Food dispenser and method
US5104002A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1990 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07F9/105
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A portioning dispenser for dispensing food items from bulk item containers is disclosed in which the dispenser can open and empty a bulk container and dispense a portion of its contents. In one embodiment, a container can be slit open and tipped on a pivotable platform to spill its contents to a feeder for further distribution while retaining a stack of unopened boxes thereabove. In some embodiments, the dispenser can discard an emptied container and replace it with an unopened container moved from a container hopper. In other embodiments, a vibrating feeder is used to shake emptied items into a transfer tray for weighing and dispensing. Additionally, a method for dispensing portions of bulk food items from bulk containers is disclosed which employs several of the steps mentioned above.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.