Claims:Claims:
We Claim
1. A system of automatic vending machine 10, containing
a user interface 11 with various choices of food items ;
disposable cutlery dispenser 12;
automatic safety door 13 to serve the ordered food item;
a cooking compartment 20; motorized piston 21 for water and steam;
lid 22 for covering container during cooking process;
container drop and slider mechanism 23;
storage space 24; storage space for water 25; water tank 31;
pump 51 to supply water from 25 to water tank 31;
disposable cutlery storage 26; ventilation grills 27;
Steam and hot water wand 28 for creating pressurized environment inside the food container;
the electronic control unit 41; the electronic switches 42; Power supply 43;
DC dispense valve 44 mounted for controlling water and steam output;
mechanism of DC pumps 45 used for pumping steam and water;
steam generator 46; and the hot water tank 48;
2. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein 41 contains two controller boards; one for software application and graphical user interface programmed for the tasks of graphical user interface, touch screen, digital payment and internet connectivity and other for hardware controlling the working of various electronic and electrical devices present in the automatic steam cooking vending machine.
3. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein steam generator 46 uses electrical heating coil, which maintains water temperature at a certain level so that hot water can be instantly delivered for cooking purpose without any delay.
4. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein storage stack 24 and container transfer mechanisms 23 are automatic electromechanical systems which uses motors and sensors to ensure proper dropping and transfer of container to the cooking compartment.
5. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein storage stack 24 a shelf inside the vending machine or a stand-alone storage space outside the vending machine.
6. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 1-5, wherein the machine contains payment module with option for currency acceptor 14 and 15; change collection box 16.
7. A system of automatic vending machine as claimed in claim 6, wherein payment system module is a combination of various payment units coin acceptor, note acceptor, coin hopper, note acceptor and recycler and UPI and QRCode based digital payment options are provided.
8. A process of fully automatic vending machine with steam based cooking involving steps of ; User selecting the desired food product from the list displayed in graphical user interface; optionally user completing the payment using any of the available payment method; the automatic steam cooking vending machine starts cooking by dropping a container from desired stack and transfers the container to the cooking compartment; cooking up of food using steam and hot water in a pressurized closed system; opening of the safety door automatically for user to collect the steam cooked food item and the automatic cutlery dispensing for disposable cutlery; optionally dispensing the remaining change if applicable, after the user collects food container and the disposable cutlery.
9. A process of fully automatic vending machine with steam based cooking as claimed in claim 8, wherein once a food item is chosen from available options using user interface and payment process is completed, the food is transferred automatically to the cooking compartment 20 and lid 22 is placed over the container such that a closed system is created within the container.
10. A process of fully automatic vending machine with pressurized steam based cooking as claimed in claim 8, wherein water from tank 48 is pumped into the steam module 46 which gets converted into steam and then the generated steam and hot water from 48 is transferred continuously through wands 28 through motorized piston 21 into food container inside cooking compartment 20 to increases both temperature and pressure inside the closed system to create a pressure cooker environment, thereby reducing the time involved in entire cooking process with added advantage of retaining the natural texture, consistency and taste of the final resulting food.
, Description:TITLE OF THE INVENTION
FULLY AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE WITH STEAM BASED COOKING AND PROCESS THEREOF
FIELD OF THE INVENTION:
[0001] The present invention relates to a fully automatic steam cooking vending machine which can cook food items using steam and hot water in closed system with high temperature and pressure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0002] Vending Food Items via Vending Machine which have been cooked in the same vending machine is not a common practice in the market. In the category of processed food items, some inventions of dispensing panipuri or golgappe and pakodi, but these machines are not fully automatic. These machines require an operator to run the operations of the machine. In the category of Fully automatic vending machine, presently we are served with beverages like coffee and tea or food packets via the pick and dispense mechanism. Thus, the most common place to get quick food is either packed food or street vendors, raising issues of hygiene.

[0003] This is the problem with quick foods like steam cooked foods or dehydrated food items as well. Also the quick foods like dehydrated food items cooked conventionally by just adding hot water. One has to order to some shop or vendor and then wait for 7-12 minutes to get food cooked and then eat. However, this method has disadvantages which makes the resultant cooked food unpleasing as natural texture, consistency and taste of the food are all compromised during cooking and mixing of food content before consumption. Cooking dehydrated food using hot water requires around 5-12 minutes of time to rehydrate food content for consumption, this excludes the time and hassle of performing manual tasks involved in the process.

[0004] Our invention tries to mitigate the problems described as above by providing a fully automatic food vending machine. The system and method provide for cooking food items using steam and hot water in closed system with high temperature and pressure. The machine can be placed at market place, shopping centers, offices or any public or private place to serve the cooked food automatically.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION:

[0005] The main object of this machines is to automate the entire cooking process of various food items using high temperature and pressure of steam in a closed environment. Another object of the invention is to provide fully automated internal mechanisms such as transfer of food container within the machine from storage area to cooking compartment and dispense mechanism for disposable cutlery. Yet another object of the invention is to provide interactive user interface and supports both physical and digital payments.
[0006] Another object of this machine is to reduce the overall time and human interference required in the process. This invention provides user with an interactive user interface to control the machine with minimal input from the user end. User only needs to select the desired food item and optionally make payment, afterwards the machine performs all the processes automatically which are required to cook the selected food item and deliver the cooked food along with disposable cutlery.
[0007] Further object of this invention is to provide a fully automatic steam cooking vending machine which has the capability, adaptability and scope of supporting wide range of food items which can be cooked using steam cooking mechanism within small durations of time. Further object of this invention is to provide a fully automatic steam cooking vending machine, which can be employed at offices, shopping centers, market places, or any other public or private space to provide automated cooked food with a variety of choices such as rice, upma, poha, daliya, khijdi, daal, pulav, noodles, momos, dhokla, Idli and other steam cooked food or a combination thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:
[0008] The present invention discloses a fully automatic vending machine with steam-based cooking to serve choices of food items as per user’s selection through user interface and its process thereof. The vending machine is fully automatic which can cook, dispense and transact the food items without any human intervention. The machine includes a storage container having various foods which can be selected by the user using the user interface, food containers inside the machine are transferred automatically to the cooking compartment where the food contents are cooked in closed system using hot water and steam under pressure. This machine optionally accepts payment in form of physical currency as well as digital payments. Disposable cutlery is dispensed automatically along with the food container. The scalability and flexibility of machine design and components provides machine the capability to be used in versatile application areas.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES:
[0009] Figure 1 illustrates the outer layout of the one of the preferred embodiments of outer layout of the fully automatic vending machine.
[0010] Figure 2 illustrates inside view of the front side of the automatic vending machine.
[0011] Figure 3 illustrates the front-side close-up view of the cooking compartment of the automatic vending machine.
[0012] Figure 4 illustrates the back-side close-up view of the cooking compartment of the automatic vending machine.
[0013] Figure 5 illustrates the back-side close-up side view of the automatic vending machine.
[0014] Figure 6 illustrates the process of fully automatic vending machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[0015] Figure 1 illustrates the outer layout of the one of the preferred embodiments of the fully automatic vending machine 10. This vending machine contains a user interface 11 with various choices of stored food items displayed on it and options for payment modes. 12 represents disposable cutlery dispenser and 13 represents the automatic safety door which opens when the ordered food item is ready to be served. 14 shows the coin acceptor and 15 shows the note acceptor. If the option of physical currency mode payment is chosen, then 14 and 15 accepts the physical form of currency. Point 16 represents the change collection box, from where the balance money is dispensed, if any. This machine 10 accepts payment in form of physical currency as well as digital payments and is also able to dispense change in the form of coins and notes.
[0016] Another embodiment of the vending machine has user interface 11, disposable cutlery dispenser 12 and automatic safety door 13. This embodiment preferably installed at offices wherein payment option is not required.
[0017] In one embodiment, the user interface 11 is a keyboard and display based user interface. In one of the preferred embodiments, the user interface 11 is a touch-screen based user interface.
[0018] In one of the preferred embodiments, the disposable cutlery is dispensed automatically from 12 along with the food container which is provided at 13.
[0019] Figure 2 illustrates inside view of the front side of the automatic vending machine 10. This fully automatic steam cooking vending machine consists of a cooking compartment 20 which uses steam to cook the food items. 21 is a motorized piston for water and steam. Lid 22 is used for covering container during cooking process and Steam and hot water dispensed from wands 28 creates pressurized environment inside the food container. 23 is a container drop and slider mechanism. 24 is the food container storage stake. The storage unit 24 stores various food item container in dedicated stacks, stacks are placed on a transfer mechanism 23 which transfers the desired food item container to the cooking area when an order is placed. The lower space of vending machine 25 is used for storage of water supply. In one of the embodiments, the storage space 25 can carry two 20 litre water containers. Section 26 represents disposable cutlery storage and dispenser. Ventilation grills 27 is provided in the vending machine to keep the machine well ventilated.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment lid 22 is a stainless-steel cap for covering the container. In one embodiment, storage space 24 is a shelf inside the vending machine. In another embodiment storage stack 24 can be a stand-alone storage space outside the vending machine which can store upto 300-400 food containers. In one the preferred embodiment, storage stack 24 and container transfer mechanisms 23 are electromechanical systems which uses motors and sensors to ensure proper dropping and transfer of container to the cooking compartment.
[0021] Figure 3 illustrates the close-up view of the cooking compartment of the automatic vending machine. Section 31 is top mounted water tank which act as reservoir to store water for the cooking process.
[0022] Figure 4 illustrates the back-side close-up view of the cooking compartment of the automatic vending machine. 41 shows the electronic control unit of the automatic pressurized cooking and vending process. 42 are the electronic switches. 43 is the power supply. 44 is DC dispense valve mounted for controlling water and steam output. 45 represents mechanism of DC pumps used for pumping steam and water. 46 is the steam generator. 47 shows the backside view of container drop and slider mechanism. 48 is the hot water tank to provide hot water.
