Automated beverage dispensing system with vertical staging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9327958-B2
Application number	US-201213568169-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 7, 2012
Priority date	Aug 7, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2016
Grant date	May 3, 2016

Abstract

The present application provides an automated beverage dispenser for use with a number of cups. The automated beverage dispenser may include a carousel with a number of shelves, a first actuator such that first actuator may maneuver the shelves in a first direction, a second actuator positioned adjacent to the carousel, and a gripper positioned on the second actuator such that the second actuator may maneuver one of the cups by the gripper in a second direction to one of the shelves of the carousel.

First claim

We claim:

1. An automated beverage dispenser for use with a number of cups, comprising:
a carousel;
the carousel comprising a plurality of shelves;
wherein each of the plurality of shelves comprises a plurality of cup placement stations;
a vertical actuator attached to the plurality of shelves such that the vertical actuator may maneuver the plurality of shelves in a vertical direction;
a horizontal actuator positioned about a deck adjacent to the carousel; and
a gripper positioned on the horizontal actuator such that the horizontal actuator may maneuver one of the number of cups by the gripper in a horizontal direction across the deck to one of the plurality of shelves of the carousel.

2. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves comprises a base and a turntable.

3. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cup placement stations comprises a sensor.

4. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves comprises an order number indicator.

5. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of shelves comprises a flange attached to the vertical actuator.

6. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the gripper comprises a pair of gripper jaws to engage and disengage the number of cups.

7. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 6 , wherein the pair of gripper jaws are moveable to provide clearance during the engagement and disengagement of the number of cups.

8. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the gripper comprises a gripper actuation device.

9. The automated beverage dispenser of claim 8 , wherein the gripper actuation device comprises a pivot for pivoting the gripper between a horizontal position and a vertical position.

Assignees

• Angus Andrew Mark
• Nicoll Kenneth Andrew
• Caprihan Arjun Vinoo
• Rodgers Brendyn Murray
• Leigh-Lancaster Christopher John
• Fitzpatrick Ian Stewart
• Coca Cola Co

Inventors

• Angus Andrew Mark
• Nicoll Kenneth Andrew
• Caprihan Arjun Vinoo
• Rodgers Brendyn Murray
• Leigh-Lancaster Christopher John
• Fitzpatrick Ian Stewart

Classifications

• B67D2210/00076

  Cup conveyors · CPC title

• B67D1/0041 Primary

  Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers · CPC title

• B67D1/127

  Froth control (B67D1/1411 takes precedence) · CPC title