Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to beverage dispensing systems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to automated beverage dispensing systems for automatically selecting and placing a cup, dispensing a beverage into the cup, and staging filled cups for delivery to a customer.

Automated beverage dispensing systems are known in the fields of fast and quick service restaurants. Automated beverage dispensing systems automate, or partially automate the act of filling cups with beverages to fulfill customer orders.

Examples of automated beverage dispensing systems are disclosed in the following patent references:.

In an example of an automated beverage dispensing machine having a front and a back and a first side opposite a second side, a conveyance system defines a plurality of cup locations and operates to sequentially move the plurality of cup locations through a plurality of indexed locations. A cup dispensing machine is configured to receive a supply of cups. The cup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup to a cup loading location that coincides with an indexed location of the plurality of indexed locations. A beverage dispensing machine is configured to dispense a beverage at a beverage dispense location of the plurality of indexed locations. A computer associates an ordered beverage to a cup location of the plurality of cup locations. The computer maintains a record of a status of the cup location and the position of the cup location relative to the plurality of indexed locations.

An example of an automated beverage dispensing machine includes a front and a back and a first side opposite a second side. A conveyance system defines a plurality of cup locations each with a respective cup holder. The conveyance system operates to sequentially move the plurality of cup locations through a circuit comprising a plurality of indexed locations. A cup dispensing machine receives a first supply of cups at a first dispensing assembly. The first dispensing assembly includes a first selective release device. The first dispensing assembly coincides with a first indexed location of the plurality of indexed locations. The cup dispensing machine is configured to receive a second supply of cups at a second dispensing assembly. The second dispensing assembly includes a second selective release device. The second dispensing assembly coincides with a second indexed location of the plurality of indexed locations. The cup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup from the first supply of cups to a first cup location of the plurality of cup locations on the conveyance system at the first indexed location. The cup dispensing machine is operable to dispense a cup from the second supply of cups to a second cup location of the plurality of cup locations on the conveyance system at the second indexed location.

In additional examples of the automated beverage dispensing machine, the first dispensing assembly includes a first plurality of selective release devices including the first selective release device. The second dispensing assembly includes a second plurality of selective release devices including the second selective release device. Each of the selective release devices may include a cam body, a cam extending about the cam body, the cam having a cam edge. The cam may further include a leading cam surface and a trailing cam surface. A gear may extend about the cam body. A cup support flap may be connected to the cam body and extend radially away from an axis of the cam body. A beverage dispensing machine may be configured to dispense a beverage at a beverage dispense location of the plurality of indexed locations. A computer may associate an ordered beverage to a cup location of the plurality of cup locations and maintains a record of a status of the cup location and the position of the cup location relative to the plurality of indexed locations.

Each dispensing assembly may include a motor and a drive gear and a belt that operatively extends between the drive gear and the gear about the cam body of each of the selective release devices of a respective dispensing assembly. Movement of the belt by the drive gear simultaneously moves each of the cam assemblies by interaction with the respective gears of the cam assemblies. The cup support flap is constructed of an elastomeric material. The cup support flap is configured to deform to receive a supply of cups pushed therethrough to load the dispensing assembly with the first or second supply of cups. The cup dispensing machine is configured to upwardly tilt relative to the rest of the automated beverage dispensing machine to a loading configuration wherein the dispensing assemblies are accessible to receive the supply of cups through the dispensing assemblies past the selective release devices. A support chimney extends from each of the selective release devices. The support chimney is configured to receive a stack of cups there of the first supply of cups or the second supply of cups. Each dispensing assembly is positioned at a different height above the respective first and second indexed locations. Each dispensing assembly includes a dispensing chimney extending from the dispensing assembly in a direction of the first and second indexed locations, respectively, wherein the dispensing chimneys end at a same height above the respective first and second indexed locations.

An example of a selective release device for dispensing a cup includes a cam body. A cam extends about the cam body and radially away from the cam body. The cam includes a cam edge and a leading cam surface and a trailing cam surface. A resiliently deformable cup support flap radially extends from the cam body.

The following features are optional additional features of the selective release device, each of which can be used alone or in any combination. A gear extends about the cam body. The selective release device includes a drive gear and a belt that engages the drive gear and the gear about the cam body. The drive gear moves the belt which in turn moves the cam body. The leading cam surface is located on a first side of the cam body in an axial direction and the trailing cam surface is located on a second side of the cam body in an axial direction. A lower cam surface is opposite the leading cam surface. The leading cam surface angles upwards in the axial direction above the lower cam surface from the cam edge. The trailing cam surface angles downwards in the axial direction from the lower cam surface. The lower cam surface is horizontal. The cam body defines a pocket and the cup support flap is seated within the pocket. The cup support flap and the cam body include axially aligned through holes. A lower cam surface opposite is opposite the leading cam surface in an axial direction, the leading cam surface angles upwards in the axial direction above the lower cam surface from the cam edge, and the cup support flap includes a flap projection that extends radially outward from the cam body. The flap projection includes an upper surface positioned below the lower cam surface in the axial direction. The flap projection includes an outer edge in the shape of an arc. An outer edge of the cup support flap is complementary with an outer edge of the cam to form an outer circumference of the cam assembly.

