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`‘% Certification
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`v \
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`I, Harumi K. Rudolph, hereby certify the following:
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`I am fluent
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`in the English and Japanese languages.
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`I have
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`translated and/or reviewed the translation of the Japanese document
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`identified as:
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`JP H04-136787 U
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`and find it to be a true and accurate translation to the best of my
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`knowledge and ability.
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`I declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the United
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`States of America that the foregoing is true and correct.
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`Signature
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`Harumi K. Rudolph
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`d.b.a. Kotoba Translations
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`Date
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`flag;
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`Z. Z0/'2
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 001
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 001
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`(19) Japan Patent Office (JP)
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`(12) Public Utility Model Gazette (U)
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` (11) Publication Number of Utility Model Application
`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`(51) Int. Cl.5
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`Identification
`code
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`G07F 13/06
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`101
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`Internal File
`No.
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`9028-3E
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`(21) Application
`Number:
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`Utility Model Application No.
`1992-29443
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`(62) Division
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`Division of Utility Model
`Application No. 1986-57861
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`(22) Date of Filing:
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`04.17.1986
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`FI
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`Technology displayed in:
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`(43) Date of publication: 12.18.1992
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`Request for Examination: Requested (Total pages: 2)
`(71) Applicant: 000005234
`Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
`1-1 Tanabe Shinden, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki,
`Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
`(72) Inventor: TOSHIHIRO SATO
`c/o Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
`1-1 Tanabe Shinden, Kawasaki-ku,
`Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
`(72) Inventor: MAKOTO YOSHIDA
`c/o Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
`1-1 Tanabe Shinden, Kawasaki-ku,
`Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
`100082500
`Patent Agent, IWAO YAMAGUCHI
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`(74) Attorney/
`Agent:
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`(54) TITLE OF THE UTILITY MODEL: INGREDIENT STIRRING DEVICE FOR CUP TYPE
`BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINE
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`(57) ABSTRACT
`<Object> To prevent beverage spills while stirring ingredients, and facilitate mutually aligning a cup and
`a cover in an ingredient stirring device that stirs ingredients inside a cup.
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`<Construction> An ingredient stirring device in a cup type beverage vending machine that dispenses a
`diluent water into a cup 6 containing liquid and/or powder ingredients 7 stirs the ingredients and diluent
`in the cup 6 to prepare a beverage, the ingredient stirring device including: a stirring blade 1 connected to
`one end of a rotating shaft 21 on a stirring
`motor 2; a base 3 that guides and supports
`the stirring motor 2, allowing the stirring
`motor 2 to move vertically; a vertical
`movement drive mechanism 4 mounted to
`the base 3 for moving the stirring motor
`2; a cup cover 5 disposed on the rotating
`shaft 21 of the stirring motor 2
`concentrically with the stirring blade; and
`a means for moving the cup cover 5
`vertically.
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`
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`Vertical movement
`drive mechanism
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`Base 3
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`6 Cup
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`7 Ingredients
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`Slide shaft 31
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`52 Guide member
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`Stirring motor 2
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`Motor support frame 22
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`Rotating shaft 21
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`53 Cover support frame
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`1 Stirring blade
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`51 Nozzle
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`5 Cup cover
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 002
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`CLAIMS
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`(2)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`An ingredient stirring device in a cup type beverage vending machine that dispenses a diluent
`1.
`water into a cup containing liquid and/or powder ingredients, the ingredient stirring device stirring the
`ingredients and the diluent to prepare a beverage in the cup, the ingredient stirring device comprising:
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`a stirring blade connected to one end of a rotating shaft of a stirring motor;
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`a base that guides and supports the stirring motor, allowing the stirring motor to move vertically;
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`a vertical movement drive mechanism mounted to the base for moving the stirring motor;
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`a cup cover disposed on the rotating shaft of the stirring motor concentrically with the stirring blade;
`and
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`a means for moving the cup cover vertically.
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`The ingredient stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the cup cover contains an inlet for a
`2.
`nozzle that dispenses the diluent.
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` The ingredient stirring device according to claim 1, wherein the bottom peripheral surface of the
`3.
`cup cover has a guide member which fits and positions the cup when the cup cover lands on the cup.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 shows a configuration of the ingredient stirring device in standby mode according to an
`embodiment; and
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`FIG. 2 shows a configuration of the ingredient stirring device in FIG. 1 while stirring ingredients.
