US3884386A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for automatically supplying drinks and foodstuff
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-27
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Granted: 1975-05-20
•
Expires: 1993-07-27
Abstract
Abstract Device for automatically supplying or dispensing drinks and food stuffs includes a cabinet having a cooling zone, a zone for containing drinks and foodstuffs, a zone for registering consumptions and a zone for generating cooling energy. The cabinet is conveniently provided with a mechanical closure as well as an electrical closure.
Inventors
- 👤 Francisco Arin Urcola
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:53
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/30; G06Q20/34; G06Q20/342; G07; G07F; G07F17/00; G07F17/0064; G07F17/0071; G07F5/00; G07F5/18; G07F7/00; G07F7/02; G07F7/025; G07F9/00; G07F9/002; G07F9/10; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S194/00; Y10S194/906
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
265 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality of different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows, each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein, said mechanical blocking means comprising a plurality of members mounted to slide horizontally along each of said horizontal rows of receptacle means, the number of said members in each of said rows being equal to the number of receptacle means in said each row, less one; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
265 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality of different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows, each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein, said mechanical blocking means comprising a plurality of members mounted to slide horizontally along each of said horizontal rows of receptacle means, the number of said members in each of said rows being equal to the number of receptacle means in said each row, less one; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cabinet further has therein a cooling zone, at least a portion of said receptacle means of said foodstuffs storage zone being within said cooling zone; and a cooling unit storage zone containing therein a Peltier effect cooler means for cooling said cooling zone, said cooler means comprising a transformer having a primary and a secondary, a rectifier connected to said secondary, a temperature selector and detector connected to said primary, and a semiconductor element connected to said rectifier said said temperature selector and detector.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein at least one of said horizontal rows of receptacle means is positioned without said cooling zone.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
326 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality or different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows, each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy, said electric blocking means comprising a pluraLity of longitudinal strips, one each extending within said cabinet parallel with one of said horizontal rows and positioned within each of the receptacle means thereof, and electromagnet means connected to said electric energy zone and to each of said strips for selectively moving each of said strips from a first raised open position wherein removal of a foodstuffs unit from a receptacle means of the respective row is not blocked by the respective strip, to a second lowered blocking position wherein removal of a foodstuffs unit from a receptacle means of the respective row is blocked by the respective strip; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
326 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality or different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows, each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy, said electric blocking means comprising a pluraLity of longitudinal strips, one each extending within said cabinet parallel with one of said horizontal rows and positioned within each of the receptacle means thereof, and electromagnet means connected to said electric energy zone and to each of said strips for selectively moving each of said strips from a first raised open position wherein removal of a foodstuffs unit from a receptacle means of the respective row is not blocked by the respective strip, to a second lowered blocking position wherein removal of a foodstuffs unit from a receptacle means of the respective row is blocked by the respective strip; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said cabinet further has therein a cooling zone, at least a portion of said receptacle means of said foodstuffs storage zone being within said cooling zone; and a cooling unit storage zone containing therein a Peltier effect cooler means for cooling said cooling zone, said cooler means comprising a transformer having a primary and a secondary, a rectifier connected to said secondary, a temperature selector and detector connected to said primary, and a semiconductor element connected to said rectifier and siad temperature selector and detector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein at least one of said horizontal rows of receptacle means is positioned without said cooling zone.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
301 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality of different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof, said detection means comprising a tiltable element positioned in each of said receptacle means, each of said tiltable elements being in contact with the respective foodstuffs unit to be tilted forward thereby upon the removal thereof, said each tiltable element being positioned, upon tilting, to contact said mechanical and electric blocking means when said blocking means are arranged in blocking position; and signal generating means operable by said tiltable elements for generating said signal representative of the removal of said foodstuffs unit; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
301 words
A device for storing and dispensing a plurality of different foodstuffs, such as bottled drinks and the like, said device comprising: a cabinet; said cabinet having therein a foodstuffs storage zone, said foodstuffs storage zone being divided into a plurality of separate receptacle means parallelly arranged in horizontal rows each for storing therein an individual foodstuffs unit; said cabinet having therein an electric energy zone adapted to be connected to a source of electric energy; selectively operable and adjustable mechanical blocking means movably mounted at the front of each of said receptacle means for selectively blocking the removal from each of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein; selectively controllable electric blocking means separate from said mechanical blocking means and connected to said electric energy zone for selectively blocking the removal from any of said receptacle means of the foodstuffs unit stored therein and for blocking such removal upon the failure of said source of electric energy; detection means associated with each of said receptacle means for detecting the removal therefrom of the respective foodstuffs unit and generating a signal representative thereof, said detection means comprising a tiltable element positioned in each of said receptacle means, each of said tiltable elements being in contact with the respective foodstuffs unit to be tilted forward thereby upon the removal thereof, said each tiltable element being positioned, upon tilting, to contact said mechanical and electric blocking means when said blocking means are arranged in blocking position; and signal generating means operable by said tiltable elements for generating said signal representative of the removal of said foodstuffs unit; and said cabinet having therein a registering zone operatively connected to said electric energy zone and to said detection means for receiving therefrom said signal representative of the removal of any of said foodstuffs units.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said cabinet further has therein a cooling zone, at least a portion of said receptacle means of said foodstuffs storage zone being within said cooling zone; and a cooLing unit storage zone containing therein a Peltier effect cooler means for cooling said cooling zone, said cooler means comprising a transformer having a primary and a secondary, a rectifier connected to said secondary, a temperature selector and detector connected to said primary, and a semiconductor element connected to said rectifier and said temperature selector and detector.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein at least one of said horizontal rows of receptacle means is positioned without said cooling zone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
121 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said registering zone comprises a plurality of pickup devices, equal in number to the number of said signal generating means, for receiving said signals therefrom; a computer means for receiving said signals through said pickup devices; said computer having therein selector means for determining, for each signal, a specific weight value representative of the price of the respective foodstuffs unit and for generating an impulse representative thereof; a memory means for receiving the impulses from said selector means of said computer and for storing said impulses for a selected time; and register means for selectively registering all stored impulses from said memory means for a given device for a selected period of time.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said selector means is adjustable regarding the specific weight allocated to each of the signals received thereby.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-05-19 | 1978-11-18 | 1979-05-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-19 | 1982-11-18 | 1983-05-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-19 | 1986-11-18 | 1987-05-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |