1. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets; and
d) a payment receiving mechanism.
2. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a tablet chute to receive said candy tablets from said tableting machine, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.
3. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
4. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, and the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube.
5. The vending machine of claim 1 wherein said feed tube is transparent and said feed tube and said tableting machine are visible to a customer.
6. The vending machine of claim 1, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.
7. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to said tablet chute.
8. The vending machine of claim 2, further comprising a sensor to determine the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
9. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;
d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer; and
e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container.
10. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
11. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.
12. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
13. The vending machine of claim 9, further comprising motorized augers to fill said feed tube with candy powder from said candy powder containers.
14. A vending machine, comprising:
a) one or more candy powder containers having motorized augers;
b) a feed tube which is filled with candy powder from said candy powder containers by the action of said motorized augers;
c) a tableting machine which receives candy powder from said feed tube to compress said candy powder into candy tablets;
d) said feed tube being transparent, and said feed tube and said tableting machine being visible to a customer;
e) one or more flavor selection buttons and a computer system whereby activation of said flavor selection button signals said computer to activate said candy powder containers to transfer said candy powder to said feed tube, to deliver said candy powder from said feed tube to said tableting machine, and to deliver said candy tablets to a tablet chute, said tablet chute being transparent and visible to a customer, and delivering said candy tablets to a candy tablet container; and
f) sensing mechanisms to determine the presence of said candy powder in said candy powder containers, the presence of said candy powder in said feed tube, and the presence of said candy tablet container in a candy tablet container holder.
15. The vending machine of claim 14, further comprising a display device to provide instructions to a customer or to provide the functional status of the vending machine or a combination thereof.
16. The vending machine of claim 15, further comprising a payment receiving mechanism.
17. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and
5) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a customer.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein steps 2, 3, and 4 are visible to a customer.
21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.
22. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets; and
5) steps 2, 3, and 4 being visible to a customer.
23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of discharging said candy tablets into a tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container.
24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.
25. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full.
26. A method of vending candy tablets from candy powder, comprising the steps of:
1) selecting flavors of candy powder;
2) dispensing said candy powder for each flavor selection from a candy powder container into a transparent feed tube;
3) delivering said candy powder from said feed tube into a tableting machine;
4) compressing said candy powder into candy tablets;
5) discharging said candy tablets into a transparent tablet chute for collection by a candy tablet container;
6) detecting the availability of flavors of candy powder and detecting whether said feed tube is empty or full; and
7) steps 2, 3, 4, and 5 being visible to a customer.
27. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of receiving payment from a customer for vending of said candy tablets.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station having:
a first frame including a first electronic component therein,
a second frame including a second electronic component therein,
the second frame being mounted on the first frame so as to be slidable relative to the first frame,
and wiring extending through an opening portion formed in at least one of opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame and electrically connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other,
the dustproof structure comprising:
a packing covering and sealing the opening portion other than a groove portion,
the groove portion being formed on the packing and leading the wiring via the opening portion;
wherein the packing is formed of silicon rubber or plastic plate;
the groove portion of the packing continuously contacts with a surface of the wiring; and
the packing wipes the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portion by sliding operation of the second frame.
2. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing is formed of a material having a low coefficient of friction.
3. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing has flexibility.
4. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the packing has a curtain portion in which a plurality of segments terminating at the groove portion are arranged.
5. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the wiring comprises a flexible board.
6. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the second frame is mounted on the first frame so as to be pivotably slidable relative to the first frame.
7. A slidable wireless mobile station comprising:
a first frame including a first electronic component therein,
a second frame including a second electronic component therein,
the second frame being mounted on the first frame so as to be slidable relative to the first frame,
wiring extending through an opening portion formed in at least one of opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame and electrically connecting the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other, and
a dustproof structure comprising:
a packing covering and sealing the opening portion other than a groove portion,
the groove portion being formed on the packing and leading the wiring via the opening portion,
wherein:
the packing is formed of silicon rubber or plastic plate;
the groove portion of the packing continuously contacts with a surface of the wiring; and
the packing wipes the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portion by sliding operation of the second frame.
8. The dustproof structure for a slidable wireless mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the opening portion includes a first opening portion and a second opening portion formed in opposing surfaces of the first frame and the second frame;
the wiring extends through the first opening portion and the second opening portion and electrically connects the first electronic component and the second electronic component to each other;
the packing includes first and second packings covering and sealing the first and the second opening portions other than groove portions, the groove portions being formed on the first and the second packings and leading the wiring via the first and the second opening portions, respectively;
the groove portions of the first and the second packings continuously contact with a surface of the wiring, respectively;
the first and the second packings wipe the surface of the wiring coming in and going out of the groove portions by sliding operation of the second frame, respectively.