Abstract: An animal food dispensing machine capable of being operated by a domesticated animal or pet includes a housing provided with a discharge chute, a food storage compartment, a free-wheeling external actuator, and a measuring dispenser mechanism complete the device. In one embodiment of the dispenser, a lower plate is rotatable about a boss and aligns an opening with the discharge chute to discharge a quantity of food therethrough to an outlet. An upper plate mounted in a fixed position guides the food to the lower plate. In another embodiment of the dispenser, a metering plate is included to control a measured quantity of the food to be dispensed. The free-wheeling external actuator assembly coupled to the internal dispenser mechanism is activated by the animal to effect discharge of the metered quantity of food through the discharge chute in the housing in relation to the angular distance through which the actuator assembly is moved by the animal.

Abstract: A granular food dispensing machine capable of being operated by a domestic animal and having a housing with a faceplate and a discharge chute having an entrance adjacent to the interior of the faceplate, and a food supply reservoir mounted upon the housing to create a gravity flow of food into the chute is provided with a metering device for controlling the flow of food into the chute. The metering device has a hopper portion coextensive with the chute entrance and mounted to the faceplate interior at the entrance for axial rotation between a first holding position and a second discharge position. A spring-biased, animal-operated reciprocating actuator is engaged to the hopper through the faceplate to control the amount of food which is discharged.

Abstract: A granular food dispensing machine having a housing with a dispensing chamber, a metering dispensing unit and a discharge chute, a food supply reservoir designed to supply the dispensing chamber by gravity feed, and a dispenser chamber insert located in the dispensing chamber to facilitate and direct the flow of granular food from the reservoir through the metering dispensing unit and out the discharge chute by preventing the food from becoming trapped in the dispensing chamber.

Abstract: A nut dispensing machine which includes a nut receptacle mounted onto a base which includes a nut dispensing mechanism which is designed to prevent jamming or binding. The mechanism includes a nut dispensing slide having a dispensing opening reciprocally mounted in the base on a support platform. The platform has an obstruction clearing opening therein through which obstructions fall to clear the dispensing slide. The slide includes a mixing post mounted thereon which extends into the receptacle to assist in dispensing the nuts.

Abstract: A machine for dispensing granular confectionery, such as gumballs, peanuts, and the like, which includes a housing, a container globe seated on the housing, a cap seated on the globe and a vertical standard extending interior of the housing and globe and including a threaded end. A retainer ring is seated on the globe with a gasket interposed. The inlet to the globe carries opposing deformations in the form of notches in the perimeter of the entrance opening of the globe. The retainer ring carries depending lugs seatable in the notches. The cap can be tightened onto the globe with the lugs seated in the notches so as to prevent relative rotation between the retainer ring and globe during tightening of the cap and thereby prevent possible damage to the globe, such as breaking or cracking it.