CA2002064A1

CA2002064A1 - Non-attended, self-service cup vender

Info

Publication number: CA2002064A1
Application number: CA002002064A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Paul A. Phillips
Original assignee: Coca Cola Co
Current assignee: Coca Cola Co
Priority date: 1988-11-04
Filing date: 1989-11-02
Publication date: 1990-05-04
Also published as: WO1990005348A1; ZA898384B; JPH03502264A; ES2019493A6; EP0397835A1; AU4529989A; KR900702486A; US4962866A; BR8907152A

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A non-attended, coin-operated, postmix, cup vender using a cup holder and dropper mechanism, bag-in-box syrup packages, syrup pumps, a conventional counter electric beverage dispenser, a standard ice maker and dispenser and control means for allowing the customer to receive a full cup of beverage regardless of the amount of ice selected. The control means also guides the customer (and up to five customers simultaneously) through the operation using sequenced lighting displays and messages. The vendor includes separate dispense and vend modules.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION
DOCKET NO.: 1463A
EXPRESS MAIL NO.

NON-ATTENDED, SELF-SERVICE CUP VENDER
BACKGROUND OF THE INV~NTION

Thi~ invention relato~ to a high quality, roliable, unattondod, coln-operated, postmix, cup vender and in a preferred embodlmont to ~uck a vender using bag-in-box ~yrup package~, syrup pumps, a conventional counter olectric beverage dispen~er, a standard ice dispen~er, and control means to allow the customer to receive a full cup of beverage regardle~s of the amount of ice ~elected.
Coin operated, postmix, cup venders are Xnown, however, they have been sub~ect to numerous problems such as a poor guality of dispensed beverages, a lack of reliability, limited choice of cup sizes, and maintenance problems.

SUMMAR~ OF THE INVENTION

An unattended, coin-operated, postmix, cup vender that dispenses a high quality beverage, is reliable, and i~ ea~y to service and maintain. This cup vender:
(1) guides the customer through it~ operation through the use of seguenced lighting displays and message~;

(2) delivers cups in up to three different sizes;

(3) allows the customer to determine the relative amounts of ice and beverage in the cup; (4) controls the total amount of ice and beverage to equal the amount that will fill the cup purchased by the customer; (5) allows up to five customer transaction~
to be in the cup vender simultaneously; (6) provides ~ignificantly greater capacity to dispense ice and TRB2867J.

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beverage; and (7) provides for proper rotation of ~yrup inventory.
The cup vender preferably uses bag-in-box ~yrup packages, syrup pumps, a conventional counter electric beverage dispenser, a ~tandard ice dispenser, and control means for allowing the customer to receive a full cup of beverage regardless of the amount of ice selected.
It i~ an ob~ect of the present invention to provide an unattended cup vender that gives the customer a full cup of beverage regardless of the amount of lce selected.
It is another ob~ect of this invention to provide an unattended cup vender that guide~ the customer through its operation through seguenced lighting displays and messages.
It is another object of this invention to provide an unattended cup vender that will allow up to five customer transactions simultaneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the detailed description below when read in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
Fig. 1 i8 a front, top, left side perspective view of the cup vender according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the vender of Fig. 1 with the doors open;

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Fig. 3 is a front view of the vending module with the cup holder and dropping mechanism pivoted out of the module;
Flg. 4 1~ a block diagram showing the general controls arrangement;
Fi~. 5 i8 a schematic diagram showing the vending control system;
Fig. 6 i~ a schematic diagram showing the details of the interfaco circuit;
Fig. 7 is a wiring diagram of the dispensing system;
Fig. 8 i~ a general process flow diagram of the dispensing controller, Fig. 9 i8 a flow diagram for the gueue function;
Fig. 10 is a flow diagram for the status function;
Fig. 11 is a flow diagram for the dispense function; and Fig. 12 18 a flow diagram for the display function.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference now to the drawings, Figs. 1-3 show the non-attended, coin-operated cup vender 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the pre~ent invention.
The cup vender 10 includes a cup vending module 12 and an ice and beverage dispensing module 14. The module 12 includes a front panel or door 16 hinged at 18 to the remainder of the module and locked thereto by a lock 20. The module 14 includes a front door 22 ~inged at 24 to the remainder of the module and locked thereto by a lock 26.
Referring to the cup vending module 12, it includes on the door 16, a coin mechanism 28, a coin TRB2867J.

