Automatic machine for producing and dispensing semi-liquid foodstuffs

Abstract

An automatic machine for producing and dispensing semi-liquid foodstuffs, in particular ice creams, has a tank for containing a basic product to be processed to obtain the ice creams, a basic product feed and processing circuit, in communication with the tank to draw out the basic product, one or more dispenser taps positioned at an outfeed end of the feed and processing circuit, actuators for operating the dispenser taps, a check and control unit for the actuators and at least one sensor for detecting the quantity of ice cream dispensed, associated with the control unit and designed to detect at least part of the profile of the ice cream dispensed.

1 . An automatic machine for producing and dispensing semi-liquid foodstuffs, comprising a tank for containing a product to be processed to obtain the products, a feed and processing circuit for said product to be processed, dispensing means positioned at an outfeed end of the feed and processing circuit, first actuator means for operating the dispensing means, check and control means for the first actuator means and sensor means for detecting the quantity of product dispensed, associated with the check and control means; wherein the sensor means comprise at least one device designed to detect at least part of the profile of the product dispensed. 
   
   
       2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor means are of the electro-optical type. 
   
   
       3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor means comprise at least one photocell. 
   
   
       4 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the sensor means comprise at least one CCD type image detector. 
   
   
       5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor means are of the ultrasonic type. 
   
   
       6 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor means are of the thermal type. 
   
   
       7 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the device designed to detect at least part of the profile of the product dispensed operates according to a line of action skew relative to the central axis according to which the height of the product dispensed extends. 
   
   
       8 . The machine according to  claim 7 , comprising means for supporting the product dispensed and second actuator means controlled by the check and control means for placing and holding the supporting means in a predetermined position relative to the sensor means during product dispensing. 
   
   
       9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the means for supporting the product dispensed can move between an upper station for product dispensing and a lower station from which the product is picked up by the consumer. 
   
   
       10 . The machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the sensor means comprise at least two devices designed to detect at least part of the profile of the product dispensed; each of the devices being designed to detect at least part of the profile of a product dispensed according to a respective size or to detect a respective part of the profile of a product dispensed. 
   
   
       11 . The machine according to  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the sensors is for detecting the presence of a product container, said sensor sending a signal to the check and control means if the container is missing and/or incorrectly positioned, so as to interrupt product dispensing. 
   
   
       12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising means for supporting the product dispensed and second actuator means controlled by the check and control means for placing and holding the supporting means in a predetermined position relative to the sensor means during product dispensing. 
   
   
       13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor means comprise at least two devices designed to detect at least part of the profile of the product dispensed; each of the devices being designed to detect at least part of the profile of a product dispensed according to a respective size or to detect a respective part of the profile of a product dispensed. 
   
   
       14 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the sensors is for detecting the presence of a product container, said sensor sending a signal to the check and control means if the container is missing and/or incorrectly positioned, so as to interrupt product dispensing.