Abstract:
A bulk dispensing apparatus uses a number of storage units for granular food products, i.e. candy, coffee, sugar, food supplements, etc.), each unit having a discharge hole with a valve connected to the hole of each unit. The valve is attached at a dispensing station above a catch basin, which catches the minimal spillage. By using a number of variously colored and flavored candy, specifically, a creative, decorative, edible art form in a clear container is easily fashioned and saved.

Description:
[0001]    A bulk dispensing apparatus for dispensing a user-determined amount of product stored in bulk in a plurality of individual, removable storage bottles. Each bottle is connected to a dispenser containing a valve. There is a slide or hinge, or other means or attachment, supported by the mechanism. It is manually movable. In non-dispensing mode-the spring slide is relaxed, in dispensing mode it is stressed. The valve is positioned such that the user-defined amount of product passes through upon compression of the push shaft, which opens the valve. The dispensing apparatus is attached to a main body, from which it can be quickly removed to sanitize. The body is generally upright, mounting to another surface, i.e. walls, tables, cabinets, mobile cart, storage case/cart, etc.  
         CROSS-REFERENCED RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0002]    [0002]                                                           6,047,746   August, 1998   Green           5,651,401   June, 1995   Cados           2,606,088   August, 1952   Leaf           2,759,632   August, 1956   Usery           3,077,254   February, 1963   Goldfarb                        
         BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a unique apparatus for filling receptacles with granular products, which may flow from single source containers.  
           [0004]    Dispensing mechanisms have long been known. They range from open containers that are common in bulk stores to coin operated machines such as candy machines.  
           [0005]    Both of the above mentioned utility&#39;s are prone to contamination-especially the bulk container where the end users manipulate the product with a scoop. The handling of the food products by the public submits the enclosed product to contaminants. The gumball machine is much more difficult to sanitize than the bulk containers, but it is also a mechanically complex machine making it difficult to maintain for the personal user. For that reason, the end user is deprived of any amusement, fun, and even candy from such dispensing machines.  
           [0006]    The idea of candy art is similar to that referred to in patent ______ Green. That particular mechanism is used to create sand art. Candy art, although similar in idea, is much better because the kids have and art they can eat. This mechanism is interactive, involving the users creativity, imagination, and playfulness. It brings back a sense of nostalgia for adult users as other powder products have been around for years.  
           [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for a dispenser that is easy, user-friendly, owner friendly, fun, interactive, and amuses the user.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    In accordance with the present invention a novel and useful apparatus for filling receptacles or containers with granular products is herein provided.  
           [0009]    It is an object of this invention to provide an easy, clean, fun, entertaining way to dispense granular products. Yet another object of this invention is to provide controlled flow of the granular product thereby reducing waste. These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by the use of a plurality of storage containers for the granular product, a discharge orifice and a valve connected to the orifice for each container. These advantages will become more apparent by reference to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    Apparatus embodying features of my invention are depicted in the accompanying drawings which form a portion of this disclosure and wherein:  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1. Is a frontal view of a five push button mechanism dispensing machine;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2. Is a frontal view of a five vertical dispense mechanism dispensing machine  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3. Is a side view through the dispensing machine and push button mechanism including the catch bin  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3A. Is a side view through the dispensing machine and vertical dispense mechanism including the catch bin  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4. Is an exploded side view of all the main components of the dispensing machines. Shown is the vertical dispense mechanisms. Note mechanisms are interchangeable therefore the exploded view would be the same.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5. Is a close up side view of the main frame of the dispensing machine and its relationship to the attachment of the dispensing mechanisms.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5A. Is another side view of the main frame of the dispensing machine and the relationship with the attachment of the mechanisms.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6A. Is are two bottom views of the push button dispensing mechanism. These views show the closed and open positions of this particular mechanism.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 Is a side view of the vertical dispense mechanism with a bottle of granular material attached. This mechanism is shown in the closed position.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 7A Is a side view of the vertical dispense mechanism in the open position allowing the granular material to be dispensed.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7B Is an exploded side view of the vertical dispense mechanism. Depicted are all the features of this mechanism and the necessary components needed for the use of this mechanism.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]    As shown in FIGS.  1 , &amp;  2 . A candy dispensing machine with round top of the machine  2  bottom channel  41  of top catch bin  15  and dispensing mechanisms  11 ,  16 . Shown is the five transparent dispensing mechanism machine. Each mechanism has an inverted bottle  4  or container such that the open hole in the bottle is fitted into the large hole  11 A in the top of the mechanism. This bottle is a snug fit with the dispenser and it shall be filled with granular and powdered products such as candy, gum, nutritional products or any similar edible granular product. The other end of the bottle or closed side is held in place by fitted piece  3 . This fitted piece  3  restricts movement of the bottle and non-intentional removal. Granular material flows from bottle through dispenser by mechanism  11  or mechanism  16 . The end user typically will fill up some sort of tube or container by standing in front of chosen dispensing mechanism and activating the dispenser as shown in FIGS. 6A, 7,  7 A. They may move from one dispensing mechanism to another choosing different colors or flavors of granular product. Spillage is caught by the removable catch bin  15 . The catch bin attaches quickly and easily to the main frame by hole  23  and secured with screw  5  and can be removed for cleaning and emptying. Edible granular products removed from catch bin are not re-used.  
         [0023]    Side View  
         [0024]    Displayed in FIGS. 3 &amp; 3A are side views of 5 dispensing mechanism dispensing machines. Shown in FIG. 3 is push button dispensing mechanism  11 , shown in FIG. 3A is vertical dispense mechanism  16  (make note that user or owner of the machine will choose one of these 2 styles of dispensing mechanisms for their machine), mounting shaft of mechanisms  17 , removable grid  19  to clean catch bin in place, insertion point in the mainframe of the machine  20 , back surface of catch bin  11   
         [0025]    Exploded Side View  
         [0026]    Displayed in FIGS.  4 , &amp;  5  is exploded side view of 5 dispensing mechanism dispensing machine. Catch bin  15 , Attachment end  40  of catch bin is formed for easy installation and removal from the bottom channel slots  23 .  
         [0027]    Bottom channel has numerous features important for the use of the dispensing machine and its relationship between the catch bin, dispensing mechanism, mounting surface, and signage. The dispensing mechanism (s&#39;) are inserted into the hole opening in the bottom front side of the bottom channel  39 . A corresponding lip  21  to the hole opening can be seen attached to the inside of the bottom channel. The relationship between hole  39 , lip  21 , keep the inserted piece  17  of FIG. 3 of the mechanism lined up perpendicular to the ground and the container full of granular material. Once inserted in bottom channel the dispensing mechanism(s) are held in place by the action of hinge piece  13  or similar holding plate attached on opposite side of slot  50 . Once  13  is pressing up against support shaft  17  the slide piece  44  with attached threaded piece  14  and adjustable clamping piece  12 , &amp; 12 A is slid into gap on hinge piece  13 . Once slide piece  44  and threaded piece  14  are in gap, clamping piece  12 , &amp;  12 A is tightened against hinge piece  13 . In the tightened mode the dispensing mechanism is held firmly in place.  
         [0028]    The top channel  25  has permanently attached curved pieces  43  and removable container end holder(s) 3  of FIG. 1. When dispensing mechanism is in place with attached container  4  the container is held in the correct position and unable to be removed without removing mechanism. Sign brackets  1  in FIG. 1 are used to mount removable and optional signage from top of round top  43 .  
         [0029]    Push Button Dispensing Mechanism  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 6 shows two sectional views of the push button dispensing mechanism. FIG. 6A depicts a bottom view of push button mechanism in both closed and open position. The push button held in closed position by spring  27  and action between stop piece  28  slot  17 A, pin  18 A in piece  28  and screw  28 A in end of push piece  18 . In closed position  18  on one side and screw  28 A attached near the end of push button going through slot  17 A in attached piece  17 . Spring is held on other side by stop  28  with pin  18 A. In open position the push button  17  is depressed laterally compressing spring  27 , and shown in  27 A to full compression against stop  28 . When push button  17  is fully depressed a through hole= 18 B in push button  17  aligns with holes in transparent material  11 B This action allows for granular product in bottle or container  4  to flow out of opening in transparent material  11 B. Attached piece  17  is a non-removable component.  
         [0031]    Vertical Dispense  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 7, 7A, &amp;  7 B, shows sectional views of a vertical dispense mechanism.  
         [0033]    This mechanism has similar attached piece  30  inserted in hole in transparent material. This attached piece is the same as  17  on the push button dispenser except it functions without the slot  17 A. The transparent material has five holes  16 A,  16 B,  16 C,  16 D,&amp;  16 E. Two holes  16 B, &amp;  16 E are perpendicular to the other three. These holes extend through the entire transparent piece  16  from top to bottom The hole on the top of the piece  16 B opens large enough to accept the bottle of granular material  4 , from this point the hole is cone shaped to allow for gravity feed movement of dispensed granular material, the remainder of the hole  16 E is consistent in size and extends through the rest of the transparent material and out the bottom. The first hole  16 D from the bottom is threaded to allow for a threaded piece to be inserted into the hole at a pre-determined distance. Threaded piece  33  is used as stop for the vertical push piece  34 . The middle or second hole  16 C from the bottom extends less than one third the distance across the transparent piece. It accepts the permanently mounted attached piece  30 . The third or final hole  16 A on the back side of the transparent piece is the smallest hole and it extends cross ways two thirds of the distance. Placed in this hole is rod  31 . Rod  31  holds the large side of conical spring  32 . This spring  32  is held in place under slight tension by stated rod  31  and vertical push piece  34 . The tension holding spring in place also keeps vertical push piece  34  in closed position. Dispenser is activated by user by the action of pushing upward on the vertical push piece allowing angular holes  35  to be exposed in the larger area of the through hole  16 B. This action opens valve and allows for product to flow through angular holes  35  and out straight through hole  16 E in the vertical push piece. Vertical push pieces  34  movement in fully open/closed position is restricted by action of notch  36 B for closed position and threaded piece  33 . In open position bottom of notch  36 A is stopped by threaded piece  33 . FIG. 7 a  shows compression  38  of spring  32  and the release of granular product.