GB2323587A

GB2323587A - Dispenser for powdered foodstuffs

Info

Publication number: GB2323587A
Application number: GB9706459A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Dennett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-27
Filing date: 1997-03-27
Publication date: 1998-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 2017-03-27
Also published as: GB2323587B; GB9706459D0

Abstract

A gravity-feed hopper for dispensing powdered foodstuffs into a bottle (6) comprises an upper storage compartment (2) and metered dispensing means (10,12), connecting the upper compartment with a nozzle (8), for dispensing a measured volume of powdered foodstuffs therethrough. Thus, a precisely measured quantity of powdered foodstuff may be hygienically dispensed into a bottle, without the risk of spillage. The upper storage compartment 2 comprises an inverted replaceable container.

Description

Dispenser The present invention relates to a device foi dispensing foodstuffs.

When preparing a baby's milk drink by rehydrating < powdered milk product, it is necessary to measure a precise amount of the product from a container into a bottle. This measurement is typically carried out using a scoop of a knowr volume. However, such a process is inaccurate, inconvenient, and may result in spillage of the powdered product. Also, the powdered product is exposed to contaminants each time the container is opened.

I have now devised a device which overcomes the abovementioned problems associated with dispensing powdered foodstuffs.

In accordance with the present invention there iE provided a gravity feed hopper for dispensing powdered foodstuffs into a bottle, the hopper comprising an upper compartment and means, connecting the upper compartment with a nozzle, for dispensing a measured volume of powdered foodstuffs therethrough.

Thus, a precisely measured quantity of powdered foodstuff may be hygienically dispensed into a bottle, without the risk of spillage.

Preferably the hopper comprises means for supportinc the nozzle within the neck of the bottle. Preferably the supporting means comprises a canopy or housing within which, in use, the bottle is arranged.

Preferably the dispensing means comprises a chambered, rotary dispensing element whose axis of rotation preferable lies in a substantially horizontal plane. In a preferrec embodiment, as the dispensing element is rotated, a quantity of powdered foodstuff flows from the upper compartment, via c chute to fill the upper-most chamber of the element, whilst at the same time, a quantity of foodstuff is released downwards from its pre-filled, lower-most chamber.

Preferably the dispensing means comprises indexinc means so that it is evident to the operator of the hopper wher the dispensing element has been rotated sufficiently for the entire contents of a chamber to be discharged. Thus, as the dispensing element is rotated, the foodstuff is dispensed in units of equal volume.

In a first preferred embodiment, the upper compartment of the hopper is arranged to receive an un-lidded container of powdered foodstuff, for example an off-the-shelf tin of powdered baby-milk. In this case, preferably the upper compartment is detachable from the hopper to receive the container.

In a second preferred embodiment, the hopper comprises means for attaching directly to an un-lidded container of powdered foodstuff such that the container itself forms the upper compartment of the hopper.

It will be appreciated that, in order to prevent spillage, the hopper should be inverted prior to being connected to the upper compartment or un-lidded container in the former and latter preferred embodiments respectively.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURES 1 and 2 are, respectively, a perspective view and side elevation of a hopper in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the hopper of Figure 1 in its disassembled state; and FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the hopper.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a hopper is shown comprising an upper compartment 2 for storing a supply of powdered foodstuff. The upper compartment 2 is detachably connected to the lower portion of the hopper by the threaded joint 4 such that its contents may be dispensed into the bottle 6, via the nozzle 8, by turning the handle 10 to correspondingly turn a rotary dispensing element.

The lower portion of the hopper comprises a dispensing section 12, and a canopy or housing 14 in which the bottle 6 is placed so that the nozzle 8 extends partially into the neck of the bottle to prevent spillage.

Whilst the contents of a container of powdered foodstuff may be emptied directly into the upper compartment to supply the dispenser, a more desirable arrangement is to insert the entire un-lidded container into the upper compartment as shown in Figure 3, in which the upper compartment 2 has been removed from the hopper and inverted to receive the un-lidded container 16. Having inserted the container 16 into the upper compartment 2, the remainder of the hopper 12,14 is inverted so that the open end 18 of the upper compartment may be re-attached without spillage of its contents. The re-assembled hopper is then turned upright, in which position it is ready to receive the bottle 6 to be filled.

The cross-sectional view of Figure 4 shows an un-lidded container 16 in place within the upper compartment 2 of the hopper, its contents 20 being fed by gravity down the chute 22 to which the upper compartment is connected by the threaded joint 4. A rotary dispensing element 24 is mounted in the chute 22 and has a number of successive chambers. As the element 24 is rotated about its axis by turning the handle 10, each of its chambers is in turn filled from the chute 22. By continuing to rotate the element 24, each chamber subsequently dispenses its contents through the nozzle 8 and into the bottle 6. The advantages of this mechanism are that precise unit measures of foodstuff may be dispensed whilst the interior of the upper compartment of the hopper remains substantially sealed from contaminants.

Preferably the dispensing element comprises indexing means (not shown) so that it is evident to the operator of the hopper when the element has been rotated sufficiently for the entire contents of a chamber to be discharged.

The device thus described allows a precisely measured quantity of powdered foodstuff to be hygienically dispensed into a bottle, without the risk of spillage.

Claims

1) A gravity-feed hopper for dispensing powdered foodstuffs into a bottle, said hopper comprising an upper compartment and means, connecting said upper compartment with a nozzle, for dispensing a measured volume of powdered foodstuffs therethrough.

2) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in Claim 1, comprising means for supporting said nozzle within the neck of a bottle.

3) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in Claim 2, wherein said supporting means comprises a canopy or housing within which, in use, a bottle is arranged.

4) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said dispensing means comprises a chambered, rotary dispensing element whose axis of rotation preferably lies in a substantially horizontal plane.

5) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in Claim 4, arranged such that as said dispensing element is rotated, a quantity of powdered foodstuff flows from said upper compartment, via a chute to fill the upper-most chamber of said element, whilst at the same time, a quantity of foodstuff is released downwards from the lower-most chamber of said element.

6) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said dispensing means comprises indexing means so that it is evident to the operator of the hopper when said dispensing element has been rotated sufficiently for the entire contents of a chamber to be discharged.

7) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein said upper compartment is arranged to receive an un-lidded container of powdered foodstuff.

8) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said upper compartment is detachable from said hopper to receive a container.

9) A gravity-feed hopper as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, comprising means for attaching directly to an un-lidded container of powdered foodstuff such that said container forms said upper compartment.

10) A gravity-feed hopper substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.