Abstract: A system and method of vending product items may include storing product items within a product storage area. A product item may be released from the product storage area. The product item may be hoisted over at least a portion of the product storage area. The hoisted product item may be presented to a user. In one embodiment, the product storage area may be positioned within a vending machine, and the vending machine may be mobile. The vending machine may also be self-propelled. In an embodiment, the vending machine may be moved via a controller being used by an operator. Alternatively, the vending machine may be moved autonomously.

Abstract: A packaged food product processing machine. The machine comprises a food consumer interface configured to receive a food consumer selection identifying an end state of a food product, a package cooling sub-system comprising a chilled fluid bath, a gripper component configured to agitate a package containing the food product in the chilled fluid bath and to sense a physical parameter of the food product, and a controller configured to command the gripper to control the rate of heat transfer from the package to the chilled fluid bath based on receiving an input identifying an end state selection from the food consumer interface and based on receiving an input containing a value of the physical parameter of the food product from the gripper component.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for dispensing a cool beverage which includes a metal cold plate which is cooled by ice in an ice bin of the apparatus. The beverage dispensing conduit extends through the cold plate so as to be cooled thereby, and a cooling conduit also extends through the cold plate so that a cooling medium may be passed through the cooling conduit to supplement the cooling provided by the ice. In a preferred embodiment, the cooling medium utilizes a portion of the chilled glycol of an otherwise conventional refrigerated beer dispensing system.

Abstract: A pneumatic pump of the type having a pair of pump chambers each divided by a diaphragm assembly coupled by a main shaft includes a housing having a central valve chamber. An integral counter, mounted in the pump housing, is also coupled to the diaphragm shaft, and provides a count of the number of shaft reciprocations performed.

Abstract: The cup locator includes a plurality of non-concentric rings placed one on one top of the other from smallest to largest. A backstop is integrally formed at the rear of the cup locator. Different sized beverage cups will be properly positioned with respect to the nozzle of the beverage dispenser and the cup lips will be properly positioned within an acceptable range of positions with respect to an ultrasonic transducer.