Abstract: An apparatus for filling a particulate or granular material into containers which includes a container conveyor having an even number of container transport paths and a material conveyor having an endless path of transport of the material including a forward path portion and a return path portion with the path portions extending across the container transport paths and being positioned thereabove. The container transport paths are divided into a first group of the even-numbered paths as arranged from one side of the container conveyor and a second group of the other odd-numbered paths. At the intersection of the two conveyors, the material is distributedly placed into containers in the two groups of paths separately from the forward path portion and the return path portion of the material transport path, whereby a sufficient period of time is made available for filling the material into the containers.

Abstract: A data acquisition and processing system for a post-mix drink dispenser which automatically determines and correlates the number, size and flavor of drinks poured from a plurality of valve assemblies to specific periods of time within a given day or week of a period of interest, and correlates the actual volume of syrup and water dispensed for the same period.

Abstract: A vending machine for dispensing cups comprising a rotatable turret magazine for supporting a plurality of upright columns of cups. A pair of part-circular guide surfaces engage the bottom surface of the lowermost cup in each column, the guide surfaces rising uniformly above a horizontal base plate from a region of minimum cup height to a diametrically opposite position of maximum cup height. A fixed, arcuate cam surface is adapted to engage between the rims of the lowermost and next lowermost cups for stripping the lowermost cup from its column. The guide surfaces and cam co-operate such that, as the magazine is rotated, the lowermost cup from each column is stripped in turn, lowered to a discharge station and then, if that cup is not required, rejoined to its original column. When a desired cup arrives at the discharge station, the rotation of the turret magazine is stopped and that cup is released downwardly to a dispensing station.

Abstract: A beverage vending machine for dispensing hot-water or cold-water beverages formulated from selected water-soluble extracts comprises essentially a plurality of containers for storing the various extracts, a main water storage tank, means for producing hot and cold water, means for delivering cups in succession from a storage magazine to a cup dispenser, a pouring spout for mixing and homogenizing the beverage, means for guiding each cup during its transfer from a readiness position to a position of access to the cup in an access recess, metering means associated with one of the containers for picking up a predetermined amount of water-soluble extract and acting as a seal between a delivered cup and the cup dispenser, and a slide valve associated with each storage container and adapted to be reciprocated for transferring the metered amount of water-soluble extract from one of the containers to the cup, a radial array of control means driven by a single power unit through a control mechanism, each control mean

Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a cup magazine for delivery of cups individually to a readiness position for receiving a metered amount or quantity of a beverage ingredient, either in liquid or solid form, for formulation of a beverage. A metering device in the form of a metering slide valve delivers a metered quantity to individual cups successively. The slide valve has a valve gate that is provided with a metering space, formed as a through opening, for cyclical registry with an open lower opening of a receptacle containing the beverage ingredient. The slide valve is operated to deliver the metered quantity to a cup delivered from a cup magazine. The cup with the beverage ingredient is delivered via a chute to an access recess in the machine at which a liquid is added to the cup to formulate the beverage mixture. A mixer mixes the formulated beverage mixture.

Abstract: A vending machine delivering cups containing freshly made beverages and comprising a cup dispenser dispensing empty cups to a filling device (4) receiving each cup during the making process, said vending machine comprising at least one powder dispensing device for an adjustable dispensing of portions of the powder to the cup in the filling device (4), as well as a water feeding device feeding water to the cup with the powder. The filling device (4) comprises a cup holder (46) supporting each cup during the filling in of the individual ingredients of the beverage. This cup holder (46) is capable of weighing the cup and one or more of the added ingredients in sequence so as thereby to regulate the adjustment of the associated dispensing device and the water feeding device as well as to detect whether the contents thereof are about to being used up.

Abstract: A narrow, modular automatic beverage dispensing assembly to be attached to an existing ice dispensing beverage dispenser, to provide automatic beverage dispensing capability. The modular assembly includes two separate subassemblies; the first subassembly includes an automatic cup dropper, and the second subassembly includes an automatic beverage dispensing means and an automatic conveyor. The existing beverage dispenser to which the modular assembly of this invention is attached is modified by adding thereto an automatic ice dispenser that feeds ice into the attached modular assembly.

Abstract: A machine for dispensing a freshly mixed cup of juice or other beverage made from concentrate mixed with water immediately prior to the dispensing, comprising a generally U-shaped water reservoir, the water in which is kept at an essentially constant level by means of a proximity switch interacting with a solenoid valve located in the principal water supply. Coils of a refrigerant unit are disposed in the reservoir to chill the water to a temperature above the freezing point, and one or more concentrate tanks are located between the arms of the U-shaped reservoir, so that the concentrate will be chilled to, and maintained at, a desired temperature. Modular pump units are utilized for pumping concentrate into a mixing chamber, with a power driven impeller utilized in the mixing chamber to effect a mixing of concentrate with a suitable quantity of water from the reservoir.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for delivering soft ice cream or the like to ice cream cones or other containers. A pivotally mounted arm receives a cone and then moves to a product-dispensing station. The product is dispensed into the cone until a weight-responsive structure associated with the arm senses the predetermined weight of the product and stops delivery of the product to the cone. Then the arm is moved so that it deposits the cone in a delivery chamber and then is moved out of the delivery chamber back to a position to receive another cone. Mechanical latch structures are provided for latching the door to the delivery chamber in closed position until the arm has been completely withdrawn from the delivery chamber and a rod connects the arm to the latch for effecting unlatching of the door in response to movement of the arm so that the door is unlatched after the movement of the arm out of the delivery chamber.

