Vending Dispenser Assemblies for Beverage Dispensers

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide vending dispenser assemblies for beverage dispensers. In particular, embodiments of the invention can provide a beverage dispenser with a manually operated vending dispenser assembly that consumes little or no additional electrical power to dispense a beverage container using the assembly. Embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can be used with a heated or chilled compartment associated with a beverage dispenser. Furthermore, embodiments of a vending dispenser assembly can operate in conjunction with a relatively small dispenser opening to limit heat transfer loss via the dispenser opening. One embodiment can provide a dispenser for dispensing a number of products. The dispenser can include at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products, and a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.

1 . A dispenser for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products; and   a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser.   
     
     
         2 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises a rotatable door. 
     
     
         3 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises at least one turret-type wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises a device with a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         5 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device is adapted to permit manual operation of the device. 
     
     
         6 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 an access door;   at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to at least one storage column; and   a product shuttle cooperating with the door and the at least one turret-type wheel, wherein manipulating the access door causes rotation of the at least one turret-type wheel which allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column to the product shuttle and towards the access door.   
     
     
         7 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         8 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots and a plurality of out-of-phase slots, wherein the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a first storage column and the plurality of out-of-phase slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a different storage column. 
     
     
         9 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein rotation of the at least one-turret type wheel is controlled by at least one control device. 
     
     
         10 . The dispenser of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one control device comprises at least one of the following: a ratchet gear, a toggle, a pawl, or a pawl trigger. 
     
     
         11 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the product shuttle comprises a pulley drive set. 
     
     
         12 . The dispenser of  claim 6 , wherein the product shuttle is adapted to lift the advanced product when the access door is opened. 
     
     
         13 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to the at least one storage column; and   a device cooperating with the at least one turret-type wheel, the device operable to receive a force from a user, wherein the force causes the at least one turret-type wheel to rotate and allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column.   
     
     
         14 . The dispenser of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         15 . The dispenser of  claim 1 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one moveable array operable to receive the advanced product, and advance the product towards an access opening; and   at least one stationary array adjacent to the at least one moveable array, and operable to retain the position of the advanced product when movement of the advanced product is interrupted prior to dispensing of the product from the access opening.   
     
     
         16 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one moveable array comprises at least one of the following: a series of pivotable arms, or a series of lift bars. 
     
     
         17 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one stationary array comprises a series of pivotable arms. 
     
     
         18 . The dispenser of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one moveable array can be manually operated to dispense the advanced product from the access opening. 
     
     
         19 . A method of dispensing a product from a dispenser, comprising:
 selecting a product stored in at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products;   manipulating a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser; and   receiving the selected product from the dispenser.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device comprises a rotatable door. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device comprises at least one turret-type wheel. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the product selection device comprises a device with a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device is adapted to permit manual operation of the device. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 an access door;   at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to at least one storage column; and   a product shuttle cooperating with the door and the at least one turret-type wheel, wherein manipulating the access door causes rotation of the at least one turret-type wheel which allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column to the product shuttle and towards the access door.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots and a plurality of out-of-phase slots, wherein the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a first storage column and the plurality of out-of-phase slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a different storage column. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein rotation of the at least one-turret type wheel is controlled by at least one control device. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one control device comprises at least one of the following: a ratchet gear, a toggle, a pawl, or a pawl trigger. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the product shuttle comprises a pulley drive set. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the product shuttle is adapted to lift the advanced product when the access door is opened. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to the at least one storage column; and   a device cooperating with the at least one turret-type wheel, the device operable to receive a force from a user, wherein the force causes the at least one turret-type wheel to rotate and allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one moveable array operable to receive the advanced product, and advance the product towards an access opening; and   at least one stationary array adjacent to the at least one moveable array, and operable to retain the position of the advanced product when movement of the advanced product is interrupted prior to dispensing of the product from the access opening.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one moveable array comprises at least one of the following: a series of pivotable arms, or a series of lift bars. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one stationary array comprises a series of pivotable arms. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the at least one moveable array can be manually operated to dispense the advanced product from the access opening. 
     
     
         37 . A method of providing a product from a dispenser, comprising:
 storing at least one product in at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products;   providing a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser; and   after receipt of an input from a consumer, dispensing the advanced product from the dispenser.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises a rotatable door. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises at least one turret-type wheel. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises a device with a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device is adapted to permit manual operation of the device. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 an access door;   at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to at least one storage column; and   a product shuttle cooperating with the door and the at least one turret-type wheel, wherein manipulating the access door causes rotation of the at least one turret-type wheel which allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column to the product shuttle and towards the access door.   
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots and a plurality of out-of-phase slots, wherein the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a first storage column and the plurality of out-of-phase slots is sized to receive one of a number of products from a different storage column. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein rotation of the at least one-turret type wheel is controlled by at least one control device. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the at least one control device comprises at least one of the following: a ratchet gear, a toggle, a pawl, or a pawl trigger. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the product shuttle comprises a pulley drive set. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the product shuttle is adapted to lift the advanced product when the access door is opened. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to the at least one storage column; and   a device cooperating with the at least one turret-type wheel, the device operable to receive a force from a user, wherein the force causes the at least one turret-type wheel to rotate and allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column.   
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the at least one turret-type wheel comprises a plurality of slots, wherein each of the plurality of slots is sized to receive one of the number of products. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one moveable array operable to receive the advanced product, and advance the product towards an access opening; and   at least one stationary array adjacent to the at least one moveable array, and operable to retain the position of the advanced product when movement of the advanced product is interrupted prior to dispensing of the product from the access opening.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one moveable array comprises at least one of the following: a series of pivotable arms, or a series of lift bars. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one stationary array comprises a series of pivotable arms. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the at least one moveable array can be manually operated to dispense the advanced product from the access opening. 
     
     
         55 . A dispenser for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products;   a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser, the product selection device comprising at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to at least one storage column;   an access opening; and   a product shuttle cooperating with the door and the at least one turret-type wheel, wherein manipulating the access door causes rotation of the at least one turret-type wheel which allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column to the product shuttle and towards the access opening.   
     
     
         56 . A dispenser for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products;   a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser, the product selection device comprising:
 at least one turret-type wheel positioned adjacent to the at least one storage column; and 
 a device cooperating with the at least one turret-type wheel, the device operable to receive a force from a user, wherein the force causes the at least one turret-type wheel to rotate and allows one of the number of products to advance from the at least one storage column towards an access opening; and 
   an access opening for dispensing the advanced product.   
     
     
         57 . A dispenser for dispensing a number of products, comprising:
 at least one storage column adapted to dispense a number of products;   a product selection device operable to permit one of the number of products to advance from the storage column, wherein the advanced product can be dispensed from the dispenser; and wherein the product selection device comprises:
 at least one moveable array operable to receive the advanced product, and advance the product towards an access opening; and 
 at least one stationary array adjacent to the at least one moveable array, and operable to retain the position of the advanced product when movement of the advanced product is interrupted prior to dispensing of the product from an access opening; and 
   an access opening for dispensing the advanced product.