Claims:WE CLAIM:
1. A food vending machine comprising:
a honey comb structure (1);
one or more container holder assemblies (4);
one or more container support plates (9); and
a X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm,
wherein the honey comb structure (1) is constructed with one or more horizontal profiles (2) and vertical profiles (3),
wherein the holder assembly (4) which is fitted to the profiled portion of the vertical profile (3) comprises a container holder (5) disposed to rotatably support a stopper actuating shaft (6) fitted with a front stopper (8) and a rear stopper (7) at its ends at 90° apart are retained at the required orientation by one or more torsion springs (12) and the stopper actuating shaft (6) has the freedom to rotates 90° in either direction,
wherein the container support plate (9) disposed to support the food containers is fitted to the container holder (5), and
wherein actuator provided in the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm pushes the front stopper (8) fitted to stopper actuating shaft (6) to change the orientation of the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) to facilitate un-loading of the food packs.
2. The food vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein one end of the container holder (5) is provided with T-profile (5d) and is slide able into the profiled portion on the vertical profile (3).
3 The food vending machine as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein the container holder (5) is made of nylon.
4. The food vending machine as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 3, wherein the container holder (5) is provided with a cylindrical guide portion (5a) disposed to rotatably support the stopper actuating shaft (6).
5. The food vending machine as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 4, wherein the container holder (5) is provided with one or more cylindrical protrusions (5c) arranged on one of its vertical sides and is disposed to support the container support plates ( 9) .
6. The food vending machine as claimed in anyone of claims 1 to 5, wherein the container holder (5) is provided with a hollow space (5b) to accommodate the rear stopper (7) within it during normal working of the food vending machine.
7. The food vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator of the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm pushes the front stopper (8) fitted to the stopper actuating shaft (6) through a dowel pin (10).
8. The food vending machine as claimed in claims 1 and 6, wherein the front and rear stoppers (8) and (7) are preferably made of non metallic material such as nylon.
9. The food vending machine as claimed in claims 1 and 6 to 8 , wherein the front stopper (8) and rear stopper (7) are provided with passage opening (8a) and (7a) of matching shape and dimension as that of the profiled portions (6a) and (6b) respectively of the stopper actuating shaft (6).
, Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
The invention relates to an automatic apparatus for vending food items stored in standard size packs/packets that are loaded in a honeycomb structure comprising plurality of slots. According to the order , food packets are picked and conveyed to a heating station or reheating apparatus by a pick and place mechanism and then delivered to delivery point. In the food vending machine according to the present invention the food items can be loaded in to the honeycomb structure even when the machine is in use for the delivery of food items.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Food vending machines used to store prepared food items in standard size packs and deliver the ordered food item to the customer. The food vending machines normally comprises honeycomb structure with plurality of slots to accommodate different food items stored in standard size packs /packets. Once the customer orders the required item after making a manual / electronic payment, the machine automatically select the ordered food item and delivers the same item to the customer. Means are provided in the machine for heating of the food items to the pre-determined temperature before its delivery.
The food packets loaded in the slots of the honeycomb structure are picked by X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm as per the order placed by the customers. If heating of the food item is required, the food packet picked by X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm is placed in a microwave and heated to the pre-determined temperature before it is delivered to the customer.
In the known food vending machines, once there are empty slots in the machine after the food packets are sold, the door of the machine is opened and food packs are manually loaded in the empty slots. In order to load the food items in the empty slots of the honey comb structure, the machine is to be stopped since it is not safe to run the machine while the operator is loading the machine due to the working of the robotic arm. Also the inventory of the newly loaded food packets have to be taken into account before the machine can start further deliveries. Due to the above mentioned reasons, the machine is not available to take orders from the customer and deliver the required food packets. This results in the customers waiting in long queues to buy food. Ultimately this leads to loss of sales as the customer may be unwilling to wait to order food especially in places like railway stations / airports. Due to time constraints, the customer may choose to order food from a different restaurant. This results in loss of revenue.
Accordingly it will be advantageous to have a food vending machine which could be loaded with the food items in the empty slots even while the machine is in operation so that the machine is continuously available to take orders and to deliver the food items. This will ultimately enhance the efficiency of the machine since the machine is available continuously for service without the need to stop the same for loading the food items in the slots.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
One or more of the problems of the conventional prior art may be overcome by various embodiments of the present invention
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a food vending machine which enables loading of food packs in the slots of the honeycomb structure of the vending machine safely while the machine is delivering food packs to the customer.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein the pick and place/robotic arm is arranged on one side of the honeycomb structure.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein manual loading of the food packets are done from opposite side of the pick and place/robotic arm.
