DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING CUPS IN FILLING POSITION

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for suspending cups in filling position and comprising an essentially U-shaped holder (1) positioned in a horizontal plane and including recesses (2, 3) adapted for holding cups of the predetermined size. It is provided with two in a horizontal plane turnable arms (6, 7) to enable the use of the device also for smaller cups, which arms have recesses (10, 11) adapted for suspending cups of less size, which recesses are positioned inside the recesses (2, 3) of the holder but turnable outwards against the action of each a spring force.

Description: DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING CUPS IN FILLING POSITION. The present invention relates to a device of the kind set forth in the preamble of the appending claim 1. In cafeterias, hamburger and hot-dog stands and the like a frequent filling of cups takes place, especially disposable cups, containing drinks, like carbonated drinks or coffee. In order to avoid spending the personnel's time unnecessarily by holding the cups and/or watching the cups during the filling operation, an apparatus is usually utilized for automatic filling of the cups in which the cups are holded in a special device for holding cups of a specific size. If cups of larger size are used alternately, these cups may be holded by the device due to the fact that the cups as a rule are slightly narrowing and consequently can be partly lowered into the holder. If alternately smaller cups than the predetermined size are used so will such cups fall down through the holder. Such cups thus have to be kept by hand during the filling, which in practice is very time consuming. Introduction of adjustable holders has proved space consuming in the usually very limited space that is available. Another drawback is that mistakes often occurs so that too small cups erroneously are placed in a holder adapted for larger cups and thus fall through the holder and cause trouble and loss of time. The object of the invention is to achieve an uncomplicated and efficient solution of this problem, and especially a device which for hygienic reasons is easy to dismount for cleaning. This is made possible according to the invention in that the device is characterized as set forth in claim 1. The device is fixedly mounted but adapted to the predetermined size of the cups as well as a smaller size without any additional manipulation made by the personnel. It is because the holder has one size adapted to the smaller size of cups, but due to the fact that the resilient arms automatically are brought apart when a cup of the larger predetermined size is moved down in the holder the larger cup will be suspended on the recesses of the fixed holder with the radius of curvature adapted to the size of the large cup. With a design according to claim 2 or 3 a reliable spring force of the swinging arms is achieved in a simple way. The invention is explained more in detail in the following with reference to the attached drawing which schematically discloses two 2 embodiments of the device according to the invention, and wherein Figure 1 is a plan view seen from above of one of the embodiments, and Figure 2 is a top view seen obliquely from one side of a modification of the device shown in Fig.1. Fig.1 discloses the device made of stainless sheetings and consisting of only three parts, namely a U-shaped holder 1, horizontal in service position and designed with two mainly arc-shaped recesses 2,3 adapted to suspend a cup, not shown, of a predetermined size by the holder, which has folded down edge walls 4,5 and along the edges of the holder 1 two arms 6,7 each with a horizontal part 8,9 with a mainly arc-shaped recess 10,11 with a radius of curvature adapted to a cup of smaller size than the predetermined size and with each a vertically downwards directed part 12,13. The rear parts of the arms 6,7 are provided along the folding lines with each a slit 14,15 and are attached to the holder 1 by each a screw 16,17. The parts 12,13 folded down are acting like a fixture of the arms 6,7, which are turnable outwards a bit around the screws 16,17 against the action of the rear parts of the downwards folded parts 12,13, which parts due to the slits 14,15 are resilient when the arms 6,7 are turned outwards. When dropping a cup of smaller size than the predetermined size between the recesses 2,10 and 3,11, respectively, the cup will be captured in hanging position bearing at the recesses 10,11 and with the normally present bulge or widening of the upper part of the cup resting on the top sides of the arms 6,7. When dropping a larger cup of the predetermined size this cup will press out the arms 6,7 and get in contact with the recesses 2,3 with the upper, widened edge of the cup resting on the upper sides of the arms 6,7. Because normally occurring cups, especially of disposable type, are conical, also cups of even larger size may be positioned in the holder due to the fact that such a cup will stick between the recesses 2,3 in partly downwards inserted position. Fig.2 discloses the same device as the one shown in Fig.1 but with the arms 6,7 attached by a screw 18 in the downwards folded part 12,13 of each arm. Also in this case a satisfying spring action is obtained from the downwards folded parts 12,13 positioned outside the slits 14,15. The invention is of course not restricted to the embodiments here shown and described by way of example but can be modified in a plurality of ways within the scope of the invention defined by the claims. Hence,

Claims: 3 the arms 6,7 can for example as an alternative be joumalled swinging on the under side instead of the upper side of the holder 1. Further, the device may be manufactured from other material than the mentioned stainless steel, for instance frαn plastics. 4 C L A I M S 1. A device for holding a cup or similar jug, preferably a disposable cup, in filling position in an apparatus for filling up the cup with a drink, which apparatus is provided with an essentially U-shaped holder (1) positioned in a horizontal plane and including two fixed arms with mainly arc-shaped recesses (2,3) in the inwards facing edges, characterized in that the recesses of the two fixed arms each have a radius of curvature adapted for suspending a cup of predetermined size with the upper part of the cup bearing on the recesses, and that two horizontal, turnable arms (6,7) with mainly arc-shaped recesses (10,11) with less radius of curvature than the radius of curvature of the recesses (2,3) of the fixed arms are kept swung inwards by spring action against stop members with their recesses (10,11) located a distance inside the recesses (2,3) of the fixed arms for adapting the device also to cups of less size than the predetermined size. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that each turnable arm (6,7) has a plane, horizontal part (8,9) provided with its recess (10,11), which part bears on the upper surface of the holder (1) and has a vertically downwards folded part (12,13) made of resilient material and bearing on a corresponding vertical part (4,5) of the holder, and that a slit (14,15) is arranged in the corner between the horizontal and the vertical parts of the turnable arms, and the horizontal part (8,9) is joumalled turnable on the holder (1) . 3. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that each turnable arm (6,7) has a plane, horizontal part (8,9) provided with its recess (10,11), which part (8,9) bears on the upper surface of the holder and has a vertically downwards folded part (12,13) made of resilient material and bearing on a corresponding vertical part (4,5) of the holder, and that a slit (14,15) is arranged in the corner between the horizontal and the vertical parts of the turnable arms, and the vertical part (12,13) is attached to the vertical part (4,5) of the holder.

Inventors: LING LARS, ULLERTEG MICHAEL, LING, LARS, ULLERTEG, MICHAEL
Applicants: LING LARS, ULLERTEG MICHAEL, LING, LARS, ULLERTEG, MICHAEL
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A47J31
IPC codes: A47J31, G07F13