Patent ID: 7802593

Claim:
A food dispensing apparatus, comprising: a refrigerated cabinet, the cabinet having a dispense aperture; a first hopper positioned in the cabinet, the first hopper configured to hold food articles; a first accumulator assembly positioned vertically below the first hopper, the first accumulator assembly including: an accumulator bin positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper; and at least one door assembly positioned within the cabinet and configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin, the at least one door assembly actuatable between an open position and a closed position; and a flap door positioned adjacent to the door assembly, the flap door movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position wherein the cabinet dispense aperture is open for food articles to pass there through, wherein the flap door is engaged by the door assembly when the door assembly is actuated into the open position to move the flap door into the open position, and the flap door automatically moves into the closed position upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position.