Apparatus for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product and components usable therewith
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product comprising:
- storage means for storing a supply of food product to be dispensed and having an outlet;
supply means for transferring an amount of food product corresponding to the size of an individual order from the storage means to mixing chamber means;
mixing chamber means having an inlet at an upper end thereof for receiving food product to be mixed and an outlet at a lower end thereof for dispensing mixed food product;
liquid dispensing means for adding a predetermined amount of liquid to said mixing chamber means to thereby provide a mixed food product;
dispensing means for forcing the mixed food product out of the outlet of said mixing chamber means;
cutting means disposed adjacent the outlet of said mixing chamber means for cutting off a portion of the food product forced out of said mixing chamber means;
heating means for receiving and for heating the cut off food product;
conveyor means including a belt conveyor for removing heated food product from the heating means and for conveying the heated food product towards an outlet of said apparatus; and
control means for controlling the operation of said apparatus.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product. The apparatus is designed to use a food product provided in a dehydrated form, such food product being readily reconstituted by the addition of a liquid. The apparatus includes a mechanism for delivering an amount of dehydrated food product corresponding to the size of an individual order, a chamber and system for rehydrating the product, a mechanism for cutting rehydrated product forced out of the chamber, a cooking device for the severed product, and a conveyor for deliverying cooked product. The invention further provides a lever that combines a closure for a carrier of dehydrated product with a shower head for furnishing water for reconstituting the product, and provides a device for cooking and for conveying rehydrated product.
107 Citations
17 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product comprising:
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storage means for storing a supply of food product to be dispensed and having an outlet; supply means for transferring an amount of food product corresponding to the size of an individual order from the storage means to mixing chamber means; mixing chamber means having an inlet at an upper end thereof for receiving food product to be mixed and an outlet at a lower end thereof for dispensing mixed food product; liquid dispensing means for adding a predetermined amount of liquid to said mixing chamber means to thereby provide a mixed food product; dispensing means for forcing the mixed food product out of the outlet of said mixing chamber means; cutting means disposed adjacent the outlet of said mixing chamber means for cutting off a portion of the food product forced out of said mixing chamber means; heating means for receiving and for heating the cut off food product; conveyor means including a belt conveyor for removing heated food product from the heating means and for conveying the heated food product towards an outlet of said apparatus; and control means for controlling the operation of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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2. An apparatus for dispensing individual orders of a hot food product comprising:
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storage means for storing a supply of food product to be dispensed in a dehydrated form and having wall means defining an outlet; supply means for transferring an amount of dehydrated food product corresponding to the size of an individual order from the storage means to rehydrating chamber means; rehydrating chamber means having wall means defining an inlet at an upper end thereof for receiving dehydrated food product and an outlet at a lower end thereof for dispensing reconstituted food product; liquid dispensing means for adding a predetermined amount of liquid to said rehydrating chamber means to thereby reconstitute the dehydrated food product; dispensing means for forcing the reconstituted food product out of the outlet of said rehydrating chamber means; cutting means disposed adjacent the outlet of said rehydrating chamber means for cutting off a portion of the food product forced out of said rehydrating chamber means; heating means for receiving and for heating the cut off food product; conveyor means including a belt conveyor for removing heated food product from the heating means and for conveying the heated food product towards an outlet of said apparatus; and control means for controlling the operation of said apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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14. A device for adding liquid to a food product, said device being usable with an apparatus for dispensing individual orders of heated food product, the apparatus including means for storing food product to be dispensed, means including an open ended carrier for transferring food product to be heated to a mixing chamber, means for forcing mixed food product out of the mixing chamber, means for severing food product forced out of the mixing chamber from food product remaining in the mixing chamber, and means for heating the severed food product, said device comprising a lever arm having:
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a first end portion formed as a shower head for dispensing liquid into said mixing chamber; means for connecting said shower head with a source of liquid to be dispensed; a second end portion connectable to movement means of the apparatus so that the first end portion is movable between a first position aligned with, spaced from, and below an outlet of the means for storing, a second position aligned with and above an inlet of the mixing chamber, and a third position spaced from the second position, the open ended carrier being positioned above the first end portion so that an upper surface of the first end portion closes the lower end of the carrier when the first end portion is in the first position thereof; and a portion connectable to means for interconnecting said lever arm and said carrier for conjoint movement from the first position to the second position of the first end portion.
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15. A device for adding liquid to a dehydrated food product, said device being usable with an apparatus for dispensing individual orders of cooked food product, the apparatus including means for storing dehydrated food product to be dispensed, means including an open ended carrier for transferring food product to be cooked to a rehydrating chamber, means for forcing reconstituted food product out of the rehydrating chamber, means for severing food product forced out of the chamber from food product remaining in the chamber, and means for cooking the severed food product, said device comprising a lever arm having:
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a first end portion formed as a shower head for dispensing liquid into said rehydrating chamber; means for connecting said shower head with a source of liquid to be dispensed; a second end portion connectable to movement means of the apparatus so that the first end portion is movable between a first position aligned with, spaced from, and below an outlet of the means for storing, a second position aligned with and above an inlet of the rehydrating chamber, and a third position spaced from the second position, the open ended carrier being positioned above the first end portion so that an upper surface of the first end portion closes the lower end of the carrier when the first end portion is in the first position thereof; and a portion connectable to means for interconnecting said lever arm and said carrier for conjoint movement from the first position to the second position of the first end portion.
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16. An apparatus for heating an individual order of a mixed food product, said apparatus being usable with an apparatus for dispensing individual orders of heated food product that includes means for storing food product to be dispensed, means including a mixing chamber for adding liquid to the food product, means for transferring a predetermined amount of food product from the means for storing to the mixing chamber, means for forcing mixed food product out of the mixing chamber, and means for severing food product forced out of the mixing chamber from food product remaining in the mixing chamber, said cooking apparatus comprising:
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tank means for holding liquid for heating the food product, said tank means being positionable to receive food product severed by said means for severing; means for heating said tank means; a chain conveyor belt having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for passage of heating liquid; means for driving said conveyor belt in a first direction for conveying severed food product into said tank means, and for driving said conveyor belt in a direction opposite said first direction for conveying heated food product to an outlet of said dispensing apparatus; mounting means for pivotally mounting said conveyor belt above said tank means for movement between a first position in which said conveyor belt is spaced from liquid in said tank means and a second position in which a portion of said conveyor belt is positioned below the surface of liquid in said tank means; and means responsive to movement of said conveyor belt in said first direction for moving said conveyor belt into the second position thereof and responsive to movement of said conveyor belt in said opposite direction for moving said conveyor belt into the first position thereof.
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17. An apparatus for cooking rehydrated food product, said apparatus being usable with an apparatus for dispensing individual orders of heated food product that includes means for storing dehydrated food product to be dispensed, means including a rehydrating chamber for rehydrating the dehydrated food product, means for transferring a predetermined amount of food product from the means for storing to the rehydrating chamber, means for forcing rehydrated food product out of the rehydrating chamber, and means for severing food product forced out of the rehydrating chamber from food product remaining in the rehydrating chamber, said cooking apparatus comprising:
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tank means for holding liquid for cooking the food product, said tank means being positionable to receive food product severed by said means for severing; means for heating said tank means; a chain conveyor belt having a plurality of openings extending therethrough for passage of cooking liquid; means for driving said conveyor belt in a first direction for conveying severed food product into said tank means, and for driving said conveyor belt in a direction opposite said first direction for conveying cooked food product to an outlet of said dispensing apparatus; mounting means for pivotally mounting said conveyor belt above said tank means for movement between a first position in which said conveyor belt is spaced from liquid in said tank means and a second position in which a portion of said conveyor belt is positioned below the surface of liquid in said tank means; and means responsive to movement of said conveyor belt in said first direction for moving said conveyor belt into the second position thereof and responsive to movement of said conveyor belt in said opposite direction for moving said conveyor belt into the first position thereof.
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Specification