Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
W096l05~78 2 1 9 f ~ 2 ~ ,vi22
CO-DISPENSING SNACK FOOD PRODUCTS AND BEVERAGES
FROM A VENDING M~CHINE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to
processes for dispensing ~nt~;n~rs from vending
~h; n~c or the like and, more particularly, to
processes for dispensing both snack food products and
beverages from a single vending machine. The present
invention also relates to a novel apparatus and process
for filling cylindrical containers with snack food and
packaging snack food products in cylindrical
containers, including containers suitable for being
dispensed by a vending machine.
Descri~tion of Relevant Art
It is well known in the prior art to dispense
beverages, e.g., cans of soft drinks, from a coin-
operated vending machine. Coin-operated vending
machines also are used to dispense packages of food
products, e.g., candy, snack foods such as potato chips
or pretzels, or sandwiches.
In the snack food art, salty snack food products,
e.g. corn chips, cheese snacks, pretzels, etc.,
typically are packaged in bags formed of flexible
packaging films, or canisters formed of paperboard
material. These packaging films typically are compleY
laminated structures that provide moisture and oxygen
barrier layers to prevent premature staling or loss of
W0 9~5~78 2 ~ 9 ~ P~ u~2~ ~
product freshness. In addition, it is known to package
food products such as peanuts in a metal can having a
r~sP~l~hle lid for --;nt~;n;ng product freshness.
In the prior art, a plurality of vending m~h;n
often are disposed or located together in a common
area, e.g., a travel rest area or a snack bar. The
m-~h;nP~ contain and dispense various beveragea, snack
foods, candy, etc. However, in arrangements of the
above-descrlbed type, the separate vending m~~h1n~q
respectively dispense separate types of products. That
is, a machine typically dispenses either beverages or
food products, but not both. For example, a machine
which dispenses cans of soft drinks does not dispense
food products. Consequently, a purchaser cannot obtain
a beverage and a snack food product from prior art soft
drink vending --~h;nPq
The cost of a vending machine often prohibits its
pl~c ~ in certain locations where ~turns,~ or
purchases of the vended products, are not of sufficient
2~ frequency lrelative to the product~s shelf li~e) to
provide an adequate return.on investment. For this
reason, it is not nn~ n to find beverage vending
m~h;nP5 standing alone without a snack food vending
machine. Also, as beverage vending machines are
~5 refrigerated while snack food vending machines are not,
there are many outdoor vending locations that are
hostile to the placement of snack food vending ~achines
due to temperature and moisture extremes.
Snack-food or rest-area vending arrangements often
include an oven for cooking food products purchased
from the machines. It is known in the prior art to
combine a microwave oven with a food-vending machine to
permit the products to be cooked and then dispensed to
the purchaser. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,0~8,
2 ~ 2 1
~ W096/05578 .~1 / ~ ~ .N I
which teaches that the food products may be dispensed
by a conventional soft drink vending machine. The
5,147,068 patent, however, does not teach or suggest
dispensing both a beverage product and a food product
from a single vending machine but, rather, teaches only
the conventional usage of a machine to dispense only
one product or the other.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,g01,964 discloses a vending
machine with means for heating refrigerated sandwiches.
The purchaser selects a type of sandwich which is then
heated and dispensed by the machine. U.S. Pat. No.
5,207,784 discloses a monitoring system for monitoring
the inventory status of vending machines from a remote
location. U.S. Pat. No. 3,810,561 discloses a vending
machine for dispensing containers having a circular
cross-section through a discharge port. The 3,810,561
patent teaches that although the containers typically
will be cans of soda, other items also can be dispensed
in the circular containers. However, as with the
patents mentioned above, the 3,810,561 patent does not
teach or suggest dispensing both a beverage and food
product from a single soft drink vending machine.
It is apparent that prior art product vending or
dispensing apparatus, such as those discussed above,
dispense either a beverage or a food product and,
therefore, do not permit a purchaser to obtain both a
beverage, e.g. a soft drink, and a snack food product,
e.g. corn chips, from a single soft drink vending
machine. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for
improved dispensing of such products.
SUMMARY OE THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a process for co-
dispensing beverages and snack food products from a
21~1i21
w096~78 . .~ ,3ll~2~2
~4
single vending machine, i.e., dispensing both filled
beverage rnnt~;n~rs and filled food product containers
from the same vending machine. Although not absolutely
necessary to carry out the process of the present
invention, the food product containers preferably have
a size and shape substantially the same as the size and
shape of the beverage rnnt~;n~rS~ For example, both
cnnt~;n~rs can be aluminum cans with a removable
opening. This permits a ccnventional, refrigerated
soft drink vending machine to be used to dispense both
beverages and food products according to the present
invention. Thus, the present invention provides a
highly economical and efficient system for dispensing
both refrigerated beverages and snack foods via pre-
existing soft drink vending ~~~h;n~s, without any need
for modification of the vending machine.
The invention also includes an automatic door-
opening ---h~n;rm for use in vending machines which
have a dispensing door that is pushed open by the
weight of the dispensed container. For snackfood
containers that are too light to push the door open,
the --~h~ni~m holds the dispensing door open until the
cnnt~;n~rs pass therethrough. This aspect of the
invention is desirable, but not necesary, to use in
connection with the co-dispensing process described
immediately above.
In another aspect of the present invention, an
apparatus and process for filling ~nnt~inors with snack
food product are disclosed wherein a funnel-shaped
member is provided to align the individual pieces of
the product in a decired direction prior to placing the
product in a container. The funnel-shaped member has a
plurality of troughs on its interior which contact the
snack food product, for example pretzel sticks, and
21 !~4~
~ W096~05578 PCT~S95110222
align the product pieces in a generally lengthwise
direction. In this manner, the product pieces are
disposed and enter the container lengthwise whereby the
container can be completely filled with product to
ensure product value to consumers.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become more apparent from the
following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment thereof taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing figures, wherein:
FIGS. lA and lB, respectively, are elevation views
of a filled beverage container and a filled food
product container which may be dispensed from a single
vending machine according to the process of the present
invention;
FIG.S. 2A and 2B, respectively, are plan views of
the containers depicted in FIGS. lA and lB;
FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of a
vending machine that may be used in carrying out the
process of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a process for
packaging snack foods in a cylindrical container.
FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of an
apparatus for filling r~n~;nPrS;
FIG. 6 is a plan view, somewhat schematic, of a
vending machine for dispensing beverages and snack food
products according to the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the barrier door depicted
in FIG. 6 including a mechanism for automatically
opening the dispensing door of the barrier door to
release a container to the outlet of the vending
machine;
w096~s57~ . 2 1 9 ~ ~ 2 ~ I ~llu~ 22
FIG. ~3 is an elevation view of a portion of the
barrier door of the vending machine depicted in FIG. 6;
FIGS. 9A and 9B are, respectively, plan and
elevation views of a funnel member which forms part of
the apparatus depicted in FIG. 5; and
FIGS. lCA and lOB are somewhat schematic views of
elongated product pieces disposed within the funnel
member of FIGS. 9A and ~B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFE~RED EMBODIMENTS
lQ As stated above, the present invention provides a
process for co-dispensing beverages and food products
from a single vending machine. Por the sake of
simplicity, apparatus which may be utilized to carry
out the process of the present invention will be
referred to collectively as vending ~h;ne5 Such
apparatus include, but are not limited to, conventional
coin-operated soft drink vending r-~h;neR known in the
art.
EIG. l depicts a filled beverage contair.er lo and
a filled snack food product c~nta;nPr 30. The beverage
container 1~ preferably i8 alum-num and has a shape and
size such that the container can be dispen8ed by a
conventional soft drink vending machine. Beverage
container lO can be in the form of a conventional
recyclable aluminum soft drink can including a body 12
with suitable advertising indicia as seen in FIG. 1~,
and a pop-top or like easy opening closure indicated
generally at 14 (FIG. 2A\. Closure 14 is conventional
and includes a pull ring 16 which when lifted upward
punches 8ection 18 from upper surface 20 to provide an
outlet, all as known in the art.
Snack food product container 3Q likewise can be in
the form of a recyclable aluminum can having a body 32
~ W096/05s78 2 ~ % ~ PCTNS95110222
with advertising indicia and an easy-opening closure
indicated generally at 34 (FIG. 2B~. As will be
~pl~;n~ below, utilizing a snack food container that
has the same or substantially the same size and shape
as a conventional soft drink can permits a conventional
soft drink vending machine to be used in practicing the
present invention. Closure 34 differs from the closure
10 of beverage container lC in that sub~tantially the
entire upper surface 40 of container 30 preferably is
removed to gain access to the contents thereof, i.e.,
the snack food product which, in FIG. lB, is a snack
food marketed by Frito-~ay, Inc. under the trademark
C~EE TOS~ brand cheese flavored snacks. Pull ring 36 is
grasped and lifted upward to depress portion 38 of
surface 34 so as to permit easy removal thereof. This
type of closure is known in the art and, therefore, is
not discussed in further detail herein.
It will be recognized that contain~rs 10 and 30
may be of any size. For example, the c~rt~;n~rs may
have a 12 or 16 fluid ounce (350 or 500 cc~ capacity,
or any other fluid capacity. Fluid capacity, of
course, refers to both c~n~sin~rs 10 and 30 although
only container 10 contains a beverage. In a preferred
embodiment, both con~;n~r 10 and container 30 have a
12 fluid ounce (350 cc) capacity, and, therefore, may
be dispensed by a conventional soft drink vending
machine.
FIG. 3 shows a perspective schematic view of a
vending machine ~or dispensing both food and drink
r~nt~; n~rs according to the present invention. The
vending machine 100 includes an outer housing 102, a
payment m~rh~n;cm 104, a selector panel mechanism 106,
and a dispensing outlet 108. The vending machine 100
further includes a front door 110 which is pivotally
~197'~
W096~8 PCT~S95110222
connected to housing 102 and can be opened to provide
access to the interior of the~machine to, e.g., refill
the product supply and coIlect the money deposited in
the machine. The front door 110 of vending machine 100
can have a suitable advertising display or indicia 112
which, in PIG. 1, depicts a beverage item and a snack
food item contained therein.
The operation of vending machine 100 is well known
to and appreciated by those skilled in the art and thus
will not be explained in any great detail herein. As
mentioned above, the process of the present invention
can be carried out utilizing conv~nti~n~l soft drink
vending apparatus, i.e., the present invention doe~ not
require a specifically designed vending machine. Thus,
the operation of such apparatus in response to the
insertion of money therein will not be described in
detail. The process of the present invention can be
practiced with a vending machine having sufficient
internal space for storage of filled beverage and snack
food containers, and means for permitting a user to
select a specific beverage or food item which item is
dispensed upon the insertion of sufficient money in the
machine. Accordingly, it is possible to employ a
conventional soft drink vending machine by using a
portion of the soft drink container storage area for
food product containers. Thus, the structure (e.g.
tracks~ used to convey or direct soft drink containers
to the outlet from the stacks in that portion of the
storage area, according to the present invention,
instead direct snack food containers to the outlet from
the stacks in that storage portion.
Although those skilled in the art will appreciate
the use of a conventional vending machine to carry out
the present invention (as described above~, a brief
21 ~7~ ~
~ W096l05578 r~ J~
g
discussion of such a machine will be made for the sake
of clarity.
Conventional soft drink vending m-~h;n~s typically
have a plurality of holding stacks of a certain width
and depth for holding a supply of soft drink
containers. A dispenser mechanism typically is
disposed at a lower portion of each holding stack and
is operable by a drive mechanism. The drive
me~h~n; ! , in response to purchaser selection, operate
the respective dispenser mechanisms to dispense a soft
drink container via the vending machine outlet. For
example, U.S. Patent No. 4,991,740 discloses a known
type of vending machine that may be used in carrying
out the process of the present invention. The
4,991,740 patent discloses a vending machine including
horizontally-spaced ~nnt~l n~r stacks with respective
release ~~~h~n;l and a single machine outlet, as
disclosed in FIGS. 1-5 and columns 4-8 of the 4,991,740
patent, which disclosure is expressly incorporated by
reference into the present application. ~owever, those
skilled in the art, of course, will appreciate that
other vending machine structures and apparatus may be
used as well.
Other known vending ~--h;n~, e.g., those which
include vertically-spaced cnn~;n~r stacks, may also be
used to carry out the present invention. U.S. Patent
No. 4,483,459 discloses a machine having vertically-
spaced container stacks, as seen in FIGS. 2 and 3
therein. The operation of.the vending machine in the
4,483,459 patent is disclosed ir. FIGS. 2-5 and columns
2-5, which disclosure also is expressly incorporated by
reference in the present application.
FIG. 6 depicts a vending machine 200 constructed
according to the present invention. The vending
~lg l~s21
W096)1)5578 r._ll~J~.~I....................................... ~
machine 200 includes a housing 202, a barrier door 220,
and a front door 240. The housing 202 may include
separate sections or areas 204 for receiving stacks of
containers as is known in the art and has a drop chute
208 which the containers slide~ down upon being selected
and paid for by a purchaser~ As discussed abova with
respect to vending machine 100, machine 200 is provided
with drive motors ~not shown~ which operate a
~ .cr~n.~; ng gate or other means disposed at the outlet
of each ~nt~1 n~r section 204 for releasing the
c~nta-n~r to the drop chute 208. The container slides
down tne drop chute and passes through an outlet formed
in barrier door 220, as explained below.
The barrier door 220 i6 connected to the housing
202 at a hinge 210 so as to be movable toward and away
from the housing. The barrier door typically will be
formed from an insulative material and when closed
prevents or reduces heat transfer between the interior
of the housing 202 and the amoient environment. In the
type of machine shown in FIG. 6, a hinged dispensing or
trap door 224 closes the outlet of the barrier door 22.0
and is pushed open by the container as it slides down
the drop chute 208 of housi~g 202 under the force of
gravity, the container contacting the door 224 so as to
pivot it open. However, as mentioned above, because
c~nta~n~rs filled with snack food product may be
considerably lighter than beverage-filled containers, a
problem may arise during use of this type of machine in
that the snack food container does not weigh enough to
open the dispensing door 224 after sliding down drop
chute 208 under the force of gravity. As discussed
below, the present invention includes a mechanism
(indicated schematicall.y at 226 in FI~. 6~ for
automatically opening the dispensing door 22~ of
~ wos6/0ss78 2 ~ 3 ~ ~ q I PCT~S9~/10222
11
barrier door 220. Preferably, the mechanism is
actuated each time a snack food cQrt~;n~r is selected
and opens the dispensing door 224 before the container
has passed down the chute 208 to the door 224. The
c~nt~;n~r passes through the open dispensing door 224
of barrier door 220 and then travels down dispensing
passage 246 formed in the front door 240 of machine 200
to a dispensing outlet 248 where it can be accessed by
the purchaser. The front door 240 also is hinged at
210 to the housing 202 and includes a display area 242,
a coin insertion mechanism 244, and the aforesaid
dispensing passage 246 and outlet 248.
FIG. 7 shows in somewhat schematic fashion a
dispensing door-opening mechanism according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention which is
indicated generally by reference numeral 226. The
mechanism 226 includes a solenoid 227 secured to the
inside surface 222 of barrier door 220 (FIG. 6). The
solenoid 227 includes an arm 230 which is moved in a
desired direction upon actuation of the solenoid by a
suitable electrical signal. For example, the solenoid
227 includes a wire(s) 236 and receives the same signal
used to power the motor for the dispensing gate of each
dispensing section 204 of the machine. When a
purchaser selects a snack food product, the electrical
signal which powers the motor for the dispensing gate
for the section 204 in which the product is located
also powers the solenoid 227. When the dispensing gate
is opened, the container is free to move from the stack
or storage rack and onto the drop chute 208. The
electrical signal causes the arm 230 of solenoid 227 to
move downward in the direction of arrow B. A door-
contacting member 228, which may be a stiff wire, has
two ends, one end 232 being secu.red to the arm 230 of
W096~5S78 21~ 7 ~ 2 ~ rO.,~
12
solenoid 227 and the other end 22S configured with a
portion that projects outward toward the outside of the
machine, i.e., in the direction that dispensing door
224 is opened. The member 228 is secured to the
surface 222 at a pivot connection (indicated
schematically at P in FIC. 7) located between the two
ends. While a stiff wire is used in the illustrated
embodiment, any type, size, or shape actuating member
could be used to contact the door.
FIG. 8 depicts one possible arrangement which may
be used to translate the motion of the arm 230 of the
solenoid 227 into a force which acts in a generally
transverse direction A to pivot open the door 224. A
bracket 250 is secured to surface 222 and has a pair of
ears Z52 with openings passing therethrough. The door-
contacting member 228 has a projection 254 located
between the ears 252 with an opening aligned with the
openings in ears 252 and a pivot pin 25~ disposed in
the aligned openings. ~pon act~ation of the solenoid
227, the arm 230 moves downward in direction B (into
the page in FIG. 81 which causes the door-contacting
member 228 to pivot about connection P so as to move
the end 225 of ~nember 228 in an outward direction along
arrow A as s~een in FI~S. 7 and 8. The solenoid 227
opens the dlspensing door 224 ~efore the container C
(shown in phantom in Fig. 7) travels from the supply
stacks, down the drop chute and to the barrier door
220.
However, in view o~ the fact that some containers
are located farther from dispensing door 224 than other
containers, for example, those located at the back of
the sections 204, it may be necessary to hold the door
224 open a sufficient length of time to permit such
containers to travel from their storage position to the
2 1 ~
~ W096l05578 PCT~595/l0222
13
door 224. The door-opening mechanism of the present
invention includes a time delay feature to ensure that
the door 224 will be held open a sufficient length of
time. A capacitor may be used to provide the mechanism
with a desired time constant that will hold the door
open long enough to allow the ce~n~A;nArs to reach the
open dispensing door regardless of their position in
the machine. The particular capacitor may be selected
taking into consideration the electrical capacitance of
the vending machine, etc., so that the desired time
constant is obtained and the door is held open for the
necessary length of time.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the
automatic door-opening feature of the present invention
can be constructed in many different ways and a
solenoid-operated mechanism is only one possible
construction. Also, the particular configuration of
the door-contacting member is not critical and can be
in any form which permits it to open the door. For
example, if a solenoid is used it can be mounted at
virtually any location on the vending machine and,
likewise, the door-opening member can be configured to
engage the dispensing door from virtually any location.
The particular configuration of the vending machine may
influence or determine how or where the mArhAn;cm will
be placed, e.g., adjacent the wires which will be used
to supply power to the solenoid, on a wall that has
open surface area, etc. Moreover, any type of vending
machine may be used. For example, a machine having
more than one outlet door could be utilized with the
-A~hAn;Am(s) of the invention controlling some or all
of the doors. In any case, and whether a solenoid is
used or not, the invention resides primarily in
providing an automatic door-opening mechanism which
W09605~8 ~ /U~ ~2
14
opens the dispensing door of the machine before the
containers filled with 3nack food product reach the
door and, if necessary, maintains the door open a
sufficient length of time to pe~rrnit the containers to
reach the door. Of course~ the mechanism could open
the doo.r automatically for every product selected if
desired.