Examples of automated beverage dispensing machines are provided herein. These disclosed automated beverage dispensing machines include features or combinations of features directed to cup dispensing in an automated beverage dispensing.

Automated beverage dispensing machine cup dispensers present numerous challenges. Because an automated beverage dispensing machine requires supplies of multiple sizes of cups. Mechanisms within the cup dispenser select a requested cup and operate to dispense the cup. In part due to these mechanisms, the supplies of cups are held without visual feedback of the remaining cup supply. Additionally, the size and complexity of the cup dispenser presents a challenge to loading a new supply of cups, particularly for workers of lower height or upper body strength. The automated beverage dispensing machines and cup dispensers as disclosed herein provide solutions to these challenges.

In examples, a cup dispenser of the beverage dispensing machine provides enhanced user visual confirmation of the remaining supply of cups stored in the beverage dispensing machine. Positioning of these stored cups at the exterior of the beverage dispensing machine combined with transparent elements provides visual confirmation of cup supply. Location of the cup storage across the front of the beverage dispensing machine further places this visual confirmation in convenient location for user observation and monitoring. In examples, sensors may be arranged relative to the cup storage for each cup type/size and the supply monitored whereby an indication of low supply, for example illumination of a light or graphical user interface icon, may be made to indicate a low supply of cups, in addition to any enhanced visual confirmation of supply as noted above.

In examples, the cup dispenser includes features which promote the loading of cups into the dispenser, including tilting of the cup dispenser to facilitate loading and a selective release device which facilitates loading of an unturned stack of cups upwards through the selective release device.

In further examples, the cup dispenser is arranged to dispense cups of different sizes to different locations within the automated beverage dispenser. The automated beverage dispenser may include a carousel that defines a plurality of indexed locations and the cup dispenser dispenses cups of different sizes into different indexed locations. The automated beverage dispenser may further operate to maintain a record of cups dispensed into particular locations on the carousel.

<FIG> is a perspective view of an example of a beverage dispensing machine <NUM> which is configured as a "crew serve" dispensing machine to automatedly or semi-automatedly dispense beverages consistent with a customer's order. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is configured to provide automated cup selection, placement, ice dispensing, beverage dispensing, and staging of customer-ordered beverages in a fast or quick service restaurant setting. Automation of crew-served beverage fulfillment process as provided with the features of the disclosure herein can improve the speed of service and order completion accuracy.

The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is defined by a front <NUM>, a back <NUM>, and sides <NUM>, <NUM>. To facilitate operation in a restaurant configuration, the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is both, observable, and configurable from the front. That is, the user interface <NUM>, which may include a graphical display <NUM>, the cup dispenser <NUM>, and the cup carousel <NUM> are positioned at the front <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. As will be described in further detail herein, portions of the cup carousel <NUM> and the cup dispenser <NUM> are set forward of the user interface <NUM>. The cup dispenser <NUM> further is further observable and/or accessible from the front of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> to facilitate observation of present levels of the cup supplies and loading thereof.

<FIG> is a front view of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> includes an ice dispenser <NUM> of which an ice dispensing chute <NUM> is shown. The ice dispenser <NUM> exemplarily includes an ice bin associated with a cold plate, and may further include an auger or agitator which is operated to dispense a portion of the ice from the ice bin out through the ice dispensing chute <NUM> as described herein. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> includes a beverage dispenser <NUM>, a nozzle <NUM> of which is shown. The beverage dispenser includes a plurality of fluid control valves which are operated to control the flow of pre-mixed beverages or beverage constituents. Fluid control valves may be operated to selectively dispense concentrated flavoring and a diluent fluid (e.g. still or carbonated water) from the nozzle <NUM> according to a drink order from a customer.

