초록 ▼

An automated food dispensing system is disclosed which uses microwave energy to rapidly heat precooked food items, including complete meals, from low storage temperatures to elevated serving temperatures. Mechanical means are provided to almost instantaneously transport any one of several selectable

An automated food dispensing system is disclosed which uses microwave energy to rapidly heat precooked food items, including complete meals, from low storage temperatures to elevated serving temperatures. Mechanical means are provided to almost instantaneously transport any one of several selectable food items from refrigerated storage compartments into a microwave heating chamber upon insertion of proper coinage or other validation and for automatic delivery of the heated meal or other food item through a delivery chute upon completion of a predetermined heating interval. Container means are provided to prevent the heating of certain food components, such as salads and cold desserts, while rapidly heating other items. Microwave transparent thermal insulation of the food container is provided to permit transportation of the refrigerated food contents with limited spoilage prior to its use and which maintains food items heated therein at elevated temperatures for prolonged periods after dispensing. Means are also provided for remotely determining the inventory status and proper functioning of the heated food dispensing system by telephone or other communications link.

대표청구항 ▼

In an unattended automatic food vending system, comprising an outer, microwave-confining cabinet containing a microwave oven having at least one microwave-confining entry door through which packaged food containers may be introduced for heating and an exit door to permit said food containers to be d

In an unattended automatic food vending system, comprising an outer, microwave-confining cabinet containing a microwave oven having at least one microwave-confining entry door through which packaged food containers may be introduced for heating and an exit door to permit said food containers to be delivered after heating; a delivery chute for said food containers; a delivery opening in said cabinet permitting access to food containers in said delivery chute; one or more low-temperature storage compartments within said cabinet adjacent to said microwave oven for receiving food containers constructed of material which is transparent to microwave energy but which is an effective thermal insulator, and which may contain microwave-shielded compartments; conveying means within said one or more storage compartments and having shelves for supporting said food containers in one or more vertical stacks; means for automatically positioning the uppermost of said food containers in said one or more vertical stacks adjacent to corresponding ones of said entry doors of said microwave oven; propulsion means operative to move any selected uppermost food container through a corresponding one of said entry doors and into said microwave oven; and electrical logic circuitry operative to initiate microwave power generation upon the entry of a selected food container into said oven and to initiate operation of said exit door of the oven after completion of a predetermined heating interval; the improvement wherein there are provided electronic means for the remote determination of food inventory by electronically counting the number of food containers remaining in or depleted from the container stacks and by transmitting the count to a remote location upon interrogation by a signal from said remote location or as internally generated, said electronic means including magnets affixed to the food container shelves, respectively; and respective magnetic reed switches disposed along the direction of travel of the conveying means, said switches being operative to produce electrical analogue signals proportional to the height of the resepctive food container shelves and hence proportional to the number of said food containers remaining in or removed from the food container stacks.