Belt drive for dispensing cutlery and related methods
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A dispenser for dispensing cutlery utensils, the dispenser comprising:
- a housing configured to contain a stack of nested cutlery utensils for dispensing, each cutlery utensil having an axial cross-section that varies along a length thereof;
a dispensing mechanism comprising;
at least one belt configured to contact a first side of the stack of nested cutlery utensils and to be driven and separate a cutlery utensil from the stack of nested cutlery utensils in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutlery utensil;
a stationary support comprising a flat surface configured to contact an opposite second side of the stack of nested cutlery utensils; and
at least one drive mechanism configured to drive the at least one belt; and
a receptacle configured to receive the cutlery utensil separated from the stack of nested cutlery utensils.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dispenser for dispensing cutlery may include a housing configured to contain a plurality of utensils for dispensing, a dispensing mechanism that includes at least one belt configured to be driven and separate a utensil from a stack of utensils, and at least one drive mechanism configured to drive the at least one belt. The dispenser may further include a receptacle configured to receive the utensil separated from the stack of utensils.
264 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A dispenser for dispensing cutlery utensils, the dispenser comprising:
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a housing configured to contain a stack of nested cutlery utensils for dispensing, each cutlery utensil having an axial cross-section that varies along a length thereof; a dispensing mechanism comprising; at least one belt configured to contact a first side of the stack of nested cutlery utensils and to be driven and separate a cutlery utensil from the stack of nested cutlery utensils in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutlery utensil; a stationary support comprising a flat surface configured to contact an opposite second side of the stack of nested cutlery utensils; and at least one drive mechanism configured to drive the at least one belt; and a receptacle configured to receive the cutlery utensil separated from the stack of nested cutlery utensils. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17)
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10. A method of dispensing cutlery utensils from a dispenser, the method comprising:
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providing a stack of nested cutlery utensils for dispensing, each cutlery utensil having an axial cross-section that varies along a length thereof and comprising; a head portion having a first width; and a handle portion having a second width that is less than the first width; supporting the stack of nested cutlery utensils with at least one belt contacting the handle portion of each cutlery utensil of the stack of nested cutlery utensils and spaced apart from the head portion of each cutlery utensil of the stack of nested cutlery utensils; indexing the at least one belt such that a cutlery utensil is separated from the stack of nested cutlery utensils in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutlery utensil; and providing access to the cutlery utensil separated from the stack of nested cutlery utensils. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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18. A dispenser system for dispensing cutlery utensils, the dispenser system comprising:
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a housing; a stack of nested cutlery utensils contained within the housing for dispensing, each cutlery utensil having an axial cross-section that varies along a length thereof and comprising; a head portion having a first width; and a handle portion having a second width that is less than the first width; a dispensing mechanism comprising; at least one belt contacting the handle portion of each cutlery utensil of the stack of nested cutlery utensils and spaced apart from the head portion of each cutlery utensil of the stack of nested cutlery utensils, the at least one belt configured to be driven and separate a cutlery utensil from the stack of nested cutlery utensils in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the cutlery utensil; and at least one drive mechanism configured to drive the at least one belt; and a receptacle configured to receive the cutlery utensil separated from the stack of nested cutlery utensils. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification