SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DISPENSING PRODUCTS

• US 20190330042A1
• Filed: 04/29/2019
• Published: 10/31/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2018
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Walmart Apollo, LLC (WalMart Inc.)
• Inventors: ENSSLE, Benjamin D., RORRISON, Shaun R., MCKINNON, Ross A., BRIGHTWELL, David B.
• Application Number:
  US16/397,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20190330042A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0015 the beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0036 based on the timed opening of valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0037 based on volumetric dosing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0038 based on weighing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0878 Safety, warning or controlling devices B67D1/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1206 Flow detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1227 the cup to be filled
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/1279 regulating the flow
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0811 provided with coded information
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/025 wherein the volume is determined during delivery
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/04 by weight
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

Systems and methods for dispensing a product from a dispensing kiosk are provided. An example system can include: a first tank at a first location, and storing skim milk and connected to a first conduit; a second tank at the first location, and storing milk fat and connected to a second conduit; and a dispensing kiosk at a second location remote from the first location, the dispensing kiosk comprising: a terminal receiving a request, the request including a type and an amount of a product for purchase; a dispensing station adapted to receive a container, the dispensing station comprising a filling tube extended into the container for providing the product into the container based on the type and the amount in the request; a scanner adapted to read a machine-readable code on the container placed in the dispensing station; and a labeling mechanism configured to print and apply a label to the container in the dispensing station, the label including at least one of the type, the amount, a price, and a fill date of the product.

Claims

1. A product dispensing system, comprising:

a first tank at a first location, and storing skim milk and connected to a first conduit;

a second tank at the first location, and storing milk fat and connected to a second conduit; and

a dispensing kiosk at a second location remote from the first location, the dispensing kiosk comprising;

a terminal receiving a request, the request including a type and an amount of a product for purchase;

a dispensing station adapted to receive a container, the dispensing station comprising a filling tube extended into the container for providing the product into the container based on the type and the amount in the request;

a scanner adapted to read a machine-readable code on the container placed in the dispensing station; and

a labeling mechanism configured to print and apply a label to the container in the dispensing station, the label including at least one of the type, the amount, a price, and a fill date of the product.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a regulator valve coupled between the first conduit and the second conduit and the filling tube, the regulator valve controlling a mix of skim milk and milk fat to the filling tube to meet the request.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing station further comprises:

a flow meter configured to control the amount of the product being filled into the container based on the request.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing station further comprises:

a weight sensor configured to detect a weight of the container with the product until the container is filled to the amount in the request for the product.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the product comprises one of milk, yogurt, ice cream, or smoothie.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing kiosk further comprises a cabinet to store a plurality of flavorings for supplying one of the flavorings to the product, and wherein the flavorings comprise chocolate flavor, vanilla flavor, strawberry flavor, and banana flavor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing station is configured to dispense the product by mixing at least one of ingredients comprising milk, fat, one bag of flavoring, water, ice, or other ingredients.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing station comprises a sealing module configured to automatically seal the container with a cap after the filling is completed.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the terminal is configured to receive the request for the product and to display a plurality of status of the dispensing station on a touch screen user interface.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the dispensing station comprises a moisture sensor in dispensing station which is configured to monitor an overflow of the filling of the container.

11. A method comprising:

receiving, by a dispensing kiosk, a request including an amount and a type of a product for purchase;

scanning, by a scanner, a machine-readable code on a container placed in a dispensing station of the dispensing kiosk;

providing, by the dispensing station, the product into the container through a filling tube extended into the container based on the amount and the type in the request; and

printing and applying, by a labeling mechanism, a label to the container, the label including at least one of the type, the amount, a price, and a fill date of the product.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprises:

controlling, by a flow meter, the amount of the product being filled into the container based on the request.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprises:

detecting, by a weight sensor, a weight of the container with the product until the container is filled to the amount in the request for the product.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein filling the container further comprises:

verifying, by the dispensing station and based on a scanned information, whether a size of the container matches the amount in the request for the product.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the product comprises one of milk, yogurt, ice cream, or smoothie.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispensing kiosk comprises a cabinet to store a plurality of bags of flavorings for supplying one of the flavorings to the product, and wherein the flavorings comprise chocolate flavor, vanilla flavor, strawberry flavor, and banana flavor.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the dispensing station is configured to fill the product by mixing at least one of ingredients comprising milk, fat, one bag of flavoring, water, ice, and other ingredients.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising automatically sealing the container with a cap by a sealing module in the dispensing station after the filling is completed.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a plurality of status of the dispensing station on a touch screen user interface of the dispensing kiosk.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising monitoring an overflow of the filling by a moisture sensor in the dispensing station.