Bulk product dispenser
US11756368B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 25, 2022 |
| Grant date | Sep 12, 2023 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 25, 2042 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F17/0064
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An improved dispenser unit for dispensing bulk food items, including a cabinet having at least one hopper having a drum with product compartments, a deflector and flexible gate valve, a dispense assembly, and a control system. The dispense assembly may or may not include one or more belts and/or sensors. The product compartments include flexible and/or elastic membranes, which dynamically change the effective product storage volume within a compartment, and eliminate rigid or semi-rigid pinch points between the drum and drum compartment. A product flow divider may be positioned above the receiving container in the dispense assembly, said divider configured to cause the dispensed product to divide into two or more flow streams into the receiving container. The receiving container may be vibrated or oscillated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.