In a preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the snack food container 30 is pressurized
at about 5-15 p8i ~pounds per square inch3 to give it
added strength so as to prevent the ~nnt~;nPr ~and
snack food product3 from being crushed or damaged
during transportation~ storage, etc.
With reference to FIG. 4, a process for packaging
snack foods in cylindrical con~;n~rs 300 will no~ be
described. The empty ~ont~;n~rs 300, which are open at
the top thereof, preferably are flushed with nitrogen
gas at a flushing station 310 to remove any oxygen
present therein. The containers then are fed or
directed to a filling station 320 e~uipped with a
device or assembly that includes a filling head for
dispensing precise metered amounts of the snack food
product, e.g. corn chips, pretzels, cheese snacks,
etc., from a supply 330 into the empty containers 300.
The filling equipment can be in the form of a rotary
table, conveyor belt or system, etc. As discussed
below, the present invention provides an apparatus and
process for filling the containers which permits each
cnnt~iner to be properly and cornpletely filled with
product. The containers 300 should be positively
captured or controlled during the filling process so
that the amount of product placed therein can be
controlled very accurately.
~ WO ~10S578 2 ~ 9 7 4 2 :l r~
It may be desirable to also flush the product
itself with nitrogen gas so as to substantially remove
the oxygen captured or trapped therein to provide
longer shelf life for the product. This can be done
before the product is placed in the containers or,
alternatively, may be accomplished after filling (but
before sealing) of the cnntA;nors by passing the filled
containers through area 340 ~shown in phantom1. Area
340 may be in the form of a tunnel, chamber, etc., that
contains a nitrogen rich environment to remove oxygen
from the product as the containers pass therethrough.
It is desirable to reduce the oxygen content of the
product to about 2~ or less in order to provide long
shelf life and product freshness.
The containers are then sealed with a lid at a
sealing station 350. The sealing of the containers may
take place while the containers still are within the
nitrogen environment, i.e., area 340 in FIG. 4.). The
lids used to seal the contAiners, as described above
with respect to FIG. 2B, are designed for easy removal.
In a preferred embodiment, a small amount of liquid
nitrogen is placed in the filled containers before the
containers are sealed, as indicated by reference
numeral 345 in FIG. 4. The liquid nitrogen evaporates
after the contA;n~rs are sealed to provide additional
internai pressurization of the container, which in turn
provides increased columnar and overall strength
against crushing or deformation. In addition, the
pressurization of the snack food container causes an
audible noise upon opening which indicates the fresh
and untampered condition of the product. As described
above with respect to filled snack food container 30
shown in FIGS. ~B and 2B, the purchaser simply pulls up
w096~ss78 2 1 ~ ~ ~ 2 1 ~ PCT~S95110222
16
i:
the ring 36 and completely removes cover 40 to gain
access to the product.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to
the filling of containers with product that includes
elongated pieces or portions by aligning the product
pieces prior to placing them in the container. This
aspect of the invention is described below in
connection with the filling of containers with snack
food product; however, those skilled in the art will
appreciate that it may be used in filling containers
with other products, food and non-food alike.
Filling of the cont~;n~rs with snack food product
i9 performed after the product has been separated into
desired portion sizes. A statistical weigher, which is
known in the art, may be used to accurately separate
the product into portions which are con~eyed, e.g., by
gravity, to a container filling apparatus. The
portions are passed into a receiver ~in the form of a
large funnel) and then into a transition chute. The
2~ transition chute preferably is a flexi~le hollow member
which couples the receiver with the filling apparatus.
The filling apparatus includes a discharge or filli~lg
funnel disposed above the location at which the
cont~1n~r is supported, which furnel dumps a product
portion into the open end of the cont~;n~r.
The snack food cont.ainers, particularly when the
containers are of a size and shape corresponding to
that of beverage containers or cans, have a relatively
small opening at the end thereof. For example, the
container opening may be ir. the range of from about 1.5
to about 3 inches in width-or diameter (whioh is less
than the opening of a small snack food package or bag
which is typically in the range of 3 to 4 inches). As
diecussed below, filling such containers with snack
~ W096l05578 219 7 ~ ~1 r~"~ws,i:
food product that includes large or elongated pieces
can be difficult due to the tendency of the pieces to
bridge at the open end of the container. That is,
product pieces that have a small diameter (or
thickness~ to length ratio can become blocked in the
open end of the container upon being dumped from the
filling funnel. ~arious snack food products are in the
form of (or include) large or elongated pieces, for
example, pretzel sticks. Accordingly, problems arise
in filling containers with such product.
In a process for filling containers with snack
food product according to a preferred emoodiment of the
present invention, the weighed portions of product are
sequentially formed and dropped at a rate of up to 125
per minute and are maint~;n~d separate from each other.
The desired size of the portions may range from 0.5 to
4.5 ounces depending on the product density and shape.
The weight of each portion is maintained within 1 to 2
grams or less oE the desired weight. If all the
product pieces in a portion are released at the same
time and arrive at the cnnt~;r~r-filling apparatus
simultaneously, the pieces often bridge and block the
open end of the container, thereby preventing
successful and complete filling. To prevent such
bridging, the product is spread out or staggered
("trailed out"~ so as to arrive at the container
separately. Also, the funnel of the filling apparatus
used to place product in the container is vibrated to
aid in filling, and the container itself preferably is
vibrated from just before the product arrives until the
product is settled therein.
As mentioned above, snack food product which
includes pieces that are either large or have a small
thickness to length ratio, such as pretzel sticks or
wo g6/05~78 2 1 9 ~ ~ 2 ~
18
large corn chips, pose additional problems in filling
the c~ntA; n~rs . In particular, such pieces tend to
bridge or block the open end of the c~nt~inrr when they
arrive at said end in a random fashion. According to
the present invention, filli~ng of the crnt~in~rs is
greatly improved by aligning such product pieces prior
to their being dumped into the open end of the
c~nt~;n~r. In order to align the product pieces, one
(or more) of the funnel members used to cor,vey the
product is provided on its interior with at least one
trough that forms an undulating surface having a raised
portion and a lowered portion. The troughs contact the
product pieces passing t.herethrough and align the
pieces in a generally lengthwise direction, an
orientation which permits the product to enter the
container in an aligned fashion so as to prevent
product bridging. Also, any oE the funnel or conveying
members may be vibrated to enhance alignment of the
product, the frequency and amplitude of the vibration
de.pending on the particular product being handled.
with reference to FIG. 5, an apparatus for filling
r~nt~inPrS with snack food product is shown
schematically and includes a circulation conveyor or
the like 500 which conveys snack food product 510. The
conveyor is provided with a slide gate 520 which is
actuated to dump a desired quantity of product 510 into
a vibrating cross feeder 530. The cross feeder 530
conveys the product 510 to a weigher indicated
generally by the reference numeral 540 in response to a
demand for the product. The weigher may a statistical
weigher having a structure known in the art. The
weigher 54Q develops accurate portions of product and
conveys them to a receiver 550 which is in the form of
a large funnel. The receiver 550 may be formed as an
~ W096~5578 2 ~ ~ 7 '~ I r~ o~.
integral part of the weigher and is shown supported by
the frame 542 of the weigher in FIG. 5. However, the
receiver 550 could also be a separate component mounted
to or positioned adjacent the weigher 540. The product
portions pass through the receiver 550 and into a
transition chute 570. The transition chute couples the
outlet of the receiver 550 with the container-filling
apparatus indicated by reference numeral 580. The
product passes from the receiver 550, through the
transition chute 570, and into the filling funnel 582
of filling apparatus 580 which includes a support 584
for supporting and vibrating the container C during
filling thereof to settle the product and further
prevent bridging.
