Beverage mixing and dispensing machine

Claim 2

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine, comprising: a. means for supporting a drinking cup at a predetermined upright position; b. means for vending the cup to said predetermined upright position; c. conduit means arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of a first liquid beverage ingredient, said conduit means having a sloping outlet directed to directly discharge said ingredient both downwardly and horizontally toward a point within the supported drinking cup radially remote from the center thereof for swirling the beverage ingredient in the cup about a vertical axis; and d. further means arranged to be connected to a supply of a second beverage ingredient, and having an outlet fixedly directed downwardly into the supported drinking cup adjacent to the edge thereof for discharging directly onto the swirling first beverage ingredient in the drinking cup.

Claim 3

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine, comprising: a. means for supporting a cup at a predetermined position; b. two conduits arranged to be respectively connected to two pressurized supplies of first liquid beverage ingredients of differing types, both of said conduits having a sloping outlet directed to discharge its ingredient both downwardly and horizontally toward a point within the supported cup radially remote from the center thereof for swirling the beverage ingredient in the cup about a vertical axis; and c. further means arranged to be connected to a supply of a second beverage ingredient, and having an outlet fixedly directed downwardly into the supported cup adjacent to the edge thereof for discharging onto the swirling first beverage ingredient, whereby a plurality of beverages may be mixed and dispensed.

Claim 4

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine, comprising: a. means for supporting a cup at a predetermined position; b. two conduits arranged to be respectively connected to two pressurized supplies of first liquid beverage ingredients of differing types, both of said conduits having a sloping outlet directed to discharge its ingredient both downwardly and horizontally toward a point within the supported cup radially remote from the center thereof for swirling the beverage ingredient in the cup about a vertical axis; and c. further means arranged to be connected to a supply of a second beverage ingredient, and having an outlet fixedly directed downwardly into the supported cup adjacent to the edge thereof for discharging onto the swirling first beverage ingredient, whereby a plurality of beverages may be mixed and dispensed.

Claim 5

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, wherein said further means is arranged to be connected to a plurality of types of said second beverage ingredient, there being one said downwardly directed outlet for each of said plurality of types.

Claim 6

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 1, wherein said sloping outlet slopes at an angle between 30* and 50* downwardly from the horizontal.

Claim 7

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, wherein said sloping outlets terminate horizontally beyond the side of the predetermined position of the cup.

Claim 8

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine, comprising: a. means for supporting a cup at a predetermined position; b. conduit means arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of a first liquid beverage ingredient, said conduit means having a sloping outlet directed to discharge said ingredient both downwardly and horizontally toward a point within the supported cup radially remote from the center thereof for swirling the beverage ingredient in the cup about a vertical axis, said sloping outlet terminating horizontally beyond the side of the predetermined position of the cup; c. further means arranged to be connected to a supply of a second beverage ingredient, and having an outlet fixedly directed downwardly into the supported cup adjacent to the edge thereof for discharging onto the swirling first beverage ingredient; d. means, aligned with said supporting means, for vending the cup into said predetermined position; and e. a cup-encircling guide disposed to receive a cup dropped by said cup-vending means, and to guide said cup to said predetermined position on said supporting means, said guide extending between the cup in said predetermined position and said sloping outlet, said guide being apertured in register with said outlet to enable said discharge therethrough.

Claim 9

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine, comprising: a. means for supporting a cup at a predetermined position; b. conduit means arranged to be connected to a pressurized supply of a first liquid beverage ingredient, said conduit means having a sloping outlet directed to discharge said ingredient both downwardly and horizontally toward a point within the supported cup radially remote from the center thereof for swirling the beverage ingredient in the cup about a vertical axis, said sloping outlet terminating horizontally beyond the side of the predetermined position of the cup; c. further means arranged to be connected to a supply of a second beverage ingredient, and having an outlet fixedly directed downwardly into the supported cup adjacent to the edge thereof for discharging onto the swirling first beverage ingredient; d. means, aligned with said supporting means, for vending the cup into said predetermined position; and e. a cup-encircling guide disposed to receive a cup dropped by said cup-vending means, and to guide said cup to said predetermined position on said supporting means, said guide extending between the cup in said predetermined position and said sloping outlet, said guide being apertured in register with said outlet to enable said discharge therethrough.

Claim 10

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, including: a. control means for regulating flow through each of said outlets; and b. a timer connected to said control means for initiating flow of said second beverage ingredient while a substantial amount of one of said first beverage ingredients is swirling in the cup.

Claim 11

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 7, wherein said timer is constructed to delay flow of said second beverage ingredient until at least 85 percent of said first beverage ingredient has been dispensed.

Claim 12

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, including: a. a cabinet having an apertured normally locked main door closing a sidewall thereof; b. bracket means secured to said main door below said aperture and slidably supporting said cup-supporting means for movement in one horizontal direction away from said aperture; and c. a locking member carried by said bracket means for releasably holding said cup-supporting means on said bracket.

Claim 13

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 9, wherein: a. said cup-supporting means comprises a drip tray having a grille therein; b. said bracket means comprises a flanged shelf slidably interlocked with said drip tray, and having an upstanding portion spaced from said main door; and c. said locking member comprises a bail pivoted on said bracket means in a vertical slot, and having a portion movable to a locked position between said upstanding bracket portion and said drip tray.

Claim 14

A beverage dispensing machine, comprising: a. a cabinet having an apertured normally locked main door closing a sidewall thereof; b. a flanged shelf secured to said main door adjacent to said aperture within said cabinet, said shelf having an upstanding portion at one side thereof and spaced from said main door; c. a drip tray slidably interlocked with said flanged shelf, and having a grille for supporting a cup at a predetermined position to be filled; and d. a bail pivoted on said shelf in a vertical slot, and having a portion movable to a locked position between said upstanding portion and said drip tray to lock said drip tray between said bail and said main door to restrain said drip tray against sliding.

Claim 15

A beverage dispensing machine, comprising: a. a cabinet having an apertured normally locked main door closing a sidewall thereof; b. a flanged shelf secured to said main door adjacent to said aperture within said cabinet, said shelf having an upstanding portion at one side thereof and spaced from said main door; c. a drip tray slidably interlocked with said flanged shelf, and having a grille for supporting a cup at a predetermined position to be filled; and d. a bail pivoted on said shelf in a vertical slot, and having a portion movable to a locked position between said upstanding portion and said drip tray to lock said drip tray between said bail and said main door to restrain said drip tray against sliding.

Claim 18

A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 12, wherein the pressurized liquid stream is from a point radially outwardly of the cup and is directed at an angle between 30* and 50* downwardly from the horizontal.

Claim 19

A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 12, wherein the flow of said second beverage ingredient is initiated while a substantial amount of said first beverage ingredient is swirling in the cup.

Claim 20

A method of mixing and dispensing a beverage according to claim 14, wherein at least 85 percent of said first beverage ingredient has been dispensed before said flow of said second beverage ingredient is initiated.

Claim 21

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, which includes a cabinet having an aperture adjacent to said predetermined position, said outlet of said further means discharging into said cup at that portion thereof nearest to said cabinet aperture.

Claim 22

A beverage mixing and dispensing machine according to claim 2, including: a cup vending means and a cup-encircling guide disposed to receive a cup dropped by said cup-vending means, and to guide said cup to said predetermined position on said supporting means.