Touchless automatic fiber optic beverage/ice dispenser

• US 6,688,134 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2001
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cascades Ventures, Inc., Technology Licensing Corporation
• Original Assignee: John C. Barton, Norma J. Barton
• Inventors: Barton, John C., Barton, Norma J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tapolcai, William E.
• Application Number:
  US10/008,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20030089423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 141/94, 141/192, 141/198, 141/351, 623/89, 623/90, 222/129.1
• US Class Current: 62/390
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/28 for portioning or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/00 Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught B67D3/00 takes precedence; apparatus for making beverages A47J31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0888 Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means)
• 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 2001/009 operated by cup detection
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2210/00065 related to the use of drinking cups or glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/20 Distributing ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25C 5/22 particularly adapted for household refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/065 for drink preparation

Abstract

A touchless automatic fiber optic beverage/ice dispenser (10, FIG. 1), dispenses ice and or beverages into a cup/container (26, FIG. 2), without user or cup/container touching any part of the machine, for sanitary effortless product filling activation. Any number of products may be dispensed from dispensing nozzles (16, 18, FIG. 1), in any volumes desired, allowing product mixing to customize beverages to the user'"'"'s preference. Touchless automatically activated dispensing allows cup/container to be held in normal fashion to which people are currently accustomed. A filling indicator light (15, FIG. 1) illuminates during automatic filling. “On/off” mode selector (14, FIG. 1) prevents unauthorized product dispensation, and allows fast, easy machine cleaning. Resulting is a user friendly, commercially durable, sanitary touchless beverage/ice dispenser (10, FIG. 1), wherein germs and diseases are not transmitted from person to person via the machine, even during refilling.

Claims

1. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system includes an optical system that has an optical fiber unit in communication with a light source for transmitting light through the optical fiber unit to emanate into the container-receiving region from an end of the optical fiber unit spaced from the light source, and wherein the sensing system includes means for detecting reflection of the light from a container wall surface and for receiving light reflected by a container placed within the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, and wherein neither the container nor the user need come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

2. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing is connected with a beverage reservoir.

3. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the housing includes an ice reservoir.

4. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flowable product is a liquid beverage.

5. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein flow of the liquid beverage takes place through a solenoid-operated beverage valve.

6. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the flowable product is ice.

7. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the machine includes a plurality of side-by-side product dispensing nozzles and a corresponding plurality of container-sensing systems each associated with a respective dispensing nozzle.

8. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 7, wherein at least one dispensing nozzle dispenses ice.

9. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container-sensing system is responsive to a container positioned within the container-receiving region below the at least one dispensing nozzle, and wherein dispensing of a product occurs only when an opening of the container is in a position relative to the dispensing nozzle to receive material that flows from the dispensing nozzle, to avoid spillage of dispensed product.

10. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container-sensing system is responsive to the position of a container relative to a lens forming part of the container-sensing system, to allow flow of a product from the dispensing nozzle only when the container is in a position in which an opening of the container is below the dispensing nozzle, to avoid spillage of dispensed product.

11. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container is a drinking vessel.

12. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, including an ice hopper for receiving and storing ice for dispensing through a dispensing head in the form of an ice chute.

13. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 12, wherein the ice is in the form of ice cubes.

14. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 12, including an ice agitator and agitator motor for placing the ice in a flowable condition.

15. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 12, including a solenoid-operated ice gate for controlling flow of ice into the ice chute.

16. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container-receiving region is a region within which a fill opening of the container is positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive flow of a product without product spillage outside the container.

17. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container sensing system includes a fiber optic proximity sensor.

18. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the container-receiving regions below respective dispensing nozzles are independent of each other to prevent undesired dispensing of a product from an adjacent dispensing nozzle under which no container is present.

19. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein the sensing system includes a fiber optic amplifier coupled with an optical fiber unit, wherein the optical fiber unit transmits light from a light source associated with the fiber optic amplifier and positioned at a first end of the optical fiber unit to a lens positioned at a second end of the optical fiber unit spaced from the light source and positioned opposite from the container-receiving region, and wherein the optical fiber unit receives and transmits to the fiber optic amplifier light that emanates from the light source and that is reflected from a container positioned within the container-receiving region.

20. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, wherein the container-sensing system is an optical system including a light source to direct light into the container-receiving region, and means for detecting reflection of the light from a surface within the container-receiving region and for actuating flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is detected, wherein the optical system includes an optical fiber unit in communication with the light source for transmitting light through the fiber to emanate from an end of the fiber unit spaced from the light source and for receiving light reflected by a container placed within the container-receiving region, wherein the optical fiber unit is a diffuse optical fiber unit, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

21. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, wherein the container-sensing system is an optical system including a light source to direct light into the container-receiving region, and means for detecting reflection of the light from a surface within the container-receiving region and for actuating flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is detected, wherein the optical system includes an optical fiber unit in communication with the light source for transmitting light through the fiber to emanate from an end of the fiber unit spaced from the light source and for receiving light reflected by a container placed within the container-receiving region, including a lens positioned adjacent the end of the optical fiber unit and facing the container-receiving region, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

22. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 21, wherein the lens has an outwardly-facing, convex, substantially cylindrical surface.

23. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 22, wherein the lens is a semi-cylindrical element having a substantially flat surface facing the fiber end.

24. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 22, including a clear optical rod positioned between the end of the optical fiber and the lens.

25. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 24, wherein the optical rod is translucently frosted on at least one end to diffuse light passing therethrough.

26. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 24, wherein the optical rod is translucently frosted at each of two opposite ends thereof.

27. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, wherein the container-sensing system is a photoelectric system for sensing the proximity of a container relative to the container-sensing system and below the at least one dispensing nozzle, wherein the photoelectric system includes a fiber optic amplifier coupled with an optical fiber unit, wherein the optical fiber unit transmits light from a light source associated with the fiber optic amplifier to a lens positioned at an end of the optical fiber unit opposite from the light source and opposite from the container-receiving region, and wherein the optical fiber unit receives and transmits to the fiber optic amplifier light that emanates from the light source and that is reflected from a container positioned within the container-receiving region, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

28. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 27, wherein the light is directed at and is reflected from a container wall surface.

29. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur, and

d) means for preventing dispensing of a product from the at least one dispensing nozzle, wherein the dispensing prevention means is an on-off mode selector control that allows cleaning of the dispensing machine and prevents unauthorized product dispensation.

30. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, including a light that serves as a visual indicator for indicating to a user that product is flowing from the at least one dispensing nozzle, wherein the light is associated with at least one dispensing head, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

31. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, including a light that serves as a visual indicator for indicating to a user that product is flowing from the at least one dispensing nozzle, wherein the light is positioned on the at least one dispensing head, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

32. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, including a light that serves as a visual indicator for indicating to a user that product is flowing from the at least one dispensing nozzle, wherein the light is positioned in association with an ice chute carried by the dispensing machine for dispensing ice, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur.

33. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by surface-to-surface contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned within the container-receiving region, and prevents flow of a product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present within the container-receiving region, and wherein the container does not come into physical contact with the dispensing machine to cause dispensing of product to occur; and

d) an ice hopper for receiving and storing ice for dispensing through a dispensing head in the form of an ice chute, wherein the ice is in the form of ice cubes, including an ice agitator and agitator motor for placing the ice in a flowable condition, and including a timer coupled with the ice agitator motor for periodically agitating the ice.

34. An automatically-actuated dispensing machine for dispensing a flowable product into a container without user or container contact with the dispensing machine, to provide improved sanitation by preventing transmission of germs that could otherwise be transferred by container-to-dispensing machine contact, said dispensing machine comprising:

a) a housing;

b) at least one dispensing nozzle carried by the housing, wherein an area below the at least one dispensing nozzle defines a container-receiving region to allow a container to be positioned below the at least one dispensing nozzle to receive a product that flows therefrom;

c) a sensing system for sensing the presence of a container in the container-receiving region, the sensing system including a source of diffused light and means for transmitting diffused light from the light source against a container wall surface and for receiving diffused light reflected by the container wall surface to provide a signal indicative of the presence of a container in a product-receiving position within the container-receiving region and below the at least one dispensing nozzle, the light transmitting and receiving means including a lens positioned adjacent to and facing the container-receiving region for transmitting diffused light toward the container-receiving region and for receiving light reflected by a container placed within the container-receiving region and in a product-receiving position, wherein the sensing system is operable to allow flow of the product through the at least one dispensing nozzle and into the container when the container is positioned in a product-receiving position within the container-receiving region, and wherein the sensing system is operable to prevent flow of the product through the at least one dispensing nozzle when a container is not present in a product-receiving position within the container-receiving region, so that dispensing of the product occurs without physical contact between the container and the dispensing machine.

35. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 34, wherein the light transmitting means includes an optical fiber unit having a first end in communication with the light source for transmitting light through the optical fiber unit to emanate from a second end of the fiber unit spaced from the light source, wherein the second end of the optical fiber unit transmits light to the lens and receives light reflected by the container.

36. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 34, wherein the lens has an outwardly-facing, convex, substantially cylindrical surface.

37. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 36, wherein the lens is a semi-cylindrical element having a substantially flat surface facing the second fiber end.

38. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 35, including a clear optical rod positioned between the second end of the optical fiber unit and the lens.

39. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 38, wherein the optical rod is translucently frosted on at least one end to diffuse light passing therethrough.

40. A dispensing machine in accordance with claim 38, wherein the optical rod is translucently frosted at each of two opposite ends thereof.