Patent · US Expired

Food dispenser and method

US5191918A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
33References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 4, 1990
Grant dateMar 9, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F11/44
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A portioning dispenser for bulk food items is disclosed which receives bulk food items in a storage bin, portions food items from the storage bin, and dispenses measured portions of food items for further processing. The dispenser can include a rotary drum for conveying food items from the storage bin and a load cell for weighing the quantity of items conveyed from the storage bin into a secondary bin. The dispenser can also include a conveyor system for sequentially accepting, filling and returning a plurality of portion containers. In another embodiment of the invention, a method is disclosed for dispensing measured portions of bulk food items which includes several of the above-discussed operations.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.