Automatic product dispenser
An automatic touchless dispenser capable of providing one or more crispy and fresh food products to customers independent of the type of food product or container.
1 . A product dispenser comprising:
at least a first compartment and a second compartment;
a first delivery channel in communication with the first compartment and a moveable outlet;
a second delivery channel in communication with the second compartment and the moveable outlet; and,
wherein the movable outlet includes two sidewalls and a base, the two sidewalls forming a barrier between the first delivery channel and second delivery channel when the movable outlet is in a closed position and the base seals each compartment when the movable outlet is in the closed position and the movable outlet is configured to dispense the food product from the first compartment, the second compartment, or both when the moveable outlet is in an open position.
2 . The dispenser of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment include a food product conveyor that moves food from the respective compartment to the movable outlet when a container is detected to be within a preselected distance from the dispenser.
3 . The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a raw ingredient compartment having at least one outlet in communication with at least one of the first or the second compartment.
4 . The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a quantity sensor configured to detect the amount of food product present in at least one of the first or the second compartment.
5 . The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a container sensor configured to sense the presence of the container and, when the presence of the container is sensed, to send a signal to move the outlet to the open position.
6 . The dispenser of claim 5 further comprising a product sensor configured to detect a pre-specified level of food product present in the container and, upon detection of the pre-specified level, terminate dispensing.
7 . The dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the pre-specified level of dispensed food product is at least about 75% of a volume of the container.
8 . The dispenser of claim 6 wherein the product dispenser detects a volume of the container and calculates an amount of food product to dispense prior to dispensing the food product.
9 . The dispenser of claim 1 further comprising a customer sensor configured to detect the presence of a potential customer.
10 . The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein, when the customer sensor detects the presence of a potential customer, a signal is generated to release at least one raw ingredient into at least one of the first or the second compartment and to initiate the mixing, cooking, baking or frying of the at least one raw ingredient to make more food product if the level of food product is not more than 10% above the maximum preselected threshold level.
11 . The dispenser of claim 9 , wherein the detection of the container sends a signal to the raw ingredient compartment to release at least one raw ingredient into at least one of the first or the second compartment.
12 . The dispenser of claim 11 , wherein the at least one of the first or the second compartment is configured to mix, cook, bake, or fry the at least one raw ingredient.
13 . The dispenser of claim 12 , wherein the quantity sensor sends a signal to initiate the mixing, cooking, baking or frying of the at least one raw ingredient when the quantity sensor detects a level of food product present in at least one of the first or the second compartment that is below a preselected threshold level of at least about 30% of a maximum.
14 . A product dispenser comprising:
at least a first compartment and a second compartment;
a first delivery channel in communication with the first compartment and a moveable outlet;
a second delivery channel in communication with the second compartment and the moveable outlet, wherein the movable outlet includes two sidewalls and a base, the two sidewalls forming a barrier between the first delivery channel and second delivery channel when the movable outlet is in a closed position and the base seals each compartment when the movable outlet is in the closed position and the movable outlet is configured to dispense the food product from the first compartment, the second compartment, or both when the moveable outlet is in an open position;
a container sensor configured to sense the presence of the container and, when the presence of the container is sensed, to send a signal to move the outlet to the open position; and
a product sensor configured to detect a pre-specified level of food product present in the container and, upon detection of the pre-specified level, terminate dispensing, wherein the pre-specified level of dispensed food product is at least about 75% of a volume of the container.
15 . The dispenser of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first compartment or the second compartment include a food product conveyor that moves food from the respective compartment to the movable outlet when a container is detected to be within a preselected distance from the dispenser.
16 . The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a customer sensor configured to detect the presence of a potential customer.
17 . The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a quantity sensor configured to detect the amount of food product present in at least one of the first or the second compartment.
18 . The dispenser of claim 14 further comprising a raw ingredient compartment having at least one outlet in communication with at least one of the first or the second compartment.
19 . The dispenser of claim 18 , wherein the detection of the container sends a signal to the raw ingredient compartment to release at least one raw ingredient into at least one of the first or the second compartment.
20 . The dispenser of claim 19 , wherein the at least one of the first or the second compartment is configured to mix, cook, bake, or fry the at least one raw ingredient.