GB1261023A - Improvements in or relating to food dispensing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,261,023. Dispensing articles. ALLIED IRON FOUNDERS Ltd. April 17, 1969 [March 5, 1968], No. 10579/68. Heading A4T. A food dispensing apparatus comprises a chamber 2 preferably of transparent plastics material in which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis a circular carousel 7 having circumferentially disposed compartments 12 which are defined by radially extending walls 11 and an ejector mechanism 13 comprising an arm 14 secured to a telescopic jib (15) which is extended by the energization of a solenoid causing the arm to move radially over the carousel towards an outlet 4 in the chamber, the jib being contracted by a spring when the solenoid is de-energized. Rotation of the carousel is controlled by a motor (10) which is operated by a switch 16 through a variable theostat. Preferably the ejector mechanism is only operative when a compartment 12 is located at the outlet 4. The chamber 2 may be heated or cooled. The above dispensing apparatus may be incorporated in a kitchen unit, Figs. 4 to 6 (not shown), which includes a liquid dispenser (29) a cup dispenser (30) a cutlery dispenser (31) and a plate dispenser (32). The plate dispenser, Figs. 7 and 8 (not shown), comprises a cylindrical compartment (35) one end of which is closed by a cap (36) and the other end of which is provided with an inwardly directed annular flange (37) of resilient material. A stack of plates are installed in the compartment until the end-plate abuts the flange, the plates being urged towards the flange (37) by a telescopic spring (39) on the end cap (36). The cup dispenser, Figs.9 and 10 (not shown), has a construction similar to that of the plate dispenser. The cutlery dispenser (31) comprises a plurality of discrete compartments (31a), (31b) and (31c) in each of which is loaded a paper roll in which is sandwiched an array of cutlery.