Abstract: A system that allows for hot water on demand and once the water is heated, it is delivered to flavor containing solid material in a pressurized pulse. By heating the water on demand, a more uniform temperature can be achieved and by delivering the heated water in a pressurized pulse, the extraction of flavor from the flavor containing solid material is greatly improved. In addition, to determine the volume of water used in the system, the number of pressurized pulses are counted and that gives a more uniform consistent measurement of the volume of water used instead of the timed delivery of water.

Abstract: A system that allows for safety checks to determine if the brew chamber is inserted correctly, if the carafe is positioned correctly, and if the water pressure in the water lines is at an acceptable safe level. During use, a brewer is activated via a control panel. Before activation and during the brewing cycle, the system checks to determine if the brew chamber is inserted correctly, if the carafe is properly positioned, and if water pressure in the water lines of the brewer are at an acceptable level. If any one of those conditions are not met, then the brewer will not operate and will thus prevent water from being sprayed, splashed, or spilled onto a nearby operator, individual, or surrounding area and causing potentially serious burns or significant water damage to the surrounding area.

Abstract: A system that allows for hot water on demand and once the water is heated, it is delivered to flavor containing solid material in a pressurized pulse. By heating the water on demand, a more uniform temperature can be achieved and by delivering the heated water in a pressurized pulse, the extraction of flavor from the flavor containing solid material is greatly improved. In addition, to determine the volume of water used in the system, the number of pressurized pulses are counted and that gives a more uniform consistent measurement of the volume of water used instead of the timed delivery of water.

Abstract: A system and method are taught for receiving a plurality of different sized coins substantially simultaneously and outputting the received coins serially. The output of coins according to the preferred embodiment of the disclosed invention is controlled so as not to exceed a predetermined rate in order to accommodate systems downstream, such as a coin validator. The disclosed coin singulator system is substantially free of obstructions likely to cause jamming or miss-feeding of coins as well as to provide open access to an operator to remove coins prior to their singulation.

Abstract: A cashbox having a configurable note to coin storage area ratio is disclosed. Accordingly, the cashbox may be adjusted to accept a larger or smaller number of notes and a smaller or larger number of coins, respectively, depending on the circumstances of deployment of the configurable cashbox. Preferably, the note storage area is adapted to accept and retain notes in a tight stack suitable for easy removal and machine sorting and/or counting. In a preferred embodiment, the configurable cashbox is secure in that the cashbox locks into a housing with only limited access provided to the note and coin storage areas to allow deposit of cash into the cashbox. In order to remove the cashbox from the housing, access to the note and coin storage areas is secured such that once the cashbox is independent from the housing any unauthorized access to the storage areas is easily detectable.

Abstract: A system and method for providing automatic validation of fares collected is disclosed. An automatic validating farebox, being adapted for mobile use, such as in the cabin of a bus, and to provide convenient access to both patrons and an operator, includes validation mechanisms and circuitry to accept patron payment in both coin and note. All tendered payment is automatically validated as to acceptable tender as well as its value being electronically registered. Accordingly, the operator is freed from validating payment of a fare and may simply confirm that the registered value is the proper amount for the type of fare purchased. The automatic validating farebox also includes mechanisms adapted both to store accepted currency in an efficient manner as well as to present the collected currency in a manner readily acceptable for handling and counting.

Abstract: A programmable size and price-setting mechanism for use in a vending machine has a plurality of n access doors aligned horizontally across a front of the vending machine, each of which access doors has a locked condition denying access therethrough and an unlocked condition allowing access therethrough, and each of which is selectably activatable between the locked and unlocked condition. There are a plurality of horizontal shelves each of which has a plurality of partitionable areas corresponding in size to a corresponding one of the n access doors, such that each shelf is selectably partitionable into a plurality of up to n product holding areas. A conveyor mechanism is provided for selectably moving each horizontal shelf into a vending position adjacent to the access doors so that each one of the n partitionable areas is adjacent to a corresponding one the n access doors. A sensor detects which of the plurality of shelves is positioned adjacent to the plurality of n access doors.

Abstract: A cold drink container vending machine having a front window panel through which cold drinks in serpentine tracks can be viewed for selection. Pre-cooled cold drink container holding racks are aligned with the serpentine tracks so that the pre-cooled containers can be viewed when vendable containers in the serpentine tracks are depleted. Continuous advertisement is provided in the form of the cold drink containers themselves which are viewed through the transparent front window panel.

Abstract: A control panel drawer for a consumer-operated vending machine of a type having a cabinet defining an internal volume in which vendable products are held for selectable vending, a front display at which vendable products are designated with price and selection indicia and a money acceptance and product selection panel at which an amount of money corresponding to the price of a desired product selection and instructions for dispensing the desired product selection are entered by the consumer and an operatively associated vending mechanism connected through an electronic circuit to vend the selected product to the consumer in response to insertion of money and instructions from a consumer to the control panel drawer includes a drawer which is slidably connected to the vending machine cabinet having a first position at which the drawer is inserted within the vending machine cabinet adjacent to the internal product holding volume and a second position slidably extended forward of the front display.

Abstract: A vending mechanism for a cylindrical article dispenser of a type having a column of stacked cylindrical articles moved along a dispensing pathway by a force, such as by the force of gravity, is disclosed, which has an escapement mechanism which is attachable in operative alignment with a vending pathway of a column of stacked cylindrical articles. An upstream arm is pivotably attached in the escapement mechanism, having a first position blocking a portion of the vending pathway and having a second position retracted from the vending pathway to allow cylindrical articles to move past the upstream arm. A downstream arm is pivotably attached in the escapement mechanism, having a first position blocking a portion of the vending pathway and having a second position retracted from the vending pathway to allow cylindrical articles to move past the downstream arm.

Abstract: A multipurpose, refrigerated food vending machine of the type which includes a rotatable carousel divided into compartments for receiving merchandise to be vended from the machine. A microprocessor controls and tracks various functions in the machine. In particular, the microprocessor is programmed to rotate the carousel through a predetermined increment and at a predetermined time interval to periodically reposition the merchandise disposed in the carousel such that the merchandise is maintained at the average temperature prevailing in the cabinet of the machine.