초록 ▼

A vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine has a selector for a plurality of beverage types and a selector for a plurality of ice types. The vending machine has a first store for storing a supply of the plurality of beverage types and a second store for storing a supply of the plurality of

A vending machine is disclosed. The vending machine has a selector for a plurality of beverage types and a selector for a plurality of ice types. The vending machine has a first store for storing a supply of the plurality of beverage types and a second store for storing a supply of the plurality of ice types. The vending machine also has a dispenser for dispensing into a container a selected beverage type and a selected ice type.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of vending ice and beverages, said method comprising: recognizing a first user selection of a beverage type;recognizing a second user selection of an ice type;accessing ice from a hopper segmented into a plurality of areas, wherein each area of said hopper is associated with a respective

1. A method of vending ice and beverages, said method comprising: recognizing a first user selection of a beverage type;recognizing a second user selection of an ice type;accessing ice from a hopper segmented into a plurality of areas, wherein each area of said hopper is associated with a respective type of ice;responsive to said second user selection, dispensing ice of said selected ice type; andresponsive to said first user selection, dispensing a beverage of said selected beverage type. 2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: obtaining said selected ice type from an ice storage area. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: creating said ice of said selected ice type. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said ice of said selected ice type comprises a frozen mixture of a liquid and an enhancing agent. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said enhancing agent comprises at least one of a beverage syrup, a flavoring, a caffeine additive, alcohol, a nutritional supplement, an electrolyte additive, and a food coloring. 6. The method of claim 4, wherein said selected ice type is characterized by said enhancing agent of said ice. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein said selected ice type comprises at least one of a beverage syrup enhanced ice type, a flavor enhanced ice type, a caffeine enhanced ice type, an alcohol enhanced ice type, a nutritional supplement enhanced ice type, an electrolyte enhanced ice type, and a food coloring enhanced ice type. 8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: dispensing said ice and said beverage into a container. 9. The method of claim 1 further comprising: recognizing a user selection of a supplement type; andin response to said supplement type selection, dispensing a supplement of said selected supplement type. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein said supplement comprises at least one of a beverage syrup, a flavoring, a caffeine additive, alcohol, a nutritional supplement, an electrolyte additive, and a food coloring. 11. A method of vending ice and beverages, said method comprising: recognizing a plurality of user selections, wherein said plurality of user selections comprise a first user selection of a beverage type and a second user selection of an ice type;accessing ice from a hopper segmented into a plurality of areas, wherein each area of said hopper is associated with a respective type of ice; andresponsive to said plurality of user selections, dispensing ice and a beverage, wherein said ice is of said ice type, and wherein said beverage is of said beverage type. 12. The method of claim 11 further comprising: obtaining said selected ice type from an ice storage area. 13. The method of claim 11 further comprising: creating said ice of said selected ice type. 14. The method of claim 11, wherein said ice of said selected ice type comprises a frozen mixture of a liquid and an enhancing agent. 15. The method of claim 14, wherein said enhancing agent comprises at least one of a beverage syrup, a flavoring, a caffeine additive, alcohol, a nutritional supplement, an electrolyte additive, and a food coloring. 16. The method of claim 14, wherein said selected ice type is characterized by said enhancing agent of said ice. 17. The method of claim 14, wherein said selected ice type comprises at least one of a beverage syrup enhanced ice type, a flavor enhanced ice type, a caffeine enhanced ice type, an alcohol enhanced ice type, a nutritional supplement enhanced ice type, an electrolyte enhanced ice type, and a food coloring enhanced ice type. 18. The method of claim 11 further comprising: dispensing said ice and said beverage into a container. 19. The method of claim 11 further comprising: recognizing a user selection of a supplement type; andin response to said supplement type selection, dispensing a supplement of said selected supplement type. 20. The method of claim 11, wherein said supplement comprises at least one of a beverage syrup, a flavoring, a caffeine additive, alcohol, a nutritional supplement, an electrolyte additive, and a food coloring.