Abstract: A postmix beverage dispenser having the appearance of a stainless steel brewed tea urn. A postmix dispensing valve is mounted inside the tea urn and is operated by a handle located on the front of the tea urn. A nozzle extender is inside the handle body and connects to the nozzle of the dispensing valve. The handle body and nozzle extender are easily manually removed without tools from outside the tea urn.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispenser having a multiflavor automatic beverage dispensing valve (faucet) and including means for preventing color and flavor carryover from one drink to the next. The automatic dispenser includes an electronic control system with an on-board computer with a microprocessor which, when a drink vend signal is received by the electronic control system, first checks to determine whether a dark or light colored drink was requested, then checks the last vend to determine if it was a light or dark drink. If the drink ordered was a light drink and the previous drink was a dark drink, then the controller looks to see if the cup dispenser position is occupied. If it is occupied, the flush is delayed until it is free when the soda water will flush to cleanse the nozzle. After flushing, the vend is processed.

Abstract: An automatic beverage dispensing system including a conveyor, a multiflavor valve, and a programmable cup drop system which includes means for searching through a plurality of separate cup supply tubes for a cup of the selected size.

Abstract: A space-to-sales vend rack including a plurality of adjacent vend columns having a wide range of respective storage capacities, the columns being configured for supporting products in vertical stacks therein and being arranged in groups to provide space for respective products commensurate with the anticipated sales of such products. Some of these columns are fixed within the vending machine in which certain of these columns are mounted for at least partial removal from the interior of the vending machine to provide access to all of the columns for loading them with the products to be dispensed and for maximizing the numbers of groups of columns which can be placed within a given interior space of a vending machine.

Abstract: A Serpentine vend rack structure is provided formed of hollow upright wall portions mounted in ported, laterally adjustable brackets over a refrigeration plenum such that the relative spacing between the wall portions is adjustable to accommodate articles of various sizes for vending. A plurality of shaped bosses on opposing wall portions define a serpentine path and include flow parts over a portion of those paths to permit circulation of refrigerated air from the plenum, up through the brackets and wall portions and out through the bosses to chill articles stored in the vend rack prior to vending. The upright hollow wall portions are internally partitioned to preclude the flow of refrigerated air beyond a desired level of the vend rack.

Abstract: A vend basket for a coin operated vending machine which includes a first roller whose axis is parallel to the rotational axis of rollable products, such as bottles or cans, and is set back from the front wall of the basket by a distance greater than the diameter of the rollable product but less than twice the diameter so that only one product can fit and pass between the front wall and roller. The roller is also spaced above the bottom wall of the basket so that two rows of products can fit and pass under the roller. A second roller whose rotational axis is also parallel to the rotational axis of the rollable products is located in front of the first roller adjacent the front wall directly above a dispensing lid. The distance between the first and second rollers is such that only one article at a time can pass therebetween to a cradle formed in the dispensing lid. Such a structure permits a greater number of movable products to be located in the basket.

Abstract: A space-to-sales vend rack including a plurality of adjacent vend columns having a wide range of respective storage capactities, first columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products orthogonal to the vending machine face, other columns are provided for supporting products in vertical stacks with the longitudinal axes of the products parallel to the vending machine face. The products with axes parallel to the front face of the vending machine are supported on slide-out racks for ease of loading.

Abstract: A sheet or coupon dispensing apparatus includes a magazine for storing a plurality of sheets or coupons and components for advancing each sheet individually from the magazine to a dispensed position. The apparatus is inoperative for dispensing another sheet until a previously dispensed sheet has been removed from the apparatus. The disclosed apparatus is especially adapted for use with automatic equipment, such as automatic vending machines.