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: 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 powder dispenser comprising a powder container having an opening in a lower end thereof, a powder receptacle having a flange, and a flow control assembly having pivotable flow control arms biased against each other, pivotable activation arms biased towards each other, and connecting members for connecting the flow control arms to the activation arms for concomitant movement, wherein the receptacle flange is operable to engage the activation arms to pivot the activation arms away from each other and thereby pivot the flow control arms away from each other so that powder is allowed to flow through the flow control assembly into the receptacle. The dispenser may further comprise an agitator that is operable to agitate the powder in the container when the flow control arms are pivoting towards or away from each other.

Abstract: A slide valve system for a powder or liquid reservoir bottle which closes the reservoir bottle and allows the reservoir bottle to be tipped away from a subjacent dispensing bottle fed by the reservoir bottle. Once the reservoir bottle is tipped away the slide valve can be opened and the reservoir bottle filled. The reservoir bottle can then be closed by the slide valve and tipped back onto the dispensing bottle. Once on top of the dispensing bottle the valve can be opened and the contents of the reservoir bottle can enter the dispensing bottle by gravity flow. The slide valve must be closed in order to rotate the reservoir bottle away from the dispensing bottle. Likewise, the reservoir bottle must be locked in a vertical position with the reservoir bottle over the dispensing bottle in order to open the slide valve.

Abstract: A mechanical level sensor detects when a fluid material added to a chamber has reached a predetermined level and therefore comprises a predetermined particular volume. Material is added to a chamber until it has reached the predetermined level. Once this level is reached, additional material overflows into a level sensor. The overflow material causes a wheel having a plurality of wells to rotate. This rotation is detected by a control circuit that signals the cessation of addition of material to the chamber and the dispensing of the material present in the chamber. The sensor is highly sensitive due to the almost frictionless rotation of the wheel about its axle.

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.

Abstract: A powder dispenser comprising a powder container having an opening in a lower end thereof, a powder receptacle having a flange, and a flow control assembly having pivotable flow control arms biased against each other, pivotable activation arms biased towards each other, and connecting members for connecting the flow control arms to the activation arms for concomitant movement, wherein the receptacle flange is operable to engage the activation arms to pivot the activation arms away from each other and thereby pivot the flow control arms away from each other so that powder is allowed to flow through the flow control assembly into the receptacle. The dispenser may further comprise an agitator that is operable to agitate the powder in the container when the flow control arms are pivoting towards or away from each other.