Abstract: A metering arrangement for powdered material, particularly powdered beverage ingredients, includes a storage container (18), an outfeed box (22) located beneath the storage container and having an outfeed opening (46), and a reciprocatingly movable outfeed slide (60). The outfeed slide and the outfeed box are embraced by a rubber band (78), for returning the outfeed slide. The outfeed slide co-acts with a motor (36) drivingly operating the slide (40) having an L-shaped cut-out (100) in which a slide driver (94) eccentrically mounted on the crankshaft (92) of the motor is intended to move. When dispensing a metered quantity of powder, the slide driver moves in the transverse leg of the L-shaped cut-out during a first half of a revolution so as to draw out the operating slide (40) and the outfeed slide (60).

Abstract: Beverage preparing and dispensing apparatus, in which powdered ingredients are pre-placed on the bottom of a drinking vessel (14). The feed conduit (32,34) through which liquid is dispensed is caused to move as the liquid is dispensed, so as to agitate the ingredient and facilitate their dissolution and/or suspension in the liquid. Thus, a moving jet of liquid (68,69') is caused to sweep over the bottom of the drinking vessel in a substantially circular path, without leaving dead zones in which the ingredients are unaffected by the jet and thus might remain undissolved on the bottom of the vessel.

Abstract: From a pile or stack of cups, which is available in a magazine, the lowermost one is released with the aid of a slide (4) in such a way, that simultaneously retaining elements (7, 16) are slid away from and separating and releasing elements (5) are slid in between the rims (3) of a lowermost cup and the one above it. In such a way, a positive release of a cup (3) is possible. The separating and releasing elements (5) are provided with upper (14) and lower (12) inclined surfaces and their common points are bevelled at (33) away from each other in the direction of feeding or releasing.