Candy powder dispensing apparatus

A dispensing apparatus having a chamber to hold granular or powdered materials, such as candy, and having a dispensing chute with a valve between the chamber and dispensing chute. The valve is biased in a closed position but can be opened by pushing a cam lever. The dispensing apparatus has guide arms to hold a collecting tube so that the collecting tube does not touch the dispensing chute. The guide arms also allow a user to open the valve to cause the candy to flow into the collecting tube by pushing the collecting tube against the cam lever which causes the valve to open.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of dispensing granular or powdered materials and, more particularly, to devices for dispensing granular or powdered candy.

2. Technical Background

Devices are known for filling receptacles with granular, particulate, and/or powdered materials which are transported from containers into the receptacles. Dispensing mechanisms for these devices range from open containers with scoops to coin operated machines. Granular matter, such as sand, can be provided in various colors and can be dispensed from storage containers to produce a decorative art form in a transparent receptacle. Granular food products such as candy can also be dispensed by a user to fashion a creative decorative edible art form in a clear container. Granular or powdered food products need special care to avoid contamination. Thus, there is a need for a dispensing unit for granular food materials that will reduce contamination between the dispensing mechanism and the receptacles that receive the granular food material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a dispensing apparatus for granular or powdered food having a chamber for holding the food material. Between the bottom of the chamber and a dispensing chute is a valve having an opening which allows the food material to flow from the bottom of the chamber into the dispensing chute. The opening in the valve is biased away from the bottom of the chamber so that the food material will not flow from the bottom of the chamber into the dispensing chute. Below the dispensing chute are tube guides to hold a collection tube so that it does not contact the dispensing chute. The tube guides allow the collection tube to be pushed by a user against an activation plate. As the activation plate is pushed it moves a rod against a cam lever which pushes the valve so that the opening in the valve is aligned with the bottom of the chamber and the food material can flow from the food chamber, through the opening, into the dispensing chute, and then into the collection tube. When the collection tube is pulled away from the activation plate, the opening in the valve will move away from the bottom of the chamber and the dispensing chute and food material will no longer flow out of the chamber.

An advantage of the present invention is a granular powdered food dispenser that prevents contamination between the dispensing chute and the collection tube.

Another advantage is a food dispenser with a chamber that can be supplied by bottles filled with granular or powdered food.

Another advantage is the ability to combine several food dispensers to provide as many colors and flavors of candy as desired.

Another advantage is the use of a simple and durable valve and cam lever to open and close the channel between the food chamber and dispensing chute by pushing a collection tube against an activation plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While the following description details the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of the parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways.

FIG. 1shows a perspective view of the food dispensing apparatus10of the present invention. Dispensing apparatus10has a first housing11with a chamber12for holding granulated or powdered food materials such as, for example, powdered or granulated candy of any desired color and flavor. The bottom of the chamber12has drain opening40connected to a shaft13. A dispensing chute14extends downward from shaft13. Inside shaft13is a valve30(seeFIG. 2) which controls the flow of food material from the bottom of chamber12into dispensing chute14. First housing11is attached to a second housing15. Guide arms16are attached to second housing15below first housing11. Guide arms16allow the insertion of a collection tube19. The guide arms16engage an annular groove42in collection tube19to hold collection tube19in place, preventing it from contacting the tip41of dispensing chute14. Collection tube19can have a funnel20and plug21for insertion into funnel20. Second housing15has a rod17having one end which engages a cam lever35inside second housing15(seeFIG. 2). The opposite end of rod17has an activation plate18. Collection tube19can be pushed along guide arms16so that it contacts activation plate18. Collection tube19can be further pushed against activation plate18so that rod17is pushed into housing15, thereby engaging cam lever35. As rod17pushes cam lever35, valve30opens and food material can pass through the drain opening40, through valve30, through dispensing chute14, and into collection tube19. As collection tube19is removed from activation plate18valve30closes.

FIG. 2illustrates a cross-sectional side view of food dispensing apparatus10. Shaft13extends through housing11and housing15. Within shaft13is valve30. Valve30has a base31on one end and a head32on the other end. Near the head end32is an opening33that passes through valve30. There is a spring34in the head end32to bias opening33away from drain opening40at the bottom of chamber12and away from dispensing chute14. When valve opening33is, thus, not in alignment with drain opening40and dispensing chute14, food material will not flow from chamber12through dispensing chute14.

A cam lever35is contained within second housing15and is mounted rotatably to housing15by pin38. Cam lever35has a first end36and an opposite end37. First end36is contained within shaft13and engages the base31of valve30. The opposite end37of cam lever35engages rod17. As shown inFIG. 3as rod17is pushed into second housing15by pushing on activation plate18with collection tube19, cam lever35rotates about pin38and first end36of cam lever35pushes valve30along shaft13, compressing spring34and aligning valve opening33with drain opening40and dispensing chute14. When valve opening33is aligned with drain opening40and dispensing chute14, food material will flow from the chamber12, through valve opening33, through dispensing chute14, and into collection tube19. When collection tube19is no longer pushed against activation plate18, spring34will push valve30along shaft13so that valve opening33is no longer aligned with drain opening40and dispensing chute14, thereby shutting off flow from food chamber12.

The foregoing description has been limited to specific embodiments of this invention. It will be apparent, however, that variations and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art to the disclosed embodiments of the invention, with the attainment of some or all of its advantages and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the chamber can be constructed to accommodate any kind of filling device such as bottles, jars, or automatic filling systems. An unlimited number of units of the dispensing apparatus of the present invention can be arranged in various ways as desired to provide a variety of colored food substances for filling a collection tube.

It will be understood that various changes in the details, materials, and arrangements of the parts which have been described and illustrated above in order to explain the nature of this invention may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principle and scope of the invention as recited in the following claims.