS) location.

[0009] An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, e.g., fast food restaurants, etc., where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded into the equipment and then automatically dispensed, particularly during quiet or relatively slow business hours or times, so that multiple food items can be prepared substantially instantly when an order is entered into the system for a patron at a point-of-sale (POS) location. It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved piece of food service equipment that can be utilized in a variety of different food establishments, such as fast food restaurants, where multiple types of packaging can be effectively pre-loaded into the equipment and then automatically dispensed, particularly during quieter or relatively slower business hours or times, so that the food preparer does not have to, and is not involved in, selecting specific packaging for specific food items, thereby allowing multiple food items to be prepared substantially immediately upon order entry into the system for a patron at a point-of-sale (POS) location. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] Summary of the Invention The foregoing and other objects of the present invention are achieved in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention through the provision of a new and improved automated food item packaging dispensing system, wherein the system is adapted to dispense both packaging boxes and wrapping paper packages. The packaging boxes and wrapping paper packages are positioned at specific locations along a food preparation line and utilize a vacuum suction cup gripper assembly to pick up one of the tops of a plurality of different packaging box units or one of the tops of a plurality of different wrapping paper package units and deposit the same on a conveyor belt so that the packaging box or wrapping paper package can move to the next food preparation station on the food preparation line. The packaging box subsystem includes a plurality of different packaging boxes disposed within different packaging box assemblies mounted on a mounting plate that is moved laterally by a linear belt drive to selectively move a particular one of the packaging box assemblies to a specific location where the vacuum suction cup can pick up one of the tops of the packaging boxes disposed within that particular packaging box assembly.

[0011] In turn, each packaging box assembly includes a box support platform, a peripheral framework for effectively enclosing a box on said platform, a pair of vertically oriented guide rods that serve to retain said packaging box both forwardly and laterally within said peripheral framework, a plurality of inwardly extending flexible fingers for effectively maintaining the supply of boxes on said platform so that together they define a magazine supply of boxes, and a packaging box sensor aligned with an opening defined in said box support platform to detect whether a box remains on said platform or when the supply of boxes is depleted. A constant force spring is also operatively connected to the box support platform to constantly bias the box support platform in a vertically upward direction such that the top packaging box is always positioned in the same position relative to the vacuum suction cup so that the vacuum suction cup can pick up the top packaging box and transfer it to one of the conveyors of the food preparation line. When the vacuum suction cup removes the top box, the flexible fingers effectively move out of the way to allow the top box to be extracted from the magazine supply of boxes, preventing a second box from being removed from the magazine along with the top box, but then quickly return to their original unflexed position.

