US3817422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hard ice cream dispensing machine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1972-06-02
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1992-06-02
Abstract
Abstract A dispensing machine for scoops of hard ice cream which are prepackaged on a carrier strip and stored in a refrigerated cabinet of the machine. When started by a manually operated control switch, the machine holds the strip against a stationary base plate, ejects an ice cream scoop from the strip causing it to fall down a delivery chute into a cone supported below the chute, and then advances the carrier strip to a predetermined position to complete one operating cycle of the machine.
Inventors
- 👤 E Raitt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 09:20
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0064; G07F17/0071; A; A23; A23G; A23G9/00; A23G9/04; A23G9/22; A23G9/28; F; F25; F25C; F25C5/00; G07F11/00; G07F11/68
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A machine for dispensing ice cream scoops releasably secured to a flexible carrier strip and comprising a refrigerated cabinet, a delivery chute mounted in the cabinet and having an inlet end and an outlet end, a guide channel including a base plate for directing the carrier strip passed the inlet end, electric motor driven feed rolls for pulling the carrier strip along the guide channels, a solenoid having a plunger adjacent the inlet end, a head on the plunger, a clamp slidably mounted on the plunger to project beyond the head, spring means biasing the clamp towards the head, electric circuit means for the electric motor including a starter switch and a limit switch, said limit switch being operated automatically when a scoop to be dispensed is in register with the inlet end whereby to halt the electric motor and actuate the solenoid thereby ejecting said scoop from the carrier strip into the delivery chute.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A machine for dispensing ice cream scoops releasably secured to a flexible carrier strip and comprising a refrigerated cabinet, a delivery chute mounted in the cabinet and having an inlet end and an outlet end, a guide channel including a base plate for directing the carrier strip passed the inlet end, electric motor driven feed rolls for pulling the carrier strip along the guide channels, a solenoid having a plunger adjacent the inlet end, a head on the plunger, a clamp slidably mounted on the plunger to project beyond the head, spring means biasing the clamp towards the head, electric circuit means for the electric motor including a starter switch and a limit switch, said limit switch being operated automatically when a scoop to be dispensed is in register with the inlet end whereby to halt the electric motor and actuate the solenoid thereby ejecting said scoop from the carrier strip into the delivery chute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A macHine as claimed in claim 1, in which said electric circuit means includes a reset switch operated during the return stroke of the solenoid plunger to prepare said circuit for the next dispensing cycle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A machine as claimed in claim 1, in which said electric circuit means includes an indicator switch and a warning light controlled thereby, said indicator switch being closed to energize the warning light by the last scoop on the carrier strip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A machine for dispensing products releasably secured to a flexible carrier strip and comprising a delivery chute having an inlet end, guide means for directing the carrier strip passed the inlet end, pulling means for drawing the carrier strip along the guide means, a dispensing mechanism adjacent the inlet end; said dispensing mechanism including a plunger, a product-ejecting head on the plunger, a carrier strip-engaging clamp slidably mounted on the plunger, and spring means biasing the clamp towards the head; and control means for the pulling means and the dispensing mechanism, said control means including a starter device for actuating the pulling means, and an automatically operated limit device adapted firstly to halt the pulling means when a product to be dispensed is in register with the inlet end and secondly to actuate the dispensing mechanism whereby said product is ejected by the plunger head from the carrier strip into the delivery chute as said carrier strip is held against the guide means by the clamp.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
166 words
A machine for dispensing products releasably secured to a flexible carrier strip and comprising a delivery chute having an inlet end, guide means for directing the carrier strip passed the inlet end, pulling means for drawing the carrier strip along the guide means, a dispensing mechanism adjacent the inlet end; said dispensing mechanism including a plunger, a product-ejecting head on the plunger, a carrier strip-engaging clamp slidably mounted on the plunger, and spring means biasing the clamp towards the head; and control means for the pulling means and the dispensing mechanism, said control means including a starter device for actuating the pulling means, and an automatically operated limit device adapted firstly to halt the pulling means when a product to be dispensed is in register with the inlet end and secondly to actuate the dispensing mechanism whereby said product is ejected by the plunger head from the carrier strip into the delivery chute as said carrier strip is held against the guide means by the clamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |