Food service cup dispensers, systems, and methods

US11752779B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• GPCP IP Holdings LLC · US

Inventors

• Michelle Lynn Auda · Atlanta, US
• Daniel Huffaker · Kennesaw, US
• Brandon Seth Cross · Atlanta, US
• Daniel J. Geddes · Appleton, US
• Nathaniel Michael Peterson · Champlin, US
• Andrew James Carlson · Quincy, US
• Aaron Lee Sinclair · Tyrone, US
• Jason Aaron Morgan · Appleton, US
• Lenox Gregory Wilson · Alpharetta, US
• Mikhail Tikh · St. Louis Park, US
• Robert Simon · Southampton, US
• Ryan David Carignan · Racine, US
• Alex Grady · Atlanta, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 3, 2020
• Grant date: Sep 12, 2023
• Expiry date: Dec 17, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/01
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Systems for providing on-demand cup printing and dispensing for food service are provided herein. A cup dispenser includes a cup source configured to hold a stack of cups and one or more cup-moving elements configured to cause a cup from the stack of cups to move through the cup dispenser. The cup dispenser includes a motor configured to operate the one or more cup-moving elements to cause the cup to move through the cup dispenser along a path. The cup dispenser also includes a printer configured to print at least one of order information or personalization information on the cup that is based on the food service order associated with the cup. The cup dispenser further includes a dispensing section that provides the cup, which includes the at least one of order information or personalization information printed thereon.