| US 7,497,352 B2 | ||
| Method and apparatus for product agitation in a vending machine | ||
| William Segiet, Bethel, Conn. (US); and Michel Saba, Carmel, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Assigned to PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Filed on Jan. 20, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/335,961. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0170195 A1, Jul. 26, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. A47J 37/12 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 221—150A [221/220] | 16 Claims |
| 1. A method of dispensing a food in a vending machine, comprising:
receiving a selection in a vending machine;
providing a container of food with the vending machine in response to the selection, the food being of the type that has multiple
components and at least one component of the food separates from another food component during storage;
agitating the container in the vending machine during transport of the container from a storage location in the vending machine
to an induction heating device, the agitating including tumbling of the container in a first pathway with a path that zigzags;
thereafter induction heating the container in the vending machine so as to substantially uniformly heat and disperse the food
contained in the container; and
agitating the container in the vending machine during transport of the container from the induction heating device to an outlet,
the agitating including tumbling of the container in a second pathway with a path that zigzags, wherein said agitating before
and after the heating uniformly mixes the food in the container.
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