Patent ID: 10968092

Abstract:
A dispensing apparatus for dispensing a material, comprising: a removable container for holding the material; a receptacle for receiving the material, the receptacle comprising a top opening and a flange; a funnel for receiving the material from the removable container and guiding the material to the receptacle, the funnel comprising a valve holder at a lower end of the funnel and a lower opening aligned with the top opening of the receptacle; a valve member slidably coupled to the valve holder, the valve member comprising a valve aperture; a valve lever connected to the valve member, wherein when activated, the valve lever is configured to move the valve member to cause the valve aperture to align with the lower opening of the funnel, allowing the material to flow down from the funnel to the receptacle until the receptacle is filled to the top opening; a lever assembly coupled to the valve lever, wherein the lever assembly is configured to be activated by an operator inserting the flange of the receptacle into the lever assembly, and when activated, the lever assembly is configured to activate the valve lever; and a gap separating the valve member and the top opening of the receptacle, the gap having a gap width greater than zero and less than a predetermine value, wherein when the valve lever is activated and the material flows down and fills the receptacle to the top opening, the material further fills the gap, causing the material to stop flowing down.