Field of the art

The invention relates to a field of machine building of appliances for filling, prepacking and packing beverages. In particular, the invention is a device for an automatic contactless putting of disposable lids on disposable cups with a beverage at locations of preparing and retail sale of coffee, tea and other similar beverages, including at gas stations, shops, supermarkets, airports, railway stations, shopping and recreation centers, fitness centers, sports facilities, concert halls, theaters, cinemas, business centers, street sale locations and at other locations. In the field of preparing and selling hot beverages, there is a large number of known technical solutions and devices, which are capable of reliable and quick preparing a beverage in an automatic or a semi-automatic mode and of pouring the same into a vessel (including into a disposable one), i.e., of preparing the beverage for a consumer. A certain percent of consumers of such beverages wish to close the disposable cup storing the beverage with a disposable lid for further consumption of this beverage through an opening provided in the lid or through a straw. In such cases, the lid is manually put on the cup storing the beverage by an employee of a facility that sells the beverage or the putting is carried out by the consumer directly. The process of the manual putting of the lid on the cup storing the beverage is inconvenient, non-hygienic and may cause an unintentional pouring of the beverage, damaging a skin or the cup, and even a burn injury of the consumer with the poured hot beverage. Also, during the manual putting of the lid on the cup, the lid may be put unevenly, and very often, during the manual putting, the lid cannot be fully put at all. This is a reason of a leakage of the beverage from the cup or its pouring.

Prior art

Currently, the best worldwide known manufacturers propose no automatic and contactless devices for putting of disposable lids on disposable cups for consumers in order to prepare beverages.

For example, coffee machines manufactured by the company “WMF Group GmbH” such as “WMF 1100 S”, “WMF 1300 S”, “WMF 1500 S Classic”, “WMF 1500 S +”, “WMF 5000 S +”, “WMF 9000 S +”, are known. Said apparatuses comprise devices and structural assemblies, which comprise a housing with separated sections for components and details of the device arranged therein, including a section for disposable cups, movable manipulators, a microprocessor-controller having a software set of commands and instructions, sensors, power elements and commutation elements (Fully automatic coffee machines, section - Fully Automatic Coffee Machines, web-site Wmf- coffeemachines: Access mode: https://www.wmf-coffeemachines.com/en_com/products/fully-aut omatic-coffee- machines.html; accessed on: 18.09.2020 [1]). Said apparatuses are reliable devices with a fully automated process for preparing coffee, however, structures of these devices are not intended to provide an automatic and contactless putting of the lids on the disposable paper or cardboard cups of coffee with a simultaneous provision of an accurate and reliable closure of the lid in order to prevent pouring of the beverage from the cup.

Also, coffee machines are known, and the information about them is presented at the web-site of the company “Espresso-Etc! Best Office Coffee Services», such as “Revolution Touch”, “Eccellenza Touch”, “Aroma 5000”, “Aroma 5500”. Said coffee machines comprise a housing with separated sections for components and details of the device arranged therein, including a section for cups, movable manipulators, a microprocessor-controller having a software set of commands and instructions, sensors, power elements and commutation elements (Espresso-Etc!, section - Commercial-Grade Office Coffee Machines Super Automatic Espresso Machines, web-site Espresso-Etc! Best Office Coffee Services: Access mode: https://espresso-etc.com/office-coffee/commercial- machines.html; accessed on: 18.09.2020 [2]). Such coffee machines are reliable devices for preparing and filling coffee for consumers, however, structures of these coffee machines fail to provide an automatic and contactless putting of the lids on the disposable paper or cardboard cups of coffee with a simultaneous provision of an accurate and reliable closure of the lid in order to prevent pouring of the beverage from the cup.

Various structures of the lids for disposable cups are known, for example, “A lid made with ability of repeated closing of container, in particular paper cup” (RU invention patent No. 2496698, IPC B65D 47/26, publ. on 27.10.2013, bul. No. 30 [3]). Said invention relates to a lid that is made with ability of repeated closing of container with liquid beverages (such as a paper cup and the like). The lid described in the patent may be manually opened and again manually closed after the consumer consumed a portion of the beverage. Thus, said structure of the lid is used by consumers only manually and it is not intended for an automatic and contactless putting of lids on disposable cups or other cups with the beverage.

“A disposable direct coffee-making coffee cup” is known, the cup comprising a housing and a lid of the cup, wherein the lid of the cup and a bottom of the cup housing are hermetically closed. Such coffee cup is made of a recyclable plastic. The cup has such a hermetical structure that enables to maintain sanitary conditions within the cup; and a seal ring arranged at an opening of the cup can effectively seal the cup and avoid the leakage of a hot liquid (CN utility model patent No. 201641372, IPC A47G19 I 22, publ. on 24.11.2010 [4]). The cup and the lid described in the patent are to be manually closed/opened, however, this structure is not intended for an automatic and contactless putting of lids on disposable cups or other cups with the beverage.

Also, there are various technological lines and apparatuses, which industrially perform operations of prepacking and packing (putting of lids on packages/cups) of liquid and paste-like food products and beverages. For example, a device “Machine “M2” is known, the device relates to packaging equipment for prepacking and packing liquid and paste-like products, such as sour cream, yogurt, milk, kefir, baked yogurt, condensed milk, ketchup, mayonnaise, jam, cream cheese, dairy butter and plant oil, margarine, honey, mustard and other products of a similar consistence into a plastic cup with an aluminum lid welded thereon (the Machine M2 for prepacking into plastic cups, Manufacture of prepacking equipment INTA, section - Equipment for prepacking into plastic cups, website inta.org.ua: Access mode: https://inta.org.ua/M2.html; accessed on: 19.09.2020 [5]). The “Machine “M2” also may be equipped with an assembly for putting of the lid over the cup/package. However, said structure fails to enable an automatic and contactless putting of lids on disposable cups with a hot beverage at locations of preparing and selling such beverages. The closest one for the proposed invention is “A machine for drinks with weight batching of ingredients”, the machine comprising a housing with separated sections for components and details of the device arranged therein, including a section for disposable cups, at least one movable manipulator with a horizontal movement motor, a microprocessor-controller having a software set of commands and instructions, sensors that are in a communication with the microprocessor-controller, including a weight sensor that is arranged in the section for the disposable cups, power elements and commutation elements, wherein the microprocessor-controller is configured to provide signals to other components of the device with consideration of signals received from the sensors and with consideration of signals and data from the software set of commands and instructions (RU invention patent No. 2652548, IPC 67D 1/00, publ. on 26.04.2018, bul. No. 12 [6]). Said invention solves a problem of increasing the accuracy of dosing of beverage ingredients in an automatic mode, i.e., increasing the correspondence between the prepared beverage and a requirement provided by a consumer, however, this instruction does not allow to provide an automatic and contactless putting of lids on the disposable cups with the beverage (including with a hot beverage) at the same time providing an accurate and reliable closure of the lid in order to prevent pouring of the beverage from the cup.

Therefore, there is a problem that the field of preparing and selling hot beverages lacks an assortment of apparatuses, appliances and devices for an automatic contactless putting of disposable lids on disposable cups.

A technical task of the proposed invention is to create such a device that could provide the automatic and contactless putting of lids on disposable cups with a beverage (including with a hot beverage) at the same time providing an accurate and reliable closure of the lid in order to prevent pouring of the beverage from the cup.

Summary of the invention

The posed task is resolved owing to a device for an automatic contactless putting of disposable lids on disposable cups, the device comprising a housing 1 with separated sections for components and details of the device arranged therein, including a section 7 for disposable cups 8, at least one movable manipulator 12 with a horizontal movement motor 42, a microprocessor-controller 46 having a software set of commands and instructions, sensors that are in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46, including a weight sensor 19 that is arranged in the section 7 for the disposable cups 8, power elements and commutation elements, wherein the microprocessor-controller 46 is configured to provide signals to other components of the device with consideration of signals received from the sensors and with consideration of signals and data from the software set of commands and instructions.

