Abstract: A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a material, comprising: a removable container for holding the material; a receptacle for receiving the material, the receptacle comprising a top opening and a flange; a funnel for receiving the material from the removable container and guiding the material to the receptacle, the funnel comprising a valve holder at a lower end of the funnel and a lower opening aligned with the top opening of the receptacle; a valve member slidably coupled to the valve holder, the valve member comprising a valve aperture; a valve lever connected to the valve member, wherein when activated, the valve lever is configured to move the valve member to cause the valve aperture to align with the lower opening of the funnel, allowing the material to flow down from the funnel to the receptacle until the receptacle is filled to the top opening; a lever assembly coupled to the valve lever, wherein the lever assembly is configured to be activated by an operator inserting the flange of the receptacle in

Abstract: The present invention provides a powder dispenser apparatus with valve operation. The dispenser apparatus comprises a replaceable container for holding a powdered material, a dispensing assembly, and a powder receptacle to receive the powder and to activate the valve assembly, and a removable cover for the valve assembly. The dispensing assembly comprises a sealing feature and a valve actuator rotationally biased by a spring. User operation rotates the valve actuator against its spring bias, thereby moving the valve and opening the sealing feature, allowing powder to dispense.

Abstract: A candy vending machine that manufactures candy tablets from candy powder by a process that is visible to a customer. A feed tube is filled with candy powders of different flavors and colors from candy powder containers by the action of motorized augers. A tableting machine receives candy powder from the feed tube to compress the candy powder into candy tablets. One or more flavor selection buttons signal a computer system to activate the candy powder containers to transfer the candy powder to the feed tube, to deliver the candy powder from the feed tube to the tableting machine, and to deliver the candy tablets to a tablet chute. The tablet chute delivers the candy tablets to a candy tablet container provided to a customer. Sensing mechanisms determine the presence of the candy powder in the candy powder containers and in the feed tube.