Patent ID: 6431410
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: A47F,A47G,G01F

Abstract:
A rice dispensing system used to store and dispense measured quantities of rice at a single pressing of a button, comprising, in combination:a housing having a generally rectangular configuration, the housing having an open upper end, an open lower end, a front wall, a back wall, and opposed side walls, the open upper end having a lid hingedly coupled thereto, the lid sealing the open upper end in a closed orientation, the housing including an L-shaped support stand extending downwardly therefrom, the support stand including a vertical segment extending downwardly from the back wall, the support stand including a horizontal segment extending forwardly from a lower edge of the vertical segment, the horizontal segment being positioned below the open lower end of the housing, the housing having a tapered compartment disposed within the open upper end, the tapered compartment having an open lower end, the tapered compartment holding a quantity of rice therein, the housing having a dispensing funnel disposed within the open lower end thereof, the dispensing funnel having an open upper end and an open lower end; a conveyor system disposed within the housing disposed below the tapered compartment, the conveyor system serving to deliver rice from the tapered compartment to the dispensing funnel, the conveyor system including a continuous loop belt disposed around a pair of spaced apart rotatable sprockets, the belt having a plurality of spaced apart lips extending upwardly therefrom, the conveyor system including a motor coupled with one of the sprockets; and a timer system in communication with the conveyor system, the timer system controlling the activation of the motor of the conveyor system for predetermined lengths of time, the timer system including a plurality of activation buttons disposed in the front wall of the housing, each of the buttons activating the motor at predetermined intervals corresponding with a selected quantity of rice to be dispensed into the dispensing funnel.