What is novel is that a section 6 for disposable lids 9 is arranged in an upper portion of the housing 1 near the section 7 for the disposable cups 8, and a compartment 14 for the microprocessor-controller 46 and other components and details of the device is arranged in a lower portion 2 of the housing 1. Therewith, a seat-manipulator 20 for stacking thereon several disposable lids 9, which form a cassette 13 of the lids, is arranged in the section 6, the seat-manipulator being movable vertically upwards/downwards, as well as vertical plugs 26, 27 for directing the vertical movement of the seat-manipulator 20 are arranged in the section 6 and a notched belt 28 for providing the vertical upward/downward movement of the seat-manipulator 20 is arranged vertically therein, and the vertical plugs 26, 27 and the notched belt 28 are connected to the seat-manipulator 20, and the notched belt 28 is connected to a motor 30 through a pulley, the motor being in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46. Furthermore, an inner upper horizontal shelf 53 is arranged in the upper portion of the section 6 on vertical supports 54, the shelf having an opening 55 for an upper lid 9 of the cassette 13, and an abutment 18 for the movable manipulator 12 is arranged on an upper plane of the inner upper horizontal shelf 53, and at least one sensor 31 is arranged in the section 6 on an inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 , the sensor is for determining a height position hl from the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13 to the sensor 31, and this sensor 31 is connected to the microprocessor-controller 46, furthermore, the movable manipulator 12 with the horizontal movement motor 42 is arranged in the section 7, the manipulator being movable vertically upwards/downwards and horizontally in opposite sides, and this manipulator 12 is made as a device for capturing the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 in the section 6 and transporting this lid 9 to the section 7 for putting on the cup 8. The manipulator 12 comprises a drop-like housing 39 that is formed by an arm 40 and a circular cup-like portion 41, which are monolithically connected to each other, a movable carriage 37 that is coupled to a pressure lever 38 and connected to a drive arm 50, and the horizontal movement motor 42 that is arranged on the movable carriage 37 in an area of the drive arm 50, wherein the drop-like housing 39 is connected to the drive arm 50 and to the horizontal movement motor 42, while the drive arm 50 is connected to the movable carriage 37, and the horizontal movement motor 42 is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46. Furthermore, a limiting ring 44 is also arranged in an inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 along the entire diameter of the cup-like portion 41, the ring having an inner plane with capturing fingers 45 arranged thereon, wherein an inner tapered cup 43 is also arranged in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 with outer edges 48 being arranged below a level of outer edges 56 of the limiting ring 44 such that a height h3 of the walls of the inner cup 43 is greater than a height h4 of the walls of the limiting ring 44. Furthermore, vertical plugs 32, 33 for directing the vertical movement of the manipulator 12 are arranged in the section 7, and a vertical feeding screw 34 for providing the vertical upward/downward movement of the manipulator 12 is arranged therein, and the vertical plugs 32, 33 and the vertical feeding screw 34 are connected to the manipulator 12 through the movable carriage 37, and the vertical feeding screw 34 is connected to a motor 35 that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46. Furthermore, a shelf 10 for the cup 8 is horizontally arranged in a lower portion of the section 7, wherein the shelf 10 comprises a recess 11 for a bottom of the cup 8, and such recess 11 is made and arranged in the shelf 10 in a coaxial fashion with the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12, when the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 is in a position “above the cup 8”. The weight sensor 19 is connected to the shelf 10 for the cup 8 and is set in such a way that when there is no cup 8 present on the shelf 10, when there is an empty cup 8 present on the shelf 10, when there is the cup 8 on the shelf 10 that is filled with a beverage for less or more than a pre-set weight parameter of the beverage, when there is the cup 8 present on the shelf 10 that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set weight parameter of the beverage, the weight sensor 19 transmits signals to the microprocessor-controller 46. Furthermore, an end switch 51 that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 is arranged on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 in the section 7. The microprocessor-controller 46 and the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46 are configured such that: depending on parameters of the sensor 31 , the microprocessorcontroller 46 determines the height position hl of the lids 9 in the cassette 13 and, by means of the motor 30 and the notched belt 28, it directs the movement of the seatmanipulator 20 with the cassette 13 upwards/downwards until the upper lid 9 in the section 6 reaches such a height h5 that corresponds to a height h6 of the manipulator 12 to enable capturing of the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13; depending on parameters of the end switch 51, the microprocessor-controller 46 determines a position of the manipulator 12 in the section 7, and, by means of the motor 35, the feeding screw 34 and the horizontal movement motor 42, it directs the movement of the manipulator 12 from the section 7 to the section 6 to capture the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13, and after the upper lid 9 is captured from the cassette 13, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the horizontal movement motor 42, directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 from the section 6 to the section 7; depending on parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessor-controller 46 determines that there is the cup 8 present on the shelf 10 that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set weight parameter of the beverage, and then the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the motor 35 and the feeding screw 34, directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 on the upper portion of the cup 8; depending on parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the motor 35 and the feeding screw 34, regulates a pressure force of the movable manipulator 12 acting on the lid 9 of the cup 8 in the section 7.

For certain individual conditions and use cases of the inventive structure, the proposed device for an automatic contactless putting of disposable lids on disposable cups is characterized with the following features, which develop, specify the set of features of independent claim.

In an area of the section 6, doors 21 are movably connected to a side wall 5 of the housing 1, and a vertical guide 22 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 is arranged on an inner plane of the doors 21, and at least two vertical guides 23, 24 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 are also arranged within the section 6, and each of the vertical guides 22, 23, 24 has a cross-sectional segmental shape of “a circle part”.

The device comprises a vertical baffle 17 that is arranged within the housing 1 between the sections 6 and 7.

A lower horizontal shelf 15 is arranged in the section 6 of the housing, and a lower horizontal shelf 16 is arranged in the section 7 of the housing 1.

An opening 25 for the seat-manipulator 20 is provided in the lower horizontal shelf 15 of the section 6.

Each of the motors 30, 35, 42 comprises a corresponding electronic board driver that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46.

Sensors 6 for determining a presence and a height h2 of the cup 8, when it is located within the section 7, are arranged in the section 7 on the inner plane of the side wall of the housing 1.

The horizontal shelf 10 for the cup 8 is made tapered or planar and it comprises the circular recess 11 for the bottom of the cup 8 that is made and located in the shelf 10 in a coaxial fashion with the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12, when the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 is in a position “above the cup 8”, wherein the weight sensor 19 is arranged below the horizontal tapered shelf 10.

Inventive step

The structure of the device for the automatic contactless putting of disposable lids on disposable cups with a beverage allows to resolve the posed technical task. The set of all essential features of the invention, including the novel essential features of the device, allows to provide achievement of a technical effect, when it is used.

In order to carry out the operations of the automatic and contactless putting of the lids on the disposable cups with the beverage, it is required to provide the following within the device:

- an available space for arranging the cup 8 with the beverage;

- an available information about that the cup 8 is present in the device and comprises a certain amount of the beverage;

- an available space for accumulating a certain number of the lids 9 and an availability of such lids 9;

- an available information about a certain required position in the section 6 of the “working” lid 9 to be “captured” and transported to the section 7 for putting on the cup 8;

- a possibility of “taking” one lid 9 and moving such lid 9 from a location of concentration of the lids 9 to the cup 8;

- a possibility of a careful (without deforming the lid 9 and the cup 8) performing the operation of putting the lid 9 on the cup 8;

- an available information about that the cup 8 is not present in the device (removed by a consumer);

- a possibility of a repeatable (cyclical) performing the operation of transporting and putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8;

- a maximum possible “closure” of the working zones of the device in order to provide sanitary norms and safety measures of using the device.

In order to provide the space for the cup 8 and to accumulate the lids 9, the device comprises two separated sections 6 and 7, wherein one of the sections is the section 6 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9, and another section 7 is the section for the cup 8. Both sections 6 and 7 are combined into the housing 1, and the housing 1 has all elements and details, which are necessary for the effective operation of the device, arranged therein. Therefore, the device is an independent appliance that may be conveniently arranged at any convenient location of its use. The structure of the device and its housing 1 enables to make the section 7 for the cups “open” from a side (from an end face) of the device (Fig. 2-5, 7) or from its front part (Fig. 6, 10). Therewith, in such cases, locations of both walls 4, 5 and the rear wall 52 of the housing 1 may be changed. Such configurations of the device enable to make it elongated “widthwise” or “depthwise” depending on a future arrangement and use location. Both sections 6 and 7 are arranged in the upper portion of the housing 1 , while a closed compartment for the microprocessor-controller 46, two motors 30, 35 and other electronic components and details, is arranged in the lower portion 2 (Fig. 1).

A special and novel feature of the invention lies in that the device is configured such that it comprises two individual sections 6 (for the lids 9) and 7 (for the cup 8) (Fig. 1-6).

The section 6 is for accumulating and transporting several lids 9 in the vertical plane (upwards/downwards). The planar seat-manipulator 20 is horizontally arranged in the lower portion of the section 6, and an operator of the device preliminary horizontally places the lids 9 one on a top of another one in a number of, e.g., fifty lids 9, on the setmanipulator. In such a way, the cassette 13 of the lids 9 is formed.

The inventive structure implies that the seat-manipulator 20 together with the cassette 13 of the lids 9 are movable objects. The invention implies that the vertical mobility of the cassette 1 of the lids 9 is necessary for transporting the upper lid 9 to a certain defined position in the upper portion of the section 6 in order to enable further “capture” of the lid 9 from a certain location in the section 6 to the section 7. The “mobility” of the cassette 13 of the lids 9 is provided owing to the presence of the motor 30 and the notched belt 28. The notched belt 28 is connected to the seat-manipulator 20, and the notched belt 28 is connected to the motor 30 through the pulley, the motor is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 and arranged in the closed compartment 14 of the lower portion 2 of the housing 1. By means of only one notched belt 28, the seat-manipulator 20 together with the cassette 13 of the lids 9 are not able to steadily and stably (with no oscillations) move and stop in a required point. So, the inventive structure comprises the vertical rigid plugs 26, 27 in the section 6, which are intended to direct the vertical movement of the seat-manipulator 20. The vertical plugs 26, 27 are connected to the seat-manipulator 20 by means of and through openings of a connecting element 29 that is a part of the seat-manipulator.

