Ice cream vending machine

Details Ice cream vending machine Ice cream vending machine

2001-09-27

2002-05-21

Kaufman, Joseph A. (Department: 3754)

Dispensing

With heating or cooling means

Cooling only

C222S185100, C222S413000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06390334

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an ice cream vending machine, and more particularly to an ice cream vending machine for unattended vending of bead type ice cream which is frozen in the form of granules that are 3mm-7mm in diameter.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1
shows an ice cream vending machine. The vending machine shown in
FIG. 1
is a recent development of the assignee of the present application, has not been publicly disclosed and has not been previously disclosed to anyone not associated with the assignee. Accordingly, the device shown in
FIG. 1
does not qualify as prior art and cannot be used as a reference against patentability of the present invention.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, the ice cream vending machine includes a cooling system
10
, a freezing chamber
20
, a canister
30
, a cup-supplying device
40
, an ice cream discharging device
50
, a chute
60
, and a guide member
70
.
The cooling system
10
is substantially identical to a general refrigeration cycle. Once cooled by the cooling system
10
, the air is blown into the freezing chamber
20
by a blower
11
. A canister
30
is arranged inside of the freezing chamber
20
.
The canister
30
is normally filled with a bead type ice cream that is frozen into a shape having a granule size of between 3-7mm in diameter. The freezing chamber
20
is maintained at a temperature approximately from −43° C. to −27° C.
The cup-supplying device
40
is arranged outside of the freezing chamber
20
, to supply cups
41
for holding ice cream. The ice cream discharging device
50
is provided adjacent to the lower portion of the canister
30
. The cup-supplying device
40
and the ice cream discharging device
50
are substantially identical to known ice cream vending machines.
The chute
60
, arranged on the lower side of a discharging port
51
of the ice cream discharging device
50
, directs the discharged ice cream into a certain path. Also, the guide member
70
is arranged on the lower side of the chute
60
to guide the discharge ice cream into the cup
41
supplied by the cup-supplying device
40
.
In conventional ice cream vending machines, first a customer inputs a coin of a predetermined amount into the vending machine and then presses a selection button. The cup supplying device
40
then supplies the cup
41
to a predetermined location underneath a discharge port of the guide member
70
.
Next, the ice cream discharging device
50
is operated so that the ice cream is discharged. The discharged ice cream is discharged into the cup
41
through the chute
60
and a passage
71
of the guide member
70
. Subsequently, the customer pulls out the cup
41
and enjoys the ice cream.
In such ice cream vending machines, however, the ice cream is guided at a normal temperature by the guide member
70
from an ice cream outlet of canister
30
to the location where the cup
41
is supplied.
As it passes through the passage
71
of the guide member
70
, the ice cream partially melts, and accordingly, the ice cream cannot be served at an optimum state. Additionally, residual ice cream remains in the passage
71
of the guide member
70
. The remaining ice cream in the passage
71
goes bad as time passes, and accordingly, a machine operator has to bear the inconvenience of frequently having to clean the vending machine.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made to overcome the above-mentioned problems of the conventional ice cream vending machines, and accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an ice cream vending machine that provides a customer with an ice cream in an optimum state by preventing conveyance of the ice cream at normal or room temperature, and also provides a machine operator of the vending machine convenience in maintenance.
The above object is accomplished by an ice cream vending machine in accordance with the present invention, including a cooling system, a freezing chamber cooled by the cooling system, a canister arranged within the freezing chamber, for holding a bead type ice cream, a cup supplying device arranged outside of the freezing chamber, for supplying a cup for holding the bead type ice cream, an ice cream discharging device for discharging the bead type ice cream from the canister, and a conveying means for conveying the cup supplied by the cup supplying device, the cup being conveyed between a location (first location) to where the cup is supplied by the cup supporting device to a location (third location) to where the ice cream is discharged from the freezing chamber.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5086951 (1992-02-01), Nakayama et al.
patent: 5893485 (1999-04-01), McGill
patent: 6186373 (2001-02-01), Johanson
patent: 6199724 (2001-03-01), Yeranossian
patent: 6264066 (2001-07-01), Vincent et al.

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