Abstract: A food vending machine contains a motor-driven inventory carousel which rotates to position food items at a desired index position. A control unit, for example a computer, reduces the power delivered to the inventory carousel as the desired index position is approached. The mechanical drive for the inventory carousel includes a modified geneva mechanism, which also serves to reduce the acceleration forces on the inventory carousel as it rotates from position to position.

Abstract: An air dispensing apparatus for providing an oscillating mass of hot air to facilitate crisping and browning of a trayed foodstuff includes an oscillating shoe extending from an air introduction chamber having a blower and a volute duct exit and an insulating shaft rotatively connecting an inner end of the shoe to the volute duct exit. The shaft includes a square cross-section portion which transfers torque from a crank-driven oscillator link directly to a matching square cross-section bore or aperture in a side wall of the shoe inner end. A hitch pin at the opposite shaft end prevents axial shaft movement. The insulating shaft eliminates arcing between the volute and the shoe. The invention also includes an improved separator screen for grounding a perforated plate to the air introduction chamber and an overall housing to prevent arcing therebetween.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a refrigeration compartment, an oven compartment, structure for transferring a food product from the refrigeration compartment to the oven compartment, and structure for transferring the food product from the oven compartment to a user of the vending machine. The vending machine provides automated handling and cooking of packaged food products that enables a hot cooked food to be delivered to a customer in a cool package sleeve. The vending machine also includes a system for inventory control that enables vertical storage of packaged food products while minimizing crushing of packaged food products at the bottom of a stack. A magazine empty indicator automatically indicates when an inventory magazine is empty. An oven door latch mechanism eliminates the possibility that the oven can be operated while the oven door is open.

Abstract: A control method for optimizing print quality in an electrophotographic printer uses a fuzzy-logic technique with solid-area, halftone, and light toner density as control inputs, and scorotron voltage, ROS laser power, and cleaning voltage as outputs. The fuzzy-logic program involves two two-input error subset matrices, one for simultaneous readings of solid-area and halftone densities, and one for successive light toner density readings.

Abstract: Charges on a photoreceptor dissipate quickly before a latent image enters the development stage of the machine where the image is developed. The photoreceptor's charge potential before entering the developer is called the dark development potential. In order to control the photoreceptor's dark development potential, an adaptive cycle is used to predict the cycle-down effects on the photoreceptor. Charge potential measurements are obtained during the normal print runs and the actual values are used to control the subsequent charging steps. Therefore, the process adapts to the next charging cycle based on the results of the present charging cycle. The method and apparatus adaptively predict the behavior and thereby account for the cycle-down effects when charging the photoreceptor.