Abstract: This specification discloses a manually operated portion packaging apparatus including an operating handle initiating and actuating each step in a sequence of steps to complete packaging of a portion of a substance such as food. A hand operated handle advances a conveyor carrying containers, causes a film dispenser to dispense sufficient amount of heat sealable film, causes a heated platen to press on a container covered by the film, and actuates a food dispenser and container dispenser. Manually powering such a machine reduces the cost in comparison to electrical powering yet substantially increases efficiency in comparison to manual execution of each step in the portion packaging sequence.

Abstract: This invention provides a container delivery system for vending apparatus for vending containers. The delivery system comprises a container store and dispenser, an arm moveable in to and out of the path of travel of a cup dispensed by the container dispenser for receiving the dispensed container to support it temporarily at an angle to its path of travel and an ingredient dispenser mounted to one side of the container dispenser for dispensing a charge of material into the angled container and a guide to guide the container after it has been released by the arm to a discharge part formed in the body of the vending apparatus.

Abstract: A coin operated vending machine for automatically making and dispensing snow cones in accordance with a method of sequentially activating a cup delivery mechanism, depositing flaked ice from a self-contained ice making machine into the cup through an ice retainer collar, activating an ice capping device, depositing a selected flavoring syrup onto the capped ice, and dispensing the finished snow cone and readying the machine to repeat the sequence upon deposition of another coin.

Abstract: A machine adapted to put dry ingredients in cups, as for cups ready to add water to make instant coffee, tea, soup, etc., and wherein the empty cups are positively extracted one by one from stacks of empty cups; spouts are actuated by the cups to positively discharge the dry ingredients in the cups, and the cups with the dry content thereof are automatically stacked and vibrated to compactly engage one in another.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically supplying cups to a filling station is disclosed herein. The apparatus consists of means for moving nested cups along a generally horizontal path that has guide means at the end thereof with pusher means engageable with the rim of a leading cup which drives the leading cup from the nested group to the filling station. Gripper means engage the rim of the next succeeding cup for holding the remaining cups while the leading cup is moved from the group of nested cups. The apparatus also incorporates mechanism for automatically releasing the leading cups at a specific location with respect to the filling station so that they drop by gravity to the filling station and also mechanism that automatically moves the gripper means to grip the next succeeding cup for holding the group while another cup is moved from the group path.

Abstract: In successive aligned groups, flower pots are gravity filled with earth in slight excess, the top compacted and leveled and a conical hole drilled in each to receive a plant, each successive operation being simultaneously carried out for the several pots in each group.

Abstract: An automatic ice cream cone dispensing machine includes an automatic delivery apparatus for taking individual cones one at a time from an upright nested stack, moving the cone translationally to a fill position lateral of the stack, and finally moving the filled cone back to a pick up station. Escapement and cone receiving mechanisms operate to remove successive cones from the stack. The escapement mechanism is operated to open, in response to appropriate positioning of the receiving mechanism, allowing the stack of cones to fall freely toward the receiving mechanism. The receiving mechanism catches and supports the falling stack by the bottom cone. The escapement then closes to support the remainder of the stack above the bottom container as the receiving mechanism is lowered to move the bottom cone free of the stack. The container and receiving mechanism is then moved by a transfer mechanism to the fill and pick up stations.

Abstract: A food dispenser suitable for use in a machine for packaging food products such as coleslaw. The dispenser includes an upstanding dispensing cylinder having an inlet in a side wall thereof and an outlet at the bottom. Connected to the inlet of the dispensing cylinder is the outlet of a horizontal filling cylinder whose inlet is connected to a storage tank. A filling piston is slidable in the filling cylinder and, in use, forces a predetermined quantity of food into the dispensing cylinder. For closing the outlet from the dispensing cylinder a closing cylinder is secured thereto with diametrically opposed apertures in its side wall aligned with the outlet of the dispensing cylinder. A closing piston, slidable with the closing cylinder, has an outlet aperture extending perpendicular to the axis thereof. Food is forced downwardly from the dispensing cylinder by a dispensing piston in that cylinder. A cut-off plate, slidable beneath the closing cylinder, is secured relative to the closing piston.

Abstract: An automatic dispenser for ice cream in cups and/or wafer cones, comprising one or more containers for ice cream ingredients, a first compressor for supplying cold compressed air at a predetermined pressure to the said containers and to one or more holding and mixing chambers, a second compressor group supplying a cooling gas for cooling the surfaces of the said containers and to an outer chamber containing the said containers and being provided with a fan, an ice cream dispensing and a cup and/or cone dispensing device, a positioner for the cups and/or cones associated with a dosing device, a programmer for controlling the sequence of dispensing operation, and disactivation of the operation cycle when the cups and/or cones have received the predetermined quantity of ice cream.