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US 2024/0206649 A1Published application
Methods and Apparatus for Cup Dispensing
AssigneeLancer Corporation
InventorJames Elexander Bruce, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cup dispenser (10) and associated methods are provided in which the cup dispenser (10) is tiltable (including rotation) between a dispensing position and a loading position. In the loading position, cups are easily loaded into the cup dispenser (10). A rolling-element bearing (30) may, among other mechanisms, be employed to facilitate the movement.
Claims20
A cup dispenser, comprising:
- a plurality of cup housings each adapted to house a plurality of cups, each cup housing comprising a cup dispensing end and a cup loading end;
- and
- a tilting apparatus coupled to the cup housings operable to allow the cup housings to tilt between a cup dispensing position and a cup loading position;
- wherein in the cup loading position, the cup loading ends of the cup housings are accessible for cup loading.
1 more element
A cup dispenser, comprising:
- a plurality of cup housings each adapted to house a plurality of cups, each cup housing comprising a cup dispensing end and a cup loading end;
- a coupling member coupled to the cup housings;
- and
- a rolling-element bearing coupled to the coupling member operable to allow the cup housings to tilt between a cup dispensing position and a cup loading position;
- wherein in the cup loading position, the cup loading ends of the cup housings are accessible for cup loading.
2 more elements
A method of operating a cup dispenser having a plurality of cup housings each adapted to house a plurality of cups, each cup housing comprising a cup dispensing end and a cup loading end, the method comprising:
- tilting the cup housings between a cup dispensing position and a cup loading position, wherein in the cup loading position, the cup loading ends of the cup housings are accessible for cup loading;
- and
- in the cup loading position, loading cups into one or more of the cup housings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.