GB2202211A

GB2202211A - A product dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2202211A
Application number: GB08705879A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Mosedale
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-03-10
Filing date: 1987-03-10
Publication date: 1988-09-21
Also published as: GB8705879D0

Abstract

The dispenser comprises a feed portion e.g. (2) and a discharge portion (3), the latter including a conveyor screw (4) and having an outlet (7) for the dispensed product, containing closure means (8), the dispenser including means (9, 10) for the rotation of the screw in one direction. The means for rotating the screw may contain a ratchet and pawl mechanism, and in the embodiment of Fig. 4, the screw (44) is fixed to an outlet tube (47) which can be manually rotated. Means for opening a supply container may be incorporated in the feed portion. <IMAGE>

Description

PRODUCT DISPENSER The invention relates to a device for the dispensing of a product capable of being transported by means of a screw conveyor, particularly freely flowing foodstuff such as nuts, beans, peas, pulses, rice, flour or sugar.

Various types of dispenses for such products are known. Each of these dispensers has some limitations or disadvantages known to persons skilled in the art.

The aim of the present invention is to avoid, or at least to mitigate, some of the shortcomings of known dispensers.

This is achieved according to the inventIon by a dispenser having the features claimed in the accompanying claims.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings showing preferred embodIments of a dispenser according to the inventIon. In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a fist embodiment in section along a vertical plane passing diametrally through the discharge portion of the dispenser.

Fig. 2 shows a section through a second embodiment in side elevation, Fig. 3 shows a front elevation of the second embodiment, Fig. 4 shows a section through a third embodiment, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the third embodiment, Fig. 6 shows a supply container for a dispenser according to the invention, Fig. 7 is a front elevation of an opener for a container shown in Fig. 6, Fig. 8 is a bottom view of the opener and Fig. 9 shows diagramatlcally in section a dispense provided with the opener containing a supply container.

The dispenser shown In Fig. 1 comprises a casing 1 formed substantially by an L-shaped bent tube comprising a vertically extending feed portIon 2 for gravity feeding of the product and a horlzontaly extending discharge portion 3. The discharge pO-ti^l 3 contains a conveyor screw 4 carried by a horizontal shaft 5 passing through the discharge portIon and mounted in suitable bearings (not shown The screw 4 is dawn very diagrammatically and wit a ey small diameter for clarity.As is apparent from the drawings, the upstream end of the screw 4 Is se dImensIoned and situated in the discharge portion 3 that at least pat of the vertical projectIon of the outlet end (indicated by a dashed line) of the feed portion 2 does not contain the screw 4. The upstream end of the screw d maybe substantially conical. The downstream end of the screw 4 ends before the downstream end of the discharge portion 3 which is closed by a closure 6. At the downstream end of the discharge portion 3 is provided a vertical gravity dIscharge 7 for the product, which includes a flap 3 bIassed by a spring (not shown).The spring is preferably so weak that the flap 8 is in the closln position only when substantially no product rests cn the flap 8.

In the illustrated embodiment the downstream end of the shaft 5 passes through, and projects beyond, the closure 6 and to the projecting end are attached means for manual rotation of the shaft 5 and thereby the screw 4, in the illustrated example a wheel 9 with a handle 10. Means (not shown) e.g. ratchet and pawl, are provIded to enable rotation of the screw 4 only in one direction, namely that direction which 'ensures transport of the product towards the discharge 7.

In the illustrated embodiment the feed portion 2 is closed on top and provided with a partcylindrical closure door 11 for the insertIon of a suitably sized container (not shown) containing the product. The container is retained In the feed portion 2 by any suitable retaining means (not shown) known pe se, selected according to the container.

The contalne'ls of the type which after insertion can be opened at its bottom to release the product therefrom.

The described embodiment is only IllustratIve and may be modified e.g. in the way described below.

The casing 1 need not be made from a single bent tube but may be composed of two straight pieces of tube interconnected by an elbow. Neither the feed port ion 2 no the discharge portion 3 need be of a circular cross-section; the latter may be e.g.

trough-shaped. The feed portion need not have the closure door 11 but may be open (and closable by a lid) on top and supplied with product from the top rather than the side as shown. Alternatively the feed portion 2 or at least a part thereof may be in the form of a funnel. The feed portion 2 need not be vertical but may be inclined to the vertical and the discharge portion 3 need not be horizontal but inclined to the horizontal preferably downwards towards the discharge 7. The bend or elbow may be replaced by a straight deflector surface o entirely dispensed with if the feed portion Is inclIned fom the vertical so that the feed and discharge portions make a sufficiently obtuse angle with each other.

