Lid dispenser for an automated drinkmaker system

A lid dispensing and application arrangement for separating lids from a stack of lids and applying the separated lids onto cups, comprising:

• a. a lid dispenser supporting a stack of lids to be dispensed;
• b. a lid shuttle positioned near the bottom of the lid dispenser and supported for substantially linear translating and reciprocating movement between retracted and extended positions relative to the lid dispenser, said lid shuttle supporting a lid engaging member designed to engage a first bottommost lid of the stack of lids and to retain the first bottommost lid in a first intermediate position in the lid shuttle while the lid shuttle is moved in translation to said extended position, the lid shuttle then being moved in translation to said retracted position during which the first lid is moved in translation within the lid shuttle to a second loaded position therein beneath a lid applicator supported by the lid shuttle, the lid shuttle then being moved to said extended position during which the first lid remains in the second loaded position while the lid engaging member simultaneously engages a second bottommost lid of the lid stack and retains the second lid in said first intermediate position in the lid shuttle, the lid shuttle then being moved in translation to said retracted position during which said lid applicator presses and applies the first lid onto a cup beneath said second loaded position and the second lid is moved in translation within the lid shuttle to said second loaded position, and wherein the cycle is repeated for subsequent lids during linear translating and reciprocating movements of the lid shuttle.