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return 29, a plurality of cup size Relector buttons 30, and a cup vend port 32.
Referring to the door 22 on the dispense module 14, it include~ an ice dispense station 34, an ice dispense button 36, an ice chute 38, a plurality of beverage di~pensing stations 40 and as~ociated selector buttons 42, flavor indicla panels 43, and nozzles 44.
A drip tray 46 i~ located below the nozzles and a 8pill tu~e 48 feeds llgu~d to a container 50 (located in the vend module).
Referring now to Fig. 2, the vend modul~ 12 includes a coin vault 52 on the rear of the door 16 along with a vend controller 54 and a power supply 56.
The vend module houses a cup holder and dropper mechanism 58 #upported on a sliding and pivoting support 60 that first pulls out several ~nches and then pivots the mechanism 58 to the left (as viewed in Fig. 2), to provide access into the module 12. The module 12 also includes a light 62 positioned on the cup mechanism 58 to shine into a cup when dropped into the vend port 32, as sensed by a photoelectric sensor 63 located in a flexible cup stop finger. A
water line 64 feeds outside water into a water filter 66 and then to the carbonator 86 in the dispense module. The vend module also holds the C02 supply tank 68, the electronic controls 70, and the shelves 72 that hold the bag-in-box (B~B) packages 74.
The di#pense module 14 holds a standard counter electric beverage dispenser 80 having a plurality of dispen~ing valves 81 located side-by-side on the front thereof, each including a dispen~ing nozzle 44, an ice maker and dispe~ser 82, a plurality of syrup pumps 84 and a carbonator 86. Any known dispenssr, ice maker and di~penser, syrup pump and carbonator can be used.

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The dispenser incorporates standard features such as a refrigeration ~ystem for cooling the syrup and water.
A vertical plate 87 is positioned in front of the di~lpenser 80 and lce mechanism 82 and has the cup symbols 40 drawn thereon to identify the various stations.
The cup vender 10 include~ a fir~t set of syrup conduits that communlcate between the BIB packages and the ~ump~ and a second set that communicate between the pumps and the beve~age dispen~er.
The cabinot lnterior of the vender 10 iB
subdivided into aroas for routine refill and areas for mechanical maintenance. This feature allows the operator to o~ly have to open one portion of the cabinet (that i~, the vend module 12) for routine use, reducing the service time and complexity. This also allows the operator to restrict certain adjustment functions to qualified persons only, through control of the door acces~ keys, if deslred. The routine section of the vender contains storage for the BIB syrup packages, CUpB, C02, the coin and bill vault, the drain bucket, the water filter, and a status monitor panel to check on the remainder of the system. All other elements are contained in the maintenance section of the cabinet (the dispense module 14). The interconnection between these two cabinet sections or modules (which are physically separated for shipping) is via guick di0connects.
The cup vender 10 of the present invention i~
intended to replace the function previously accomplished by a cup vending machine, hereinafter referred to a~ "CVM." A CVM delivers a finished soft drink beverage to the cu~tomer using previously determined amounts of ice and beverage into a TRB28~7J.

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previously determined size of beverage cup, in response to the in~ertion of money or equivalent tender. The -cup vender 10 of this invention makes a radical departure from the CVM sy~tem in seven areas: ~1) it guides the customer through it~ operation through the use of sequenced lighting displays and messages; (2) it will deliver cup~ in up to three different ~izes;
(3) it allows the customer to determine the relative amounts of ice and beverage in the cup; (4) it controls the total amount of lce and beverage to equal the amount that will fill the cup purchased by the customer; (5) it allows up to five customer transactions to be in the cup vender 10 simultaneously;
(6) it provides significantly greater capacity to dispense ice and beverage; and (7) it provides for proper rotation of syrup inventory.

Descri~tion o ODeratlon The cup vender 10 may be considered a~ having two distinct areas of operation - the sale and vending of an empty cup and an opportunity to fill it (vending), and the filling of said cup with ice and beverage (dispensing). The Interface Circuit of Fig. 4 is provided to connect the control systems of the two operations. Each area of operation is described in detail below.

Vendina OPeration The vending operation employs a means to accept money or other tender, a means to select the size cup desired, a means to vend a cup of the selected size, an electronic control ~ystem means and a means to guide the customer through the vending operation. This operation is, ~or the most part, conventional vending TRB2867J.

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in nature, and utilizes many commercially available compQnents. The commercially available components include the coin mechanism, dollar bill validator, vending electronic control system, electric gearmotor, and cup dispenslng mechanism. The vending control sy3tem arrangement is shown in Fig. 5.
The operation begins with the customer inserting coins or dollar b~ 118 to establish a purchase credit.
An electronic di~play indicates the amount of credit established with the vender 10. As sufficient credit is established to purcha~e a ~ize of cup, the selection button for the ~lze i~ illuminated in a fla~hing pattern by the vending electronic control system. The flashing indication draws the attention of the customer to the next step of operation, the selection of the desired cup size. Pressing the desired cup size selection button causes the vending electronic control system to energize an electric gearmotor which drives the cup dispensing mechanism for the selected size cup, causing the cup to be conveyed to the customer at the cup vend port 32. The vending control sy~tem contains the means to electronically relate 8iX CUp dispensing mechanisms to the three cup size selections. The vending electronic control system also causes the coin mechanism to return the unused portion of the credit established by the customer, if any. When the cup arrives at the vending port 32, its presence is detected by a photoelectric sensor 63, causing the energizing of the light 62 directed at the vend port from inside the vender lO. This light causes the cup to "glow" in a very unexpected and attention-gett~ng manner, drawing the attention of the customer to its presence.

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Interface Circuit An interface circuit 90 (see Fig. 6) i8 provided to exchange information between the vending electronic control ~ystem and the di~pensing electronic control sy~tem. This interface circuit provides the dispen~ing controller with one of throe ~ignal~ to indicate which ~ize of cup has been vended by the vending controller, and receives a s~gnal from the dispensing controller to indicate the necessity of su~pending the vending operation. The details of thi~ circuit are shown in the Fig. 6 schematic diagram, and described below.
The vending ~ystem de~ign utilizes BiX CUp dispensing mechanisms, with the ability to install any cup size mechanism at any position. The interface provides six control relays, one operating in parallel with each of the vend relays. Each control relay has as~ociated with it a switch to as~ign it to one of the three cup ~ize~. Thi~ switch i~ set to correspond to the size cup dispensed by the as~ociated vend relay-gearmotor-cup dispenser system. The switches are then wired to combine control relay contacts of like size into a single effective contact output for that size.
The dispensing controller generates an output in the event a condition occurs to prevent it from properly dispensing a customer's beverage or continuing operation. The conditions generating this output are dispensing queue full, low water pressure, low C02 pressure, all syrup supplies out, ice supply out, or waste level high. This output energizes a control relay in the interface circuit, the contact from which interrupts current flow through the soldout sen~ors for the cup dispenser~ in the vending controller, creating TRB2867J.

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the effect of all CUp8 out, which will cause the vending controller to cease taking money.