[0023] In of the preferred embodiment, Steam generator 46 is an electrical device which converts water into steam instantly using an electrical heating coil. Steam generator 46 uses electrical heating coil, which maintains water temperature at a certain level so that hot water can be instantly delivered for cooking purpose without any delay. DC Pumps 45 and electromechanical valves 44 are connected at the output of steam generator and hot water tank 48 to regulate the amount of water and steam used during the process of cooking.
[0024] In one of the preferred embodiments, 41 contains two controller boards. One of the controllers has modules for software application and graphical user interface. These modules are programmed for the tasks of graphical user interface, touch screen, digital payment and internet connectivity. The other controller is hardware controller for controlling the working of the electronic and electrical devices as described above in the automatic steam cooking vending machine.
[0025] Figure 5 illustrates the back-side close-up side view of the automatic vending machine. It shows the pump 51 which is connected from water supply 25 to water tank 31 to refill the tank automatically.
[0026] In one the preferred embodiment, the water tank 31 has a water level sensor to alarm when water is below 30%-25% level, and connected via pump 51 to water supply 25 to refill the tank 31, automatically, whenever required.
[0027] In yet another preferred embodiment, the graphical user interface is an application module for product selection, payment and the processes for placing and completing the order. This controller is connected to the main hardware controller to provide instructions such as to start cooking a particular product, when an order is confirmed from user end. The hardware controller is a custom developed motherboard with custom firmware which manages the working of various units such as storage stacks and container transfer mechanism, cooking mechanism, steam and hot water pump control and other mechanism required for the safety and proper working of the machine.
[0028] Figure 6 illustrates the process of fully automatic vending machine with steam based cooking. In one of embodiment, the process of present invention involves the steps of step 1: User selecting the desired food product from the list displayed in graphical user interface; optionally step 1(a) of User completing the payment using any of the available payment method; step 2 of the automatic steam cooking vending machine starts cooking by dropping a container from desired stack and transfers the container to the cooking compartment; step 3 of the food is cooked using steam and hot water in a pressurized closed system; step 4 of the safety door opens automatically for user to collect the steam cooked food item and the automatic cutlery dispenser slide out a disposable cutlery; and optionally step 5 of dispensing the remaining change if applicable, after the user collects food container and the disposable cutlery.
[0029] In one of the preferred embodiments, once a food item is chosen from available options using user interface and payment process is completed, the selected food item container is transferred automatically to the cooking compartment 20 and lid 22 is placed over the container such that a closed system is created within the container.
[0030] The hot water tank electrical heating coil maintains water temperature at a certain level so that hot water can be instantly delivered for cooking purpose without any delay. In one of the preferred embodiments, depending upon the food selected, water from hot water tank 48 is pumped into the steam module 46 which gets converted into steam and then the generated steam from 46 and hot water from tank 48 is transferred via wands 28, through motorized piston 21 into food container inside cooking compartment 20 to increases both temperature and pressure inside the closed system to create a pressure cooker like environment. Since the steam gets generated continuously during the whole duration of cooking process which increases both temperature and pressure inside the closed system creating a pressure cooker environment, this high temperature and pressure cooks the food evenly as steam reaches the food content in every part of the container. The time involved in entire cooking process considerably reduced taking only 3-6 minutes with added advantage of retaining the natural texture, consistency and taste of the final resulting food.
[0031] In one of the preferred embodiments, hot water temperature is about 80°C-90°C and steam temperature is about 120°C-150°C. The temperatures are maintained automatically by controller according to the food item choice to cook the food in optimum conditions.
[0032] In one of the embodiments, the food item could be of multiple brands and multiple flavors. In one of the preferred embodiments, the food item could be rice, uma, poha, daliya, khijdi, daal, pulav, noodles, Momos, Dhokla, Idli and other steam cooked food or a combination thereof. In one of the preferred embodiments, the food item could be any dehydrated packed food item.
[0033] In one of the embodiments, payment system module within the software controller application is a customizable combination of various payment units which are arranged to accept as well as return currency in physical and digital forms. In one of the embodiments, various payment units such as coin acceptor, note acceptor, coin hopper, note acceptor and recycler individually or a combination thereof is used for physical form of payment. In yet another embodiment, the graphical user interface provides for UPI and QRCode based digital payment options. In one of the preferred embodiment a combination of various payment units coin acceptor, note acceptor, coin hopper, note acceptor and recycler and UPI and QRCode based digital payment options are provided.
[0034] Advantages: The present invention provides a fully automatic vending machine using steam and hot-water based cooking, thus we can get quick foods at market or at shops or any other places wherein they will be installed. These foods will be fully hygienic as there is no human intervention and whole process is performed automatically by machine. It gives choices of food at office or market place, processed within few minutes. These machines can be installed at shopping malls, offices, at market places or common public places, which empower people to get quick food of their choices within minutes with natural texture and taste of food. The machine can work with different choices of foods with multiple brand food packets. Conventional cooking the dehydrated food using hot water requires around 5-12 minutes of time to rehydrate food content for consumption, this excludes the time and hassle of performing manual tasks involved in the process whereas in present invention fully automatic food vending machine is provided which cooking food items using steam and hot water in closed system with high temperature and pressure. This reduces the time and efforts considerably at the same time natural taste and consistency of food is maintained.

[0035] In the preceding specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereunto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation.