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US 7,258,247 B2Granted
Automated condiment dispensing system
AssigneeExpense Management, Inc.
InventorAl H. Marquez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated system for dispensing condiment packets includes a magazine for storing a stack of condiment packets and a dispenser for metering out those condiment packets. Multiple magazines and dispensers can be combined in a single condiment delivery assembly, thereby providing the means for dispensing a variety of condiment flavors. The delivery assembly can be incorporated into a fast food vending machine or can be designed as a standalone unit.
Claims18
A system for dispensing food products, the system comprising:
- a first dispenser defining a first output channel;
- a first magazine for feeding a first set of rigid condiment packets to the first dispenser;
- and
- a controller for sending a first control signal to the first dispenser, the first control signal instructing the first dispenser to dispense a first specified quantity of the first set of rigid condiment packets from the first output channel,
- wherein each of the rigid condiment packets comprises a flange having a flange outline,
- wherein the first magazine defines a first guide channel having a first cross-sectional area, the first cross-sectional area being larger than and substantially congruent to the flange outline, and
- wherein the first dispenser comprises:
- a first fixed support extending into the first output channel for supporting a first portion of the flange of a selected condiment packet;
- a first movable support;
- and
- a first actuator for extending and retracting the first movable support into and from, respectively, the first output channel in response to the first control signal,
- wherein when the first movable support is extended, the first movable support supports a second portion of the flange of the selected condiment packet.
9 more elements
A system for dispensing food products, the system comprising:
- a condiment dispenser defining an output channel;
- a magazine for feeding sets of rigid condiment packets to the condiment dispenser;
- and
- a food dispensing mechanism for dispensing a serving from a set of snack foods in response to a payment and a selection input;
- and
- a controller for sending at least one control signal to the food dispensing mechanism and the condiment dispenser based on a selection input of a snack food,
- wherein the at least one control signal directs the food dispensing mechanism to dispense the serving and directs the condiment dispenser to dispense a first quantity of the set of rigid condiment packets from the output channel.
4 more elements
A snack food vending machine comprising:
- a payment interface;
- a selection interface;
- means for storing a plurality of snack food items;
- means for storing a plurality of condiment packets;
- and
- means for automatically dispensing a serving of the plurality of snack food items and at least one of the plurality of condiment packets in response to a payment at the payment interface and a selection input at the selection interface.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.