Di~Densina ODeratlon The dispensing operation employs the ice maker and dispenser 82, the carbonator 86, the pumps 84, the dispenser 80 to chill and di~pense syrup, carbonated water, and plain water, an olectronic control sy~tem means, and a means to guide the customer through the dispensing operation. Many elements of this operation utilize commercially available equipment. The syrup storage, syrup pumping, carbonation, beverage chilling and programmable control systems are commercially available elements. The di~pensing valves and ice dispenser are slight modifications of commercial products, to enable them to be externally controlled.
A wiring diagram o the dispensing system is ~hown in Fig. 7. The general process flow o the dispensing controller is shown in Fig. 8.
When the dispensing controller receives a signal from the interface circuit that a cup has been vended, it inserts a value into an electronic FIFO queue that corresponds to the volume capacity of the particular cup size. This queue has the capacity to hold the volume reference for five cup vends. The dispensing controller examines the first-in value in the queue for a non-zero value once a program scan, and upon finding one, begins a dispensing sequence, if a sequence is not currently in progress. If a dispensing sequence is in progresQ, the value iB held in the queue until such time as the previous sequence i~ completed. The flow diagram for the queue is shown ~n Fig. 9.
The dispensing controller includes a status checking function to monitor the condition of critical TRB2867J.
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machine elements. In the event of a critical stAtus situation, the dispensing controller generates an out;put to the interface circuit 90, which will cause the vending controller to cease taking money. The critical status items are: low C02 pressure; low water pr~ssure; hlgh wa~te bucket level; ice out; all flavors out; or queue full. Thls function includes time filtering to eliminate false response to 6tray impulses, such as normal BIB pump operation. Status flags are set for use in the dispensing and display functions. The ~tatus function flow is diagrammed in Fig. 10.
The dispen~ing seguence, as shown in the flow diagram in Fig. 11, begins by eqtablishing a latch in the dispensing controller software. The latch is used as a reference that enables dispensing to occur. The latch is reset by the dispensing of the allowed volume ox the timeout of one of three reset functions. The volume reference is moved from the queue to a temporary storage register in the controller. Next, the volume reference is divided by a factor that represents the maximum amount of ice the customer i8 allowed to dispense, and the result is stored in a second storage register. This factor is a function of the density of the ice being dispensed. For the ice used in the vender 10, the ice occupie~ a space approximately twice the volume of the liquid it would displace - therefore the factor for a full cup of ice is 2. The volume reference is also divided by 10 to establish a reference used for one of the timeout functions, the result being kept in a third storage register.
The three reset functions are provided to reset the vender 10 for subsequent customers in the event a cu~tomer does not complete the dispensing operation.

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The first timing period is started when the dispensing latch function i8 set on. The purpose of this time period iB to allow the customer to collect the c~p and any change from the vending portion of the vender, and to begin dispensing ice or beverage. If this first period time~ out, the di~pensing latch is reset, cancelllng the transactlon, and enabllng the next transactlon. The fir~t tlmeout function is disabled once either lce or beverage haq been dlspensed by the cu~tomer. Thi~ period iB ~et to 60 ~econds ln the vender. The second tlmlng perlod functlons between operatlon~ of the dlspen~lng process. The timing functlon begins when either the ice selection button 36 or any beverage selection button 42 is released. It resets when any of these buttons are pressed. The function of the second period is to allow the customer time between dispensing ice and beverage, to top off a beverage, etc., but to reset the vender ln the event the cu~tomer walks away. The ~econd timing period is effective until 90% o~ the volume ref0rence is dispensed. Thi6 is controlled by comparing the volume left to dispense with the factor in the above reference third storage register. The second timing period i8 set at 20 seconds ln the vender. The third timing period functions in a like manner as the second timing period, except that it is effective from 90% volume dispensed to 100% volume dispensed, and the timing period is shortened to 5 seconds. This time allows a customer to top off a drink, but quickly resets for the next customer if top off does not begin in 5 seconds.
The dispensing controller functions to provide a full finished drink to the customer, and al~o to prevent the customer from defrauding the operator of the vender. The control program does not permit the TRB2867J.

