Patent Publication Number: US-2011062190-A1

Title: Bulk product dispenser having a container-activated dispensing actuator release assembly

Description:
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/241,436, filed Sep. 11, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to a bulk inventory dispensing apparatus and, more particularly, to a gravity-fed dispensing apparatus with a locking dispensing actuator. The apparatus allows bulk inventory stored in a dispensing bin to flow under the force of gravity upon release of a dispensing actuator locking portion of the bin thereby enabling rotation of the dispensing actuator. Once released, the dispensing actuator can then be articulated to permit stored inventory to be dispensed through an outlet portion of the bin into a staged receptacle. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Gravity fed bins for dispensing bulk inventory are used to dispense a wide variety of materials having a range of sizes and aggregate make-ups as diverse as hardware components, e.g., nuts and bolts, to retail grocery food, e.g., pastas, cereals, nuts, coffee (either beans or ground), dried soup mixes, candies, spices, and the like. Generally, such a bin is comprised of a hopper-type enclosure having an inlet at an upper end utilized to fill the enclosure with bulk inventory, an outlet or chute at its lower end utilized to dispense the material, and a flow control device located intermediate the upper and lower openings and controlled by a manually-actuated gate mechanism. This arrangement, in turn, permits manipulation of the amount of inventory being dispensed during the interval the handle or other control device is actuated. In operation, as the inventory is being dispensed, the force of gravity causes the portion stored above in the cavity to progressively migrate towards the lower end to replace the void left as portions of the inventory are dispensed. These types of bins generally include a downwardly angled or curving inner floor surface wall within the cavity that forms a slide to channel the stored inventory into a receptacle adjacent the outlet gate. Examples of prior art gravity fed bins can be found in the above-mentioned U.S. patents to Elmore, U.S. Pat. No. 4,903,866 to Loew, NewLeaf Designs&#39; Vita-Bin® gravity bin product, and BestBins Corporation&#39;s gravity bins product. 
     Heretofore, the one means for dispensing such stored bulk inventory was to employ a bulk food dispenser generally known as a “scoop bin.” As the name suggests, a scoop bin typically comprises a plastic bin, often having a hinged lid that is lifted to provide the consumer access to the stored contents. A hand scoop is then employed to gather the bulk product for placement into a container. While scoop bins are effective for dispensing a wider variety of product than a gravity type dispenser, they suffer from several major disadvantages, particularly in the area of hygiene, because of the contamination that can take place in these types of dispensers. Sources of contamination include germs that may be attached to the scoop or scoop handle being transferred to the stored product during dispensing or from external debris falling into the bin cavity when the bin&#39;s lid is lifted. Lastly, since the nature of scoop bins requires their openings to be located closer to the floor for access reasons, they are generally within the reach of children and others who are not hesitant to reach into the unsecured bins with potentially unclean hands in order to extract a sample, or even play with the bin contents. In addition, scoop bins also suffer from inventory shrinkage, due to pilferage and accidental spillage. 
     Gravity-fed bins offer a multitude of advantages compared to other dispensing means, such as scoop bins, including convenience, ease of use and hygiene. However, the ease in which inventory can be dispensed from gravity-fed dispensers sometimes works against itself in that the release mechanism may be easily actuated and thus dispense inventory through the outlet regardless of whether there is a receptacle in place to catch it. This type of dispensing may be accidental, such as a child in a grocery cart tugging on a bin handle, or less so in the case of pilferage or pranks emanating from a portion of grocery clientele and is often referred to as “shrink” or “shrinkage.” In addition to accidental shrink, once a customer dispenses the bulk inventory into a container, all or some part of the dispensed inventory may be consumed by the customer prior to checking out. If consumed prior to being weighed by the retailer for payment, the amount eaten by the consumer amounts to shrink. 
     Bulk inventory shrinkage adversely affects a grocery retailer in a number of ways. First there is the cost of replacing the lost inventory that has left the gravity-fed bin without payment. Second, shrinkage stemming from accidental spills can make a mess that must be quickly cleaned up. Thus, there remains a need for a reliable, clean and easy to operate bulk inventory dispenser that prevents the dispenser from operating accidentally and once dispensed the inventory is stored in a manner to discourage a customer from eating it prior to check out, thus reducing shrinkage. 
     SUMMARY 
     The invention disclosed herein addresses and overcomes the shortcomings inherent in providing the consuming public access to self-serve, gravity-fed bulk inventory bins. The present invention provides a means for locking a dispensing actuator until a user of the bin properly slides a receiving receptacle into a receiver located beneath the outlet. Once the receptacle is properly staged the dispensing actuator is unlocked, allowing stored inventory to be dispensed into the receptacle. Once the desired amount of inventory is placed into the receptacle the user releases the dispensing actuator, removes the receptacle from the receiver and places a lid onto the receptacle. Once it is placed in a sealed container dispensed inventory has a much better chance of being be taken to the checkout and paid for without undue shrink. 
     The bulk product dispenser with receptacle activated dispensing actuator release according to the present invention is preferably constructed of molded plastic, such as polycarbonate, but other moldable or machinable materials and color configurations are anticipated. For food related dispensers, it is also preferable to utilize materials that have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and constructed in accordance with food service specifications issued by NSF Int&#39;l of Ann Arbor, Mich. 
     One aspect of the present disclosure is a locking means for a dispenser of stored bulk inventory. The dispenser comprises a housing, a lower outlet in the housing, a dispensing actuator pivotally connected to the housing, a gate connected to the dispensing actuator and adapted to pivot between a closed position and an open position between a storage cavity and a dispensing cavity within the dispenser, a locking mechanism in communication with the dispensing actuator to prevent its unintentional actuation, an actuator arm proximate the outlet and coupled to the locking mechanism, a receiving container for securing the dispensed inventory for purchase. When a consumer properly places a receptacle into a predetermined position relative to the outlet, the receptacle triggers a releasing actuator, thereby releasing the locking mechanism and allowing the bulk inventory to flow from the dispenser through an opening in the housing and ultimately into the receiving container. 
     Another aspect of the disclosure is a tamper resistant, locking lid for a bulk inventory receiver for securing dispensed inventory in a receptacle and thus preventing shrinkage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Further features of the inventive embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the embodiments relate from reading the specification and claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of a gravity-fed, bulk inventory dispenser in the art according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,241,123; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a bulk product dispenser according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing a receptacle receiver located beneath an outlet of the dispenser while the dispensing actuator is in a locked, non-dispensing condition; 
         FIG. 3  is a front end elevational view of the bulk product dispenser of  FIG. 2  with the dispensing actuator in a locked condition according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a side elevational view of the bulk product dispenser of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the dispenser of  FIG. 2  according to an embodiment of the present invention, showing the receptacle receiver located beneath an outlet of the dispenser while the dispenser is in an unlocked, dispensing condition; 
         FIG. 6  is a front end elevational view of the bulk product dispenser of  FIG. 5  in an unlocked condition; 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the bulk product dispenser of  FIG. 6 ; and 
         FIGS. 8A through 8D  show the bulk product dispenser of  FIG. 2  dispensing product. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the discussion that follows, like reference numeral are used to refer to like elements in the various figures. 
     A gravity-fed, bulk inventory dispenser  10  as available in the art from Trade Fixtures, LLC of Little Rock, Ark. is shown in  FIG. 1 . Dispenser  10  includes a housing  18  for storing bulk product. Housing  18  is shown mounted to a base  79  via mounting arm  76 . As can be seen, a dispensing area  21  is contiguous to an output portal  42  which is shown fitted with a set of stationary bag grip ribs at  84 . Housing  18  may also include a detachable front portion  22  to provide access to a portion of the interior of dispenser  10  for service and maintenance. 
     A lid  12  fits atop housing  18  to provide selectable access to the interior of the housing for refilling depleted bulk inventory. Lid  12  may be removable or hinged to housing  18 , and may be held in place in any conventional manner, such as a press-fit using mating projections on the lid and/or the housing. 
     A dispensing actuator  34  is pivotally attached to housing  18 . Although dispensing actuator  34  is shown in the form of a handle, additional actuator devices are anticipated which may be manually actuated to articulate a gate that holds back the stored bulk materials. Such additional actuators include, without limitation, an actuator combined with an output portal of the gravity-fed bin. An internal gate (not shown) is arranged to selectively block and unblock an opening (not shown, but internal to the housing proximate dispensing arm  21 ) between the cavity  16  of housing  18  and output portal  42 . The gate is mechanically coupled to dispensing actuator  34  such that the gate, if unimpeded, raises when the dispensing actuator is pivoted downwardly. Under this condition, bulk inventory stored within the cavity  16  of bulk inventory dispenser  10  is permitted to flow from within the cavity, through output portal  42  and, preferably, into a consumer guided receptacle (not shown). For so long as the opening is blocked by the gate, bulk inventory stored in bulk inventory dispenser  10  is prevented from being discharged from the outlet. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 2 through 7 , details of an embodiment of a dispensing portion  100  of the present disclosure are shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. Dispensing actuator  34  and a gate  102  are held in a predetermined, closed position by a first biasing element  104  such that the gate blocks the flow of stored inventory through an opening passage  106  when the dispensing actuator is not being actuated. First biasing element  104  may be any suitable structure effective to hold dispensing actuator  34  in the predetermined position including, without limitation, elastic materials, helical springs, torsion springs and leaf springs. 
     With continued reference to the combination of  FIGS. 2 through 7  a dispensing actuator release assembly  108  is depicted in both a locked position ( FIGS. 2 through 4 ) and an unlocked position ( FIGS. 5 through 7 ). According to the disclosed embodiment, the dispensing actuator release assembly  108  comprises a receiver  110  mounted in a position beneath outlet  42 . An actuator arm  112  is biased in a downward position by a second biasing element  114  including, without limitation, elastic materials, helical springs, torsion springs and leaf springs. When at rest, an upper termination  116  of actuator arm  112  impedes the rotation of dispensing actuator  34  by engaging a corresponding cutout portion  118  in the dispensing actuator, such as a slot or a notch. It is preferable, but not mandatory, that the actuator arm  112  and the dispensing actuator  34  each include two terminations  116  and cutout portions  118 , respectively, located on opposing sides of the output portal  42 . 
     Dispensing actuator release assembly  108  is depicted in a locked position in  FIGS. 2 through 4 . When at rest as shown, upper termination  116  of actuator arm  112  engages cutout portion  116  of dispensing actuator  34 , thereby impeding rotation of the dispensing actuator and thus deterring movement of gate  102  away from passage  106 . 
     Referring next to  FIGS. 5 through 7 , a user first directs a receptacle  120  into receiver  110 . In the disclosed embodiment, receptacle  120  is constructed to include a circumferential lip  122 . Receiver  110  has two slides  124  corresponding to the width of the body of the  120 . Thus, when receptacle  120  is guided into receiver  110  and pushed inwardly, it becomes fully supported within the receiver by the lip  122  engaging the slide  124 . 
     Located near an end of slide  124 , a lever portion  126  of actuator arm  112  extends below receiver  110 . When a receptacle  120  is fully staged into receiver  110 , as at  FIG. 7 , lip  122  has slidingly engaged lever portion  126 , thus urging actuator arm  112  downwardly. In so doing, the upper termination  116  of actuator arm  112  is urged away from cutout portion  118  of dispensing actuator  34  ( FIG. 7 ) which served to impede it from rotational travel and permits the dispensing actuator to be pivoted or pulled forward. At this unlocked stage when dispensing actuator  34  is pulled by the user, it rotates and progressively moves gate  102  away from passage  106 , allowing bulk inventory to flow through the opening for dispensing through outlet  42  into receptacle  120 . Dispensing actuator  34  may be repeatedly actuated by the user until a desired amount of bulk inventory is dispensed into the receptacle  120 . Once the desired amount of dispensed inventory has entered receptacle  120  the user returns dispensing actuator  34  into its upward (non-dispensing) position and then removes the receptacle, thereby reactivating the dispensing actuator release assembly  108  and disabling further dispensing actuator rotation until a receptacle once again is properly staged within receiver  110  in the manner described above. 
     In addition to using an actuator arm  112  cooperatively with a receiver  110  and their respective interference with aspects of dispensing actuator  34  in order to prevent its rotation, other dispensing actuator locking arrangements are anticipated by the inventors within the scope of the invention. As a non-limiting example, an actuator may be located on a portion of the dispensing actuator  34  itself and provide interference with the rotation of the dispensing actuator until actuated. Likewise, an actuable safety could be employed at a position on the body of the dispensing bin. Only by moving or holding the safety into an unlocked condition could dispensing actuator  34  be rotated and bulk inventory dispensed. 
       FIGS. 8A through 8D  illustrate the dispenser  10  of the present invention in operation. Firstly,  FIG. 8A  shows dispenser  10  with dispensing actuator release assembly  108  in its locked position, deterring movement of dispensing actuator  34  and gate  106 . In  FIG. 8B , a user first places a receptacle  120  into receiver  110 . As shown in  FIG. 8C , actuator arm  112  lever portion  126  has been urged downwardly by receptacle  120  being fully engaged with receiving portion  110 . Accordingly, dispensing actuator  34  is now unlocked and is free to rotate. At this unlocked stage when dispensing actuator  34  is pulled by the user, it rotates and progressively moves gate  102  away from passage  106 , allowing bulk inventory  128  to flow through the passage for dispensing. Once the desired amount of bulk inventory  128  has been dispensed the user releases dispensing actuator  34  and removes receptacle  120 , thereby causing dispensing actuator  34  to once again be locked from rotating by the re-engagement of the upper terminating portion  116  of actuator arm  112  and the cutout  118  of dispensing actuator  34 . 
     While this invention has been shown and described with respect to a detailed embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the claims of the invention.