Device for rotating the cup-holder turret of an automatic dispenser

Abstract

Abstract The turret is rotatable about a vertical axis and contains a plurality of angularly spaced stacks of cups. The device includes a planetary gearing having a pair of first bevel gears secured to respective substantially vertical coaxial shafts, one driven by a geared motor and the other mounting the turret. The planetary gearing further includes a pair of second bevel gears meshing with the first bevel gears and secured to a substantially horizontal shaft having ends projecting beyond the second bevel gears. An oscillatable eccentric has a projection oscillatable therewith and movable into the path of movement of the projecting ends of the substantially horizontal shaft. This eccentric, responsive to the presence of a stack of cups at a dispensing sump, is restrained to a position in which its projection is out of the path of movement and, when no cups are present at the sump, is released to move its projection into the path of movement of the projecting ends of the substantially horizontal shaft to prevent rotation thereof about the axis of the substantially vertical shafts. Normally, with the projection in its retracted position, the first bevel gear driven by the motor effects idling rotation of the second bevel gears and the horizontal shaft about the axis of the vertical shafts, so that the turret is not rotated. When the projection prevents movement of the horizontal shaft, the first bevel gear secured to the turret shaft is rotated to rotate the turret to position a fresh stack of cups in registry with the dispensing sump. A detent limits angular movement of the turret to a distance equal to the angular spacing between adjacent stacks of cups and, when no more cups are in the turret, a sensing switch opens the operating circuit for the motor and for the beverage dispenser.

Inventors

• 👤 C Paolucci

Bibliographic Details