Claims
- 1. Vending machine for hot rolls, of the type that are prefabricated whereas the bread has not yet finished cooking, wrapped in a thermoresistant plastic bag that is filled with inert gas and later subjected to a freezing process and preserved in refrigeration. This machine is characterised by the fact that it includes a refrigerated area, similar to a fridge, in the postero-superior part of same, where there are various storage trays for the rolls. Each of these is materialised on a helicoid, placed on its vertical axis. This helicoid is intended to receive a roll between each adjacent pair of spirals in same. It is assisted by a geared motor which is able to turn the helicoid on its own axis. Each time it turns, one of the rolls stored in the corresponding support is released and supplied to a lower heating area or oven, by means of a transfer element between the refrigeration area and the heating area or oven. The machine may include one or two heating ovens. In the case of one single oven, there is a lower conveyor belt system at a slope to transport the rolls between the heating elements. This embodiment is characterised by the fact that the helicoids (1a) that support and release the rolls one by one from the vertical piles, are placed between a couple of partitions that determine the space corresponding to each roll and guide the rolls downwards as the helicoid (1a) turns. It is also intended, with the heating oven(s) (2-6), to include a mechanism (5) that will allow the roll to be extracted from the respective oven without allowing the user to access the inside of the oven.
- 2. Vending machine for hot rolls, according to the 1st claim, characterised because when the machine has two ovens (2), there is a transfer element (4), consisting of a hollow, cylindrical, rotating element, assisted by a geared motor and two end stops, with at least one space on its surface for a roll. This cylinder should be able to face this space to the bottom of the hopper at the refrigeration zone or to any of the channels communicating with the ovens (2), keeping the refrigeration zone insulated from the heating areas or ovens.
- 3. Vending machine for hot rolls, according to the 1st claim, characterised by the fact that when it includes a single oven (6), the corresponding conveyor belt (9) contains a series of trays (10), supporting the respective rolls. The aforementioned conveyor belt (9) is obtusely and roundly bent on exit, forced by arched rails (12) and (13), the latter with a tensioning function, so that the operative sector of the aforementioned conveyor belt (9) follows a terminal route, first curved and later rising, maintaining its proximity with the last infrared resistor used as the means for heating, for a longer period of time.
- 4. Vending machine for hot rolls, according to the 3rd claim, characterised by the fact that the aforementioned conveyor belt (9) run by a motor (20), moves parallel and synchronised to a transfer unit (19), assisted by its own motor which, having received the rolls individually for heating, deposits them correctly on the respective trays (10) of the conveyor belt (9).
- 5. Vending machine for hot rolls, according to the 3rd and 4th claims, characterised by the fact that the heating area or oven (6) contains an antero-inferior grating (21) for the release of gases, with a ramp (17) where the hot rolls come out in the upper part of its other end, and under this ramp (17) with a trap door (23) which allows access to a tray for collecting breadcrumbs (22), situated under the conveyor belt (9).
Priority Claims (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
P-9902607 |
Nov 1999 |
ES |
|
P-200002805 |
Nov 2000 |
ES |
|
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of PCT/ES00/00455 (Publication No. WO 01/39141), filed Nov. 24, 2000, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference, and claims the benefit of Spanish Patent Nos. P-9902607, filed Nov. 25, 1999, and P-200002805, filed Nov. 23, 2000, which are incorporated by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/ES00/00455 |
Nov 2000 |
US |
Child |
10155911 |
May 2002 |
US |