Method and apparatus for making snow cones

• US 5,590,999 A
• Filed: 02/17/1995
• Issued: 01/07/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Murphey, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Merritt, Karen B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MORSE, GREGORY ALLAN
• Application Number:
  US08/390,773
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 141/372, 414/795.6, 414/797.4, 414/798, 414/798.1
• US Class Current: 414/795.6
• 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. An improved device comprising a snow cone making machine for making snow cones in cone shaped cups, wherein said improvement comprises a retaining collar moveable into engagement with a cone cup in a preparation compartment of the snow cone making machine, the retaining collar having a substantially cylindrical structure with an upper edge and a lower edge, said lower edge configured to interact with said cone cup so as to substantially eliminate relative movement between said retaining collar and said cone cup.

2. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 1 for use with said cone cup having a rim, wherein said lower edge of said retaining collar includes an engagement structure which engages said rim of said cone cup.

3. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 2 further comprising a cone cup dispenser for automatically dispensing cone cups having an open end and a cone body, said cone cup dispenser including:

a) a housing having an opening, coupled adjacent the preparation compartment;

b) a cup canister coupled to said housing at said opening for holding a plurality of said cone cups in a stack with said open ends facing away from said opening of said housing; and

c) an extraction mechanism coupled to said housing for removing said cone cups singly from said cup canister.

4. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 3 wherein said cup canister comprises:

a) a canister collar for frictionally retaining said cone cups so as to allow the cone body of at least the outermost cone cup to extend partially there past, coupled to said housing around the periphery of said opening with said at least the outermost cone body extending partially thereinto; and

b) a tubular body having an open end and an access opening, said open end coupled to said canister collar.

5. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said extraction mechanism of said cone cup dispenser comprises:

a) a first and second fulcrum collar pivotally coupled to said housing on opposing sides of said opening;

b) a first and second forceps, slideably received in said first and second fulcrum collars respectively, for pivotal and reciprocating movement between a retracted and an extended position relative said housing;

c) biasing means for biasing said first and second forceps into said retracted position;

d) actuating means for moving said first and second forceps from said retracted position to said extended position; and

e) control means for regulating said actuating means.

6. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said first and second forceps each include:

a) a forceps arm slideably carried by said fulcrum collars, having a first end and a second end; and

b) a gripping member coupled to said second end of said forceps arm for engaging said cone body of said cone cup depending from said canister collar.

7. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 6 wherein said gripping member includes:

a) a frame configured to engage said cone body; and

b) a gripping layer lining said frame to provide a frictional grip against said cone body.

8. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 7 wherein said gripping member further includes pins extending through said gripping layer, with points partially emerging therefrom to interact with said cone body of said cone cup.

9. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said control means includes:

a) a reverse switch for stopping and reversing said motor; and

b) cut-off means for removing power from said motor.

10. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said reverse switch includes a contact and a contact lever, closed by a switching pin extending from said first end of said forceps arm of said first forceps in the extended position.

11. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 9 wherein said cut-off means is coupled to said housing proximate said first forceps, and includes a contact and a contact lever closed by a contact pin extending from said fulcrum collar of said first forceps in its outwardly pivoted position.

12. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said biasing means for each of said first and second forceps includes a tension spring having a first end coupled to said housing and a second end coupled proximate said second end of said forceps arm.

13. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 5 wherein said actuator means includes:

a) a bidirectional motor; and

b) a cord coupled between said motor and said first end of said forceps arm of each of said first and second forceps.

14. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 4 wherein said cup canister further includes:

a) a side plate hingedly coupled to said tubular body for closing said access opening; and

b) a sensing means for sensing when said cup canister is empty.

15. An improved snow cone machine as claimed in claim 2 wherein said engagement structure of said retaining collar is a groove formed in said lower edge for receiving said rim of said cone cup.