With Relatively Movable Actuator Patents (Class 222/359)
  • Patent number: 11910786
    Abstract: A feeder including: a) a base portion having a serving area; b) a chamber portion supported by the base portion and configured to retain a granular material within a chamber interior; c) a dispenser configured to segregate a portion of the granular material from the chamber interior and transfer the portion of the granular material from the chamber portion to the serving area, wherein the dispenser includes: i) a rocker body; and ii) one or more fins projecting from the rocker body; and wherein the feeder includes one or more of: i) the fin(s) are flexible; ii) sensing device(s) part of a sensing tower configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the chamber portion; and/or iii) sensing device(s) configured to sense the presence, distance, and/or amount of the granular material within the serving area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: AUTOMATED PET CARE PRODUCTS, LLC
    Inventors: Brad Baxter, Jason Smith, Jason Weihman
  • Patent number: 8684237
    Abstract: The dispenser dispenses premeasured quantities of a granular or powdered material when a lever on the dispenser housing is pressed inwardly. The quantity dispensed with each stroke of the lever can be adjusted easily by turning a dial on the outside of the housing. This adjusts the effective volume of a pair of telescoping tubes inside the dispenser. The dispenser is easily refilled merely by removing the top cap and pouring in the material to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Fox Run USA, LLC
    Inventor: Rodney W. Robbins
  • Publication number: 20120217270
    Abstract: The dispenser dispenses premeasured quantities of a granular or powdered material when a lever on the dispenser housing is pressed inwardly. The quantity dispensed with each stroke of the lever can be adjusted easily by turning a dial on the outside of the housing. This adjusts the effective volume of a pair of telescoping tubes inside the dispenser. The dispenser is easily refilled merely by removing the top cap and pouring in the material to be dispensed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Inventor: Rodney W. Robbins
  • Patent number: 8002153
    Abstract: The present invention is a powder dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of a powder product. The powder dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing tube. The dispensing tube removes a predetermined amount of the powder product from the housing to be dispensed into a container. The dispensing tube includes recesses having a predetermined volume to control the amount of powder product dispensed. The housing includes a lower cavity for storing containers that receive the dispensed powder product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Kristine A. Lowther
  • Publication number: 20110101023
    Abstract: A device for dispensing a metered amount of powdered, granular liquid or related fluent materials and a method of dispensing a fluent material such that a release of excess material beyond the metered amount is inhibited. The dispenser includes a sealing arrangement to effect such inhibiting, as well as to reduce moisture-based contamination of the material stored within the dispenser. Optional features may include various seal configurations and numbers, removable top and bottom caps that both may have a locking mechanism. The dispenser may be configured as a disposable hand-held device such that, after depletion of the fluent material contents arising out of a multiplicity of uses, it can be thrown away.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Edwin Chan, Blaine R. Bruner, William M. Sherk, JR.
  • Patent number: 7832598
    Abstract: A bulk foodstuff dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of foodstuff from a hopper. An auger is driven by a handle capable of movement in two directions, while a clutch allows movement of the auger in only one direction. The forward movement of the handle causes the auger to rotate and move foodstuff forward to be dispensed. The forward movement of the handle is predetermined by setting a stopper, thereby regulating the amount of rotation of the auger and thus determining the portion of foodstuff to be dispensed. A spring returns the handle to its at rest position, so that the dispensing process may be repeated from the same handle position. Gears between the handle and the auger allow the handle to be pulled in a more ergonomically sound way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: TR Toppers Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory A. Rode, Steven Dodson
  • Patent number: 6340101
    Abstract: In a process for dispensing a powdery product (P) from a container (1) with a dispensing nozzle (4) aimed downwards, a flexible section (3) of the container (1) is deformed at least near the dispensing nozzle (3). This is achieved preferably by a movement of the container relative to the dispensing nozzle, in a direction with a component at a right angle to the dispensing nozzle. The movement of the container (1) and the dispensing of a portion of product from the dispensing nozzle (4) can take place immediately after one another. The invention also comprises a device for dispensing a powdery product (P), with which the process can be carried out and bridge and tunnel formation in the powdery product is opposed effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2002
    Assignee: Unilever Patent Holdings BV
    Inventors: Maurice Adrianus Wilhelmus van Beek, Cornelis M Beijersbergen van Henegouwen, Lucas Alphonsus Maria Evers, Reni Louis Jean Lahaye, Marc van Megen, Peter Joost Wieriks
  • Patent number: 6315170
    Abstract: A dispensing device is adapted for release of a measured quantity of granular material. A base is generally disk-shaped. A stop is carried by an upper surface of the base, and is adjustably positionable so that when a container to be filled is moved into contact with the stop, that container is correctly positioned. A body is attached to a support ledge defined about the perimeter of the base. The body is generally cylindrical, and defines an interior cavity with access through a front opening and a circular top defining an off-center hole. A slide is supported by the top, and is manually movable between a loading position wherein a spring biasing the slide is stressed, and a dispensing position wherein the spring is relaxed. A slide enclosure is attached to the upper rim of the body portion. An input funnel provides a larger upper circular rim and a smaller lower circular rim which is concentric with the upper rim when viewed from the end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventors: Susan A Thomson, Jeffrey L Bendio
  • Patent number: 5464126
    Abstract: Volumetric dosage machine particularly for granulates, powders and loose products in general, including products that are not uniform or mutually compacted and have a very limited flow ability, comprising a hopper for loading a product to be metered that is provided with a bottom which has a plurality of dosage chambers and is movable to transfer the dosage chambers from a loading position to a discharge position spaced from the loading position, and/or vice versa. There is also a skimming unit interacting with the dosage chambers during the movement of the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: G. Mondini S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giovanni Mondini
  • Patent number: 4733594
    Abstract: A filling arrangement is equipped with a loading arrangement containing a measuring slider plate and a displacement arrangement guided through a protective wall. The displacement arrangement moves the measuring slider plate backwards and forwards between two end positions; the displacement arrangement has a force transfer arrangement with a push rod guided through the protective wall and connected with the measuring slide place. The force transfer arrangement is driveable in both directions by means of at least one weight. A distribution arrangement for the supply of explosive from explosive containers to the loading arrangement comprises at least one container holder which is tippable by a shaft guided through the protective wall. A horizontally and parallel guided loading plate is pivotable over a delivery arrangement from an entry position at an entry opening in the protective wall into a first end position below the loading arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Walter Bajohr
  • Patent number: 4708265
    Abstract: A practical and simple system that automatically measures and dispenses grain and powder type food products, such as sugar and flour contained within a canister type holder. The system consists of a drawer compartmentalized into precisely measured divisions with the topside uncovered and the bottomside selectively covered or uncovered by a moveable slide that allows for the pulling out of the drawer without spillage. The drawer will stop at one of several preset measured positions. These positions are controlled by a spring-pressured arm. With the drawer in a selected position the contents of the outward division or divisions of the drawer are dispensed accurately and immediately by pushing inwardly the moveable slide covering the bottom side. When the drawer is pulled outward an attached trailing horizontal upper slide prevents any of the contents within the canister from filling the empty area behind the drawer when the drawer is pulled out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Inventors: John H. Bopst, III, Joyce M. Zakro
  • Patent number: 4122981
    Abstract: A toner dispensing device for use in a developing apparatus of an electrophotographic copying machine. The device includes a toner tank mounted on the developing apparatus, a horizontal slit formed at a lower portion of the toner tank, a toner supplying plate which is adapted to reciprocate through the slit for supplying toner at constantly uniform rates from a plurality of openings formed in the same plate, and a stabilizing plate pivotally disposed in the toner tank for dividing the toner tank into upper and lower portions. When the toner supplying plate strikes in its return motion against the stabilizing plate, a predetermined amount of toner is supplied from the upper portion into the lower portion through openings formed in the stabilizing plate for maintaining a predetermined amount of toner in the lower portion at a uniform density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1978
    Assignee: Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Takeuchi, Syotaro Inagaki
  • Patent number: 4053087
    Abstract: A dispenser for granular material such as sugar and coffee or other beverage ingredients, having a bucket-type valve assembly which assures accurate dispensing of predetermined amounts of the desired material through a quick-acting spring device. A coin operated latch mechanism can be used for actuation of the dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: General Foods Limited
    Inventors: Bryan Edward Charles Lack, Alec Thomas Newman