Mobile product dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304797-B2
Application number	US-201916691883-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 22, 2019
Priority date	Nov 22, 2019
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

Mobile product dispensers for storing and dispensing products to consumers at various locations. A mobile product dispensers may include a product dispensing system, a user interface, a powertrain system, and a control unit. The mobile product dispenser may freely roam or follow a predetermined path within its environment of operation, and may engage with and service consumers along its route. A consumer may also summon the mobile product dispenser to a location using a user device such as a smartphone, smartwatch, or the like. The control unit may enable the mobile product dispenser to autonomously travel within its environment of operation and/or to navigate to the location of a consumer.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A product-dispensing system, comprising:
a mobile product dispenser, comprising:
a first product-ingredient chamber, wherein a first product ingredient is disposed within the first product-ingredient chamber,
a second product-ingredient chamber, wherein a second product ingredient is disposed within the second product-ingredient chamber,
a beverage dispensing nozzle;
a control unit configured to store user information related to an identity of a user and a location from a mobile electronic device of the user and to receive the location from the mobile electronic device of the user, wherein the control unit is configured to cause the mobile product dispenser to automatically move to the location received from the mobile electronic device,
a docking port, and
a scanner configured to acquire information usable to authenticate the identity of the user at the location;
wherein the mobile product dispenser is configured to receive a selection of a product, and the mobile product dispenser is configured to complete a transaction with the mobile electronic device; and
wherein the mobile product dispenser is configured to mix the first and second product ingredients to form the product selected by the user after the identity of the user is authenticated and to dispense the product selected by the user; and

a docking station configured to connect to the docking port and refill either or both of the first product-ingredient chamber and the second product-ingredient chamber with a beverage ingredient, wherein the docking station comprises a station control unit that comprises a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to send information to and receive information from the mobile product dispenser.

2. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the first product ingredient is water, and wherein the second product ingredient is flavored syrup.

3. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile product dispenser further comprises a third product-ingredient chamber and a third product ingredient disposed within the third product-ingredient chamber, wherein the product-dispensing system is configured to dispense a first type of beverage comprising the first and second product ingredients, and wherein the product-dispensing system is configured to dispense a second type of beverage comprising the first and third product ingredients.

4. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile product dispenser further comprises a carbonation system, wherein a dispensed beverage is carbonated by the carbonation system at the location of the user.

5. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , further comprising a waste chamber, wherein the waste chamber is disposed beneath a product dispenser of the mobile product dispenser, and wherein the waste chamber collects excess beverage that is dispensed by the mobile product dispenser.

6. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile product dispenser is a carbonated beverage fountain.

7. The product-dispensing system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile product dispenser further comprises an ingredient level sensor.

8. An autonomous mobile product-dispensing system, comprising:
a mobile product dispenser, comprising:
a first product-ingredient chamber, wherein a first product ingredient is disposed within the first product-ingredient chamber,
a second product-ingredient chamber, wherein a second product ingredient is disposed within the second product-ingredient chamber,
a control unit, wherein the control unit is configured to allow the mobile product dispenser to move autonomously; and
a scanner configured to acquire information usable to authenticate an identity of a user;

a summoning device in communication with the mobile product dispenser and configured to display a list of products available for purchase, to send a command to summon the mobile product dispenser to a location of the summoning device, and to receive information associated with an identity of a user, and wherein the mobile product dispenser receives health related information from the summoning device, and
an administrator device configured to authenticate the user based on information acquired by the scanner and the information associated with the identity of the user,
wherein the mobile product dispenser is configured to autonomously navigate to the location of the summoning device, to authenticate the identity of the user at the location via the scanner, and form a product from at least the first product ingredient and the second product ingredient after authenticating the identity of the user, and
wherein at least one of the first and second product ingredients are dispensed at the location of the user.

9. The autonomous mobile product-dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the summoning device is coupled to a fixture disposed in the environment of operation of the mobile product dispenser.

10. The autonomous mobile product-dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the summoning device is a wearable device.

11. The autonomous mobile product-dispensing system of claim 10 , wherein the mobile product dispenser and the summoning device is configured to communicate with each other over a wireless network.

12. The autonomous mobile product-dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the mobile product dispenser provides a recommendation for a product based on the health related information received from the summoning device.

13. The autonomous mobile product-dispensing system of claim 8 , wherein the mobile product dispenser is configured to notify the administrator device when the first product ingredient or the second product ingredient is below a predetermined threshold.

14. A product-dispensing system, comprising:
a mobile product dispenser, comprising:
a plurality of chambers, wherein each of the plurality of chambers is configured to store a beverage-ingredient;
a dispenser control unit that includes a memory and is configured to receive user information including information associated with an identity of a user and a location from a mobile electronic device and to store the user information on the memory, wherein the dispenser control unit is configured to cause the mobile product dispenser to automatically move to the location;
a scanner configured to authenticate the identity of the user at the location;
a docking port; and
a product dispenser in communication with each of the plurality of chambers and configured to dispense one or more of the beverage-ingredients from the plurality of chambers; and

a docking station configured to connect to the docking port and refill one or more of the plurality of chambers with a beverage ingredient, wherein the docking station comprises a station control unit that comprises a transceiver, wherein the transceiver is configured to send information to and receive information from the mobile product dispenser.

15. The product-dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the identity of a user is identified using a biometric characteristic.

16. The product-dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the amount charged to a user is proportional to the volume of product dispensed.

17. The product-dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the amount charged to a user is dependent upon the type of product dispensed.

18. The product-dispensing system of claim 14 , wherein the scanner is configured to read a machine readable item displayed on the mobile electronic device.

Assignees

• Pepsico Inc

Inventors

• Crawford Robert
• Lau Cheuk Chi

Classifications

• H04L12/2816

  Controlling appliance services of a home automation network by calling their functionalities (arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station; in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• H04L12/2823

  Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network (device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00) · CPC title

• B67D1/0891

  for the beverage container · CPC title

• B67D2210/00136

  vehicle carried · CPC title

• H04L2012/285

  Generic home appliances, e.g. refrigerators · CPC title