Method and apparatus for making snow cones

• US 5,390,711 A
• Filed: 12/13/1993
• Issued: 02/21/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James D. Murphey
• Original Assignee: James D. Murphey
• Inventors: Murphey, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US08/167,401
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 141/174, 141/94, 221/9, 221/12, 221/13, 235/462, 235/464, 364/479
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/10 with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles

Abstract

Improvements in a snow cone making machine including a retaining collar which interacts with a cone cup to prevent relative movement with respect to each other; an automatic cone cup dispenser having opposing forceps for extracting cone cups singly from a cup canister; and a scanning activation system for reading a product code on the cone cup to activate the preparation of a snow cone.

Claims

1. A vending machine for carrying and dispensing a plurality of items, each having a unique code affixed thereto, and for policing the dispensing of said plurality of items, said vending machine comprising:

a cabinet for receiving and containing said plurality of items;

means for dispensing said plurality of items upon request;

machine control circuitry for controlling said dispensing means; and

a scanning activation system mounted within said cabinet and coupled to said machine control circuitry for scanning said plurality of items, and preventing dispensing thereof upon request, absent the proper unique code.

2. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1 wherein said scanning activation system includes:

a scanning activation device mounted in said cabinet for scanning a first of said plurality of items to be dispensed;

a decoder coupled to said scanning activation device for decoding said unique code carried by said first of said plurality of items and coupled to said machine control circuitry.

3. A vending machine as claimed in claim 1 further including:

a structural element for supporting a plurality of rows of said plurality of items, each row having a terminal item in position to be dispensed;

a selection panel coupled to said machine control circuitry for selecting one of said plurality of rows of said plurality of items;

said scanning activation system including a plurality of scanning activation devices positioned proximate said structural element, for scanning said terminal items of said plurality of rows, each of said plurality of scanning activation devices coupled to a decoder for decoding said unique code carried by said terminal item of said plurality of rows, said decoder coupled to said machine control circuitry.

4. A vending machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein each of said scanning activation devices includes:

a scan head moveable between a scan position for scanning said terminal item and a second position; and

a decoder trigger switch coupled proximate said scan head and coupled to said decoder, said scan head triggering said decoder trigger switch in the scan position, for actuating said decoder.

5. A method of policing a vending machine against use of unauthorized materials comprising the steps of:

a) providing a scanning activation system;

b) storing a plurality of items each carrying a unique code in said vending machine, at least one of which is a terminal item, next to be dispensed;

c) scanning said terminal item; and

d) initiating a product delivery sequence in response to scanning a proper unique code.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 further including the step of inhibiting said product delivery sequence when said proper unique code is absent.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein said step of scanning includes:

providing a scanning activation device proximate said terminal item;

providing a decoder coupled between said scanning activation device and machine control circuitry controlling said product delivery sequence;

decoding said unique code; and

removing said decoded unique code from said decoder.