SE535341C2

SE535341C2 - Output device

Info

Publication number: SE535341C2
Application number: SE1051236A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Mikael Gunstad; Fredrik Junkell
Original assignee: Click Candy Ab
Priority date: 2010-11-25
Filing date: 2010-11-25
Publication date: 2012-07-03
Also published as: SE1051236A1; CN103313631B; WO2012071006A1; CN103313631A; JP2013544597A

Abstract

1 1Abstract The present invention relates to a dispensing device (10) for bulk products.The device (10) comprises: a container (1 1) for the bulk product; at least twoguides (33) arranged in the container (11); a support device (12) in which thecontainer (11) is rotatably arranged; a closing device (39) arranged in thelower first end (13) of the container; a retainer plate (39); and means (17) forrotating the container (11). The dispensing device according to the presentinvention prevents that he bulk produk is damaged in the device and duringthe dispensing of the product. Furthermore the claimed device increases theaccuracy of the dispensed amount of bulk product from the dispensingdevice.

Description

AWAPATENT AB Kontor/HandläggareStockholm/Fredrik Liljegren/FLN CleanCandy Sweden AB Ansökningsnr Vår referens SE-21049334 DISPENSING DEVICE Technical field of the inventionThe present invention relates to a dispensing device for bulk products.

Backqround of the invention Several different types of food products like for example sweets/candies,beans, lentils or nuts nuts as well as other products like skrews or similarsmall components are sometimes sold in bulk in order to make it possible fora customer to buy the desired amount of the product. ln order to facilitate the distribution of the bulk products a dispensing devicecould be used. The products are kept in a container from which they aredispensed by some type of feeding device activated by the customer into abag or a container of appropriate size.

Different devices for dispensing these types of products are known in the priorart: WO 97/08977 discloses a dispenser for sweets that comprises a containerfrom which sweets can be fed out by means of a feed screw that can becaused to rotate.

GB 2218410 A discloses a dispensing device for a foodstuff that comprises acontainer with a V-shaped bottom. ln the lower part of the container, there isan auger that can be rotated by means of a motor.

US patent No. 4311257 discloses a device for dispensing food stuffs from acontainer. The device comprises a cylindrical container and a rake with ahandle.

However, the existing dispensing devices suffer from several drawbacks.First, it may happen that a granular product (for example a candy) isdamaged during dispensing such that the consumer gets a damaged product,and secondly they all suffers from that the dispensing of the product in thecontainer is not very precise since the different arangements for feeding thegranular products will deliver the products in a fluctuating quantity.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a device whichreduces the risk that the granular products are damaged during dispensingand which is more precise in the delivery of products.

Disclosure of the inventionThe object defined above is acheved by a dispensing device for bulk productsaccording to the present invention, defined in the independent claim.

The claimed device for bulk products comprises: 2 a container for the bulk product, said container having a substantiallycylindrical shape with a substantially circular cross section, said containerhaving a first lower end and a second upper end, and a container wallextending between the first and second end; at least two guides for the bulk product, said guides are fixed in relationto the container and arranged along the inside surface of the container wall; a support device in which the container is rotatably arranged so as tobe rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the container and the longitudinal axisbeing inclined relative to a horizontal plane; a closing device arranged in the lower end of the container and beingstationary arranged in the support device, said closing device comprises atubular section substantially concentrical to the container, said tubular sectionhaving a maximum radius smaller than the container and is arranged insidethe container, said closing device furthermore comprises a dispensingopening arranged in the tubular section above a horizontal plane through thecentre of the tubular section; a retainer plate, having a radius equal to, or larger than, the tubularsection and smaller than the radius of the container, arranged perpendicularto the longitudinal axis of the container in the lower end of the container insidethe closing device to limit the amount of bulk products dispensed from thecontainer via the dispensing opening; and means for rotating the container.

First, the risk for damaged products is eliminated since the feeding of the bulkproducts towards the dispensing opening is otained by the rotating inclinedarrangement of the rotatable container instead of using a movable feedingmechanism arranged inside the container where there is a risk that deproducts are damaged by the relative movement between the container andthe feeding mechanism.

