Vending machine and transport cartridge systems and methods
A vending machine system for loading and dispensing pre-baked unpackaged food including a fixed cartridge disposed in a refrigerator of a vending machine, and a transport cartridge adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge, the transport cartridge operable for holding trays of unpackaged food and loading the trays of unpackaged food from the transport cartridge into the fixed cartridge, wherein, when the transport cartridge is removably attached to the fixed cartridge, a front opening of the transport cartridge aligns with a front opening of the fixed cartridge, and wherein the rack of the transport cartridge aligns with the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge such that trays of unpackaged food within the transport cartridge can simultaneously be transitioned from the rack to the conveyor system.
1. A vending machine system adapted to dispense unpackaged food, comprising:
a cabinet having access to a cabinet interior;
a refrigerator disposed within the cabinet interior;
an oven disposed within the cabinet interior;
a delivery chute for delivering heated food;
a payment system for processing customer payment;
an interface for operating the vending machine system;
a fixed cartridge disposed in the refrigerator, the fixed cartridge comprising a conveyor system for conveying trays of food within the fixed cartridge; and
a single tray loading device for loading individual trays of food into the fixed cartridge one tray at a time, the single tray loading device configured for temporary attachment to the fixed cartridge to align an individual tray of food with the conveyor system to transfer the individual tray of food from the single tray loading device into the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge, wherein:
the fixed cartridge comprises:
a housing having a front opening;
a door; and
a drive mechanism operable for driving the conveyor system and
the single tray loading device comprises sidewalls that define an internal cavity having:
a first opening on a front side of the a device for loading a tray and/or a temporary container having the tray therein,
an internal flap positioned within the single tray loading device that is configured to selectively open and close when advancing the tray and/or temporary container having the tray therein through the single tray loading device, and
a second opening configured to directly pass the tray from the single tray loading device into the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge and, if present, concurrently retaining the temporary container therein such that the temporary container may be subsequently removed from the single tray loading device to allow for another tray to be loaded within the conveyor.
2. A method for stocking the vending machine system of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
providing the vending machine;
providing the single tray loading device adapted to removably attach to the fixed cartridge;
providing trays of food from a location that is remote of the vending machine, each tray is housed in a temporary container;
providing a temporary container/tray guide configured for maneuvering a cartridge and/or tray within the single tray loading device;
delivering the trays that are each housed in the temporary container to the vending machine;
attaching the single tray loading device to the fixed cartridge such that a front and back opening of the single tray loading device align with a single slot in the conveyor system of the fixed cartridge;
loading a first temporary container containing a first tray with food therein into the front opening of the single tray loading device;
dislodging the first tray from the first temporary container and passing the first tray through the second opening of the single tray loading device into the corresponding slot in the conveyor system while retaining the first temporary container in the single tray loading device;
conveying the first tray downward in the fixed cartridge such that a vacant slot in the conveyor system aligns with the single tray loading device;
removing the first temporary container from the single tray loading device and
proceeding with loading, dislodging, and conveying additional trays until a predetermined number of trays have been loaded into the fixed cartridge and/or until the fixed cartridge is fully loaded;
detaching the single tray loading device from the fixed cartridge;
closing the fixed cartridge; and
configuring the vending machine for subsequent use.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising contacting the first temporary container containing the first tray with an internal flap positioned within the single tray loading device, the internal flap configured to dislodge the first tray from the first temporary container and retain the temporary container within the single tray loading device while selectively opening and closing to advance the tray into the corresponding slot in the conveyor system.