| 摘要 |
A cup separator module 28, and a vending machine 10 equipped with a separator module 28, in which a longitudinally displaceable jaw carriage 30 serially, forcibly separates rimmed cups 24 from nested stacks to facilitate a vend. Preferably the cups 24 are arranged in vertical columns disposed within tubular columns 20A disposed at radially spaced-apart intervals within the rotatable carousel 18. Each of the cups 24 within the carousel columns are filled with premeasured quantities of beverage concentrate 23. Apparatus is provided for moving the desired column to a vend position whereupon the separator module 28 is activated. The jaw carriage 30 slidably mounted to the module is longitudinally displaceable between a rest position and a cup stack engaging position. The carriage includes a first notched plate 100 which engages the next to last cup in a stack of cups, and a second notched plate 102 which engages the stack above the rim of the lowermost cup. As the jaw carriage 30 moves forward towards the cup column, deflection means associated with the second jaw carriage plate contacts a rigid stop, pivoting the second plate downwardly to forcibly remove the lowermost cup. In a preferred form a jaw carriage follower means 40 contacts a slidable gate 38 expose dispensing orifices 34 allowing the separated cup to drop through to a liquid insertion compartment 44. <IMAGE> |