Secondly, the position of the dispensing opening in combination with theguides arranged in the container, the retainer plate and the rotating containerprovides a very accurat and precise delivery of bulk products from thecontainer. The precise delivery is achieved since a limited amount of productsare allowed to pass through the gap between the peripery of the retainer plateand the inside surface of the container to the area defined between the outersurface of the tubular section and the inside surface of the container wallbefore the bulk products are lifted by the guides up to the dispensing openingwhere the gravity is forcing the products to fall through the dispensingopening out of the container. This means that only the products lifted to thelevel of the opening are able to exit the container via the dispensing openingwhich ensures a very precise delivery of products and a quick stop of thedispensing of products when the rotation of the container is stopped. ln one embodiment of the dispensing device, said container comprises threeor more guides arranged at substanitally equal distances from each otheraround the inside periphery of the container. The numer of guides arranged inthe container is different in different applications of the device. A highernumber of guides divides the interior of the container into further smaller 3 sections and reduces the amount of bulk products contained and deliveredfrom each section. This means that a smaller amount of bulk product isdelivered from each section which makes it easier to dispense small amountsof bulk products whith a high preciseness. ln one embodiment of the dispensing device, the guides extend in a directionsubstantially parallell to the longitudinal axis of the container. Guidesarranged like this in combination with the inclined container provides areliable dispensing device without the use of a separate feeding device in thecontainer. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the circumferential length of thedispensing opening is at least the same as the distance between two adjacentguides. This embidiment of the device ensures that the bulk productscontained between two adjacent guides could be dispensed properly throughthe dispensing opening. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the device comprises means forrotating the container stepwise and the length of a step is substantially equalto the distance between two adjacent guides. This is a favourableembodiment of the device since the stepwise movement of the containerresult in that the products contained between to adjacent guides are deliveredeach time the dispensing device is actuated. This embodiment in combinationwith a predetermined number of guides in the container thereby makes itpossible to deliver a predetermined amount of products each time thecontainer is rotated one or more steps. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, wherein the dispensing openinghas a first and a second circumferential end, the first end being the leadingedge of the opening when the container is rotated in the intended direction,and both said first and second end of the openingare arranged above thehorizontal plane through the centre of the tubular section. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the first end of the opening isarranged somewhere between the leading transverse direction and theupright position of the tubular section. This shape of the opening ensures areliable dispensing of products. ln one embodiment of the invention, the width of the dispensing opening isadapted to the size of the bulk products. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the widht of the dispensingopening are within the range of 1.1 to 2.0 of the average diameter of the bulkproducts. The width of the dispensing opening is selected depending on thedesired amount of delivered products. However, the claimed range ensuresreliable delivery of producs without stucked products in the opening. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the cross sectional shape of theguides are substantially triangular and one of the sides is arranged towards 4 the inner periphery or the container. This cross sectional shape of the guide,or guides, facilitates the dispensing of products from the container the angledsides of the guide in combination with gravity will assist in dispensing theproducts through the opening. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the height of the guide, or guides,in radial direction of the container is less than about ha|fthe radius of thecontainer. This guide height provides a reliable dispensing of bulk productsfrom the container in combination with the desired accuracy in the delivery. ln one emboident of the dispensing device, the container consist of a tubeand an insert removably fitted within the tube. This embodiment is favourablesince the bulk product could be filled within the insert and transported andstored in the insert. When it is time to refill the dispensing device the entireinsert is fitted in the tube.

Brief description of the drawinqsDifferent emboidments of the invention are illustrated in the appended figures, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a perspective view of a container arranged in a supportdevice.

Figure 2 illustrates a schematic side view of the dispensing device accordingto the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded perspective side view of some of the differentparts of the dispensing device.

Detalied descriptionln figure 1, the selected parts of the device 10 for dispensing bulk products are illustrated. The device comprises a container 11 in which the bulk productis filled and a support device 12 in which the container is rotatable arranged.

The support device provides a stable cradle in which the container 11 ispositoined so that a longitudinal axis A of the cylindrical container 11 is incliedin relation to a horizontal plane.

The inclined container 11 has a circular cross section and a lower end 13 andan upper end 14. Around each end of the container 11 a cirucular ring 15 isarranged. The circular rings 15 are aligning small bearings 16 arranged onthe support device 12 to facilitate rotation of the container 11. ln the lower end13 of the container, the support device 12 comprises bearings 16 forsupporting the container in both radial and axial direction of the container inorder to maintain the container in the intended axial position even though it isinclined.

Figure 2 illustrates an embodiment of a dispensing device 10 according tothe present invention schematically. The container 11 is arranged in thesupporting device 12 and when dispensing of the bulk product is desired, the 5 container is rotated by a motor 17 arranged in the upper end 14 of thecontainer 11. The dispensing of bulk products is activated, for example, at thetime an operator presses a button or lever, not illustrated, and a signal istransmitted to a control device 20 from where it is forvvarded to the motor 17via a wire 19. Alternatively the button is directly connected with the motor.The motor 17 rotates the container 11, either continously or stepwise, in orderto feed bulk product towards a dispensing opening arranged in the lower end13 of the container 11 where the bulk product is collected in an appropriatereceptacle 18 or bag positioned below the dispensing opening in the lowerend 13 of the container.

The support device 12, in this embodiment, furthermore comprises a stand 21for the receptacle 18. The dispensing device could also be provided withfurther additional features like for example a detecting device 22 that is usedfor verifying if a receptactle 18 is positioned to collect the dispensed bulkproduct before any dispensing of bulk products take place. The detectingdevice 22 is connected by a wire 23 to the control device 20 so that if noreceptacle is corectly positioned, no activation of the motor 17 takes place.

More than one container could be arranged in the same supporting device iffurther types of bulk products are delivered from the same dispensing device.ln figure 1, a second bearing 24 for a second container intended to bepositioned side by side of the container 11 is illustrated. ln figure 3 an exploded view of the container 11 according to one embodimentof the invention is illustrated in detail. ln this embodiment, the container 11consist of a tube 31 and an insert 32 intended to be fitted inside the tube 31.This configuration makes it possible to replace the insert 32 of the container11 by a replacement insert if the dispensing device should be used foranother type of bulk product. Furthermore the bulk product could be filled,transported and stored within the insert 32 until it is time for use and the insert32 is positioned in the tube.

Along the inside of the tubular shaped insert 32 a number of elongated guides33 are extending from the inside surface 34 of the insert 32 towards thecentre of the insert 32. The guides 33 are substanitally parallell to thelongitudinal axis A of the container 11 and the insert 32 and extend alongalmost the entire length of the container 11. No guides are however arrangedin the upper end 14 of the container to facilitate refilling of the insert 32 orcontainer with bulk products. The number of guides 33 around the insideperipery of the container could vary depending on the intended use of thecontainer. ln this embodiment, the guides 33 have substantially triangularcross section but other cross sectional shapes could also be used.

Around each end of the tube 31, the circular rings 15 are arranged around theouter periphery of the tube 31. Each ring 15 is provided with a number ofteeth 35 arranged around the outher periphery of the ring. These teeth 35, incombination with corresponding teeth on a gear wheel 25 arranged on a driveshaft 26 of the motor 17, illustrated schematically in figure 2, are used for 6 rotating the container 11. The rotation of the container could also be achievedby other arrangements_ Each ring furthermore comprises a smooth peripheralsection 36 adjacent the teeth 35. These smooth sections 36 aligns thebearings 16 on the support device 12. The ring 15 in the lower endfurthermore has a substantially flat side 37 transverse to the Iongitudinal axisA of the container and facing away from the container 11. This ﬂat section 37anligns the axial bearings 27 on the support device 12. ln the axial ends of the tube 31 a number of cut outs 28 are made in the tubeedge. These cut outs 28, in combination with a protrusion 29 on the isidesurface of the rings 15 provides securing means for maintaining the rings 15in the desired position around the container 11.

The upper end 14 of the container 11 is closed by a lid 38 in order to avoidthat dust or dirt enters the container 11 and contaminates the products in thecontainer. The lid 38, and the both rings 15 provided with teeth 35 rotatetogether with the container 11. ln the lower end 13 of the container a closing device 39 in combination with aretainer plate 40 closes the container 11 in order to maintain the bulk productin the container 11. The closing device 39 is stationary arranged in thesupport device 12 while the retainer plate 40, that is fitted in the container 11,rotates together with the container 11 _ The closing device 39 comprises a ring shaped element 41 aligning the flatside 37 of the ring 15 arranged in the lower end 13 of the container 11. Fromthe inner edge 42 of the ring shaped element 41, a tubular section 43concentric with the container 11, extend into the container 11. The illustratedtubular section has a circular cross section, but the cross section could alsohave a slightly different cross sectional shape, for example slightly oval ordrop-shaped, in order to facilitate dispensing of particular products further.The tubular section 43 extend to, or clost to, the retainer plate 40 that ispositioned in the container 11. The tubular section 43 has a radius smallerthan the container 11 and is arranged in the container so that a space isdefined between the outer periphery of the tubular section 43 and the insidesurface 34 of the insert 32, or contianer 11 _ The outer radius of the tubularsection 43 should also be adapted to the radial height of the guids 33 so thatthe guides 33 preferably extend as close to the outher periphery of the tubularsection 43 as possible without contacting the tubular section 43. The openinner end 44 of the tubular section 43 is closed by the retainer plate 40. Theretainer plate 40 consist of a flat plate 45 and a locking plate 45 intended tobe fitted in the guides 33 to maintain the retainer plate 40 in the intendedposition.

The closing device 39 furthermore comprises a dispensing opening 45 for thebulk product. The dispenings opening 45 is arranged in the tubular section 43above a horizontal plane through the centre of the tubular section 43. Thecircumferential length, as well as the width of the dispening opening 45 isselected depending on the intended use of the dispensing device 10 and the 7 specific size of the different bulk products. The circumferential length of thedispensing opening 45 should however be at least equal to the distancebetween the outer edges of two adjacent guides 33 in the container 11 andthe width of the dispensing opening within the range of 1.1 to 4.0, andpreferably within the range of 1.1 to 2.0 the average diameter of the bulkproducts in order to make it possible to achieve the desired accuracy of thedispensed amount of products.

The retainer plate 40 has a substantially circular shape and is fittedtransverse to the longitudinal axis A of the container 11. The retainer plate 40has a radius equal to, or larger than, the tubular section 43 and smaller thanthe radius of the container 11 so that a slot is generated between the outerperiperhy 46 of the retainer plate 40 and the inner surface of the insert 34, orcontainer wall. The size of the slot is selected to match the size of thedifferent pieces of the bulk product, and the retainer plate 40 is changed to adifferent size when the type of bulk product in the dispensing device 10 ischanged. The retainer plate 40 is provided with cut out portions 47 around theperiphery to make room for the guides 33 in the container in the retainer plate39. The main aspect of the retainer plate 40 is to limit the amout of bulkproduct that is allowed to pass through the slot and enter the space definedaround the tubular section 43 from which the bulk product exits the container11 via the dispensing opening 45. ln this embodiment, the retainer plate 40also closes the tubular section 43 in the lower end 13 of the container 11 butthis effect could also be achieved by redesigning the closing device 39.

During use, the bulk produkt is filled in the container 11 via the opening in theupper end 14 of the container 11. When the dispening device 10 is activatedthe container 11 is rotated, either continously or stepwise, in order to feed thebulk product towards the lower end 13 of the container 11. The inclinedcontainer 11 and the guides 33 in the container 11 facilitates the mixing andmovement of the bulk product. When the container 11 is rotated, a limitedamount of bulk product is passing through the slot around the retainer plate40 to the space defined around the tubular section 43 of the closing device39. The guides 33, that extend al the way to the lower end 13 of the container11, lifts the bulk products within the space around the tubular section 43 tothe level of the dispensing opening 45 where the bulk product, assisted by thegravity, falls out from the container 11 via the dispensing opening 45 to areceptacle or bag positioned below the dispensing opening 45 where it iscollected. The dispensing device 10 may be provided with some kind ofguiding device for directing the dispensed bulk product to the receptacle 18 orbag but no such device is illustrated in the figures. lf desired, a number ofdispensing devices 10 according to the inventioncould be arranged on one common support device 12 in order to make itpossible to dispense different types of bulk products simultaneously.Preferably the dispensing device, or devices, are surrounded by a housing.The housing prevents unintentional contact with the bulk products anddifferent components of the device. lf the dispensing device is surrounded by 8 a housing, the closing device 39 could be structurally connected to thehousing instead of the support device.

The different embodiments of the invention described in this application couldof course be combined in different ways in order to optimize the device todifferent types of bulk products and the specific intended use of the device.The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims and theinvention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. Claims 1 _ Dispensing device (10) for bulk products, said device (10) comprising: a container (11) for the bulk product, said container (11) having asubstantially cylindrical shape with a substantially circular crosssection, said container having a first lower end (13) and an uppersecond end (14), and a container wall extending between the first (13)and second end (14), at least two guides (33) for the bulk product, said guides (33) are fixedin relation to the container (11) and arranged along the inside surfaceof the container; a support device (12) in which the container (11) is rotatably arrangedso as to be rotatable about a longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11)and the longitudinal axis (A) being inclined relative to a horizontalplane; a closing device (39) arranged in the lower first end (13) of thecontainer and being stationary arranged in the support device (12),said closing device (39) comprises a tubular section (43) substantiallyconcentrical to the container (11), said tubular section (43) having amaximum radius smaller than the container (11) and is arranged insidethe container (11), said closing device (39) furthermore comprises adispensing opening (45) arranged in the tubular section (43) above ahorizontal plane through the centre of the tubular section (43); a retainer plate (39), having a radius equal to, or larger than, thetubular section (43) and smaller than the radius of the container (11),arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (A) of the container (11)in the lower end (13) of the container (11) inside the closing device (39)to limit the amount of bulk products dispensed from the container (11)via the dispensing opening (45); and means (17) for rotating the container (11). _ Dispensing device (10) according to claim 1, wherein said container (11) comprises three or more guides (33) arranged at substanitallyequal distances from each other around the inside periphery of thecontainer (11). Dispensing device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said guides(33) extend in a direction substantially parallell to the longitudinal axis(A) of the container (11). _ Dispensing device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the circumferential length of the dispensing opening (45) is at least thesame as the distance between two adjacent guides (33). Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the preivous claims,wherein the device (10) comprises means for rotating the containerstepwise and the length of a step is substantially equal to the distancebetween two adjacent guides (33). _ Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the dispensing opening (45) has a first and a secondcircumferential end, and the first end is the leading edge of thedispensing opening (45) when the container (11) is rotated in theintended direction. _ Dispensing device (10) according to claim 6, wherein the first end of the dispensing opening (45) is arranged somewhere between a leadingtransverse position and the upright position of the tubular section. _ Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the widht of the dispensing opening (45) is adapted to the sizeof the bulk products. Dispensing device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the widht of thedispensing opening (10) is within the range of 1.1 to 2.0 the averagediameter of the bulk products. 10_Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the previous claims, 11 wherein the cross sectional shape of the guides (33) are substantiallytriangular and one of the sides is arranged towards the inner peripheryof the container (11). .Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the height of the guides (33), in radial direction of thecontainer (11), is substantially equal to, or less than, the shortestdistance from the inside surface (34) of the container to the outersurface of the tubular section (43). 12_Dispensing device (10) according to anyone of the previous claims, wherein the container (11) consist ofa tube (31) and an insert (32)removably fitted within the tube (31 )_