Patent ID: 8061560

Claim:
A passive dispensing chute assembly, comprising: a chute configured to receive objects to be dispensed, the chute having an outlet; a passive dispensing unit attached to the chute outlet, the passive dispensing unit having a staging portion, wherein objects are captured prior to dispensing, the staging portion including a gate member movable between a staging position, in which objects may be captured within the staging portion, and a dispensing position, in which the objects may be fed gravimetrically into a receptacle positioned below the dispensing unit; the dispensing unit further including a release member, the release member being coupled with the gate member, such that movement of the release member from a staging position to a dispensing position moves the gate member from its staging position to its release position; wherein movement of the release member rotates the gate about an axis that is generally perpendicular to the path followed by objects released from the chute.