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`EXPLANATION OF NUMERALS
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`1. Stirring blade
`2. Stirring motor
`3. Base
`4. Vertical movement drive mechanism
`5. Cup cover
`6. Cup
`7. Ingredient
`8. Cup conveyance mechanism
`21. Rotating shaft
`22. Motor support frame
`31. Slide shaft
`51. Diluent dispensing nozzle
`52. Guide member
`53. Cover support frame
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 003
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`Stirring motor 2
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`Slide shaft 31
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`(3)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`53 Cover support frame
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`1 Stirring blade
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`5 Cup cover
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`6 Cup
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`Diluent
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE UTILITY MODEL
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`<0001>
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`<Technical Field> The present utility model relates to an ingredient stirring device in a cup type
`beverage vending machine that serves a hot or cold beverage in a cup, more specifically, to cup type
`beverage vending machines where the beverage is prepared by adding hot or cold diluent water to various
`kinds of liquid and/or powder ingredients, such as coffee, cocoa, and/or syrup and stirring the same.
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`<0002>
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`<Prior Art> A conventional cup type beverage vending machine employs an ingredient stirring method
`wherein, upon receiving a vending command, the cup type vending machine dispenses a powder or liquid
`ingredient, and hot or cold water into a mixing bowl inside the machine and stirs the contents in the
`mixing bowl; the prepared beverage is then dispensed from the mixing bowl through a beverage hose into
`a cup discharged onto a vending stage.
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`<0003>
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`A cup type beverage vending machine employing this conventional method, however, has following
`problems. In the process of preparing and serving a beverage, insoluble residue from a beverage sticks to
`and remains inside the mixing bowl where the ingredients are stirred, as well as inside the beverage hose
`from which the beverage is subsequently served. Bacteria can grow and proliferate in the beverage
`residue over time when the machine is in prolonged standby, and the bacteria may contaminate the next
`serving of a beverage. This creates a public health issue. When the vending machine serves a viscous
`beverage such as a thick soup, or a soup with solid ingredients such as miso soup, these beverages tend to
`flow less freely and are more likely to cause clogs; the amount of the residue stuck in the system increases.
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`<0004>
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`These problems are usually addressed by frequently washing the mixing bowl and the beverage hose, but
`washing requires labor and time and is troublesome; these maintenance challenges have caused some to
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 004
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`(4)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`give up on serving highly viscous beverages, as viscous beverages lead to a large amount of residue stuck
`in the system.
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`Various proposals have thus been made to address the above-described problems; these proposals include
`the following.
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`A serving method wherein a cup containing powder ingredients is stored in a cup supplying mechanism.
`On receiving a vending command, a machine discharges the cup containing power ingredients onto a
`vending stage, and dispenses hot or cold water directly into the cup; a motor-rotated stirring blade enters
`inside the cup via a vertical movement drive mechanism and stirs and mixes the powder ingredients and
`the hot or cold water to prepare the beverage.
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`A serving method wherein a vending machine is equipped with a cup transport mechanism which receives
`a cup discharged from a cup supplying mechanism and transfers the cup through the machine to a product
`take-out window. The powder ingredients and hot or cold water are dispensed directly into the cup in
`sequence while the cup is in transit, and the powder ingredients and the hot or cold water are stirred and
`mixed inside the cup with an ingredient stirring means similar to the above-described method.
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`<0005>
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`According to these serving methods, the ingredients are stirred directly inside the cup, eliminating the
`need for the mixing bowl and the beverage hose and the like used when stirring ingredients outside the
`cup. This resolves the public health concerns due to the adhesion of beverage residue and removes the
`limitation on the types of beverages to be served; thus a machine can serve a thick soup, and a soup with
`solid ingredients, such as miso soup, and the like. The cup type beverage vending machine equipped with
`the ingredient stirring device wherein the stirring blade enters the cup is disclosed in, for example, Public
`Utility Model Gazette Publication No. 1979-95300.
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`<0006>
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`<Problem to be Solved by the Present Utility Model> With the in-the-cup stirring methods described
`above, if the stirring blade is rotated vigorously in order to thoroughly mix the ingredients, the beverage
`spills over or splashes from the cup.
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`In light of these problems, the goal of the present utility model is, in carrying out the in-a-cup stirring
`method using a stirring blade, to place a cover on a cup when stirring ingredients and the like to prevent
`the beverage from spilling out, and to provide an ingredient stirring device that facilitates mutual
`positioning of a cup and a cover.
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`<0007>
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`<Means for Solving Problem> To achieve the above-described object, the present utility model provides
`an ingredient stirring device in a cup type beverage vending machine that dispenses a diluent into a cup
`containing liquid and/or powder ingredients, the ingredient stirring device stirring the ingredients and the
`diluent in the cup to prepare a beverage, the ingredient stirring device including: a stirring blade
`connected to one end of a rotating shaft of a stirring motor; a base that guides and supports the stirring
`motor, allowing the stirring motor to move vertically; a vertical movement drive mechanism mounted to
`the base for moving the stirring motor; a cup cover disposed on the rotating shaft of the stirring motor
`concentrically with the stirring blade; and a means for moving the cup cover vertically.
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`<0008>
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 005
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`(5)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`<Operation of the Utility Model> According to the above-described means, the stirring blade enters the
`cup by operating the vertical movement drive mechanism downward once the cup is positioned directly
`beneath the stirring blade. The cup cover is disposed concentrically with the stirring blade on the rotating
`shaft thereof; therefore the cup cover may be easily and accurately positioned relative to the cup to cover
`the upper surface of the cup by lowering the cup cover in conjunction with lowering the stirring blade via
`the vertical movement means. This enables the stirring blade to rotate without spilling any beverage, to
`ensure the complete mixing.
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`<0009>
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`<Embodiment> FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show configurations of the ingredient stirring device according to an
`embodiment in a standby mode and during an ingredient stirring process, respectively. The ingredient
`stirring device is basically configured from a stirring blade 1, a stirring motor 2 which drives the stirring
`blade 1, a base 3 which guides and supports the stirring blade 1 and the stirring motor 2, allowing the
`same to move in a vertical direction, a vertical movement drive mechanism 4 which is mounted on the
`base 3 and moves the stirring motor 2 vertically, and a cup cover 5.
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`<0010>
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`Here, the afore-mentioned stirring blade 1 is connected to the lower end of a rotating shaft 21 attached to
`the stirring motor 2. The stirring motor 2 has an L-shaped motor support frame 22 mounted thereto and
`the tip thereof engages with a vertical slide shaft 31 mounted to the base 3 so that the slide shaft 31 guides
`and supports vertical movement of the stirring motor 2. Further, the motor support frame 22 is connected
`to a conveyer in the vertical movement drive mechanism 4 described below. The numeral 23 represents a
`slide bearing for the motor support frame 22.
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`<0011>
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`The cup cover 5 is a cap that covers an opening of a cup containing ingredients during the ingredient
`preparing processes described below. The cup cover 5 is loosely fitted onto the rotating shaft 21 of the
`stirring motor 2, and disposed concentrically with the stirring blade 1. The upper surface of the cover has
`an inlet for a diluent dispensing nozzle 51, connected via a hose to a hot water tank or similar diluent
`supply device (not shown). Further, the bottom peripheral surface of the cup cover has a protruding guide
`member 52 that fits the upper surface of the cup when the cover lands on the cup, to position the cup and
`the cup cover for a stirring operation. The cup cover 5 is mounted with a reverse-L-shaped cover support
`frame 53. The cover support frame 53 is supported by and positioned on the motor support frame with
`one end of the cover support frame fitting the aforementioned slide shaft 31. The numeral 54 represents a
`slide bearing for the cover support frame 53.
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`<0012>
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`The vertical movement drive mechanism 4 is configured from a conveyer 43 composed of a belt, wire or
`the like stretched parallel to the slide shaft 31 between upper and lower pulleys 41 and 42; a drive motor
`44 connected to the pulley 41; and position detecting switches 45 and 46 which detect the vertical
`position of the motor support frame 22. Alternatively, the vertical movement drive mechanism 4 may be
`constituted from a feed screw mechanism employing ball screws instead of the aforementioned conveyer.
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`<0013>
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 006
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`(6)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`When discharged, a cup indicated by a numeral 6 contains ingredients 7 such as powder or the like
`therein; the cup 6 is held and carried through the machine by a cup conveyance mechanism indicated by a
`numeral 8.
