Multi-Item Food Vending Machinery & Methods
Food vending machinery and methods involving the dispensing of multiple items, most especially restaurant-quality meals which, to optimize quality and value to the consumer, comprise both hot and cold (or warm) components.
1 : A method for dispensing a meal from a self-service vending machine, the method comprising:
(a) receiving, via a user interface, a consumer selection of a first meal component;
(b) receiving, via a user interface, a consumer selection of a second meal component or automatically determining a selection associated with the first meal component;
(c) receiving a single payment for a meal comprising the first meal component and the second meal component; and
(d) in response to receiving the single payment, controlling the vending machine to dispense the first meal component and dispense the second meal component.
2 : The process of claim 1 wherein each of the two meal components is dispensed in a different temperature range than the other.
3 : The process of claim 1 wherein the consumer selects a first component among multiple options and in response the machine controller automatically selects a pre-determined second component without additional action by the consumer.
4 : The process of claim 1 wherein the consumer selects a first component among multiple options and in response the machine controller automatically presents multiple pre-determined options for the second component and requires that the consumer select the second component.
5 : The process of claim 1 wherein the consumer selects a first component among multiple options and in response the machine controller automatically presents multiple pre-determined options for the second component, a recommendation for the second component, and requires that the consumer select the second component.
6 : The process of claim 1 wherein the two components are dispensed in a single container.
7 : The process of claim 1 wherein each of the two components is dispensed in its own container.
8 : The process of claim 1 wherein one of the two components comprises at least one topping for the other component.
9 : The process of claim 1 wherein at least one container is provided to hold the two components, components can be heated within the at least one container through exposure to RF energy, RF energy emitted from a small radiating aperture is applied to the at least one container, and one component is at least partially isolated from the RF energy through attenuation by an RF shield.
10 : The process of claim 9 wherein the shield is selected from the group consisting of a water-based gel, a microwave susceptor, a water-based gel and insulator, and a microwave susceptor and insulator.
11 : The process of claim 9 wherein the shield is separated from the at least partially isolated component by a thermal insulator.
12 : The process of claim 7 wherein the containers are dispensed into a single delivery compartment or onto at least one shelf.
13 : The process of claim 12 further comprising providing a delivery compartment or shelf and wherein the vending machine dispenses the first container into the delivery compartment and thereafter dispenses the second container into the delivery compartment such that the second container is stacked on top of the first container.
14 : The process of claim 7 wherein both containers are made accessible to the consumer at the same time.
15 : The process of claim 7 wherein a first container is dispensed after which a second container is dispensed.
16 : The process of claim 15 comprising:
(a) detecting an obstruction condition due to the first container that prevents dispensing of the second container;
(b) withholding dispensing of the second container while the obstruction condition persists; and
(c) dispensing the second container after the obstruction condition is cleared.
17 : The process of claim 15 wherein the machine controller notifies the consumer to remove the first container at a first time and notifies the consumer to remove the second container at a second time.
18 : The process of claim 1 wherein at least one first component is available and selectable by the consumer and wherein the second component is not made selectable unless and until the first component is selected.
19 : The process of claim 1 wherein a given first component is rendered unavailable for ordering by the machine controller because no suitable associated second component is currently available.
20 : A user interface for a vending machine that dispenses a first and a second meal component in response to a single transaction, the user interface comprising:
(a) a display device;
(b) a machine controller;
(c) graphical elements indicating available first meal components;
(d) graphical elements indicating available second meal components;
(e) means for user selection of the first meal component; and
(f) means for user selection of the second meal component.
21 : A process for automatically dispensing a first and second item from a self-service vending machine equipped with a machine controller wherein the selection of the first item restricts the selection of the second item.
22 : The process of claim 21 wherein the selection of the second item is restricted by the machine controller to a single available item.
23 : The process of claim 21 wherein the selection of the second item is restricted by the machine controller to a subset of available items.