Electronic system device for control of ingredient dispensing in a cup beverage vendor

Claim 3

The combination as in claim 1 wherein said time base correlating means includes a means for producing a voltage level corresponding to a preselected quantity of ingredients to be dispensed, means for comparing said linearly varying voltage with said voltage level, and gate means interconnected with said mechanisms and said comparing means for procucing an output signal capable of effecting the operation of said dispensing mechanisms corresponding to the output of said comparing means.

Claim 4

The combination as in claim 1 wherein said time base correlating means includes a means for producing a first and second voltage level, means for comparing said linearly varying voltage with said first and second voltage levels, said comparing means producing a first output signal condition when said varying voltage reaches a preselected relationship with said first level and a second output signal condition when said varying voltages reaches said second level, and means interconnected with said comparing means for positioning a cup to receive said ingredients when said comparing means signal condition corresponds to said first voltage level relationship, said means causing the dispensing of said ingredients being made operable when said comparing means signal condition corresponds to said second voltage level.

Claim 5

The combination as in claim 3 wherein said comparing means is included within a volume (quantity) control circuit for each beverage being dispensed, each said volume (quantity) control circuit including means for establishing a reference voltage and means for varying said reference voltage, said voltage varying means including a manually adjustable circuit component.

Claim 6

The combination as in claim 3 including circuit means interconnected with said comparing means and said means causing the dispensing of said ingredients for effecting the dispensing of extra quantities of ingredients and for overriding said means causing the dispensing of said ingredients.

Claim 7

The combination as in claim 3 wherein said apparatus includes a means for varying the quantity of ingredients dispensed by said mechanisms, said means including circuit means for varying at least one of said voltage levels.

Claim 8

The combination as in claim 6 wherein said beverage selecting means includes a plurality of switches, each of said switches corresponding to a different beverage.

Claim 9

A cup beverage vending apparatus having an electrical system for controlling the dispensing of ingredients which comprise all or a portion of said beverage, said apparatus comprising a source of electrical power, a plurality of switches having an on and an off condition, each of said switches corresponding to a particular beverage, a coin actuated relay interconnected with said switches and said source of electrical power, an electrical time base including a ramp generator means for producing a linearly varying output voltage when activated, means interconnecting said switches, said relay and said time base for activating said ramp generator means when any one of said switches is in its on condition and when said coin actuated relay is actuated to thereby produce said linearly varying output voltage, a plurality of volume control means for establishing a reference voltage, said volume control means being interconnected with said source of electrical power and said ramp generator output voltage and having a means for comparing the reference voltage with said linearly varying voltage, a cup drop means for placing a cup in proximity to receive said ingredients, means for dispensing said ingredients into said cup, one of said volume control means being operable to effect the operation of said cup drop means thereby causing a cup to be placed in position to receive a beverage when said linearly varying output voltage corresponds to a first preselected reference voltage, other of said volume control means being operable to effect initiating of the dispensing of said ingredients into said cup when said linearly varying voltage corresponds to a second preselected reference voltage and to cause said dispensing means to cease dispensing said ingredients when said linearly varying voltage reaches a third preselected reference voltage.

Claim 10

A cup beverage vending apparatus having an electrical system for controlling the dispensing of ingredients which comprise all or a portion of said beverage, said apparatus comprising a source of electrical power, a plurality of switches having an on and an off condition, each of said switches corresponding to a particular beverage, a coin actuated relay interconnected with said switches and said source of electrical power, an electrical time base including a ramp generator means for producing a linearly varying output voltage when activated, means interconnecting said switches, said relay and said time base for activating said ramp generator means when any one of said switches is in its on condition and when said coin actuated relay is actuated to thereby produce said linearly varying output voltage, a plurality of volume control means for establishing a reference voltage, said volume control means being interconnected with said source of electrical power and said ramp generator output voltage and having a means for comparing the reference voltage with said linearly varying voltage, a cup drop means for placing a cup in proximity to receive said ingredients, means for dispensing said ingredients into said cup, one of said volume control means being operable to effect the operation of said cup drop means thereby causing a cup to be placed in position to receive a beverage when said linearly varying output voltage corresponds to a first preselected reference voltage, other of said volume control means being operable to effect initiating of the dispensing of said ingredients into said cup when said linearly varying voltage corresponds to a second preselected reference voltage and to cause said dispensing means to cease dispensing said ingredients when said linearly varying voltage reaches a third preselected reference voltage.

Claim 11

The combination as in claim 8 wherein said apparatus includes a means for manually changing the level of said reference voltage to thereby change the quantity of ingredients being dispensed.