# US 2019/0166874 A1 · Universal, refrigerated, automated vending kiosk for interchangeable equipment serving soft serve ice cream and frozen beverages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0166874 A1 - Document ID: US20190166874A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/201,277 - Filed: 2018-11-27 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-11-27 - Assignees: KeepvendingUSA Holdings LLC - Inventors: Morris Douer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190166874A1 ## CPC - A23G 9/28: for portioning or dispensing - A23G 9/22: Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups - A23G 9/30: Cleaning; Keeping clean; Sterilisation - G07F 17/0071: {Food articles which need to be processed for dispensing in a cold condition, e.g. ice and ice cream} - H02J 3/12: Arrangements for adjusting voltage in AC networks by changing a characteristic of the network load - H02J 3/14: by switching loads on to, or off from, the networks, e.g. progressively balanced loading - H02J 3/17: Demand-responsive operation of AC power transmission or distribution networks - Y02B 70/3225: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - Y04S 20/222: Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving - A23G: COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF - G07F: COIN-FREED OR LIKE APPARATUS (coin sorting G07D3/00; coin testing G07D5/00; {handling coins or paper currencies apart from payment activated apparatus G07D; payment architectures, schemes or protocols G06Q20/00}) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## Abstract A vending machine for dispensing both soft-serve ice cream and frozen ice-cream-based beverages to consumers. The machine includes a power management system having a controller, a master relay for controlling power supplied to a first component, slave relays for controlling power supplied to second and third components, and a current sensor for sensing a current draw of the machine. The machine also includes a flavoring plate for providing flavoring to a dispensed ice cream product. The plate includes an orifice for extruding the product, a channel extending around the orifice, two or more ports in fluid communication with the channel, and one or more gates in communication with the channel and the orifice. Each of two or more ports is configured to introduce one of a flavoring fluid or a cleaning fluid to the channel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for sharing power from a conventional commercial A/C power source among a plurality of loads generated by a plurality of operating components in a food service vending machine, wherein a first one of the plurality of operating components generates a load drawing substantially more current during a start-up condition than during a running condition, the method comprising the steps of: coupling the first operating component to the A/C power source via a master relay, wherein the master relay is controllable by a controller to provide power from the A/C power source to the first operating component in a closed operating mode and remove power provided by the A/C power source from the first operating component in an open operating mode; coupling the other operating components to respective slave relays, wherein each of the slave relays is controllable by one or more of the master relay or the controller to provide power from the A/C power source to a respective operating component in a closed operating mode and remove power from the respective operating component in an open operating mode; coupling a current sensor to the A/C power source, wherein the current sensor is in communication with the controller and configured to sense a current drawn on the A/C power source; and configuring at least one slave relay in the open mode when the controller determines that a first value of the sensed current indicates a start-up condition for the first operating component. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: configuring the least one slave relay in the closed mode when the controller determines that a second value of the sensed current indicates a running condition for the first operating component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one slave relay is associated with a respective other one of the operating units and selected according to a predetermined priority for that operating unit, the predetermined priority being stored by a memory that is accessible to the controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: configuring at least another one of the slave relays in the closed mode when the controller determines that a third value of the sensed current indicates that the first operating component is inactive. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first operating component comprises a soft-serve ice cream machine. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the other operating components include at least two or more of an ice cream refrigeration unit, a hot water heater or a soda dispensing machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the controller comprises a watchdog module for detecting an abnormality in the operation of the first operating component, and wherein the watchdog module causes the master relay to remove power from the first operating component upon detecting the abnormality. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the abnormality comprises a second value of the sensed current that exceeds a predetermined limit stored by a memory that is accessible to the controller. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the abnormality comprises a second value of the sensed current that falls below a predetermined limit stored by a memory that is accessible to the controller. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the abnormality comprises a duration of the start-up and running conditions for the first operating component by the controller that either individually of in sum exceed a predetermined limit stored by a memory that is accessible to the controller. ### Claim 11 A device for sharing power from a conventional commercial A/C power source among a plurality of loads generated by a plurality of operating components in a food service vending machine, wherein a first one of the plurality of operating components generates a load drawing substantially more current during a start-up condition than during a running condition, the device comprising: a controller; a master relay coupling the first operating component to the A/C power source, wherein the master relay is controllable by the controller to provide power from A/C power source to the first operating component in a closed mode and remove power provided by the A/C power source from first operating component in an open mode; a plurality of slave relays each coupled to respective ones of the other operating components and controllable by one or more of the master relay or the controller to permit the AJC power source to power a respective operating component in a closed mode and to remove power from the respective operating component in an open mode; and a current sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense a current drawn on the A/C power source, wherein one or more of the master relay or the controller is operative to configure the at least one slave relay in the open mode upon determining that a first value of the sensed current indicates a start-up condition for the first operating component. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the first operating component comprises a soft-serve ice cream machine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The device of claim 12, wherein the other operating components include at least two or more of an lee cream refrigeration unit, a hot water heater or a soda dispensing machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The device of claim 13, wherein the other operating components include an ice cream refrigeration unit and a hot water heater, for which power supplied by the A/C power source is further controlled be respective thermostat devices for maintaining respective temperature ranges internally to the ice cream refrigeration unit and the hot water heater. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The device of claim 11, wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor. ### Claim 16 A food service vending machine having a power management device for sharing power from a conventional commercial A/C power source among a plurality of loads generated by a plurality of operating components of the food service vending machine, wherein a first one of the plurality of operating components generates a load drawing substantially more current during a start-up condition than during a running condition, the device comprising: a controller; a master relay coupling the first operating component to the A/C power source, wherein the master relay is controllable by the controller to provide power from A/C power source to the first operating component in a closed mode and remove power provided by the A/C power source from first operating component in an open mode; a plurality of slave relays each coupled to respective ones of the other operating components and controllable by one or more of the master relay or the controller to permit the A/C power source to power a respective operating component in a closed mode and to remove power from the respective operating component in an open mode; and a current sensor in communication with the controller and configured to sense a current drawn on the A/C power source, wherein one or more of the master relay or the controller is operative to configure the at least one slave relay in the open mode upon determining that a first value of the sensed current indicates a start-up condition for the first operating component. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the first operating component comprises a soft-serve ice cream machine. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the other operating components include at least two or more of an ice cream refrigeration unit, a hot water heater or a soda dispensing machine. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the current sensor comprises a Hall effect sensor. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the other operating components include an ice cream refrigeration unit and a hot water heater, for which power supplied by the AJC power source is further controlled be respective thermostat devices for maintaining respective temperature ranges internally to the ice cream refrigeration unit and the hot water heater. ### Claim 21 A flavoring plate for providing flavoring to a product dispensed by an ice cream dispensing machine, the flavoring plate comprising: an extrusion orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate for receiving and extruding the product though the plate; a channel extending around a periphery of the extrusion orifice; one or more ports positioned around a periphery of the flavoring plate and configured for receiving and introducing respective flavoring fluids into the channel; one or more gates positioned between the channel and the extrusion orifice, and configured for transferring the flavoring fluids from the channel to the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The flavoring plate of claim 21, wherein at least one of the one or more ports is configured for receiving and introducing a cleaning fluid into the channel. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The flavoring plate of claim 21, wherein the extrusion orifice is star-shaped and includes a plurality of radially outwardly extending points. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The flavoring plate of claim 23, wherein each of the one or more gates is coupled to the extrusion orifice in proximity to one of the radially outwardly extending points. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The flavoring plate of claim 24, wherein the star shape includes six radially outwardly extending and evenly spaced points, and the one or more gates comprise six gates each coupled to one of the six points. ### Claim 26 (depends on 21) The flavoring plate of claim 21, wherein the channel forms a closed loop around the periphery of the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The flavoring plate of claim 26, wherein the channel is a circular channel. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The flavoring plate of claim 27, wherein the one or more ports include two groups of three ports each radially spaced with respect to the channel. ### Claim 29 An ice cream dispensing machine including a flavoring plate for providing flavoring to a dispensed ice cream product dispensed, the flavoring plate comprising: an extrusion orifice extending perpendicularly through the plate for receiving and extruding the product though the plate; a channel extending around a periphery of the extrusion orifice; one or more ports positioned around a periphery of the flavoring plate and configured for receiving and introducing respective flavoring fluids into the channel; one or more gates positioned between the channel and the extrusion orifice, and configured for transferring the flavoring fluids from the channel to the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 30 (depends on 29) The ice cream dispensing machine of claim 29, wherein at least one of the one or more ports is configured for receiving and introducing a cleaning fluid into the channel. ### Claim 31 (depends on 29) The ice cream dispensing machine of claim 29, wherein the extrusion orifice is star shaped and includes six radially outwardly extending and evenly spaced points, and wherein the one or more gates comprise six gates each coupled to one of the six points. ### Claim 32 (depends on 29) The ice cream dispensing machine of claim 29, wherein the channel forms a circular loop around the periphery of the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 33 (depends on 29) The ice cream dispensing machine of claim 29, wherein the one or more ports include two groups of three ports each radially spaced with respect to the channel. ### Claim 34 A method for providing flavoring to a flowable food product, the method comprising the steps of providing a flavoring plate comprising an extrusion orifice extending perpendicularly through the flavoring plate, a channel extending around a periphery of the extrusion orifice, a plurality of ports positioned at a periphery of the flavoring plate for receiving and introducing respective flavoring fluids into the channel, and a plurality of gates positioned between the channel and the extrusion orifice for transferring the flavoring fluids from the channel to the extrusion orifice; directing a flowable food product through the extrusion orifice; directing a flavoring fluid into one of the ports, whereby the flavoring fluid is directed to flow into the channel and through the plurality of gates for transfer to the flowable food product flowing through the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the flowable food product is a soft serve ice cream product. ### Claim 36 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, further comprising the steps of terminating the flow of the flavoring fluid; terminating the flow of flowable food product through the extrusion orifice; and directing a cleaning fluid into another one of the plurality of ports, whereby the cleaning fluid is directed to flow into the channel and through the plurality of gates for transfer to the extrusion orifice. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The method of claim 36, wherein the cleaning fluid is water. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The method of claim 37, wherein the water is heated to a temperature of between 160 and 210° F. ### Claim 39 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein: the extrusion orifice is provided as a star shape including six radially outwardly extending and evenly spaced points, and the plurality of gates are provided as six gates each coupled to one of the six points. ### Claim 40 (depends on 34) The method of claim 34, wherein the channel is provided to form a circular loop around the periphery of the extrusion orifice.