WO2008067968A1

WO2008067968A1 - Retail appliance for precooked meals

Info

Publication number: WO2008067968A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/010469
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mario Alessi
Original assignee: Mario Alessi
Priority date: 2006-12-05
Filing date: 2007-12-03
Publication date: 2008-06-12
Also published as: DE102006057623A8; DE102006057623A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for selling precooked meals, said device comprising a storage compartment for the precooked meals which are to be sold and at least one microwave oven into which the precooked meals are inserted for in order to be heated up. According to the invention, the precooked meals are directly placed in the microwave oven through an opening in the bottom of the storage compartment and an opening on the upper side of the microwave oven. The openings can be opened and closed by means of intercoupled closing elements.

Description

Sales apparatus for ready meals

The invention relates to a device for selling ready meals with a storage space for the ready meals to be sold and at least one microwave oven into which the ready meals are introduced for heating.

Devices of this type are known, for example, from US Pat. No. 5,147,068 or WO 2004/075125. In these known devices, in each case externally accessible microwave ovens are provided. In this, ready meals dispensed by the vending machine are manually inserted and then heated. The disadvantage of this is that the handling of dishes is relatively complex and is in any case carried out manually by the user of the vending machine.

Furthermore, DE-A-10 2004 010 058 or DE-A-25 29 870 disclose devices in which a conveyor belt is provided under a storage space. On this fall from the storage space automatically issued ready meals. The conveyor belt then transports the finished meals thus output to a microwave oven into which the ready meals are also partially introduced using a separate handling device. These devices have the disadvantage that the transport with the conveyor belt and the optionally provided handling device is very time consuming. For vending machines, this is generally undesirable.

Object of the present invention is in this aspect, such a device to the effect that their operation is much easier, and in particular that automated handling of a ready meal from the discharge from the storage space on the heating in the microwave oven to the output from the device and that this is done in as short a time as possible. This object is achieved according to the invention in which, in the case of a device as stated above, the microwave oven is arranged below the storage space and has an openable and closable opening on its upper side through which ready meals can be introduced into it.

This device has the advantage that it gives the possibility to automatically lead from the storage space coming from above using gravity by gravity in the microwave oven or to let fall. A manual intervention of the buyer to heat the ready meal is therefore no longer necessary.

By the microwave oven is arranged below the storage space, on the one hand can be achieved that at a provided with a lens on its front storage space this is approximately at eye level of a buyer and the microwave oven is to be arranged below it to save space. On the other hand, this design also allows ready meals to fall directly into the microwave oven, without, for example, a time-consuming lateral transport via conveyor belts or a subsequent subsequent vertical transport via a handling device. By being able to open and close the closure of the microwave oven, it is possible to ensure that microwave energy does not undesirably escape from the microwave oven.

In a preferred embodiment of the device, the storage space is provided with a cooling or freezing function and the closure of the microwave oven is combined with a closure for an opening in the lower area of the storage space.

On the one hand, such a cooling or freezing function in the storage space has the advantage of being able to offer fresh or frozen ready meals. The ready meals do not have to be provided with high doses of preservatives. By cooperating with the closure of the microwave oven with a closure for an opening in the storage space, a simple construction is possible in which only one drive must be provided for the automatic actuation of the two closures. This considerably reduces the manufacturing costs and the mechanical susceptibility of the device.

Preferably, a guide element is arranged between the opening of the storage space and the opening of the microwave oven, are aligned with the coming from the storage room ready meals with respect to the microwave oven.

This guide element with the function of a funnel or a chute makes it possible to bring ready-made meals from different areas of a storage room to an identical location, where they are transferred to the microwave oven. The device can thus have a higher number of different ready meals "on offer." The funnel or the chute have the peculiarity that the ready meals are passed through them exclusively due to gravity.

The ready meals can be both plate meals as well as so-called snacks or soups, which are offered in particular in cups.

Preferably, the guide element for the ready meals is directly on the closure of the microwave oven or the closure of the

Attached storage space, said closure is displaceable in the horizontal direction, and then the guide element occupies the position of the displaced closure.

Such a construction has the advantage that it is particularly space-saving and thus at a given total height of the vending device more height remains for the storage space.

It is in particular proposed that the closure of the microwave oven is coupled via a transmission with the closure of the storage space. This has the advantage that a simultaneous opening of storage space and microwave oven is ensured without the need for a more complex control must be provided.

Furthermore, it is proposed that the closure of the microwave oven has an actuating element in order to move a microwave reflector in the microwave oven into a working position in its closed position.

This embodiment has the advantage that microwaves can best be applied to a ready meal in the microwave oven via a microwave reflector. When filling the microwave oven, in which the closure is open, this microwave reflector is advantageously to bring in a possible the interior of the microwave as possible releasing position. The introduction of a ready meal in the microwave oven is thus facilitated.

To remove a heated ready meal is proposed to provide the microwave oven with a discharge opening having a swing door. The hinged door, which can also open upwards, downwards or even to the sides, for example, is coupled to an ejection element that pushes the ready meal out of the microwave oven. Such a mechanical coupling is particularly reliable and also to make space-saving.

