MODULAR VENDING MACHINE AND CARTRIDGE SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A refillable vend module comprising:
- at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage; and
a connecting mechanism configured to slidably connect to any one of a plurality of modular vend spaces in a vending machine.
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Abstract
A refillable vend module includes at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage, and a connecting mechanism configured to slidably connect to any one of a plurality of modular vend spaces in a vending machine. In some embodiments, the at least one canister comprises a poka-yoke refill connection configured to couple an ingredient cartridge to the canister, where the poka-yoke refill connection matches a type of the canister to a type of the ingredient cartridge. A vending machine includes a plurality of modular vend spaces and a plurality of refillable vend modules.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A refillable vend module comprising:
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at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage; and a connecting mechanism configured to slidably connect to any one of a plurality of modular vend spaces in a vending machine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A vending machine for dispensing beverages comprising:
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a plurality of modular vend spaces; and a plurality of refillable vend modules, each vend module comprising; at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage; and a connecting mechanism configured to slidably connect to any of the modular vend spaces. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a vending machine, the method comprising:
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connecting a plurality of refillable vend modules to a plurality of modular vend spaces in the vending machine by slidably connecting a connecting mechanism of each vend module to any one of the modular vend spaces, wherein each vend module comprises at least one canister configured to contain an ingredient for a beverage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification