Apparatus for storing and dispensing frozen comestibles
US5105978A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 25, 1991 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 25, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F11/62
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for storing and dispensing comestibles, such as ice cream, has a cabinet defining an interior for holding a plurality of stacked ice cream containing magazines. A refrigeration system for cooling the interior of the cabinet below the freezing point of the ice cream is connected thereto. An X-Y picker assembly is positioned in the cabinet interior to transport ice cream from the selected magazine without heating the selected ice cream container or any other ice cream containers stored therein. The ice cream is carried by the X-Y picker assembly to a dispensing opening in the cabinet from which it can be accessed by the consumer. A nonvolatile information storage device is associated with the plurality of magazines and contains product characteristic information therein related to the flavors of ice cream in the magazines. A mapping system maps switch closures from product selection switches with the product characteristic information.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.