WO2002064006A1

WO2002064006A1 - Dispensing device for batch dispensing granular product

Info

Publication number: WO2002064006A1
Application number: PCT/DK2002/000101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keld Nielsen; Sven Erik Lund Nielsen
Original assignee: Nielsen Textil A/S
Priority date: 2001-02-13
Filing date: 2002-02-13
Publication date: 2002-08-22

Abstract

A device for batch dispensing granular material such as instant coffee and comprising a bottom portion (62) adapted for being screwed unto the neck of a container of granular material and a top portion (63) fixedly attached to the bottom portion with a disc portion (61) rotatably arranged therebetween, the bottom portion having a plate portion (64) with an aperture for allowing granular material to flow from said container into a passage (72) in said disc portion (61) when said disc portion (61) is in a first rotational position, and the top portion (63) having a plate portion (65) with an aperture for allowing granular material in said passage (72) to be dispensed to for instance a cup for preparing instant coffee when said disc portion (61) is in a second rotational position.

Description

DISPENSING DEVICE FOR BATCH DISPENSING GRANULAR PRODUCT

The present invention relates to a combination of a dispensing device for batch dispensing granular product such as ground coffee, freeze-dried instant coffee, milk powder, sugar, detergent powder and the like and a container having a dispensing opening for dispensing the granular product, the device and container comprising cooperating attachment means for allowing integral or releasable attachment of the device to said container such that the device obstructs said dispensing opening.

Many combinations of a storage container and a dispensing device are known in the art, but all such known combinations are complicated as regards use and/or constructive elements. In connection with dispensing ground coffee, detergent powder and the like in households, the normal procedure is to open a container thereof and remove a batch either with a spoon or by pouring. This is an imprecise and often messy procedure. Furthermore, the repeated opening of the storage container in connection with each dispensing operation gives rise to deterioration of those granular products that lose aroma or are oxidized by contact with the oxygen in the atmosphere.

Therefore, there is a need for a simple and inexpensive combination of a storage container and a dispensing device for granular product that may be operated by any person and protects the contents of the container against deterioration by loss of aroma or oxidation by contact with the atmosphere. The batchwise dispensing should preferably also be precise and uniform so that it is ensured that the desired total amount of product dispensed is achieved without having to resort to further measuring actions.

According to the invention, the above objectives are obtained by the device further comprising a body having a passage extending therethrough from a first aperture facing said dispensing opening to a second aperture facing generally away from said dispensing opening, said body being arranged for being displaced between a first position, wherein said passageway is in flow communication with said dispensing opening through said first aperture and said second aperture is obstructed such that said passage may be filled with granular product from said container, and a second position, wherein said passage is not in flow communication with said dispensing opening while said second aperture is unobstructed for allowing granular product to be discharged from said passage through said second aperture.

Hereby a simple, inexpensive and easily operated combination of a storage container and a dispensing device is obtained which may be utilized in households for precise and tidy dispensing of uniform batches of granular material where contact between the granular material in the container and the surrounding atmosphere is limited.

For some granular materials such as instant coffee and instant tea that are hygroscopic it is essential that a long-term contact between the atmosphere surrounding the container with the granular material be prevented to a very high degree because otherwise the granular material will cake or dissolve by absorbing moisture from the atmosphere and consequently will be ruined and will not flow to the dispensing device.

Therefore, in the currently preferred combination according to the invention, sealing means are provided such that the interior of said container is hermetically sealed from the surrounding atmosphere at least when said body is in one of said first or second positions. Hereby, at least one position of the body may be elected as being the inter-dispensing storage position where the contact between the atmosphere and the interior of the container is substantially prevented.

Some types of granular material such as freshly and finely ground coffee have a tendency to clog and form bridges, and to ensure that this does not create a problem in connection with discharge of material from the passage, the cross sectional area of the passage preferably increases from the first aperture to the second aperture such that said discharge of granular product from the passage is facilitated.

Preferably, said body is arranged for being displaced between said first and second positions in a substantially planar linear and/or rotational sliding motion. Hereby a particularly simple and inexpensive as well as reliable dispensing mechanism is obtained.

Advantageously, the device further comprises a resilient means such as a coil spring adapted and arranged so as to urge said body from said second position to said first position. Hereby it is ensured that the displacement of the body from the discharge position to the filling position thereof takes place quickly to avoid any false discharge of material and furthermore to simplify the operation of the combination.

Preferably, said container is a hand-held container, and said dispensing device is manually operated.

As mentioned above, some types of granular material have a tendency to pack and form bridges in the container and therefore, said body may advantageously by provided with one or more projections extending through said dispensing opening into said container for stirring the granular product therein for preventing clogging and/or bridging of said product adjacent said dispensing opening.

So as to avoid that said projections in themselves cause packing of the granular product, said at least one projection may be configured as a rod with sharpened edges.

It is standard commercial practice to sell products such as instant coffee in standard jars with a clip-on or screw-on lid that is to be removed every time instant coffee is to be dispensed from the jar. According to the invention said container may advantageously be constituted by a standard jar intended for use with a clip-on lid or a screw-on lid, the dispensing device substituting said clip-on lid or said screw-on lid. Hereby important advantages are achieved regarding ease and precision of dispensing and avoidance of loss of aroma because of the attachment of a dispensing device according to the invention to the jar before or after being supplied by the manufacturer to the retail outlet.

Said body may advantageously comprise a rack arranged in meshing relationship with a pinion adapted for being rotated manually for displacing said body. Hereby a particularly simple, precise and reliable operation of the dispensing device is obtained.

The invention further relates to a dispensing device for batch dispensing granular product such as ground coffee, freeze-dried instant coffee, milk powder, sugar, detergent powder and the like from a hand-held container having a dispensing opening for dispensing the granular product, the device comprising attachment means for integral or releasable attachment of the device to said container such that the device obstructs said dispensing opening, the device further comprising a body having a passage extending therethrough from a first aperture to a second aperture facing generally away from said first aperture, said body being arranged for being displaced between a first position, wherein said first aperture is unobstructed and said second aperture is obstructed such that said passage may be filled with granular product from said container, and a second position, wherein said second aperture is unobstructed for allowing granular product to be discharged from said passage through said second aperture.

In the currently preferred embodiment, sealing means are provided for hermetically sealing said first aperture at least when said body is in said second position and/or for hermetically sealing said second aperture at least when said body is in said first position. Hereby, an inter-dispensing storage condition of the dispensing device may be achieved wherein gas communication between the passage and the surrounding atmosphere and/or the interior of the container is substantially prevented to prevent absorption of moisture by the granular material in the container during said inter-dispensing storage.

Preferably, the cross sectional area of the passage increases from the first aperture to the second aperture such that said discharge of granular product from the passage is facilitated.

Advantageously, said body is arranged for being displaced between said first and second positions in a substantially planar linear and/or rotational sliding motion, and the device further may comprise a resilient means such as a coil spring adapted and arranged so as to bias said body from said second position to said first position.

Preferably, the device is manually operated and said body may comprise a rack.

Advantageously, said attachment means are adapted for attachment of the dispensing device to a standard jar intended for use with a clip-on or a screw- on lid.

In the currently preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, said body is rotatably arranged and preferably is configured as a generally annular or disc-like body arranged for rotation around the disc axis and comprising at least one said passage extending from one generally circular surface of the disc-like body to the opposite generally circular surface of the disc-like body.

In the currently preferred embodiment, said annular or disc-like body is arranged for rotation between a first and a second plate adjacent and parallel with said first and second circular surface, respectively, said first plate, intended for facing said container, having a third aperture for allowing granular material to enter said passage from said container, and said second plate having a fourth aperture for allowing said granular material to exit said passage.

Preferably, said sealing means comprise an elongate resilient member arranged surrounding said first and/or second aperture, and said sealing means may comprise an elongate resilient member arranged in the surface of said first and/or second plate facing said first and/or second circular surface, respectively, such that said resilient member surrounds said first and/or second aperture when said disc-like body is in said first and/or second position, respectively.

Said resilient member may comprise an O-ring arranged in and protruding from a groove in said first and/or second circular surface and/or in said surface of said first and/or second plate, or if said disc-like body and/or said first/or second plate is moulded from a first plastic material, said resilient member may comprise a ridge of a second, resilient plastic material integrally moulded with said disc-like body and/or with said first and/or second plate.

Advantageously, said first and second apertures of said at least one passage constitute at least part of a sector of the corresponding circular surface of said disc-like body, and said at least one passage is constituted by at least a portion of the volume of said disc located between directly opposed sectors of each of said generally circular surfaces.

Preferably a spout means for guiding the dispensed granular product is arranged for communication with said second aperture such that said passage communicates with said spout means when located in said second position.

In the currently preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, at least two passages are provided in said body and located such that said passages are moved into said second position sequentially by said sliding movement of said body. Hereby dispensing of the granular product may be carried out divided into several batches, each batch volume corresponding to a passage volume.

Advantageously, an adjustable locking means may be provided for preventing at least one of said passages from being moved to said second position by said sliding movement. Hereby it may be prevented that more granular material than desired, for instance for preparing a baby milk bottle with powdered milk, is dispensed.

In the following, the invention will be explained more in detail with reference to various embodiments of a dispensing device and a combination according to the invention shown, solely by way of example, in the drawings, where

Figs. 1-2 are schematic elevational, partly sectional views of a first embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention in two different operational positions,

Figs 3-4 are schematic elevational, partly sectional views of a second embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention in two different operational positions,

Figs 5-6 are schematical elevational, partly sectional and top plan views, respectively, of a third embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention,

Figs 7-8 are schematical elevational, partly sectional and top plan views, respectively, of a fourth embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention,

Figs. 9-10 are schematical elevational, partly sectional and top plan views, respectively, of a fifth embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention, Figs 11-13 are two schematical elevational, partly sectional views rotated 90 degrees relative to one another and a top plan view, respectively, of a sixth embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention,

Figs. 14-15 are schematical plan views of a seventh embodiment of a dispensing combination according to the invention in two different operational positions,

Fig. 16 is a schematic, partly sectional perspective view of the embodiment shown in Figs. 3-4,

Fig 17 is a top and lateral broken off view of stirring pins or rods according to the invention,

Fig. 18 is a schematic perspective view of a currently preferred embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing ground coffee,

Figs 19 and 20 are schematic plan top and bottom views, respectively, of the embodiment in Fig. 18,

Figs 21 and 22 are schematic sectional views taken along lines A-A and B-B, respectively, in Fig. 19,

Figs. 22 and 23 are schematic perspective top and bottom views, respectively, of a currently preferred embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing freeze-dried instant coffee,

Figs. 25 and 26 are schematic plan top and bottom views, respectively, of the embodiment in Figs 22-23,

Figs 27 and 28 are schematic sectional views taken along lines C-C and D-D, respectively, in Fig. 25, Fig. 29 is a schematic perspective view of a currently preferred embodiment of a dispensing device for dispensing milk powder,

Figs. 30-32 are schematic lateral elevational, top plan and bottom plan views, respectively, of the embodiment in Fig. 29,

Figs. 33 - 35 are schematic sectional views taken along lines E-E, F-F and G- G, respectively, in Fig. 31 ,

Fig. 36 is a schematic perspective view of the bottom plate of the embodiment of Fig. 29,

Fig. 37 is a schematic perspective view of the disc-like body of the embodiment of Fig. 29,

Fig. 38 is a schematic perspective view of the top plate of the embodiment of Fig. 29.

Figs. 39-44 are different schematic views of a currently preferred embodiment of a device according to the invention intended particularly for use for dispensing hygroscopic granular material, the views being a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view, a lateral elevational view, a top planar view, a sectional view along line X-X and a sectional view along line Y-Y, respectively, and

Figs 45-49 are different schematic views of the rotatable disc-like body of the currently preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 39-44, the views being a top perspective view, a bottom perspective view, a lateral elevational view, a top planar view and a sectional view along line Z-Z, respectively.

Referring now to Figs. 1-2, a container is filled with granular material 2 such as ground coffee and is provided with a removable lid 3, a dispensing opening 4, a bottom plate 5 and side walls 6 and 7. A body 8 is arranged slidingly displaceable on the bottom plate 5 in a channel 9 provided in the walls 6 and 7. The outer contour of the body 8 fits tightly in said channel 9 such that the surrounding air is substantially prevented from coming into contact with the coffee in the container 1.

The body 8 is provided with a passage 10 extending from a top aperture 11 to a bottom aperture 12, the passage 10 flaring downwards such that the area of aperture 12 is larger than the area of aperture 11. One or more, preferably three, spaced stirring pins or rods 13 project from the body into the bottom part of the container 1 through the dispensing opening 4.

In use, in the position shown in Fig. 1 , the coffee 2 has flowed from the container 1 into the passage 10 thus filling it, the aperture 12 being obstructed by the bottom plate 5. Hereby the passage 10 defines a compartment filled with a predetermined volume of coffee 2.

When the coffee 2 is to be dispensed, the body 8 is manually slidingly displaced in the channel 9 to the dispensing position shown in Fig. 2 where the coffee 2 flows out of the passage 10 through the bottom aperture 12. Because of the downward flare of the passage 10, the coffee does not stick to the walls of the passage 10 and the batch of coffee will fall out of the passage 10 by itself in the outer position shown in Fig. 2.

Thereafter, the body 8 is manually displaced to the inner position shown in Fig. 1 whereby the passage 10 is filled with a new batch of coffee 2 whereafter the dispensing cycle can be repeated until the desired number of batches has been dispensed.

During the sliding to and fro of the body 8, the stirring pins 13 stir the coffee in the container 1 such that bridging and other clogging tendencies of the coffee, particularly if it is recently ground, are prevented so that the coffee flows freely into the passage 10. The sliding displacement of the body 8 should of course not be carried out slowly, particularly the displacement from the dispensing position in Fig. 2 to the filling position in Fig. 1 because the coffee otherwise may flow directly from the container 1 through the passage 10 because the bottom aperture 12 is not completely obstructed.

The tight fit of the body 8 in the channel 9, and the angled portion 6a of side wall 6 serve to avoid that coffee is carried backwards out of the container during the displacement to and fro of the body 8.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that instead of ground coffee, the container 1 and dispensing device 8, 10 may be utilized for dispensing all types of granular products that require batchwise dispensing, such as detergent powder, sugar, freeze-dried instant coffee and so on.

Referring now to Figs. 2-3 and 16, the currently preferred embodiment of a combination and a dispensing device according to the invention comprises a container 1 integrally attached to a dispensing device comprising a displaceable body 14 with a passage 15 in a configuration very similar to the one described above in relation to Figs. 1-2. The operation is also very similar except that the manual operation of the sliding displacement to and fro of the body 14 is carried out by means of a double pinion and rack mechanism.

The body 14 is provided with an integral rack 16 (see Fig. 16) meshing with a pinion 17 rotatably arranged in a compartment of the container 1 by means of a shaft 17a. The pinion meshes with a rack 19 integral with a rod 18 having a thumb tab 20 for being depressed by a thumb when the container 1 is handheld by gripping a handle 21. When the tab 22 is depressed into a recess 22 of the handle 21 (Fig. 4), the bottom aperture of the passage or compartment 15 is unobstructed so that the batch of coffee 2 contained in the passage 15 may fall out into a suitable receptacle, not shown. The walls of the passage 15 are flared downwards to facilitate the emptying of the passage 15. Referring now to Fig. 16, a coil compression spring 23 is arranged in a channel 26 below the body 14, the spring 23 abutting against a rear wall 24 of the body 14 and a stop block 25 welded to the bottom plate 5 of the container 1. When the tab 20 is depressed and the body 14 thereby is displaced to the position shown in Fig. 4, the compression spring 23 is compressed against the stop block 25 by the rear wall 24. When the tab 20 is released, the spring 23 will urge the body 14 back to the position shown in Fig. 3. An identical spring arrangement is provided at the opposite side of the body 14 not visible in Fig. 16.

The release of the tab 20 should be rapid so that the body moves quickly back to the position in Fig. 3 to avoid the situation described above where coffee can flow from the container 1 through the passage 14 in a position intermediate of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the mechanism 18-20 for rotating the pinion 17 may be modified in such a manner that a snap release automatically takes place once the position of the body 14 shown in Fig. 4 is attained such that the body 14 is forced by the springs 23 to snap quickly back to the Fig. 3 position even though said mechanism is only released slowly and gradually.

The stirring rods 13 shown in Fig. 16 are configured as shown in Fig. 17, where the upper view is a top view of a rod 13 while the lower view is a broken off elevational view of the rod 13. The rod 13 is provided with sharpened edges 13a and 13b such that the rods may cut through the granular material and not compact it as it would if the leading edge were blunt. The shape and number of the stirring rods 13 may be modified according to the character of the granular material and in some cases be eliminated entirely if the granulate material does not have a tendency to pack or bridge.

Referring now to Figs. 5-6, a standard commercially available glass jar 30 having an annular recess 31 around the mouth of the jar is filled with granular freeze-dried instant coffee 2 or any other granular material that does not have a tendency to pack or bridge, i.e. flows freely without being stirred or shaken even after being stored for a long time in the jar 30.

A dispensing device 32 is clipped on to the neck of the jar by means of an annular resilient flange 33 having an annular shoulder 34 engaging an annular shoulder 35 of the recess 31. The dispensing device 32 is thus clipped on to the neck of the jar 30 in a hermetically tight manner which can be enhanced by inserting an annular gasket between the shoulders 34 and 35.

A body 35 is slidably and tightly arranged in a channel 36 in the dispensing device and is provided with a passage 37 very similar to the passage 14 in Figs. 3 and 4. A compression spring 38 is arranged in a channel 39 below the body 35 and abuts a rear wall 41 of the body 35 and a stop block 40 fixed to a bottom plate 42 of the device 33.

When the rear wall 41 of the body 35 is pressed by a finger in the direction of the arrow R1 , the body 35 is slidingly displaced from the position shown in full lines to the position shown with dotted lines such that the batch of granular material 2 in the passage 37 is allowed to flow downwards out of the passage 36, while the spring 38 is compressed. As soon as the pressure on the rear wall 41 is released, the spring 38 will snap the body 35 back to the leftmost position where the passage 37 is filled with granular material 2.

The device 33 may be attached to the jar 30 after having removed the original lid of the jar supplied by the manufacturer, or the device may be attached to the jar by the manufacturer such that the device serves as the sole lid for the jar.

Referring now to Figs. 7 and 8, this embodiment is similar to the embodiment of Figs. 5-6 except that the slidably arranged body 35a has two passages 37a and 37b that are emptied and filled at the same time when the body 35a is moved to and fro in the direction of the arrows R2. This is a very simple solution and requires that the body be in one of its two outer positions when the device is not in use as granular material 2 otherwise may flow directly from the jar through one or the other of the passages 37a and 37b. Obviously such a situation may to a certain extent be avoided by incorporating a click type brake mechanism between the channel 36 and the body 35a such that a braking effect is achieved for holding the body in both the outermost positions so that a manual effort is to be exerted to overcome the braking effect such that the body will tend to snap between the outermost positions when operated by the fingers of a hand pressing alternately on each end of the body 35a.

Naturally, the jar may be a special jar with other attachment means between the jar and the dispensing device, and the standard jar may of the type having a screw-on lid in which case the dispensing device will be provided with threads corresponding to the threads on the jar neck.

Referring now to Figs 9-10, the dispensing device comprises a rotatable annular or disc-like body 50 arranged for rotation around the disc axis relative to a top plate 51 of the annular flange 31. The top plate 51 is provided with an aperture 52 in the general form of a circle section. A bottom plate 53 is fixedly attached to the top plate 51 by means of a cylindrical bushing 54 and is provided with an aperture 55 corresponding in shape to aperture 52.

The annular or disc-like body 50 is provided with four passages 56-59 with cross sections also corresponding in shape to aperture 52. The bottom plate 53 and the top plate 51 are provided with annular guides 60 received in corresponding annular channels 61 in the body 50 for guiding the rotational movement of the body 50 relative to the fixed top and bottom plates 51 and 53 in the direction of the arrow R3.

When the body 50 is rotated 90 degrees in the direction of the arrow R3 passage 56 that has been filled with granular material 2 through the aperture 52 is moved to the position of passage 57 that in turn has been moved to the position of aperture 58 and so on. When passage 56 is brought to coincide with aperture 55, the contents of passage 56 will be emptied out through aperture 55. Thus, every rotation of 90 degrees of the body 50 will entail that a batch of material 2 will be dispensed. Naturally, the rotation of the body 50 may take place in both directions but it is more practical to employ the same rotational direction at all times. This may be achieved by incorporating a ratchet mechanism for instance between the guides 60 and the channels 61.

Referring now to Figs. 14-15, a combination very similar to the one shown in Figs 9-10 is illustrated. In this case, the body 50 only has one passage 62 which is rotated according to arrows R4 to and fro between the Fig. 14 position and the Fig. 15 position in which positions the passage 62 coincides with an aperture 63 in the top plate 51 and an aperture 64 in the bottom plate, respectively. In the Fig. 14 position, the passage 62 is filled with material 2 through the aperture 63 in the top plate 51 , while in the Fig. 15 position, the passage 62 is emptied through the aperture 64 in the bottom plate 53.

Two tension coil springs 65 are arranged such between pins 66 attached to the top plate 51 and pins 67 attached to the body 50 that rotation of the body 50 for emptying the passage 62, i.e. dispensing a batch of material, tensions the springs 65 such that release of the finger grip applied around the exterior surface of the body 50 for rotating the body 50 for emptying the passage 62 allows the body to snap back to the Fig. 14 position under the influence of the spring force exerted by springs 65.

Referring now to Figs 11-13, another snap-on dispensing device according to the invention is snap mounted on the neck of a standard jar 71. A body 72 having a passage 73 is arranged slidingly displaceable between the filling position shown in full lines and the emptying position shown in dotted lines.

The displacement to and fro between said two positions is achieved by means of a double rack and pinion mechanism comprising two opposed racks 74 and 75 meshing with opposed regions of a pinion 76 which is fixedly and concentrically attached to a pinion 77 meshing with a rack 78 integral with the body 72. The racks 74 and 75 are connected to pressure tabs 79 and 80, respectively, which are intended for being pushed inwards in the direction of the arrows R5 by a thumb and index finger of a hand such that the racks 74 and 75 rotate the pinion 76 that in turn rotates the pinion 77 resulting in a displacement of the rack 78 and thereby the body 72 from the filling to the emptying position of passage 73.

Two springs 91 arranged in channels beneath the body 72 exert a spring force for urging the body 72 back from the emptying position of the passage 73 to the filling position thereof.

Referring now to Figs 18-38, three currently preferred embodiments of a dispensing device according to the invention for dispensing instant coffee, ground coffee and powder milk, respectively, are shown. All these embodiments are variations of the embodiment shown in Figs. 9-10 adapted for the specific use intended. In the following reference numbers for elements of the device in Figs. 9-10 similar to the ones in the embodiments of Figs. 18-38 will be the same.

Referring now to Figs. 18-22, annular flange 31 is provided with a recess 100 for receiving the edge of a not shown standard metal ring arranged around the discharge opening of a non-disposable container or of a standard disposable commercial glass jar of ground filter coffee so as to attach the dispensing device firmly and hermetically to said discharge opening such that the device entirely obstructs said opening.

The top plate 51 entirely covers one circle sector passage 105 of five such passages 101-105 located between radially extending partition walls 106 of the generally disc-shaped body 50, said partition walls having a tapered cross section so that the cross sectional area of the passages 101-105 increases in the direction away from the not shown container, i.e. downwards in Figs.21 and 22. The rim of the body 50 is provided with ribs 107 for enhancing the grip of the fingers of a person exerting a circumferential (or tangential) force on said rim to rotate the body 50 around the axis of the body 50 so as to alter the rotational position of the passages 101-105 relative to the bottom plate 53 and aperture 55 therein.

A spout 108 is arranged around dispensing aperture 55 for guiding the filter coffee emerging from said aperture 55.

In use, this embodiment of the dispensing device function very similarly to the embodiment of Figs 9-10 except that the filling of the passages takes place in a different manner. Because of the tendency of ground filter coffee to form bridges and therefore not flow from the jar into the passages in all cases the operation of this dispensing device is such that the container is held with the spout 108 pointing downwards (and perhaps shaken) so that the passages 101-104 (in the situation shown in Figs. 18-22) are filled with ground filter coffee. Then the body 50 is rotated so as to bring the passages 101-104 sequentially into register with the dispensing aperture 55 to discharge the filter coffee in each passage.

A not shown ratchet mechanism similar to the one described below in relation to the embodiment of Figs. 29-38 is arranged to give an audible and sensory signal whenever body 50 has been rotated enough to move the next passage into register with aperture 55 so that a clear indication will be given to the operator for each emptying of a passage 101-104. If a quantity of filter coffee larger than the contents of four passages is desired then the container should be upended and perhaps shaken vigorously so as to ensure that the next four passages are entirely filled with filter coffee.

Referring now to Figs. 23-28, the embodiment shown is intended for dispensing freeze-dried instant coffee and is very similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 9-10. Similar features are denoted by the same reference numerals. The substantial differences between the embodiment of Figs 23-28 and the embodiment of Figs. 9-10 are that the former is adapted for having most of the body 50 inside the mouth of the container (which could typically be a standard commercial glass jar) when the device is attached to the jar by means of ribs 109 that engage an external screw thread (not shown) on the neck of the glass jar.

Hereby the total height of the jar plus an attached dispensing device according to the invention is reduced relative to the embodiment of Figs. 9-10 because of the configuration allowing the rotative disc-like body 50 to be received inside the neck of the jar because the outermost part of said neck is received in the generally annular space between the octagonal outer flange 31 and an outer casing 110 for enclosing a portion of the rotative body 50. The octatagonal configuration of outer flange 31 is purely ornamental and has no technical effect.

In use, the dispensing device of Figs. 23-28 is operated practically identically to the operation of the embodiment of Figs. 9-10 as described in the foregoing.

Referring now to Figs. 29-38, the embodiment shown is intended for dispensing milk powder for preparing milk bottles for infants.

The amount of milk powder necessary for preparing a milk formula bottle for each meal for an infant varies, i.a. according to the age of the infant, and therefore there is a need for a dispensing device that can be adjusted to dispense varying total amounts of milk powder in a reliable, safe and easily regulated fashion.

Elements in Figs. 29-38 similar to elements in Figs 9-10 and Figs 23-28 have the same reference numerals. The rotatable disc-like body 50 is provided with nine passages 120 communicating with the interior of the container through eight apertures 121-128 in the top plate 51. Two apertures 121 and 128 are approximately half the size of the rest for reasons to be explained below. The passages 120 all have a cross sectional shape corresponding to the shape of a full size aperture such as aperture 122.

The bottom plate 53 is provided with numerals 1-8 arranged in register with the eight passages 120 in register with the apertures 121-128. The total volume of these eight passages corresponds to the maximum amount of milk powder necessary for an infant milk formula bottle.

In use, the dispensing device is attached to the mouth of a container of milk powder by receiving a metal collar in recess 100 in annular flange 31 as described in connection with the embodiment in Figs. 18-22.

The container is first held such that spout 108 points upwards whereby no milk powder flows through apertures 121-129 into passages 120. In this start position a visible arrow 130 on the body 50 is in register with the spout 108 as shown in Figs. 30 and 34.

If a volume of milk powder equal to the contents of three of the passages120 is desired for preparing the baby milk bottle then the body 50 is rotated clock-wise until the arrow 130 is in register with the numeral 3 on the bottom plate 53 still maintaining the spout 108 pointing upwards.

Thereafter the container is upended so that the spout 108 points downwards. Milk powder will now flow through apertures 121-128 into the passages thereunder until the passages are substantially full of milk powder. Thereafter the body 5 is rotated counter-clockwise until the arrow 130 is in register with the spout 108. Hereby, the contents of three passages 120 will be dispensed through the aperture 55 in the bottom plate 53 and into the spout 108 and further into the not shown baby milk bottle whereby the correct desired amount of powder has been dispensed.

The reason that the two apertures 121 and 128 closest to the spout 108 and discharge aperture 55 are about half the size of the other apertures is that milk powder is relatively fluid, and if the apertures 121 and 128 were full size then the milk powder would be able to flow through apertures 121 and 128 directly to the discharge aperture when the radially extending partition walls 106 are located halfway between two adjacent apertures.

Referring now more specifically to Figs. 35-38, a mechanism for ensuring correct dosage of milk powder is illustrated.

A pin 140 is arranged displaceable by the force of gravity in a tubular guide 141 fixedly attached to the disc-like body 50 such that when the spout 108 points downwards, the pin 140 will be in the position shown in Fig. 35 abutting a stop surface 142 of a ratchet tooth 143 such that the disc-like body 50 may be rotated only in one direction, namely clock-wise when seen from above in the orientation with the spout 108 pointing downwards as the pin 140 rides over cam surfaces 144 of the ratchet teeth 143 when rotating the body 50 in this direction but is stopped by the stop surfaces 142 when the body 50 is rotated in the opposite direction.

In the situation and procedure described above for dispensing the contents of three passages 120, the pin 140 and the ratchet teeth 143 will ensure that the body 50 only can be rotated in the correct direction whereby the contents of five (eight minus three) passages will not be dispensed by mistake by rotating the body 50 in the wrong direction until the arrow130 is adjacent the spout 108.

So as to facilitate dispensing the contents of a certain number of passages, an audible and sensory signal is provided for each time a passage is rotated past the discharge opening 55 in the following manner.

A flexible pawl or arm 145 having cam surfaces 146a and 146 b is fixedly attached to the top plate 51 such that the pawl can flex in a direction transverse to the periphery of the body 50. The inner periphery 50 a of the body 50 is provided with ratchet teeth 147 having cam surfaces 147 and 148. When the body is rotated in either direction the pawl 145 will ride up over a ratchet tooth 147 with cam surfaces 146a and 146b sliding over cam surfaces 148 and 149 in an order depending on the direction of rotation of body 50. In both directions, the pawl will emit an audible click whenever the pawl 145 passes one of the pairs of ratchet teeth 147. Furthermore, a resistance against rotation will be felt by the operator when the pawl 145 is to be moved out from between a pair of adjacent ratchet teeth because of the angles of the cam surfaces 149 relative to the angles of the cam surfaces 146a and 146b are designed to produce a resistance. Hereby, it is easy to count the number of "doses", i.e. passagespassing discharge aperture 55.

To further ensure that the correct amount of doses are dispensed, the pawl 145 will not allow the pin 140 to pass when the spout 108 is pointing downwards so that the operator may not inadvertently rotate the body 50 so far that the arrow 130 has passed the spout 108 and thereby empty more passages 120 than desired into the milk bottle.

Referring now to Figs 39-49, an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 14 and 15 having only one passage and one inlet aperture to the passage and one outlet aperture from the passage is shown.

The dispensing device 60 comprises a disc-like body 61 rotatably arranged between a bottom portion 62 and a top portion 63 such that a bottom plate 64 of the bottom portion 62 and a top plate 65 of the top portion 63 are located adjacent and parallel to the top and bottom circular surfaces 75 and 76 of the disc 61.

The bottom portion 62 is provided with elongate ribs 66 for releasably engaging an exterior thread of an open neck portion of a not shown jar or container for storing a granular material such as instant coffee or tea such that the dispensing device 60 may be screwed onto said neck to obstruct the dispensing opening of said jar. The top portion 63 is provided with an aperture 67 for lockingly receiving two projections 68 of the bottom portion 62 such that the top and bottom portion are locked together with the disc 61 rotatably arranged therebetween, the two projections 68 passing through an aperture 69 in the disc 61.

The bottom plate 64 is provided with an aperture 70 for allowing granular material to exit the container, and the top plate 63 is provided with an aperture 71 for allowing granular material to exit the dispensing device 60.

The disc 61 is provided with an aperture 72 and two recesses 73 and 74, the recesses being for moulding purposes and having no other functions.

When the disc 61 is rotated to a first position where the passage 72 coincides at least partially with the aperture 70, then the passage 72 does not coincide at all with the aperture 71 , and the passage 72 may be filled with granular material from the container or jar. When the disc 60 is rotated to a second position where the passage 72 coincides at least partially with the aperture 71 , the passage does not coincide at all with the aperture 70 and the granular material in the passage 72 may be dispensed without risk of further material exiting the container.

In each of the circular surfaces 75 and 76 of the disc there is provided a groove 77 surrounding the ends or apertures of the passage 72. This groove is intended to receive an O-ring (not shown) protruding from the groove 77 such that in the assembled dispensing condition of the device 60 the O-rings sealingly press against the surfaces of the plates 64 and 65 such that substantially no air may enter the container from the surrounding atmosphere.

The O-rings may be substituted by a moulded ridge of resilient plastic co- moulded with the disc if the disc is moulded from a plastic material.

The O-ring or resilient ridge may alternatively or additionally by provided in the surface of the plates 64 and 65 facing the disc 61 for example such that when the disc 61 is rotated to an end position wherein the passage 72 totally coincides with the aperture 70, the O-rings or ridges in the plates 64 and 65 surround the ends or apertures of the passage 72.

Other manners of establishing a seal so as to avoid atmospheric air contact with the interior of the jar or container in the inter-dispensing storage periods are conceivable to those skilled in the art. Lip gaskets may for instance be used instead of O-rings or resilient ridges.

The embodiments described above and shown in the drawings are only indicative of the many possible variations and modifications of the dispensing device and combination according to the invention which are conceivable by those skilled in the art. Application of the various embodiments of the dispensing device to other types of containers such as cardboard boxes (for detergent powder or sugar), plastic bottles (for powdered milk and the like) will be easily carried out by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A combination of a dispensing device for batch dispensing granular product such as ground coffee, freeze-dried instant coffee, milk powder, sugar, detergent powder and the like and a container having a dispensing opening for dispensing the granular product, the device and container comprising cooperating attachment means for allowing integral or releasable attachment of the device to said container such that the device obstructs said dispensing opening, the device further comprising a body having a passage extending therethrough from a first aperture facing said dispensing opening to a second aperture facing generally away from said dispensing opening, said body being arranged for being displaced between a first position, wherein said passageway is in flow communication with said dispensing opening through said first aperture and said second aperture is obstructed such that said passage may be filled with granular product from said container, and a second position, wherein said passage is not in flow communication with said dispensing opening while said second aperture is unobstructed for allowing granular product to be discharged from said passage through said second aperture.

A combination according to claim 1 , wherein sealing means are provided such that the interior of said container is hermetically sealed from the surrounding atmosphere at least when said body is in one of said first or second positions.

A combination according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cross sectional area of the passage increases from the first aperture to the second aperture such that said discharge of granular product from the passage is facilitated.

4. A combination according to any of the claims 1 - 3, wherein said body is arranged for being displaced between said first and second positions in a substantially planar linear and/or rotational sliding motion.

5. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the device further comprises a resilient means such as a coil spring adapted and arranged so as to urge said body from said second position to said first position.

6. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container is a hand-held container.

7. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said dispensing device is adapted for manual operation.

8. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body is provided with one or more projections extending through said dispensing opening into said container for stirring the granular product therein for preventing clogging and/or bridging of said product adjacent said dispensing opening.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said projection is configured as a rod with sharpened edges.

10. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said container is constituted by a standard jar intended for use with a clip-on lid or a screw-on lid, the dispensing device substituting said clip-on lid or said screw-on lid.

11. A combination according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body comprises a rack arranged in meshing relationship with a pinion adapted for being rotated manually for displacing said body.

12. A dispensing device for use for batch dispensing granular product such as ground coffee, freeze-dried instant coffee, milk powder, sugar, detergent powder and the like from a hand-held container having a dispensing opening for dispensing the granular product, the device comprising attachment means for integral or releasable attachment of the device to said container such that the device obstructs said dispensing opening, the device further comprising a body having a passage extending therethrough from a first aperture to a second aperture facing generally away from said first aperture, said body being arranged for being displaced between a first position, wherein said first aperture is unobstructed and said second aperture is obstructed such that said passage may be filled with granular product from said container, and a second position, wherein said first aperture is obstructed and said second aperture is unobstructed for allowing granular product to be discharged from said passage through said second aperture.

13. A device according to claim 12, wherein sealing means are provided for hermetically sealing said first aperture at least when said body is in said second position and/or for hermetically sealing said second aperture at least when said body is in said first position.

14. A device according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the cross sectional area of the passage increases from the first aperture to the second aperture such that said discharge of granular product from the passage is facilitated.

15. A device according to any of the claims 12-14, wherein said body is arranged for being displaced between said first and second positions in a substantially planar linear and/or rotational sliding motion.

16. A device according to any of the claims 12-15, wherein the device further comprises a resilient means such as a coil spring adapted and arranged so as to bias said body from said second position to said first position.

17. A device according to any of the claims 12-16, wherein said dispensing device is adapted for manual operation.

18. A device according to any of the claims 12-17, wherein said body comprises a rack.

19. A device according to any of the claims 12-18, wherein said attachment means are adapted for attachment of the dispensing device to a standard jar intended for use with a clip-on or a screw-on lid.

20. A device according to any of the claims 12-19, wherein said body is rotatably arranged and preferably is configured as a generally annular or disc-like body arranged for rotation around the disc axis and comprising at least one said passage extending from a first generally circular surface of the annular or disc-like body to a second generally circular surface of the disc-like body opposite said first circular surface.

21.A device according to claim 20, wherein said annular or disc-like body is arranged for rotation between a first and a second plate adjacent and parallel with said first and second circular surface, respectively, said first plate, intended for facing said container, having a third aperture for allowing granular material to enter said passage from said container, and said second plate having a fourth aperture for allowing said granular material to exit said passage.

22. A device according to claim 13 and 21 , wherein said sealing means comprise an elongate resilient member arranged surrounding said first and/or second aperture.

23. A device according to claim 13 and 21 , wherein said sealing means comprise an elongate resilient member arranged in the surface of said first and/or second plate facing said first and/or second circular surface, respectively, such that said resilient member surrounds said first and/or second aperture when said disc-like body is in said first and/or second position, respectively.

24. A device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said resilient member comprises an O-ring arranged in and protruding from a groove in said first and/or second circular surface and/or in said surface of said first and/or second plate.

25. A device according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said disc-like body and/or said first/or second plate is moulded from a first plastic material and said resilient member comprises a ridge of a second resilient plastic material integrally moulded with said disc-like body and/or with said first and/or second plate.

26. A device according to any of the claims 20-26, wherein said first and second apertures of said at least one passage constitute at least part of a sector of the corresponding circular surface of said disc-like body.

27. A device according to any of the claims 12-26 and further comprising a spout means for guiding the dispensed granular product arranged for communication with said second aperture such that said passage communicates with said spout means when located in said second position.

28. A device according to any of the claims 12-27, wherein two or more passages are provided in said body and located such that said passages are moved into said second position sequentially by said sliding movement of said body.

29. A device according to claim 28, wherein an adjustable locking means is provided for preventing at least one of said passages from being moved to said second position by said sliding movement.

30. A combination of a dispensing device according to any of the claims 12-29 and a hand-held container having a dispensing opening for dispensing the granular product and attachment means for cooperating with said attachment means of the dispensing device.

1. A combination according to claim 30, wherein said container is constituted by a standard jar intended for use with a clip-on lid or a screw-on lid, said attachment means of the dispensing device being adapted for substituting said clip-on lid or said screw-on lid by the dispensing device.