CPC G07F 11/72 (2013.01) [A47J 39/006 (2013.01); A47J 47/01 (2013.01); G07F 11/04 (2013.01); G07F 11/16 (2013.01); G07F 11/165 (2013.01); G07F 11/62 (2013.01); G07F 17/0078 (2013.01)] | 5 Claims |
1. A vending machine system for dispensing unpackaged food, comprising:
a cabinet;
a refrigerator disposed in the cabinet;
an oven disposed in cabinet;
a delivery chute;
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, 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 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 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 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.
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