Dispensing – Plural sources – compartment – containers and/or spaced jacket – With discharge assistant for each source
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-16
2001-09-25
Bomberg, Kenneth (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Plural sources, compartment, containers and/or spaced jacket
With discharge assistant for each source
C222S078000, C222S181300, C222S349000, C222S352000, C222S413000, C040S331000, C198S671000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293434
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This present invention relates to food dispensing machines such as those found in bulk food stores or candy shops. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved racking, storage and delivery system of simple, modular construction, that is suitable for operation with a wide variety of candies and other products including hardware such as nuts and low aspect ratio screws or bolts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Food dispensing machines have long been known. They range from coin operated devices, such as bubble gum machines, to simple open topped bins that are commonly found in bulk food stores. These bulk food bins are often prone to contamination. A scoop is usually provided in these existing systems to allow customers to scoop out a desired quantity of product. The handling of food products in this way makes bulk foods a ready ground for undesired contamination. The containers themselves may not be cleaned very frequently.
Existing bulk food bins are also cumbersome to use. Most often, the units require the user to hold open a lid or door while scooping out product from the storage area, only to have the lid shut closed while the user empties the contents of the scoop into a bag or other container. Bulk vending systems in which the lid remains in an open position create another problem—often the consumer forgets to close the lid when he or she is finished scooping out product. This enables dust, dirt and vermin access to the contents of the dispenser creating a contaminated environment.
Product may also be wasted by the consumer resulting in the loss of profitability to the merchant as the consumer may often drop product on the floor due to overfilling or mishandling of the scoop.
Conventional rack systems for bulk dispensers for displaying and dispensing candy and the like are usually made in the form of a solid shelved structures. Often, such structures are placed on a table top or counter top these structures occupy a relatively large amount of space which leaves a relatively limited area for placement of the dispensing units. Also, due to the limited open area that a conventional solid rack system provides, the candy within the containers cannot be seen very well by consumers, especially when the amount of candy left in the dispenser is low, and thus, the display function of the rack system is reduced.
Finally, dispensers on existing rack systems are awkward to refill. Usually a merchant must remove each individual dispenser from the rack to refill it on a table or on the floor. Additionally, a merchant must have a designated area to warehouse product refills.
There remains a need for a simple, bulk food dispensing apparatus and rack system that is easy to clean, not easily prone to contamination, easily refillable, and allows a user to easily dispense any amount of the product so desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a rack system for holding a plurality of dispensing units for displaying and dispensing candy and the like therefrom.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a rack system for holding a plurality of dispensing units that can be easily refilled and maintained.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a bulk vending system in which food product is dispensed in a hygienic manner.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a bulk vending system for allowing a consumer to easily dispense product.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a bulk vending system which virtually eliminates wasted product due to consumer mishandling.
A still another object of the present invention is to provide a bulk vending system for displaying and dispensing a plurality of bulk dispensers in a minimum amount of floor space.
In one aspect of the present invention, a bulk vending apparatus for dispensing a user-determined amount of product stored in bulk is provided that includes a rack unit having a plurality of support structures capable of extending out from the rack unit and a plurality of dispensing units each containing a product for dispensing. The dispensing units are arranged on each of the support structures. Finally, the rack unit also includes a restraining means to restrain all but a first support structure of the plurality of support structures when a first support structure is extended from the rack unit.
In another aspect of the present invention, a vending apparatus for dispensing a user-determined amount of product stored in bulk is provided which includes a storage portion for storing loose product, and a dispensing barrel located at the bottom of the storage portion. The dispensing barrel includes a product inlet and outlet. Finally the bulk vending apparatus also includes an auger having a major diameter located within the dispensing barrel, and a brush member for brushing away excess product from the major diameter. The auger is rotatable to dispense a metered quantity of the product.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become much more apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
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DiMarchi Silvio J.
Ellis M. Jeffrey
Sklovsky Stuart
Wuensch Jack
Bomberg Kenneth
Fitzpatrick ,Cella, Harper & Scinto
Mars Inc.
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