Vending apparatus for dispensing hot pizzas
AssigneeTop Vending SrL
InventorsAmulio Gubbini, Giovanni Demaggio
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vending apparatus for dispensing pre-cooked pizzas (P) packaged inside corresponding sealed containers (E). The apparatus comprises a casing (1) containing a plurality of operating assemblies (7, 13, 17, 25, 31, 37) for picking up a pizza (P) from a refrigerated storage unit (5) and transferring it, after taking it out of its container (E), to an electric heating oven (30), and then to a delivery mouth (34), in a corresponding disposable tray (T).
Claims17
A vending apparatus for dispensing hot pizzas (P), comprising a casing (1) divided into a refrigerated section (3) and a heating section (4), separated from and intercommunicating with each other, wherein said refrigerated section (3) includes:
- a storage unit (5) designed for containing a plurality of pre-cooked pizzas (P), each of which is packaged in a respective sealed container (E);
- pick-up means (7) for removing one pizza at a time from said storage unit (5) by gripping the corresponding container (E) peripherally;
- opening means (13) to open the container (E);
- and
- transfer means (17) for taking the pizza (P) out of the container (E),
- and wherein said heating section includes:
- an electric oven (30);
- a magazine (31) of stacked disposable trays (T);
- movable supporting means (25) designed for receiving the pizza (P) from said transfer means (17), transferring it to the heating section and introducing it into the oven (30), and for then depositing the hot pizza on the tray (T) located on the top of the tray magazine (31);
- and
- delivery means (37) for transferring the pizza (P) onto the corresponding tray (T) outside said casing (1);
- motor-driven actuator means and control means, which can be actuated from outside the casing (1), being provided for controlling said pick-up means (7), said opening means (13), said transfer means (17), said movable supporting means (25), and said delivery means (37) synchronously according to a pre-set automatic cycle.
A vending process for automated dispensing of hot pizzas (P) comprising the following operations:
- providing a casing (1) divided into a refrigerated section (3) and a heating section (4) which are separate from one another and intercommunicating;
- providing, in said refrigerated section (3), a storage unit (5) containing a plurality of pre-cooked pizzas (P), each of which is packaged inside a corresponding sealed container (E), and providing, in said heating section (4), an electric oven (30) and a magazine (31) of disposable trays (T) stacked on top of one another;
- removing one pizza at a time from said storage unit (5) by gripping the corresponding container (E) peripherally;
- opening said container (E) by cutting it from above and taking the pizza (P) out of its container (E);
- transferring the pizza (P) to the heating section and introducing it into said oven (30);
- depositing the hot pizza on the tray (T) that is set on the top of said magazine (31) of trays;
- and
- transferring the pizza (P) in the corresponding tray (T) outside said casing (1).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.