[0012] The wrapping paper packaging subsystem includes a plurality of trays, each holding a predetermined number of wrapping paper wrapping sheets, disposed within a housing that is vertically movable along a vertically oriented ball screw actuator driven by a suitable motor, the vertically oriented ball screw actuator also fixedly mounted to a vertically oriented mounting platform or wall. Each tray is also slidable on horizontally oriented ball bearing slides or tracks, similar to the mounting of a drawer in a desk or other piece of furniture, so that the tray can be simply and easily moved from its normal position within the tray housing to an external position relative to the tray housing when a wrapping sheet in a particular tray needs to be accessed using a vacuum suction cup. A horizontally oriented finger is provided at each front end of each wrapping paper tray, and a horizontally oriented tray extension cylinder is mounted to the vertically oriented mounting platform or wall to engage the finger of the particular wrapping paper tray and thereby move the tray from the interior of the paper tray housing to the external position where the vacuum suction cup can engage the top wrapping paper sheet in that wrapping paper tray and then transfer that wrapping paper sheet to a food preparation line conveyor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various other features and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front top view showing an overall automated packaging and dispensing system constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of the present invention. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a front perspective view showing a packaging box subsystem including a plurality of packaging box assemblies fixedly secured on a mounting plate, which in turn is fixedly secured to a linear belt drive such that the plurality of packaging box assemblies can be moved transversely on guide rails to properly position one of the packaging box assemblies under a vacuum suction cup gripping system. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of the mounting plate of FIG. 2, showing how the mounting plate is fixedly connected to a motor-driven linear belt drive. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing various components comprising one of the packaging box assemblies, including vertically oriented guide rods that engage with side portions of the packaging box to keep the packaging box stationary within the packaging box assembly in both longitudinal or front-to-back and lateral or side-to-side modes. [Figure 4a] FIG. 4a is an enlarged perspective view of the upper ends of the guide rods mounted within the peripheral framework of the packaging box assembly to allow the guide rods to be adjusted laterally relative to one another to accommodate different packaging boxes having different width dimensions. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a plan view of a typical packaging box showing the corner interconnections between the top and bottom half sections of the packaging box where the vertically oriented guide rods of FIG. 4 would be positioned to properly engage the packaging box. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the vacuum suction cup gripping assembly showing the vertically oriented servo drive motor for moving the multiple suction cups vertically up and down. [Figure 7]7 is an enlarged perspective view of the vacuum suction cup gripping assembly as shown in FIG. 6, showing the mounting of a vertically oriented servo drive motor to a mounting plate fixedly connected to a horizontally oriented servo drive motor utilized to move the vacuum suction cup gripping assembly in a back and forth mode to properly position the vacuum suction cup gripping assembly on a packaging box or wrapping paper packaging sheet placed in one of the trays of the wrapping paper packaging subsystem. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a wrapping paper packaging subsystem showing multiple horizontally oriented, vertically spaced paper trays mounted within the wrapping paper packaging housing, each containing multiple different wrapping paper packaging sheets. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an enlarged front, right-hand, perspective view showing how the wrapping paper package housing is fixedly connected to a vertically oriented actuator, whereby actuation of the actuator causes the wrapping paper package housing to move up and down. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the wrapping paper packaging subsystem showing the attachment of the wrapping paper packaging housing to vertically oriented guide rods fixed to the rear wall of the subsystem, as well as a tray extension cylinder / actuator for moving a selected one of multiple wrapping paper trays outward from the wrapping paper packaging housing or for returning a selected tray to the wrapping paper packaging housing after a particular wrapping paper packaging sheet has been removed from the selected tray. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of one of the wrapping paper packaging trays, showing additional details regarding how the wrapping paper packaging tray is mounted on vertically oriented guide rails for vertical movement. [Figure 12]FIG. 12 is a perspective view of one of the wrapping paper packaging trays showing adjustable positioning guides positioned within the wrapping paper packaging tray so that any one of the plurality of wrapping paper packaging trays can accommodate any particular size of wrapping paper packaging sheet, as well as an opening formed in a relatively central portion of the wrapping paper packaging tray for cooperating with a sensor to indicate when the supply of wrapping paper packaging sheets has been depleted. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments 1-5, a new and improved automated packaging dispensing system of the present invention is disclosed and generally designated by the reference character 100. More specifically, system 100 is adapted to dispense both packaging boxes and wrapping paper packages, and thus can be seen to include a packaging box subsystem 102 and a wrapping paper package subsystem 104. Packaging box subsystem 102 includes a plurality of different types or sizes of packaging boxes arranged in different packaging box assemblies 106, which are fixedly mounted at their upper end portions on a mounting plate 108 operably connected to a linear belt drive 110 by mounting brackets 112 disposed on linear slide blocks 114 connected to the linear belt drive 110. The reversible motor 116 is operatively connected to the linear belt drive 110 such that when the reversible motor 116 is operated in a first mode for a predetermined time, the linear belt drive 110 moves the mounting plate 108 and the plurality of packaging box assemblies 106 mounted thereon a predetermined distance in a first direction, while when the reversible motor 116 is operated in a second mode for a predetermined time, the linear belt drive 110 moves the mounting plate 108 and the plurality of packaging box assemblies 106 mounted thereon a predetermined distance in a second, opposite direction.

[0016] 1 and 2, the mounting plate 108 is movably mounted on and supported by horizontally oriented guide rails 118, resulting in its lateral reciprocating motion. In this manner, any one of the plurality of packaging box assemblies 106 can be moved to be properly positioned relative to and beneath a vacuum suction cup pick-up and transfer assembly 120, shown in FIG. 1 and described in more detail below, one exemplary box 122 being disclosed in FIG. 5, positioned within a particular packaging box assembly 106 so that the vacuum suction cup pick-up and transfer assembly 120 can remove the top packaging box and thereby transfer the packaging box 122 to a food preparation line conveyor 124 to move the particular packaging box to the next food preparation station on a food preparation line 126.

[0017] Referring now to FIG. 4, one of the packaging box assemblies 106 will be described. More specifically, it can be seen that each packaging box assembly 106 includes a box support platform 128 upon which a plurality of packaging boxes 122 of a particular kind or type are stacked, effectively forming a packaging box magazine, with the top packaging box 122 being removed therefrom by a vacuum suction cup assembly 120. The box support platform 128 actually includes a horizontally oriented component 130, upon which the stack of packaging boxes 122 is actually positioned and supported, and an upright bracket 132 to which a pair of laterally spaced constant force springs 134 are fitted, the springs 134 being attached, although not shown, in FIG. 4. The springs 134 are attached to a horizontal spindle 136, the ends of which are mounted within laterally spaced end brackets 138. The end brackets 138, 138 are in turn connected to a peripheral framework 140 which is attached to the mounting plate 108 and has a plurality, e.g., four, leaf spring-type fingers 142 attached to it, as well as a pair of vertically oriented packaging box guide rods 144 which depend vertically downward from opposite sides of the peripheral framework 140.

[0018] The peripheral framework 140 and vertical guide rods 144 are adapted to maintain a stack of packaging boxes 122 on the stacking platform component 130, with the vertical guide rods 144 engaging corner regions 146 of the packaging boxes 122, which are effectively defined between the top or cover portion of the packaging box 122 and the bottom of the packaging box 122. The placement of the vertical guide rods 144 within the corner regions 146 of the packaging box 122 effectively prevents the packaging boxes 122 from moving back and forth as well as laterally from side to side. Further, with further reference to FIG. 4a, it can be seen that the upper end portions 141 of the vertical guide rods 144 are bent at a 90° angle and seated within slots 143 defined in the peripheral framework 140. Thus, the upper end portions 141 of the pair of vertical guide rods 144 can move within the slots 143 and relative to each other such that the distance between the pair of vertical guide rods 144 is adjustable. In this manner, different packaging boxes 122 having different width dimensions can be stored or accommodated within the packaging box assembly 106. It is further noted that the mounting plate 145 is securely fastened onto the peripheral framework 140 so as to securely fasten the bent ends 141 of the vertical rods 144 within the slots 143 of the peripheral framework, so that the pairs of vertical rods 144 will remain at their desired relative spacing to accommodate or accommodate packaging boxes 122 of different sizes.

[0019] It can thus be seen that when a stack of packaging boxes 122 is attached to the horizontal component 130 of the box support platform 128, the box support platform 128 moves downward, and when attached to the rear upright wall component 132 of the box support platform 128, the constant force spring 134 is stretched, such that the constant force spring 134 tends to continuously return the box support platform 128 toward its uppermost position, causing the box support platform 128 to move progressively upwardly as the topmost packaging box 122 is removed from the box support platform 128 by the vacuum suction cup assembly 120. The box support platform 128 moves vertically downward and upward along vertically oriented guide rails 146, the lower ends of which are securely fastened to mounting brackets 148. The plurality of fingers 142 extending from a central portion of the peripheral framework 140 provide sufficient holding force to the stack of packaging boxes 122 disposed on the horizontal component 130 of the packaging box platform 128; however, when the top packaging box 122 is removed by the vacuum suction cup assembly 120, the plurality of fingers flex upward, allowing the top packaging box 122 to be pulled from the stack of packaging boxes 122 disposed on the horizontal component 130 of the packaging box platform 128, and effectively slide along the outer surface portion of the top packaging box 122 being pulled by the vacuum suction cup assembly 130 until the fingers 142 snap back to their original position, thereby preventing any further packaging boxes 122 from being removed from the packaging box assembly 106. Finally, it should be noted that the packaging box assembly 106 also includes a packaging box sensor 152 adapted to be coaxially aligned with an opening 154 defined in the horizontal component 130 of the packaging box platform 128.In this manner, in a manner similar to a copier that alerts a user that the supply of paper in the paper tray is depleted, the sensor 152 senses when the last packaging box 122 has been removed from the packaging box assembly 106, thereby indicating that the supply of packaging boxes 122 needs to be replenished.

[0020] Continuing further, and with particular reference to Figures 6 and 7, the vacuum suction cup pickup and transfer system 120 will be described. The suction cups 154 are fixedly attached to the bottom of a pair of vacuum manifolds 156 so that the system includes four suction cups 154. The suction cup pairs 154 are securely attached to the bottom of the vacuum manifold pair 156 so that the system includes four suction cups 154. Each of the vacuum manifolds 156 is fluidly connected to a vacuum generator 158, which is securely attached to a horizontally oriented mounting bracket 160. A plurality of vertically oriented tubes or guide rods 162 have their lower ends securely connected to the mounting bracket 160 and are operatively associated with a servo unit 164 securely attached to a vertically extending housing 166. Thus, when the plurality of tubes or guide rods 162 move relative to the servo unit 164, the plurality of suction cups 154 move up and down accordingly. At this point, it should be noted that the control of all moving components comprising the automated packaging and dispensing system 100, the operation of all valves not necessarily shown, etc., are under the control of a suitable control unit, which may be, for example, a programmable logic controller 168 shown schematically in FIG. 1, which causes the various operating components to operate as described in accordance with customer order data transmitted thereto from a point-of-sale (POS) location.

[0021] Continuing further, it can be seen that vertically oriented housing 166 is rigidly attached to mounting plate 170, and mounting plate 170 is rigidly connected to servo unit 172, which is in turn slidably movable on linear slide 174. Thus, as servo unit 172 moves along linear slide 174, this causes the suction cup assembly, including mounting plate 170, housing 166, tube 162, and servo unit 164, as well as mounting bracket 160, vacuum generator 158, vacuum manifold 156, and vacuum suction cup 154, to move laterally to the left or right, as seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, or into or out of the page, as seen in FIG. 1. Similarly, servo unit 164 can effectively move tube or guide rod 162 upward and downward, which in turn causes mounting bracket 160, vacuum generator 158, vacuum manifold 156, and vacuum suction cup 154 to move up and down.

[0022] Therefore, when these combined movements are appropriately controlled and timed, for example, by a programmable logic controller (PLC) 168, the vacuum pickup and transfer assembly 120 can be moved to a position whereby the multiple vacuum suction cups 154 are positioned above a selected one of the multiple packaging box assemblies 106 that has been moved by the linear belt drive 110 to a position below the vacuum suction cups 154 of the vacuum pickup and transfer assembly 120, and then the vacuum control generator 158 can be activated, and then the servo unit 164 can be activated to move the vacuum suction cups 154 downward so that the vacuum suction cups 154 can remove or extract the topmost packaging box 122 from the selected one of the multiple packaging box assemblies 106. Servo unit 164 may then be activated to raise the packaging box 122 that has been removed or withdrawn from the selected packaging box assembly 106, and servo unit 172 may then be activated to effectively retract the vacuum suction cup assembly from its forward-most position on the selected one of the plurality of packaging box assemblies 106 to a predetermined rearward-most position where the vacuum suction cup 154 will be positioned above the food processing line conveyor 124. Servo unit 164 may then be activated again to lower the vacuum suction cup 154 toward the food processing line conveyor 124, and when the vacuum suction cup 154 is positioned directly above the food processing line conveyor 124, vacuum generator 158 may be deactivated, causing the packaging box 122 to be released from the vacuum suction cup 154 and deposited onto the food processing line conveyor 124.

[0023] 8-12, the wrapping paper packaging subsystem 104 will now be described. More specifically, it can be seen that the wrapping paper packaging subsystem 104 includes a wrapping paper packaging housing 176 within which are disposed a plurality of horizontally oriented, vertically spaced trays 178, each of which holds a predetermined number of wrapping paper wrapper sheets, and wherein each tray 178 holds a different type or size of wrapping paper wrapper sheets. An L-shaped angle iron or angle bracket 182 has its long leg fixedly secured to a rear wall 183 of the housing 176, while the short leg of the L-shaped angle iron or angle bracket 182 is fixedly secured to a slide block 180, which is part of a vertically oriented linear ball screw actuator 184 driven by a suitable motor 186. All of this can be seen best in FIG. 9. Furthermore, it can be seen that the vertically oriented ball screw actuator 184 is also fixedly secured to a vertically oriented mounting platform or wall 188, which is shown transparently in FIG. 10 for clarity.

[0024] As best seen in FIG. 11 , rear wall 183 of housing 176 is integrally connected to left wall 190 of housing 176 from which project a pair of vertically oriented, laterally spaced apart male track members 192 that are adapted to engage and slide within a pair of vertically oriented, laterally spaced apart male guide rails 194. In this manner, movement and support of wrapping paper packaging housing 176 is provided by operatively cooperating track members 192 and guide rails 194 as wrapping paper packaging housing 176 is moved vertically up and down by linear ball screw actuator 184. Finally, as best seen in FIGS. 10 and 11 , it is noted that a vertically oriented rail 193 is attached to left wall 190 of housing 176, while a pair of pneumatic brake components 195, 195 are attached to mounting platform or wall 188 so as to be positioned on opposite sides of vertically oriented rail 193. These pneumatic brake components 195, 195 are provided and adapted to move towards each other to securely grip opposite sides of the vertically oriented rails 193 to prevent the entire wrapping paper packaging housing 176 from falling. For example, power to the motor 186 and linear ball screw actuator 184 should be terminated for any reason, such as when a power switch or circuit breaker is tripped.

[0025] Referring further to FIG. 11, it can be seen that each tray 178 is also slidable on a horizontally oriented ball bearing slide or track 196 extending from the rear wall 183 of the housing 176 toward the front of the housing 176, which opens to allow the leading edge portions of the plurality of trays 178 to protrude outward therefrom, so that the trays 178 can be simply and easily moved from their normal position disposed inside the tray housing 176 to a position external to the tray housing 176 when a packaging sheet within a particular one of the trays 178 needs to be accessed by the vacuum suction cups 154 of the vacuum pick-up and transfer assembly 120. Each front end of each wrapping paper tray 178 is provided with a horizontally oriented finger 198, and a horizontally oriented tray extension piston cylinder assembly 200 is mounted on the outer surface of the vertically oriented mounting platform or wall 188, so that when the piston of the piston cylinder assembly 200 is extended, the piston encounters the finger 198 of a particular wrapping paper tray 178, thereby moving that particular tray 178 from the interior of the paper tray housing 176 to an exterior position where the vacuum suction cup 154 of the vacuum pickup and transfer assembly 120 can engage the topmost wrapping paper sheet in that particular wrapping paper tray 178 and then place that wrapping paper sheet on the food processing line conveyor 124.

[0026] More specifically, the distal end of the piston of the piston cylinder assembly 200 includes a head portion 202 having a slot section 204 through which the various fingers 198 of the various paper trays 178 can pass when the paper tray housing 176 is moved upward or downward, as seen in FIG. 11 ; however, when the paper tray housing 176 is moved upward or downward, a particular one of the paper trays 178 is positioned to access the wrapping paper wrapper disposed within that tray 176 so that that particular tray 178 is positioned in the correct position for removal from the housing 176. It is noted that the fingers 198 of the tray 178 are disposed within slot sections 204 defined within the head portion 202 of the piston of the piston cylinder assembly 200, and when the piston cylinder assembly 200 is actuated, the head portion 202 of the piston of the piston cylinder assembly 200 can act on the fingers 198 of that particular paper tray 178 to move that particular paper tray 178 outward from the paper tray housing 176, thereby allowing the topmost wrapping paper package sheet disposed within that extension tray 178 to be grasped by the vacuum suction cups 154 of the vacuum pick-up and transfer assembly 120.

[0027] 1 , the wrapping paper packaging sheet sensor 206 is mounted at a position on the food preparation line 126 adjacent to and located above the wrapping paper packaging housing 176 such that when a selected paper tray 178 of the wrapping paper packaging housing 176 extends outwardly from the wrapping paper packaging housing 176, the topmost wrapping paper packaging sheet located within the selected paper tray 178 can, in effect, be grasped by the vacuum suction cups 154 of the vacuum pickup and transfer assembly 120 and transferred to the food preparation line conveyor 124, and the wrapping paper packaging sheet sensor 206 can determine the vertical distance to the topmost wrapping paper packaging sheet located within the selected paper tray 178. It should be understood that this distance changes as the supply of wrapping paper located within a particular paper tray 178 steadily depletes. Thus, for example, the sensor 206 sends a signal to the vacuum pickup and transfer assembly 120 so that the tube and servo system 162, 164 knows exactly how far to move the plurality of suction cups 154 downward to properly engage and extract the topmost wrapping paper sheet placed within the extended paper tray 178.

[0028] 11 and 12, each paper tray 178 appears to have a substantially rectangular configuration for storing or accommodating a variety of different wrapping paper wrappers. Accordingly, to enable any one paper tray 178 to store or accommodate any particular size wrapping paper wrapper, adjustable guide pairs 208, 210 are slidably mounted within guide slot pairs 212, 214, respectively, all located on two sides of each paper tray 178, which form corner sections 216 of the paper tray 178. Set screws 218, 220 or the like are mounted within the adjustable guides 208, 210 to secure the adjustable guides 208, 210 in a desired position according to the particular size wrapping paper wrapper to be stored or accommodated in the particular paper tray 178. Such guides 208, 210, guide slots 212, 214, and set screws 218, 220 are similar to components conventionally utilized in copiers to accommodate or accommodate different sizes of copy paper, such as, for example, letter size paper or A4 international size paper. Additionally, each paper tray 178 is provided with a through hole 222 for, for example, allowing a light beam or other sensor signal to pass therethrough to indicate when the supply of wrapping paper wrappers located in the tray 178 has been depleted; such sensing system is also similar in operation to paper supply sensor systems incorporated into copiers.

[0029] Clearly, many variations and modifications of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, in lieu of or in conjunction with a point-of-sale (POS) location, the overall system 100 can also include a user interface through which patrons can input their orders, and then the remainder of the system 100 automatically dispenses the required food item packaging as appropriate, as controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) 168. Additionally, a brake can be operatively associated with the box support platform 130 to ensure that the support platform 130 is held fixedly against the vertically oriented guide rails 146 at a predetermined height. The brake is released when the constant force springs 134 move the platform 130 upward toward the suction cups 154. The brake effectively functions in combination with a vacuum sensor that effectively confirms that sufficient vacuum is provided to the suction cups 154 and that the platform 130 should be maintained at that predetermined height so that the suction cups 154 can remove the top packaging box 122. It should therefore be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] Reference Number Key 100 Automatic packaging and distribution system 102 Packaging Box Subsystem 104 Wrapping Paper Packaging Subsystem 106 Packaging box assembly 108 Mounting Plate 110 Linear Belt Drive 112 Mounting Bracket 114 Linear Slide Block 116 Reversible Motor 118 Horizontally Oriented Guide Rails 120 Vacuum Suction Cup Pickup and Transfer Assembly 122 Exemplary Packaging Box 124 Food Preparation Line Conveyor 126 Food Preparation Line 128 Box Support Platform 130 128 horizontally oriented components 132 128 upright bracket 132 134 Constant force spring 136 horizontal spindle 138 End bracket 140 Peripheral Framework 141 Upper end portion of guide rod 144 142 Leaf Spring Finger 143 Slots defined within the surrounding framework 140 144 Vertically Oriented Packaging Box Guide Rod 145 Mounting plate for securing end 141 of guide rod 144 in slot 143 146 Corner area of packaging box 122 148 Mounting Bracket 152 Packaging box sensor 154 Suction Cup 156 Vacuum manifold 158 Vacuum Generator 160 Mounting Bracket 162 Vertically Oriented Guide Rod 164 Servo Unit 166 Housing 168 Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) 170 Mounting Plate 172 Servo unit 174 Linear Slide 176 Wrapping Paper Packaging Housing 178 Tray of housing 176 180 Linear ball screw actuator 184 slide block 182 Square bracket 183 Rear wall of housing 176 184 Linear ball screw actuator 186 Motor drive for actuator 184 188 Mounting Platform188 190 Left wall of housing 176 192 Truck parts 193 vertically oriented rails 194 Guide rail for track member 192 195 Pneumatic Brake Components 196 Tray 178 Ball Bearing Slide Track 198 Fingers at the front edge of each tray 178 200 Piston-cylinder assembly 202 Head portion of piston-cylinder assembly 200 204 slot section of head portion 202 206 Wrapping paper packaging sheet sensor 208,210 Adjustable guides for each tray 178 212,214 Slot for guide 208,210 216 Tray 178 Corner Section 218,220 Set screws for guides 208,210 222 through holes in tray 178 for detecting wrapping sheet exhaustion

Claims

1. 1. An automated package dispensing system for automatically dispensing packages located at a pickup location to a downstream location, the system comprising: a plurality of packaging materials arranged in at least one vertically stacked array at the pickup location, wherein items can be packaged within the plurality of packaging materials; a pickup device disposed at the pickup location for picking up an uppermost one of the plurality of packaging materials, the pickup device being operably attached to at least one vertically oriented guide rod, the at least one vertically oriented guide rod being operably associated with a first motor drive for moving the pickup device along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod so that the pickup device can move up and down vertically, and the at least one vertically oriented guide rod being operably attached to a horizontally oriented sliding mechanism, the horizontally oriented sliding mechanism being operably associated with a second motor drive for moving the at least one vertically oriented guide rod and the pickup device along the horizontally oriented sliding mechanism so that the pickup device can move back and forth horizontally; a control system for moving the plurality of packaging materials toward a pickup location such that the top one of the plurality of packaging materials arranged in the vertically stacked array is located at the pickup location, moving the pickup device downward along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod to a position for picking up the top one of the plurality of packaging materials arranged in the vertically stacked array, moving the pickup device upward along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod to remove the top one of the plurality of packaging materials from the remainder of the plurality of packaging materials arranged in the vertically stacked array, and moving the pickup device horizontally away from the pickup location along the horizontally oriented slide mechanism to transfer the top one of the plurality of packaging materials from the pickup location toward the downstream location.

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of packaging materials comprises a plurality of packaging boxes.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the plurality of packaging boxes are different and arranged in different vertically stacked arrays.

4. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vertically stacked array of packaging boxes is disposed on different packaging box support platforms.

5. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein each one of the different packaging box support platforms is provided with a through hole for allowing a sensor signal to pass therethrough and thereby for detecting when a supply of packaging boxes located on a particular one of the different packaging box support platforms has been depleted.

6. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein each one of the packaging box support platforms has a pair of laterally spaced, vertically oriented guide rods operably associated with the packaging box support platform to maintain a respective vertically stacked array of packaging boxes on the packaging box support platform.

7. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the pair of laterally spaced, vertically oriented guide rods are laterally adjustable relative to the packaging box support platform to accommodate packaging boxes of different sizes.

8. 5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one constant force spring is operably connected to each one of the packaging box support platforms to constantly bias each one of the packaging box support platforms upward so that the top one of the plurality of packaging boxes is always positioned in a position that allows the top one of the plurality of packaging boxes to be picked up by the pickup device.

9. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the pickup device includes at least one vacuum suction cup for picking up one of the packaging boxes.

10. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of packaging materials comprises a plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheets.

11. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheets are arranged in a plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheet trays.

12. wherein the plurality of wrapping paper package sheet trays are disposed within a housing; a first actuator mounted at a predetermined position on the housing for operatively engaging with a selected one of the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays to move the selected one of the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays from the housing so that the wrapping paper wrapper sheet disposed in the selected one of the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays can be picked up by the pickup device; and a second actuator attached to the housing for moving the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays toward the predetermined position at which the first actuator is positioned such that the selected one of the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays is positioned at a position that allows the first actuator to move the selected one of the plurality of wrapping paper wrapper sheet trays from the housing; The system of claim 11.

13. wherein the first actuator includes a horizontally oriented piston-cylinder assembly; and the second actuator includes a vertically oriented linear ball screw actuator; The system of claim 12.

14. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each one of the plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheet trays includes an adjustable guide such that each one of the plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheet trays can accommodate wrapping paper packaging sheets of different sizes.

15. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein each one of the plurality of wrapping paper packaging sheet trays includes a through hole for allowing a sensor signal to pass therethrough and thereby for detecting when a supply of wrapping paper packaging sheets disposed in the wrapping paper packaging sheet tray is depleted.

16. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the pickup device includes at least one vacuum suction cup for picking up at least one of the wrapping paper wrapper sheets.

17. 1. An automated package dispensing system for automatically dispensing packages located at a pickup location to a downstream location, the system comprising: a first set of packaging materials, wherein a first type of item can be packaged within said first set of packaging materials, said first set of packaging materials being arranged in a first vertically stacked array; a second set of packaging materials different from the first set of packaging materials, wherein a second type of item can be packaged within the second set of packaging materials, the second set of packaging materials being arranged in a second vertically stacked array; and a pickup device disposed at the pickup location for picking up a top one of the first set of packaging materials disposed in the first vertically stacked array or a top one of the second set of packaging materials disposed in the second vertically stacked array, the pickup device being operably attached to at least one vertically oriented guide rod, the at least one vertically oriented guide rod being operably associated with a first motor drive for moving the pickup device along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod so that the pickup device can move up and down in a vertical direction, and the at least one vertically oriented guide rod being operably attached to a horizontally oriented sliding mechanism, the horizontally oriented sliding mechanism being operably associated with a second motor drive for moving the at least one vertically oriented guide rod and the pickup device along the horizontally oriented sliding mechanism so that the pickup device can move back and forth in a horizontal direction; moving the first set of packaging materials or the second set of packaging materials toward a pickup position such that the topmost one of the first set of packaging materials or the topmost one of the second set of packaging materials disposed in the first or second vertically stacked array is disposed at the pickup position; moving the pickup device downward along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod to a position for picking up the topmost one of the first or second set of packaging materials disposed in the first or second vertically stacked array; and a control system for moving the pickup device upwardly along the at least one vertically oriented guide rod to remove the uppermost one of the first or second sets of packaging materials arranged in the first or second vertically stacked array from the remainder of the first or second sets of packaging materials arranged in the first or second vertically stacked array, and for moving the pickup device horizontally away from the pickup location along the horizontally oriented slide mechanism to transfer the uppermost one of the first or second sets of packaging materials from the pickup location toward the downstream location.

18. wherein the first set of packaging materials comprises a set of packaging boxes; and the second set of packaging materials includes a set of wrapping paper packaging sheets; 20. The system of claim 17.

19. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the pickup device includes at least one suction cup capable of selectively picking up a selected one of the first set of packaging materials or selectively picking up a selected one of the second set of packaging materials.

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