Method and apparatus for automatically packaging and dispensing food products

Abstract

A food product gathering and dispensing system is disclosed. The food product is generally a flat disc shaped article dispensed onto a consumable strip of food product conveyer material. The food product is fed to single, or series related, spools that wind up the consumable conveyer material and food product into a removable roll. The roll is placed into a dispenser pack, optionally subject to further environmental treatment, and refrigeration. The pack is then installed within a refrigerated dispenser system where the food product and consumable material are collectively unwound and separated, as the food product is fed into a processing system, i.e., a cooking device. The consumable conveyer material is collected and separately discarded.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A food product gathering system, comprising:
 a frame having a dispenser of a consumable conveyer mounted thereon, said consumable conveyer being fed along an upward facing surface of a conveyer bed mounted on said frame, and conveying thereon separately supplied individualized food product units toward at least one spool element configured to wind said consumable conveyer with said food product units onto said spool thereby containing food product units between successive layered windings of said consumable conveyer on said spool, cutting means for separating said consumable conveyer into a separate element and re-attaching said remaining consumable conveyer onto a replacement empty spool.   
     
     
         2 . The food product gathering system as in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 folding means for folding longitudinal edges of said consumable conveyer one towards the other to encapsulate said food product units.   
     
     
         3 . The food product gathering system as in  claim 2 , furthering comprising:
 a pivoting element having at least two mandrels mounted at each respective end of said pivoting element, each mandrel adapted to accept a spool thereon and be pivoted into position one at a time to accept consumable conveyer material for winding thereon.   
     
     
         4 . The food gathering system as in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 dispenser packs for containing spools loaded with food product units, and a robot means for loading empty spools and removing loaded spools from said pivoting element and transferring said loaded spools into an empty one of said dispenser pack containers for said spools.   
     
     
         5 . The food gathering system as in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the consumable belt comprises one of plastic film and coated paper.   
     
     
         6 . The food gathering system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the consumable belt is polyethylene film.   
     
     
         7 . A method of food product gathering, comprising the steps of:
 feeding individualized food product units along a consumable conveyer material toward a spool having said consumable conveyer material attached thereto;   folding respective longitudinal edges of said consumable conveyer one toward the other to separately encapsulate successive units of said food product units;   winding said consumable conveyer material and food product unit onto said spool; and,   cutting and sealing said consumable conveyer material when said spool is loaded to a predetermined threshold.   
     
     
         8 . A method as in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 removing a loaded one of said spools, and,   placing said loaded spool into an empty dispenser pack.   
     
     
         9 . A spool of food product and consumable conveyer material, comprising:
 a spool having wound thereon a folded consumable conveyer belt material that encapsulates individualized food product units therein via folded portions of said conveyer materials that fold, with respective outer edges of said consumable conveyer folded one toward the other, and form a tube completely containing said food product such that successive wound layers of conveyer material on said spool are placed adjacent successive layers of conveyer material only.   
     
     
         10 . The spool as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 said food product are individualized fresh patties of food product.   
     
     
         11 . The spool as in  claim 9 , wherein:
 the consumable conveyor material comprises one of food grade plastic film and coated paper.   
     
     
         12 . The spool as in  claim 11 , wherein:
 the consumable conveyor material is polyethylene film.   
     
     
         13 . A food product dispensing system, comprising:
 a refrigerated compartment, and a refrigeration unit for refrigerating said compartment, said compartment including a mount for receiving and unloading a container having a spool therein with food product and consumable conveyer wrapped there around in an encapsulated form, said system further comprising a food and consumable conveyer separating means for separating said food product unit from said consumable conveyer, including a take-up reel for winding up used consumable conveyer, and delivery means for providing food product individually to a separate device for further processing.   
     
     
         14 . The food product dispensing system as in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a collection container positioned beneath said take-up reel for accumulating drippings from said food product unit created by said separating means.   
     
     
         15 . The food product dispensing system as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the consumable conveyor material comprises one of food grade plastic film and coated paper.   
     
     
         16 . The food product dispensing system as in  claim 13 , wherein:
 the consumable conveyor material is polyethylene film.