# US 5,341,957 A · Cup-type vending system and method for dispensing beverages > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,341,957 A - Document ID: US5341957A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/002,268 - Filed: 1993-01-08 - Granted: 1994-08-30 - Earliest claimed: 1993-01-08 - Inventors: Sean S. Sizemore - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5341957A ## CPC - G07F 13/065: {for drink preparation} - G07F 13/10: with associated dispensing of containers, e.g. cups or other articles - 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}) ## Abstract A beverage vending system for successively outputting beverages into cups. The beverage vending system includes a vending machine having a currency output device and automatically outputs a beverage into a cup in response to an operator's payment and selection of a beverage. The vending machine including a plurality of disposable containers of beverage syrup, such as bag-in-box packages, stored in an auxiliary cabinet. The disposable containers interconnected to the vending machine by a dispensing system. The dispensing system functioning to draw syrup from the disposable containers and selectively dispense a predefined or selected amount of syrup through an output nozzle and into an awaiting cup. The dispensing system includes a first pumping stage having a first pump for drawing the syrup from the disposable packages through a supply conduit and then pumping the syrup downstream through a feed conduit towards the output nozzle. Syrup from the first pumping stage passes through a vent valve connected in the feed conduit for removing air as the syrup moves through the vent valve. The dispensing system further includes a second pumping stage disposed downstream of the vent valve. The second pumping stage includes a bellows pump for drawing a selected amount of syrup from said feed conduit and then discharges the selected amount through the output nozzle and into a cup. A vacuum pressure regulator is positioned upstream of the bellows pump to control the pressure of the syrup pumped towards the bellows pump. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A beverage vending system for successively outputting beverages into cups comprising: a) a vending machine having a currency input device and for automatically mixing and outputting a beverage into a cup in response to an operator's payment and selection of a beverage; b) a disposable container of beverage syrup connected to a supply conduit for continuously supplying syrup to the vending machine, said container being of a type that include both syrup and air; c) a dispensing system for drawing syrup from the disposable container and selectively dispensing a pre-defined amount of syrup through an output nozzle and into said cup, the dispensing system including: 1) a first pumping stage including a first pump for drawing the syrup from the disposable container and pumping the syrup downstream through a feed conduit under pressure towards the output nozzle, 2) a vent valve disposed in said feed conduit for removing air as the syrup moves through the feed conduit; 3) a second pumping stage disposed downstream of the first pumping stage and before the output nozzle, and the second pumping stage including a second pump for drawing a selected amount of syrup from said feed conduit and then discharging the selected amount through the output nozzle and into a cup. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beverage vending system of claim 1 wherein the second pumping stage further includes a fluid flow restricting means disposed between the vent valve and the second pump for regulating the syrup pumped from the first pumping stage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The beverage vending system of claim 1 wherein the first pump is a CO.sub.2 -driven pump. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The beverage vending system of claim 1 wherein the second pump is a bellows pump. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The beverage vending system of claim 2 wherein the second pump creates a vacuum to draw the selected amount of syrup from the first pumping stage, and wherein the fluid flow restricting means is a vacuum pressure regulator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The beverage vending system of claim 1 further including an auxiliary rack for storing at least a portion of the disposable containers at a location outside of the vending machine, and wherein the dispensing system interconnects the remotely stored disposable containers to the vending machine. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The beverage vending system of claim 6 wherein the auxiliary rack is stored within an auxiliary cabinet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The beverage vending system of claim 7 wherein the first pump is disposed within the auxiliary cabinet. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The beverage vending system of claim 1 wherein a plurality of disposable containers are connected together with a changeover valve, and wherein the disposable containers are bag-in-box containers.