It is another object of the present invention wherein the honey comb structure is used to isolate the operator who loads the food packs from the fast moving X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein a front stopper is arranged on un-loading side of the food vending machine to stop the food packs from falling from the slots of the honey comb structure while manual loading.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein a rear stopper is arranged on the loading side of the food vending machine to arrest the falling of the food packets while the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm is unloading the food packets from the slots of the honey comb structure.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein the front stopper and the rear stopper are connected by a spindle and mounted 90 degrees apart.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein the front stopper and the rear stopper are retained in pre-determined orientation by a force exerting member.
It is another object of the present invention, wherein the front & rear stoppers are actuated by a mechanism mounted of the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
Thus according to the basic aspect of the present invention there is provided a food vending machine comprising of:
a honey comb structure;
one or more container holder assemblies;
one or more container support plates; and
a X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm,
wherein the honey comb structure is constructed with one or more horizontal profiles and vertical profiles,
wherein the holder assembly which is fitted to the profiled portion of the vertical profile comprises a container holder disposed to rotatably support a stopper actuating shaft fitted with a front stopper and a rear stopper at its ends at 90° apart are retained at the required orientation by one or more torsion springs and the stopper actuating shaft has the freedom to rotate 90° in either direction,
wherein the container support plate disposed to support the food containers is fitted to the container holder, and
wherein actuator provided in the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm pushes the front stopper fitted to stopper actuating shaft to change the orientation of the front stopper and the rear stopper to facilitate un-loading of the food packets.

According to another aspect of the invention one end of the container holder is provided with T-profile and is slide able into the profiled portion on the vertical profile. This allows for easy assembly of the honeycomb structure. This method of assembly also provides the required accuracy for unloading the food packets by using a X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm.
According to another aspect of the invention the container holder is made of nylon.
According to another aspect of the invention the container holder is provided with a cylindrical guide portion disposed to rotatably support the stopper actuating shaft.
According to another aspect of the invention the container holder is provided with one or more cylindrical protrusions arranged on one of its vertical sides and are disposed to support the container support plates.
According to another aspect of the invention the container holder is provided with a hollow space to accommodate the rear stopper within it during normal working of the food vending machine.
According to another aspect of the invention the actuator of the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm pushes the front stopper fitted to the stopper actuating shaft through a dowel pin.
According to another aspect of the invention the front and rear stoppers and are preferably made of non metallic material such as nylon.
According to another aspect of the invention the front stopper and rear stopper are provided with passage opening of matching shape and dimension as that of the profiled portions of the stopper actuating shaft .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 schematically illustrates the overall arrangement of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 2 schematically illustrate the partial view of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 3 schematically illustrate the front view of the container holder assembly of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 4 schematically illustrate the top view of container holder assembly of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 5 schematically illustrate the front view of container holder of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 6 schematically illustrate the side view of container holder of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 7 schematically illustrate the front view of stopper actuating shaft of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 8 schematically illustrate the perspective view of front stopper of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 9 schematically illustrate the perspective view of rear stopper of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 10 schematically illustrate the top view of container support plate of the Food Vending Machine according to the present invention.
Figure 11 schematically illustrate the position of stoppers during loading of the food packets.
Figure 12 schematically illustrate the position of stoppers during un-loading of the food packets.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The object of the invention is achieved in that the loading of food packs in the slots of the honeycomb structure of the food vending machine is safe while the machine is delivering food packets to the customer in a manner the food vending machine is continuously available to take orders and to deliver the food packs. By this the availability of the machine to the user without stopping for loading of the food packs is achieved.
As shown in figure 1 and 2 of the drawings, the honey comb structure (1) according to the present invention comprises plurality of horizontal profiles (2) and vertical profiles (3) cut in to pre-determined length and joined together to form the front wall and the rear wall . The honey comb structure (1) further comprises plurality of container holder assemblies (4) housed within the vertical profiles (3).
As shown in figures 3 and 4, the container holder assembly (4) comprises a container holder (5) having width less than that of the vertical profiles (3) such that the container holder (5) can be fitted within the profiled portions of the vertical profile (3). There is a T-profile (5d ) on one end of the container holder (5) which can be seen in figure 3 and 5 of the drawings which slides into the T-profile on the vertical profile (3). This allows for easy assembly of the honeycomb structure (1). This method of assembly also provides the required accuracy for unloading the food packets by using a X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm.
The container holder (5) is preferably made of non metallic material, for example nylon and provided with a cylindrical guide portion (5a) as shown in figure 6 and disposed to rotatably support the stopper actuating shaft (6) shown in figure 7. The container holder (5) is provided with a hollow space (5b) as shown in figure 5 to accommodate the rear stopper (7) shown in figure 9 within it during normal working of the machine. The container holder (5) is further provided with one or more cylindrical protrusions (5c) arranged on one of its vertical sides as shown n figure 5 and 6 and is disposed to support the container support plates ( 9) . As shown in figure 10, the container support plates (9) are provided with one or more cylindrical holes (9a) with suitable dimensions such that the container support plates (9) can be located on the cylindrical protrusions (5c) of the container holder (5) and retained in the required orientation. The container support plate (9) disposed to support the food containers and is fitted to the container holder (5).
As shown in figure 7, the stopper actuating shaft (6) which is a cylindrical member is preferably made of metallic material and provided with profiled portions (6a) and (6b) on its ends .
The container holder assembly (4) further comprises a rear stopper (7) and a front stopper (8) as shown in figure 3 and 4, said rear stopper (7) and front stopper (8) are approximately rectangular in shape and one of the ends are curved. The front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) are preferably made of non metallic material such as nylon and provided with passage opening (8a, 7a, ) of matching shape and dimension as that of the profiled portions (6a) and (6b) respectively of the stopper actuating shaft (6). While the front stopper (8) is fitted to the stopper actuating shaft (6) at the unloading end , the rear stopper (7) is fitted to the stopper actuating shaft (6) at the loading end. The stopper actuating shaft (6) fitted with the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) at its ends is housed within the container holder (5) as shown in figure 3. While the front stopper (8) is detachably mounted on the stopper actuating shaft (6) with a dowel pin (10) , which also acts as the actuating member to operate the stopper actuating shaft (6), the rear stopper (7) is detachably mounted on the stopper actuating shaft (6) by means of a circlip (11) as shown in figure 3. The front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) fitted to the stopper actuating shaft (6) at 90° apart are retained at the required orientation with the help of one or more torsion springs (12) as shown in figure 3 and the stopper actuating shaft (6) has the freedom to rotate 90° in either direction.
The container holder assembly (4) comprising the stopper actuating shaft (6), the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) housed within the container holder (5) is a mechanical device and does not have any actuation method of its own.
Figure 11 of the drawings shows the orientation of the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) during normal working of the machine. In this position the rear stopper (7) is in vertical position within the hollow space (5b) of the container holder (5) and allows the loading of the food packets in the empty slots arising between adjacent container holder assembly (4).
Figure 12 of the drawings shows the orientation of the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) during unloading of food packets. In this position the rear stopper (7) is in horizontal position and the front stopper (8) in vertical position.
The actuation device required to operate the stopper actuating shaft (6) is located on the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm that is used to pick up and deliver the food packets. As and when required, the actuator that is present in the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm will push the front stopper (8) , for example through the dowel pin (10) , to change the orientation of the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) .By doing so the stopper actuating shaft (6) is pushed until the front stopper (8) reaches vertical position to allow the removal of food packet from the slot by the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm . At this time the rear stopper (7) on the other side of the slot comes up to the horizontal position to prevent the food packet from falling out on the other side in case the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm accidentally pushes the food packet as well as to prevent new food packet from being manually loaded.
Soon after the picking is done, the actuation device located on the X-Y pick and place mechanism / robotic arm move away from the front stopper (8), and the front stopper (8) and the rear stopper (7) regain their respective original position by the force exerted by the torsion spring (12).
The person is free to load food packet in empty slots at the loading side of the honey comb structure (1) even while the machine is running. If the rear stopper (7) is obstructing the loading of food packet in a particular slot, it means that the food packet is being unloaded on the other side by the X-Y pick and place mechanism/ robotic arm.
The actuator may be a pneumatic cylinder, a servo motor or a stepper motor, or a mechanical actuator or a combination of the above. This allows for individual control of each slot in the X-Y array/honey comb. Only the stopper mechanism in the slot from which the food pack is to be picked is actuated by the actuator located on the X-Y pick and place mechanism/robotic arm. The location and the verity of freshly loaded food packets are taken in to account by the sensing mechanism of the vending machine in any one of the known way and the same is ready for delivery as and when they are ordered by the user. Likewise the payment control, inventory control, identification of the food packet and the heating of the food packet before delivery to the customer if required are being carried out by any one of the methods know in the art.
Though this invention is hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to specific embodiments, obvious alterations and modifications known to persons skilled in the art and are well within the scope of the appended claims