Apparatus and method for vending candy tablets from powder

• US 7,555,360 B1
• Filed: 11/14/2005
• Issued: 06/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sandblast by Creative Concepts, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sandblast by Creative Concepts, Inc.
• Inventors: Wyatt, Joseph Michael, Green, Scott David
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford; Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): COLLINS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US11/273,218
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 700231-244, 221 1-312 C
• US Class Current: 700/233
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 11/44 in which magazines the articles are stored in bulk
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 13/06 with selective dispensing of different fluids or materials or mixtures thereof

Abstract

A candy vending machine that manufactures candy tablets from candy powder by a process that is visible to a customer. A feed tube is filled with candy powders of different flavors and colors from candy powder containers by the action of motorized augers. A tableting machine receives candy powder from the feed tube to compress the candy powder into candy tablets. One or more flavor selection buttons signal a computer system to activate the candy powder containers to transfer the candy powder to the feed tube, to deliver the candy powder from the feed tube to the tableting machine, and to deliver the candy tablets to a tablet chute. The tablet chute delivers the candy tablets to a candy tablet container provided to a customer. Sensing mechanisms determine the presence of the candy powder in the candy powder containers and in the feed tube.

Claims

1. A vending machine, comprising:

a) one or more candy powder containers;

b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;

c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets; and

d) a payment receiving mechanism.

2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a tablet chute to receive said candy tablets from said tableting machine, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.

3. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.

4. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, and the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube.

5. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said feed tube is transparent and said feed tube and said tableting machine are visible to a customer.

6. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.

7. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to said tablet chute.

8. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising a sensor to determine the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.

9. A vending machine, comprising:

a) one or more candy powder containers;

b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;

c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;

d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer; and

e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.

10. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.

11. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.

12. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.

13. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.

14. A vending machine, comprising:

a) one or more candy powder containers having motorized augers;

b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers by the action of said motorized augers;

c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;

d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer;

e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute being transparent and visible to a customer, and delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container; and

f) sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.

15. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.

16. The vending machine of claim 15, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.

17. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:

1) selecting flavors of candy powder;

2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;

3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;

4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and

5) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a customer.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein steps 2, 3, and 4 are visible to a customer.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.

22. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:

1) selecting flavors of candy powder;

2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;

3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;

4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and

5) steps 2, 3, and 4 being visible to a customer.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.

26. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:

1) selecting flavors of candy powder;

2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a transparent feed tube;

3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;

4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets;

5) discharging said candy tablets into a transparent tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container;

6) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full; and

7) steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 being visible to a customer.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.