Hot And Cold Liquid Dispenser With Fraud Alarm

Abstract

A hot and cold liquid dispensing machine wherein cups containing dry concentrate packets are stored prior to use and in which a desired drink is then made by selectively applying hot or cold water to the concentrate. Hot or cold water is provided by heating and cooling tank assemblies through separate spigots which are linked to a coin box and alarm system and wherein an alarm is sounded if a coin(s) is not deposited each time each spigot is operated to insure that drinks are paid for.

Description

This invention relates to liquid dispensing equipment and particularly to a machine for facilitating the mixing of hot and cold drinks by selectively supplying hot or cold water.

There exists today a variety of machines for the dispensing of hot and cold drinks. They range from the very sophisticated coin operated machines to the office coffee pot. Coin operated machines are generally expensive, often require individual machine licensing and are generally serviced by a technician who periodically fills the machines and takes the money out of the machines and maintains them in operating condition. They are normally used in places of reasonably high traffic in order to attract enough business to amortize the investment. On the opposite extreme is the office coffee pot, which, of course provides only a hot drink, coffee, and is maintained by a person having other duties, such as a secretary. Usually its upkeep is maintained by a cigar box or coffee can in which patrons are supposed to, and usually contribute each time they get a cup of coffee. This arrangement is very popular and is employed not only in offices but in work areas of all types for "break" and refreshment periods. The "coffee pot" arrangement works reasonably well where the demand is small and the selection of only coffee is tolerable. The difficulty is, of course, obvious in that people soon desire not only hot, but cold drinks near where they work and in addition want a variety of products and flavors. There thus has been created a demand for a dispensing apparatus more versatile than the simple coffee pot arrangement and less complicated than the usual coin operated type machine.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved liquid dispenser that facilitates hot and cold drinks, is relatively inexpensive, and is economically self-sustaining.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a comestible dispensing machine including hot and cold liquid dispensers which are relatively light and compact.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following description when considered together with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the invention as illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a spigot operated switching assembly;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a liquid heating container as contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the container shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a container assembly for providing cool liquid as contemplated by the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of FIG. 6 along the lines 7-7;

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of the functional system of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a pictoral view from the front and top of a coin receptacle and switch assembly and alarm system;

FIG. 10 is a pictoral view of the receptacle of FIG. 9, but from the bottom and side of the receptacle; and

FIG. 11 is an electrical schematic illustration of the electrical circuit of the alarm system of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, hot liquid container 10 and cold liquid container 12 are mounted side-by-side in and supported by cabinet 14. Cabinet 14 provides a compact arrangement of components utilizing approximately 4 cubic feet and weighing less than 60 pounds. It provides storage receptacles 16 in front of containers 10 and 12 in which cups 18 containing product concentrate in packets are stored and from which cups 18 are removable one at a time. The bottom cup in each receptacle holds the stack of cups above it by virtue of a locking annular recess 20 in which the upper ring of a cup 18 is supported. Recess 20 of receptacle tube 21 also provides an air seal to further prevent deterioration of concentrate in packets. Cabinet 14 also provides additional storage area for sundry items such as sugar, cream, stirrers, snacks, etc. in storage areas 22 and 24. Containers 26 are illustrated in use in the storage areas. Additional packet storage space is provided for ingredients which require larger packet size, such as hot chocolate in a compartment under storage area 22. Cups 18 are covered from the top by cover or lid 28 which is hinged at the rear by hinges 30 and covers the entire top of cabinet 14 and is locked in place by lock 31.

Hot liquid is dispensed from container 10 by operation of spigot 32 and cold liquid dispensed from container 12 by operation of spigot 34. These containers, shown in greater detail in FIGS. 4 and 6 are cylindrical metal containers, typically holding 6 quarts of liquid each. Hot liquid container 10 is covered on the side and bottom by an insulating layer 36 (FIG. 2) and is heated by an electrical resistance heating element 38, the insulated base 39 of which is attached to the bottom of container 10. The electrical circuit to resistance heating wire 40 of heating element 38 is through thermostat 42 which is thermally in contact with the bottom of container 10 and functions to thermostatically turn on and off current flow to maintain temperature of container 10 within the desired temperature range. Power is also selectively turned off and on by switch S1 and indicated on by light L1.

