阅读说明：本技术 分配设备 (Dispensing apparatus ) 是由 斯特凡·诺克斯 萨拉·奇塔姆 凯文·奎格利 保罗·卡利 亚历山德拉·高迪奥 于 2018-10-19 设计创作，主要内容包括：描述了一种用于从容器分配食物产品的分配设备。分配设备包括：支撑件,该支撑件用于当产品的容器被装载到设备中时支撑该容器；致动器,该致动器用于在设备的产品分配行程期间实现支撑件在第一方向上的移动,并且在设备的返回行程期间实现支撑件在第二方向上的移动；以及保持器,该保持器用于保持产品的用过的容器,使得用过的容器在返回行程期间从支撑件移除。(A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container is described. The dispensing apparatus comprises: a support for supporting a container of product when loaded into the apparatus; an actuator for effecting movement of the support in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus and movement of the support in a second direction during a return stroke of the apparatus; and a holder for holding a used container of product such that the used container is removed from the support during the return stroke.)

1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a support for supporting the container of product when loaded into the apparatus;

an actuator for effecting movement of the support in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus and in a second direction during a return stroke of the apparatus; and

a holder for holding a used container of product such that the used container is removed from the support during the return stroke.

2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises:

an aperture through which at least a portion of the container can pass during the dispensing stroke; and the number of the first and second groups,

an engagement element for engaging the container when the portion of the container is returned through the aperture during the return stroke.

3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the aperture is at least partially defined by the engagement element.

4. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the engagement element is at least one of a spring clip and a catch.

5. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 2 to 4, the holder further comprising a projecting arm connected to the engagement element, the projecting arm being arranged to be movable to change the position of the engagement element between a first position and a second position,

wherein, in the first position, the engagement element is arranged to engage, in use, with the container of product,

and, in the second position, the engagement element is arranged not to engage, in use, with the container of product.

6. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 2 to 5, wherein a central longitudinal axis of the aperture is substantially aligned with a central longitudinal axis of the container.

7. A dispensing apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6, comprising a drawer comprising a region for receiving the containers of product, the drawer being arranged to move between an open position in which the containers can be placed in the region and a closed position in which containers in the region are loaded into the apparatus, and the drawer being configured such that the used containers are released from the holder when the drawer moves from the closed position to the open position.

8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 7, comprising a collector for collecting the used container released from the holder, wherein the collector is located below the holder when the drawer is in the open position.

9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a chute for receiving the used container, the apparatus configured such that when the drawer is moved from the open position to the closed position, the used container collected in the collector is moved to and received in the chute.

10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the collector is located above the chute when the drawer is in the closed position.

11. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the dispensing apparatus is arranged such that the used containers fall into the chute and the containers in the chute are stacked after falling into the chute.

12. The dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the holder is in the form of at least one of a stripper plate, a guide plate, a snap plate.

13. A method for retaining a container of product in a dispensing apparatus, the method comprising:

passing at least a portion of the container through the aperture of the retaining mechanism in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus;

moving the portion of the container in a second direction toward the aperture of the retention mechanism during a return stroke of the apparatus;

engaging the container by an engagement element of the retention mechanism when the portion of the container is returned through the aperture;

holding the container in a holder of the holding mechanism,

wherein the first direction is in a different direction than the second direction.

14. The method for holding a container of claim 13, wherein the first direction is substantially anti-parallel to the second direction.

15. The method for holding a container of claim 13 or claim 14, the method further comprising:

moving a support for the container supporting product in a first direction towards the aperture during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus; and the number of the first and second groups,

moving the support in a second direction away from the aperture during a return stroke of the apparatus;

wherein the container is engaged by the engagement element of the retaining mechanism when the support is moved away from the aperture.

16. The method for holding a container of any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein moving the portion of the container toward the aperture comprises moving the portion of the container substantially in a direction longitudinally aligned with a center of the aperture.

17. The method of any of claims 13 to 16, further comprising:

moving the drawer from a closed position to an open position;

releasing the container from the holder;

moving the drawer from an open position to a closed position; and the number of the first and second groups,

moving the container through an outlet to a chute for disposal.

18. A method according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein engaging the container by the engagement element of the retention mechanism is performed after a dispensing operation in which product is dispensed from the container.

19. The method for holding a container of any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein engaging the container by the engagement element of the holding mechanism comprises engaging a used container.

20. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a drawer comprising an area for receiving the containers of product, the drawer being arranged to move between an open position in which the containers can be placed in the area and a closed position in which the containers in the area are loaded into the apparatus; and

a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the container from a dispensing zone within the apparatus after the product has been dispensed from the container, the cleaning mechanism comprising means for causing a used container to be removed from the dispensing zone when the drawer is moved from the closed position to the open position and then back to the closed position.

21. The dispensing apparatus of claim 20, wherein the cleaning mechanism comprises: a holder for holding the used container after the product has been dispensed from the container; and an outlet through which the used container can be removed from the dispensing zone.

22. The dispensing apparatus of claim 21, wherein the clearing mechanism further comprises an engagement element and an aperture in the holder, wherein the holder, the engagement element and the aperture are arranged to allow the container to pass through the aperture in one direction, but to be engaged by the engagement element and retained by the holder when passing through the aperture in a second direction.

23. The dispensing apparatus of claim 22, wherein the container moves in a dispensing operation in a first direction toward the holder and in a second direction from the holder to the outlet, wherein the first direction is different than the second direction.

24. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 21 to 23, wherein the retainer is at least one of a stripper plate, a catch plate, a guide plate, at least one spring clip, or at least one fastener.

25. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 21 to 24, wherein the drawer comprises a drawer portion for receiving the used container,

wherein the cleaning mechanism is arranged such that the used container is released from the holder into the drawer portion when the drawer is moved from the closed position to the open position.

26. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 25 arranged such that when the drawer is moved from the open position back to the closed position, the used container moves from the drawer portion through the outlet to be removed from the dispensing zone.

27. A dispensing apparatus according to claim 25 or claim 26, comprising a compression head for compressing the container,

wherein the compression head is located above the drawer portion when the drawer is in the open position.

28. The dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 25 to 27, comprising a chute for collecting the containers,

wherein the drawer portion is located above the chute when the drawer is in the closed position.

29. A method for moving a container of food product in a dispensing apparatus, the method comprising:

moving the drawer to an open position;

placing a first container in the area;

moving the drawer to a closed position;

moving the region and the first container toward a compression head;

dispensing the product from the first container;

moving the region away from the compression head;

holding the first container in a holder;

moving the drawer to an open position to release the first container from the holder and allow a user to insert a second container; and the number of the first and second groups,

moving the drawer to a closed position to move the first container through an outlet to remove the first container from the dispensing zone and prepare the second container for dispensing.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein:

moving the region and the first container toward the compression head comprises passing the region and the first container through an aperture; and the number of the first and second groups,

retaining the first container in the holder comprises engaging the first container by at least one engagement element.

31. The method of claim 29 or claim 30, further comprising:

receiving the first container in a drawer portion after releasing the first container from the holder.

32. The method of any one of claims 29 to 31, wherein moving the region and the first container toward the compression head comprises moving the region and the first container in a substantially vertical direction toward the compression head.

33. The method of any of claims 29-32, wherein moving the drawer to the open position or the closed position comprises moving the drawer in a substantially horizontal direction.

34. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container inserted in the apparatus, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

actuating means for applying a force to the food product in the container to cause the food product to be expressed from the container and from the apparatus;

a controller for receiving information about the food product and setting one or more operating conditions of the actuation means based on the received information.

35. The dispensing device of claim 34, wherein the one or more operating conditions comprise at least one of:

an operating force of the actuating device;

the time of actuation of the actuation means; and the number of the first and second groups,

the total distance over which the actuating means acts.

36. The dispensing apparatus of claim 34 or claim 35, further comprising:

at least one sensor for sensing information about the food product from at least one characteristic of the container and providing the information to the controller.

37. The dispensing apparatus of claim 36, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of:

a bar code reader;

a color sensor;

a two-dimensional code reader;

optical sensor

An RFID reader; and

an MFID reader.

38. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the at least one characteristic of the container is at least one of:

a bar code;

two-dimensional codes;

a colored portion;

stickers or packaging;

an RFID tag; and the number of the first and second groups,

an MFID tag.

39. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 34-38, wherein the information about the food product comprises a type of the food product.

40. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 34-39, wherein the information about the food product comprises temperature information about the food product.

41. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 34 to 40, wherein the controller is capable of accessing a database and reading the one or more operating conditions to be set from the database based on the received information.

42. The dispensing device of claim 41, wherein the dispensing device comprises the database.

43. A dispensing device as claimed in claim 42, wherein the database is updatable via a communications link to the dispensing device.

44. The dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 34 to 43, wherein the dispensing apparatus is for dispensing a frozen or semi-frozen food product contained in the container.

45. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 34 to 44, wherein the controller is capable of setting operating conditions such that activation of the dispensing device is prevented.

46. A method of modifying the operation of a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product, the method comprising:

receiving, by a controller, information about a food product in a container;

setting one or more operating conditions of an actuating device for applying a force to the food product in the container to cause the food product to be extruded from the container based on the received information.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein setting the one or more operating conditions of the actuation device comprises setting at least one of:

an operating force of the actuating device;

the time of actuation of the actuation means; and the number of the first and second groups,

the total distance over which the actuating means acts.

48. The method of claim 46 or claim 47, further comprising:

sensing, by at least one sensor, the information about the food product from at least one characteristic of the container; and the number of the first and second groups,

the information is provided to a controller.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the at least one sensor is at least one of:

a bar code reader;

a color sensor;

a two-dimensional code reader;

an optical sensor;

an RFID reader; and

an MFID reader.

50. The method of any one of claims 46 to 49, further comprising:

accessing a database; and the number of the first and second groups,

reading one or more operating conditions to be set from the database based on the received information.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing a database local to the dispensing device.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing a database remote from the dispensing device.

53. The method of any one of claims 46 to 52, wherein setting the one or more operating conditions comprises preventing operation of the actuation device.

54. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a drawer comprising an area for receiving the containers of product, the drawer being arranged to move between an open position in which the containers can be placed in the area and a closed position in which the containers in the area are loaded into the apparatus; and

a locking device comprising an activatable locking element, wherein the activatable locking element is arranged to prevent the drawer from moving to the open position when the dispensing device is in the process of dispensing product from the container.

55. The dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein the activatable locking element is a mechanically activatable locking element.

56. The dispensing apparatus as defined in claim 54, wherein the activatable locking element is an electronically activatable locking element.

57. Dispensing device according to any one of claims 54 to 56, wherein the locking device comprises a locking element receiver for receiving the locking element during a locking procedure,

wherein the activatable locking element is automatically actuated upon satisfaction of a predetermined condition.

58. The dispensing device of claim 57, wherein the predetermined condition comprises at least one of: the container is received in the area; the drawer is in the closed position; providing power to the device; the container is properly oriented in the region; all of the packaging of the container is removed from the container; the container is a real container for use with the apparatus; and, the container contains a product dispensable by the dispensing apparatus.

59. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 54 to 58, arranged such that dispensing is prevented from being initiated until the activatable locking element is in a position which prevents movement of the drawer to the open position.

60. A method of preventing access to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the method comprising:

inserting the container of product into the dispensing apparatus;

activating the activatable locking element;

starting a distribution program;

completing the distribution program;

deactivating the activatable locking element.

61. The method as claimed in claim 60, wherein activating said activatable locking element comprises moving said activatable locking element to a locked position.

62. The method according to claim 60 or claim 61, wherein the activatable locking element is activated directly or indirectly by a user operating the device.

63. A method as claimed in claim 60 or claim 61 wherein the activatable locking element is automatically activated after a predetermined condition is met.

64. The method of claim 63, wherein the predetermined condition comprises at least one of: the container is received in an area; the drawer is in a closed position; providing power to the device; the container is properly oriented in the region; all of the packaging of the container is removed from the container; the container is a real container for use with the apparatus; and, the container contains a product dispensable by the dispensing apparatus.

65. The method as claimed in any one of claims 60 to 64, wherein initiating the dispensing procedure is performed after activating the activatable locking element.

66. The method as defined in any one of claims 60 to 65, wherein deactivating the activatable locking element is performed after completion of the dispensing procedure.

67. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus having first and second modes of operation and a controller for enabling an operator to switch between the first and second modes of operation, wherein:

the first mode of operation having a mechanism for automatically removing empty containers from a dispensing zone of the apparatus; and the number of the first and second electrodes,

in the second mode of operation, the mechanism is inactive so that a user can manually remove the empty container from the dispensing apparatus.

68. The apparatus of claim 67, wherein the controller is at least one of: a mechanical switch; an electrical switch; an electronic switch; a biometric authentication system.

69. The apparatus of claim 67 or 68, wherein the mechanism comprises:

a holding mechanism;

and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the surface of the workpiece,

the retaining mechanism comprises a holder for releasably retaining the container of product, and

the cleaning mechanism comprises a drawer arranged to be operable by a user between an open position and a closed position;

wherein the cleaning mechanism and the retaining mechanism are arranged such that a used container is released from the holder when the drawer is moved from the closed position to the open position.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein

The holding mechanism further comprises an aperture arranged in the holder through which the container can pass and an engagement element for engaging a portion of the container

The cleaning mechanism further comprises an outlet through which the used container can pass,

wherein the cleaning mechanism and the retaining mechanism are arranged such that when the drawer is moved from the closed position to the open position, the used container is disengaged from the engagement element, released from the retainer and moved through the aperture, and

when the drawer is subsequently moved from the open position to the closed position, the used container moves through the outlet.

71. Apparatus according to claim 69 or 70, wherein the drawer comprises a drawer portion for receiving the used container, the drawer portion being arranged to store the used container through the outlet when the drawer is moved from the open position to the closed position.

72. The apparatus of any one of claims 67 to 71, wherein the dispensing apparatus is for dispensing a frozen or semi-frozen food product.

73. A method for operating the dispensing apparatus of claim 67, the method comprising:

actuating the controller to activate the retention mechanism and the cleaning mechanism;

inserting a container into the dispensing apparatus; and the number of the first and second groups,

operating the dispensing device; and the number of the first and second groups,

automatically removing the used container from the dispensing apparatus.

74. A method for operating the dispensing apparatus of claim 67, the method comprising:

actuating the controller to deactivate the holding mechanism and the cleaning mechanism;

inserting a container into the dispensing apparatus;

operating the dispensing device; and the number of the first and second groups,

manually removing the used container from the dispensing apparatus.

75. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

a base; and

a main body which is provided with a plurality of grooves,

wherein at least one of the base and the body is rotatable relative to the other to provide access to a user from either side of the dispensing apparatus.

76. The dispensing apparatus of claim 75, wherein the base comprises a turntable for providing rotation between the base and the body.

77. The dispensing apparatus of claim 75 or 76, wherein the base and the body are rotatable relative to each other by at least 90 °.

78. A dispensing device as claimed in any of claims 75 to 77, wherein the device is arranged such that it is securable, wherein the body rotates relative to the base.

79. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in any of claims 75 to 78, comprising a locking element for temporarily securing the apparatus in a position in which the body is rotated from the base.

80. The dispensing apparatus of claim 79, wherein the locking element is at least one of a friction brake or an activatable protrusion.

81. The dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 75 to 80, wherein the dispensing apparatus is for dispensing a frozen or semi-frozen food product.

82. A method of dispensing a product, the method comprising:

selecting a container of product for use with a dispensing device;

rotating the dispensing apparatus from an initial position to an operational position;

inserting the container into the device;

starting distribution operation;

completing the distribution operation; and the number of the first and second groups,

rotating the dispensing apparatus from the operating position to the initial position.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the operating position is rotated at least 90 ° from the initial position.

84. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising:

an area of the container for receiving product when the container is loaded into the apparatus;

an actuator; and

a compression head;

wherein, in use, the dispensing apparatus is arranged such that the actuator effects movement of the container towards the compression head such that the container moves into contact with the compression head to compress the product, thereby causing dispensing of the product.

85. The dispensing apparatus of claim 84, wherein the compression head is fixed in position.

86. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 84 or claim 85, comprising a channel through which the container passes when the container is moved into contact with the compression head.

87. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 84 to 86 comprising a drawer movable between an open position and a closed position,

wherein the area is contained within the drawer, the user can place the container in the area when the drawer is in the open position, and the container is loaded into the apparatus when the drawer is then moved to the closed position.

88. The dispensing apparatus of claim 87, wherein:

the drawer includes a compartment defining the area for receiving the container, the compartment including at least one of a protrusion and a recess; and the number of the first and second electrodes,

the actuator includes at least one of a recess and a protrusion,

wherein the dispensing apparatus is arranged such that during a dispensing operation the at least one of a projection and a recess of the compartment engages with the at least one of a recess and a projection of the actuator.

89. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 84 to 88, wherein the actuator provides linear movement within the dispensing apparatus.

90. The dispensing apparatus according to any one of claims 84 to 89, wherein the actuator provides movement within the dispensing apparatus in line with a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

91. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in any of claims 84 to 90, wherein the compression head is arranged to be complementary in shape to the container such that, in use, substantially uniform pressure is applied to the container by the compression head.

92. The dispensing apparatus of any of claims 84 to 91, wherein the compression head is arranged to compress the container with a predetermined force in dependence on the product to be dispensed from the container.

93. The dispensing apparatus of claim 92, wherein a user can set a force for use in a dispensing operation.

94. The dispensing apparatus of any one of claims 84 to 93, wherein the dispensing apparatus is for dispensing a frozen or semi-frozen food product.

95. A method for dispensing a product from a container, the method comprising:

activating an actuator to effect movement of the container of product toward a compression head;

moving the container into contact with the compression head;

compressing the container;

dispensing a product from the container.

96. The method of claim 95, further comprising:

moving the container through a channel prior to contacting the compression head.

97. The method of claim 95 or 96, further comprising:

moving the drawer from a closed position to an open position;

placing the container in an area contained within the drawer;

moving the drawer from an open position to a closed position to load the container into an apparatus.

98. The method of any one of claims 95 to 97, wherein activating the actuator to effect movement comprises effecting linear movement.

99. The method of any one of claims 95 to 98, wherein activating the actuator to effect movement comprises effecting movement coincident with a longitudinal axis of the device.

100. The method of any one of claims 95 to 99, wherein compressing the container comprises compressing the container with a predetermined force according to the product to be dispensed from the container.

101. The method of claim 100, comprising setting a force for use in a dispensing operation by a user.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus for use with a consumable product container.

Background

Dispensing devices for dispensing single or multiple servings of food products, such as frozen or semi-frozen ice cream or yoghurt, according to the requirements of the user are known. Machines for delivering discrete portions of product are a clean and efficient method of delivery and are used in many locations both public and private.

It is well known that some such dispensing devices use an actuator to force a plunger into a product container and then force the product out of the container and to collect it prior to consumption.

It is desirable to provide an improved apparatus for dispensing food products from a container loaded into the apparatus.

It is also desirable to provide an improved food product container for use in such a dispensing apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a support for supporting a container of product when loaded into the apparatus; an actuator for effecting movement of the support in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus and movement of the support in a second direction during a return stroke of the apparatus; and a holder for holding a used container of product such that the used container is removed from the support during the return stroke.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for retaining a container of product in a dispensing apparatus, comprising: passing at least a portion of the container through the aperture of the retaining mechanism in a first direction during a product dispensing stroke of the apparatus; moving the portion of the container in a second direction toward the aperture of the retention mechanism during a return stroke of the apparatus; engaging the container by the engagement element of the retention mechanism when the portion of the container is returned through the aperture; the container is held in a holder of a holding mechanism, wherein the first direction is in a different direction than the second direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a drawer comprising an area for receiving containers of product, the drawer being arranged to move between an open position in which containers can be placed in the area and a closed position in which containers in the area are loaded into the apparatus; and a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the container from the dispensing zone within the apparatus after product has been dispensed therefrom, the cleaning mechanism comprising means for causing a used container to be removed from the dispensing zone when the drawer is moved from the closed position to the open position and then back to the closed position.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for moving a container of food product in a dispensing apparatus, comprising:

moving the drawer to an open position;

placing a first container in the area;

moving the drawer to a closed position;

moving the region and the first container toward the compression head;

dispensing a product from a first container;

moving the region away from the compression head;

holding a first container in a holder;

moving the drawer to an open position to release the first container from the holder and allow a user to insert the second container; and

the drawer is moved to a closed position to move the first container through the outlet, thereby removing the first container from the dispensing zone and preparing the second container for dispensing.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a drawer comprising an area for receiving containers of product, the drawer being arranged to move between an open position in which containers can be placed in the area and a closed position in which containers in the area are loaded into the apparatus; and a locking device comprising an activatable locking element, wherein the activatable locking element is arranged to prevent the drawer from moving to the open position when the dispensing device is in the process of dispensing product from the container.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of preventing access to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the method comprising: inserting a container of product into a dispensing apparatus; activating the activatable locking element; starting a distribution program; completing the distribution program; deactivating the activatable locking element.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the container being inserted in the apparatus, the dispensing apparatus comprising: actuating means for applying a force to the food product in the container to cause the food product to be expressed from the container and out of the apparatus; a controller for receiving information about the food product and setting one or more operating conditions of the actuation means based on the received information.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of modifying the operation of a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a product, the method comprising: receiving, by a controller, information about a food product in a container; setting one or more operating conditions of an actuating device for applying a force to the food product in the container to cause the food product to be expressed from the container based on the received information.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus having first and second modes of operation and a controller for enabling an operator to switch between the modes, wherein: the first mode of operation has a mechanism for automatically removing empty containers from the dispensing zone of the apparatus; also, in the second mode of operation, the mechanism is inactive so that a user can manually remove an empty container from the dispensing apparatus.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of operating a dispensing apparatus according to claim 67, the method comprising: actuating the controller to activate the retention mechanism and the cleaning mechanism; inserting the container into a dispensing apparatus; operating the dispensing device; and automatically removing the used container from the dispensing apparatus.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a base; and a body, wherein at least one of the base and the body is rotatable relative to the other to provide access to a user from either side of the dispensing apparatus.

According to a twelfth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of dispensing a product, the method comprising: selecting a container of product for use with a dispensing device; rotating the dispensing apparatus from an initial position to an operating position; inserting the container into the device; starting distribution operation; completing the distribution operation; and rotating the dispensing apparatus from the operating position to the initial position.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the invention, there is provided a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a food product from a container, the dispensing apparatus comprising: a region of the container for receiving product when the container is loaded into the apparatus; an actuator; and a compression head; wherein, in use, the dispensing apparatus is arranged such that the actuator effects movement of the container towards the compression head such that the container is moved into contact with the compression head to compress the product, thereby causing the product to be dispensed.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for dispensing a product from a container, the method comprising: activating an actuator to effect movement of the container of product toward the compression head; moving the container into contact with the compression head; compressing the container; dispensing the product from the container.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the invention, given by way of example only, which is made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Drawings

FIG. 1a shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

figures 1b to 4c show longitudinal cross-sectional views of an example of the dispensing apparatus of figure 1 in use;

FIG. 5a shows a side view, partially in section, of a container held in a holding mechanism according to an example;

FIG. 5B shows an enlarged view of region B of FIG. 5 a;

figures 6 and 7a show longitudinal cross-sectional views of an example of the dispensing apparatus of figure 1 in use;

FIG. 7b shows a top view of an example of a container used in the collector of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7c shows a top view of an example of a container used in the collector of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

figure 7d shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of the dispensing apparatus of figure 1 in use;

FIG. 8 shows a rear view of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 9 shows a transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 10 shows a front view of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 11 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of the dispensing apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 shows a rear perspective view of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

figure 13a shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of a dispensing apparatus in use;

figure 13b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of a dispensing apparatus in use;

figure 14a shows a perspective view of an example of a container for use in a dispensing apparatus prior to use;

FIG. 14b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 14 a;

figure 15a shows a perspective view of the container of figure 14a after use;

FIG. 15b shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 15 a;

FIG. 16 shows a bottom view of an example of a container;

figures 17a to 17c show perspective views of an example of a container for use in a dispensing apparatus prior to use;

figures 18a and 18b show a transverse cross-sectional view of a portion of an example of a dispensing apparatus; figures 19 and 19b show a cross-sectional top view of a portion of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

FIG. 20 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a portion of an example of a dispensing apparatus;

figures 21a and 21b show top views of examples of containers used in a collector of a dispensing apparatus; and

fig. 22 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an example of a dispensing device.

Detailed Description

Referring first to fig. 1a and 1b, a schematic view of a dispensing apparatus 100 is shown. The dispensing apparatus 100 is used by a user or operator to provide the user, operator, or another party with consumable food product from within a container that will be used with the apparatus 100. The food product may be, for example, a confectionery product, such as a frozen or semi-frozen product, e.g. ice cream or yoghurt, but may also be other food products as will be discussed below. The food product may also be a drinkable product.

In summary, the apparatus 100 dispenses consumable food product from a container 500 of product. The apparatus 100 operates to apply pressure or force to the container 500 such that the product within the container 500 is forced out of the container 500. This is then collected by the user, operator or another party. In one specific example, the apparatus 100 has a disposal system that can remove an empty container 500 from the main operating area of the apparatus 100 and store it before the user removes the container 500.

In a first example, the apparatus 100 has an actuation device that includes an actuator 120 and a compression head 130. The apparatus 100 also has an area 140 for receiving a container 500 of consumable food product.

The apparatus 100 is arranged such that the actuator 120 effects movement of the region 140 and a container 500 inserted into the region 140 in a first direction. The first direction is a direction toward the compression head 130. The apparatus 100 is arranged such that in use the container 500 is moved into contact with the compression head 130 such that the container 500 is compressed by the compression head, thereby causing the product to be dispensed. In this example, when the lid of the container 500 is pressed against the compression head 130, the lid is forced into the interior of the container 500, which reduces the interior volume of the container 500 and causes the food product to be forced out of the aperture in the base of the container 500 and then through the aperture in the apparatus 100 so that the food product can be collected by the user in a carton, tray, cup, or virtually any collection device.

The consumable product to be dispensed from the container 500 can be any product suitable for dispensing in the manner described herein including, for example, liquids, gels, pastes, semisolids, creams, and the like. The product may be a frozen or semi-frozen product. In a particularly preferred example, the product may be frozen or semi-frozen yoghurt or frozen or semi-frozen ice cream. In a preferred embodiment, the product is at least one of frozen yogurt, ice cream, or other frozen dessert or candy, and the apparatus 100 is at least one of a frozen yogurt and an ice cream dispenser.

Returning to fig. 1a and 1b, the apparatus 100 is shown having a housing 110 that houses an actuator 120, a compression head 130, and a region 140. The housing 110 of the device 100 has a housing body 112 and a housing base 114. In one example, the housing body 112 and the housing base 114 may be arranged as a unitary element of the housing 110. In another example, the housing body 112 and the housing base 114 may be arranged such that at least one of the housing body 112 and the housing base 114 is rotatable relative to the other. Rotation of the housing body 112 and the housing base 114 relative to each other provides access for a user from either side of the dispensing apparatus 100.

The actuator 120 may be a linear actuator. The actuator 120 may be of the type provided by THOMSON, in particular electrorak 050. The actuator 120 provides movement within the device 100. In one example, the actuator 120 is arranged to produce movement in a substantially vertical direction. Referring to fig. 1a, the actuator 120 is disposed above the compression head 130, and the compression head 130 is above the region 140. In the specific example shown in fig. 1a, the actuator 120 is arranged to be centrally positioned with respect to the compression head 130. In one example, the actuator 120 provides linear movement within the dispensing apparatus 100. In one example, the actuator 120 provides movement within the dispensing apparatus 100 that is coincident with the longitudinal axis of the apparatus 100. The actuator 120 may have a range of force up to about 600N for dispensing product from the container 500.

The compression head 130 is arranged to be complementary in shape to the container 500 such that when the compression head 130 and the container 500 are in contact with each other, a uniform pressure is applied to the container 500. The application of uniform pressure on the contact surfaces of the container 500 and the compression head 130 prevents the creation of specific pressure points between the compression head 130 and the container 500. When such pressure points are present, there is a risk that the container 500 will be pierced rather than deformed. Furthermore, when pressure points are present, there is a risk that the container 500 may deform unevenly, which may hinder some product from being dispensed from the container 500.

The compression head 130 may be arranged to be fixed in position. Securing the compression head 130 in place provides a secure surface against which the container 500 may be pressed. Having the compression head 130 stationary reduces the number of moving elements associated with the compression head 130, which reduces maintenance of the compression head 130 itself.

The apparatus 100 may have a drawer 142 movable between an open position and a closed position. FIG. 1a shows an example of a drawer 142 in a closed position. FIG. 1b shows an example of drawer 142 in an open position. The area 140 may be housed within a drawer 142. In one particular example, the drawer 142 has a compartment 144 defining the region 140, and the compartment 144 houses the container 500 in use, as shown in fig. 1 b.

Drawer 142 may be opened to allow a user to insert container 500 into region 140. The region 140 may include a surface or platform or support upon which the container 500 may be placed and supported. The region 140 is vertically movable in use by the actuator 120. In the particular example shown in fig. 1a, the drawer 142 has a compartment 144 for receiving a container 500. Drawer 142 is opened by the user, as shown in the open position in FIG. 1b, and container 500 may then be inserted into compartment 144. Drawer 142 is closed prior to activation of apparatus 100. FIG. 2 shows one example of the apparatus 100 with the container 500 in the region 140 and the drawer 142 in the closed position. In a particular example, the compartment 144 may be any of a tray, insert, or housing for receiving the container 500. In one example, the compartment 144 may be removable from the drawer 142 or an integral portion of the drawer 142. In these examples, region 140 is a region within a tray, insert, or housing.

The drawer 142 may have a handle 143 or similar user-operable element to facilitate opening and closing of the drawer 142. In another example, the drawer 142 may have a button (not shown) for opening the drawer 142 via electrical or mechanical means. A user may open drawer 142 to access compartment 144. Drawer 142 is opened prior to inserting container 500 into compartment 144. Once the container 500 has been placed into the compartment 144, the drawer 142 is closed. When drawer 142 is open, apparatus 100 can be prevented from starting the dispensing process. Drawer 142 is therefore said to be in an inactive position when it is open and in an active position when it is closed. The drawer 142 is thus movable between an active position (as shown in FIG. 1 a) and an inactive position (as shown in FIG. 1 b).

Referring now to FIG. 2, the apparatus 100 is shown with the container 500 in the region 140 and the drawer 142 in the active position. The apparatus 100 has a channel 150 connecting the compression head 130 to the region 140. In use, the actuator 120 moves the compartment 144 (and thus the region 140 and the container 500) through the channel 150 to move the container 500 into contact with the compression head 130. Thus, the channel 150 is arranged to be wide enough to allow the container 500 and the compartment 144 to pass through the channel.

The actuator 120 is arranged to lift the compartment 144 during a dispensing stroke to move the container 500 into contact with the compression head 130 and to lower the compartment 144 during a return stroke.

The device 100 has a locking device. The locking device has an activatable locking element. The activatable locking element may be activated by a user or by an element of device 100. The activatable locking element may be automatically activated after a predetermined condition is met. The activatable locking element may be arranged to prevent the drawer 142 from moving to the open position when the apparatus 100 is in the process of dispensing product from the container 500.

In one example, the activatable locking element may be a mechanical locking element, such as a bolted lock or a locking arm that will protrude into a locking element receiver of the locking device. The bolt lock or locking arm can be activated or received in the locking element receiver automatically when the drawer is moved into the closed position or when a dispensing operation is initiated.

In one example, the activatable locking element may be an electronic locking element, such as an electromagnet. The electronic locking element may be activated or deactivated by, for example, any of the following: RFID card technology; MFI technology; an electronic security token or password, a biometric authentication system, such as a fingerprint scanner, and the like. Or alternatively, the electronic locking element may be automatically activated, such as when the drawer 142 is moved from the open position to the closed position, as described above for the mechanical locking element.

The predetermined condition to be met prior to automatically activating the activatable locking element may be any one or more of the following: container 500 is received in region 140; drawer 142 is in the closed position; power is supplied to the device 100; container 500 is properly oriented in region 140; container 500 has all packaging removed therefrom, including, for example, any stickers or labels, etc.; the container 500 is a real container for use with the apparatus 100; and the container 500 contains a product that can be dispensed by the dispensing apparatus 100. In this context, "allocatable" is used to mean capable of being allocated.

In one example, the dispensing apparatus 100 will be prevented from beginning a dispensing operation when the drawer 142 is in the open position and once the drawer 142 has been moved to the closed position before the activatable locking element is in the activated position. After the dispensing operation is complete, the activatable locking element may be deactivated to enable the drawer 142 to move to the open position.

In use, the drawer 142 is moved to the inactive position and the container 500 is inserted into the compartment 144, as shown in fig. 1 b. The drawer 142 is then moved to the active position, as shown in FIG. 2. When the drawer 142 is moved to the active position, the compartment 144 is engaged with the actuator 120. In the example shown in fig. 3a, the projection 146 of the compartment 144 slides between the actuator grips 122. The actuator handle 122 enables the actuator 120 to grasp and then stably move the compartment 144. The actuator handle 122 is slidably attached to the actuator post 125. During the dispensing and return strokes, actuator 120 slides handle 122 up and down post 125 to raise and then lower compartment 144, respectively.

In another example, the compartment 144 may have one or more recesses with which one or more protrusions of the actuator 120 engage before the compartment 144 moves. Any combination of protrusions and recesses may be provided to enable mechanical engagement between the actuator 120 and the compartment 144.

In an alternative example, the actuator 120 may be engaged with the drawer 142 via a non-mechanical connection, such as by an electromagnet that is activated once the drawer 142 is in the active position. The electromagnet enables the actuator 120 to grip and thus move the region 140. In this example, the dispensing operation may be prevented until the electromagnet is activated.

Referring now to fig. 3b, 4a and 4b, the actuator 120 moves the compartment 144, and thus the region 140 and container 500, such that the container 500 is pressed against the compression head 130 during a dispensing stroke. The compression head 130 enters the interior of the container 500 at one end thereof and causes the product P to be forced out of the container 500 from the opposite end, as shown in fig. 4 b.

The device 100 has a collection area 230 where a user can collect dispensed product P in a vessel 135, such as any of a cup, bowl, basin, and tray. Below the collection area 230 is a drip tray 240 that can catch waste. Drip trays should be cleaned and sanitized periodically to maintain a sanitary level. In the example shown in fig. 4b, the drip tray 240 is positioned towards the housing base 114.

After the product P has been dispensed, the actuator 120 then moves the compartment 144, and thus the region 140, in a second direction away from the compression head 130 back to the initial position, as shown in fig. 4 c.

Accordingly, the region 140 is moved by the actuator 120 from the initial position, through the passage 150, to the second position, and then back to the initial position within the housing 110. These separate movements occur on the dispensing stroke and the return stroke of the dispensing cycle, respectively.

In one mode of operation, the apparatus 100 is arranged to remove the container 500 from the region 140 during a return stroke to prevent the container 500 from returning to the initial position with the region 140. In this mode of operation, the device 100 has a mechanism active for automatically removing empty containers from the device 100. In a different mode of operation, the mechanism is inactive so that the user can manually remove an empty container from the device 100.

The mode in which the apparatus 100 is arranged to prevent the container 500 from returning to the initial position with the region 140 during the return stroke is referred to herein as the automatic cleaning mode. As shown in FIG. 4c, the apparatus 100 has a holding mechanism 160 and a cleaning mechanism 195 that are active in an automatic cleaning mode.

The retaining mechanism 160 retains the empty or used container during the return stroke, thereby removing the container 500 from the compartment 144 and the area 140. The purge mechanism 195 then releases the empty container 500 from the holding mechanism 160 and clears the container 500 from the dispensing area within the dispensing apparatus 100 the next time the drawer 142 is opened and closed to load a new full container into the apparatus 100. The allocation zone 198 (indicated by the dashed box in fig. 3b and 4 a) comprises the area where the allocation operation takes place, i.e. the initial position up to the second position.

Referring now to fig. 5a and 5b, in this example, the retaining mechanism 160 has a retainer member 162 for releasably retaining the container 500. The retention mechanism 160 also has at least one engagement element 164 for engaging a portion of the container 500 and a gap or aperture 166 disposed in the retainer member 162 through which a portion of the container 500 may pass.

In the example shown in fig. 5a and 5b, the retaining mechanism includes a pair of engagement elements 164 that are spring clips disposed on either side of the retaining mechanism 160 on the retainer member 162 and that at least partially define a gap or aperture 166.

The retaining mechanism 160 is arranged such that at least a portion of the container 500 passes through the gap or aperture 166 as the container 500 and the region 140 are moved by the actuator 120 in a direction toward the compression head 130. When the region 140 and container 500 are moved by the actuator 120 in a direction away from the compression head 130, the container 500 is retained in the retainer member 162 and at least a portion of the container 500 does not pass completely back through the aperture 166.

Thus, the retainer member 162 is arranged to allow at least a portion of the container 500 to pass through the retainer member during a dispensing stroke, but to be retained during a return stroke. The engagement elements 164 of the retainer member 162 allow the container 500 to pass in a first direction, but retain the container 500 when it is moved in a second direction.

As shown more clearly in fig. 5b, the engagement element 164 has a sloped edge 165 against which the container 500 is pushed during a dispensing stroke. The engagement element 164 is biased (or connectable to a biasing member) to flex against such movement, allowing the container 500 to be pushed past the engagement element 164 in a direction toward the compression head 130.

In the particular example shown in fig. 5b, the engagement element 164 is a spring clip that flexes back as the container 500 travels during the upstroke and then moves under a portion of the container 500 as the container 500 travels over the spring clip 164. The engaging elements 164 may be extended to grip the rim of the container 500 as shown in fig. 5 b.

As shown in fig. 5b, once the top section of the container 500 has moved past the engagement element 164, the engagement element 164 will return to the rest position due to the biasing nature of this arrangement. The flat surface 168 prevents the container 500 from passing through the engagement element 164 in the second direction.

The retainer member 162 may be a plate, wherein the distance of the retainer member 162 in one dimension may be substantially shorter than the distance in the other two dimensions. The retainer member 162 may have a hole 166 centrally located in the retainer member 162. In this manner, the central longitudinal axis of the hole 166 may be substantially aligned with the central longitudinal axis of the container 500. In one example, the retainer member 162 is in the form of any of a stripper plate, a guide plate, a snap plate, and the like.

In one embodiment, the retainer member 162 is positioned below a top steel plate (not shown). The underside of the top of the container 500 passes through the plate during a dispensing operation. When the actuator 120 returns the region 140 to the initial position, the container 500 remains suspended on the holder member 162 via engagement with the engagement element 164.

In another example, the engagement element 164 may not be a spring clip, but may be cantilevered so as to flex rotationally rather than laterally under movement from the container 500 under action from the actuator 120.

Referring back to FIG. 4c, the cleaning mechanism 195 has a container outlet 180 through which the container 500 may pass. The container 500 may pass through the container outlet 180 after exiting the dispensing region of the device 100. The cleaning mechanism 195 also has a collector 170 arranged to be operable between a receiving position in which it receives used containers and a storage position in which it stores used containers. The collector 170 may be part of the drawer 142 and is therefore referred to as the drawer portion 170. The collector 170 (or drawer portion 170) is the portion of the drawer 142 that is distal from the handle 143 of the drawer 142. The cleaning mechanism 195 is arranged such that when the drawer 142 is moved from the closed position to the open position and back to the closed position, the used container 500 within the apparatus 100 moves from the holder member 162 to the collector 170 and then through the outlet 180. Referring to fig. 6, when the drawer 142 is in the open position, the collector 170 is in the receiving position. Referring to fig. 7a, when the drawer 142 is in the closed position, the collector 170 is in the storage position.

Referring now specifically to fig. 6, the apparatus 100 has completed the dispensing operation and the drawer 142 has been moved to the open position so that a new container 600 can be inserted into the drawer 142. When the drawer 142 is moved to the open position, the collector 170 of the cleaning mechanism 195 is moved to the receiving position. Thus, the collector 170 is arranged to receive the used container 500 after the product has been dispensed from the container 500. When the drawer 142 is in the open position, the collector 170 is disposed below the compression head 130 so that the used container 500 can be received upon release from the retainer member 162. The used container 500 is released into the receptacle 170 when the opening of the drawer 142 releases the engagement element 164 (see fig. 5a and 5b) from engagement with the used container 500. When the drawer 142 is in the closed position, the position of the container 500 is as shown in fig. 5a and 5b, i.e. retained in the retaining mechanism 160, while fig. 6 shows the used container 500 having fallen onto the collector 170 (i.e. released from the retaining mechanism 160).

The engagement elements 164 may be released by a set of misalignment elements, such as a set of posts (not shown) disposed at the rear of the drawer 142. The post moves forward to act on the engagement member 164. The engagement element 164 may be a spring clip that is moved by a post or the like to release the used container 500 so that the container 500 falls onto the collector 170. In one example, the element used to move the spring clip 164 to release the used container 500 is a set of rigid tabs.

Referring now to fig. 7a, the drawer 142 has been moved to the closed position and the collector 170 and used container 500 are moved towards the outlet 180. The collector 170 holds or grasps the receptacle 500 as the receptacle 500 is moved from the receiving position toward the outlet 180. The collector 170 must hold the container 500 tight enough so that the container 500 is not released during movement of the collector 170. The collector 170 should not significantly deform the container 500 while holding it. When the drawer 142 is moved to the closed position, the collector 170 is moved to the storage position. In the storage position, the collector 170 moves the containers 500 through the container outlet 180 toward the chute 190.

Referring now to fig. 7b, the collector 170 may include a pair of spaced apart arms 172 on which the container 500 may fall once released from the engagement element 164. The arms 172 are spaced apart on either side of a collector base 174 that extends between and below the arms 172. After the container 500 is released from the engagement element 164, the arms 172 may be biased inwardly to engage and abut the lower portion of the container 500. The arms 172 have front portions 173 that extend outwardly during rest. The container 500 may engage under the lip of the container 500, such as in the manner of the engagement element 162. Alternatively, the arms 172 have a spacing that is less than the overall width of the container 500, such that the arms 172 may abut the sides of the container 500, rather than under the lip of the container 500, and such that the container 500 does not fall through the collector 170 during the dispensing process. When the drawer 142 is moved to the closed position, the collector 170 is moved toward the rear of the apparatus 100. The arm 172 of the collector 170 moves past a set of posts 178 or the like attached to the non-moving portion of the device 100. As shown in fig. 7c, the front portion 173 engages the post 178 as the arm 172 moves toward the rear of the device 100. When the post is not moving, the front portion 173 is forced by the post to move inwardly in direction a. As the front portion 173 moves inward, the rear portion 175 of the arm 172 holding the container 500 pivots outward in direction B, causing the used container 500 to be released from the arm 172. This is shown in fig. 7 c. The arm 172 is movable about a pivot axis between the front 173 and rear 175 portions.

The arms 172 may thus be moved apart as the collector 170 passes through the outlet 180. This will enable the collector to deposit the container 500 through the outlet 180 into the chute 190, as shown in fig. 7 a.

Referring now to fig. 8, once released from the arm 172 of the collector 170, the used containers 500 will be stacked in the chute 190, as shown. After any number of containers are moved into the chute 190, the user may clean the chute 190. The chute 190 should remain clean and hygienic, and periodic cleaning and sanitization will accomplish this. Chute 190 may house a liner (not shown) for collecting used containers 500. The liner may be made of plastic or similar material. Preferably, the liner holds solids and liquids on one side of the liner, preventing them from passing through the other side of the liner. In this manner, any product remaining within the container 500 after moving to the chute 190 will remain within the liner. The liner may be removed from the chute 190. The use of a liner will prevent product from contacting the sides of the chute 190 and thus reduce the regularity required to clean the chute 190, but the liner will only be removed as a whole. The liner may be retained in the chute 190 by hooks, clips, clasps, clips, and the like.

In another mode, the auto-purge mode may not be active such that the holder member 162 of the retention mechanism 160 does not retain the container 500. In this mode, i.e., the manual handling system or manual handling mode, movement of the drawer 142 does not cause the container 500 to move from the holder member 162 to the outlet 180. In this mode, the retainer 140 does not engage the container 500 during the return stroke of the actuator 120. Conversely, after dispensing the product, the region 140 and used container 500 move in the second direction toward the initial position. After the actuator 120 has returned the area 140 and used container 500 to the initial position, the user may move the drawer 142 to the open position. The user may then manually remove the used container 500 from the area 140 and discard the empty container 500. After this, the user may insert a new container 600 into the compartment 144.

Referring now to fig. 8 and 9, the user has the option to select between manual treatment systems or activating an automatic treatment mechanism. To activate the automatic disposal mechanism, there may be a mechanical switch 185 that allows the mechanism to be enabled and disabled. In the embodiment of the apparatus 100 schematically illustrated in fig. 9, the switch 185 is accessible via an outlet 180 at the rear of the apparatus 100. In other embodiments, the switch 185 may be an electronic switch. The electronic switch 185 may be built into a control system or panel on the device 100. Instead of being physically activated, the switch 185 may be activated via biometric authentication, a password, or the like.

When the automated disposal mechanism is active and the switch 185 is then operated, in this example, the engagement element 164 moves from a position in which the engagement element 164 holds the container 500 in use to a position in which the engagement element 164 cannot hold the container 500 in use. The engagement element 164 may be urged against a biasing member that urges the engagement element 164 out toward the container 500. If the distance between the engagement elements 164 is greater than the width of the container 500 after the engagement elements 164 have been pushed against the biasing member, the engagement elements 164 will be prevented from engaging the container 500 during the downward stroke of the actuator 120. Alternatively or additionally, this may be accomplished by forcing the engagement element 164 to pivot 90 degrees such that the flat surface 168 of the engagement element 164 is vertical rather than horizontal, as shown in fig. 5a and 5 b. More generally, the switch 185 causes the engagement element 164 to move apart such that the engagement element cannot hold the container 500 during the return stroke of the actuator 130.

Referring to fig. 10, one example of the device 100 has a control panel 200 through which a user can control the operation of the device 100. The control panel 200 may be, for example, an interactive display or screen, an activation switch, or a button. The control panel 200 in the specific example shown in fig. 10 is disposed on the user-facing surface of the housing 110.

The control panel 200 may enable a user to switch between a manual treatment system and an automated treatment mechanism. The control panel 200 may provide feedback regarding the operation or status of the apparatus 100, for example providing information about ongoing dispensing operations or malfunctions in the apparatus 100. The control panel 200 may also display step-by-step instructions, for example, on how to operate the device 100. The control panel 200 may also indicate the current stage of operation at which the apparatus 100 is located, so that if the dispensing process is left part way through, the user is informed of this and appropriate action can be taken. For example, if a container 500 is entered into the device 100 but dispensing does not begin, a subsequent user knows to remove the container 500 currently in the device 100 before inserting one of its choices.

After the start of the operation, the control panel 200 may display the time left until the dispensing is completed. The control panel 200 may also display the time since the previous operation stage was completed. In the above example where the user has entered the container 500 into the apparatus 100 without starting the dispensing process and a subsequent user arrives after an extended period of time, the subsequent user knows to discard the container 500 instead of, for example, placing the container 500 back into the freezer.

The control panel 200 may also display information of the remaining capacity of the chute 190. In one example, the control panel 200 has a display that gradually lights up as the dispensing operation is completed so that the design pattern is fully lit up when the dispensing operation is completed. The control panel 200 may also display error information to the user to indicate the location of the error and the steps required to correct the error.

In one particular example, if one container suitable for use with the apparatus 100 contains a product that requires more force to dispense the product than another container, the user may be able to input the product type into the control panel 200. The control panel 200 may then send information to the controller 210, which then sets the operating conditions of the device 100 based on the information.

The controller 210 may be part of an operational authority for setting the operational conditions of the device 100. The controller 210 may receive information related to one or more predetermined conditions and set the operating conditions accordingly. This may relate to the total force output by the actuator 120, the length of time the actuator 120 is acting, the total distance the actuator 120 is acting, and/or other operating conditions.

Referring now specifically to fig. 11, the device 100 may have a plurality of sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f that provide information to the controller 210, which then controls the device 100 based on the information. The sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f may send this information to the controller 210, which then programs the operation of the device 100 based on the information. The information obtained by at least some of the sensors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f may be information about the type of food product in the container 500 or about the temperature of the food product. The controller 210 and the sensors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f may be arranged as part of an operations management system.

In this example, a sensor or detector 220a is used to detect the type of product in the container and provide information identifying the product to the controller 210. For example, if the product is a frozen or semi-frozen confection, such as ice cream or yogurt, the information may identify a particular flavor of the ice cream or yogurt (e.g., strawberry, mint, chocolate, etc.). Based on this information, the controller can set appropriate operating conditions for the actuator 120, such as the force output by the actuator 120 to dispense the product, the length of time the actuator 120 is acting, or the total distance the actuator 120 is acting for the product. For example, when the product is frozen yogurt or ice cream, the optimal actuator operating conditions for dispensing the product (and in particular the squeezing force applied by the actuator 120) may vary depending on the nature (e.g., taste) of the frozen yogurt or ice cream. Accordingly, the controller 210 may set these optimal operating conditions based on information provided by the sensor or detector 220 a.

In one particular example, the sensor or detector 220a is a bar code reader for reading a bar code that may be located on the container 500. This may be on the exterior facing surface of the container 500 for ease of identification. The bar code contains information about the product within the container 500, which the controller 210 then uses to set the operating conditions. Other technologies that may be used to obtain information about the container 500 or the device 100 include RFID tags, MFI tags, two-dimensional codes, infrared sensors, optical sensors, ultraviolet sensors, color readers, and the like.

Sensor 220b senses whether drawer 142 is properly closed and controller 210 may prevent apparatus 100 from attempting to dispense product if sensor 220b indicates that the drawer is not properly closed. In one example, sensor 220b may be a pressure detector that detects when the drawer is pushed up against. Alternatively, when the drawer 142 is fully closed, it may complete the circuit and this is detected by the sensor 220 b.

In this example, the sensor 220c is an optical sensor, or may be a color sensor capable of identifying the color of the container 500, or a colored portion that provides information about the product in the container 500. The sensor 220c may then send this information to the controller 210. This may enable the controller 210 to program appropriate operating conditions in addition to the barcode sensor 220 a. The barcode sensor 220a and the light sensor 220c may be used in tandem to provide a double check before setting the operating conditions. Alternatively, only one or the other of the sensors 220a and 200c may be used to conserve space within the device 100. In the event that the two sensors 220a, 220c provide different information about the product in the container 500, the controller 210 may prevent operation of the apparatus 100.

In one example, the apparatus is provided with a first light guide (not shown), such as a first light tube or light pipe, for directing light from a light source (e.g., an LED) such that the light illuminates a desired portion of the container 500. The device may also be provided with a second such optical waveguide (not shown) for guiding light reflected back from the illuminated portion of the container 500 to the optical sensor 220 c.

Advantageously, this arrangement allows the optical sensor 220c, which may be sensitive to vibrations or other types of movement, to be positioned in the device 100 at a location remote from the container 500 and thus from the moving parts in the device 100. The use of optical waveguides in this manner also ensures that light is transmitted to and received from the receptacle 500 with minimal signal loss.

In this example, the sensor 220d detects whether the container 500 is ready to dispense product therefrom. For example, the container 500 may include an aperture (not shown) in its base through which the product is dispensed, and the container 500 may be provided with packaging (not shown), such as a sticker or the like that seals the aperture to keep the product fresh. To dispense the product, the aperture must be opened (e.g., the user must remove the sticker prior to use), and the sensor 220d detects this. If sensor 220d senses that the aperture is closed, controller 210 may prevent device 100 from attempting to dispense a product. In one example, the detector 220d may be a light detector that may emit light and then detect more specular reflection of the light returning from the surface of the package, as opposed to more diffuse reflection of the light returning from the surface of the product.

