GB2559285A

GB2559285A - An Egg Dispenser

Info

Publication number: GB2559285A
Application number: GB1805679.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ashdown Matthew
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-04-05
Filing date: 2018-04-05
Publication date: 2018-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2038-04-05
Also published as: GB201805679D0; GB2559285B

Abstract

A dispenser 101 comprises a housing 103, an egg storage compartment 105, an egg cracking component 109 and a mixing container 121 having an outlet 127 and a valve 129. The dispenser further comprises water 131, milk 133, butter 135 and flour 137 storage compartments and a controller 139. The controller is coupled to an input switch and the various storage compartments such that, upon a particular input entered into the input switch, a corresponding particular amount of eggs, water, milk, butter and/or flour are released from the respective storage compartments and dispensed to the user. The egg storage compartment may have a door 107 which is controlled by the controller to open and release an egg. The egg cracking component may comprise a conduit 111 with a meshed portion 115 and a blade 113. A waste shell storage container 117 may be connected to the conduit. Butter and flour in the respective storage containers may be moved via screw conveyors. The mixing container may comprise blades 123 which are drivable to mix the contents of the container. The dispenser may be retrofitted to a fridge.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Matthew Ashdown

Franklyn Road, HAYWARDS HEATH, West Sussex, RH16 4DN, United Kingdom (72) Inventor(s):

Matthew Ashdown (56) Documents Cited:

WO 2015/198055 A1 CN 106665721 A KR 101602857 B1 (58) Field of Search:

INTCLA21B, A21C, A21D, A47J, F25D Other: WPI, EPODOC, Patent Fulltext, Internet (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Matthew Ashdown

Franklyn Road, HAYWARDS HEATH, West Sussex, RH16 4DN, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: An Egg Dispenser

Abstract Title: Dispenser comprising egg storage and cracking components (57) A dispenser 101 comprises a housing 103, an egg storage compartment 105, an egg cracking component 109 and a mixing container 121 having an outlet 127 and a valve 129. The dispenser further comprises water 131, milk 133, butter 135 and flour 137 storage compartments and a controller 139. The controller is coupled to an input switch and the various storage compartments such that, upon a particular input entered into the input switch, a corresponding particular amount of eggs, water, milk, butter and/or flour are released from the respective storage compartments and dispensed to the user. The egg storage compartment may have a door 107 which is controlled by the controller to open and release an egg. The egg cracking component may comprise a conduit 111 with a meshed portion 115 and a blade 113. A waste shell storage container 117 may be connected to the conduit. Butter and flour in the respective storage containers may be moved via screw conveyors. The mixing container may comprise blades 123 which are drivable to mix the contents of the container. The dispenser may be retrofitted to a fridge.

I

An Egg Dispenser

This invention relation to an egg dispenser, more particularly, but not exclusively, to an egg dispenser resides inside a fridge.

It is desirable to store eggs in a cool environment, such as a fridge, in order to preserve them for longer. Normally eggs are stored in an egg holder which is situated in the door of a fridge or on a shelf of a fridge.

When a user wishes to cook with such eggs, they are required to open the door of the fridge and carefully remove the desired egg or eggs, carry them over to a work station and proceed to cook with the egg or eggs. Typically, the user would be met with the messy and time consuming task of cracking open an egg and disposing of the shell before cooking or preparing either the yolk or egg white or both.

In the event that the user is to prepare the eggs, in order to cook an egg-based item such as scrambled eggs, an omelette or pancakes, the user has to combine specific measures of the necessary ingredients in a bowl and mix them together before the mixture is ready to be cooked. This is time consuming for the user and mess is often created on the workstation. The present invention at least in its preferred embodiment attempts to reduce this problem.

The present invention provides an egg dispenser comprising: a housing; an egg storage compartment; an egg cracking component; a mixing container provided with an outlet and a valve for permitting or preventing flow of a liquid from the mixing container into the outlet; a water storage compartment; a milk storage compartment; a butter storage compartment; a flour storage compartment; and a controller, which is coupled to an input switch, the egg storage compartment, the water storage compartment, the milk storage compartment, the butter storage compartment and the flour storage compartment, the arrangement being such that upon a particular input entered into the input switch, a corresponding particular amount of eggs, water, milk, butter or flour or any combination thereof, are released from the respective storage compartments and dispensed to the user.

Preferably the egg storage compartment is provided with a door which is controllable by the controller, so as to release an egg when the door is open and to prevent the release of an egg when the door is closed.

Advantageously the water storage compartment and the milk storage compartment are each provided with a valve which are controllable by the controller, so as to release water and milk respectively when the valves are open and the prevent the release of water and milk respectively when the valves are closed.

Preferably the egg cracking component comprises a conduit and a blade.

Advantageously the conduit is provided with a meshed portion.

Preferably butter in the butter storage container can be moved via a screw conveyor. Advantageously flour in the flour storage container is moved via a screw conveyor.

Preferably the mixing container is provided with blades, which blades are driveable to mix the contents of the mixing container.

Advantageously a waste shell storage container is connected to the conduit, and the waste shell storage container is configured to receive waste egg shells.

Preferably the egg dispenser can be retrofitted to a fridge.

Fora better understanding of the present invention and to show howthe same may be carried into effect, reference wiii now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view in partial cross section of an egg dispenser in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, there is shown an egg dispenser 101 having a housing 103. Within the housing 103 there is provided an egg storage container 105 for holding whole (unbroken) raw eggs. The egg storage container is provided with a door 107 which can be opened to release one or more eggs or the door 107 can be closed to prevent any eggs from being released.

There is also provided an egg cracking means 109 inside the housing 103. The egg cracking means 109 comprises a conduit 111 and a blade 113 which extends across the conduit 111. The blade is angled to slope downwardly across the conduit 111. The conduit 111 is also provided with a meshed portion 115. The lower end of the conduit 111 is fixed to a waste shell storage container 117.

Afunnel 119 is provided directly belowthe meshed portion 115 of the conduit 111. The funnel 119 is connected to a mixing container 121, which in turn is provided with mixer blades 123 which are fixed to a driven disc 125. The disc 125 is driven by a motor (not shown). The mixing container 121 is provided with an outlet 127, which can be sealing off from the mixing container 121 via a valve 129.

A water storage container 131 is connected via a pipe to a portion of the conduit 111 which is above the blade 113. A milk storage container 133 is connected via a pipe to the funnel 119.

+K />/“\ k·» + I oujiagc Lumai λλκ d 3C ir co n nri/'+rirJ ι/ιό ό oioo fi

ICI J.Id luiiiicllcu via a pipe L'-' Mie IL ini 11Q Λ ·ΡΙ/·\ι ir o + lei j.j.-/. /-\ iiuui OLUiagc container 137 is connected via a pipe to the funnel 119. Both the water storage container 131 and milk storage container 133, are provided with valves (not shown) which when closed prevent any liquid from passing into their respective pipes and when opened, allows water to flow through the respective pipe into the conduit 111 and allows milk to flow through the respective pipe and into the funnel 119.

Butter can be moved from the butter storage container 135 through the attached pipe, via a screw conveyor (no shown) that resides in the pipe. When the screw conveyor is driven by a motor (not shown) and the screw conveyor rotates, a sharp conveyor blade end can slice into butter stored in the butter storage container 135 and carries it through the pipe into the funnel 119, where the butter falls off the screw conveyor and into the mixing container 121. Flour can be moved in the same way, from the flour storage container 137 through the pipe to the funnel 119, via a rotatable screw conveyor (not shown) that resides inside the pipe. In this way, flour can be carried from the flour storage container 137 and deposited into the mixing container.

A controller 139 is coupled to (so as to be in electronic communication with) an input switch (not shown). The controller 139 is also coupled to the egg storage container 105, the mixing container 121, the water storage container 131, the milk storage container 133, the butter storage container 135 and the flour storage container 137. The controller can be coupled to these components via wires. The controller 139 can control the door 107 on the egg storage container 105 to open and close. The controller 139 can control the valves on the water storage container 131 and the milk storage container 133 to open and close. The controller 139 can control the screw conveyors in the respective pipes ofthe butter storage container 135 and the flour storage container 137. The controller 139 can control the disc 125 in the mixing container 121 in order to drive the mixing blades 123. The controller 139 can control the valve 129 on the mixing container 121 to open and close and allow or prevent ingredients or a mixture of ingredients from flowing from the mixing container 121 into the outlet 127.

The egg dispenser 101 can be fitted inside a fridge. In particular, the egg dispenser can be fitted to the inside of the door of a fridge.

In use, the user activates an input switch connected to the controller 139 to select which ingredient or combination of ingredients they desire to be outputted. For example, the user may select to simply have a cracked egg (the egg yolk in the egg white), as they plan to cook up a fried egg or poached egg. The user may select to have a combination of eggs, butter and milk which are mixed together, as they plan to cook scrambled eggs or an omelette. The user may select to have a combination of eggs, butter, milk, flour and water (if necessary) which are mixed together, as they plan to cook pancakes or Yorkshire puddings. The user can also specify the number of eggs they require, or the number of items (such as pancakes or Yorkshire puddings) that they plan to cook, or the number of people the mixture is for (such as the scrambled eggs or pancakes).

The controller 139 then sends a signal to the relevant storage containers for release of a certain amount of their contents. When an egg is to be released from the egg storage λ/λπΙ Ina r 1 DC + h λ γλπΙ r^llor γμλλπγ f Ιίλ rJ /-x/-x r 1 Ω7 -¾ -¾ κ» ana f -¾ 11 e· at i+ im4or nr^x/i+x/ Th I e· ί e*

Oviiiamci iv-/, ii ic v x-/1 i ί i x-/11 c i vfjci io li ic uwi z aiiu oil ^c55 ιαιιο vui uiiuci giavny. ι i no io due to the egg storage container 105 being positioned at a sloping angle (not shown). The egg then falls into the open end ofthe conduit 111 and onto blade 113, which breaks the shell of the egg, effectively slicing it open. The egg yolk and egg white along with the egg shell move further down the conduit 111 under gravity and the liquid egg yolk and egg white pass through the spaces in the meshed portion 115 of the conduit 111 and into funnel 119. The

..........ll, . .... ... L. ;j. —. ik. £. 1 1 π J .» : u. — „ 1 m .. ,l. : I-j.

egg yuiN emu egg wime μοϋ miuugu me luuuei n^ciiiu iiikj me miAiiig uuiudiiiei wiiir>i the egg shells move further down the conduit 111 under gravity (as they are too large to pass through the spaces in the meshed portion 115) and into the waste shell storage container 117.

If the input into the input switch was for eggs only, then the controller will open valve 129 to allow the egg yolk and egg white to pass from the mixing container 121, through the open valve 129, the outlet 127 and out of the free end of the outlet 127. The user will be waiting with a saucepan or frying pan to catch the eggs at the free end of the outlet 127.

If the input into the input switch required further ingredients, such as water, milk, butter or flour or any combination thereof (in the event the user is planning to make an omelette or pancakes), then a particular amount of such an ingredient or ingredients are released from corresponding storage containers, in amounts which are pre programmed into a processor in the controller 139.

The water is released from the water storage container 131 via a valve controlled by the controller 139 and passes through its corresponding pipe into the conduit 111. The water then flows down the conduit under gravity and out through the meshed portion 115 into the funnel 119 and into the mixing container 121.

The controller controls the valve on the milk storage container 133 in order to release milk into the connected pipe. The controller also controls the conveyor screws on the butter storage container 135 and flour storage container 137, in order to move butter and flour respectively through each of the connected respective pipes. These three pipes are connected to the funnel 119 and after the milk, butter and flour have passed through their respective pipes, the ingredients are deposited inside the funnel 119 and then fall under gravity into the mixing container 121. The controller then actives the disc 125 to drive the blades 123 in order to mix the ingredients. Once the ingredients have been mixed (to form pancake batter for example), the controller then opens valve 129 to allow the mixture to pass out of the mixing container 121 and into, through and out of the outlet 127, where the user will be waiting with a pan or bowl.

Tho ι iQor ran make a colortinn ι innn tho inni it cvAzitrh fnr \Azhat eyartlv tho\z \Azant Fnr OYamnlo . . . ........«_rw,, v, . w, V, , _ y . w, w/xv, . . ,_r the user can select an option of scrambled eggs and that it is to feed 4 people. The user could select the option of Yorkshire pudding batter to make 12 Yorkshire puddings. The user could also simply choose which specific ingredients they want and how much of it, for example three eggs plus 100 grams of butter and that these are to be mixed together, so that the user can use the mixture in a sauce they are concocting.

The advantage of having the water dispensable into the conduit 111 (above where the eggs are to break) is that it can clean the inside of the conduit and blade 113 from raw egg residue. A cleaning setting can be active by the input switch.

The controller 139 could be couple to the other components via Bluetooth or wireless technology. It may be that instead of an input switch the user uses their smart phone to select what ingredients they deSiie, end the Smartphone COmmUniCateS With the Controller.

The egg dispenser 101 and components therein are manufactured from plastics material. The blade 113 can be made from metal, such as stainless steel.

Various modifications could be made to the egg dispenser 101, for example instead of a water storage container, a continuous water source could be employed, such as a pipe connected to a mains water supply, it couia be that the biaae 1136 is manufactured from piastics material.

It may be that the storage containers are not directly inside the housing. It could be that the outlet 127 passes through the door of the fridge and the input switch is mounted on the door of the fridge, such that the fridge door does not have to be opened in order to have the eggs, other ingredients or mixtures dispensed to the user.

Egg dispenser

Housing

Egg storage container Door

Egg cracking means

Conduit

Blade

Meshed portion

Waste shell storage container Funnel

Mixing container

Mixing blades

Disc

Outlet

Valve

Water storage container Milk storage container Butter storage container Flour storage container Controller

Claims

Claims:

1. An egg dispenser comprising: a housing;

an egg storage compartment; an egg cracking component;

a mixing container provided with an outlet and a valve for permitting or preventing flow of a liquid from the mixing container into the outlet; a water storage compartment;

a milk storage compartment; a butter storage compartment; a flour storage compartment; and a controller, which is coupled to an input switch, the egg storage compartment, the water storage compartment, the milk storage compartment, the butter storage compartment and the flour storage compartment, the arrangement being such that upon a particular input entered into the input switch, a corresponding particular amount of eggs, water, milk, butter or flour or any combination thereof, are released from the respective storage compartments and dispensed to the user.
2. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the egg storage compartment is provided with a door which is controllable by the controller, so as to release an egg when the door is open and to prevent the release of an egg when the door is closed.

An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the water storage compartment and κύί r+ ma κ» rn\ / irl a /-I \*/i+h -a /-rxri+rrx I Ιο ΚΙω l i it. i i iiii\ j tvi agt υνι i i|ja ι ιι ι i^i 11 ait tati i fji w lata vvilii a ναι vt. vv ι ιιυι i ait. tvi hi viiat/it.

by the controller, so as to release water and milk respectively when the valves are open and the prevent the release of water and milk respectively when the valves are closed.

4. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the egg cracking component uui 11μι liCi o uui iuuii di iu o uiduc.

5. An egg dispenseras claimed in Claim 4, wherein the conduit is provided with a meshed portion.

6. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein butter in the butter storage container can be moved via a screw conveyor.

7. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein flour in the flour storage container is moved via a screw conveyor.

8. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mixing container is provided with blades, which blades are driveable to mix the contents of the mixing container.

9. An egg dispenser as claimed in Ciaim 1, wherein a waste sneii storage container is connected to the conduit, and the waste shell storage container is configured to receive waste egg shells.

10. An egg dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the egg dispenser can be retrofitted to a fridge.

20 06 18

Amendments to the Claims have been filed as follows:

Claims:

1. A dispenser comprising: a housing;

an egg storage compartment; an egg cracking component;

a mixing container provided with an outlet and a valve for permitting or preventing flow of a liquid from the mixing container into the outlet; a water storage compartment;

a milk storage compartment; a butter storage compartment; a flour storage compartment; and a controller, which is coupled to an input switch, the egg storage compartment, the water storage compartment, the milk storage compartment, the butter storage compartment and the flour storage compartment, the arrangement being such that upon a particular input entered into the input switch, the controller causes a corresponding particular amount of eggs, water, milk, butter or flour or any combination thereof, are released from the respective storage compartments and dispensed into the mixing container.

2. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the egg storage compartment is provided with a door which is controllable by the controller, so as to release an egg when the door is open and to prevent the release of an egg when the door is closed.
3. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the water storage compartment and the milk storage compartment are each provided with a valve which are controllable by the controller, so as to release water and milk respectively when the valves are open and the prevent the release of water and milk respectively when the valves are closed.
4. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the egg cracking component comprises a conduit and a blade.
5. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the conduit is provided with a meshed portion.
6. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein butter in the butter storage container can be moved via a screw conveyor.
7. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein flour in the flour storage container is moved via a screw conveyor.
8. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the mixing container is provided with blades, which blades are driveable to mix the contents of the mixing container.
9. An egg dispenser as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a waste shell storage container is connected to the conduit, and the waste shell storage container is configured to receive waste egg shells.
10. An egg dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the egg dispenser can be retrofitted to a fridge.

20 06 18

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1805679.6 Examiner: Miss Cassandra Fraser