Method and apparatus for verifying contents of vending systems
First Claim
1. A food vending system, comprising:
- (a) a secure bulk food storage area, having a bulk food storage space;
(b) a secure food preparation area wherein a portion of bulk food is received from said secure bulk food storage area and manipulated;
(c) an access port in said secure food preparation area, having physical barrier for preventing contamination of said secure food preparation area while permitting manual manipulation of the portion of bulk food therein; and
(d) a unidirectional delivery port for external delivery of manipulated food,wherein said secure bulk food storage area and said secure preparation area are tamper evident.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus designed to insure the integrity of food and food service in vending cart. Specifically, disclosed is a system that ensures the integrity of the food will not be compromised, by providing an enclosed or environmentally protected food service station, either portable, mobile or stationary. The system may also provide food monitoring for security, time, temperature and transaction accounting. The system consists of an enclosed or environmentally protected food service station, a sealed food compartment in which food is served, a food storage compartment, an access door for providing service and cleaning to the sealed sections of the station, and optionally an integrated security system that ensures that all access doors and ports are monitored for access and integrity. The security system provides an alarm and reporting capability. Authorization codes are provided to control alarm reset and accounting features of the system.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A food vending system, comprising:
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(a) a secure bulk food storage area, having a bulk food storage space; (b) a secure food preparation area wherein a portion of bulk food is received from said secure bulk food storage area and manipulated; (c) an access port in said secure food preparation area, having physical barrier for preventing contamination of said secure food preparation area while permitting manual manipulation of the portion of bulk food therein; and (d) a unidirectional delivery port for external delivery of manipulated food, wherein said secure bulk food storage area and said secure preparation area are tamper evident. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for vending food, comprising:
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(a) providing a secure bulk food storage area, having a bulk food storage space from which selected portions are delivered; (b) manually manipulating delivered food portions in a secure food preparation area while preventing contamination thereof; and (c) externally expelling the manipulated food from the secure food preparation area through a unidirectional delivery port, wherein said secure bulk food storage area and said secure preparation area are isolated from the use and tamper evident. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system for ensuring compliance with dietary laws in a food vending device, comprising:
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(a) a secure food storage chamber; (b) a food preparation chamber, receiving food from said storage chamber, for manually controlled manipulation thereof through an access port having a contamination barrier, said food storage chamber and said food preparation chamber being physically isolated from external contaminants; and (c) an external unidirectional food exit port from said food preparation chamber. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A food vending system ensuring food environment integrity, comprising:
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(a) a multiserving food storage area; (b) a food preparation area, adapted for receipt and manual manipulation, through a barrier, of a serving of food from the multiserving food storage area; (c) a user interface for manually controlled manipulation of food without direct human contact therewith in said food manipulation area; and (d) a delivery port for external delivery of a manipulated serving of food, wherein said food storage area and said food preparation area are environmentally protected.
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Specification