Liquid in container 12 is chilled by virtue of evaporator coils 42 attached to the bottom of container 12. Vertical member 48 attached to the inside bottom of container 12 rises to a level approximately that of spigot 34 and serves to prevent ice which normally forms near the bottom of container 12 from rising to the top level of the liquid. This is accomplished by making vertical member 48 tapered, having a cross section intermediate the top and bottom which is smaller than the cross section at or near its top. By virtue of this configuration and its height relationship to spigot 34, ice forms up to the level of spigot 34 and thus, water being drawn through spigot 34 is forced to come in contact with or close to the ice. Freezing does not occur closely adjacent to spigot 34 by virtue of the natural heat input provided by spigot 34 so that there is usually a small region around spigot 34 which is unfrozen but provides a fairly small passageway in which water flows close to the ice in passing through spigot 34. Thus water dispensed is ideally very close to freezing temperature and the ice also serves to quickly chill any water added to container 12.

As a further feature of the cooling system of the invention, insulation 50 surrounds the sides and bottom of container 12 and in some regions is spaced from container 12 to form a side cavity 52 and bottom cavity 54 to provide a conductive heat transfer path and also convective heat transfer currents between the bottom and a portion of side of container 12. These currents circulate through bottom cavity 54, up side cavity 52, along side wall of insulation 50, down side cavity 52, along sidewall of container 12, and back to cavity 54. By this configuration, the cooling effect applied by evaporator coils 42 is more thoroughly applied to container 12 resulting in more efficient and effective cooling of liquid. As illustrated in FIG. 8, evaporator coils 42 are part of a conventional vapor compression refrigeration system also including compressor 44 and condenser coils 46. The refrigeration system is controlled through thermostatic switch 47 thermally in contact with the bottom edge of container 12 which turns on and off compressor 44 to maintain a desired liquid temperature and ice level in container 12. Power is also selectively turned off and on by switch S2 and indicated on by light L2.

FIG. 8 also illustrates the functional arrangement of the alarm system 56 and components with which it connects. As shown it is coupled to faucets 32 and 34 and coin operated switch or coin switch 58. Alarm system 56 is for the purpose of discouraging use of the machine without one having first inserted a dime or two nickels in coin switch 58 and in operation sounds a buzzer or other alarm when such is attempted. Its housing 59 (FIG. 9--10) is removably installed in the top front portion of cabinet 14 as shown in FIG. 2 and is secured in position by top 28 which has an opening 60 permitting coins to be inserted in the appropriate slots of coin switch 58. Coin switch 58 includes a first and second set of nickel sensing contacts 61 and 62 in series and a single set of dimes sensing contacts 64. These contacts, which are in the form of spring contacts, are positioned just above the inner edges of nickel slots 65 and 66 and dime slot 67, which slots lead down to coin box 68. These contacts serve to provide an electrical closed circuit when either two nickels or a single dime is introduced. This is accomplished by a circuit which is completed by either a dime electrically closing contacts 64 or by two nickels closing an electrical series circuit between the outer and inner contacts of contacts 61 and 62. A portion of the contact leads of contacts 61 and 62 extend through coin support plate 69 of coin switch 58 as do the contact or contacts leads of contacts 64 and are connected as shown in FIG. 10 (coin box 68 removed to show wiring) in a manner wherein two nickels are necessary to form a series circuit which is electrically in parallel with a circuit completed by a dime and thus either two nickels or a dime form the necessary electrical circuit function to provide a closed circuit at terminals 70 to temporarily prevent the operation of the alarm system as will be described below.