In another example, the sensor 220d may be an inductive sensor for sensing whether removal of a metal package (e.g., a metal strip covering a hole in the container 500) has occurred prior to inserting the container 500 into the apparatus 100. In the event that the sensor 220d senses that the metal strip still covers the aperture in the container 500 as it enters the apparatus 100 and passes the sensor 200d, it may send a message to prevent the start of a dispensing operation.

Sensor 220e senses whether chute 190 is full. The sensor 220e may be a laser gate that is continuously broken once the height of the stacked used containers reaches a certain height indicating that the chute 190 is full.

The sensor 220e may also detect whether the container 500 has been properly disposed from the holding mechanism 160 to the chute 190 in the automatic disposal mode. The sensor 220e will detect the container 500 passing through the outlet 180 into the chute 190 by, for example, a brief interruption of the laser door. If the sensor 220e does not detect the entry of the container 500 into the chute 190 after a dispensing operation, the sensor 220e can send this information to the controller 200, and the controller 200 will log the error and notify the user. A check may then be performed, which may avoid a fault escalation to an event that requires professional maintenance.

The sensor 220e may be a series of laser gates located at different heights in the chute 190 that are capable of providing information to the controller 210 regarding the remaining capacity in the chute 190. The controller 210 may then program a notification to be displayed on the control panel 200 to alert the user that the chute 190 needs to be cleaned and cleaned. The chute 190 may have some alarm system, such as a light display, on the chute 190 itself. The display may be controlled by the controller 210 to display an instance, such as a red light, when the chute 190 is full, and to display an instance, such as a green light, when the chute 190 is not full. As the chute 190 fills, the light may slowly change from green to red. Alternatively, multiple lights may be illuminated one after the other, and once all lights are illuminated, the chute 190 will need to be emptied before any further dispensing operations may be performed. Any color scheme may be used to indicate the number of containers 500 located within the chute 190.

In this example, the sensor 220f senses whether an object (not shown), such as a cup or the like, is located in the collection area 230 to receive the dispensed product. Again, if the sensor 220f indicates to the controller 210 that no object is present in the collection area 230, the controller 210 may prevent the apparatus 100 from attempting to dispense a product. In one example, the sensor 220f may be a proximity sensor or a motion sensor for detecting the presence of a collected item. The proximity sensor includes an infrared proximity sensor.

Thus, it should be understood that the device 100 may have a plurality of sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f to sense or detect characteristics of the container 500, such as whether the container 500 has been input into the device 100, prior to the start of the dispensing process. The sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f may additionally or alternatively sense or detect when predetermined conditions of the apparatus 100 or container 500 are met before the dispensing process begins. The sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f may send information to the controller 210, which then programs the operation of the device 100 based on the information. The controller 210 may communicate with or access a local or remote database prior to setting up the operation of the device 100. The controller 210 may read the operating conditions from the database.

If the sensors or detectors 220a, 220b, 220c, 220d, 220e, 220f obtain information that the predetermined condition is not met, the controller 210 may prevent operation of the device 100 such that if the user attempts to dispense a product, for example by pressing a "start dispense" control on the device 100, the device does not attempt to dispense the product. The condition may include any one of the following conditions: an unsuitable container has been placed into area 140; the container is not properly placed into the area 140; and that the container is not properly prepared prior to activation, such as removing a package or sticker, etc. When in the active position, a plurality of sensors or detectors 220 may advantageously be positioned around the area 140 in order to obtain information about the container 500.

When the controller 210 receives information about the container 500, it may also cause the control panel 200 to display a message to the user, such as "enjoy your inserted product or product taste here" or play a jingle through the speaker of the device 100.

As shown in fig. 12, the apparatus 100 has a door 192 for accessing the chute 190. Door 192 may be a sliding door that enables a user to access chute 190 to clean the container and clean chute 190. In another example, the door 192 may be attached to a hinge that enables a user to open the door 192. The door 192 may be partially or completely removed from the device 100. The door 192 may be a portion of the housing body 112.

In the example shown in fig. 13a, the apparatus 100 is bolted to the surface 300 and the chute 190 may be connected to a larger containment area 250 below the surface 300. The larger receiving area 250 may be a box or the like. The apparatus 100 may be bolted to the surface 300 by bolts 310, 320 or other suitable attachment means. Power cable 330 can be seen passing through the gap in surface 300. The user will then clear the larger receiving area 250 when needed. The apparatus in fig. 13a does not require a door to provide access to the chute 190 for cleaning the containers from the chute 190. In one example, the apparatus 100 may be connected to a main power source via a power cable 330. In another example, the apparatus 100 may be powered via an internal power source (e.g., one or more batteries).

In fig. 13b, the device 100 has a rotatable housing base 114 that provides the user with access to the drawer 142 from any angle. The rotatable housing base 114 also increases the ease with which a user can access the chute 190 to clear a used container 500 or perform maintenance on the apparatus 100. This enables the apparatus 100 to be disposed on a counter top facing the customer, but before operation begins, the apparatus operator can turn the apparatus 100 so that the drawer 142 faces the customer and the operator can perform the dispensing and collecting operations. The device 100 may then be rotated back toward the customer. Prior to a dispensing operation, a customer may select a container 500 from a nearby refrigeration unit. The user may then provide this to the operator for use with the device 100. In this example, power cable 330 extends from below apparatus 100 along the top of surface 300.

In one example, the apparatus 100 of fig. 13b can be rotated up to 5 °. In another example, the apparatus 100 of fig. 13b can be rotated up to 90 °. In another example, the apparatus 100 of fig. 13b can be rotated up to 135 °. In another example, the apparatus of fig. 13b may be rotated up to 180 °. In another example, the apparatus 100 of fig. 13b may be freely rotatable.

The device 100 shown in fig. 13b may have an internal locking system (not shown) that may be engaged to prevent rotation of the housing base 114. This may be engaged once the housing body 112 has been rotated to the desired angle, but the housing 110 needs to be secured, either temporarily or on a more permanent basis. The internal locking system (not shown) may be a friction brake or an activatable protrusion (not shown) that may protrude into the recess to prevent rotation when activated.

Referring now to fig. 14a and 14b, there is shown a view of the container 500 prior to a dispensing operation. In one particular example, the container 500 may have a cap 510 that may be compressed to fit within the body 530 of the container 500 during a dispensing operation. During a dispensing operation, the lid 510 is compressed by the compression head 130, which is shaped similarly to, but slightly smaller than, the body 530 of the container 500. During this compression, as the cap 510 is forced into the body 530, the product within the container 500 is forced out of the container 500 through the container outlet 550 in the base 532 of the container body 530.

In the example shown in fig. 14a and 14b, the cover 510 comprises a top surface 512, a folded arm portion 514, a connecting portion 516 and an overlapping edge portion 518. The compression head 130 primarily contacts the top surface 512; the majority of the contact surface of the cap 510 that contacts the compression head 130 is the top surface 512. The folded arm portion 514 is connected to the top surface 512. The folded arm portion 514 flexes during a dispensing operation. The connecting portion 516 connects the overlapping edge portion 518 to the folded arm portion 514. The overlapping edge portion 518 overlaps the upper edge of the main body 530 and may provide a snap fit or tight friction fit with the main body 530.

The main body 530 of the container 500 has a container base 532 and sides 534 extending from the container base 532. Side 534 terminates at an edge 536 of body 530. The edge 536 is then attached to the lip 540 of the body 530. In the specific example shown in fig. 14a and 14b, the body 530 has a kink 538 in the side 534. The kink 538 provides a surface against which a portion of the connecting portion 516 of the cover 510 may sit flush. This arrangement may prevent product from exiting the container 500 in an undesirable manner, such as through the sides of the container 500. The kink 538 provides a support against which the top surface 512 of the cover 510 and the folded arm portion 514 may be forced into the body 530.

The body 530 of the container 500 has at least one set or series of protrusions 545 disposed on the side 534. The series of protrusions 545 may correspond to one or more recesses in the compartment 144 of the drawer 142 such that the container 500 is only fully or properly inserted into the compartment 142 when the protrusions 545 on the container 500 abut the recesses of the compartment 144. The series of protrusions 545 shown in FIG. 14a are arranged such that the center-most protrusion 545a in the series is longer than the outermost protrusions 545b, 545c in the series. The corresponding recess in the compartment 144 may be concave in shape to receive the series of protrusions 545. Alternatively or additionally, the container 500 may have a single recess or a series of recesses corresponding to a single protrusion or a series of protrusions in the compartment 144. There may be a protrusion and recess structure on the body 530 or compartment 144 of the container 500 for corresponding with a complementary shaped recess and protrusion structure on the other of the body 530 or compartment 144 of the container 500. This configuration of projections and recesses may be repeated on the container 500 and the compartment 144. In one specific example, there are at least three sets of such structures. If the structures are identical, this arrangement provides a container 500 having three acceptable orientations in which the container may be placed in the compartment 144 of the drawer 142.

In one example, if the corresponding structures are not engaged, the container 500 cannot be received in the compartment 144, which may result in preventing the drawer 142 of the apparatus 100 from closing. This prevents the start of the dispensing operation.

The container outlet 550 is located in the container base 532 in fig. 14a and 14 b. The container outlet 550 is centrally located in the container base 532. To ensure that a majority of the product can be extruded from the container 500, the compression head 130 of the apparatus 100 described herein may have a slightly extended portion for pressing into the outlet 550 of the container 500. In the example shown, the outlet 550 is centrally located, and the corresponding extension of the compression head 130 may be located accordingly. The extension may be a small protrusion, such as a nipple, or may be a wider feature that can be bent into a mushroom shape.

Folding arm portion 514 projects substantially downwardly from top surface 512 toward container base 532 of main body 530. The connecting portion 516 then extends substantially upwardly to a level similar or identical to the top surface 512 and the edge 536 of the side 534 of the body 530. The overlapping edge portion 518 then extends substantially downward over the edge 536 of the side 534 of the body 530. The overlapping edge portion 518 may abut a lip 540 of the body 530.

The transverse cross-section of the container 500 shown in fig. 14a and 15a is substantially circular. In other examples, the transverse cross-section of the container 500 may not be circular. In other examples, the container 500 may take the shape of or have a cross-section that is cylindrical, oval, conical, spherical, pouch, etc.

The container 500 may be made by injection molding of plastic or other suitable material. In one specific example, injection molding is performed at two points on either side of the container outlet 550. This may allow the vessel 500 to have two injection points on either side of the vessel outlet 550. The first injection point and the second injection point may be included in the design to reduce visual impact. The first injection point and the second injection point may be covered by a design to reduce visual impact.

In the particular example shown in fig. 15a and 15b, the cap 510 has been forced substantially downward into the body 530 of the container 500 by the actuator 120 and compression head 130. The cap 510 may be substantially inverted during the dispensing process to force product out through the container outlet 550. In one particular example, the compression head 130 has a steep frustoconical shape to fit into the body 530 of the container 500. The compression head 130 may have rounded corners to prevent pressure points from forming at the edge of the compression head 130 during contact with the container 500.

During the dispensing process, the folding arm portion 514 folds from projecting upwardly away from the container base 532 to projecting downwardly toward the container base 532. In one example, the folded arm portion 514 is folded such that it is substantially adjacent to the side 534 of the base 532 up to the kink 538, as shown in fig. 15 b. In this manner, substantially all of the volume of the vessel 500 is evacuated from the vessel 500. Thus, the apparatus 100 has little product waste.

The container 500 has a container outlet 550. In the particular example shown in fig. 16, the container outlet 550 is disposed in the container base 532 of the container 500. The container outlet 550 allows the product within the container 500 to be dispensed from the container 500. The product contained within the container 500 may be dispensed by forcing the top surface 512 of the lid 510 of the container 500 toward the container outlet 550.

Still referring to fig. 16, the container outlet 550 is centrally disposed in the container base 532. The central location of the container outlet 550 reduces the likelihood that product will contact other elements of the device 100 during the dispensing process. This increases the overall cleanliness and therefore the hygiene of the apparatus 100 and the dispensed product. This also reduces the regularity with which the apparatus 100 must be cleaned.

The product will be extruded substantially in the shape of a tube having a cross-section matching the shape of the container outlet 550. Thus, if desired from an aesthetic point of view, by shaping the container outlet 550 accordingly, products having a cross-section of, for example, a star, triangle, cloverleaf, crescent, heart or pinwheel or other shape may be dispensed.

The container outlet 550 may be covered prior to use in the dispensing device 100. This will prevent product from exiting container outlet 550 during storage. The cover may be in the form of a plastic cover or package which may be removed prior to use. In one example, the cover may be made of rice paper. Alternatively, as described above, the sticker may cover the container outlet 550 and be peeled off prior to use. Other similar features may be included for this purpose.

Referring now to fig. 17a, 17b and 17c, in this example, the container 500 has a sticker covering the outlet 550 (see fig. 17a) and the sticker may be removed from the base of the container 500 by a user, e.g., peeled away, to open the outlet 550 (see fig. 17b and 17c) in preparation for dispensing the food product contained in the container 500.

In one example, the sticker 700 is formed from an in-mold label (IML) and is thus an integral part of the container 500. The sticker 700 shown in fig. 17a, 17b and 17c has three parts. The first portion 710 is disposed on one side of the container outlet 550 and may cover the first injection point. The second portion 720 is arranged to cover the container outlet 550. The third portion 730 is disposed on the other side of the container outlet 550 relative to the first portion 710 and may cover the second injection point. The second portion 720 is disposed between the first portion 710 and the third portion 730 of the decal 700.

The IML sticker 700 may be made of a conductive material, such as a foil layer on a plastic substrate. During molding, the sticker 700 may be adhered to the container 500. The second portion 720 of the sticker 700 may be connected to the first portion 710 and the third portion 730 by separate lines or areas of weakness 740, 742, respectively. These weakened areas 740, 742 may enable a user to remove the second portion 720 from adhering to the container 500 without removing the first portion 710 and the third portion 730 of the sticker 700. The weakened area 740 may be a perforated area or a folded area or an area of reduced thickness compared to the rest of the sticker 700.

Prior to use, the user removes the second portion 720 of the sticker 700 from the container 500 to open the container outlet 550. The user moves drawer 142 to the open position. The container 500 is then placed in the compartment 144 of the opened drawer 142. The protrusions 545 on the container 500 ensure that the container 500 fits correctly into the compartment 144 in one of three orientations by virtue of being located in three positions on the container 500, see fig. 16. Drawer 142 is then closed. When the drawer 142 is closed, the container 500 passes over the sensor 220d, which may be an inductive sensor 220 d. Each acceptable orientation of the container 500 (i.e., the orientation in which the container 500 fits into the compartment 144 such that the drawer 142 may be fully closed) may ensure that the first portion 710, the third portion 730 (and, if retained on the container 500 after insertion into the apparatus 100, the second portion 720) at least partially pass through the detection area of the inductive sensor 220 d. The inductive sensor 220d will detect the presence of any foil portions left on the container 500. Therefore, the inductive sensor must detect two separate readings before sending information to the controller 210 that a dispensing operation can begin. The reading detected by the inductive sensor 220D is the reading detected when the container 500 passes the inductive sensor 220D. Both readings indicate that a portion of the foil has passed the sensor 220d, followed by a second portion of the foil that is not connected to the first portion. This indicates that the second portion 720 of the sticker 700 has been removed from the container 500. In a specific example, a first of the two readings is from the first portion 710 of the decal 700 and a second of the two readings is from the third portion 730 of the decal 700. In a different example, a first of the two readings is from the third portion 730 of the decal 700 and a second of the two readings is from the first portion 710 of the decal 700. In contrast, a single extended reading would indicate that the second portion 720 of the sticker 700 has not been removed from the container 500. If a single long reading is recorded by the inductive sensor 220d, a message is sent to the controller 210, and the controller 210 sends a message to the control panel 200 to indicate that an inspection should be performed on the container 500. If the inductive sensor 220d records two separate readings, a message is sent to the controller 210 indicating that initiation of a dispensing operation can begin.

The device 100 may have more than one inductive sensor 220 d. In one example, one inductive sensor may be arranged to identify the absence of inductive material around the outlet 550, while other inductive sensors may be arranged to identify inductive material on either side of the outlet 550. Such an arrangement may be used to identify the true container 500 for use with the apparatus 100. The inductive sensor 220d may be optimized to only identify the specific material used in the genuine container 500 so that the device cannot be activated using a non-genuine container without the genuine peelable label 700.

The use of inductive sensor 220d eliminates the need for an optical sensor directed at outlet 550. The optical sensor, positioned to obtain the condition of the outlet 550, is in danger of the product dripping onto the sensor, then preventing it from functioning. Accordingly, the inductive sensor 220d is a more robust option for the dispensing apparatus 100.

In one example, there is an inductive sensor 220d arranged to detect the closing of the drawer 142. The drawer 142 may have a portion of conductive material (not shown) disposed within it that enters the sensing region of the inductive sensor 220d when the drawer 142 is moved from the open position to the closed position. When drawer 142 is fully closed, sensor 22d notices the presence of the portion of conductive material on drawer 142 and sends a message to controller 210. The controller 210 may prevent the start of a dispensing operation until the sensor 220d has notified the controller 210 that the drawer 142 has been fully moved to the closed position.

Other types of sensors for detecting conductive materials may be used in place of the inductive sensor.

The peelable label 700 may be used in promotional activities. Prior to use, there may be a winning code or message printed for display on the underside of the second portion 720 of the label 700.

The peelable label 700 can be one color and at least a portion of the container 500 can be another color. The color sensor 220c may be arranged to detect the color of the container 500 and the label 700, or in particular, the color of the portion of the label 700 arranged to cover the outlet 550. If the sensor identifies the color of the label 700, the sensor 220c may provide information to the controller 210 to prevent activation of the device 100. The presence of the label 700 will suggest that the container 500 is not yet properly prepared for dispensing, as the outlet 550 will not be shown. A message may then be sent to the user informing him of the readiness to inspect the container 500. Detection of the color of the container 500 may be used to indicate the taste of the food product or the type of food product within the container 500. In this example, the controller 210 may set the operating conditions based on information from the color sensor 220 c.

Thus, the device 100 may have a sensor or detector 220 positioned to identify whether the container 500 has removed the container outlet cover prior to beginning a dispensing operation. The sensor or detector 220 may be located below the region 140 and angled toward the receptacle base 532. If the sensor 220 sends information to the controller 210 indicating that the container outlet cover has not been removed, the controller 210 may prevent the start of a dispensing operation. The controller 210 may program a message to be displayed on the control panel 200 to indicate the fault to the user and how to remedy the fault.

In one embodiment, the apparatus 100 has an orientation confirmation mechanism to ensure that the container 500 is properly oriented in the region 140. The orientation confirmation mechanism may include a first feature or structure arranged to engage a complementary feature or structure on the container 500. The apparatus 100 may be arranged to commence operation only after the first feature engages with a complementary feature on the container 500.

In a specific example, the first feature may be a protrusion or recess of the device 100 that engages with a complementary recess or protrusion of the container 500. The structure may be a set of protrusions and/or a set of recesses, which may be mixed or otherwise. This arrangement may be such that if the orientation of the container 500 is incorrect and the recesses and projections do not engage, the container 500 will not be flush with the bottom of the compartment 144 of the drawer 142 such that the drawer 142 will not be fully closed. By preventing drawer 142 from moving to the active position, device 100 cannot begin operation of device 100.

In one example, the first feature may be any aesthetically desirable shape. The first feature may be any geometric shape or design, such as a curve or series of curves depicting a smiley face, where the complementary shape is a depression in the form of the shape or design of the first feature.

The container 500 may have an asymmetric design. In one particular example, the lip 540 may have a portion that is a different size than the remainder of the lip 540. The lip portion may be larger than the remainder of the lip 540. The lip portion may be of a particular design, such as a substantially arcuate portion or the like. Other designs may include aesthetically pleasing designs such as sinusoidal shapes, drop shapes, or other shapes.

The lip portion may be complementary in shape to the perimeter of the compartment 144 of the drawer 142. In one example, once the lip portion faces the handle 143 of the drawer 142, the container 500 will simply sit flush against the bottom of the compartment 144. This is another method for ensuring that the orientation of the container 500 is correct before the drawer 142 is moved to the active position.

This device 100 may have communication capabilities that enable communication with the internet or nearby base stations or other systems via, for example, a router associated with the device 100. Device 100 may be capable of connecting to a Wi-Fi network or a local area network. The device 100 may be able to use a bluetooth connection as well as through a telecommunication network such as GSM. The controller 210 of the device 100 may be capable of communicating information such as the user's habits with respect to product preferences. The controller 210 may store and transmit information regarding the number of a particular type of product that has been used within a particular time frame. This can be used to inform the owner of the device 100 that a particular type of product may be running low.

The controller 210 may be arranged to automatically order containers of a certain type of product once the supply of a particular container has fallen below a certain level.

The controller 210 of the apparatus 100 may be capable of communicating information recorded by the controller 210 regarding the number of different product types (e.g., the number of each container of each different flavor type of product) that have been used within the apparatus 100 in a given time frame to a remote computing device, such as a server (not shown). This information may be used by an operator of the apparatus 100 to determine that inventory of a certain type of product is running low. Any suitable communication link (wired or wireless) or any type of communication network, such as the internet, may be provided for the information.

The server may then route the information to an application on, for example, a mobile phone, tablet, etc., of the operator of the device 100. Alternatively, the information may be provided by the controller 210 directly to the application over a communication link (e.g., a wireless link).

It is envisaged that such an arrangement will facilitate "real-time" inventory management of the apparatus 100.

The controller 210 may be arranged to send a signal to a remote computing device (e.g. a server) to automatically order a number of containers of a certain type of product once the controller 210 determines that those types of containers have been used.

In addition to such inventory usage related information, the controller 210 may also provide other types of information in this manner, such as fault information and maintenance inspection date information.

The controller 210 may be capable of detecting and downloading software and/or firmware from a source such as the internet. This may take the form of a new actuator command sequence that has been developed in connection with, for example, a new flavor product that has been released. Such a sequence may include details regarding the force required to dispense the product from the container. This will enable the device 100 to remain up to date with minimal effort from the owner. Furthermore, the correct command sequence prevents damage to the actuator 120 by using an outdated command sequence, which reduces the frequency of maintenance and thus the average cost over maintenance time of the apparatus 100. If the flavoring is compressed without the proper command sequence, the actuator 120 may be damaged due to overloading of mechanical components. Further details of the updateable include pricing of the container 500, and the like. Furthermore, this would prevent the requirement to update the hardware of the device 100, which is typically an expensive aspect of machine maintenance for the owner.

The device 100 may be able to communicate the information to a server, which then routes the information to an application, such as a mobile phone, tablet, etc. The following information may be provided by the application to the owner of the device 100: the latest maintenance inspection date and its results; the most recently purchased products and their quantities; the number of remaining products; the total number of products of a certain type or taste that are dispensed; detecting a false normal location; error codes when a machine fails to run successfully; and a suggested replacement if the component continuously causes an error message.

Fig. 18a to 22 show an alternative arrangement of the apparatus 100. Elements of this arrangement that are identical to those of the previously shown arrangement are given the same reference numerals.

Referring now specifically to fig. 18a and 18b, there is shown a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the apparatus 100 showing the container 500 and an alternative arrangement for the retention mechanism 160.

Referring to fig. 18a, an alternative version of the retention mechanism 160 is shown having a set of spring arms 163 that extend vertically within the device 100 and are biased inwardly by a spring arrangement (not shown). Each arm 163 has an end with an engagement element 167. Engaging member 167 has a beveled edge 165 and a flat planar surface 168. The arms 163 are arranged to move outwardly as the container 500 is pushed past the engagement elements 167 during the upstroke of the actuator and then spring back inwardly under the action of spring means (not shown). During the upward stroke of the actuator, the container 500 abuts and moves past the beveled edge 165. During the return stroke, the container 500 is held on the flat face 168 of the catch 167, and thus in the retaining mechanism 160.

Referring now to fig. 18b, a version of the retention mechanism 160 of fig. 18a is shown when the engagement member 167 is not engaging a container. The arms 163 of the retaining mechanism 160 are forced outwardly so that the catches 167 do not come close enough to hold the container. This may be the case when the drawer is pulled out of the device 100 and the container is released from the engagement element 167. Such a mechanism for moving the arm 163 outward is described below with reference to fig. 19a and 19 b.

Fig. 19a and 19b show a cut-away top view of a part of the device 100 comprising a member 181, which in this example is a U-shaped bar. When the member 181 is moved in the X direction towards the front of the device 100 from the retracted position shown in fig. 19a to the extended position shown in fig. 19b when the drawer of the device (not shown in fig. 19a and 19 b) is open, the member 181 is arranged to force the arms 163 apart slightly into the position shown in fig. 18 b. This releases the used container from the retaining mechanism into the collector.

Member 181 has a flat base portion 182 and two arms 183, 184 extending from the periphery of base portion 182 to form a U-shape. Portions of the arms 183, 184 of the U-shaped bar 181 are shaped to provide wedge-shaped portions 183', 184'. Thus, the arms 183, 184 are shaped such that the arms 183, 184 are thicker closer to the base portion 182, wherein the wedge portions 183', 184' result in thinner portions of the arms 183, 184 further from the base portion 182.

As the U-shaped bar 181 moves towards the front of the device 100, the wedge portions 183', 184' move towards the pair of arms 163 connected to the pair of engagement members 167 (shown in fig. 18a and 18 b). The arm 163 extends vertically downward from the U-shaped bar 181 toward the engagement member 167, the U-shaped bar 181 being located above the engagement member 167. When the U-shaped bar 181 is moved in the X-direction towards the front of the device 100, the wedge portions 183', 184' push against the arm 163. As the wedge portions 183', 184' widen, the arms 163 move outwardly. Thus, as shown in fig. 19b, the arms 163 are moved outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the device 100 by the action of the forward movement of the U-shaped bar 181. Thus, the engagement element 167 (shown in fig. 18a and 18 b) attached to the arm 163 is also moved outwardly from the central longitudinal axis of the device 100. This outward movement causes the arms 163 and engagement members 167 to assume the arrangement shown in fig. 18b and the retained container can be released from the retaining mechanism 160.

As shown in fig. 20, the apparatus 100 may include a release lever 800 that contacts and moves forward the member 181 when the tray 142 is pulled to the open position to cause the engagement elements 164 to disengage as described above to allow a used container 500 to be received in the collector 170. The user may enter a new container into compartment 144 of drawer 142 prior to another dispensing operation.

Device 100 has a release button 804 that a user can push to retract release lever 800 down into the area below release lever 800. This then enables the user to remove the entire drawer 142 from the apparatus 100 for cleaning or maintenance, for example.

Referring now to fig. 21a and 21b, there is shown a cross-sectional plan view of a portion of the apparatus 100 having an alternative collector 170 to that shown previously. In this example, the collector 170 is shown having two arms 172 and a base 174. The arm 172 has a wider portion 176 disposed at a forward end of the arm 172. Also shown in fig. 21a and 21b are a pair of posts 178. Once released from the retaining mechanism 160, as shown in fig. 18b, the container 500 is received between the arms 172 of the collector 170, as shown in fig. 21 a.

As previously described, once the container is held by the arm 172, the container may be moved to the chute by the action of closing the drawer 143. As the drawer 143 moves to the closed position, the collector 170 moves towards the rear of the apparatus 100 and the arms 172 of the collector 170 engage the posts 178, causing the arms 172 to pivot outwardly about the pivot points to release the used container 500, as shown in fig. 21 b. The next time the drawer is pulled back to the open position, the collector arm 172 engages the post 178 and pivots to the position shown in fig. 21, where it can receive the next used container.

Referring now to fig. 22, a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an apparatus 100 according to an example is shown, the apparatus comprising the arrangement shown in fig. 18 to 21.

The illustrated device 100 may have a plurality of sensors 220 similar or identical to those previously described with respect to fig. 11. It is noted that the device 100 shown in fig. 22 does not have a barcode reader 220 a. The device 100 shown in fig. 22 also has a sensor 220g in communication with the actuator 120. The sensor 220g may provide data to the controller 210 regarding the force of the actuator 120 during a dispensing operation. Before starting, the controller 210 will have sent data regarding the type of product in the container 500 in the dispensing operation. Any particular type of product will have a predictable force demand from the actuator 120 to enable dispensing of the product. The controller 210 may compare the force read from the sensor 220g to an expected force to identify any problems in the dispensing operation. This may be done by comparing the force to a database, which may be remote from the device or may be part of the electronics of the device. If the force is much greater than expected, the controller 210 may abort the dispensing operation to protect the actuator 120. The sensor 220g may be a feedback sensor for providing periodic updates to the force of the actuator 120.

In one example, the controller 210 may be a microcontroller, and the controller 210 may include a local memory for storing signals received from at least one of the sensors 220 or other messaging elements in communication with the device 100. The local memory may be part of the controller 210 and/or provided separately from the controller 210. Additionally or alternatively, the local memory may be provided as a separate memory. In the specific example where the local memory is provided as a separate memory, the controller 210 communicates with the local memory. Either way, the controller 210 may store information received or obtained from any of the sensors 220 or other messaging elements in communication with the device 100 in a local memory. The controller 210 may additionally or alternatively store instructions for the actuator 120 in memory. The information and instructions may be stored locally to the device 120. The memory may include a database that includes operating conditions for use by the device 100. The controller 210 may access a memory to look up operating condition parameters.

As described above, the database may be updatable over the communication link to ensure that the latest product is compatible with the device 100.

The apparatus 100 described herein may have a communication link to a detector and/or a controller of the memory of the container 500. The detector of the reservoir of the container 500 may be a thermal detector for observing the temperature of the reservoir of the container 500. The detector may relay the temperature reading of the memory to the device 100, for example, through a bluetooth connection, via a telecommunications network (e.g., a GSM network, a WCDMA network, or an LTE network), through wired communication (e.g., ethernet), through Wi-Fi, etc. The controller 210 of the apparatus 100 may receive readings from the detector of the memory of the container 500 and set the operating conditions for the container 500 from the memory accordingly. If the controller 210 receives a series of readings indicating that a fault has occurred in the memory, such as a power outage that may result in an increase in the temperature of, for example, a frozen or semi-frozen food product container 500 within the memory, the controller 210 may prevent a dispensing operation on the container 500 from beginning from the memory of the container 500. The increase in temperature may result in thawing of the food product in the container 500. If the power outage is resolved, the product will then be refrozen. Recrystallization of the food product can affect the force required by the actuator 120 to squeeze the food product. Food products are also unsuitable for consumption after thawing and refreezing. Thus, preventing the start of a dispensing operation based on, for example, a temperature reading from the environment of the reservoir of the container 500 is advantageous for the user in preventing malfunctions and increasing the overall hygiene of the device 100.

In the case where multiple memories are supplied to the device 100, the controller 210 will receive the temperature reading and be able to associate it with a particular memory, so that if one of many memories fails, only the container 500 from that memory is prevented from being used in the device 100. The controller 210 of the device 100 may send an information request message to the memory to provide an update regarding the context of the memory.

Other products that may be dispensed from the apparatus 100 include fruits, vegetables, candy, popsicles, and the like.

The above embodiments are to be understood as illustrative examples of the invention. Other embodiments of the invention are envisaged. It is to be understood that any feature described in relation to any one embodiment may be used alone, or in combination with other features described, and may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the embodiments, or any combination of any other of the embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.