In order the cassette 13 of the lids 9 could reach the required position in the section 6, the motor 30 must be provided with a certain signal to start and to stop its operation, and, thus, for the movement or for the stop of the seat-manipulator 20 together with the cassette 13 of the lids 9. The corresponding signals are provided to the motor 30 by the microprocessor-controller 46. In turn, the microprocessor-controller 46 receives information regarding the required movement/stop of the cassette 13 from the sensor 31 that determines the height position hl of the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13, i.e., the sensor 31 determines a distance between the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13 and the sensor 31. The invention provides that at least one sensor 31 that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 is arranged in the section 6 on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1. The sensor 31 determines a distance between itself and the plane of the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13, and the sensor 31 provides parameters regarding such distance to the microprocessor-controller 46 that, in turn, provides signals to the motor 30 regarding the movement towards a certain direction or regarding the stop owing to settings of the software set of commands and instructions. The motor 30 operates together with its own driver (an electronic circuit). Therefore, the invention provides: available space for accumulating a certain number of the lids 9, availability of such lids 9, available information about a certain required position in the section 6 of the “working” lid 9 to be “captured” and transported to the section 7 for putting on the cup 8, as well as it enables vertical upwards/downwards transportation of the lid 9 in the section 6 in order for the lid 9 to reach a certain required position in the section 6 of this “working” lid 9. In this case, the inventive step in the structure lies in that regardless of the number of the lids 9 in the cassette 13, owing to the sensor 31 and its communication with the microprocessor-controller 46, the microprocessor-controller 46 always receives the information regarding the distance between the sensor 31 and the upper lid 9 that enables the microprocessor-controller 46 to provide the required signals to the motor 30 and to create such moves and stops of the seat-manipulator 20 together with the cassette 13, which will provide the required position of the upper lid 9 in the section 6. The notches belt 28 provides a maximum possible accurate transmission of the movement/stop from the motor 30 to the seat-manipulator 20, thereby allowing rather accurate “positioning” of the cassette 13 with the upper lid 9 in the required position.

In order to enable “capturing” of the lid 9 from the section 6 and its transportation to the section 7 towards the cup 8, the section 7 has the movable manipulator 12 arranged therein, the movable manipulator having the horizontal movement motor 42 that provides the horizontal movement of the manipulator 12 to the opposite sides (from the section 7 to the section 6 and vice versa). Also, the manipulator 12 is configured and arranged so as to be vertically movable in the section 7. The vertical movement of the manipulator 12 is required: to locate the manipulator 12 in a certain required position at a certain height prior to the start of the horizontal movement of the manipulator 12 from the section 6 to the section 7; to locate the manipulator 12 with the captured lid 9 in a certain required at a certain height for waiting for appearance of the cup 8 below the manipulator 12; to move the manipulator 12 with the captured lid 9 downwards and to create a pressure acting on the cup 8; to return the manipulator 12 upwards after putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8. In order to solve this technical task, vertical plugs 32, 33 for directing the vertical movement of the manipulator 12 are arranged in the section 7, and a vertical feeding screw 34 for providing the vertical upward/downward movement of the manipulator 12 is arranged therein, and these vertical plugs 32, 33 and the vertical feeding screw 34 are connected to the manipulator 12 through the movable carriage 37, and the vertical feeding screw 34 is connected to a motor 35 that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 and arranged in the closed compartment 14 of the lower portion 2 of the housing 1. The motor 35 operates together with its own corresponding driver (the electronic circuit) and depending on the signals of the microprocessor-controller 46 that, in turn, operates with consideration of the sensor parameters of the weight sensor 19 and data from the software set of commands and instructions, which will be explained below.

The manipulator 12 is made as a complex device for capturing the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 in the section 6 and transporting this lid 9 to the section 7 for putting on the cup 8. The lid 9 for the disposable cups have a circular shape. Thus, the invention implies that the manipulator 12 comprises the drop-like housing 39 that is formed by the arm 40 and the circular cup-like portion 41, which are monolithically connected to each other, the circular cup-like portion is for capturing, holding and “releasing” the lid 9 (Fig. 11). The circular cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 has an original unusual structure that is designed, improved and created for this particular invention. A limiting ring 44 is arranged in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 along the entire diameter of the cup-like portion 41, the ring having an inner plane with at least three flexible, plastic and elastic capturing fingers 45 arranged thereon, which are directly intended to capture, hold and “release” the lid 9. The inner tapered cup 43 is also arranged in the inner cavity of the cuplike portion 41, the inner tapered cup has a diameter that is significantly lower than diameters of the cup-like portion 41 and of the limiting ring 44. The inner tapered cup 43 is arranged at a center of the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41. The “taper” of the inner cup 43 is made such that the outer edges 48 expand from the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41. Furthermore, the outer edges 48 of the inner cup 43 are arranged below the level of the outer edges 56 of the limiting ring 44 such that the height h3 of the walls of the inner cup 43 is greater than the height h4 of the walls of the limiting ring 44 (Fig. 13). A technical function of this particular structure of the inner cup 43 is to provide that at a moment of putting the lid 9 on the cup 8, a main initial pressure (p) acting on the lid 9 would act on the central portion of the lid 9 from several protruding edges 48 of the inner cup 43, thereby enabling slight deforming and “unfolding” edges of the lid 9 at the beginning of the putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8 due to the initial pressure (p) acting on the center of the lid 9, afterwards it (the lid 9) will be put on the cup 8 in a more ease and quick manner (Fig. 13).

The manipulator 12 also comprises the movable carriage 37 that is coupled to the pressure lever 38 and connected to the drive arm 50. Also, the manipulator 12 comprises the horizontal movement motor 42 that is arranged on the movable carriage 37 in the area of the drive arm 50. The above-described drop-like housing 39 is also connected to the drive arm 50 and to the horizontal movement motor 42, and the drive arm 50 is connected to the movable carriage 37. The horizontal movement motor 42 is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 and operates depending of the settings of the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46.

In order to enable the manipulator 12 to timely stop and to reach the required position during the vertical movement of the manipulator 12 prior to the horizontal movement to the section 9 seeking for the lid 9, an end switch 51 that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 is arranged on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 in the section 7. The end switch 51 is activated by the manipulator 12 touching the same, afterwards, the microprocessor-controller 46 provides the motor 35 with a stoppage signal, and the manipulator 12 reaches the required position in the upper portion of the section 7.

After the manipulator 12 touched the end switch 51 in the section 7 and after the manipulator 12 stopped in the upper portion of the section 7, the microprocessorcontroller 46 turns on the horizontal movement motor 42 for a short time (1-3 seconds) that horizontally transmits the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 to the section 7. At the moment, when the manipulator 12 performs the horizontal movement from the section 7 to the section 6 “seeking for the lid 9”, it (the manipulator 12) must be stopped at a certain position, particularly, over the cassette 13. In order to perform such timely stoppage and in order to reach the required position, the inventive structure implies that the inner upper horizontal shelf 53 is arranged in the upper portion of the section 6 on vertical supports 54 (the shelf having the opening 55 for the upper lid 9 of the cassette 1 ), and the abutment 18 for the movable manipulator 12 is arranged on the upper plane of the inner upper horizontal shelf 53. During the horizontal movement to the section 6, the circular cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 is arranged at the level “above the upper horizontal shelf 53”, and when the cup-like portion 41 reaches the opening 55 of the horizontal shelf 53 and becomes “coaxial” with this opening 55 (i.e., when the cup-like portion 41 is already located above the opening 55), the cup-like portion 41 touches and abuts the abutment 18 that is arranged in such a way that even if the motor 42 continues pushing the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 in the horizontal direction, the abutment 18 will not allow the circular cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 to move further, and, thus, the cup-like portion 41 reaches the required coaxial position above the opening 55 and is ready to “receive” the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13. Furthermore, the abutment 18 and the horizontal shelf 53 support a single position of the circular cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 during the movement and pressure acting from below of the cassette 13 of the lids 9.

Said original structure of the manipulator 12, arrangement and mutual connection of all the described elements and other details of the device enable the following:

- to perform the transportation of the manipulator 12 upwards to the section 7;

- then, to perform the horizontal transportation of the manipulator 12 to the section 6;

- then, the seat-manipulator 20 in the section 6 performs the upward movement and “gives” the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 to the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12;

- and then, the manipulator 12 returns with the lid 9 (by performing the horizontal movement) to the section 7 and reaches the position “above the cup 8” (wherein the cup 8 may be arranged in the section 7 or it may be absent).

After the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 in the section reaches the position “above the cup 8”, the microprocessor-controller 46 (that controls the motors 30, 35, 42) must receive the information and “understand” whether the cup 8 with the beverage is absent or present in the section 7. Based on such information, the microprocessor-controller 46 either provides a command to the motor for lowering the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 on the cup 8 or waits for occurrence of the cup 8.

Furthermore, in order to provide an effective operation of the device (namely, to provide an effective automatic putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8), it is necessary to arrange each next cup 8 to the section 7 in such a way that it (the cup 8) would reach a maximum accurate certain position in the section 7 to enable creation of the coaxiality with the lid 9 that is arranged in the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 above the cup 8.

