AUTOMATED BEVERAGE DISPENSING SYSTEM WITH ICE AND BEVERAGE DISPENSING

• US 20160083123A1
• Filed: 11/30/2015
• Published: 03/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Original Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
• Inventors: Angus, Andrew Mark, Nicoll, Kenneth Andrew, Rob, Mark David, Pickett, Sean, Dockrill, Mark Brian, Sellahewa, Ravisha, Houghton, Stephen, Anderson, Scott Alexander
• Granted Patent: US 9,994,340 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/32 by weighing check-weighing of filled containers or receptacles B65B1/46
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/22 Defoaming liquids in connection with filling
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/28 by weighing
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 43/46 using grippers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 7/28 by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0041 Fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages, pre-mix and post-mix dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1227 the cup to be filled
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/124 the flow being started or stopped by means actuated by the vessel to be filled, e.g. by switches, weighing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/127 Froth control B67D1/1411 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00076 Cup conveyors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/302 using electrical or electro-mechanical means B67D7/307 takes precedence

Abstract

The present application provides an automated beverage dispenser for dispensing a beverage and ice into a cup. The automated beverage dispenser may include an ice dispensing station with an ice auger and a weight sensor, a beverage dispensing station, and a control device. The control device instructs the ice auger to fill the cup with a predetermined amount of ice and instructs the beverage dispensing station to fill the cup with a predetermined amount of the beverage in response to a weight of the cup as determined by the weight sensor.

Claims

1-20. -20. (canceled)

21. An automated beverage dispenser system, comprising:

a dispense conveyor to convey beverage cups for dispense of a selected beverage into each of the cups;

a plurality of dispense-related stations positioned along a path of the dispense conveyor;

a staging conveyor to receive and advance cups filled on the dispense conveyor for beverage order fulfillment; and

a movement device to move a filled cup from the dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor.

22. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the movement device comprises a gripper mechanism for gripping a cup while moving the cup from the dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor.

23. The dispensing system of claim 22, further comprising a cup lidding station to place a cup lid on a filled cup.

24. The dispensing system of claim 23, wherein the gripper mechanism is configured to center the cup for a lidding operation at the cup lidding station.

25. The dispensing system of claim 22, wherein the gripper mechanism comprises a plurality of gripper jaws configured to open and close to accept, center and release the cup.

26. The dispensing system of claim 22, wherein the dispense conveyor comprises a series of cup holders fixed to the dispense conveyor to assist in moving the cups along the dispense conveyor, wherein the gripper jaws are positioned above the height of the cup holders.

27. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the movement device comprises a liner actuator arranged to linearly transport cups from the dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor.

28. The dispensing system of claim 21, wherein the dispense-related stations comprise a cup placement station, an ice dispensing station, a beverage dispensing station, and a cup lidding station.

29. The dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the dispense-related stations further comprise a weighing station to weigh a cup, wherein the weighing station is located with the ice dispensing station.

30. The dispensing system of claim 28, wherein the dispense-related stations further comprise a printing station.

31. The dispensing system of claim 21, further comprising a removable deck, wherein the dispense conveyor and the staging conveyor are arranged on the removable deck.

32. A method of beverage dispensing automation, the method comprising:

conveying a beverage cup through a plurality of dispense-related stations along a path of dispense conveyor;

filling the beverage cup with a beverage at one of the dispense-related stations;

moving the filled beverage cup using a movement device from the dispense conveyor to a staging conveyor; and

advancing the filled beverage cup on the staging conveyor for beverage order fulfillment.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the movement device comprises a gripper mechanism for gripping a cup and the moving comprises gripping the cup with the gripper mechanism while moving the cup from the dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising placing a lid on the filled beverage cup at a cup lidding station.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising centering the cup using the gripper mechanism for a lidding operation at the cup lidding station.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the movement device comprises a linear actuator and the moving comprises linearly transporting cups from the dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor using the linear actuator.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the conveying comprises conveying the cup from a cup placement station to an ice dispensing station, a beverage dispensing station and a cup lidding station.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising weighing the cup at a weighing station along the dispense conveyor.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising printing a message on the cup or a lid of the cup at a printing station.