Beverage dispenser detecting mechanism
US5139127A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 1991 |
| Grant date | Aug 18, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 1, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F13/10
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A beverage dispensing machine is provided and is of the type having a cup station, a cup holder for holding a plurality of cups, a cup delivery for delivering one of the cups at a time to the cup station, a beverage dispenser for dispensing beverage to the cup station, and controller for controlling operation of the cup delivery and the beverage dispenser. The controller being adapted to initiate a cycle of operation of the machine upon activation of the controller wherein the cup delivery delivers a cup to the cup station from the cup holder and the beverage dispenser dispenses a predetermined quantity of beverage to the cup in the cup station. The improvement comprises a detecting mechanism for engaging and detecting the presence of a container inserted into the cup station prior to activation of the controller. The container detecting mechanism being adapted to modify the cycle of operation of the machine such that upon activation of the controller the cup delivery does not deliver a cup to the cup station and the beverage dispenser delivers a predetermined quantity of beverage to the container inserted in the cup station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.