Abstract: Provided is a dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, which can facilitate coupling of a drive section to a dispensing unit.

Abstract: Provided is an automatic column setting device for an article vending machine. The device is for an article vending machine 1 including a column in an article storing shelf 13, to store articles arranged in a front-rear direction, and a dispensing mechanism 55 removably installed for the column in the shelf 13, to sequentially dispense the stored articles, the mechanism 55 is arbitrarily installable at a plurality of preset right and left positions in the shelf 13, and the automatic column setting device includes a motor presence/absence information preparing section 81 that detects an installation position of motor 61 in accordance with a connected state of motor 61, and a pattern extracting section 82 that determines a type and an installation position of the mechanism 55 in the shelf 13 based on presence/absence information of motor 61 that is detected by the motor presence/absence information preparing section 81.

Abstract: Provided is a belt conveyor type dispensing mechanism for an article vending machine, in which an associated component other than a belt can be easily and compactly installed. The dispensing mechanism for the article vending machine includes a drive section that is disposed in an article storing shelf 13 and on which articles arranged in a front-rear direction are carried, the drive section being configured to drive based on a vending command, and a belt conveyor unit 57 that sequentially dispenses the articles forward, the belt conveyor unit 57 includes two belt conveyors 71 moving forward and arranged away from each other in a right-left direction, and a detection unit 100 of an article detection device and a gear to drive a rear rotary shaft over which belts of the belt conveyors 71 are looped are arranged between the two belt conveyors 71.

Abstract: A beverage supply apparatus 100 includes milk tank 3, milk flow path L3, pump 7 for delivering a beverage, air flow path L6, pump 9 for supplying air configured to be capable of changing the discharge flow rate, release path L7 for discharging air flowing through air flow path L6 to the outside, on-off valve V7, first throttle part 16, and second throttle part 17. One end of release path L7 is connected to release point Z8 in air flow path L6, and the other end is open to the outside. On-off valve V7 is disposed in a flow path extending between release point Z8 and pump 9 in air flow path L6, and opens and closes this flow path. Throttle part 16 is disposed in a flow path extending downstream of release point Z8 in air flow path L6, and throttle part 17 is disposed in release path L7.

Abstract: Beverage supply apparatus (100) has milk tank (3), milk flow path (L3) connecting the milk tank to beverage delivery port (10), first pump (7), air flow path (L6) to supply air via its connection portion (Z1), and third pump (9). The apparatus drives the third pump to supply air to the milk flow path, and drives the first pump to thereby deliver and supply a mixed beverage of milk and air from the beverage delivery port. The apparatus includes path (L7) for releasing a portion of the air flowing through the air flow path, one end portion of which is connected to release point (Z8) which is a predetermined portion of the air flow path between a beverage flow path side end portion (location of a connection portion (Z6)) and the third pump. The other end portion thereof is open to the outside.

Abstract: A product storage device (1) includes: first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) for storing products and for cooling or heating the stored products; a product delivery port (31) to which a product stored in the first or second product storage chamber (52, 53) is dispensed; and a control unit (10) configured to set one of the first and second product storage chambers (52, 53) as a preliminary chamber in which stored products are not available for dispensing and set the other as a product dispensing chamber in which stored products are available for dispensing, and configured to sequentially change product storage chambers to be set as the preliminary chamber.

Abstract: A beverage supply apparatus includes cooling device 6, milk tank 5 in storage chamber 6a of cooling device 6, and detection device 7 that detects the milk. Detection device 7 has first light guide body 7c to penetrate partition wall 12 having a multilayer box body that partitions storage chamber 6a, second light guide body 7d to penetrate partition wall 12 which faces first light guide body 7c, light projection unit 7a attached to partition-wall outer-surface-side end of first light guide body 7c to project light via the body 7c, and light receiving unit 7b attached to the partition-wall outer-surface-side end of second light guide body 7d to receive light transmitted through milk tank 5 via second light guide body 7d. The detection device detects the presence or absence of or the remaining amount of milk based on a light reception state in the light receiving unit 7b.

Abstract: A beverage dispenser, in which a filter is arranged between the lower end of a brewing chamber and the upper end of a fluid receptacle, and a beverage brewed by supplying a raw material and water to the chamber and filtered by the filter is received in the fluid receptacle, and is thereafter delivered to a cup along a beverage path. The beverage dispenser includes a pump arranged partway along the beverage path, and that reduces a pressure in the fluid receptacle to draw the beverage from the chamber, and delivers it to the cup. A predetermined quantity of the raw material and a first quantity of water are supplied to the chamber, and thereafter, during the delivering of beverage, a second quantity of water is supplied to the chamber, so that without interruption, the beverage is delivered to and served in the cup C.