Coins are actually inserted through top slots 71, one for each of the three coin positions and these slots are aligned with correspondingly slotted ends of coin inserting arms 72 of coin slide mechanism 74 when the latter is in an extracted position. It is shown in an almost completely extracted position. Thus when a coin(s) is inserted and handle 76 is pushed forward, to the right as shown, a deposited coin or coins are forced into contact with the appropriate spring contacts and then down through slot 65 and 66, or slot 67, into coin box 68. Fixed guides or lands 78 position arms 72 and further serve to guide coins into contact with the appropriate spring contacts and coin slots. Coins are collected by unlocking and lifting back top cover 28, removing alarm system assembly 63, and then tilting the assembly into a position which permits the coins to fall out of the slot 80.

The basic electrical circuitry of the alarm system is actually mounted in compartment 82 of coin switch 58. It connects externally to 115 volt AC power through terminals 84 and to identical faucet switches 86 and 88, shown schematically in FIG. 10, by means of terminal pairs 90 and 92, respectively. One of the faucet switches, faucet switch 86, is illustrated in detail in FIG. 3. It consists of magnetic reed switch 94 which is mounted on the rear surface of front panel 96 of cabinet 14. Switch 94, which is normally "open," is operated "closed" by the depression of faucet handle 98 to the position shown. In this position a magnetic flux path from bar magnet 100 acts directly on reed switch 94 to close its contacts. When, however, handle 98 of faucet 32 is released, a magnetic shunt, a bar 102 of magnetic material on the end of arm 104 of faucet handle 98, is moved to a position between magnet 100 and switch 94. This prevents a substantial flux force from reaching reed switch 94 and reed switch 94 returns to its normally "open" condition. Magnet 100 is held in position by a horizontal bracket 106 mounted on the front surface of front panel 96.

Referring now to FIG. 11 and the electrical circuit of the alarm system, it is to be noted that the circuitry employs a number of nor gates which together with the other circuitry components serve to perform these functions:

1. If no coin is put into the machine, and thus coin switch 58 is not operated, the operation of either faucet 32 or 34, linked, respectively, to normally open switches 90 and 92 serves to cause the alarm buzzer 108 to operate.

2. Even if a coin is placed in the machine and coin switch 58 operated, if a person attempts to operate both faucets simultaneously, that is if someone attempts to get two cups of liquid out of the machine for the price of one, buzzer 108 is operated.

3. If a coin is properly inserted into the machine and coin switch 58 operated, the circuit then is conditioned for the operation of either of the faucets without alarm provided the faucet is depressed for no longer than 10 seconds, an adequate time to get liquid from the machine. If a person attempts to fill several cups and thus take longer than 10 seconds, then buzzer 108 will be operated.

To illustrate the foregoing functions, first assume that both faucets are operated simultaneously, and thus switches 86 and 88 are both closed. The result is that the normally "on" or positive voltages applied to inputs 110 and 112 of NOR gate 114 through resistors 116 and 118 from positive terminal 120 of rectifier or DC power source 122 are reduced to zero. As a NOR gate is basically a two input OR gate followed by an amplifier for phase inversion, the output terminal 123 of NOR gate 114 rises, goes to a high voltage or 1 condition and current flows through diode 124 of the three input OR gate 126 and through resister 128 to the base input of NPN transistor 130. This reduces the output impedance through transister 130 to power source 122 and causes buzzer 108 to sound. This action will occur regardless of whether money is deposited in the machine.

Next assume that no money is deposited in the machine and coin switch 58 is not operated closed and that one of the faucets are opened. First, it is to be noted that flip-flop 132, consisting of cross-coupled NOR gates 134 and 136 is at rest with a zero input state on input terminal 138, a 1 condition on output terminal 140 which is fed to input terminal 142 of NOR gate 136 and a zero output on terminal 144 of NOR gate 136, which in turn is coupled back to input terminal 146 of NOR gate 134. The result is that a zero output steady state is applied to input terminal 148 of NOR gate 150 and input terminal 152 of nor gate 154. Then, if, for example, faucet 32 is operated and faucet switch 86 is closed, the zero condition will also be placed on terminal 156 of NOR gate 154 which means both inputs of NOR gate 154 are at a zero condition. This causes output terminal 158 to rise to a positive or 1 condition which in turn causes current to flow through diode 160 and resistor 128 to the base of transistor 130. The transistor is thus turned on to cause buzzer 108 to be operated.

