Herb dispenser and roller

An herb dispenser is provided. The herb dispenser includes a housing. A receptacle is secured to the housing and includes an inlet and an outlet. An herb may be placed within the receptacle. At least one electronic scale may weigh the herb. The present invention further includes a grinding mechanism. The grinding mechanism includes a motor and an herb grinder disposed within the housing. The grinding mechanism includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is positioned to receive an herb from the outlet of the receptacle. The herb dispenser further includes an onboard computer to receive commands from a user and automate the electronic scale and the grinding mechanism to dispense an amount of ground herb from a first delivery port of the housing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to delivering herbs and, more particularly, to an herb dispenser and roller.

Medicinal or recreational herbs are typically stored in a re-sealable glass jar or containers. Due to the inherent nature of these re-sealable storage containers, access to the stored herbs is unrestricted for a potential looter. Also after retrieving the medicinal or recreational herb from the storage container the individual must have to perform several tasks prior to use. For example, medicinal herbs, such as medical marijuana, require the user to grind the herb into smaller sizes and rolling the herb into a cylindrical shaped package for use. The art of manually hand rolling these herbs into a cylindrical shaped package is very challenging for many and requires a lot of finger dexterity.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved herb dispenser and an herb roller.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, an herb dispenser comprises: a housing; a receptacle secured to the housing and comprising an inlet and an outlet; at least one electronic scale; a grinding mechanism comprising a motor and an herb grinder disposed within the housing, wherein the grinding mechanism comprises an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is positioned to receive an herb from the outlet of the receptacle; and a computer comprising a processor, a memory and a user interface, wherein the processor: receives a command from the user interface to deliver an amount of an herb; directs the herb grinder to grind the herb; measures the amount of the herb using the electronic scale; and delivers the amount of the herb from the housing through the outlet of the grinding mechanism and out of a first delivery port of the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention includes an apparatus for packaging or dispensing a user defined discrete amounts of medicinal or recreational herbs. The apparatus provides a means of storing medicinal or recreational herbs with controlled access to the storage chamber. The present invention prevents theft of the herb from the storage chamber by including a lock box that only opens to those that have authenticated credentials. The apparatus also provide a means to cut and automatically dispense a discrete amount of herbs with an option to automatically package the herb in a cylindrical package with very minimal user input.

The herbal dispenser functionality is accessed via an interactive visual display such as an LCD touch screen. The storage chamber includes an actuator which locks the storage chamber lid when closed. To access the locked storage chamber a method of authentication, such as a PIN, is entered in the interactive visual display. The PIN is authenticated by onboard software and a signal is sent to the actuator to open the storage chamber lid. To avoid injury all other functions of the dispenser is automatically disabled whenever the storage lid is open. The outlet of the storage chamber connects to the inlet of a grinder, such as a cross-cut shredder. The shafts on the cross-cut shredder are coupled together with gears so that a rotation on one shaft induces a rotation on the other shaft. One shaft is coupled to a DC motor which is activated whenever the herb from the storage chamber needs to be cut into smaller pieces.

A screen is housed just under the shredder outlet which allows herbs of certain sizes to pass through to the auger housing below. The auger housing includes an inlet, an auger coupling port and two outlets. The shredder outlet connects to the auger housing inlet with the screen in-between both sub-components. A screw conveyor is located in a trough shaped conduit located at the bottom of the auger housing. At the auger coupling port the auger shaft is supported by an auger bearing and attached to a motor via a motor coupler. The auger housing can convey the shredded herbs to two distinct outlets of the auger housing. One outlet leads to a dispensary receptacle while the other outlet leads to the packaging mechanism.

The dispensary receptacle area includes a transducer and a receptacle plate which is fixed over the transducer. If the user chooses to dispense a certain quantity of herb then after the herbs exit the shredder assembly they fall onto the screw conveyor located in the auger housing. The motor coupled to the screw conveyor then receives a signal from the processing board to turn the screw conveyor counter clockwise. Turing the screw conveyor counter clockwise moves the shredded herbs toward the dispensary receptacle outlet. Once at the outlet the shredded herb falls under the influence of gravity onto the receptacle plate below the opening. The transducer at the dispensary receptacle area polls and signals the processing board when the user defined herb quantity is reached.

If the user chooses the packaging option then the motor coupled to the screw conveyor receives a signal from the processing board to turn screw conveyor clockwise. Turing the screw conveyor clockwise moves the shredded herbs away from the dispensary receptacle outlet towards the packaging mechanism herb inlet. The packaging mechanism includes a paper inlet, herb inlet, a packaging apron, three paper and apron feeder rollers, paper sensor, transducer, package outlet door, gears, bearings and motors. A sensor located at the paper inlet allows the processing board to determine when a packaging paper is inserted into the packaging mechanism. Four cylindrical shaped rubber rods with length approximately equal to the packaging paper but one with a different diameter than the other three rods are positioned in close parallel proximity with each other and assembled with a patterned washers. The shafts on both ends of the configured rollers are confined to the two ends of packaging mechanisms housing via shaft bearings. One of the paper and apron feeder roller shaft is longer than the others to enable motor coupling. The paper and apron feeder rollers are located just below the paper inlet. After applying moisture to the gum of the paper a user feeds the paper into the paper inlet and the ground herbs are rolled into the paper via the rollers. The rolled ground herbs are then dispensed from a delivery port of the packaging mechanism.

Referring toFIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention includes an herb dispenser. The herb dispenser includes a housing96. A receptacle10is secured to the housing96and includes an inlet and an outlet. An herb may be placed within the receptacle10. At least one electronic scale93a,93bmay weigh the herb. The present invention further includes a grinding mechanism29. The grinding mechanism29includes a motor86and an herb grinder disposed within the housing96. The grinding mechanism29includes an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is positioned to receive an herb from the outlet of the receptacle10. The herb dispenser further includes an onboard computer to receive commands and automate the electronic scale93a,93band the grinding mechanism29to dispense an amount of ground herb from the grinding mechanism outlet and through a first delivery port107of the housing96.

The components of the present invention may be disposed within the housing96. A power cord110may extend from the housing96and may be plugged into an outlet to provide power to the herb dispenser. The present invention may also be powered by batteries, such as rechargeable batteries. The receptacle10may be disposed within the housing96and a lid98may cover and uncover the inlet to the receptacle10. The lid98may be attached to the housing by a hinge102. A lid tab100may extend from the lid98and may be locked in a closed position by a latch12. A first electronic scale93amay weigh the amount of herb disposed within the receptacle10. In such embodiments, a tab14may extend laterally from the receptacle10. A load cell16may be disposed underneath the tab14. The tab14may apply pressure against the load cell16when herb is within the receptacle10and the load cell16determines the weight of herbs within the receptacle10. The outlet of the receptacle10dispenses herb into the grinding mechanism29.

The grinding mechanism29may include a housing that houses the grinder having an inlet at the top to receive herb from the receptacle10and an outlet at the bottom to dispense ground herb. The housing may include a first side plate30, a second side plate32, a first front plate34and a second front plate36. The herb grinder may include a first shredder shaft22and a second shredder shaft24secured to the first and second side plates30,32by bearings20. Each of the shredder shafts24may include shredder blades26. A motor86may rotates a coupling shaft88. The coupling shaft88is secured to a first gear18which is interlocked with a second gear18. The first gear18is secured to the first shredder shaft22and the second gear18is secured to the second shredder shaft24. Therefore, when the motor86is powered, the coupling shaft88is rotated, which in turn rotates the gears18and the shredder shafts22,24. When the shredder shafts22,24are rotated, the herb within the receptacle10is ground. A screen28may be disposed below the grinder and secured to the housing outlet. Therefore, only certain sized pieces of herb may fit through the screen28and the housing outlet. Larger pieces are caught by the blades26and ground again until the pieces are small enough to pass through the screen28.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a dispenser portion and a packaging mechanism. In such embodiments, the present invention includes a transport mechanism to transport the ground herb to either the dispenser portion or the packaging mechanism. The transport mechanism includes a housing38. The housing38includes an inlet to receive ground herb from the outlet of the grinding mechanism29. The housing38may include a trough shape leading to a shoot. The shoot includes a first outlet40and a second outlet42. A bi-directional conveyor may be disposed within the shoot to deliver herb to either the first outlet40or the second outlet42. For example, the conveyor may include a motor86that rotates a drive shaft88. A screw auger44, such as a shaft less screw auger, may be secured within the shoot by bearings46. The drive shaft88is secured to and rotates the screw auger44either clockwise or counter clockwise. In certain embodiments, the first outlet40delivers herb to the dispenser portion and the second outlet42delivers herb to the packaging mechanism. The motor86may rotate the screw auger44counter clockwise to deliver the ground herb to the first outlet40and clockwise to deliver the ground herb to the second outlet42.

The dispenser portion of the present invention includes the first delivery port107. The screw auger44may be rotated to deliver the ground herb through the first outlet40and the ground herb may be dispensed out of the housing96through the first delivery port107. A second electronic scale93bmay be disposed beneath the first delivery port107. In such embodiments, a plate94may be disposed just beneath the first delivery port107. A load cell92may determine a weight of the ground herb that is dispensed onto the plate94.

As mentioned above, the present invention further includes a packaging mechanism. The packaging mechanism may package the ground herb in a rolled cigarette. The screw auger44may be rotated to deliver the ground herb through the second outlet42and into the packaging mechanism. The packaging mechanism includes a roller housing. The roller housing includes a first end plate48, a second end plate80, a top plate68, a cross plate72, and an outlet door74connected to the end plates48,80by pivot pins76. The top plate68may include an inlet slot70and a paper sensor52. The first end plate48may include an inlet50to receive ground herb from the second outlet42and a material sensor82may detect that the ground herb has traveled into the packaging mechanism.

The packaging mechanism may include a plurality of rollers60,62,64,66disposed within the housing. The plurality of rollers60,62,64,66may include two large rollers60, a large roller with an elongated shaft62, a smaller roller with shafts64and a smaller roller with pin slots66. Washers58may be secured to the ends of the rollers60,62,66and the ends of the rollers60,62,66may be secured to the end plates48,80by bearings56. As mentioned above, the outlet door74may be pivotally secured to the housing by pivot pins76. The smaller roller with pin slots66may be secured to the outlet door by pins78. A coupling shaft88connects a motor86to the elongated shaft of the large roller with an elongated shaft62. The motor86rotates the large roller with an elongated shaft62which rotates interlocking gears84, which rotates the two large rollers60. An apron54surrounds rollers60,64,66.

The ground herb may be delivered through the inlet50until the material sensor82is activated at which point a user may deliver a piece of paper through the inlet slot70. A paper sensor52detects the paper from the inlet slot70and sends a signal to the onboard computer located in the housing96. The signal triggers a sequence of events by rotating the motor86in a counter clockwise motion. The elongated shaft of a large roller62coupled to the motor86via coupling shaft88is rotated counter clockwise. The gear84coupled to the elongated shaft are also rotated in a counter clockwise motion which turns the interlocking gears84coupled to the two large rollers60. The clockwise and counter clockwise motion of the large rollers60,62pulls the paper into a small gap between the two small rollers64,66below. The counterclockwise and clockwise motion of the two large rollers60,62moves the apron54in the clockwise motion. Consequently, the clockwise motion of the apron54rotates the grinded herb counter clockwise in the packaging mechanism. The paper that was pulled into the gap between the two small rollers64,66is sandwiched between the apron54and grinded herb due to the counter clockwise movement of the herb and clockwise movement of the apron54. The cigarette is then rolled in between rollers64,66and the apron54. When the herb has been rolled within the paper to form a cigarette, the outlet door74may pivot open with the smaller roller with pin slots66and deliver the cigarette out of the second delivery port108.

In certain embodiments, the present invention may include a touch screen104for a user to control the herb dispenser. The present invention may further include a speaker106to provide instructions. The touch screen104is the user interface of the computer. A user may choose from a selection including scale, dispense or package displayed on the touch screen104. The user may be prompted to pay for the herb. IN such embodiments, the present invention may include a credit/debit card reader and a money receiving slot for the user to make payment. When the user chooses scale, a user may weigh the herb within the receptacle96. A memory of the computer may store a predetermined code. The computer receives an entered code from the user interface, determines if the predetermined code and the entered code match, and unlocks the latch12if the predetermined code matches the entered code. The locking mechanism is not limited to a code and may include a biometric and RFID capabilities. The user may open the lid and place the herb within the receptacle96. The weight of the herb within the receptacle is then displayed on the touch screen104. The user then closes the lid98and the latch12locks the lid98closed. A plurality of other users may then use the user interface of the machine to dispense or roll a specified amount of herb.

If a user chooses dispense, the computer receives a command from the user interface to deliver an amount of herb, directs the motor86to rotate the shredder shafts22,24and grind the herb, directs the motor86to rotate the screw auger44in a first direction to deliver the herb to the first outlet; and delivers the amount of the herb from the housing through the outlet of the grinding mechanism29and out of a first delivery port107of the housing. The herb may be dispensed until the load cell92reaches the threshold amount and the computer directs the herb dispenser to stop dispensing additional herb. If the user chooses to package the herb, the computer receives a command from the user interface to roll or package the herb, directs the motor86to rotate the shredder shafts22,24and grind the herb, directs the motor86to rotate the screw auger44in a second direction opposite the first direction to deliver the herb to the second outlet, and into the rolling mechanism. The user then applies moisture to the gum in sheet of rolling paper and places the sheet of rolling paper through the inlet slot70. The sensors52,82send a signal to the computer that the herb and the paper have been received. The motor86is then activated to rotate the rollers60,62and roll the herb within the paper. The outlet door74is pivoted open by a motor90and the rolled cigarette is delivered through the second delivery port108.