Cup dispenser for an automated drinkmaker system

Abstract

An automatic cup dispensing arrangement for separating the bottommost cup from a stack of cups supported in a cup dispenser. The cup dispenser is pivotally mounted about a substantially horizontal pivot, about which the cup dispenser is cyclically pivoted to allow the cup stack to cyclically swing through a dispensing travel arc during a dispensing cycle. A pair of opposed cup separating members are mounted on opposite sides of the stack of cups in the cup dispenser along the dispensing travel arc. The opposed cup separating members are spaced a distance apart substantially equal to the width of a cup just beneath the cup rim, and each of the pair of opposed cup separating members comprises at least one cup separating wedge positioned opposite to a corresponding cup separating wedge in the oppositely positioned cup separating member. The oppositely positioned cup separating wedges cooperate to separate the bottommost cup from the cup stack as the cup dispenser is pivoted along the dispensing travel arc. A preferred embodiment of the cup dispensing arrangement includes a cup carousel, having a plurality of the cup dispensers positioned circumferentially therearound, with each cup dispenser being pivotally mounted relative to the cup carousel by a pivot thereon. Each cup dispenser with an associated pair of opposed cup separating members is supported on the cup carousel for rotation therewith, such that any one of the cup dispensers can be positioned at the cup drop station. A cup dispensing mechanism is positioned at the cup drop station to activate any one of the cup dispensers positioned thereat.