Similarly, if faucet 34 and faucet switch 88 had been operated, and a zero condition thus appears on both input terminals of NOR gate 150, NOR gate 150 will change state to produce a positive or 1 output on terminal 162, causing current to flow through diode 164 and resistor 128 to the base of transistor 130, causing buzzer 108 to be operated.

Next assume that initially flip-flop 132 is in the resting state described above and a dime or two nickels are placed in coin switch 58 (FIG. 9) causing coin switch 58 to be momentarily closed as the coin or coins close a circuit between appropriate spring contacts and between terminals 70. This causes a positive pulse to be impressed across resistor 165 and on terminal 138 of NOR gate 134 (FIG. 11). The result is that NOR gate 134 is operated to produce a zero voltage on output terminal 140. The further result is that flip-flop 132 reverses conditions and provides a 1 or positive output on terminal 144 of NOR gate 136. This state continues or remains until a faucet switch is operated and the flip-flop is reset as will be explained below. Thus nothing further happens in the circuit until one of the faucet switches, 86 or 88, is closed, which of course is occasioned by one of the faucets being opened. Let's assume that faucet 32 is operated and faucet switch 86 is thus closed. The result is that the cathode of diode 166, previously biased positive through resistor 116, is pulled down to zero causing diode 166, to conduct and pulling the anode of diode 166 and the base of NPN transistor 168 down to essentially a zero potential. Since there now exists a zero potential on output terminal 140 of NOR gate 134 and thus on the emitter of transistor 168, and appropriate positive bias through resistor 172 on the collector of this transistor, this decrease in input to the base caused by the closing of switch 86 causes a rise in voltage at the collector which is transmitted through capacitor 174 as a positive pulse and across resistor 176, to input terminal 178 of NOR gate 180.

The application of the positive pulse to NOR gate 180 energizes a 10 second timing circuit 182 and allows faucet 32 to be held depressed for 10 seconds to permit delivery of liquid without an alarm. This is accomplished as follows: the normal resting state of zero inputs on both terminals 178 and 182 of NOR gate 180 and a positive or 1 state output on output terminal 184 of NOR gate 180 is changed and a zero potential now appears on output terminal 184. This causes two things to occur. One, capacitor 186 commences charging through resistor 188 and two, the resulting decrease in potential at the base of NPN transistor 190 increases the impedance of transistor 190 and reduces the input voltage level at terminals 192 and 194 of NOR gate 196 to near zero. This in turn causes a rise in output potential at output terminal 198 to a 1 state which in turn is coupled to terminal 182 of NOR gate 180. As this condition continues so long as capacitor 186 is being charged the state of NOR gate 180 remains with zero on its output even though the original starting pulse from capacitor 174 is removed. During this period of this state of the circuit, it will be noted that terminal 144 of NOR gate 136 applied a positive or 1 state to terminals 148 and 152 of NOR gates 150 and 154 and thus there are zero outputs on output terminals 162 and 158 permitting either switch 86 or 88 to operate and place a zero potential on either terminal 156 or 200 without causing an alarm. Thus the operation in this instance of faucet 32 and switch 86 produces no alarm. This condition holds for the duration of the timing cycle of timing circuit 182, that is during the 10 second charging period of capacitor 186.

When capacitor 186 stops charging and the timing cycle ends, the base input to transistor 190 rises, decreasing the transitor impedance to NOR gate 196 and causing the input to terminals 192 and 194 to rise to a positive or 1 state and the output of NOR gate 196 applied to input terminal 182 of NOR gate 180 to fall to zero. The zero output of NOR gate 196 is applied to input terminals 202 and 204 of NOR gate 206 which produces a positive or 1 output on terminal 208. This causes a positive pulse to be coupled by capacitor 210 across resistor 212 to input terminal 214 of NOR gate 136 of flip-flop 132. The application of this positive pulse to NOR gate 136 causes the flip-flop to reverse state and output terminal 144 to reverse to a zero condition, and output terminal 140 of NOR gate 134 to reverse back to its original 1 state. In this manner the flip-flop is reset to its original condition and ready for a new cycle of operation as just described with a zero potential applied to NOR gate terminals 148 and 152. Now, if either of the faucet switch 86 or 88 are closed, by an attempt to continue delivery of liquid beyond the 10 second period or a new delivery without a new deposit, the NOR gate to which the operated switch is connected would produce a positive output and operate transistor 130 and buzzer 108.

In addition to resetting the circuit to prevent unauthorized use it is necessary that the circuit reset for authorized use. This requires the discharge of capacitor 186 and as a particular feature of this circuit reset is accomplished very rapidly and in a matter of milliseconds. First, as indicated above the left terminal of capacitor 186 is raised toward a positive or 1 state by the last operation of gate 180 which causes terminal 184 to rise. Second, with current cutoff through resistor 188, resistors 216 and 218 form a voltage divider which forward biases diode 220 and permits a low resistance discharge path for capacitor 186 through diode 220 and resistor 218. This permits capacitor 186 to be thus discharged very rapidly.

In summary, the operation of the machine of this invention is as follows. First, a coin or coins would be placed in the machine as described. This "authorizes" delivery of hot or cold liquid from either one, but not both of spigots 32 or 34. A cup having the desired concentrate is then removed from the cabinet. Concentrate is typically contained in a packet in the bottom of a cup. This packet is opened and the concentrate is deposited in the cup. Finally, the cup is placed under either faucet 32 or 34 and operated to fill the cup with the desired hot or cold water and the desired drink obtained. If dispensing of liquid is attempted from either spigot without payment, or both spigots at once with or without payment, an alarm sounds. This usually provides sufficient discouragement to prevent unauthorized use. I claim:

Claims

1. A dispensing machine comprising:

A. a liquid cooling assembly comprising:

1. a first container,

2. cooling means associated with said first container for removing heat from said first container, and

3. first spigot means connected to the lower region of said first container for selectively discharging liquid from said first container;

B. a liquid heating assembly comprising:

1. a second container,

2. electrical heating means thermally coupled to said second container,

3. second spigot means connected to the lower region of said second container for selectively discharging liquid from said second container;

C. alarm means comprising:

1. a first switch associated with said first spigot and operated by said first spigot when said first spigot is operated,

2. a second switch associated with said second spigot and operated by said second spigot when said second spigot is operated,

3. a coin operated switch,

4. an alarm indicator, and

5. electrical control means connected to said first, second and coin operated switches and said alarm indicator for operating said alarm indicator whenever either of said first or second switches are operated without the said coin operated switch having first been operated and for operating said alarm indicator whenever said first and second switches are operated simultaneously.

2. A dispensing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooling coils are affixed to the outer bottom of said first container.

3. The dispensing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said cooling means is in engagement with the bottom of said first container and said first container and said first container further comprises means positioned in the bottom region of said first container for preventing ice which forms in the bottom of said first container from rising to the top of said container.

4. The dispensing machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for preventing ice forming on the bottom of said first container from rising comprises a thermally conducted member supported by the inner side of the bottom of said first container and extending upward in said first container to a height approximately equal to the height of said first spigot means and wherein the cross section of said member is greater at the top than it is at some level below said top.

5. A dispensing machine as set forth in claim 4 further comprising an insulting cover closing the sides and bottom of said first container and forming a continuous cavity between the bottom of said first container and a portion of the side of said first container wherein a conductive heat transfer path if formed and circulating convection currents occur and enhance heat extraction from said first container.

6. A dispensing machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein said cooling means further comprises a thermostatic element for turning on and off said cooling means, said thermostatic element being thermally in contact with the bottom edge region of said first container.