Cup beverage vending machine with multiple beverage dispensing points and selected beverage dispensing point lighting

Abstract

A cup beverage vending machine having a beverage dispensing assembly with fluid dispensing nozzles located over respective cup stands; a beverage selection device; a lighting device for lighting the cup stands; and an electronic control unit connected to the beverage dispensing assembly, the beverage selection device and the lighting device, and so configured that, in response to selection of a beverage, the lighting device only illuminates the cup stand on which a cup for the selected beverage is to be deposited.

1 . A cup beverage vending machine, comprising:
 a beverage dispensing assembly with fluid dispensing nozzles located over respective cup stands;   a beverage selection device;   a lighting device for lighting the respective cup stands; and   an electronic control unit connected to the beverage dispensing assembly, the beverage selection device and the lighting device, and so configured that, in response to selection of a beverage, the lighting device illuminates a cup stand of the respective cup stands on which a cup for the dispensed beverage is to be deposited.   
     
     
         2 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured so that the lighting device illuminates all the respective cup stands and, in response to selection of a beverage, only illuminates the cup stand on which a cup for the dispensed beverage is to be deposited. 
     
     
         3 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor device for detecting the presence of cups on the cup stands. 
     
     
         4 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to indicate a missing or wrongly positioned cup on the illuminated cup stand. 
     
     
         5 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured for the lighting device to give a visual indication of a missing or wrongly positioned cup on the illuminated cup stand. 
     
     
         6 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured for the lighting device to give a visual indication of a missing or wrongly positioned cup by flashing the cup stand on which the cup is to be deposited. 
     
     
         7 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a display connected to the electronic control unit; and   wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to direct the display to give a visual indication of a missing or wrongly positioned cup on the illuminated cup stand.   
     
     
         8 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the electronic control unit is further configured to prevent the beverage dispensing assembly from dispensing a selected beverage in the event of a missing or wrongly positioned cup on the illuminated cup stand. 
     
     
         9 . The cup beverage vending machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronic control unit comprises software loaded thereon designed, that when executed, causes the lighting device to illuminate the cup stand on which the cup for the dispensed beverage is to be deposited in response to selection of a beverage. 
     
     
         10 . An electronic control unit for use in a cup beverage vending machine including a beverage dispensing assembly with fluid dispensing nozzles located over respective cup stands, a beverage selection device, and a lighting device for lighting the cup stands, the electronic control unit comprising:
 software programmed such that execution of the software causes the lighting device to illuminate a cup stand of the respective cup stands on which a cup for the dispensed beverage is to be deposited in response to selection of a beverage.