Frozen food dispensing device and method
First Claim
1. An automated dispensing device for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
- a freezer;
a storage container located in the freezer for containing food to be dispensed;
means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, said means for dispensing located in the freezer; and
means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside of the freezer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device and method are provided for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked. The device includes a freezer, a storage container located in the freezer, means located in the freezer for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, and means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside the freezer. The means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food may be, for example, a magazine with dual spiral flights for dispensing food items one at a time, or a vibratory conveyor cooperating with a device for determining a quantity of food in the secondary conveyor and means for terminating the dispensing when a predetermined quantity of food is sensed. The secondary container may have an opening in its bottom and be movable laterally to align its opening with an opening in the freezer.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An automated dispensing device for dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
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a freezer;
a storage container located in the freezer for containing food to be dispensed;
means for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food from the storage container into a secondary container, said means for dispensing located in the freezer; and
means for dispensing the quantity of food from the secondary container to a location outside of the freezer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of dispensing a quantity of food to be cooked comprising:
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storing food items in a storage container;
dispensing food items from the storage container to a conveyor;
conveying the food items on the conveyor to a secondary container having at least a partially open bottom with a floor member adjacent the open bottom;
monitoring the amount of food items delivered to the secondary container;
terminating delivery of the food items to the secondary container when a desired amount of food items are determined to be present in the secondary container as determined by said monitoring;
dispensing the food items from the secondary container and through the open bottom of the container by relative movement of the floor member to the open bottom of the container. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification