Abstract: A food dispensing apparatus includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispense aperture, a hopper, an accumulator assembly, a weighing system, and a flap door. The hopper is positioned in the cabinet and configured to hold food articles. The accumulator assembly is positioned vertically below the first hopper and includes an accumulator bin and a door assembly. The accumulator door is positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper. The door assembly is configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin and is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. The weighing system is configured to determine an amount of food articles held in the accumulator bin. The flap door is positioned adjacent to the door assembly and is movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position. The flap door automatically closes upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 27, 2010
Date of Patent:
August 28, 2012
Assignee:
Automated Equipment LLC
Inventors:
Bruce H. Koerner, Richard J. Curtin, Gordon G. Erickson, Adino S. Quiboloy, Kevin M. Riester
Abstract: A food dispensing apparatus includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispense aperture, a hopper, an accumulator assembly, a weighing system, and a flap door. The hopper is positioned in the cabinet and configured to hold food articles. The accumulator assembly is positioned vertically below the first hopper and includes an accumulator bin and a door assembly. The accumulator door is positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper. The door assembly is configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin and is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. The weighing system is configured to determine an amount of food articles held in the accumulator bin. The flap door is positioned adjacent to the door assembly and is movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position. The flap door automatically closes upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
February 15, 2007
Date of Patent:
September 28, 2010
Assignee:
Automated Equipment LLC
Inventors:
Bruce H. Koerner, Richard J. Curtin, Gordon G. Erickson, Adino S. Quiboloy, Kevin M. Riester
Abstract: A dispenser apparatus including a rotating carousel to feed material from an inlet to a discharge outlet. In the illustrated embodiments, the carousel includes a cone shaped portion to facilitate material flow to dispense a metered quantity of material. The apparatus described has particular application for dispensing a glutinous particulate or material. In an illustrated embodiment, a scale is used to control metered quantities which as described includes cantilevered beams supporting a floating tray for measuring a dispensed quantity.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
March 15, 2002
Date of Patent:
December 5, 2006
Assignee:
Automated Equipment, LLC.
Inventors:
William D. Gehn, Richard J. Curtin, Peter von Haaren, Bruce H. Koerner