In order to solve this part of the technical task (provision of the accurate position of the cup 8 in the section 7), the invention implies that the shelf 10 for the cup 8 is horizontally arranged in the lower portion of the section 7 (Fig. 1-7). The shelf 10 comprises the recess 11 for the bottom of the cup 8, and such recess 11 (or a shallow opening, a depression) is made and arranged in the shelf 10 in a coaxial fashion with the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12, when the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 is in the position “above the cup 8”. The recess 11 (or a shallow opening, a depression) must have a circular shape with a diameter being slightly greater than the bottom of the cup 8. When said recess 11 or opening, depression is made in the shelf 10, the consumer in any case will forcedly arrange the cup 8 in this recess/opening/depression 11 in such a way that there will be the coaxiality between the cup 8 and the lid 9 that is arranged in the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 above the cup 8. In separate embodiments of the invention, the shelf 10 may have various configuration and shape, e.g., a planar one or a tapered one, or another one.

In order to receive and process the information of whether the cup 8 with the beverage is absent or present in the section 7, the device comprises the weight sensor 19 (Fig. 1) (e.g., a strain sensor, but without limiting thereto). The weight sensor 19 may be arranged under the shelf 19, connected to the shelf 10 for the cup 8 and set in such a way that when the cup 8 is absent or present on the shelf 10, the weight sensor 19 will transmit the corresponding signals to the microprocessor-controller 46.

Furthermore, the weight sensor 19 also transmits the corresponding signals to the microprocessor-controller 46 in the following cases:

- when there is the cup 8 on the shelf 10 that is filled with the beverage for less or more than a pre-set weight parameter of the beverage;

- when there is the cup 8 present on the shelf 10 that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set weight parameter of the beverage.

Therefore, the presence and the operation of the weight sensor 19 in the section 7 of the device enable to receive and to transmit signals regarding presence/absence/fullness of the cup 8 on the shelf 10 in the section 7 to the microprocessor-controller 46. Thus, the microprocessor-controller 46, with consideration of the received parameters from the weight sensor 19 and according to the settings of the software set of commands and instructions, transmits or does not transmit signals to the motor 35 regarding the start of the movement for putting the lid 9.

In separate embodiments and use cases of the device, the function of determining the presence/absence/height of the cup 8 on the shelf 10 in the section may be performed by the sensors 36 (optical and other ones), which may be arranged on the inner plane of the side wall in the section 7. However, in the most embodiments on the invention, use of the weight sensor 19 is more expedient, since the original and uncommon technical solution of the present invention lies in that the weight sensor 19, except for the determination of the information regarding the presence/absence/fullness of the cup 8, also enables to receive and provide the microprocessor-controller 46 with the signals and information regarding the pressure force of the manipulator 12 acting on the lid 9 during the process of putting it on the cup 8. This enables the microprocessor-controller 46 to quickly regulate the operation of the motor 35, thereby reducing or increasing, or maintaining unchanged, the pressure force of the manipulator 12 acting on the lid 9 during the process of putting it on the cup 8. The following interaction: the weight sensor 19 - the microprocessorcontroller 46 - the motor 35 - the manipulator 12 - the lid 9 - the cup 8 enables to provide more reliable putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8 and, at the same time, to exclude a possible damage (deformation, compression) of the lid 9 and the cup 8 that could e a result of a far too high pressure acting from the manipulator 12.

Furthermore, after the lid 9 is put on the cup 8 and after the consumer removed the cup 8 from the section 7, the weight sensor 19 activates and provides the microprocessor-controller 46 with a signal that “the cup 8 is absent after the lid 9 is put” that is a new signal for the microprocessor-controller 46 to perform a next loading of the new lid 9 to the manipulator 12.

One of the structural elements of the device is the microprocessor-controller 46 and the software set of commands and instructions that is loaded into the memory of the microprocessor-controller 46. It is understood that all actions and movements of the details and structural elements of the device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups with the beverage are carried out “under the control” of the microprocessor-controller 46. The software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46 may be programmed and reprogrammed depending on specific modifications of the main constituent elements of the structure such as the motors 30, 35, 42, the sensors 31, 19, the end switch 51 and other ones.

Generally, the invention implies that the microprocessor-controller 46 and the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46 are configured and operate such that:

- depending on the parameters of the sensor 31, the microprocessor-controller 46 determines the height position hl of the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13, and, by means of the motor 30 and the notched belt 28, it directs the movement of the seat-manipulator 20 with the cassette 13 upwards/downwards until the lid 9 reaches such a height h5 in the section that corresponds to the height h6 of the manipulator 12 to enable capturing of the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 (Fig. 6);

- depending on the parameters of the end switch 51, the microprocessor-controller 46 determines the position of the manipulator 12 in the section 7, and, by means of the motor 35, the feeding screw 34 and the horizontal movement motor 42, it directs the movement of the manipulator 12 from the section 7 to the section 6 to capture the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13, and after the upper lid 9 is captured from the cassette 13, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the horizontal movement motor 42, directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 from the section 6 to the section 7;

- depending on the parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessorcontroller 46 determines that there is the cup 8 present on the shelf 10 that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set weight parameter of the beverage, and then the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the motor 35 and the feeding screw 34, directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 on the upper portion of the cup 8;

- depending on the parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessorcontroller 46, by means of the motor 35 and the feeding screw 34, regulates the pressure force of the movable manipulator 12 acting on the lid 9 of the cup 8 in the section 7.

A detailed description of the entire operation of the inventive structure is provided further in the corresponding section of the present disclosure, while the general description of the algorithm of the sequence of actions and operations of the device may be as follows.

1. After the device is turned on, it is immediately prepared for the operation, i.e., all positions of the movable details, motors are reset. a) firstly, the seat-manipulator 20 with the cassette 13 of the lids 9 in the section 6, by means of the motor 30, moves downwards/upwards to a certain distance to the sensor 31 that is located above the cassette 13 of the lids; b) then, the horizontal movement motor 42 pushes (moves) the manipulator 12 to the movable carriage 37 (into the working position) in order to avoid damage of the manipulator 12 during the vertical moves of the carriage 37; c) then, the carriage 37 with the manipulator in the section 7 moves upwards up to the end switch 51, and after the end switch 51 has been activated (after it has sent the signal to the microprocessor-controller 46), the carriage 37 slightly moves downwards and takes the working position for receiving the lids 9 from the cassette 13; d) then, the horizontal movement motor 42 of the manipulator 12 moves the manipulator 12 to the section 6 until the abutment 18 is reached, which stops the movement of the manipulator 12 and arranges the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator in the accurate coaxial fashion above the cassette 13 of the lids 9; e) then, the motor 30 in the section 6 lifts the seat-manipulator 20 with the cassette 13 of the lids 9 upwards and clamps the upper lid 9 of the cassette 13 into the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12, wherein the at least three flexible, plastic and elastic capturing fingers 45 (which are located on the inner plane of the limiting ring 44), under the pressure of the seat-manipulator 20, capture the upper lid 9; then, the motor 30 in the section 6 lowers the seat-manipulator 20 with the cassette 13 of the lid 9 downwards, while one upper lid 9 remains in the cup-like portion 41 of the droplike housing 39 of the manipulator 12 (this lid 9 is hold by the capturing fingers 45); f) then, the horizontal movement motor 42 moves the manipulator 12 with the captured lid 9 to the section 7; g) then, the motor 35 in the section 7 lowers the carriage 37 together with the manipulator 12 and the lid 9 downwards to a certain height above the cup 8 and stops. An acoustic/light signal that the cup 8 may be placed to the section 7 is provided.

In this way, the device is ready for putting the lid and waits for appearance of the cup 8 in the section 7. The waiting time is any time until the cup 8 is placed on the shelf 10 in the section 7.

2. The operation cycle. a) If the consumer has placed the cup 8 with the beverage with the weight of, e.g., between 100-500 g, in the section 7 (on the shelf 10), the weight sensor 19 will transmit the corresponding signal to the microprocessor-controller 46, and the microprocessorcontroller 46 drives the motor 35 of the vertical movement of the carriage 37 with the manipulator 12 and with the lid 9. The manipulator 12 with the lid 9 starts the downward movement and creates the pressure acting on the lid 9 until the lid 9 is completely put on the cup 8. The pressure force of the manipulator 12 acting on the cup 8 may be limited due to parameters from the weight sensor. b) The lid 9 is put on the cup 8 by: pressing performed by the edges 48 of the inner tapered cup 43 to the center of the lid 9, general pressing performed by the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 on the lid 9, “unfolding” of the edges of the lid 9 and putting of the ledges 47 of the lid 9 on a beading 49 of the cup 8, engaging of the ledges 47 of the lid 9 with the beading 49 (a flange) of the cup 8, upward movement of the manipulator 12, unfolding and disengaging of the flexible, plastic and elastic capturing fingers 45 from the lid 9. c) After the lid 9 is completely put on the cup 8, the carriage 37 with the manipulator 12 will lift upwards at a certain height and the consumer will be provided with the acoustic signal/light signal indicating that the cup 8 covered with the lid 9 can be removed from the section 7. d) After the cup 8 is removed from the section 7, the carriage 37 with the manipulator 12 will move upwards to the end switch 51.

Then, the following items are repeated: c), d), e), f) from the clause 1 of the described algorithm.

Thus, the inventive structure provides a possibility of a repeatable (cyclical) performing the operation of “capturing”, transporting and putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8.

The structure of the device implies a presence of the common housing 1 that comprises the upper portion and the lower portion 2 that, in turn, comprises the closed compartment 14 for the microprocessor-controller 46 of the motors 30, 35 and the electronic components and details. The upper portion of the housing 1 comprises the upper wall 3 and two side walls. The vertical baffle 17 is provided between the sections 6 and 7. Thus, the invention implies that all working zones (except for the section 7, wherein the cup 8 is located) may be maximally “closed” by the walls and the baffles in order to provide sanitary norms and safety measures of using the device.

Therefore, due to the presence of all the structural elements of the device, their mutual arrangement, connections between the details, due to the settings of the sensors and settings of the microprocessor-controller 46, due to the originality of the structure and locations of mounting and arrangement of the seat-manipulator 20, the manipulator 12 and its drop-like housing 9 with the inner tapered cup 43, the limiting ring 44 and with the capturing fingers 45, the effective operation of the device is provided and the technical effect is achieved that lies in the provision of the automatic and contactless putting of the lids 9 on the disposable cups 8 with the beverage (including with the hot beverage) with the simultaneous provision of the accurate and reliable closure of the lid 9 in order to avoid leakage of the beverage from the cup 8.

The achievement of the technical effect is also enhanced, varied and improved by the following additional features and structural elements, which may be used in the invention.

In the area of the section 6, doors 21 are movably connected to the side wall 5 of the housing 1, and the vertical guide 22 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 is arranged on the inner plane of the doors 21. Therewith, two vertical guides 23, 24 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 are also vertically arranged within the section 6. Each of the vertical guides 22, 23,

24 has a cross-sectional segmental shape of “a circle part”. Such solution enables more accurate grouping of the plurality of the lids 9 in the cassette 13 and their more steadily arrangement on the seat-manipulator 20, since each of the three vertical guides 22, 23, 24 “encloses” and “pushes” the lids 9 closer to the center at the moment of their stacking by the operator or already after they are stacked at the moment of closing the doors 21. Therefore, the presence, configuration and arrangement of the doors 21 of the three vertical guides 22, 23, 24 enable to create more accurate arrangement of each next upper lid 9 in the upper portion of the section 6.

A possibility of arrangement of the vertical baffle 17 within the housing 1 between the sections 6 and 7 enables to provide separation of the opened area of the cup 8 from the working zone in the section 6, thereby increasing the operation safety of the device in terms of impossibility of intervention of consumers into the section 6 with the cassette 13 of the lids and with the movable notched belt 28 and the seat-manipulator 20.

The lower horizontal shelf 15 is arranged in the section 6 of the housing, and the lower horizontal shelf 16 is arranged in the section 7 of the housing 1. Such solution enables to conveniently arrange the seat-manipulator 20 in the section 6, as well as to conveniently arrange the shelf 10 for the cup 8 in the section 7. Furthermore, the opening

25 for the seat-manipulator 20 may be provided in the lower horizontal shelf 15 of the section 6, the opening may reproduce, along its outline, a set of outlines of the seatmanipulator 20 in order for the seat-manipulator 20 could be located at a single level with the horizontal shelf 15 during loading of the plurality of the lids 9 into the cassette 13, thereby adding to the convenience during loading of the lids 9.

Each of the motors 30, 35, 42 of the device comprises a corresponding electronic board driver that is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46, thereby allowing the effective control of the operation of the motors 30, 35, 42.

As it has been already mentioned previously, the sensors 36 for determining the presence and the height h2 of the cup 8, when it is located within the section 7, may be arranged in the section 7 on the inner plane of the side wall of the housing 1. Such solution is convenient in cases, when, for example, the microprocessor-controller 46 is set to determine the presence of the cup 8 in the section by the height of the cup 8, rather than by its weight.

The horizontal shelf 10 for the cup 8 may have different shape and configuration, including the case, when it may be made tapered or planar. This allows to use the device in separate embodiments for different types of the cups 8 having different configurations and diameters of the bottom.

Therefore, the set of essential features of the device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups with the beverage allows to achieve the technical effect, namely, to provide the automatic and contactless putting of the lids on the disposable cups with the beverage (including the hot beverage) with the simultaneous provision of the accurate and reliable closure of the lid in order to avoid leakage of the beverage from the cup.

Practical implementation of the invention

Brief description of block diagrams of the proposed invention.

The practical implementation and industrial applicability of the device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups will be explained with schematic illustrations of the structure, in which:

Fig. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the device;

Fig. 2 illustrates the device without walls with the cup 8 (a side view);

Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of the device without walls from a side of the doors 21 with the cup 8 (a side view);

Fig. 4 illustrates the device without walls with the cup 8 (a view from the 3/4 perspective);

Fig. 5 illustrates a side view of the device without walls from a side of the doors 21 with the cup 8 (a view from the 3/4 perspective);

Fig. 6 illustrates the device with the walls from the side of the doors 21 without the cup 8 (the “widthwise” arrangement configuration), which shows a possible “working” height h5 of the cassette 13 of the lids 9 and a possible “working” height h6 of the manipulator 12 prior to capturing an transportation of the lid 9 from the section 6 to the section 7;

Fig. 7 illustrates the device with the side walls 4, 5, with the rear wall 52 and with the cup 8 arranged in the section 7 (the “depthwise” arrangement configuration);

Fig. 8 illustrates a top view of the manipulator 12;

Fig. 9 illustrates the cup 8 on the shelf 10 in the section 7;

Fig. 10 illustrates the section 6 with the cassette 13 of the lids 9 and the section 7 with the cup 8;

Fig. 11 illustrates a top and a bottom view of the the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12; Fig. 12 illustrates the cassette 13 with the lids 9, the seat-manipulator 20 with the connecting element 29;

Fig. 13 is a schematic cross-section illustration of the cup-like portion 41, the droplike housing 39 and the lid 9, which shows directions of the pressure (p) acting on the lid 9 during putting on the cup 8.

Elements of the inventive structure are designated with the following numeric positions:

1 - the housing;

2 - the lower portion of the housing 1 ;

3 - the upper wall of the housing 1 ;

4,5 - the side walls of the housing 1 ;

6 - the section (zone) for lids 9 - «a tray of lids» ;

7 - the section for cups 8;

8 - the disposable cup;

9 - the disposable lid;

10 - the shelf for the cup 8;

11 - the recess or the opening on the shelf 10 for the bottom of the cup 8;

12 - the manipulator for the vertical and horizontal movement of the lid 9;

13 - the cassette of the lids 9;

14 - the compartment for a microprocessor-controller 46, motors 30, 35 and electronic components and details;

15 - the lower horizontal shelf of the section 6;

16 - the lower horizontal shelf of the section 7;

17 - the vertical baffle between the sections 6 and 7;

18 - the abutment for the manipulator 12 in the section 6 for providing a coaxiality with the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13;

19 - the weight sensor (the strain sensor);

20 - the seat-manipulator for the vertical movement of the cassette 13 of several lids 9;

21 - the doors of the section 6;

22 - the vertical guide for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 that is arranged on the inner plane of the doors 21 (a cross-section being “a circled segment”);

23, 24 - the two vertical guides (a cross-section being “a circled segment”) for the cassette 13 of the lids 9; 25 - the opening on the lower horizontal shelf 16 of the section 5 for the seatmanipulator 20;

26, 27 - the two guiding vertical plugs for the seat-manipulator 20;

28 - the notched belt for the seat-manipulator 20, the belt being connected with a motor through a pulley;

29 - the connecting element that is a part of the seat-manipulator 20;

30 - the motor for the seat-manipulator 20 and for the cassette 13 of the lids 9;

31 - the sensors (an optical one, an ultrasound one) of the height of the lids 9 in the cassette 13;

32, 33 - the two guiding vertical plugs for directing the vertical movement of the manipulator 12;

34 - the vertical feeding screw for the manipulator 12;

35 - the motor for the vertical movement of the manipulator 12;

36 - the sensors of the height of the cup 8;

37 - the movable carriage of the manipulator 12;

38 - the pressure lever acting on the upper plane of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12;

39 - the drop-like housing;

40 - the arm of the drop-like housing 39;

41 - the cup-like portion of the drop-like housing 39;

42 - the motor for providing the horizontal movement of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12;

43 - the inner tapered cup that is located in an inner cavity of the cup-like portion of the drop-like housing 39;

44 - the limiting ring that is located along the entire diameter in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion of the drop-like housing 39;

45 - the at least three capturing fingers, which are located on an inner plane of the limiting ring 44;

46 - the microprocessor-controller;

47 - the edges of the lid 9;

48 - the lower edges of the inner tapered cup 43;

49 - the beading/flange of the cup 8;

50 - the drive arm of the cylindrical movable carriage 37 of the manipulator 12;

51 - the end switch of the manipulator 12;

52 - the rear wall of the housing 1 ; 53 - the inner upper horizontal shelf of the section 6;

54 - the vertical supports of the inner upper horizontal shelf 53;

55 - the opening of the inner upper horizontal shelf 53 (for the upper lid 9 of the cassette 13);

56 - the outer edges of the limiting ring 44.

The best exemplary embodiment of the invention

Static description of the inventive structure.

The device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups comprises the following main constituent elements:

- the housing 1 comprising the section 6 for the lids 9, the section 7 for the cups 8 and the compartment 14 for the electronic elements (Fig. 1 - Fig. 6) for the power unit, for the microprocessor-controller 46 and for the two motors 30, 35 (Fig. 1);

- the section 6 has arranged therein the cassette 13 (Fig. 1-3, 6, 10) of the plurality of the lids 9, the seat-manipulator 20 (Fig. 1-2, 6, 10, 12) for the vertical movement of the cassette 13 of several lids 9, the elements for controlling and providing the movement of the seat-manipulator 20 and the movement of the cassette 13 of the lids 9;

- the shelf 10 for the cup is horizontally arranged in the lower portion of the section 7 (Fig. 1-7, 9, 10), wherein the shelf 10 comprises the circular recess 11 (or the circular opening) (Fig. 5, 6, 10) for the cup 8. The recess 11 (or the circular opening) is provided and arranged in the shelf 10 in the coaxial fashion with the manipulator 12, when the manipulator 12 is in the position “above the cup 8”;

- the movable manipulator 12 is arranged in the section 7 (Fig. 1-5, 8) with the horizontal movement motor 42 (Fig. 1-3) for capturing of the lid 9 from the cassette 13, for the vertical and horizontal movement of the single lid 9 and its putting on the cup 8, elements for providing movement and control of the manipulator 12, including the end switch 51 (Fig. 1);

- the sensor 31 of the height of the cassette 13 in the section 6 and the weight sensor 19 that is arranged in the section 7 for the disposable cups 8 (Fig. 1);

- the microprocessor-controller 46 (Fig. 1) having the software set of commands and instructions, the microprocessor-controller being configured to provide signals to other components of the device with consideration of the signals received from the sensors and with consideration of the signals and data from the software set of commands and instructions;

- the power elements and the commutation elements. The housing 1 comprises the lower portion 2, the upper wall 3, the side walls 4, 5, the rear wall 52 (Fig. 6, 7 , 10). The inner cavity of the housing 1 comprises the section 6 for the lids 9 and the section 7 for the cups 8, which may be separated between each other with the vertical baffle 17 (Fig. 1, 6, 10) (in order to provide safety and protection from an external intervention by users of the device). The compartment 14 for the electronic elements, the microprocessor-controller 46 and the motors 30, 35 is arranged in the lower portion 2 of the housing.

The section 6 comprises the lower horizontal shelf 15 (Fig. 1, 4, 6, 10). The doors 21 are (movably) connected to the side wall 5 of the housing 1 in the area of the section 6 (Fig. 3, 5, 7, 10). The vertical guide 22 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 is arranged on the inner plane of the doors 21 (Fig. 10), the guide has the cross-sectional segmental shape of “a circle part”. At least two similar vertical guides 23, 24 for the cassette 13 of the lids 9 are also vertically arranged within the section 6 (Fig. 10), each of them also has the cross- sectional segmental shape of “a circle part”. When the doors 21 are closed, the three vertical guides 22, 23, 24 in the section 6 together form a deemed cylindrical space around the cassette 13 of the lids 9, and these guides 22, 23, 24 enable the cassette 13 with the lids 9 to move, during its own vertical movement upwards/downwards, in such a way that the lids 9 during the movement “do not come out” and do not drop out of the formed cylindrical space, thereby allowing to provide a maximum possible delivery of the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13 to a certain required position in the upper portion of the section 6.

The seat-manipulator 20 is arranged within the section 6, with the plurality of the lids 9, which form the cassette 13, arranged on it. In separate embodiments of the invention, the lower horizontal shelf 15 may have the opening 25 (Fig. 4, 6, 10) for deepening the seat-manipulator 20 therein in order to “smooth” the plane of the seatmanipulator 20 with the horizontal level of the lower horizontal shelf 15 to provide a convenient arrangement of the plurality of the lids 9 on the seat-manipulator 20.

The following elements are arranged within the section 6: two guide vertical plugs 26, 27 (for guiding the vertical movement of the seat-manipulator 20) (Fig. 1, 10) and the vertically arranged notched belt 28 (Fig. 1) for the seat-manipulator 20 that is connected to the motor 30 through the pulley and that is intended to provide the vertical upwards/downwards movement of the seat-manipulator 20. The vertical plugs 26, 27 are connected to the seat-manipulator 20 by means of the connecting element 29 (Fig. 12) that is monolithically connected to the seat-manipulator 20. The connecting element 29 is a part of the seat-manipulator 20, and the connecting element 29 comprises through openings for the two guide vertical plugs 26, 27. The vertically arranged notched belt 28 is connected to the motor 30 through the pulley, the motor being arranged in the closed compartment 14 of the lower portion of the housing 1 below the section 6. The notched belt 28, the pulley and the motor 30 form a belt gear unit. Thus, the notched belt 28 is also connected to the seatmanipulator 20.

The horizontal shelf 53 (Fig. 1-6) is arranged in the upper portion of the section 6 on the vertical supports 54 (Fig. 2, 4, 5), the shelf having the circular opening 55 (Fig. 6) for the upper lid 9 of the cassette 13. The abutment 18 for the movable manipulator 12 (Fig. 1-3, 5-6) is arranged on the upper plane of the inner upper horizontal shelf 53.

The at least one sensor 31 for determining the height hl from the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13 to the sensor 31 is arranged in the section 6 on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 (Fig. 1). The sensor 31 is in the communication with the microprocessor-controller 46.

The section 7 may comprise the lower horizontal shelf 16 (Fig. 1, 2, 4-7, 9, 10) with the shelf 10 for the cup 8 being horizontally arranged on the plane thereof or above the shelf 16 in the lower portion of the section 7. The shelf 10 for the cup 8 may be arranged independently of the presence of the lower horizontal shelf 16. The shelf 10 has the circular recess 11 (or the opening) for the bottom of the cup 8. The recess (or the opening) 11 is provided and arranged in the shelf 10 in the coaxial fashion with the cuplike portion 41 of the manipulator 12 (described below), wen the cup-like portion 41 of the manipulator 12 is in the section 7 in the position “above the cup 8”. In separate embodiments of the invention, the horizontal shelf 10 for the cup 8 may be made planar (Fig. 6, 10) or tapered (Fig. 2-5, 7, 9), or have another shape.

The following elements are arranged within the section 7: two guide vertical plugs 32, 33 (Fig. 1-3, 5, 9) for directing the vertical movement of the manipulator 12 and the vertical feeding screw 34 (Fig. 1-3, 5, 9) that is intended to provide the vertical upward/downward movement of the manipulator 12. The vertical feeding screw 34 is connected to the motor 35 (Fig. 1), the motor being arranged in the closed compartment 14 of the lower portion of the housing 1 below the section 7. The manipulator 12 is connected to the vertical plugs 32, 33 and to the vertical feeding screw 34 through the movable carriage 37 (Fig. 2-4, 6, 8). The vertical feeding screw 34 is connected to the motor 35, the motor is in a communication with the microprocessor-controller 46 and arranged in the closed compartment 14 of the lower portion 2 of the housing 1.

The end switch 51 (Fig. 1) that is in the communication with the microprocessorcontroller 46 is arranged on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 in the area of the section 7 approximately above the pressure lever 38 (Fig. 2, 4-6, 8) of the manipulator 12.

The weight sensor 19 (Fig. 1) is arranged in the section 7 and may be arranged at the bottom of the horizontal shelf 10. The weight sensor 19 is connected to the shelf 10 for the cup 8 and is set in such a way that: when there is no cup 8 present on the shelf 10, or when there is the empty cup 8 present on the shelf 10, or when there is the cup 8 on the shelf 10 that is filled with a beverage for less or more than a pre-set weight parameter of the beverage or that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set weight parameter of the beverage, the weight sensor 19 transmits signals to the microprocessor-controller 46.

In separate embodiments of the invention, the sensors 36 (Fig. 1) for determining the height h2 (Fig. 1) and the presence of the cup (8), when it is arranged within the section 7, may be arranged on the inner plane of the side wall of the housing 1.

The movable manipulator 12.

The movable manipulator 12 is stationary arranged in the section 7 with a possibility of performing the vertical upward/downward movement and with the possibility of performing the horizontal movement in opposite sides. The manipulator 12 is a device for capturing the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 in the section 6 and for transporting this lid 9 to the section 7 for further putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8.

The manipulator 12 is a complex structure that is formed of several elements and details. The manipulator 12 comprises:

- the drop-like housing 39 (Fig. 4, 5, 8, 11) that is formed by the arm 40 and the circular cup-like portion 41, which are monolithically connected between each other (Fig. 11, 13);

- the movable carriage 37 that is coupled to the pressure lever 38 and connected to the drive arm 50 (Fig. 2, 6, 8.2);

- the horizontal movement motor 42 that is arranged on the movable carriage 37 in the area of the driving arm 50 (the horizontal movement motor 42 is in the communication with the microprocessor-controller 46);

- the drop-like housing 39 is connected to the driving arm 50 and to the horizontal movement motor 42;

- the driving arm 50 is connected to the movable carriage 37.

The following elements are arranged at the center of the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 : the inner tapered cup 43 (Fig. 11.2, 13) (that directly exerts pressure to the lid 9 of the cup 8 during operation of the device). The limiting ring 44 is arranged closer to the edges of the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 along the entire diameter (Fig. 11.2). The outer edges 48 (Fig. 11.2, Fig. 13) of the inner tapered cup 43 are arranged below the level of the outer edges 56 of the limiting ring 44. That is to say, the height h3 of the walls of the inner tapered cup 43 is greater than the height h4 of the walls of the limiting ring 44 (Fig. 13). Therefore, the outer edges of the inner tapered cup 43 slightly protrude beyond the general (lower) level of the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12. The at least three flexible, plastic and elastic capturing fingers 45 are arranged on the inner plane of the limiting ring 44 approximately at equal distance from each other. The number and the shape of the capturing fingers 45 may be different. The flexible, plastic and elastic capturing fingers 45 also may be manufactured from different material, e.g., silicone, but without limitation thereto.

As it has been already mentioned, the manipulator 12 is connected to the vertical feeding screw 34 and to the vertical plugs 32, 33 through the movable carriage 37. The vertical feeding screw 34 is connected to the motor 35 that provides the vertical upward/downward movement of the manipulator 12.

Electronics.

The microprocessor-controller 46 is arranged in the lower portion 2 of the housing 1 within the compartment 14, the microprocessor-controller forms a basis for building the electronic system of the device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups. The microprocessor-controller 46 and the electronic system comprise the software set of commands and instructions, by means of which (and by means of the parameters of the sensor 31 (the height of the cassette 13 with the lids 9), the weight sensor 19 (e.g., a strain sensor, but without limitation thereto), in separate embodiments, the cup 8 height sensor 36) the automatic control of the motors 30, 35, 42 is performed, and, thus, the control of the seat-manipulator 20, the vertical movement of the cassette 13 of several lids 9, the vertical and the horizontal movement of the manipulator 12 and the lid 9 to be put on the cup 8, is performed. That is to say, the microprocessorcontroller 46 and the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessorcontroller 46 are configured such that:

- depending on the parameters of the sensor 31 , the microprocessor-controller 46 determines the height position hl from the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13 to the sensor 31, and, by means of the motor 30 and the notched belt 28, it directs the movement of the seatmanipulator 20 with the cassette 13 upwards/downwards until the lid 9 reaches such a height h5 in the section that corresponds to the height h6 of the manipulator 12 to enable capturing of the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 (Fig. 6); - depending on the parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessorcontroller 46 determines the presence of the cup 8 that is filled with the beverage within the pre-set parameter of the beverage weight, and, by means of the motor 35, the feeding screw 34 and the horizontal movement motor 42, it directs the movement of the manipulator 12 firstly upwards/downwards within the section 7, and then from the section 7 to the section 6 to capture the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13, and after the upper lid 9 is captured from the cassette 13, it directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 from the section 6 to the section 7 and then it directs the movement of the manipulator 12 with the lid 9 on the upper portion of the cup 8;

- depending on the parameters of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessorcontroller 46, by means of the motor 35 and the feeding screw 34, regulates the pressure force of the movable manipulator 12 acting on the lid 9 of the cup 8 in the section 7.

A loop circuit of electric wires is coupled from the inside of the compartment 14 to the manipulator 12 and to the motor 42, the electric wires provide interaction and transmission of the signals between the electronic system of the device and the microprocessor-controller 46. The sensors 31 and 19, 36 are also connected to the electronic system of the device and to the microprocessor-controller 46 by means of the electric wires.

The compartment 14 also may have arranged therein a reduction gear of the motor 35 of the manipulator 12, a driver (an electronic board) of the motor 35 of the manipulator 12, a driver (an electronic board) of the motor 30 for the movement of the cassette 13 of the lids 9, a power unit, a transformer and other details and elements, which are obvious and necessary to provide the effective operation of the proposed device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups.

The structure of the device also may comprise light and/or acoustic indication elements and details.

Operation of the device.

The device is intended to provide the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups (paper ones or other ones) with the beverage (including, the hot beverage) at the same time providing accurate and reliable closure of the lid on the cup in order to avoid leakage of the beverage from the cup.

After the device is coupled to the power source, the process of “reset of the positions” and preparation of the device for operation is started. Firstly, the cassette 13 of the lids 9 automatically, under the “control” of the microprocessor-controller 46 (by means of the seat-manipulator 20, the motor 30 and the notched belt 28) moves downwards to the lower point in the section 6 (e.g., to a switch off button or to a certain distance that is calculated by the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessorcontroller 46). After the seat-manipulator 20 and the cassette 13 are stopped in the lower point, they automatically, under the “control” of the microprocessor-controller 46 start moving upwards to stop at the upper point at a certain distance to the sensor 31 (such distance to the sensor 31 is calculated by the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46). It should be noted that the section 6 for the lids 9 usually comprises, e.g., 50 lids 9, however, the number of the lids 9 may be different. The plurality of the lids 9 is manually loaded into the section 6 by the device operator. The sensor 31 (optical, ultrasound, other one) is arranged on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 in the area of the section 6 above the cassette 13 of the lids 9, the sensor determines a position (a number) of the lids 9 in the cassette 13, i.e., the sensor 31 determines the height hl of the cassette 13 directly relative to this sensor 31. Therefore, the upper lid 9 of the cassette 13 must be located at a certain height h5 within the section 6. During the process of operation of the device, the sensor 31 of the position of the lids 9 sends the signal to the microprocessor-controller 46, afterwards the microprocessorcontroller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions, sends the signal to the motor 30 for the vertical movement of the cassette 13 of the lids 9 that, through the pulley by means of the notched belt 28 (i.e., by means of the gear belt unit), transmits a mechanical motion to the seat-manipulator 20 of the cassette 13 of the lids 9, and the seatmanipulator, in turn, moves and directs the cassette 13 with the lids 9 downwards or upwards (depending on their final position) to a certain required height of the upper lid 9 in the cassette 13. The stable and directed vertical movement of the seat-manipulator 20 is provided by two guide vertical plugs 26, 27, which are connected to the seat-manipulator 20 through the connecting element 29.

After the upper lid 9 of the cassette 13 has reached the required height h5, the sensor 31 of the position of the lids 9 again sends the signal to the microprocessorcontroller 46, afterwards the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions, sends the signal to “stop” the motor 30 of the vertical movement of the cassette 13 and, thus, by means of the vertically arranged notched belt 28 and the pulley (i.e., by means of the gear belt unit) and by means of two guide vertical plugs 26, 27, the seat-manipulator 20 of the cassette 13 stops at a certain position thereby locating the upper lid 9 at the certain height h5 within the section 6. Therefore, the cassette 13 with the lids 9 is prepared in the section 6 for the lids 9 in order to enable “capturing” of the upper lid 9 from the cassette 13 by another manipulator 12 and transporting this lid 9 to the section 7 for further putting on the disposable cup 8 with the beverage.

The section 7 for the cups 8. The consumer mounts the disposable cup 8 with the beverage on the shelf 10 for the cup 8 in such a way that its bottom is inserted into a small circular recess/opening 11 for the bottom of the cup 8. The weight sensor 19 is activated under the action of the weight of the cup 8 with the beverage and provides the corresponding signal to the microprocessor-controller 46 that determines that the cup 8 is present in the working area of the section 7. Therewith, the microprocessor-controller 46 also (depending on the parameters of the weight sensor 19) determines not only the presence or absence of the amount of the beverage in the cup 8, but also the amount of the beverage. By means of the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46, the minimum and the maximum amount of the beverage in the cup 8, i.e., the weight of the cup 8 with the beverage, may be set in the device. For example, if the weight of the cup with the beverage is less than 100 g or more than 500 g, the device will not perform the operations of putting of the lid 9 on the cup 8 and it will be in the standby mode until the condition (regarding a certain weight of the cup 8 with the beverage) is met. The weight limits of the cup 8 with the beverage may be changed within the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46.

In separate embodiments of the invention, the sensors of the height of the cups 36, which may be arranged in the section 7, “determine” the presence and the height h2 of the mounted cup 8. Then, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions, “retrieves/receives” a certain signal regarding the presence and height/size of the cup 8 from the sensor 36 as “a reader”, and then, again by means of the software set of commands and instructions, the microprocessor-controller 46 sends a signal to the motor 35 to create the vertical movement of the manipulator 12 that, by means of the vertical feeding screw 34 and two guide vertical plugs 32, 33, transmits the mechanical motion to the manipulator 12.

At the beginning of the movements of the manipulator 12, the horizontal movement motor 42 automatically pushes (moves) the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 to the movable carriage 37 (into the working position) in order to avoid damage of the constituent parts of the manipulator 12 during the vertical movements of the carriage 37.

Then, the manipulator 12 moves vertically (prior to “capturing” the lid 9 from the section 6 this movement occurs advantageously upwards) until the moment of reaching the required height h6 that corresponds to such position of the manipulator 12 that allows it to perform the horizontal movement from the section 7 to the section 6 in order to “capture” the lid 9 from the cassette 13. This occurs in two short steps. At the first step, the manipulator 12 moves vertically until the moment when the upper plane of the pressure lever 38 of the manipulator 12 abuts the end switch 51 that is arranged on the inner plane of the upper wall 3 of the housing 1 in the area of the section 7 and that is activated upon abutting to the manipulator 12, when it (the manipulator 12) is located in the uppermost position. Afterwards, the end switch 51 provides a signal to the microprocessor-controller 46 that the manipulator 12 has reached the maximum possible upper point in the section 7, and the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions sends the “stop” signal to the motor 35 as well as the microprocessorcontroller 46 provides a signal to the motor 35 to perform a small “downward” movement of the manipulator 12 and to stop (the second step). The manipulator 12 reaches the required position at the certain height h6 in the section 7.

Then, the microprocessor-controller 46 provides a signal to the horizontal movement motor 42 to switch off for a short period of time, e.g., for 2-3 seconds, in order to perform (through the movable carriage 37 and through the arm 40) the horizontal movement of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 from the section 6 to the section 7. After the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 has entered the section 6, it will be stopped by means of the abutment 18 which the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 abuts to in the section 6, wherein the motor 42 has already stopped its operation. At this step, the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 has reached the position “coaxially above the upper lid 9” of the cassette 13 in the section 6. Then, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions, sends the signal to the motor 30 that starts to operate and, by means of the notched belt 28 and the pulley (i.e., by means of the gear belt unit) and by means of the two guide vertical plugs 26, 27, creates the upward movement of the seat-manipulator 20 and of the cassette 13 until the upper lid 9 “enters” the limiting ring 44 of the inner cup 43 in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39. Traditional known structures of the lids 9 (in preferable embodiments thereof) has a small “ledge” 47 along the entire circle of the diameter (Fig. 12, 13), the ledge protrudes outwardly relative to the side walls of the lid 9. Under the pressure of the seat-manipulator 20 and the cassette 13 (which translationally move upwards), the upper lid 9 with its own “ledges” 47 overbends the flexible capturing fingers 45 and enters the limiting ring 44 of the inner cup 43 in the inner cavity of the cuplike portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39 such that the edges of the “ledge” 47 are located already beyond the capturing fingers 45. Thus, after the flexible capturing fingers 45 have been overbended by the ledges 47 and these ledges 47 have entered “beyond the capturing fingers 45”, the flexible capturing fingers 45 “return” to the initial position and hold the lid 9 on the ledges 47 within the limiting ring 44 of the inner cup 43 in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 39. Then, the microprocessor-controller 46 sends the signal to the motor 30 that starts to operate and, by means of the gear belt unit, creates the downward movement of the seat-manipulator 20 and the cassette 13. One lid 9 (the upper one) remains in the inner cavity of the cup-like portion 41 of the drop-like housing 3 of the manipulator 12.

Then, the microprocessor-controller 46, by means of the software set of commands and instructions, sends the signal to the horizontal movement motor 42 (it turns on the motor 42) that starts the reverse movement of the drop-like housing 39 of the manipulator 12 with the “captured” lid 9 from the section 6 to the section 7 until the drop-like housing 39 with the “captured” lid 9 has reached the coaxial and centered position “above the cup 8” directly before they start the downward movement to press against the lid 9 and putting the same on the cup 8. Then, the motor 35 (automatically depending on the settings of the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46) somehow lowers down the carriage 37 together with the manipulator 12 and the lid 9 up to the certain height to the position “above the cup 8” and stops. If the cup 8 with the beverage is not already mounted in the section 7, the acoustic and/or light signal may be activated for the consumers (automatically depending on the settings of the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46) indicative that the cup 8 with the beverage may be arranged in the device. It should be noted that the cup 8 with the beverage may be arranged in advance (before the manipulator 12 begins to move) or after the manipulator 12 has captured the lid 9 and transferred the same to the section 7. In case of the cup 8 with the beverage is not arranged in the section 7, the device will “wait” for any time period until the consumer arranges the cup 8 in the section 7 on the shelf 10 and until the weight sensor 19 is activated (or the sensors 36, in separate cases).

If the cup 8 with the beverage is arranged on the shelf 10, its weight will correspond to the values, which are pre-set in the software set of commands and instructions, e.g., from 100 g to 500 g, the weight sensor 19 transmits the signal to the microprocessor-controller 46 and then the microprocessor-controller 46 transmits the signal to the motor 35 that creates the translational vertical downward movement of the manipulator 12 with the “captured” lid 9. At the moment when the lid 9 touches the edges of the cup 8, the translational downward movement of the manipulator 12 continues, and the pressure (p) acts on the upper plane of the lid 9 from the top through the arm 40, through the upper plane of the cup-like portion 41 and through the inner tapered cup 43 of the drop-like housing 39 (Fig. 13). Therewith, the lower edges 48 of the inner tapered cup 43 press “circle wise” against the central portion of the upper plane of the lid 9 such that the lid 9 that already abuts with its own edges against the edges of the walls of the cup 8 is preferably subjected to higher pressure (p) directly in its own central portion (under the action of the lower edges 48 of the inner tapered cup 43) and to partial (but lower) pressure at the edges, and this non-uniform distribution of the pressure onto the upper plane of the lid 9 leads to greater deformation and bowing of the lid 9 at the center than at the edges. Such bowing and deformation at the central portion leads to “unfolding” of the edges of the lid 9, thereby leading to rather ease and quick putting on the upper edges of the cup 8. The upper edges of the cup 8 have the beading 49 (a flange) (Fig. 2, 7, 9) along the entire diameter and, thus, after the lid 9 is put on the cup and after the top pressure that acts on the lid 9 from the manipulator 12 is stopped, it (the lid 9) is engaged and fixed by its own several “unfolded” edges to the beading 49 (flange) of the cup 8, and after the top pressure that acts on the lid 9 from the manipulator 12 is stopped, the deformation and bowing of the lid 9 at the central portion is stopped, and the edges of the lid 9 are more rigidly fixed along the entire diameter to the beading 49 (flange) of the cup 8.

It should be noted that by means of the weight sensor 19 and its parameters at the moment of pressing on the cup 8 by the manipulator 12 with the lid 9, such pressure force is controlled, and owing to the signals and parameters from the weight sensor 19 regarding such pressure force, the microprocessor-controller 46 (owing to the settings and setup of the software set of commands and instructions) “regulates” the pressure force of the manipulator 12 acting on the cup 8 and limits such pressure force, if necessary. Such control and mutual operation of the weight sensor 19, the microprocessor-controller 46, the motor 35 and the manipulator 12 provide a maximum reliable putting (closure) of the lid 9 on the cup 8 at the same time avoiding a possibility of damage of the cup 8 and the lid 9 due to the deformation and collapsing.

After the lid 9 is put on the cup 8, the microprocessor-controller 46 transmits the signal to the motor 35 that creates the translational vertical upward movement of the manipulator 12 from the cup 8. Thus, the capturing fingers 45, which were holding the lid 9 by the ledges 47 in the limiting ring 44 of the inner cup 43 of the drop-like housing 39, under the action of the force of the motor 35, due to their own plasticity and due to the fact that the lid 9 is already rigidly fixed beyond the beading 49 (flange) of the cup 8, they are moved apart and “release” the lid 9 from the manipulator 12. The movable carriage 37 and the entire manipulator 12 (under the action of the operation of the motor 35 and other details) lifts above the cup 8 in such a way and for such a height that the consumer is able to remove the cup 8 with the beverage and the closed lid 9 from the device. If the device comprises the light and/or acoustic alarm, then after the lid 9 is put on the cup 8 and after the manipulator 12 is lifted above the cup 8, such alarm will be able to provide the consumer with a notification that the cup 8 with the lid 9 put thereon may be removed from the section 7 of the device. Therefore, the cup 8 with the beverage is automatically closed with the lid 9 and is ready to be used by the consumer.

After the cup 8 is removed by the consumer from the shelf 10, the weight sensor 19 is activated, and owing to the settings of the software set of commands and instructions of the microprocessor-controller 46, the motor 35 lifts the movable carriage 37 and the entire manipulator 12 upwards to the end switch 51.

Regardless of whether the next cup 8 is arranged in the section 7 or not, the manipulator 12 (by means of the commands of the microprocessor-controller 46 and all the other described details and elements) “takes” the new lid 9 in advance and is ready to put the same on the next cup 8.

Thus, in such position, the device is again ready to performed the described operations and for further automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups.

Industrial applicability

The proposed device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups has passed tests during its experimental and industrial manufacture, as well as in the process of its usage for the intended purpose.

Results of the tests have shown that the structure of the proposed invention, during its usage, owing to the set of all the essential features of the article, enables to achieve the mentioned technical effect, i.e. to provide the automatic and contactless putting of the lids on the disposable cups with the beverage (including with the hot beverage) at the same time providing precise and reliable closure of the lid in order to avoid leakage of the beverage from the cup.

An example of a specific industrial embodiment of the proposed invention, its use is mentioned above as the best example of the embodiment.

The proposed device for the automatic contactless putting of the disposable lids on the disposable cups meets all the usage requirements as well as the commonly accepted regulations for the safety and usage of such articles.