The receiver 550, as shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, is
formed as a funnel and has an inlet 552, an outlet 554,
an interior 556, and an exterior 558. The interior of
the receiver 550 is provided with one or more troughs
560 that include lowered pGrtions 562 and raised
portions 564. The troughs 560 may be formed as part of
the receiver 550 or, optionally, may be formed as a
separate member ~or members) which is positioned and
secured in the receiver. In either case, the interior
556 of the receiver 550 has a fluted or undulating
configuration provided by the troughs 560 (as seen in
FIG. 9A). The rroughs preferably are oriented so as to
extend lengthwise from the inlet to the outlet of the
receiver such that the product passes lengthwise
therethrough to the container filling apparatus.
The product P is dumped into the receiver 550 in a
random orientation as shown in FIG. lOA. As the
product slides down or is otherwise conveyed through
the receiver 550, and specifically through the troughs
560 of the receiver, the elongated pieces of product P
~19~? 1
W~96~s57X PCT~iS9~102
become aligned in the lowered portions 562 of the
troughs 560 as shown in FIG. ~OB. The pieces are
aligned in a generally lengthwise direction so as to
slide down the trough in an "end first~' manner. The
product thus enters the filling funnel 582 of the
apparatus 584 in an aligned manner and is discharged
into the open end o~ the container without brldging or
blocking of product. The troughs 560 preferably
include a portion 566 having a gradual slope which
receives the falling product and prevents excesaive
bouncing or undesired r v~m_.lL of the product within
the receiver to further aid in aligning the pieces.
The receiver 550 preferably is provided along its
entire interior surface with the troughs 560, although
1~ such is not necessary to carry out the invention.
Further, while only the receiver 550 is shown as
including troughs 560, the transition chute, the
filling funnel, and any other member used to convey the
product may also be provided with such troughs to
assist in aligning the product pieces prior to their
reaching the container.
In a further embodiment, the filling funnel 582 is
formed in an ~S~ shape witb an offset portion to
provide increased distance over which the product
travels and is aligned before entering the ~nn~in~r,
The filling funnel itself is in the form of a trough.
For example, the funnel may be one half of a tube and
have a semi-cylindrical shape over at least a portion
of its length. Thus, the product may be passed from
the transition chute into the vibrating filling funnel
where it is aligned for subsequent placement in the
can. In thls embodiment, the receiver lor other
conveying member~ upstream from the filling funnel may
or may not be provided with a troughls). In addition,
~ w096l0~78 2~9~21 r_,,u~ oL~
21
any or all of the other conveying members may be
vibrated to assist in conveying and aligning of the
product.
As mentioned above, a significant benefit of
packaging the snack foods in a container having
substantially the same size and shape as a soft drink
can is that conventional soft drink vending ~~~h;n~
may be used to carry out the present invention.
Therefore, while it is not necessary to utilize such
similarly sized cans for packaging or cont~-n;ng the
snack food products, a preferred embodiment of the
present invention employs the same size can for both
the beverage and snack food containers.
Another benefit of utillzing the soft drink
vending machine in carrying out the process of the
present invention is that the refrigerated environment
present in the machine will r~lnt~;n freshness of the
snack food product for a longer period of time compared
with storing such products at ambient temperatures.
The lower storage temperature retards the oxidation of
oil within the snack food, which in turn preserves the
snack food's flavor for a longer period of time.
It is apparent that the present invention provides
an improved process for dispensing both beverages and
snack food products from a vending machine, as well as
a process for packaging snack foods in cylindrical
containers suitable for being dispensed from a vending
machine. It is further apparent that the present
invention provides an apparatus and process for filling
containers with product which includes elongated pieces
or portions by aligning the product prior to placement
thereon in the container. This aspect of the invention
is particularly useful in filling cylindrical cans with
snack food product such as pretzel rods.
~19~
W0~s578
22
Although the present invention has been described
with reference to particular ~mhn~ nty, it is to be
understood that the embodiments are merely illustrative
of the application of the principles of the invention.
Numero~s configurations may be made therewith and other
aLL~ng~ ts may be devised without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