The screw 4 must be close to the bottom of the discharge portion 3 but may be spaced fom its top. The shaft 5 may be driven by other means, eg a simple crank. Alternatively the shaft 5 need not be rotated manually, but by a stepping motor controlled b a suitable switch arrangement to ensue the desired degree of rotation.

Indicators may be provided on the dispenser, eg on the feed portion 2, in the illustrated embodiment on the door ll, relatlng the amount of revolutions to the approximate amount of the product dispensed as a consequence of the rotation.

Means may be provided on the discharge for the attachment of a container for the product being dispensed, eg a paper or plastics bag.

The second embodiment shown in Figures 2 and 3, comprises a feed casing 12 which Is substantially vertical and has an internal flange o bottom 21 with a large opening in the middle whIch communicates with the upstream part of a discharge casing 3 with which it is sealingly Interconnected.

The discharge casing 13 contains a shaft-less conveyor screw 14 which has at its downstream end an axial extension 15 to which is connected a handle 19 situated outside the discharge casing 13 at the downstream end thereof. Means, known pe se, e.g. a ratchet and pawl, a return spring, and a stop (not shown) are provided which ensure. that the handle 1 9, which is normally in the position A Illustrated In Fig. 3, can be manually turned at the most through 1800 to the position B in the clockwise dIrectIon and when pleased, the handle 19 returns anticloekwlse to the position A while the screw 14 remains stationary.

The downst-eam end of the discharge casing 13 is provided with a vertical gravity discharge 17 Incldin a flap 18 biassed by spring means (not shown), so that the flap 18 operates substantially as the flap 8 mentioned earlIer. The upstream end of the discharge casing 13 is closed by a closure 16, while the feed casing 12 is closed at the top by a closure 11 and at the bottom by a closure door 20 whIch serves for easy access to the bottom part of the feed casing 12.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the third embodiment which comprises a feed casing 32 which is closed on top by a closure 31 and communicates at the bottom with a discharge casing 33 which is coaxial therewith but is of a small diameter whereby an internal flange IS provIded at the bottom of the casing 32. The bottom end of the discharge casing 33 is provided wlth a ratchet 34 in the forum of an external flange.

The parts described so fa are stationary in use.

To the discharge casing 33 is rotatably connected a gravity discharge 47 provided with a conveyor scerew 44 extending into the discharge casing 33 and with a flap 48. The upper part of the gravity discharge 47 is formed into a ring which caries four handles tQ spaced from each other through 900. The ring caries also a pawl 45 engaging with the ratchet 34 and collar rues 46 in the form of a split ring which are attached, e.g. by screws, to the ring and overlap the ratchet D4 whereby the gravity discharge 47 is rotatably carried by the discharge casing 33 coaxially therewith.

Fig. 6 shows a supply container 50 which contains a product 51 to be dispensed from a dispenser according to the invention, the container 50 having an open end sealed by a suitable membrane 52, e.g. a sheet of paper or plastics foil. A dIspenser according to the invention which Is to be supplied with product in a supply container 50 is provided with an opener in the form of a cross, e.g.

of metal or plastics, with four flat, substantially triangular arms 53 which increase in height towards the center of the cross. The upper edge of the arms 53 is made sharp to form a cutting edge 54.

Fig. 9 shows diagramatically a dispenser of the type shown in Figs. 4 and 5 provided wIth an opener as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 testing on the internal flange of the feed casing 32. As the supply container 50 is Inserted into the feed casIng 32 wIth the membrane 52 pointing downwards, the membrane Is split crosswise by the cutting edges 54 of the opener and the product is discharged by gravity from the container 50.

It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that each of the illustrated embodIments could be modified by the use of varlous features from some of the other embodiments or of the nonillustrated variant features mentioned In connectIon with the first embodiment.

Claims

1. A product dispenser comprising a feed portion and a discharge portion, the latter including a conveyor screw and having an outlet for the dispensed product containing closure means, the dispenser including means for the rotation of the screw in one direction.

2. A dispenser according to Claim 1 wherein the means for the rotation of the conveyor screw are manual.

3. A dispenser according to Claim 1 or 2 wherein the means for the rotation of the conveyor screw incorporate or are combined with a ratchet and pawl mechanism.

4. A dispenser according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the means for rotation of the conveyor screw are step-wise rotating means.

5. A dispenser according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the conveyor screw is contained partly in the discharge portion and partly in the outlet.

6. A dispenser according to any one of the preceeding claims wherein the feed portion includes means for the opening of a container for supplying the product.

7. A product dispenser according to Claimm 1 constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 1, or Figures 2 and 3, Figures 4 and 5, and Figures 7-9 of the accompanying drawings.