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si~ultaneous dispensing of ice and a beverage, or thesimultaneou6 dispensing of two or more beverages. It fuxther restricts the dispensing of ice once the di~pensing of beverage has begun. The dispensing controllsr contains a calculation function that i8 the key to delivering a full finished beverage of the size purchased, ~ut no more than that volume. This calculation is performed at intervals of 0.1 second any time that elther ice or beverage is being dispensed.
The calculation is defined by the equation: VOLUME
(current) = VOLUME (previous) - FLOW FACTOR
(oz./O.l ~ec.). Ice dispensing is allowed until VOLUME
(current) ~ the maximum ice volume from the above referenced second storage register. The VOLUME i8 stored in the above referenced first storage regi~ter, and there i8 a FLOW FACTOR for ice and each of the beverage flavors in seven additional ~torage registers.
The control program functions to retrieve the appropriate FLOW FACTOR, according to the item being dispensed, at each O.l second calculation interval.
The control program allows the customer to freely choose the amount of ice (up to the preset limit) and to dispense either one or several beverage flavors (but .-not simultaneously) into the cup purcha~ed. The control program allows dispensing to continue until the value VOLUME (current) S O. At that time, no further dispensing is allowed for the current transaction. The control program begins a delay time to allow the current customer to move out of the way, then resets the di6pensing latch function. This delay i8 set at seconds in the vender.
The vender provides three message functions driven by the dispensing controller to aid the customer in operation of the vender. These messages are "Dispense TRB2867J.

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Ice and Beverage", "Please Wait", and "Thank You~, and are presented in panels 92 located on the door 22 ad~acent to the dispen~ing buttons 42 and flavor ldentification panels 43. The operation of the~e me~sages i8 a~ follow~. "Diepense Ice and Beverage" i~
activated when the dispensing latch i~ set. It is illuminated in a flashing pattern until the customer begins the dispensing process by pres~ing either the ice button 36 or one of the flavor buttons 42. At that time, "Dispense Ice and Beverage" turns to a steady lllumination. It remains on until the dispen~ing is completed, as defined by the factor VOLUME having a value ~O, or until one of the three reset timeouts occur. The message "Please Wait" is activated when a second customer vends a cup while a first customer is still dispensing a drink. When "Please Wait" i~
active, it is illuminated in a flashing pattern.
Should the first customer not yet have begun di~pensing, indicated by a flashing "Dispense Ice and Beverage" message, the "Please Wait" message is held inactive until said fir3t customer begins di~pen~ing.
The "Thank You" message is illuminated during the 5 s0cond delay period between the completion of dispensing and the reset o the dispensing latch by the control program. It is illuminated ~teady when active.
Refer to Fig. 12 of the flow diagram of the display function.
While the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described above in detail, it is to be under~-tood that variations and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, while a plurality of beverage dispensing valves is shown, one for each different beverage, one or more multiflavor TRB2867J. -13-.

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valves can be used in place of the individual valves.
Also, while b~g-in-box packages are shown, other syrup packages can be used. A ~eparate carbonator has been shown, howevor, this can be dispensed if a beverage dispenser 80 of the type with a built-in carbonator is u~ed. Although the cup vender 10 preferably is made up o two different modules, thls is not essentlal.
Different types of cup holders and droppers can also be used. The choice of distinct control systems for the vending and the di~penslng operations represented a choice of exped$ency for the prototype, to avoid tlme delay in control~ development; later versions will probably employ a single control system for both functions. Debit cards and tokens can be used instead of or in addition to money. Smaller BIB packages (than the five gallon size 6hown) can be u~ed, if available, to reduce cabinet size. Different cup vend ports can be u~ed for different cup ~izes, if de~ired. More than three cup sizes can be used, if desired.

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Claims

1. A non-attended, self-service cup vender comprising:

(a) a housing;

(b) a coin mechanism in said housing for initiating the dispensing cycle;

(c) a cup drop station including a vending port in a front panel of said housing;

(d) an ice dispensing station in said front panel including an ice selector button and an ice chute for dispensing a selected quantity of ice into a cup placed at said ice dispensing station;

(e) a beverage dispensing station, including a pour button and a nozzle, whereby a cup that has been manually removed from said cup vending port can be placed in said beverage dispensing station;

(f) a plurality of bag-in-box pumps in said housing for pumping syrup from bag-in-box syrup containers in said housing to said beverage dispensing station;

(g) a beverage dispenser mounted in said housing;

(h) a plurality of first syrup conduits having bag-in-box disconnects at the proximal end thereof and connected at the distal ends thereof to one each of said syrup pumps, and a plurality of second syrup conduits connected between said syrup pumps and said dispenser;

(i) an ice maker and dispenser mounted in said housing for feeding ice to said ice dispensing station when said ice selector button is energized;

(j) a water line in said housing for feeding water from an inlet to said dispenser and a carbonator in said housing connected to said water line;

(k) a cup holding and dropping mechanism mounted in said housing adjacent said cup drop station; and (1) an electronic controller mounted in said housing for controlling the beverage dispensing operation of said cup vender, said controller including means for measuring both the dispense time of ice and of beverage and for inactivating the beverage dispensing function after the total measured dispense time of both ice and beverage reaches a set value.

2. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said beverage dispensing station includes a plurality of separate, side-by-side, beverage dispensing stations, each including a respective pour button and nozzle.

3. The apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said housing includes an ice and beverage dispensing module and a separate cup vending module, said modules being positioned side-by-side and wherein all of the routine service equipment including the bag-in-box container area, the cup holding and dropping mechanism, and the coin mechanism, are located in said vending module.

4. The apparatus as recited in claim 3 including means for guiding a customer through the operation of the cup vender including sequenced lighting displays and messages.

5. The apparatus as recited in claim 4 including means for illuminating a cup when dropped into said cup vending port.

6. The apparatus as recited in claim 5 wherein said illuminating means includes directing light into the inside of a cup through its open top.

7. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 including means for guiding a customer through the operation of the cup vender including sequenced lighting displays and messages.

8. The apparatus as recited in claim 7 wherein said guiding means includes means for guiding a plurality of customers through said operation at the same time.

9. The apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said cup holding unit includes at least six different cup storage stacks holding at least three different cup sizes.

10. A method for vending a postmix beverage comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a non-attended, postmix cup vender including a coin mechanism, a cup selecting button, a cup vending port, an ice dispensing station, and a beverage dispensing station;
and (b) measuring each ice dispensing step and each beverage dispensing step and inactivating said beverage dispensing station when the total measured dispensing time of both ice and beverage reaches a set value.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 wherein said beverage dispensing station includes a plurality of separate beverage dispensing stations each including a pour button and a nozzle, and wherein said measuring step includes measuring the total dispensing time from all of the beverage dispensing stations.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 including the step of guiding a customer through the operation of said cup vender by sequentially lighting a plurality of displays and messages.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said guiding step includes guiding a plurality of customers simultaneously.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 including measuring the beverage dispensing at all of said beverage dispensing stations.

15. The method as recited in claim 10 including the step of illuminating a cup when it is dropped into said cup vending port.

16. The method as recited in claim 10 including providing said cup vender as two separate modules including an ice and beverage dispensing module and a separate cup vending module and locating all of the routine service equipment in said vending module.

17. The method as recited in claim 16 including locating a postmix, counter electric beverage dispenser in said dispensing module, connecting it to bag-in-box syrup pumps located in said dispensing module, and connecting said syrup pumps to bag-in-box containers located in said vending module.

18. A non-attended, self-service postmix cup vender comprising:

(a) a housing, a coin mechanism in said housing, a cup holding and dropping mechanism in said housing, said housing having a front panel, a cup selector button and a cup vend port on said panel, an ice making and dispensing mechanism in said housing and an ice dispensing station on said panel including an ice selector button, and a beverage dispensing mechanism in said housing and a beverage dispensing station on said panel including a beverage selector button; and (b) an electronic controller in said housing for measuring the dispense time of both ice and beverage and for inactivating the beverage dispensing function when the total measured dispense time of both ice and beverage roaches a set value.

19. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 including means for guiding a customer through the operation of said cup vender including sequenced lighting displays and messages.

20. The apparatus as recited in claim 19 including means for guiding a plurality of customers through said operation simultaneously.

21. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said cup mechanism includes means for dispensing a plurality of different cup sizes and wherein said set time is different for each different cup size.

22. The apparatus as recited in claim 18 wherein said beverage dispensing station includes means for dispensing a plurality of different beverages, including a plurality of different beverage selector buttons.

23. The apparatus as recited in claim 22 including a separate beverage dispensing nozzle for each beverage.