Automated beverage dispensing system with ice and beverage dispensing

An automated beverage dispenser system, comprising:

• A continuous dispense conveyor to convey beverage cups for dispense of a selected beverage into each of the cups;
• a plurality of dispense-related stations positioned along a path of the continuous dispense conveyor;
• a staging conveyor to receive and advance cups filled on the continuous dispense conveyor for beverage order fulfillment;
• a movement device to move a filled cup from the continuous dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor;
• wherein the movement device comprises a gripper mechanism for gripping a cup while moving the cup from the continuous dispense conveyor to the staging conveyor;
• and
• further comprising a cup lidding station to place a cup lid on a filled cup.

A method of beverage dispensing automation, the method comprising:

• conveying a beverage cup through a plurality of dispense-related stations along a path of a continuous dispense conveyor;
• filling the beverage cup with a beverage at one of the dispense-related stations;
• moving the filled beverage cup using a movement device from the continuous dispense conveyor to a continuous staging conveyor;
• and
• advancing the filled beverage cup on the continuous staging conveyor for beverage order fulfillment.