Coffee dispenser

Claim 2

A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each receptacle having an outer opening having a cross section smaller than that of the receptacle inwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotatively positioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater than 180* between a first position wherein the receptacles receive material from said hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a second position wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from the dispenser; and a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blocking a preselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block one associated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blocking disposition.

Claim 3

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said preselected number includes zero.

Claim 4

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said preselected number is at least one less than the number of said receptacles.

Claim 5

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 including means for pivotally carrying said receptacles for pivotal movement between an upright first position and a down-turned second position.

Claim 6

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 further including a second plurality of receptacles, and means for selectively concurrently positioning said receptacles of said second plurality in said second position when said receptacles of said first plurality are positioned in said first position, and positioning said receptacles of said second plurality in said first position when said receptacles of said first plurality are in said second position.

Claim 7

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacle defining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall, a diametric cross-wall, and a plurality of radial walls dividing the hollow cylinder into a plurality of longitudinally related spaces defining said receptacles, said tubular outer wall being provided with openings to said spaces for transfer of said material therethrough from said hopper to said unblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from said receptacles in said second position.

Claim 8

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacle defining means comprises a hollow cylinder having a tubular outer wall, a diametric cross-wall, and a first plurality of radial walls dividing one semi-cylindrical portion of the hollow cylinder into a plurality of longitudinally related first spaces defining said receptacles, said tubular outer wall being provided with openings to said spaces for transfer off said material therethrough from said hopper to said unblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from said receptacles in said second position, and a second plurality of radial walls dividing the other semi-cylindrical portion of the hollow cylinders in a plurality of longitudinally related second spaces defining a second plurality of said receptacles, said tubular outer wall being further provided with openings to said second plurality of spaces for transfer of said material therethrough from said hopper to said unblocked receptacles in said first position and delivery from said receptacles in said second position.

Claim 9

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein each said blocking elements comprises a shutter element removably positioned across said bottom opening of the hopper.

Claim 10

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacles are of different sizes.

Claim 11

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 further including a transfer chamber means housing said receptacles, said transfer chamber means defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly from the dispenser to effect said delivery.

Claim 12

The particulate material dispenser of claim 1 wherein said receptacle means further defines means for retaining said blocking elements in alignment with the preselected receptacles to assure said complete blocking of each blocked receptacle.

Claim 13

A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent said hopper opening; means for selectively concurrently positioning said receptacles in a first position to receive material from said hopper and in a second position to deliver the received material from the dispenser; means for selectively blocking a preselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material; and means for removably carrying the hopper, said selective blocking means and said removable carrying means including a rotatable asymmetric rod and cooperating shoulders on said carrying means and blocking means for selective engagement with said rod.

Claim 14

A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent said hopper opening; means for selectively concurrently positioning said receptacles in a first position to receive material from said hopper and in a second position to deliver the received material from the dispenser; means for selectively blocking a preselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material; and means for removably carrying the hopper, said selective blocking means and said removable carrying means including a rotatable asymmetric rod and cooperating shoulders on said carrying means and blocking means for selective engagement with said rod.

Claim 15

A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each receptacle having an outer opening having a cross sectiOn smaller than that of the receptacle inwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotatively positioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater than 180* between a first position wherein the receptacles receive material from said hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a second position wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from the dispenser; a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blocking a preselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block one associated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blocking disposition; and means for agitating the particulate material in said hopper as an incident of moving said receptacle between said positions.

Claim 16

A particulate material dispenser comprising: a hopper for storing particulate material to be dispensed, said hopper defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly; means defining a plurality of receptacles subjacent said hopper opening each receptacle having an outer opening having a cross sectiOn smaller than that of the receptacle inwardly thereof; means for alternatively concurrently rotatively positioning said receptacles back-and-forth substantially greater than 180* between a first position wherein the receptacles receive material from said hopper to effectively fully fill the receptacles and a second position wherein said receptacles deliver the received material from the dispenser; a plurality of blocking elements for selectively blocking a preselected number of said receptacles in said first position to permit transfer of said material from said hopper only to the unblocked receptacles for delivery therefrom of a preselected quantity of said material, each said blocking element being arranged to fully block one associated receptacle when disposed in a receptacle blocking disposition; and means for agitating the particulate material in said hopper as an incident of moving said receptacle between said positions.

Claim 17

The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 wherein said positioning means comprises means for pivotally reciprocating said receptacles about a fixed axis and said agitating means is rotatable, and further including drive means interconnecting said receptacle rotating means and said means for agitating said particulate material in said hopper.

Claim 18

The particulate material dispenser of claim 14 wherein said drive means includes speed change means arranged to cause said agitating means to be rotated faster than said positioning means.

Claim 19

The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 further including means for removably carrying the hopper in the dispenser, said agitating means being arranged to pass through said bottom opening of the hopper to permit removal of the hopper from said dispenser with said agitating means retained in association with the dispenser.

Claim 20

The particulate material dispenser of claim 13 further including a transfer chamber means housing said receptacles, said transfer chamber means defining a bottom opening for passing said material downwardly from the dispenser to effect said delivery.