US3915207A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-speed, automatic, powdered food and heated water dispenser
Assignee: FOOD SYSTEMS Inc ENTIRE
•
Filing: 1974-04-16
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1994-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A dispenser for automatically dispensing a predetermined quantity of powdered food or other soluble material into a receptacle, subsequently dispensing a predetermined quantity of heated water into the receptacle with the receptacles being intermittently moved into positions for receiving the powdered material and water by a turntable that is operated in response to placement of and removal of a receptacle at a predetermined position on the turntable. The dispenser is arranged so that the materials being dispensed are discharged externally of the dispenser and the receptacles which are manually positioned being readily accessible so that the operator of the dispenser may control the rate of dispensing operations in accordance with their own capabilities and in accordance with the demand for the food product thereby adapting the device for use with a commercial or institutional feeding line.
Inventors
- 👤 Jr Irving E Greenfield
- 👤 Bruce F House
- 👤 Ronald C Jacobson
- 👤 Jack A Morrow
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:54
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47J; A47J31/00; A47J31/40; A47J31/401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A dispensing device for powdered food product and hot water comprising conveying means carrying receptacles sequentially into registry with a soluble powdered food product discharge means and a water discharge means with said means being spaced from each other and oriented externally of a cabinet, means dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product into a receptacle from the food discharge means and means simultaneously discharging a predetermined quantity of water into a different receptacle from the water discharge means and means mounted adjacent the water discharge means to actuate the conveying means one increment of movement to move a receptacle from registry with the product discharge means into registry with the water discharge means in response to removal of a filled cup from registry with the water discharge means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A dispensing device for powdered food product and hot water comprising conveying means carrying receptacles sequentially into registry with a soluble powdered food product discharge means and a water discharge means with said means being spaced from each other and oriented externally of a cabinet, means dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product into a receptacle from the food discharge means and means simultaneously discharging a predetermined quantity of water into a different receptacle from the water discharge means and means mounted adjacent the water discharge means to actuate the conveying means one increment of movement to move a receptacle from registry with the product discharge means into registry with the water discharge means in response to removal of a filled cup from registry with the water discharge means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispensing means for the food product and said dispensing means for the water include independent adjustments to enable variation in the quantity of food product and water dispensed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said conveying means is in the form of a turntable rotatable about a central axis and including three radial arms having means on the leading edge thereof for receiving a cup with one of the arms being disposed at an empty cup station when the other two arms are in registry with the product discharge means and water discharge means whereby the operator of the dispensing device may control the output speed by selecting when the filled cup is removed from registry with the water discharge means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein said product dispensing Means and water dispensing means may be selectively and manually actuated independent of each other.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The structure as defined in claim 4 wherein each of said dispensing means includes a downwardly opening discharge spout.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein the discharge spout for the food product is provided with a heater to prevent moisture absorption and clogging of the spout.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The structure as defined in claim 6 wherein the water discharge spout includes a small fan associated therewith to deflect water vapor away from the food discharge spout.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The structure as defined in claim 7 wherein the cabinet includes a water heater and water tank connected with the water discharge spout for providing a supply of hot water.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
95 words
The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said conveying means is in the form of a turntable rotatable about a central axis and including three radial arms having means on the leading edge thereof for receiving a cup with one of the arms being disposed at an empty cup station when the other two arms are in registry with the product discharge means and water discharge means whereby the operator of the dispensing device may control the output speed by selecting when the filled cup is removed from registry with the water discharge means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
60 words
The structure as defined in claim 9 wherein each of said dispensing means includes a downwardly opening discharge spout, the discharge spout of the food product being provided with a heater to prevent moisture absorption and clogging of the spout, the water discharge spout including a small fan associated therewith to deflect water vapor away from the food discharge spout.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
144 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing means for a quantity of soluble powdered product, a dispensing means for a quantity of product solvent, said dispensing means being spaced from each other and for high speed automatic and simultaneous dispensing of a controlled portion of product and solvent into independent receptacles to facilitate use in a commercial tray-line meal assembly, turntable means disposed externally of the dispenser receiving a plurality of receptacles and moving them sequentially from registry with the product dispensing means to registry with the solvent dispensing means in response to removal of the receptacle from the turntable which is in registry with the solvent dispensing means, each of said dispensing means being actuated to dispense a predetermined quantity of product and solvent in response to movement of a receptacle into registry therewith for mixing the powdered product and solvent externally of the dispenser.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
144 words
A dispenser comprising a dispensing means for a quantity of soluble powdered product, a dispensing means for a quantity of product solvent, said dispensing means being spaced from each other and for high speed automatic and simultaneous dispensing of a controlled portion of product and solvent into independent receptacles to facilitate use in a commercial tray-line meal assembly, turntable means disposed externally of the dispenser receiving a plurality of receptacles and moving them sequentially from registry with the product dispensing means to registry with the solvent dispensing means in response to removal of the receptacle from the turntable which is in registry with the solvent dispensing means, each of said dispensing means being actuated to dispense a predetermined quantity of product and solvent in response to movement of a receptacle into registry therewith for mixing the powdered product and solvent externally of the dispenser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
107 words
The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein said turntable means includes at least three receptacles receiving areas to enable an empty receptacle to be positioned in a vacant area when two other receptacles are in stationary registry with the respective dispensing means with the turntable means remaining stationary until the receptacle in registry with the solvent dispensing means is removed from the turntable thereby positioning and removing receptacles from a hot solvent flow area by use of the turntable means, said turntable means including inaccessible microswitch means for actuation of the dispensing means by a receptacle rather than an operator''s hand engaging an easily misused faucet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said dispensing means includes independent manual control means for high-speed manual dispensing a predetermined quantity of product or solvent, said manual control means for the solvent including a push button switch rather than a faucet handle in a high traffic area to reduce the possibility of accidental activation and assure complete and instantaneous shut-off of hot water.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
The structure as defined in claim 11 wherein each of said dispensing means includes adjustment means by which the quantity of product and solvent dispensed during each actuation thereof is independently adjusted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3364959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |