US 4,628,974 AGranted

Apparatus for automated assembly of flowable materials

OwnerRonald K. Meyerinventor

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Abstract

Apparatus for the automated assembly of flowable materials into a receptacle for delivery to a selected location is disclosed. The apparatus includes a plurality of spaced flowable material dispensing means, a plurality of spaced receptacle storage means and a plurality of spaced receptacle delivery locations. A robot arm is provided to receive, support and transport the receptacles. The apparatus includes a computer adapted to cause the robot arm to select a receptacle at one of the receptacle storage means, transport it to more than one of the flowable material dispensing means in a predetermined sequence and deliver the receptacle with the assembly of flowable materials therein to a predetermined one of the receptacle delivery locations in response to a given computer command signal. Structural details of the robot arm and an embodiment of the apparatus specifically adapted to provide an automated bartender function are described.

Claims17

Dependent claims

Apparatus for the automated assembly of flowable materials into a receptacle and delivery to a selected location comprising:

(a) an elongated substantially rectilinear arm of given length having a given axis of elongation;
(b) receptacle receiving and support means mounted on one end of said arm for rotation about a first axis extending transversely of said axis of elongation of said arm;
(c) shoulder means having the other end of said elongated arm mounted thereon for rotation about a second axis extending substantially parallel to said first axis transversely of said axis of elongation of said arm;
(d) carrier means mounting said shoulder means for selective rectilinear movement in a given plane substantially parallel to said first and second axes;
(e) support means mounting said carrier means for selective rectilinear movement in a given plane normal to said selective rectilinear movement of said shoulder means;
(f) first drive means for selectively rotating said receptacle receiving and support means about said first axis;
(g) second drive means for selectively rotating said elongated arm about said second axis;
(h) third drive means providing limited selective rectilinear movement of said shoulder means on said carrier means in said given plane;
(i) fourth drive means providing limited selective rectilinear movement of said carrier means on said support means in said given plane;
(j) storage structure for flowable materials positioned adjacent the limits of said selective rectilinear movements of said shoulder means and said carrier means established by said third and fourth drive means;
(k) a plurality of flowable material dispensing means positioned adjacent said given plane in spaced non-interfering relationship to said selective rectilinear movements of said shoulder means and said carrier means, said spacing of said dispensing means from said given plane being less than said given length of said elongated substantially rectilinear arm;
(l) means for conducting flowable materials from said storage structure to said dispensing means;
and
(m) computer means providing integrated control of said first, second, third and fourth drive means in response to a given command.

11 more elements

Appararus ror the automated assembly of flowable materials into a receptacle and delivery to a selected location comprising:

(a) a generally rectangular rigid frame of given horizontal length, vertical height and horizontal width;
(b) rail means mounted on and extending along the bottom of said frame;
(c) carrier means mounted on said rail means for movement along the horizontal length of said frame;
(d) shoulder means mounted on said carrier means for movement along the vertical height of said frame;
(e) a first elongated substantially rectilinear arm of given length having one end mounted on said shoulder means for rotation about a first substantially vertical axis;
(f) a second elongated substantially rectilinear arm of given length having one end mounted on the other end of said first elongated substantially rectilinear arm for rotation about a second substantially vertical axis;
(g) a receptacle receiving and support means mounted on the other end of said second elongated substantially rectilinear arm for rotation about a third substantially vertical axis, said receptacle receiving and support means comprising a body having an open ended slot formed therein extending normally of said third substantially vertical axis, said slot being dimensioned to receive therein a reduced transverse dimension of said receptacle,
(h) first drive means for moving said carrier means on said rail means, second drive means for moving said shoulder means on said carrier means, third drive means for rotating said first arm on said shoulder means, fourth drive means for rotating said second arm on said first arm, fifth drive means for rotating said receptacle receiving and support means on said second arm;
(i) computer means programmed for the simultaneous integrated control of said first, second, third, fourth and fifth drive means in response to a given command signal;
(j) flowable material dispensing means mounted with said frame in spaced relation thereto, the spacing of said flowable material dispensing means from said frame being less than the total of said given length of said first arm and said given length of said second arm;
(k) receptacle storage means mounted with said frame in spaced relation thereto, the spacing of said receptacle storage means from said frame being less than the total of said given length of said first arm and said given length of said second arm;
and
(l) receptacle delivery means mounted with said frame in spaced relation thereto, the spacing of said receptacle delivery means from said frame being less than the total of said given length of said first arm and said given length of said second arm.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/589,542Filed 14 Mar 1984
Granted: 16 Dec 1986
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B67D 1/0041
Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught: fully automated cocktail bars, i.e. apparatuses combining the use of packaged beverages,…
B67D 1/0021
The beverage being prepared by mixing at least two liquid components: the components being mixed at the time of dispensing, i.e. post-mix dispensers
B67D 1/08
Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught: details
B67D 1/0888
Details: means comprising electronic circuitry