The cup dispenser <NUM> is configured to hold at least one if not more stacks of cups <NUM> in which the beverages are to be dispensed. In the example shown, the cup dispenser <NUM> includes four stacks 36a-36d of cups. Each of the stacks 36a-36d of cups may exemplarily be a different size, configured to hold a different volume of beverage. The stacks 36a-36d of cups may be arranged with one or more stacks positioned behind, or towards the back <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> from other stacks. Alternatively, the stacks 36a-36d may be arranged with one or more stacks positioned towards the front <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine or towards the side <NUM>, <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine. That is, each of the stacks 36a-36d occupies a separate fixed location relative to the rest of the beverage dispensing machine. In the example depicted in <FIG>, stack 36a, which exemplarily includes small (e.g. 12oz) sized cups, is positioned towards the front of the beverage dispensing machine and medially, e.g. towards the midline <NUM> of beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. The stack 36b, which exemplarily includes medium (e.g. 16oz) sized cups, is positioned towards the front of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> and laterally, e.g. away from the midline <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. The stack 36c, which exemplarily includes large (e.g. 21oz) sized cups, is positioned behind stack 36b, and also laterally of the midline <NUM>. The stack 36d, which exemplarily includes extra-large (e.g. 32oz) sized cups, is positioned behind stack 36a and also medially towards the midline <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, stack 36b is further positioned towards the back <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine from the stack 36a and the stack 36c is positioned towards the front <NUM> from stack 36d and towards the back <NUM> from stack 36b. It will be recognized that these positions and examples are merely exemplary and nonlimiting as to the order, position, and location of the respective cups and sizes of cups and associated cup dispensing assemblies, within the scope of the present disclosure.

The cup carousel <NUM> further includes a plurality of cup holders <NUM> which are configured to receive a cup <NUM> therein. The cup holders <NUM> thus define the locations of any cups relative to the cup carousel <NUM>. The cup carousel <NUM> may further include a conveyor belt <NUM> to which the cup holders <NUM> are secured. A shelf <NUM>, for example with a drip tray <NUM> defined therein underlies the cup holders <NUM> and the cup carousel <NUM>. The shelf <NUM> and drip tray <NUM> serves to catch spilled beverage, ice, or debris so as not to interfere with the operation of the cup carousel <NUM> and the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. Operation of a motor, exemplarily a servo motor, rotates the conveyor belt <NUM>, along with the cup holders <NUM> secured thereto about an exterior of the cup carousel <NUM>. The motor rotates the conveyor belt <NUM> to position the plurality of cup holders <NUM> at a plurality of successive indexed locations about the cup carousel <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> further depict the cup carousel <NUM>. <FIG> is a side view of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> and <FIG> is a sectional view of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>. The cup carousel <NUM> exemplarily includes ten cup holders. Each of the cup holders <NUM> are identified, e.g. cup holder #'s <NUM>-<NUM>. As previously noted, the cup carousel <NUM> operates to move the cup holders <NUM> through a sequence of indexed locations. The cup holders <NUM> are positioned at each of the indexed locations <NUM>, and which will be further identified as indexed locations 48a-48j. The plurality of indexed locations 48a-48j of the carousel <NUM> thus defines an endless circuit of indexed locations 48a-48j through which the cup holders <NUM> are moved. The cup holders <NUM> may be secured to the conveyor belt <NUM> with a dovetail connection, while other types of releasable connections may also be used. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is for example calibrated such that the positions each of the cup holders is known, for example by initially locating cup holders <NUM>-<NUM> respectively at indexed locations 48a-48j. The conveyor belt <NUM> may be a silicone or rubber belt or may be formed of a plurality of articulated sections. In examples, flexibility or articulation in the conveyor belt <NUM> may provide a degree of lateral flexibility which facilitates conformity of the conveyor belt about the gears at either end of the cup carousel <NUM>.

Indexed locations 48a-48d respectively coincide with the stacks 36a-36d of cups and therefore represent a plurality of cup loading locations. That is, a cup <NUM> dispensed from stack 36a of cups will drop into cup holder <NUM> positioned at indexed location 48a. A cup <NUM> dispensed from stack 36b of cups will drop into cup holder <NUM> positioned at indexed location 48b. A cup <NUM> dispensed from stack 36c of cups will drop into cup holder <NUM> positioned at indexed location 48c. A cup <NUM> dispensed from stack 26d of cups will drop into cup holder <NUM> positioned at indexed location 48d. Indexed location 48e coincides with the ice dispensing chute <NUM> of the ice dispenser <NUM>. Ice dispensed through the ice dispensing chute <NUM> will fall into a cup positioned at indexed location 48e. Indexed location 48f coincides with the nozzle <NUM> of the beverage dispenser. A beverage dispensed through the nozzle <NUM> will fall into a cup positioned at indexed location 48f. Indexed locations <NUM>-48j respectively represent a plurality of staging locations of the plurality of indexed locations. Indexed locations <NUM>-48i are the indexed locations at which the cups of the dispensed beverages are held until the cups of the dispensed beverages can be removed for delivery to the customer.

<FIG> is a detailed perspective view of the cup dispenser <NUM>. <FIG> is a sectional view taken along line <NUM>-<NUM> of <FIG>. The cup dispenser <NUM> includes a plurality of cup dispensing assemblies <NUM>. Each cup dispensing assembly <NUM> is exemplarily configured for a specific size of cup. It will be recognized that a cup dispensing assembly <NUM> may be operable to dispense cups within a range of sizes, although in examples provided herein disclose features which may adapt a cup dispensing assembly <NUM> for optimal dispensing of a particularly sized cup for which the dispensing assembly <NUM> is designed. Each dispensing assembly <NUM> includes a selective release device <NUM> which, as disclosed herein, is adapted to singulate and dispense individual cups as instructed by the system. The selective release device <NUM> is also configured to receive a stack of cups from which the selective release device <NUM> subsequently dispenses cups.

The dispensing assembly <NUM> includes a frame <NUM> which exemplarily includes an upper frame <NUM> and a lower frame <NUM>. The upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM> each include an annular flange <NUM>, each of which extend respectively away from the upper frame <NUM> or the lower frame <NUM>. The annular flanges <NUM> may respectively define a space for the stack of cups through the selective release device, and may in examples described herein respectively connect to support chimneys <NUM> and dispense chimneys <NUM>. A plurality of cam assemblies <NUM> are rotatably positioned between the upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM>. The cam assemblies <NUM> rotate about axles <NUM> secured between the upper frame <NUM> and the lower frame <NUM>. The cam assemblies <NUM> extend partially interior of the annular flange <NUM>. The annular flange <NUM> is dimensioned to receive a stack of cups with a predetermined outer diameter therethrough while the cam assemblies <NUM> engage a lip of the cups as described herein.

<FIG> is a detailed view of an example of a selective release device <NUM>. The cam assembly <NUM> includes a cam assembly body <NUM>. The cam assembly body <NUM> includes a cam <NUM> and a pulley gear <NUM>. The cam assembly <NUM> further includes a cup support flap <NUM>. An electric motor <NUM> provides motive power to the selective release device <NUM>. The electric motor <NUM> is exemplarily controlled by a controller of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>, and receives and operates according to one or more electrical signals upon which the motor <NUM> operates to advance the cam assemblies <NUM> as described herein to carry out a dispense of a selected cup. The electric motor <NUM> is connected to a drive gear <NUM>. Rotation sensor <NUM> is positioned relative to the motor <NUM> to detect for confirmation that the motor <NUM> has responded to an associated signal to operate to rotate the motor to dispense a cup from the selective release device <NUM>. A belt <NUM> wraps around the drive gear <NUM> and the pulley gears <NUM> of each of the cam assemblies <NUM> of the selective release device <NUM>. One or more rollers <NUM> may engage the belt <NUM> to facilitate a change of direction of the belt <NUM> towards the cam assemblies <NUM>. The belt <NUM> operates to distribute the motive power from the electric motor <NUM> to all of the cam assemblies <NUM> simultaneously. The belt <NUM> is exemplarily constructed of a rubber, synthetic rubber, or other elastomeric material and may include internally facing teeth (not depicted) that mesh with teeth of the respective drive gear <NUM> and the pulley gears <NUM>. The interconnection of the cam assemblies <NUM> by the belt <NUM> and the teeth of the belt <NUM> engaging the pulley gears <NUM> helps to evenly and simultaneously rotate the cam assemblies <NUM>.

A cam assembly <NUM> is shown in a detailed perspective view in <FIG>. <FIG> depicts the cam assembly <NUM> relative to cups <NUM> to be dispensed. The cam assembly <NUM> includes a cam assembly body <NUM>, a cam <NUM> and a pulley gear <NUM>. A through hole <NUM> is configured to accommodate the axle <NUM>. As will be described in further detail herein, the cam <NUM> rotates with the cam assembly <NUM> by the belt <NUM> moving about the pulley gear <NUM>. The cam <NUM> includes a cam ridge <NUM> extending outwardly from the cam body <NUM>. The cam <NUM> forms a leading cam edge <NUM> and a leading cam surface <NUM>. The cam <NUM> further includes a trailing cam surface <NUM>. The cam assembly <NUM> is configured to rotate in the direction of arrow <NUM>, in which as will be described in further detail herein. As the cam assembly <NUM> rotates, the leading cam edge <NUM> engages a cup to be dispensed above the lip <NUM> of the cup to be dispensed, between respective lips <NUM> of the first two cups in a stack of cups within the dispensing assembly <NUM>. As the cam assembly <NUM> continues to rotate, the leading cam surface <NUM> engages the lip <NUM> of the second cup <NUM> while a lower cam surface <NUM> of the cam <NUM> opposite the leading cam surface <NUM> engages the lip <NUM> of the first cup <NUM> which is the cup to be dispensed. The lower cam surface <NUM> is exemplarily horizontal, while the leading cam surface <NUM> angles upwards away from the lower cam surface <NUM>. As the cam assembly <NUM> rotates, the distance between the lower cam surface <NUM> and the leading cam surface <NUM> at the point of engagement with the lips <NUM> of the cups <NUM> increases. Engagement of the cam <NUM> between the lips <NUM> of the cups <NUM> forces the cups apart, providing a singulation of the cup to be dispensed from the second cup and the rest of the cups in the stack of cups.

As the cam assembly <NUM> further rotates, the lip <NUM> of the second cup is supported by an upper cam surface <NUM>, while the lip <NUM> of the cup to be dispensed is engaged by the trailing cam surface <NUM>. The trailing cam surface <NUM> angles downwardly from the lower cam surface <NUM>. This descending angle of the trailing cam surface <NUM> further separates the cup <NUM> to be dispensed from the rest of the cups of the stack, such that completion of a revolution of the cam assembly <NUM> about the axle separates the cup <NUM> from the stack of cups, and the cup <NUM> is able to fall therefrom by the force of gravity as will be described in further detail herein. It will be recognized that the dispensing assemblies <NUM> as shown and described include one or more of the cam assemblies <NUM> as shown and described. In the example shown in the Figures, the dispensing assemblies <NUM> each include four cam assemblies <NUM> which synchronously operate in the manner described above due to the common operative engagement with the belt <NUM> driven by the motor <NUM>.

Looking to <FIG> and <FIG>, the cam assembly <NUM> further includes a cup support flap <NUM>. The cup support flap <NUM> is formed of an elastomeric material, or other material that is resiliently flexible. The cup support flap <NUM> includes a body <NUM> from which a flap projection <NUM> extends. A through hole <NUM> through the body <NUM> of the cup support flap <NUM> forms an annulus. The through hole <NUM> is in alignment with the hole <NUM> of the cam assembly body <NUM>, both of which are configured to receive the axle <NUM> therethrough. The flap projection <NUM> extends radially away from the annulus of the body <NUM> and exemplarily exhibits a shape of an arc, the arc of the flap projection <NUM> exemplarily matches the radius and arc of the cam <NUM> of the cam assembly <NUM>. At the start of a dispensing operation, the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM> to be dispensed rests on the flap projection <NUM> of the cup support flap <NUM>. The flap projection <NUM> engages the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM> to be dispensed and positions the lip <NUM> relative to the leading edge <NUM> of the cam <NUM>. The positions the cup <NUM> to be dispensed in a proper relationship with the cam <NUM>. An upper surface <NUM> of the flap projection <NUM> of the cup support flap <NUM> may be vertically spaced from the leading edge <NUM> and the lower cam surface <NUM> by a distance which is adapted to accept the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM> to be dispensed.

<FIG> is a detailed view of the cam assembly <NUM> without the cup support flap <NUM>. As can be seen in comparison between <FIG> and <FIG>, the cam assembly body <NUM> defines a pocket <NUM> and the cup support flap <NUM> is received within the pocket <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> is exemplarily circular and is concentric to the cam body <NUM>. The pocket <NUM> may be defined by a shoulder <NUM> that extends radially interior from the cam body <NUM>. A pocket floor <NUM> extends between cam body <NUM>, and exemplarily from the shoulder <NUM>, to the hole <NUM>. The annular body <NUM> of the cup support flap fits interior of the shoulder <NUM> within the pocket <NUM> and rests on the pocket floor <NUM>. The cam body <NUM> includes a radial cut out <NUM> through which the flap projection <NUM> of the cup support flap <NUM> extends. The flap projection <NUM> is supported by a shelf <NUM> which extends radially outward from the pocket <NUM>, and may be co-planar with the pocket floor <NUM>. However, it is noted that as described herein, examples of the shelf <NUM> radially terminate at a distance interior of the radially external extent of the cam <NUM> and the flap projection <NUM>.

<FIG> depict a process of loading cups into the dispensing assembly <NUM> as is described in further detail herein. <FIG> provides a sectional view of a cup <NUM> being loaded into a dispensing assembly <NUM>, while Figs. 11B-D3 are detailed insets of the portion of <FIG> denoted with line A-A, and focused about the cam assembly <NUM> that depict various operational stages while the cup <NUM> is loaded into the dispensing assembly <NUM>. While a single cup <NUM> is depicted in <FIG>, it will be recognized that this process is reflective of an example of a dispensing assembly <NUM> in which the stacks of cups <NUM> are held in the upright or dispense orientation and the dispensing assembly <NUM> is loadable from the bottom, for example in the direction of arrow <NUM> in <FIG>.

In <FIG>, the cup <NUM> has been moved in the direction of arrow <NUM> until the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM> hits an underside <NUM> of the flap projection <NUM>. It will be recognized that at this point of engagement between the lip <NUM> and the underside <NUM> of the flap projection <NUM>, that the lip <NUM> is in a same general plane as the shelf <NUM>. That is, the shelf <NUM> is radially exterior from the lip <NUM>. As the cup <NUM> is further moved in the direction of the arrow <NUM>, engagement of the lip <NUM> with the underside <NUM> of the flap projection <NUM>, places a force upon the flap projection <NUM>. The flap projection <NUM>, being constructed of an elastomeric or otherwise resiliently deformable material, deforms under this force, as shown in <FIG>. The deformation of the flap projection <NUM> exhibits in the flap projection deforming upwards in the direction of arrow <NUM>. In an example, the pocket <NUM> may be constructed and/or dimensioned with a tolerance which enables the flap projection <NUM> or the cup support flap <NUM> to move in the direction of arrow <NUM>. The flap projection <NUM> places a resistive force against the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM>, however under further force in the direction of arrow <NUM>. The flap projection <NUM> is overcome and the lip <NUM> moves above the flap projection <NUM>, the lip <NUM> of the cup <NUM> now rests on the upper surface <NUM> of the flap projection <NUM> and the cup <NUM> is retained within the dispensing assembly <NUM> as the next cup to be dispensed therefrom as depicted in <FIG>. It will be recognized that to load the dispensing assembly <NUM> with more cups <NUM> the same process is repeated. It is further recognized that a plurality of cups forming a cup stack may all be moved in the direction of arrow <NUM> at the same time to load the dispensing assembly with an entire stack of cups in a single operative effort.

Reference is made back to <FIG> as well as to <FIG> in the context of the disclosure above with respect to <FIG>. To load the dispensing assemblies <NUM> of the cup dispenser <NUM> from the bottom as described with respect to <FIG>, the cup dispenser <NUM> is pivotable to a loading position shown in phantom lines and reference <NUM> in <FIG> and as the cup dispenser <NUM> is shown in <FIG>. In an example, the cup dispenser <NUM> is rotated about an angle <NUM> which may be between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees, but in other examples, may be between <NUM> degrees and <NUM> degrees. A still further example may be <NUM> degrees, while other examples are outside of the <NUM>-<NUM> degree range. To achieve the movement of the cup dispenser <NUM> about this angle, the cup dispenser <NUM> may be connected to the beverage dispensing machine10 by a hinge <NUM>. Furthermore, a gas spring <NUM> is secured between a frame <NUM> of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM><NUM> and the cup dispenser <NUM>. The gas spring <NUM> is biased to support at least a portion of the weight of the cup dispenser <NUM> when it is rotated about the hinge <NUM> to the cup loading position as exemplarily shown in <FIG>. This maintains the cup dispenser <NUM> in the cup loading position, for example so that a worker can use two hands to insert the stacks of cups into the dispensing assemblies <NUM>. Other types of biasing devices may be used to support the cup dispenser <NUM> in the cup loading position. It will be recognized that when the cup dispenser <NUM> is moved back to the dispensing or operational position, the biasing force of the gas spring <NUM> or other device is overcome, and that the cup dispenser <NUM> may be latched or otherwise physically secured in the operational position.

Referring back to <FIG>, the dispensing assemblies <NUM> of the cup dispenser <NUM> include further features to facilitate the dispense of cups within the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>. As described with respect to <FIG>, a stack of cups <NUM> may be loaded into a dispensing assembly <NUM> from the bottom past the selective release device <NUM>. Because the stack of cups extends above the selective release device, it has been discovered that inclusion of a support chimney <NUM> that is secured to the annular flange <NUM> and extends upwards therefrom helps to maintain the stack of cups in alignment with the selective release device <NUM>. The support chimney <NUM> maintains the stack of cups in a vertical orientation. Additionally, it has been found that the operation of the selective release device <NUM> imparts an oscillating motion on the stack of cups. This oscillating motion may move cups of the stack of cups out of axial alignment with one another. If the stack of cups is out of axial alignment, the operation and function of the selective release device may be impaired. The support chimney <NUM> counteracts this motion, keeping the stack of cups upright within the support chimney <NUM>, this may maintain the weight of the stack of cups in axially alignment with the selective release device <NUM>, improving the singulation and dispense of an individual cup upon operation of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM>.

The dispensing assemblies <NUM> may also include dispense chimneys <NUM>. The dispense chimneys <NUM> are connected to the annular flange <NUM> secured to the lower frame <NUM>. As previously noted, the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is configured to dispense beverages into a plurality of sizes of cups all dispensed from the cup dispenser <NUM>. Improvements to the consistency of the dispense of multiple cup sizes into the same cup holders <NUM> may be achieved with modifications to the cup dispensing assemblies <NUM> dependent upon the size of cup for which the cup dispensing assembly <NUM> is configured. As described above, the selective release device <NUM> engages the lip of a cup to be dispensed. The selective release device <NUM> may therefore be positioned at a vertical distance above the cup carousel <NUM> and the cup holders <NUM> such that the bottoms of each of the cups to be dispensed are the same height from the bottoms of the respective cup holders <NUM> into which the cups will be dispensed. This has been found to provide a consistent interaction between the cup and the cup holder <NUM> into which it is dispensed, independent of the actual size of the cups dispensed. Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, the vertical position of the selective release device <NUM> may be defined dependent upon the size of cup to be dispensed from an individual cup dispensing assembly <NUM>. Additionally, with one or more of the selective release devices <NUM> positioned at different vertical positions, in some examples this may enable closer spacing of the selective release devices <NUM> as demonstrated by center point to center point distances between the selective release devices <NUM>. This may result in a reduction in the footprint area of the cup dispenser <NUM>.

The dispense chimney <NUM> is connected to the lower frame <NUM> at the annular flange <NUM>. Once a cup is singulated and dispensed from the selective release device <NUM>, the cup falls through the dispense chimney <NUM>. Given the differences in the height position of the selective release devices <NUM> as described above, the dispense chimneys <NUM> may exemplarily extend from each of the selective release devices to the nominal positions of the bottom of the cups, which may be even across all cup dispensing assemblies <NUM> due to the positioning of the selective release devices <NUM>. However, in other examples, the dispense chimneys <NUM> may extend for another distance as well from the selective release devices.

The dispense chimneys <NUM> provide two functions which may improve functioning of the cup dispenser. First, the dispense chimneys <NUM> help to axially align the dispensed cup with the cup holder <NUM> at the associated indexed location <NUM> as the cup falls from the selective release device <NUM> to the cup holder <NUM>. As noted above, the selective release device <NUM> may impart an oscillating motion on the cups, which may extend to the dispensed cup. The dispense chimney <NUM> thus keeps the cup falling in a straight path. Additionally, as the cup falls within the dispense chimney <NUM>, the dispense chimney <NUM> slows the flow of air around the falling cup, which in turn slows the cup as it falls into the cup holder. By slowing the cup as it falls into the cup holder, the force of the impact of the cup against the bottom of the cup holder is reduced causing a softer landing of the cup within the cup holder. This softer landing reduces instances of the cup bouncing out of the cup holder or otherwise moving to an unintended or misaligned position within the cup holder. In a still further example, the cup holder <NUM> may be fitted with a rubber, elastomeric, or other cushioned or deformable material in the bottom, which may further absorb the force of the cup falling into the cup holder, improving retention of the cup within the cup holder.

<FIG> is a system diagram of a beverage dispensing machine <NUM> as has been described herein. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> includes a computer <NUM> which receives inputs from components depicted in <FIG> and as previously described above. In response to the inputs, the computer <NUM> produces outputs and control signals to the components depicted therein such as to carry out the functions of the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> as described herein. The computer <NUM> is exemplarily a single board computer (SBC) which includes a microprocessor and associated computing components for e.g. power management, communication, and/or memory. The computer <NUM> executes computer readable code stored in a non-transient computer readable medium, causing the computer <NUM> to carry out the functions as described herein.

The computer <NUM> is configured to receive user inputs, including, but not limited to various orders of beverages to be dispensed. The order exemplarily includes both a beverage size (e.g. volume) and a type (e.g. premixed beverage or selection of flavoring and diluent). The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> may operate to receive an order input through a user interface <NUM> presented on a graphical display <NUM>. The computer <NUM> may be communicatively connected to the graphical display <NUM> to provide the graphical display <NUM> with instructions to operate to visually present the user interface <NUM> thereon. The graphical display <NUM> may further be a touch-sensitive graphical display operable to receive one or more user inputs of the beverage order and communicate those user inputs to the computer <NUM>. In a still further example, the computer <NUM> is communicatively connected to a point of sale (POS) system <NUM> into which customer orders are received and processed for fulfillment. A restaurant may include communication kiosks operable by either a customer or by a restaurant employee to enter the customer order into the POS system. In still further examples, the POS system may operate to receive customer orders placed through an online order system. While examples of such communication is provided in the present disclosure, including, but not limited to that provided in <CIT> and <CIT>, it will be recognized that other manners of communication of customer beverage orders into the beverage dispensing machine may be used. Once such orders are received by the POS system <NUM>, the orders are communicated to the computer <NUM> and the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> may operate as disclosed to automatedly fulfill the received customer orders.

As previously described, the beverage dispensing machine <NUM> operates to provide a series of indexed locations 48a-j and operates to advance the cup holders through this plurality of indexed locations to automate the beverage dispensing process. The computer <NUM> receives a signal from a sensor <NUM> indicating that the cup holder at the last staging location (e.g. 48j) of the plurality of indexed locations is clear of a cup. The beverage dispensing machine <NUM> is then ready to dispense a cup for a subsequent beverage order into this cup holder. The computer <NUM> provides an instruction to the motor <NUM> to advance the carousel <NUM> one increment to move each of the cup holders <NUM> from the indexed location in which the cup holder is currently located to a next subsequent indexed location of the plurality of indexed locations 48a-j. The computer <NUM> maintains a record, at a memory at a computer readable medium, which exemplarily includes the location of each identified cup holder, the current indexed location of each cup holder, and a status of each cup holder. The status of each cup holder may include if a cup is located therein, a cup size located therein, an ordered beverage to be dispensed or an identification of the dispensed beverage in the cup.

As previously described, the cup dispenser <NUM> may operate to dispense each of a plurality of differently sized cups at each of a plurality of cup dispensing locations. Continuing the example, if the customer order specifies a "small" cup size, exemplarily associated with indexed location 48a, then the cup dispenser <NUM> is operated by a control signal from the computer <NUM> to dispense a single small cup into the cup holder (eg. cup holder #<NUM>) located at the first indexed location 48a. The computer <NUM> updates the associated record accordingly to note that an empty small cup is now in cup holder #<NUM> which is at indexed location 48a. If the customer order instead specifies another size of cup, then the cup dispenser <NUM> is operated to not release a cup until the cup holder #<NUM> reaches the indexed location (e.g. 48a-d) associated with the selective release device for the specified cup size. The computer <NUM> updates the records for each of the cup holders/cup locations with each operation to advance the plurality of cup holders/cup locations to the subsequent indexed locations.

The motor <NUM> is operated to advance the plurality of cup holders/cup locations through the subsequent indexed locations. When cup holder #<NUM>, containing a cup therein, is advanced to the ice dispense location (e.g. indexed location 48e), the computer <NUM>, noting that the customer order associated with cup holder/cup location #<NUM> is a "small" size (e.g. volume) beverage that requires ice, provides instructional communications to the ice dispenser <NUM> to dispense a "small" size quantity of ice. The computer <NUM> updates the record for cup holder #<NUM> to reflect a small cup filled with ice at indexed location 48e.

The motor <NUM> is next operated by the computer <NUM> to advance the plurality of cup holders/cup locations to the subsequent indexed location (e.g. cup holder #<NUM> at indexed location 48e is moved to indexed location 48f) which is the beverage dispense location, associated with the beverage dispenser <NUM>. The computer <NUM>, noting that the customer order associated with cup holder #<NUM> is a "small" size cola beverage, provides instructional communications to the beverage dispenser <NUM> to operate the associated valves to dispense a cola beverage in the volume associated with a "small" size. The computer <NUM> updates the record for cup holder/cup location #<NUM> to reflect a small cup filled with ice and cola at indexed location 48f.

Claim 1:
An automated beverage dispensing system (<NUM>) having a front and a back and a first side opposite a second side, the automated beverage dispensing system further comprising:
a conveyance system (<NUM>) that defines a plurality of cup locations each with a respective cup holder (<NUM>) and operates to sequentially move the plurality of cup locations through a circuit comprising a plurality of indexed locations (<NUM>);
a cup dispensing system (<NUM>) configured to receive a first supply of cups (<NUM>) at a first dispensing assembly (<NUM>), the first dispensing assembly (<NUM>) comprising a first selective release device (<NUM>), the first dispensing assembly coincides with a first indexed location (<NUM>) of the plurality of indexed locations and the cup dispensing system is configured to receive a second supply of cups (<NUM>) at a second dispensing assembly (<NUM>) comprising a second selective release device (<NUM>), the second dispensing assembly coincides with a second indexed location (<NUM>) of the plurality of indexed locations, the cup dispensing system operable to dispense a cup from the first supply of cups to a first cup location of the plurality of cup locations on the conveyance system at the first indexed location and operable to dispense a cup from the second supply of cups to a second cup location of the plurality of cup locations on the conveyance system at the second indexed location;
characterised in that
the first selective release device and the second selective release device each comprise a cam assembly comprising:
a cam body (<NUM>);
a cam (<NUM>) extending about the cam body, the cam comprising a cam edge (<NUM>), a leading cam surface (<NUM>) and a trailing cam surface (<NUM>); and
a resiliently deformable cup support flap (<NUM>) radially extending from the cam body (<NUM>).