Patent Description:
This invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing of items or products. More particularly, this invention relates to an apparatus for automatically dispensing predetermined portions of bulk food items.

In restaurants, especially quick service (fast food and fast casual) restaurants, fast, consistent, efficient and safe food preparation is essential for a successful operation. One important task frequently required in the preparation of fast food is the portioning of bulk food items supplied in bulk food containers. Each container holds a large number of individual food items such as french fries, cheese sticks, chicken nuggets or the like. The use of bulk containers is efficient because it minimizes the number of individual containers which must be transported to, handled and stored at a restaurant. Because it is typically unnecessary, undesirable or impossible to prepare or serve the entire contents of a given container at one time, the bulk food items must be portioned before cooking, heating or serving.

Portioning or holding bulk food product involves many of the efficiency, speed, safety and consistency considerations involved in fast food preparation generally. For example, consistent food preparation requires that portions be of a uniform size because over- or under-sized portions may yield an under- or over-prepared food product when the portion is cooked, heated, served or otherwise processed. Additionally, portioning should be performed quickly to minimize food preparation delays which may dissatisfy customers. Furthermore, portioning operations should be non-labor intensive so as to efficiently utilize restaurant labor, particularly when such workers are in high demand and difficult to procure. Finally, portioning operations should minimize the manual manipulation of food products by restaurant workers, thereby minimizing safety concerns related to food handling generally.

Although quick service restaurants have existed for many years and now number in the tens of thousands, these establishments typically continue to utilize labor intensive, manual processes to portion the contents of containerized bulk food products. While portioning devices and systems are known in the prior art, these devices and systems still often result in damaged or crushed product, or require substantial handling or other manual processes to dispense and deliver the apportioned food products to the cooking or serving apparatus. An example of a prior art apparatus is disclosed in Rudesill, et al. , "Multi-Product Dispenser and Method of Using Same," <CIT>. Another example is described in <CIT>, which relates to a bulk product dispenser unit, comprising: a cabinet comprising a hopper having a drum chamber with an inner wall, a drum positioned inside the drum chamber, a deflector and a flexible gate valve; and a dispense assembly; wherein the drum comprises a plurality of product compartments. Furthermore, <CIT> relates to a rotating drum with compartments, whereby the compartment dividers are flexible and interacting with a gate valve.

Accordingly, what is needed is a commercially suitable portioning and delivery apparatus for containerized bulk food items that minimizes manual food handling, requires little operator attention, and quickly, automatically, consistently, and accurately portions bulk food items while minimizing damage and crushing of product, while maximizing quality, efficiency, flexibility and yield of the bulk food items, for serving or further preparation.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a bulk product dispenser unit in accordance with claim <NUM>. Preferred features of the dispenser unit are described in claims <NUM> to <NUM>. The dispenser unit includes a cabinet including at least one hopper having a drum, a deflector, a flexible gate valve, a conveyor, a dispense assembly and a control system. The dispenser unit may include the means to hold product at required temperatures such as a self-contained refrigerator or heating system. The dispense assembly may include at least one bottomless bucket, at least one dispensing door assembly, and at least one position for a receiving container to collect a dispensed bulk food item. Additionally, the dispense assembly may include a system to measure portions by weight or product count, employing a load cell, proximity sensor, optical sensor and/or similar device or devices.

In several examples, the bulk food item is introduced into a cabinet of the dispenser unit. The deflector then deflects the bulk food items to a top portion of the drum. The bulk items may rest on a contact area of not more than about <NUM>° between the top portion of the drum and the flexible gate valve. The flexible gate valve may be located opposite to and below the deflector and at a downward angle from a sidewall of the at least one hopper with at least a portion of the flexible gate valve in contact with a portion of the drum. The drum then rotates in a direction to transport the bulk food items from the contact area of the drum past the flexible gate valve towards a bottom portion of the hopper, for example in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the drum or movement of conveyor continues in one direction until a predetermined or desired weight or count is satisfied by, for example, the load cell system. The at least one bottomless container stores the bulk food items delivered by the at least one hopper until the sensor detects at least one container in a receiving position at which time the bulk food items may be dispensed.

In several embodiments, the drum comprises a plurality of lobes defining product-transporting compartments or spaces therebetween. The drum rotates within a drum chamber to carry bulk product from the hopper to a dispensing point or receptacle (e.g., container or belt). In a preferred embodiment, the lobes do not extend all the way to the interior walls of the drum chamber, and each compartment includes a flexible and/or elastic membrane that extend between (and in some cases, beyond) the sides or ends of the respective lobes. This arrangement eliminates rigid pinch points for the bulk product as the drum rotates, and allows for expansion of the functional volume of the compartment to eliminate compression or crushing of the bulk product.

In a further embodiment, the dispenser unit may also include or work with a control panel for automatically and/or manually controlling the dispenser unit. The control panel may be located external to the dispenser unit. The measuring system of the dispenser unit may also be located external to the cabinet on a back portion of the dispenser unit. The measuring system may be calibrated with the initial turning on or initializing of the dispenser unit. Additionally, the cabinet or the dispense assembly may be removable from the dispenser unit to allow for easy and efficient cleaning of the internal and external areas of the dispenser unit.

A merely illustrative embodiment provides a method for dispensing bulk food items which includes inserting the bulk food items in a dispenser unit having at least one hopper storage area, comprising a drum as described above, a deflector, and a flexible gate valve or the like. The bulk food items are then transported to the bottom area of the at least one hopper storage area. The bulk food items are dropped from the bottom area of the at least one hopper storage area into a dispense assembly including at least one bottomless bucket, at least one dispensing door assembly, a measuring system, a proximity sensor, and at least one receiving container. The bulk food items are then released into the at least one receiving container when the sensor of the dispense assembly detects the at least one receiving container. The method may also include the step of rotating the drum in the at least one storage area in a direction that transports the bulk food items to the bottom area of at least one hopper storage area. The inserted bulk food items may rest on a contact area between a top portion of the drum and the flexible gate valve comprising not more than <NUM>° in area. When the measuring system of the dispense assembly satisfies a predetermined or desired weight or count of bulk food items in the at least one bottomless bucket, the bulk food items may be released into the at least one receiving container when the at least one dispensing door of the dispense assembly is opened. Additionally, the method may include the step of removing the dispenser unit for cleaning purposes. The dispenser unit may be a freezer box with a self-contained refrigeration unit.

The dispenser unit for dispensing bulk food items may include a refrigerated or heated cabinet, a dispense assembly and a control system. The cabinet may include a self-contained refrigeration or heating system including a first and second hopper each having a drum, a deflector, and a flexible gate valve. The flexible gate valve may be located opposite to and below the deflector, with at least a portion in contact with a portion of the drum. The dispense assembly may include a first and second bottomless bucket, a first and second dispensing door assembly, a conveyor or conveyors and a first and second receiving container for collecting dispensed bulk food items. The dispense assembly may also include a measuring system and a proximity sensor. The bulk food items may be inserted in the first and second hopper with the bulk food items making contact with the deflector in an area of no more than <NUM>° between a top portion of the drum and the flexible gate valve. The drum may rotate in one direction to transport the bulk food items past the flexible gate valve until a predetermined weight is satisfied by the measuring system which then communicates with the drum. The drum then stops rotating and the bulk food is prevented from traveling past the flexible gate valve. The bulk food items are allowed to then fall into the first and second bottomless buckets, conveyor or conveyors, or the like, respectively. The first dispensing door assembly then opens to dispense the bulk food items when the proximity sensor detects the first receiving container. The cabinet and/or the dispense assembly may be removable to allow for cleaning of the dispenser unit.

In several examples, a divided container is used to keep the product separated to prevent sticking and improve cooking of the product. A dividing rod may be positioned below the dispensing position of the drum to cause the falling product to more evenly divide into right and left streams. This more evenly distributes the falling product into the divided parts of the container, and prevents the product from piling up in the middle. It should be noted that containers can be divided into multiple sections, and more than one dividing rod or similar element can be used to ensure proper apportionment of the bulk product.

In yet a further example, the container is subject to a vibration or oscillating movement to cause the container to vibrate or oscillate to cause the product to fall into the spaces between the dividers and allow the product to settle. The vibration or oscillation feature can be achieved by a variety of means. For example, the platform on which the container sits in the dispensing position may vibrate or oscillate.

In the following description and accompanying drawings, like reference numbers, as used in the various figures, refer to like features or elements. For purposes of the description hereinafter, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention, as it is oriented in the drawing figures. However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative variations and step sequences that the specific devices and process illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following text are simply exemplary embodiments of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed hereinafter are not to be considered limiting.

While embodiments are discussed herein in terms of dispensing french fries, the product may be any dispensable item, including for example, food such as patties or nuggets or a vegetable or protein food item other than french fries, any of which might require portioning to a predetermined weight or count and dispensing them on demand into a receptacle prior to, or after, cooking, heating or other processing.

<FIG> shows an example of a prior art dispensing apparatus, as disclosed in Rudesill, <CIT>. The dispenser unit <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM>, a cabinet <NUM>, a dispense assembly <NUM> and a self-contained refrigerator system <NUM>. Cabinet <NUM> having cabinet door <NUM> provides access to a drum/hopper storage area <NUM>. Hopper storage area <NUM> supports a first hopper <NUM> and an optional second hopper <NUM>. Hoppers <NUM> and <NUM> are located adjacent to each other. Hopper storage area <NUM> may also support an additional number of hoppers. Hoppers <NUM> and <NUM> are designed to receive a plurality or bulk amount of food or bulk product, such as french fries. The french fries in hoppers <NUM> and <NUM> are portioned to a predetermined weight (typically through some form of gating mechanism, such as a rotating metering drum) and dispensed into one or more fry receiving containers <NUM> and <NUM>, respectively. Proximity sensors detect the presence of the fry receiving containers, which are manually placed in the respective dispense lane guides <NUM>, <NUM>, causing dispensing doors to open and drop fries into the container. Fry containers are then manually removed and lowered into a fry vat for cooking.

Each hopper <NUM> may have a top side, bottom side having a feeder opening, first sidewall and second sidewall. Each hopper <NUM> may also have front and rear walls between the sidewalls. The walls of the hoppers, including the front wall (not shown) may be opaque, or optionally, partially or fully transparent or semi-transparent to allow for visual observation of the contents of the hoppers. The hoppers may also include a low level sensor which indicates that the contents of the hopper may be below a designated amount and refilling is necessary.

In several embodiments, each hopper includes an inlet area, a deflector, a drum, and a flap portion or flexible gate valve. The bulk food may be introduced into hopper <NUM> through the top side, the inlet area, or any associated area located above deflector. Deflector extends from first sidewall at a downward angle to allow the food to be fed towards the drum, to a top area of the drum at approximately the twelve o'clock position on the drum. However, deflector may deliver product to other areas, such as approximately an eleven o'clock position or approximately a one o'clock position.

<FIG> show an improved dispensing unit in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The dispenser unit includes a cabinet including at least one hopper having a drum, a deflector, a flexible gate valve, a conveyor, a dispense assembly and a control system (the control system may or may not be integrated with or connected to another computer system). The dispenser unit may include the means to hold product at required temperatures such as a self-contained refrigerator or heating system. The dispense assembly may include at least one bottomless bucket, at least one dispensing door assembly, and at least one position for a receiving container to collect a dispensed bulk food item. Additionally, the dispense assembly may include a system to measure portions by weight or product count, employing a load cell, proximity sensor, optical sensor and/or similar device or devices.

The dispenser unit <NUM> includes a control panel <NUM> located on a door <NUM> of a housing <NUM>. Controls can be located elsewhere in a multitude of locations, in view or not in view of the user. The dispenser unit <NUM> is shown as a table top or wall-mounted configuration, but can also be built into a cabinet, table or stand, and can be stationary or mobile. The measuring system of the dispenser unit may also be located external to the cabinet on a back portion of the dispenser unit. The measuring system may be calibrated with the initial turning on or initializing of the dispenser unit. Additionally, the cabinet or the dispense assembly may be removable from the dispenser unit to allow for easy and efficient cleaning of the internal and external areas of the dispenser unit.

The unit <NUM> may be refrigerated, heated or operate in an ambient state/room temperature. The unit in <FIG> is shown in or as part of a refrigerator or freezer, but also could be placed in an insulated or heated cabinet without a refrigeration system (e.g., large cooler). While a refrigeration system <NUM> is shown on top of the unit in <FIG>, a refrigeration or heating system could also be located on the rear, bottom, side, or even remotely from the unit.

The dispenser unit may include the means to hold product at required temperatures such as a self-contained refrigerator or heating system. The dispense assembly may include at least one bottomless bucket, at least one dispensing door assembly, and at least one position for a receiving container to collect a dispensed bulk food item. Additionally, the dispense assembly may include a system to measure portions by weight or product count, employing a load cell, proximity sensor, optical sensor and/or similar device or devices. The lower part of the unit comprises an area for placement of containers <NUM>, which may include, but are not limited to, baskets (with single or multiple compartments). <FIG> and <FIG> show a central area for a container <NUM> to be loaded with bulk product, with two adjacent areas for storage of containers <NUM>.

The unit <NUM> in <FIG> is shown with a single hopper <NUM> with a single centrally positioned rotating drum <NUM>, but as discussed above, multiple hoppers and drums may be used, and the drums may be alternatively positioned. In several examples, the bulk food item is introduced into a cabinet of the dispenser unit. The deflector then deflects the bulk food items to a top portion of the drum. The bulk items may rest on a contact area of not more than about <NUM>° between the top portion of the drum and the flexible gate valve. The flexible gate valve may be located opposite to and below the deflector and at a downward angle from a sidewall of the at least one hopper with at least a portion of the flexible gate valve in contact with a portion of the drum. The drum then rotates in a direction to transport the bulk food items from the contact area of the drum past the flexible gate valve towards a bottom portion of the hopper, for example in a clockwise direction. Rotation of the drum or movement of conveyor continues in one direction until a predetermined or desired weight or count is satisfied by, for example, the load cell system. The at least one bottomless container stores the bulk food items delivered by the at least one hopper until the sensor detects at least one container in a receiving position at which time the bulk food items may be dispensed.

<FIG> shows a cutaway view of the rotating drum <NUM> with a plurality of lobes <NUM> defining product-transporting compartments or spaces <NUM> therebetween. The drum rotates within a drum chamber <NUM> to carry bulk product from the hopper to a dispensing point or receptacle (e.g., container or belt). While there are four lobes and four compartments shown in the figure, a greater or lesser number of lobes and compartments may be configured. The lobes are shown as evenly spaced with compartments of substantially the same size and volume, although spacing of lobes may be varied.

As seen in <FIG>, the compartments formed between adjacent lobes carry bulk product from the hopper to a dispensing point or receptacle (e.g., container) by rotation of the drum. The rotation can be driven by a motor, hand-cranking, or similar mechanical action. Rotation can be triggered by manipulation of a control, or as described below, by pushing a container into place below the dispensing point.

The unique drum design of the present invention eliminates rigid pinch points for the bulk product as the drum rotates, and allows for expansion of the functional volume of the compartment to eliminate compression or crushing of the bulk product. In a preferred embodiment, the lobes <NUM> do not extend all the way to the interior walls of the drum chamber <NUM> (i.e., the maximum diameter of the drum lobes is smaller than the inside diameter of the drum chamber). Each compartment includes a flexible or elastic (or both) membrane <NUM> that extends between (and beyond, in some cases) the sides or ends of the respective lobes. As seen in the figures, at least one end (in some embodiments, both ends) of the membrane extends beyond the end of a respective lobe to contact or touch the interior wall of the drum chamber.

In some embodiments, the membrane may be fixedly attached at or near each end to the side or end of the respective lobe. The membrane may be slidingly or floatingly attached (such as by a bracket or holder) at or near each end to the side or end of the respective lobe. Combinations of fixed attachment and sliding/floating attachment may be used. For example, the leading end <NUM> (with respect to clockwise rotation of the drum in the view shown) of the membranes shown in <FIG> are floatingly/sliding attached to the trailing side of the respective leading lobe, and the trailing end <NUM> is fixedly attached by brackets <NUM> to the corresponding side or end of the respective trailing lobe. The brackets <NUM> hold the sides of the membrane proximate to (or between the midpoint of the membrane and) the trailing end <NUM> of the membrane. The trailing end <NUM> of the membrane extends to the interior walls of the drum chamber, and keeps bulk product from moving from the compartment during rotation of the drum. The leading end of the membrane also may extend to the interior wall of the drum chamber, keeping bulk product from moving or falling into the preceding compartment.

The end or ends of the membrane <NUM> interact during drum rotation with one or more flexible gate valves <NUM> which may be attached or extend from the deflector or deflectors <NUM>. The gate valve or valves <NUM> may be comprised of similar flexible and/or elastic material as the compartment membranes <NUM>. The interaction allows portions of bulk product to be separated into respective compartments while avoiding a rigid or semirigid "pinch point" between lobes of the drum and the bottom of the deflector or gate valve.

The membranes <NUM> also are designed to allow the compartment space to expand and contract. As seen in <FIG>, bulk product freely fills a compartment in the "north" or "top" or "load" position. As the drum rotates, the compartment effectively becomes closed (in the "east" position). As the trailing end of the membrane meets the gate valve, the bulk product is portioned entirely into the compartment. To prevent the bulk product from being crushed or compressed as the drum rotates, the membrane expands towards the center of the drum, thereby allowing more effective volume for the bulk product. In addition, as discussed above, the interaction of the flexible membrane and gate valve prevents crushing of the product or impeding or interfering with the drum rotation.

As seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, when the compartment reaches the "south" or "bottom" or "dispense" position, it is ready to dispense the contained portion of bulk product into a container <NUM>or belt positioned below the compartment. Doors <NUM> can be provided to hold the bulk product in the compartment until receiving a signal to dispense, thereby opening the doors and allowing the bulk product to freely fall into the container or belt. The door or doors can be rotating or hinged, or open by sliding. In one embodiment, there are no doors, and the process of rotating to the South position allows the bulk product to fall below.

Actuation or activation of the dispense cycle (e.g., drum rotation, belt movement, door opening) can be initiated by a number of means, including, but not limited, use of the control panel, a manual push button, input from a computer system or computing device, or by insertion of a container into the proper dispensing slot, thereby activating a button (as seen in <FIG>) or a sensor.

In some cases, it is preferred to have a divided container <NUM> to keep the product separated to prevent sticking and improved cooking. While a divided container can be used with the apparatus as described above, in several embodiments a dividing element, which can be in the form of a circular, angled, or triangular rod, or other form of divider <NUM> is placed below the "dispense" position of the drum, as seen in <FIG>. The dividing rod <NUM> is positioned with its longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the container or container, and acts to divide the falling product into right and left streams. This more evenly distributes the falling product into the divided parts of the container, and prevents the product from piling up in the middle. It should be noted that containers can be divided into multiple sections, and more than one dividing rod or similar element can be used to ensure proper apportionment of the bulk product. A divided container apparatus may be used for cooking, holding or serving product.

With some products, especially with divided containers, even with the placement of the dividing rod <NUM> to split the falling product stream, it is possible to have some of the product accumulate or "pile up" on top of the container dividers. Accordingly, in some embodiments, the container may be subject to a vibration or oscillating movement to cause the container to vibrate or oscillate to cause the product to fall into the spaces between the dividers and allow the product to settle. The vibration or oscillation feature can be achieved by a variety of means. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the platform on which the container sits in the dispensing position vibrates or oscillates <NUM>. Vibration may also be achieved from rotation or the drum from above, or other means. The vibration or oscillation may be separately operating (i.e., turned off or on independently), may operate automatically when the bulk product is dispensed, or combinations thereof.

The present invention is advantageous and may be utilized in any commercial or institutional food service facility such as restaurants, universities, hospitals, catering/banquet/convention halls, and the like. Additionally, the invention provides advantages of automatically portioning a predetermined amount of bulk food efficiently and accurately in a time effective manner. In particular, the present invention improves the quality and yield of the bulk food item, increases speed, as well as allows for flexibility in the design of the dispenser unit. Additionally, the simple operation, and ergonomic controls, as well as the removable parts, provide other advantages. These and other advantages will be recognized by the user.

Claim 1:
A bulk product dispenser unit (<NUM>), comprising:
a cabinet comprising a hopper (<NUM>) having a drum chamber (<NUM>) with an inner wall, a drum (<NUM>) positioned inside the drum chamber, a deflector (<NUM>) and a flexible gate valve (<NUM>); and
a dispense assembly;
wherein the drum comprises a plurality of product compartments (<NUM>);
characterised in that:
at least one product compartment comprises a flexible and/or elastic membrane (<NUM>); wherein the membrane comprises a first end (<NUM>) and a second end (<NUM>), further wherein the membrane proximate the first end is slidingly attached to a first interior side of the at least one product compartment, and the second end is fixedly attached to a second interior side of the at least one product compartment.