EP0036734A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Improvements in and relating to vending machines
Assignee: VGL Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1981-03-16
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2001-03-16
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to dispensing apparatus comprising receptacle supply means (13), a receptacle dispensing station (25), receptacle transport means including an arm (18) capable of at least limited rotational movement about an axis (14) and arranged to convey a receptacle over a predetermined path between said supply means (13) and said dispensing station (25) one or more ingredient dispense stations (12) disposed along said path, control means (20 to 23 and 31) for indicating the position of said arm, and for controlling movement thereof, and motor means (24) for driving said arm in response to said control means, whereby a receptacle is transported along said path to said dispense station and is stopped at such ingredient dispense stations therealong as may be determined by said control means to receive a charge of ingredient.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold George Beevor
- 👤 Michael George Johnson
- 👤 Terence Charles Piper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:33
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F13/00; G07F13/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
Dispensing apparatus comprising receptacle supply means, a receptacle dispensing station, receptacle transport means including an arm capable of at least limited rotational movement about an axis and arranged to convey a receptacle over a predetermined path between said supply means and said dispensing station, one or more ingredient dispense stations disposed along said path, control means for indicating the position of said arm, and for controlling movement thereof, and motor means for driving said arm in response to said control means, whereby a receptacle is transported along said path to said dispense station and is stopped at such ingredient dispense stations therealong as may be determined by said control means to receive a charge of ingredient.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
116 words
Dispensing apparatus comprising receptacle supply means, a receptacle dispensing station, receptacle transport means including an arm capable of at least limited rotational movement about an axis and arranged to convey a receptacle over a predetermined path between said supply means and said dispensing station, one or more ingredient dispense stations disposed along said path, control means for indicating the position of said arm, and for controlling movement thereof, and motor means for driving said arm in response to said control means, whereby a receptacle is transported along said path to said dispense station and is stopped at such ingredient dispense stations therealong as may be determined by said control means to receive a charge of ingredient.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm includes a radially slidable portion adapted to carry a receptacle, and wherein said path is defined by a profile or track, so that said receptacle follows said profile or track and relative sliding movement occurs between said axis and said portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said arm is substantially fixed and the said path is arcuate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means includes a manually operable control panel for selecting from a plurality of choices and wherein the control means operates on said transport means and said selected ingredient dispense stations to present a receptacle sequentially at said selected stations to receive a charge of ingredients therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means includes a coin mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receptacle is a cup and wherein the receptacle supply means comprises a cup dropper and a magazine therefor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim including means for the supply of water to said receptacle at or adjacent said receptacle dispensing station.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the control means comprises a microprocessor adapted to receive input from a control panel and for a coin mechanism for control of said motor means for driving said arm and for controlling in sequence the supply of a receptacle to said transport means, the movement of said receptacle along said path and its presentation at ingredient dispense stations selected at said control panel, the dispensing of a quantity of ingredient thereat, and the transport of said receptacle to said receptacle dispense station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the microprocessor is associated with a statistical display relating to an analysis of the operation of the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the receptacle transport means includes indication means for determining the position of said receptacle along said path.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3554364A
Cited
FR2200567A1
Cited
GB2013622A
Cited
GB2014334A
Cited
US4241847A
Cited
GB2028539A
Cited
GB2042482A
Cited
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