A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing structure, a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure and a staging structure linked with the transportation mechanism. A control system is linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure and the transportation mechan
A beverage dispensing apparatus includes a dispensing structure, a transportation mechanism linked with the dispensing structure and a staging structure linked with the transportation mechanism. A control system is linked with the dispensing structure, staging structure and the transportation mechanism. A sensor mechanism is linked with the control system. The sensor mechanism provides signals indicating the position of a cup. A cup identification system having an interactive display is connected to the control system. The display has visual characteristics indicating the position and characteristics of a cup.
대표청구항▼
1. A beverage dispensing apparatus extending along an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, the beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a di
1. A beverage dispensing apparatus extending along an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, the beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a dispensing lane structure that has a length in the Y-axis direction and a width in the X-axis direction,a cup placement device configured to place cups in a plurality of cup placement locations along the length of the dispensing lane structure; anda lift platform that is configured to move below the length of the dispensing lane structure and vertically with respect to the dispensing lane structure in the Z-axis direction;wherein the lift platform is configured to move up through the dispensing lane structure from below the dispensing lane structure to thereby lift a cup off the dispensing lane structure from one of the plurality of cup placement locations and wherein the lift platform is further configured to move down through the dispensing lane structure from above the dispensing lane structure to thereby place the cup onto the dispensing lane structure in a different one of the plurality of cup placement locations. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising Y and Z actuators that move the lift platform in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions, respectively. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the dispensing lane structure comprises a rail grid defined by a plurality of rails having spaces therebetween. 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lift platform comprises a plurality of rails that are positioned to move within the spaces between the plurality of rails of the rail grid. 5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the rail grid comprises an angled front edge and wherein the lift platform comprises a raised front edge that defines a plowing structure configured to move ice and other objects off of the rail grid. 6. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a Z-actuator and a Y-actuator that move the cup placement device in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to automatically place the cups in the plurality of locations along the dispensing structure. 7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cup placement device comprises a plurality of suction cup gripping mechanisms that are actuated by a pneumatic air control system to grip the plurality of cups. 8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an ice dispenser and a beverage dispensing valve that are positioned along the dispensing lane structure above an ice filling position and a beverage filling position, wherein the ice filling position and beverage filling position are separate and apart from each other along the dispensing lane structure. 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the ice dispenser is configured to dispense ice to a cup located in the ice filling position as the cup placement device is placing a cup in one of the plurality of cup placement locations. 10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an X-transport structure comprising a rail grid located above the dispensing lane structure with respect to the Z-axis direction, the rail grid being configured to move a cup in the X-axis direction with respect to the dispensing lane structure. 11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the X-transport structure further comprises an X-actuator that moves the rail grid in the X-axis direction. 12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising staging lane structure comprising a plurality of rail grids that are laterally spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction, wherein each rail grid in the plurality of rail grids comprises a plurality of rails having spaces there between. 13. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a staging lift platform for each rail grid, the staging lift platform is configured to move below the length of rail grid and vertically with respect to the rail grid in the Z-axis direction. 14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the staging lift platform is configured to move up through the rail grid from below the rail grid to thereby lift a cup off the staging lane structure and wherein the lift platform is further configured to move down through the rail grid from above the rail grid to thereby place the cup onto the staging lane structure in a different location. 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, further comprising a Z-actuator and a Y-actuator that move the cup placement device in the Z-axis direction and the Y-axis direction to automatically place the cups in the plurality of locations along the staging lane structure. 16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the rail grid comprises an angled front edge and wherein the staging lift platform comprises a raised front edge that defines a plowing structure configured to move ice and other objects off of the rail grid. 17. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the X-transport structure is configured to move a cup from the dispensing lane structure to the staging lane structure. 18. A beverage dispensing apparatus extending along an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, the beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a staging lane structure that has a length in the Y-axis direction and a width in the X-axis direction;an X-transport structure comprising a rail grid located above the staging lane structure with respect to the Z-axis direction, the rail grid being configured to move a cup in the X-axis direction with respect to the staging lane structure; anda lift platform that is configured to move below the length of the staging lane structure and vertically with respect to the staging lane structure in the Z-axis direction;wherein the lift platform is configured to move up through the staging lane structure from below the staging lane structure to thereby lift a cup off the dispensing lane structure from one of the plurality of cup placement locations and wherein the lift platform is further configured to move down through the staging lane structure from above the staging lane structure to thereby place the cup onto the staging lane structure in a different one of the plurality of cup placement locations. 19. The apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising Y and Z actuators that move the lift platform in the Y-axis and Z-axis directions, respectively. 20. The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the staging lane structure comprises a rail grid defined by a plurality of rails having spaces therebetween and wherein the lift platform comprises a plurality of rails that are positioned to move within the spaces between the plurality of rails of the rail grid. 21. A beverage dispensing apparatus extending along an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction that is perpendicular to the X-axis direction and perpendicular to the Y-axis direction, the beverage dispensing apparatus comprising: a dispensing lane structure;a cup placement device configured to place cups in a plurality of cup placement locations along the dispensing lane structure;a staging lane structure that extends from front to back in the Y-axis direction and from side to side in the X-axis direction, wherein the staging lane structure comprises a plurality of rail grids that are laterally spaced apart from each other in the X-axis direction;an X-transport structure comprising a rail grid located above the staging lane structure with respect to the Z-axis direction, the X-transport structure being configured to move a cup in the X-axis direction from the dispensing lane structure to each of the plurality of rail grids at the back of the staging lane structure. 22. The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a lift platform that is configured to move below the length of the dispensing lane structure and vertically with respect to the dispensing lane structure in the Z-axis direction; wherein the lift platform is configured to move up through the dispensing lane structure from below the dispensing lane structure to thereby lift a cup off the dispensing lane structure from one of the plurality of cup placement locations and wherein the lift platform is further configured to move down through the dispensing lane structure from above the dispensing lane structure to thereby place the cup onto the dispensing lane structure in a different one of the plurality of cup placement locations. 23. The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the staging lane structure comprises a rail grid defined by a plurality of rails having spaces therebetween and wherein the lift platform comprises a plurality of rails that are positioned to move within the spaces between the plurality of rails of the rail grid. 24. The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the dispensing lane structure has a length in the Y-axis direction and a width in the X-axis direction. 25. The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 21, further comprising a control system that controls movement of the X-transport structure to back fill the staging lane structure based upon a current location of cups located in the staging lane structure. 26. The beverage dispensing apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a cup identification system that comprises an information unit that identifies the current location of cups located on the staging lane structure to a user.
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