Pepsico, Inc.

USA Technologies, Inc.

Robert G McGarrah

Christopher M McGarrah

A beverage mixture forming apparatus includes a batch vessel, a first valve distributing a mixture of hot water and a beverage concentrate into the batch vessel, a second valve for distributing cold water into the batch vessel, and a controller. The controller controls the first valve to intermittently distribute the mixture of the hot water and the beverage concentrate and the second valve to intermittently distribute the cold water in forming a batch of the beverage mixture.

Tea or non-carbonated drink dispenser

Electronic commerce terminal enclosure with brackets

Electronic commerce terminal enclosure for a vending machine

The present invention is directed to a dispensing device for a vending apparatus which includes a shaft, having articles for dispensing, a pump, a first tube provided substantially near the bottom end of the shaft and connected to the pump for repeated inflation and deflation, and a second tube provided at a distance above the first tube and connected to the pump for repeated inflation and deflation. The distance defines a dispensing area containing an article for dispensing.

Dispensing device for vending apparatus

Apparatus for displaying and replacing graphic sheets includes a clear display panel of a vending machine ('vendor'), a mechanism for controlling access to the reverse side of the display panel, and thereon a plurality of removably adhered graphics sheets, illustratively a graphics frame and a graphics sheet removably adhered by static cling and clinging to the reverse side of the clear display panel within the graphics frame. The graphics frame and the graphics sheet include a plurality of cut-out areas or overlay areas, any of which is changeable to update point-of-sale information and to provide a variety of changeable messages, color, and other visual effects.

Vendor with changeable graphics and method therefor

Vending machine for beverages

Vending maching for beverages

Apparatus for displaying and replacing product graphic sheets includes a clear display panel of a vending machine, a mechanism for controlling access to the reverse side of the display panel, a graphics frame permanently or semi-permanently affixed to the reverse side of the clear display panel to indicate a placement position for a product graphics sheet, and the product graphics sheet removably adhered by static cling and clinging to the reverse side of the clear display panel within the graphics frame. In a different embodiment the product graphics sheet is removably adhered by a tacky adhesive instead of by static cling. Further, a method allows different product graphic sheets to be exchangeably mounted within the frame quickly and easily by a service technician.

Beverage vendor front and method for changeable graphics

A backflow valve for use in a post-mix carbonator system for preventing the backflow of carbonated fluid, thereby preventing the contamination of the fresh water supply, and indicating when such a backflow condition has occurred. In a first embodiment the valve comprises a check seat body which houses an elastomeric valve member, and a sight glass body for viewing the position of the elastomeric valve member. The elastomeric valve member allows normal the flow of fluid from the supply to the outlet and prevents the reverse flow of fluid when the pressure at the outlet exceeds the pressure at the supply. As the pressure downstream increases, the elastomeric valve member is forced in the upstream direction over a plurality of steps in the check seat body. The position of the elastomeric valve member may be observed through a sight glass body which has a line marking the normal position of the elastomeric valve member. In a second embodiment the elastomeric valve member is slidably disposed within a retaining chamber that is positioned between the upstream and downstream portions of the valve. Under normal operating conditions, the elastomeric valve member is in a normal first position allowing fluid flow therethrough; however, in a backflow condition, the elastomeric valve member slides into a second position within the retaining chamber and fluid flow is restricted, and a backflow condition is thereby indicated.

Backflow valve

A vending machine antirocking plate is disclosed which is a safety feature for a soft drink vending machine to prevent rocking of the vending machine. The antirocking plate prevents oscillatory rocking of a vending machine by a potential pilferer who may attempt to attain a sufficient forward tilt of the machine to possibly dislodge soft drink containers within the vending machine to fall through the product dispensing chute. A safety problem has been incurred in this situation as the vending machines are very heavy, and can possibly fall on top of and injure the person rocking the machine or other persons in the proximity thereof. The present invention is designed to prevent such rocking motions by securing an antirocking plate to the front leveling legs of the vending machine and extending forwardly therefrom and overlying the floor, such that a person standing in front of the machine will also be standing on top of the plate. Accordingly, if the person attempts to rock the vending machine, his weight on the plate will cause the plate to prevent the front legs of the machine from lifting, thereby preventing oscillatory rocking of the vending machine. In a further disclosed embodiment, the antirocking plate extends fully under the vending machine, and is secured to both the front and rear leveling legs of the vending machine, and thereby prevents both rearward and forward tilting or rocking of the vending machine. In different embodiments, the antirocking plate can be fabricated from plastic or can be fabricated as a metal plate. Embodiments of a plastic antirocking plate preferably include metal plate inserts which lock onto the legs of the vending machine.

Vending machine antirocking plate

A backflow valve for use in a post-mix carbonator system for preventing the backflow of carbonated fluid, thereby preventing the contamination of the fresh water supply, and indicating when such a backflow condition exists or has occurred. The backflow valve comprises a check seat body which houses an elastomeric valve member, and a sight glass body for viewing the position of the elastomeric valve member. The backflow valve also comprises top and base connectors for connecting the backflow valve to the fluid carrying line and a shut-off/flush valve for controlling the flow of fluid through the device. The elastomeric valve member allows the flow of fluid from the supply to the outlet when the fluid pressure at the supply exceeds the pressure at the outlet and prevents the reverse flow of fluid when the pressure at the outlet exceeds the pressure at the supply. As the pressure at the outlet increases, the elastomeric valve member is forced in the upstream direction over a plurality of steps in the check seat body. As the elastomeric valve member passes over each step, it engages the step and is thereby prevented from returning to its original viewed downstream position. The position of the elastomeric valve member may be through the sight glass body which has a line demarking the normal position of the elastomeric valve member.

A vending machine antirock mechanism is disclosed which is a safety feature for a soft drink vending machine to prevent rocking of the vending machine. The antirock ratchet mechanism prevents oscillatory rocking of a vending machine by a potential pilferer until a sufficient forward tilt of the machine is attained to possibly allow soft drink products to be pilfered from the machine through the product dispensing chute. A safety problem has been incurred here as the vending machines are very heavy, and can possibly fall on top of and injure the person rocking the machine or other persons in the proximity thereof. The present invention is designed to prevent such rocking motions by mounting an antirock mechanism at one or more locations on the front of the machine, with a vertically movable antirock member therein, such that when the machine is first rocked backwardly, the antirock member moves downward vertically to the floor, and locks in an extended position to prevent the machine from rocking forwardly again. The machine is then jammed in a rearwardly tilted position to prevent oscillatory rocking thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Brookfield, CT, United States of America

Robert G McGarrah