Patent ID: 6145708
Filing Date: 2000-11-14
Classification: A23L,A47J

Abstract:
A granular dispensing apparatus for dispensing flowable solids, comprising:a vibratory feeder assembly including an elongated feed tray and a vibrator, the feed tray contains the flowable solids and has an open end thereon, the vibrator is mounted on the feed tray opposite the open end; and,a flowable particulate distributor including an inlet port, a first wall, a second wall, and a multiplicity of posts, the second wall being spaced away from the first wall, both of said first and second walls having a plurality of post holes formed within the walls, the posts being disposed between the walls in a geometric array, each of the posts having a first end and a second end, the first ends of the posts being attached to the plurality of post holes of the first wall and the second ends of the posts being attached to the plurality of post holes of the second wall, and the inlet port being positioned above the geometric array such that when the vibrator is actuated the feed tray vibrates causing the flowable solids to flow over the open end and through the inlet port and onto the geometric array, whereby the posts can be arranged and configured such that many different geometric arrays can be formed by simply moving the posts from one of the post holes to another of the post holes.