Method and apparatus for dispensing frozen confectionery

Abstract

A method and apparatus for assembling and vending a food or drink product using a machine having a viewing window into the interior thereof. The user selects through a user interface one of a plurality of characters, then selects through the interface the ingredients to include in the product. The ingredients are dispensed into a receptacle that is moved between dispensing locations within the machine by a robotic arm. An animated sequence, soundtrack and lighting pattern is associated with each character. As the robotic arm assembles the product, the animated sequence, soundtrack and lighting for the selected character are run and shown on a display. The user is able to watch the movements of the robotic arm and the animated sequence simultaneously.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A food or beverage vending machine for assembling and delivering a food or beverage product to a user of the machine, said machine comprising:
 a housing having an interior and a transparent viewing window for viewing at least a portion of the interior by a user of the machine;   a food or beverage dispensing station contained at a first location within the housing for dispensing a measured amount of a food or beverage into a product receptacle;   a first additive dispensing station contained within the housing at a second location that is spaced a distance away from the first location;   a second additive station that is disposed at a third location spaced a distance away from each of the first and second locations, wherein each of said first and second additive dispensing stations is configured to dispense a measured amount of an additive into the product receptacle;   a user interface for selecting at least three parameters for the assembly of the food or beverage product;   a product delivery port for delivering the product receptacle containing the assembled food or beverage product to the user;   a robotic transfer mechanism for moving the product receptacle between the first, second and third locations for the assembly of the food or beverage product and for moving the assembled food or beverage product from one of the first, second and third locations to the product delivery port; and   an electronic processor for controlling operation of the machine based on selections entered through the user interface.   
     
     
         2 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and additive dispensing stations includes:
 an additive container for containing an additive; and 
 an additive delivery conductor for conducting said measured amount of additive into the product receptacle. 
 
     
     
         3 . The vending machine of  claim 2  wherein said additive container and said additive delivery conductor are transparent and are visible through the viewing window. 
     
     
         4 . The vending machine of  claim 2  wherein said additive delivery conductor includes a retarder for retarding the flow of additive into the product receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said transfer mechanism comprises a robotic arm having a three dimensional range of motion; and
 wherein the robotic arm includes a first gripping surface and second gripping surface configured to engage a portion of a side wall of the product receptacle such that the product receptacle is gripped between the first and second gripping surfaces. 
 
     
     
         6 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a speaker controllable by said electronic processor to provide auditory stimulation to the user at least during assembly of the food or beverage product. 
     
     
         7 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more flashing or strobing lights controllable by said electronic processor to provide visual stimulation to the user at least during assembly of the food or beverage product. 
     
     
         8 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said food or beverage is selected from the group consisting of coffee, tea, and cocoa. 
     
     
         9 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said user interface includes a touch-screen input device. 
     
     
         10 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second additive dispensing stations includes: an electric motor; and an auger driven by said motor to deliver said measured amount of additive into the product receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a payment input device coupled to the processor for accepting payment from the user for the food or beverage product. 
     
     
         12 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said one or more parameters include product receptacle type. 
     
     
         13 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said one or more parameters include food or beverage type. 
     
     
         14 . The vending machine of  claim 1  wherein said one or more parameters include type of additive. 
     
     
         15 . The vending machine of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more additional dispensing stations, each of the additional dispensing stations being disposed at a location that is spaced distance away from each of the first, second, and third locations, and from the product delivery port; and
 wherein the one or more additional dispensing stations are configured to dispense one of an additional food or beverage and an additive; and   wherein the robotic transfer mechanism moves the product receptacle additionally between the locations of the one or more additional dispensing stations and the first, second and third locations for the assembly of the food or beverage product and moves the assembled food or beverage product from one of the first, second and third locations and the additional locations to the product delivery port.   
     
     
         16 . A food or beverage vending machine for assembling and delivering a food or beverage product to a user of the machine, said machine comprising:
 a housing having an interior and a transparent viewing window for viewing at least a portion of the interior by a user of the machine;   a food or beverage dispensing station contained within the housing for dispensing a measured amount of a food or beverage into a product receptacle;   one or more additive dispensing stations contained within the housing, each of said food or beverage dispensing station and one or more additive stations being positioned at locations each spaced a distance away from each other, each of said one or more additive dispensing stations configured to dispense a measured amount of an additive into the product receptacle;   a user interface for selecting one or more parameters of the food or beverage product;   a product delivery port for delivering the product receptacle containing the food or beverage product to the user;   a robotic arm movable in three dimensions for moving the product receptacle between the locations of the food or beverage dispensing station and the one or more additive stations for progressive assembly of the food or beverage product and for moving the assembled food or beverage product from one of the locations of the food or beverage dispensing station and the one or more additive stations to the product delivery port; and   an electronic processor for controlling operation of the machine based on selections entered through the user interface.   
     
     
         17 . The vending machine of  claim 16  wherein each of said one or more additive dispensing stations includes: an additive container for containing an additive; and
 an additive delivery conductor for conducting said measured amount of additive into the product receptacle. 
 
     
     
         18 . The vending machine of  claim 17  wherein said additive container and said additive delivery conductor are transparent. 
     
     
         19 . The vending machine of  claim 17  wherein said additive delivery conductor includes a retarder for retarding the flow of additive into the product receptacle. 
     
     
         20 . The vending machine of  claim 16 , further comprising a speaker controllable by said electronic processor to provide auditory stimulation to the user at least during assembly of the food or beverage product.