Abstract: A moulded plastics drinking cup for use in beverage vending machines and intended to contain powdered solid water-soluble or dispersible ingredients has a bottom formed as an upwardly directed cuspidal cone extending from the central region of the cup bottom to the sidewall without discontinuity. This shaping confers a desirable flow pattern on hot liquid injected into the cup in the machine and avoids mixing problems incurred with prior art cup bottoms. The conical form need not be complete but may be truncated to give a relatively flat central region that may be planar or domed. The bottom and side wall are preferably interconnected by a bevelled shoulder.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing machine comprises a rotatable holder having columns for receiving stacks of cups disposed around and equidistant from the axis of rotation of the holder. Different columns of the holder receive stacks of cups containing the dry ingredients for different beverages. A selection indicating means operated by the customer controls a drive motor which rotates the holder, causing it to stop with the column containing the selected beverage in register with a cup separating device. The cup separating device is located to the side of the path of rotation of the columns and separates the lowermost cup from the stack. A transport mechanism moves the cup horizontal to a station where it is filled with hot water to make the beverage.