A cup dispensing apparatus comprising at least one magazine adapted to accommodate a stack of cups, and a releasing device, which has a vertical channel designed to be engaged by the stack, is configured to support the stack and release, when operated, the last cup, and is equipped with at least three releasing elements movable on a horizontal plane in respective directions substantially tangential to said channel, between a rest position, in which they define a horizontal first support plane designed to be engaged by the last cup to support the stack, and a release position, in which they define a second support plane at a higher level than the first support plane and designed to be engaged by the penultimate cup to support the rest of the stack; each releasing device has an associated separating device adapted to impart a downward detaching thrust on the last cup when the respective releasing element reaches the release position.

A fluid dispenser for dispensing a fluid and a method for dispensing a fluid such as a mouthwash may include a container having an internal reservoir for containing a volume of the fluid and a fluid pump connected to the container. The fluid pump may include a head, a spout, a stem, and a collar. The collar may attach the fluid pump to the container. The fluid dispenser may further include a container holder having a stem support that defines a slot that receives the stem of the fluid pump, a base, and an attachment member extending from the stem support toward the base. Various fluid dispenser designs, implementations, and uses are discussed.

A dispenser configured to simultaneously dispenses a plurality of liquid retaining members from a plurality of different areas of the dispenser. Preferably, the liquid retaining members are drinking cups. Preferably, the dispenser is configured to simultaneously dispense a first stack of a plurality of drinking cups and a second stack of a plurality of drinking cups from corresponding ends of the dispensers. The dispenser includes a body having a first end and a second end. The first end has a first opening through which drinking cups in the first stack of a plurality of drinking cups can be individually dispensed one after the other. The second end has a second opening through which drinking cups in the second stack of drinking cups can be individually dispensed one after the other. Preferably, at least one biasing member biases the first stack of a plurality of drinking cups towards the first end of the body and biases the second stack of a plurality of drinking cups towards the second end of the body.

A beverage preparation machine permits automated preparation of a variety of beverages. A plurality of stations add ingredients to a beverage container and process the contents directly in the container in some embodiments. Parallel preparation of more than one beverage may be performed in some embodiments. A robotic arm moves the beverage container to the stations. The robotic arm may include a weight sensor as part of controlling the addition of ingredients.

Food product dispensing machines and methods for dispensing food product into a cup. The food product dispensing machine includes a cup holder having a target element, a sensor that senses the target element, and a controller. The cup holder is configured to hold a cup such that the cup prevents the sensor from sensing at least a portion of the target element. The controller determines whether a cup is present in the cup holder and/or a size of the cup based on a remaining portion of the target element that is sensed by the sensor when the cup is held by the cup holder. Drive mechanisms are configured to move the first and second cup holders along first and second radial paths, respectively, with respect to the common dispensing position. An indicator is configured to indicate a remaining number of cup dispenses to the user.

A dispensing device and method is provided for separating individual food or drink container lids from a multiple-lid stack for use. The device supports a vertical or inclined stack of nested lids and allows a single bottom-most lid to fall away from the remaining lids in the stack. The device may be incorporated in a stand-alone dispenser for consumer use or be incorporated into existing or other incidental structures such as fast food restaurant countertops.

A cup dispenser (10) and associated methods are provided in which the cup dispenser (10) is tiltable (including rotation) between a dispensing position and a loading position. In the loading position, cups are easily loaded into the cup dispenser (10). A rolling-element bearing (30) may, among other mechanisms, be employed to facilitate the movement.