On the other hand, a Ausschiebevorrichtung can also be realized by a slide, which is performed after opening the door of the microwave oven is substantially linear over the bottom of the microwave oven and pushes out there a ready meal out of this.

Further advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments. It shows

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a partially sectioned vending machine in the side view with storage space and arranged below microwave oven; 2 shows the schematic diagram of a microwave oven with closure in the

View from above; 3 shows the schematic diagram of a device according to Figure 1 with open

closure; FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a device according to FIG. 3 in a top view; 5 shows the schematic diagram for a device according to FIG. 3 with a

Microwave reflector;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a device according to FIG. 5 in a top view;

Figure 7 shows the schematic diagram of a microwave oven with closed

Closure and a microwave reflector in working position with inserted ready meal in the side view;

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a device according to FIG. 7 in a top view;

Figure 9A is a schematic diagram of a side view of a microwave oven with a Ausschiebeelement and closed removal opening. FIG. 9B shows the schematic diagram of the microwave oven according to FIG. 9A in FIG

At sight; FIG. 9C is a schematic diagram of a microwave oven according to FIG. 9A with an opened removal opening in a side view, and FIG. 9D is a schematic diagram of a microwave oven according to FIG. 9C in FIG

At sight;

Figure 10 shows the schematic diagram of a cut vending machine in the side view with ready meals on plates and

Figure 1 1 A schematic diagram of a partially cut vending device in the

Side view with ready meals in cups; Figure 1 1 B is the schematic diagram of a vending apparatus according to 1 1 A in front view.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a device according to the invention in the partially sectioned side view.

One recognizes a storage space 1 in which ready meals are stored, for example, pre-portioned on plates or in beakers, as can be seen in FIGS. 10 and 11. In the example shown here are these Frozen ready meals, so that the storage space 1 is provided with an insulation 2.

The ready meals, as is common in vending machines, are stored in separate stores provided with horizontally helical spirals. For the removal of a corresponding ready meal, one or more of these coil are motorized for one revolution, whereby a corresponding ready meal at the front end of the coil is slid over an edge and falls by gravity to an output down.

So that the corresponding ready meals can also be selected by a customer by sight, the storage space 1 is provided on its front side with an (insulating) glass pane 3.

The bottom of the storage space 1 is designed so that the downwardly falling ready meal reaches an opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space. This opening is provided with a closure 5, which also has an insulating material to prevent a loss of cold through the opening 4 here.

Directly below the shutter 5, a microwave oven 6 is arranged.

This has on its upper side an opening 7 which is aligned with the opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space and is in turn provided with a closure 8.

The shutter 8 is displaceable in the horizontal direction via a controllable motor 9 by means of a lever mechanism 10, whereby the opening 7 is opened and closed.

In this case, the closure 8 is guided over guide rails 11 arranged laterally of it, into which the closure engages via sliding blocks or rollers 12. The closure 5 for the storage space 1 and the closure 8 for the microwave oven 6 are connected to each other in the example shown here via rocker arms 13. Their function will be explained in more detail below.

At its front end, in the example shown here, the closure 5 of the storage space 1 also carries a guide element 14. This is provided with inclined guide surfaces 5 at its edges.

After selecting a ready meal located in the storage space 1 by a customer, it is output from the storage space 1 as described above and falls to the opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space 1.

At the same time the lever mechanism 10 is actuated by the motor 9 and thus the shutter 8 for the opening 7 at the top of the microwave oven 6 (in the example shown to the left) opened. In this case, the rocker arms 13 tilt a small piece, so that the shutter 5 is slightly lowered for the opening 4 of the storage space 1 and then moved together with the shutter 8 (to the left). With the lowering of the shutter 5 seals 16 are relieved.

In the figure 3, the opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space 1 and the opening 7 on the ceiling of the microwave oven 6 are shown fully open. A ready meal 17 can then fall through these openings and lands exclusively due to gravity at the bottom of the microwave oven 6 on a turntable 18. This happens in no time.

Between the opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space 1 and the opening 7 at the top of the microwave oven 6, a guide member 14 is inserted, which is attached to the front end of the shutter 5 for the opening 4 at the bottom of the storage space 1. This guide member 14 has, as discussed above, inclined guide surfaces 15 through which a ready meal 17 is centered with respect to the opening 7 at the top of the microwave oven 6. This ensures that the ready meal 17, when it falls downwards according to gravity or slips over the guide element 14, is always directed centrally onto the turntable 18 and comes to rest or stand on it for heating. In principle, it would be conceivable to provide a corresponding guide element 14 between the closure 5 for the opening at the bottom of the storage space 1 and the closure 8 for the opening at the top of the microwave oven 6. However, by mounting the guide member 14 directly to the shutter 5 as described herein and moving to its position when the shutter 5 is opened, height can be saved and the entire apparatus becomes more compact.

After the ready meal 17 is placed or turned off on the turntable 18, in turn the motor 9 is actuated and the shutter 8 for the opening 7 at the top of the microwave oven 6 via the lever mechanism 10 is closed again, at the same time the shutter 5 for the opening 4 is closed again at the bottom of the storage space 1. At the end of the closing process, the closure 5 is pressed firmly against the seals 16 via the rocker arms 13 in order to ensure a tight closure of the storage space 1.

Thereafter, in the microwave oven 6, the introduced ready meal is exposed in a known manner microwaves and thereby heated.

This state is shown in Figure 7, it can be seen that above the ready meal 17, which rotates in the example shown here on a plate on the turntable 18 in the interior of the microwave oven 6, a microwave reflector 19 is swung by the (not one shown closer) microwave 20 coming microwaves concentrated on the ready meal 17 are directed.

As shown in FIG. 5, this reflector 19 can be pivoted into a recess 23 on a side wall 22 of the microwave oven 6, this recess 23 also acting as a guide channel for the microwaves from the magnetron 20.

In order to pivot the reflector 19 out of this recess 23 on the side wall 22 into its working position shown in FIG. 7, the closure 8 of the microwave oven 6 is provided with a corresponding actuating element 24. Just before the closure 8 reaches its end position closing the opening 7 again, this actuating element 24 the reflector 19 is swung out of the recess 23 and can then be used to focus the microwaves coming from the magnetron 20 focused on the resting on the turntable 18 ready meal 17 and to heat it.

At the end of its heating, the ready meal 17 must be dispensed or removed from the microwave oven 6.

This is done as shown in FIGS. 9A-D.

A side wall of the microwave oven 6 is for this purpose provided with a pivoting door 25 as a removal opening, which can be seen as in Figures 9A and 9C, is designed to pivot upwards. Basically, a swinging to the side would be possible.

The pivoting door 25 is connected via a coupling rod 26 with a pivotable push-out element 27. This is essentially L-shaped and extends in its initial position with its longer leg substantially parallel to a side wall of the microwave oven. 6

When opening the pivoting door 25 is then the push-button about a vertical axis 28 which extends adjacent to the pivoting door 25, pivoted through the interior of the microwave oven 6 and pushes in this interior on the turntable 18 befindliches Good through the open swing door 25th out. After closing the

Swing door 25, the push-out element 27 is completely pivoted back about the vertical axis 28 and is the interior of the microwave oven 6 again free for refilling with a next to be heated ready meal.

As already mentioned initially, as also shown in FIG. 10, in the storage space 1, the ready meals can be pre-portioned on plates 10 by placing them upright in the gaps of helical spirals 30 in the horizontal direction. If these coils are actuated by a motor for one revolution, a corresponding ready meal is pushed over an edge 31 at the front end of the coil and, due to gravity, thus falls to the microwave oven which is arranged substantially directly underneath. But it is also possible, instead of ready meals in a plate to provide appropriate ready meals in cups 32, which are issued in the same way by twistable coils.

As a special feature, a microwave-permeable cup holder 33 is provided inside the microwave oven 6. This has a substantially cylindrical recess 34 which holds a cup 32 falling in the microwave oven in an upright position. The cup holder 33 is, as indicated in Figure 11 B, connected to the corresponding Ausschiebeelement, which is also provided in a sales device, which is equipped for cups. This prevents a cup filled with a heated ready meal from falling out of the microwave oven when dispensed.

The opening of the hinged door 25 can be done both automatically and by an operator at the end of a predetermined heating time manually.

Claims

claims

1 . Device for selling prepared meals (17) with a storage space (1) for the ready meals to be sold and at least one

Microwave oven (6), in which the ready meals (17) are introduced for heating, characterized in that the microwave oven (6) below the storage space (1) is arranged and on its upper side with a closure (8) provided openable and closable Opening (7) through which the ready meals (17) can be introduced into it.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the storage space (1) is provided with a cooling or freezing function and that the closure (8) of the microwave oven (6) with a closure (5) for an opening (4) in the storage space (1) cooperates.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that between the opening (4) of the storage space (1) and the opening (7) of the microwave oven (6), a guide element (14) is arranged, with the from the storage space (1) coming Ready meals (17) are aligned with respect to the microwave oven (6).

4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the guide element (14) is fastened to the closure (8) of the microwave oven (6) or the closure (5) of the storage space (1), that this closure (8; Horizontal direction is displaced and that the guide element (14) assumes the position of this closure (8; 5).

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the closure (8) of the microwave oven (6) via a transmission (13) with the closure (5) of the storage space (1) is coupled.

6. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the closure (8) of the microwave oven (6) has an actuating element (24) to move in its closed position a microwave reflector (19) in the microwave oven (6) in a working position.

7. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the microwave oven (6) provided with a pivoting door (25)

Having removal opening, wherein the pivoting door (25) is coupled to a Ausschiebeelement (27), for pushing out the ready meal (17) from the microwave oven (6).