GB2277505A - Drink dispensing machine with conveyor belt - Google Patents

Abstract

A drinks dispensing machine suitable for producing a range of hot and cold beverages comprises a linear track on which a cup is movable from a cup supply station to position the cup to receive one or more beverage ingredient and water at appropriate charging stations. The linear track is then joggled to mix the various ingredients in the cup. Additionally mixing may be effected by jetting the required water into the cup to mix the dry ingredients therein. The linear truck is driven by a stepper motor.

Description

DRINK DISPENSING MACHINE This invention relates to a drink dispensing machine, and more particularly to an automatic drink dispensing machine of the type in which ingredients are mixed on demand to produce hot or cold drinks.

In machines of the above type of the prior art the beverage ingredients are mixed with hot or cold water in a suitable mixing chamber or nozzle prior to filling an empty cup. Such an arrangement has a number of disadvantages.

The provision of a mixing system adds to the size and cost of the machine, and particularly adds to the height of the machine since the mixing mechanism must be placed above the cup to be charged. The fact that the mixing mechanism must be placed above the cup to be charged additionally complicates the cup supply mechanism since the cup cannot simply drop vertically into its desired position. If separate mixing systems are provided for each product to be dispensed by the machine the problems of additional size and cost are correspondingly increased. If a single mixing mechanism is used for all ingredients then problems of cross-contamination can occur.

In accordance with the present invention the ingredients required for a beverage are mixed in the cup from which the beverage is to be consumed.

Mixing the beverage in the cup obviates the risk of cross-contamination, considerably simplifies the structure of the machine, and reduces the maintenance operations required to keep the machine operating in a satisfactory and hygienic condition.

In accordance with the first aspect of the present invention after at least part of the ingredients required for producing a beverage have been charged into a cup the cup itself is agitated to produce mixing of the ingredients.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the dry ingredients are first added to the cup and water under pressure is then added to the cup from one or more jets.

The jet action of the water entering the cup provides an initial mixing of the ingredients. This is particularly useful in the case of beverages requiring a large volume of dry ingredients, such as soups, hot chocolates, and milkshakes.

Preferably, part only of the volume of total water required is added to the dry ingredients prior to agitation of the cup. By this means, an effective pre-mixing of the dry ingredients and part of the water can be obtained as a result of cup agitation. The remaining water (which may be pressurised and added via jets or simply added to top up to the required level) is then added to the pre-mix of water and dry ingredients.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the agitation of the cup is achieved by joggling the cup backwards and forwards over a small amplitude along a linear path. This result can conveniently be achieved by joggling the platform upon which the cup stands. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the platform on which the cup stands is a linear track, for example the top strand of a belt entrained about rollers at either end of the machine. The required joggle action can be produced using the drive motor which, in other phases of operation of the machine, drives the belt to move the cup.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the belt is is driven by a stepper motor and the joggle action is produced by a suitable software control of the stepper motor.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the linear track is used to position the cup as required for receiving both dry ingredients and water. Thus, when a particularly beverage is selected a cup will initially be placed on the linear track and the linear track actuated to position the cup as required to receive the dry ingredients.

This may involve positioning the cup in several different positions to receive different dry ingredients, for example coffee, a whitener, and sugar can be charged into the cup from separate feed devices by moving the cup successively to the required stations. The linear track is then actuated to move the cup to a water receiving station whereupon part or all of the required water charge is added to the cup. The track is then actuated to produce the required joggle motion and thereafter any additional water required is added to the cup. The linear track may then be operated to move the cup to a removal station.

It will readily be appreciated that if the movement of the linear track is effected by a stepper motor the entire charging and mixing process is highly susceptible to software control which in turn means that wide ranges of permutation of ingredients can readily be provided for use by consumers. Because each dry ingredient is independently dispensed into the cup relatively little maintenance of the ingredient dosing mechanism is required. Also, by separating the water charging station from the dry ingredient charging station the problem of condensation on dry ingredient dosing nozzles is eliminated with the resultant improvement in reliability and performance and reduction in maintenance costs.

It will be noted that in addition to facilitating a wide range of combinations of ingredients the use of software control enables optimum mixing conditions for various combinations of ingredients to be obtained. Thus, if some particular beverage is advantageously produced by first pre-mixing one dry ingredient with water and subsequently adding a second dry ingredient to the pre-mix prior to further mixing, this can be achieved under software control. Thus, a wide range of beverage combinations can be produced using a minimum of components and relying on software control to produce the required mixing characteristics.

Claims (8)

1. A drink dispensing machine comprising means for positioning a cup to receive a beverage ingredient and water, and means for agitating the cup subsequent to receipt of the beverage ingredient and water to effect mixing of the beverage ingredient and water.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein, after mixing of the beverage ingredient and water additional water is charged into the cup to complete the beverage required.

3. A drink dispensing machine according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein agitation of the cup is effected by movement of the platform upon which the cup stands.

4. A drink dispensing machine according to Claim 3 wherein the platform upon which the cup stands is a linear track and agitation of the cup is effected by joggling the linear track to produce small amplitude linear movements of the cup.

5. A drinks dispensing machine according to Claim 4 wherein the linear track is used to position the cup successively at different stations to receive beverage ingredients and water.

6. A drinks dispensing machine according to Claim 4 or Claim 5 wherein the linear track is driven by a stepper motor which is controlled by software which, in response to demand for a beverage, moves the cup to receive the required ingredients and effects agitation of the cup by controlling the stepper motor to produce the required mixing of the ingredients.

7. A drinks dispensing machine comprising a linear track along which a cup is movable from a cup receiving station to at least one beverage ingredient receiving station, movement of the cup and the addition of ingredients to the cup being under software control.

8. A drinks dispensing machine substantially as hereinbefore described.