Patent Publication Number: US-7588062-B1

Title: Candy powder dispensing apparatus

Description:
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. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the food dispenser of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a cross-sectional side view of the food dispenser with the valve in a closed position. 
       FIG. 3  shows a cross-sectional view of the food dispenser with the valve in an open position. 
   

   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. 1  shows a perspective view of the food dispensing apparatus  10  of the present invention. Dispensing apparatus  10  has a first housing  11  with a chamber  12  for holding granulated or powdered food materials such as, for example, powdered or granulated candy of any desired color and flavor. The bottom of the chamber  12  has drain opening  40  connected to a shaft  13 . A dispensing chute  14  extends downward from shaft  13 . Inside shaft  13  is a valve  30  (see  FIG. 2 ) which controls the flow of food material from the bottom of chamber  12  into dispensing chute  14 . First housing  11  is attached to a second housing  15 . Guide arms  16  are attached to second housing  15  below first housing  11 . Guide arms  16  allow the insertion of a collection tube  19 . The guide arms  16  engage an annular groove  42  in collection tube  19  to hold collection tube  19  in place, preventing it from contacting the tip  41  of dispensing chute  14 . Collection tube  19  can have a funnel  20  and plug  21  for insertion into funnel  20 . Second housing  15  has a rod  17  having one end which engages a cam lever  35  inside second housing  15  (see  FIG. 2 ). The opposite end of rod  17  has an activation plate  18 . Collection tube  19  can be pushed along guide arms  16  so that it contacts activation plate  18 . Collection tube  19  can be further pushed against activation plate  18  so that rod  17  is pushed into housing  15 , thereby engaging cam lever  35 . As rod  17  pushes cam lever  35 , valve  30  opens and food material can pass through the drain opening  40 , through valve  30 , through dispensing chute  14 , and into collection tube  19 . As collection tube  19  is removed from activation plate  18  valve  30  closes. 
     FIG. 2  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of food dispensing apparatus  10 . Shaft  13  extends through housing  11  and housing  15 . Within shaft  13  is valve  30 . Valve  30  has a base  31  on one end and a head  32  on the other end. Near the head end  32  is an opening  33  that passes through valve  30 . There is a spring  34  in the head end  32  to bias opening  33  away from drain opening  40  at the bottom of chamber  12  and away from dispensing chute  14 . When valve opening  33  is, thus, not in alignment with drain opening  40  and dispensing chute  14 , food material will not flow from chamber  12  through dispensing chute  14 . 
   A cam lever  35  is contained within second housing  15  and is mounted rotatably to housing  15  by pin  38 . Cam lever  35  has a first end  36  and an opposite end  37 . First end  36  is contained within shaft  13  and engages the base  31  of valve  30 . The opposite end  37  of cam lever  35  engages rod  17 . As shown in  FIG. 3  as rod  17  is pushed into second housing  15  by pushing on activation plate  18  with collection tube  19 , cam lever  35  rotates about pin  38  and first end  36  of cam lever  35  pushes valve  30  along shaft  13 , compressing spring  34  and aligning valve opening  33  with drain opening  40  and dispensing chute  14 . When valve opening  33  is aligned with drain opening  40  and dispensing chute  14 , food material will flow from the chamber  12 , through valve opening  33 , through dispensing chute  14 , and into collection tube  19 . When collection tube  19  is no longer pushed against activation plate  18 , spring  34  will push valve  30  along shaft  13  so that valve opening  33  is no longer aligned with drain opening  40  and dispensing chute  14 , thereby shutting off flow from food chamber  12 . 
   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.