WO2010109225A2

WO2010109225A2 - Dispenser units for flowable solid materials

Info

Publication number: WO2010109225A2
Application number: PCT/GB2010/050484
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alan Patrick Mcelligott
Original assignee: Alan Patrick Mcelligott
Priority date: 2009-03-23
Filing date: 2010-03-23
Publication date: 2010-09-30
Also published as: GB0904865D0; WO2010109225A3

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing fluent solid material comprising a generally vertical housing having a lower section (2) adapted to receive a receptacle (1) with a mouth (1A) for dispensed material in a predetermined position, an upper reservoir (3) suitable for the storage of fluent material, the floor of the reservoir (3) defining at least one aperture (18), a dispensing and portioning mechanism (16) comprising at least one chamber (28) of predetermined size located in a dispensing member (20), means for moving the dispensing member (20) between a filling position in which at least one chamber (28) is in registration with an aperture (18) in the floor of the reservoir to enable powdered or fluent material to enter the chamber(s) (28) under the effect of gravity and a discharge position in which contents of the chamber (28) may exit the chamber under the effect of gravity, and a delivery means (14) comprising a delivery tube in which the delivery tube has a first mouth in registration with the discharge position of the dispensing and portioning mechanism and a second mouth suitably positioned so as to register with the mouth of a receptacle placed in the lower section and in which the walls of the tube are parallel or outwardly flared when moving from the first to the second mouth.

Description

Description DISPENSER UNITS FOR FLOWABLE SOLID MATERIALS

[1] This invention relates to dispenser units for flowable solid materials, and, more particularly, to dispenser units adapted to enable the dosed dispensing of milk powder. However, there are numerous examples of fluent solid materials, powders or granules, which need to be portioned or dosed in use, and the apparatus of the present invention may be used for such purposes.

[2] Dispensing measured quantities of powdered materials is traditionally most easily accomplished by the use of a spoon. In cooking, the standard unit of measure for small quantities of both liquids and solids or granular or like nature is the spoonful, be it tea, dessert or table. In practice, unless a 'measuring spoon' is used, the amount of material actually constituting the relevant spoonful can vary widely. This is of no consequence in many situations, but it is undesirable in the specific area of formulated milk powders for feeding babies, where the regular preparation of liquid formula of precisely the same strength for the child is desired, rather than variations from one feed to another.

[3] Although measuring spoons are conventionally provided with containers of formulated milk powder, their use is messy because of the nature of the powdered material itself. This is particularly the case where there is a high ambient humidity, and/or the containers into which the milk powder is being placed have wet or damp surfaces. In such circumstances, there is a tendency toward the build up of residues of partially rehydrated milk powder on the measuring spoon or elsewhere. These residues both constitute a potential health hazard for the child in question because of their potential to harbour and nourish bacteria, and can affect the volume of powder being placed in the container. Indeed, it is highly desirable to ensure that powdered milk formula is as much as possible isolated from its surroundings during storage, with a view to preserving it intact and uncontaminated, but that is not so easy to do with conventional manual methods of use.

[4] A further consideration applying to the dosed dispensing of infant formulated milk powder is that, particularly when the child in question is very young, it is often necessary to carry out the dispensing and formulating operation in the middle of the night when the person doing the job is perhaps not at their manipulative best and/or one-handed if the infant is being held at the time. Lack of manual coordination can lead to spillage which in turn can lead to the strength of the formulated milk being reduced.

[5] British Patent Application 2438849A McElligott addresses the above problems. The apparatus described therein does, however, suffer certain disadvantages. In particular, it has been found that, in use with formula milk powder, the fine nature of the milk powder combined with the hygroscopic property of powdered milk is such that, over an extended period of use, a crust of partially hydrated milk powder builds up around the aperture through which the powdered milk discharges from the rotary member and on the walls of the funnel which directs the milk powder into the container in which the milk powder will be mixed with water. This building up of a crust is obviously very undesirable because it offers good conditions for the growth of bacteria and can lessen the strength of the mixed milk.

[6] According to the present invention, there is provided apparatus for dispensing fluent solid material, for example granules or powdery material, which consists of a generally vertical housing having a lower section adapted to receive a receptacle with a mouth for dispensed material in a predetermined position, an upper reservoir suitable for the storage of fluent material, the floor of the reservoir defining at least one aperture, a dispensing and portioning mechanism comprising at least one chamber of predetermined size located in a dispensing member, means for moving the dispensing member between a filling position in which at least one chamber is in registration with an aperture in the floor of the reservoir to enable powdered or fluent material to enter the chamber (s) under the effect of gravity and a discharge position in which contents of the chamber may exit the chamber under the effect of gravity, and a delivery means comprising a delivery tube in which the delivery tube has a first mouth in registration with the discharge position of the dispensing and portioning mechanism and a second mouth suitably positioned so as to register with the mouth of a receptacle placed in the lower section and in which the walls of the tube are parallel or outwardly flared when moving from the first to the second mouth.

[7] The apparatus of the present invention is so configured that in use, the principal axis of the tube is substantially vertical.

[8] The use of a delivery tube that is parallel sided or outwardly flared, despite the general practice when handling fluent materials of using funnels or inwardly flared walls to concentrate the fluent material from a large mouth (where the fluent material is placed in a delivery apparatus) to a smaller mouth (out of which the material is discharged), is particularly advantageous because when the tube has a principal axis which is substantially vertical there is no surface on which any of the fluent material can readily rest or build up. As such there is no residue which would allow that material to absorb any atmospheric moisture. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tube is substantially circular in cross-section and parallel sided. In alternative embodiments, the tube can have other cross-sectional shapes.

[9] In one embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing and portioning mechanism can be so configured as to induce vibration or shock waves in the delivery tube whilst the mechanism is in motion and/or shortly after it stops moving. This will ensure that even very fine powder does not build up o the surface of the delivery tube. The delivery tube is most preferably made of a material that does not retain a static electrical charge.

[10] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is further provided with a movable trap door which may reversibly move between a first closed position wherein the trap door overlies the second mouth of the delivery tube and a second retracted position whereby the trap door is clear of the second mouth of the delivery tube. Preferably, when the trap door is in the closed position it is engaged with the edge of the delivery tube defining the second mouth thereof.

[11] The presence of the trap door is beneficial because it serves to keep objects both animate and inanimate from entering the delivery tube and/or coming into contact with the dispensing and portioning mechanism around the discharge position. The trapdoor will also serve to at least partially prevent the ingress of humidity into the delivery tube and thus into contact with the dispensing and portioning mechanism around the discharge position.

[12] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the trap door is substantially planar and rotatably or pivotally mounted on a support means and the second mouth of the delivery tube is substantially planar. This configuration allows the trap door to rotate or pivot so as to engage the whole of the edge defining the second mouth when in the closed position. In alternative embodiments of the present invention one or both of the second mouth of the delivery tube and the trapdoor are not planar and both are so configured as to allow the trapdoor to engage the whole of the edge defining the second mouth when in the closed position. It is most preferred that the mounting of the trap door on the support mechanism is releasable to enable easy cleaning of the trap door.

[13] It is preferred that the insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing causes movement of the trapdoor from closed position to the retracted position, and removal of the receptacle movement of the trapdoor from retracted position to the closed position. The actuation means for this movement may be mechanical, for example insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing causes the receptacle to push a lever or button which is mechanically linked with the trapdoor. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the lever or button or the mechanical linkage is biased toward the position where the trapdoor is in the closed position and insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing pushes against that bias. The biasing means may be any known biasing means, for example a helical spring. [14] In an alternative embodiment, insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing causes the actuation of a switch which, when actuated, turns on a motive means, for example an electrical motor or an electromagnet, so causing movement of the trapdoor from closed position to the retracted position. It is preferred that the trapdoor is biased toward the closed position and turning off the motive means allows the bias to cause the trapdoor to return to the closed position. Alternatively, the motive means can be so constructed and/or programmed that when the receptacle for the dispensed material is removed from the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing the motive means returns the trapdoor to the closed position.

[15] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing further causes the actuation of the dispensing and portioning mechanism. In use this will cause the dispensing of the fluent material into the receptacle.

[16] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the dispensing and portioning mechanism the dispensing member is in the form of a rotary member including at least one chamber of predetermined size located therein, and the mechanism is provided with means for rotating the rotary member about a vertical axis to bring the or a chamber into the filling position and means for rotating the rotary member until the or a chamber is in the discharge position.

[17] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention the dispensing and portioning mechanism is in the form of an easily removable cartridge. Alternatively, the dispensing member may be so configured to be easily removed from and inserted into the dispensing and portioning mechanism. Such constructions will allow a range of cartridges/ dispensing members to be made available to a user /purchaser of the apparatus of the present invention. The range of cartridges/ dispensing members would each have a different sized dispensing chamber or chambers. This will allow the apparatus of the present invention to be used with different brands of formula milk or other fluent material, or for use in markedly different formulation strengths.

[18] Where the dispensing member is a rotary member, the positions of the rotary member at which the or each chamber in it may be filled with powdery or fluent material and at which powdery or fluent material in the reservoir is discharged from the chamber under the effect of gravity are angularly spaced apart from one another. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the spacing is around 180 ° .

[19] Conveniently, the dispensing member may be located between two parallel plates, one of which may be the floor of the reservoir and the other of which may correspond to a ceiling defining the upper limit of the lower section of the housing.

[20] In order to ensure that, as the dispensing member moves to bring the chamber(s) into registration with the aperture in the floor of the reservoir, the chamber fills with the fluent material, it is convenient to provide stirring means for the fluent material adjacent the floor of the reservoir. These stirring means may be operated independently of the movement of the dispensing or rotary member, or it may be preferred to configure the stirring means as a number of blades or paddles which may be engaged with the drive means for the dispensing or rotary member and move with it. In one preferred design, the blades or paddles have downwardly projecting resilient prongs which are biased slightly towards the floor and which serve to jog the blades as they run into the area of the aperture in the floor, so assisting flow of the material into the chamber. In an alternative preferred design, the blades or paddles are angled so as to push the fluent material they engage.

[21] The dispensing and portioning mechanism may be manually powered or motor driven, most preferably with an electric motor. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the dispensing and portioning mechanism is motor driven and the motor causes the dispensing member to be moved so that a predetermined number of chambers pass between a filling position and the discharge position each time a 'dispense' switch is actuated. The motor may be so controlled that there is a pause in the movement of the dispensing member each time a chamber is in a filling or discharge position. The control of the motor may be achieved by actuation of a mi- croswitch by a cam or like configuration on the dispensing member.

[22] The motor is most preferably controlled by a control unit which is user programmable. The programming by the user could include the number of chambers worth of fluent material to be dispensed into each receptacle. Where the apparatus of the present invention is adapted to the dispensing of formula milk, the control unit could also be adapted to be used to record data concerning the dispensing of the fluent material. The control unit could be programmed to allow a user to enter into the unit the quantity, if any, of milk not consumed for each receptacle or bottle of milk made up. The control unit may also include a known means for exporting the data it collects to an external data processing means, for example a computer. The control unit is most preferably composed of an integrated circuit or microchip a memory, a display means, for example a liquid crystal display, and one or more input means, for example a number of keys or buttons.

[23] Fluent materials such as formula milk powder are typically available in a prepackaged form. This is particularly so for formula milk powder because the powder is sold in a sealed sterile containers. The reservoir is most preferably a container of sufficient size to accept the whole contents of a typical package of the fluent material that the apparatus of the present invention is to be used with. It is most preferred that the reservoir may be tightly closed once the fluent material has been loaded into it so as to prevent contamination of the material. The reservoir may be partially or wholly made of a substantially transparent material to allow a user to see how much fluent material remains in it.

[24] In an alternative embodiment, the reservoir is comprised of a means enabling an inverted open-topped container of fluent material to be fixed relatively firmly in place, for example by appropriate clipping means, and conveniently an outer cover may be provided to cover the open-topped container of fluent material once it has been located in place in the upper section.

[25] The lower section of the housing of the apparatus of the present invention is comprised of at least a support structure which is adapted to hold the upper reservoir and the dispensing and portioning mechanism away from a surface upon which the apparatus of the present invention is placed in an operating orientation. The support structure may further comprise one or more guides adapted and positioned to direct a receptacle, for example, a baby feeding bottle, into a position where the mouth of the receptacle is vertically beneath the second mouth of the delivery tube. In a particularly preferred embodiment, a guide is comprised of a base plate on which the receptacle is placed, the base plate incorporating one or more steps or raised ribs positioned to guide the receptacle to the correct position and prevent it being further inserted into the lower section of the housing when it gets to the correct position. The base plate may be removable so that different base plates can be used for different shaped or sized receptacles and/or the base plate may be so configured that it may be used either way up, each orientation being suitable for a different sized and/or shaped bottle.

[26] The invention is illustrated by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[27] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a powdered milk dispensing unit in accordance with an embodiment the present invention.

[28] Figures 2 and 2A are schematic side views of the dispenser unit of Figure 1; and

[29] Figure 3 is an exploded view of an embodiment of a dispensing and portioning unit showing the individual components.

[30] Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows a dispensing unit for dispensing a predetermined quantity of powdered milk into a baby feeding bottle 1. The bottle 1 is located in a recess 10 in a lower section 2 of the device. The upper part of the device is comprised of a reservoir 3 located above a central portion of the device 4. Within the central portion 4 of the device is a dispensing and portioning mechanism 16 (not shown in Figure 1). Located on the outside of the central portion 4, above the recess in the lower section 2 are a liquid crystal display 6 and user control buttons 8.

[31] Within the recess 10 in the lower section 2 is located a base 12 upon which the bottle

1 is placed. Base 12 combined with the walls defining recess 10 position the bottle 1 in the correct position so that the second mouth of delivery tube 14 is vertically above the mouth IA of the bottle 1.

[32] The lower section 2 also contains an electric motor, control electronics and, if the unit is to be operated from an internal power source, a battery compartment. If the unit is to be operated by mains power, the preferred configuration is to use a plug/ transformer unit plugged into a socket and connected via a suitable flexible lead and plug to a power entry socket on the unit. A typical power supply required is 5v 1 Amp.

[33] Figure 2 shows in schematic format a side view of an embodiment of a device according to the present invention showing those parts of the device directly involved with the dispensing and portioning of the milk powder (not shown). The milk powder is stored in the reservoir 3 until it is dispensed. Reservoir 3 includes an aperture 18 in the floor of the reservoir. Below the reservoir 3 is located a dispensing and portioning mechanism 16.

[34] Dispensing and portioning mechanism 16 is comprised of a dispensing member 20 within a housing 22. The dispensing member 20 may be caused to rotate about a substantially vertical axis (when the device is orientated for use) by an electric motor 24 via a drive shaft 26. Dispensing member 20 is substantially cylindrical with its principal axis being substantially coincident with the axis of drive shaft 26. The dispensing member 20 defines a number of chambers 28 (of which two are shown in Figure 2) each chamber extending between the two parallel faces of dispensing member 20. The chambers are so located in dispensing member 20 that rotation of the dispensing member 20 may move a chamber 28 to a filling position where the upper mouth of the chamber 28 is in registration with the aperture 18 in the floor of reservoir 3. Rotation of the dispensing member 20 may also move a chamber 28 to a discharge position where the lower mouth of the chamber 28 is in registration with an aperture 30 in the lower part of housing 22.

[35] The delivery tube 14 is so located that the upper mouth of the tube 14 is in registration with the aperture 30. Delivery tube 14 is of a circular cross section, and has parallel and straight walls along its length. The delivery tube 14 has a substantially vertical axis (when the device is orientated for use). The lower mouth of tube 20 is at a small angle to horizontal (when the device is orientated for use) and is planar.

[36] A trap door 40 is attached to a support arm 42 which is linked to a lever arm 44. The linkage between the trap door 40 and the support arm 42 is such as to allow rotational motion of the trap door 40 relative to the support arm 42. Support arm 42 is pivotally attached to lever arm 44. Lever arm 44 is pivotally attached to the body of the device of the present invention. A push bar 46 is attached to lever arm 44 in a cantilevered fashion.

[37] In use, introduction of a bottle 1 (as shown in Figure 2A) into the lower section 2 of the device of the present invention causes the bottle to impact on and push the end 48 of the push bar 46. Pushing end 48 causes lever arm 44 to rotate in a clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2 pulling support arm 42 and hence trap door 40 to the right as shown in figure 2A, and trap door 40 clear of the lower mouth of the delivery tube 14. Powdered milk may then be dispensed into the bottle 1 by operation of the dispensing and portioning mechanism 16.

[38] The precise mode of operation of a dispensing and portioning mechanism 16 is evident from consideration of the exploded view shown in Figure 3.

[39] As can be seen with reference to Figure 3, the size of portion dispensed by the dispensing mechanism is determined by the size of each one of a set of cylindrical chambers 28 which are formed in a drum or cylinder 20 which is rotatable about a vertical axis. Drum 20 is shown upside down on the right hand side of Figure 3. Drum 20 may be rotated by the engagement of a drive pinion with an annular set of teeth 70 set about its hub. The drive pinion is mounted at the top of a shaft 26 which is driven by a motor and reduction gear module 24.

[40] Drum 20 is, in the assembled unit, held between upper and lower housing shells 72 and 22. Delivery tube 14 is a press fit into a suitable socket formation on the underside of shell 22 and surrounding an aperture 30 in shell 22. An O-ring seal 74 lies slightly compressed between the top of delivery tube 14 and the underside of drum 20, and four O-rings 76 seal the four chambers 28 against the floor of shell 22.

[41] The top of shell member 72 forms the base of reservoir 3. The contents of the reservoir 3 rest against the upper surface of shell 72. Shell 72 has an aperture 18 through which fluent material may pass, as explained below.

[42] The undersurface of drum 20 carries a central boss 78 which engages in an aperture

80 in shell 22. The upper surface of drum 20 as shown in the drawing carries a central cylindrical annular boss 33 which engages in a cylindrical recess on the underside of shell member 72 as shown in Figure 3, the recess being coaxial with a central aperture 82 in upper shell member 21. A stirrer blade assembly 84 may be inserted into drum 20 for co-rotation therewith via aperture 82. The degree of insertion of assembly 84 is such as to bias a set of tabs 86, two below each blade of assembly 84, towards the top surface of shell 21, so that as assembly 84 is rotated, each blade is jogged as its respective tabs 86 drop into aperture 18. The lower edge of each tab is angled to enable it to ride up again as rotation past aperture 18 continues.

[43] Mounted below an aperture 88 in shell 22 is a microswitch 90, the actuation tab of which projects through aperture 88 with its end lying slightly above the floor of shell 22 when rotary member 20 is positioned with one of four notches 92 in its lower edge above aperture 88.

[44] In use, actuating one of switches 8 causes motor 24 to rotate so rotating drum 20. The electronic control continues the drive until the next notch 92 comes to lie above aperture 88, triggering microswitch 90 to stop the motor 24

[45] As a chamber 28 passes below aperture 18 in upper shell 21, powdered milk falls into the chamber 28, assisted by the agitation of the milk powder effected by the slow rotation of paddle 84. When a chamber 28 comes to lie vertically above aperture 30, the powder which has dropped under the effect of gravity into chamber 28 drops out through aperture 30 in the lower shell 22 and delivery tube 14 into the waiting bottle 1. This series of actions may be repeated until a predetermined number of chambers of milk have been discharged into the bottle. Alternatively, each time a rotation of drum 20 takes place, display 6 may be incremented e.g. to show the number of portions which have been dispensed into the waiting bottle 1. One of buttons 8 may reset the count.

Claims

[1] 1. Apparatus for dispensing fluent solid material comprising a generally vertical housing having a lower section adapted to receive a receptacle with a mouth for dispensed material in a predetermined position, an upper reservoir suitable for the storage of fluent material, the floor of the reservoir defining at least one aperture, a dispensing and portioning mechanism comprising at least one chamber of predetermined size located in a dispensing member, means for moving the dispensing member between a filling position in which at least one chamber is in registration with an aperture in the floor of the reservoir to enable powdered or fluent material to enter the chamber(s) under the effect of gravity and a discharge position in which contents of the chamber may exit the chamber under the effect of gravity, and a delivery means comprising a delivery tube in which the delivery tube has a first mouth in registration with the discharge position of the dispensing and portioning mechanism and a second mouth suitably positioned so as to register with the mouth of a receptacle placed in the lower section and in which the walls of the tube are parallel or outwardly flared when moving from the first to the second mouth.

[2] 2 Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the delivery tube is substantially circular in cross-section and parallel sided.

[3] 3 Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the apparatus is further provided with a movable trap door which may move between a first closed position wherein the trap door overlies the second mouth of the delivery tube and a second retracted position whereby the trap door is clear of the second mouth of the delivery tube.

[4] 4 Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing causes movement of the trapdoor from closed position to the retracted position, and removal of the receptacle movement of the trapdoor from the retracted position to the closed position.

[5] 5 Apparatus according to claim 4 in which movement of the trapdoor is caused by the receptacle pushing a lever or button which is mechanically linked with the trapdoor via a mechanical linkage, and that mechanical linkage includes a biasing means which biases the trap door toward the closed position.

[6] 6 Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which insertion of a receptacle for the dispensed material into the predetermined position in the lower section of the housing causes the actuation of the dispensing and portioning mechanism.

[7] 7 Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the dispensing and portioning mechanism is in the form of an easily removable cartridge.

[8] 8 Apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the dispensing member is configured to be easily removed from and inserted into the dispensing and portioning mechanism.

[9] 9 Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the dispensing member is a rotary member including at least one chamber of predetermined size located therein, and the dispensing and portioning mechanism is provided with means for rotating the rotary member about a vertical axis to bring the or a chamber into the filling position and means for rotating the rotary member until the or a chamber is in the discharge position.

[10] 10 Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which there is a stirring means for the fluent solid material located adjacent the floor of the reservoir.

[11] 11 Apparatus according to any preceding claim in which the dispensing and portioning mechanism includes a motive means which causes the dispensing member to be moved so that a predetermined number of chambers pass between a filling position and the discharge position each time a 'dispense' switch is actuated.

[12] 12 Apparatus according to claim 11 in which the motive means is an electric motor and the motive means is controlled by a control unit which is user programmable.

[13] 13 Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the control unit may be programmed to determine the number of chambers worth of fluent material to be dispensed into each receptacle.

[14] 14 Apparatus according to claim 12 in which the control unit may be programmed to record data concerning the timing and quantity of the fluent material dispensed, and/or data input by a user relating to the fluent material dispensed and/or the use to which it was put.