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`An ingredient stirring operation according to the above-described configuration is described next. In a
`standby mode, the ingredient stirring device is in the state illustrated in FIG. 1. Namely, in the standby
`state, the vertical movement drive mechanism 4 rests at a raised position. The motor support frame 22, as
`well as the stirring motor 2 and the cup cover 5 on the cover support frame 53, are also kept raised in the
`standby state.
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`<0014>
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`Here, a vending command initiates a series of serving operations; when the cup 6 containing the
`ingredients 7 arrives directly beneath the stirring blade 1 in the ingredient stirring position, carried thereto
`by the cup conveyance mechanism 8, an operation control unit (not shown) issues a command whereby
`the vertical movement drive mechanism 4 first operates downward to lower the motor support frame 22.
`This lowers the stirring motor 2 together with the stirring blade 1, which enters the cup 6 stationed
`directly thereunder from above. A detection signal from the position detecting switch 46 in the vertical
`movement drive mechanism 4 is used to determine the stop position during descent of the stirring blade.
`When the stirring motor 2 descends, the cup cover 5 follows along with the cover support frame 53.
`Further, when the cup cover 5 lands on the upper surface of the cup 6, as shown in FIG. 2, the cup cover 5
`is separated from the motor support frame 22, stops moving and covers the top surface of the cup 6. This
`enables correct landing of the cup cover upon the top surface of the cup 6 regardless of the height of the
`cup 6. Moreover, the cup is automatically aligned correctly relative to the cup cover when the cup cover
`lands on the cup because the cup cover 5 is disposed concentrically with the stirring blade 1. Additionally,
`the guide member 52 constructed on the cover easily fits the top opening of the cup 6 in advance and
`provides the exact positioning by aligning the cup 6 with the center of the stirring blade 1. The guide
`member 52 may be constructed to fit the outer edges of the cup 6. This cup positioning maneuver
`prevents the cup from coming into contact with the stirring blade 1.
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`<0015>
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`Once this state is achieved, a given amount of hot or cold diluent is subsequently dispensed into the cup 6
`through the nozzle 51 in the cover 5, followed by startup of the stirring motor 2. The stirring motor 2
`rotates the stirring blade 1, thereby stirring and mixing the ingredients and the diluent inside the cup 6 to
`prepare the beverage. Here, once a given stirring time elapses, the stirring motor 2 stops, the vertical
`movement drive mechanism 4 ascends along with the motor support frame 22 which raises the stirring
`motor 2 and the stirring blade 1 out of the cup 6. During this raising process, the motor support frame 22
`also raises the cover support frame 53 and the cup cover 5. Once the motor support frame 22 reaches the
`standby position, the position detecting switch 45 activates to stop the vertical movement drive
`mechanism 4. A series of these ingredient stirring operations programmed into the operation control unit.
`Once the aforementioned ingredient stirring process is complete, the cup conveyance mechanism 8 starts
`to move again to deliver the cup containing the beverage to the product take-out window.
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`<0016>
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`In the ingredient stirring process described above, the vertical movement drive mechanism 4 may be
`operated so that the stirring blade 1 reciprocate vertically inside the cup 6 to the extent of not pushing up
`the cup cover 5; this provides more effective stirring of the ingredients. Moreover, a small amount of hot
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 007
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`(7)
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`Utility Model Publication No. 1992-136787
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`water may be dispensed into the cup cover 5 through the nozzle 51 while rotating the stirring blade
`immediately before the completion of ingredient stirring, to rinse the stirring blade 1 and the inner surface
`of the cup cover 5 as the stirring blade 1 is being pulled up from the cup.
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`<0017>
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`<The Effectiveness of the Utility Model> According to the present utility model described above, an
`ingredient stirring device comprises a stirring blade connected to one end of a rotating shaft of a stirring
`motor; a base that guides and supports the stirring motor, allowing the stirring motor to move vertically; a
`vertical movement drive mechanism mounted on the base for moving the stirring motor; a cup cover
`disposed on the rotating shaft of the stirring motor concentrically with the stirring blade; and a means for
`moving the cup cover vertically. This construction uses a simple configuration to facilitate aligning and
`attaching a cover to a cup, and thus provides a cost benefit. Additionally, since the beverage does not spill,
`ingredients can be stirred more vigorously, and even the beverages with harder-to-dissolve ingredients
`can be prepared well.
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`Hamilton Beach, Exh. 1007, p. 008