Abstract:
An on-demand and efficient ice delivery unit is described. In an aspect, the unit is comprises a cabinet that further comprises an ice storage bin and an icemaker. The ice delivery unit provides a user with compressed chewable nuggets of ice. In an aspect, the unit comprises an icemaker that is ideally located below the ice storage bin. The location of the icemaker, which may also be remote, is designed to enable the ice storage bin to be of a larger capacity than ice delivery units currently known in the art. Additionally, the location of the icemaker reduces the overall size, particularly the height, of the unit in comparison to other ice distribution units known in the art.
Abstract:
An ice vending machine automatically provides ice to a customer based upon a request from the consumer for the ice. In some embodiments, the ice vending machine includes an ice bagging system. In some embodiments, the bagging system operates without the use of a counterweight. In some embodiments, the ice vending machine includes a view window to view the ice being bagged. In some embodiments, the ice vending machine is an ice and liquid water vending machine that automatically provides ice or liquid water to a customer based on a request from the customer for the ice or liquid water. In some embodiments, the ice and liquid water vending machine includes an ultraviolet light flushing assembly. In some embodiments, the ice and liquid water vending machine includes a chill tank.
Abstract:
The present application provides a merchandiser. The merchandiser may include an ambient compartment with at least one ambient product therein, a temperature controlled compartment with at least one temperature controlled product therein, and a vending module in communication with the temperature controlled compartment such that the vending module dispenses a temperature controlled product in response to an ambient product being placed in the vending module.
Abstract:
We describe a chilled beverage or glass dispenser, the dispenser comprising: an input port to receive a beverage bottle or glass to be chilled: an outlet port to provide a chilled beverage bottle or glass; a first, chilling region located on a path for a said bottle or glass between said input port and said output port; a blast chiller configured to chill a said bottle or glass in said chilling region; a second, refrigerated region located after said chilling region in said path, to maintain said bottle or glass in a chilled condition; and wherein said dispenser is configured such that, in use, a said path from said input port, through said chilling region, through said refrigerated region to said output port maintains a first-in first-out order of said beverage bottles or glasses.
Abstract:
A smoothie dispenser (20, 2OS, 20A) comprises a frame (22); a smoothie receptacle storage section (24); and a receptacle conformed chiller section (26). The smoothie receptacle storage section (24) is provided within the frame (22) and configured to house plural smoothie receptacles (30) at a first temperature. The chiller section (26) is arranged to receive a selected smoothie receptacle released from the smoothie receptacle storage section and configured to crystallize contents of the selected smoothie receptacle. The receptacle conformed chiller section (26) is "receptacle conformed" in the sense that a surface of the chiller section is configured to conform to (e.g., have a surface of shape to mate with or to form substantially greater than linear contact with) at least a portion an exterior profile or periphery of the selected smoothie receptacle.
Abstract:
Some embodiments include a fuel and product dispensing apparatus comprising a fuel dispenser and product dispenser within a housing providing the ability to purchase one or more of fuel, products, and services in a single transaction. Other embodiments include a product dispenser adapted for mounting to a fuel dispenser, such as a gas pump, providing consumers the ability to purchase products in a transaction along with fuel. Some embodiments further comprise conductively coupling the product dispenser to the fuel dispenser to equalize an electrical potential to reduce electrostatic discharges.
Abstract:
The invention is related to a storage cabinet (12, 14) for at least one of refrigerated and frozen goods (22, 24) for sale through that the cabinet door opens via entering of a door opening code in a payment terminal (18) with scanning equipment (20) for reading of codes which identify said goods (22, 24). The goods which are purchased by lifting them out of the cabinet (12, 14) are scanned with the scanning equipment (20) and are debited to a purchasing account associated with the door opening code. The cabinet is locked when the cabinet door closes. Further the cabinet rests (12, 14) on a weighing device (30). If a predetermined difference between the scanned goods' (22, 24) weight and the cabinet's (12, 14) weight occurs, the weight difference is registered in a transaction data file associated with the door opening code, wherein loss of goods (22, 24) is registered on a known purchasing account.
Abstract:
An apparatus for producing a food product includes a frame, a first module coupled to the frame and operative to provide a first food product, a second module coupled to the frame and operative to provide a second food product, a selection assembly coupled to the frame and having an outlet and a plurality of inlets, each inlet operative to receive a portion of the second food product, the selection assembly operative to allow passage of the portion of the second food assembly from an inlet to the outlet, a tube kit having a proximal end including a first opening coupled to the first module and a second opening for receiving air, the tube kit having a distal end coupled to the outlet of the selection assembly, the tube kit operative to combine the first food product, air and the portion of the second food product to produce a product mix, and a food preparation assembly coupled to the frame and adapted to receive the product mix from the distal end of the tube kit and to prepare food from the product mix.