Patent GB-709712-A (GB)
Title: A dispenser for sugar and the like
IPC: G01F11/26
Filed: 1950-09-23
Abstract: 709,712. Delivering measured quantities of granular &c. materials. ORTON, F. G. Nov. 19, 1951 [Sept. 23. 1950], No. 23370/50. Class 106(5) [Also in Group XVII] In a dispenser for selectively pouring one of a number of alternative measured quantities of sugar or other granular material from a container, with which it is integrally formed or to which it can be attached, a quantity of sugar is trapped during inversion of the container and return to its original position and during subsequent inversion, all the trapped sugar is delivered or only a portion is delivered and a variable portion is retained for return to the container. The amount. delivered depends on the position of rotation about its own axis in which the container is held during pouring. In the version shown in Fig. 1, a cube-shaped member 13 is slidable on eight ribs 11 on a hollow outer pyramid 10 and carries a pyramid-shaped hopper 14 which is attached by its corners to the centres of the sides of the member and which carries a closure 28 for the delivery aperture in the outer pyramid 10. The hopper is divided into cells by means of walls 26, to ensure even distribution of the sugar. Also attached to the member 13 is a funnel 24 having a tube 25 extending to the base of, or just within, the hopper 14. Slots 15, 16 and 17 are provided at three of the corners of the member 13 and are at different distances from one end of the member. When the container is inverted, the dispensing mechanism falls down until the funnel 24 rests on the sides of the outer member 10 and delivers sugar into the hopper 26; during inversion, a deflector 30 ensures that only a smali quantity of sugar falls outside the funnel. On restoring the container to its original position, most of the sugar falls from the hopper into the space between the tube 25 and the member 13. The container is then held 'so that one corner of the member 13 will be in the lowermost position during tilting, as may be indicated by markings on the edges of the outer member 10. During inversion when held in this position, sugar from around the tube 25 will flow along the lowermost corner and, if it is a corner having . a slot 15, 16 or 17, out through this slot into the space formed by the walls of the outer member 10, a pair of the ribs, 11 and a pair of the sides of the member 13 until this space is filled and the slot is obstructed so that the remainder of the sugar is discharged through the open aperture of the member 10. The quantity diverted from' delivery depends on the position of the slot in the selected corner, but, if the corner having no slot is selected the full quantity will be delivered. During this second inversion, the hopper will be re-filled and, on restoration of the container to the upright position, will again discharge into the space around the tube 25 while any sugar diverted from delivery will fall back into the container. In a modification of this movable mechanism only four ribs 11 are provided and serve solely for guiding the dispensing mechanism, the diversion spaces being formed by two ribs on each of three of the outer sides of the member 13; sloping ribs are also provided on the inner sides of the member 13 to locate the hopper and guide the flow of sugar, the ribs terminating at the ends of the slots on the edges that have slots. In the version shown in Fig. 7 the dispensing operation is the same as in the other version but the dispensing mechanism is not movable. The outer member is in the form of a hollow cone 210 and the funnel 234, tube 235 and hopper 236 are secured to a conical cup 218, the hopper being secured by curved vanes 237 having extensions 238 passing through slots in the cup. Three slots 231, of varying length and one in each of three quadrants of the cup, communicate with diversion spaces whose sides are formed by triangular projections 233 at the end of each slot, a fourth quadrant has no slot. Buttresses 215 on the outer member 210 indicate which quadrant will be in the lowermost position. A neck constrictor 240 extends downwardly from the mouth of the container-or is attached by vanes to the funnel and a closure ball 244 slides on a rod 242 extending from the hopper.