Apparatus and method for dispensing precisely controlled amounts of powdered material
First Claim
1. An apparatus for dispensing powdered material into a food or beverage composition, wherein the apparatus comprises:
- (a) a container having a first end a second end, and an outside therebetween;
(b) a first plate that is mounted to the first end of the container, in which the first plate has a plurality of first plate openings therein, and the total volume of the sum of the first plate openings being in the range of about 2.3 to about 0.001 cubic centimeters;
(c) a second plate that is adjacent to and moveably mounted in relation to the first plate, in which the second plate has a plurality of second plate openings therein; and
(d) a third plate that is adjacent to and moveable mounted in relation to to the second plate, in which the third plate has a plurality of third plate openings therein the plurality of third plate openings being in permanent communication to the outside of the container, wherein the second plate is moveable between at least two positions, (i) a first position in which at least one of the plurality of second plate openings is in registry with at least one of the plurality of the third plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with the any of the plurality of first plate openings, and (ii) a second position wherein at least one of the plurality of second plate openings being in registry with at least one of the plurality of first plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with at least one of the plurality of third plate openings.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This invention is directed to an apparatus and method for dispensing precise, pre-calibrated amounts of powdered material, such as, a high intensity sweetener, a flavor, a nutritional supplement, a vitamin, a mineral, a food grade bulking material, or mixtures thereof, in a controlled manner into a food or beverage composition. The apparatus of this invention includes a container that is capable of holding the powdered material, and a series of adjacent plates located at the lower end of the container. Each plate has a plurality of openings therein, and at least one plate is rotatable in relation to the other plates. Rotation of the plate or plates between various positions enables the user to deliver a precisely controlled volume of powdered material into the food or beverage from the container.
39 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An apparatus for dispensing powdered material into a food or beverage composition, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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(a) a container having a first end a second end, and an outside therebetween;
(b) a first plate that is mounted to the first end of the container, in which the first plate has a plurality of first plate openings therein, and the total volume of the sum of the first plate openings being in the range of about 2.3 to about 0.001 cubic centimeters;
(c) a second plate that is adjacent to and moveably mounted in relation to the first plate, in which the second plate has a plurality of second plate openings therein; and
(d) a third plate that is adjacent to and moveable mounted in relation to to the second plate, in which the third plate has a plurality of third plate openings therein the plurality of third plate openings being in permanent communication to the outside of the container, wherein the second plate is moveable between at least two positions, (i) a first position in which at least one of the plurality of second plate openings is in registry with at least one of the plurality of the third plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with the any of the plurality of first plate openings, and (ii) a second position wherein at least one of the plurality of second plate openings being in registry with at least one of the plurality of first plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with at least one of the plurality of third plate openings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 46, 49)
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5. An apparatus in claim 5, the second plate is permanently mounted or detachably mounted.
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16. A method for dispensing powdered material into a food or beverage composition, the method comprising:
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(a) providing an apparatus comprising;
(i) a container having a first end a second end, and an outside therebetween;
(ii) a first plate that is mounted to the first end of the container, in which the first plate has a plurality of first plate openings therein, and the total volume of the sum of the first plate openings being in the range of about 2.3 to about 0.001 cubic centimeters;
(iii) a second plate that is adjacent to and moveably mounted in relation to the first plate, in which the second plate has a plurality of second plate openings therein; and
(iv) a third plate that is adjacent to and moveable mounted in relation to the second plate, in which the third plate has a plurality of third plate openings therein the plurality of third plate openings being in permanent communication to the outside of the container, wherein the second plate is moveable between at least two positions, (i) a first position in which at least one of the plurality of second plate openings is in registry with at least one of the plurality of the third plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with the any of the plurality of first plate openings, and (ii) a second position wherein at least one of the plurality of second plate openings being in registry with at least one of the plurality of first plate openings and the plurality of second plate openings not being in registry with at least one of the plurality of third plate openings;
(b) providing the powdered material into the container when the second plate is in the first position to fill the openings in the first plate with the powdered material;
(c) moving the second plate to the second position to transfer the powdered material from the openings in the first plate to the openings in the second plate; and
(d) moving the second plate to the first position to transfer the powdered material from the openings in the second plate through the openings in the third plate to dispense the powdered material. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 47, 50)
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33. An apparatus for dispensing powdered material into a food or beverage composition, wherein the apparatus comprises:
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(a) a container having a first end and a second end;
(b) a first plate which is rotatably mounted to the first end of the container, in which the first plate has a plurality of openings therein, and the total volume of the sum of the openings of the first plate is in the range of about 2.3 to about 0.001 cubic centimeters;
(c) a second plate which is adjacent to and fixably mounted in relation to the first plate, in which the second plate has a plurality of openings therein; and
(d) a third plate which is adjacent to the second plate and rotatably mounted in relation to the first end of the container, in which the third plate has a plurality of openings therein, wherein the first plate is moveable between a first position in which the openings in the first plate are not in registry with the openings in the second plate, and a second position in which the openings in the first plate are in registry with the openings in the second plate, and the third plate is moveable between a first position in which the openings in the second plate are not in registry with the openings in the third plate, and a second position in which the openings in the second plate are in registry with the openings in the third plate. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 48, 51)
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52. A method for dispensing powdered material into a food or beverage composition, the method comprising:
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(a) providing an apparatus comprising;
(i) a container having a first end and a second end, (ii) a first plate which is rotatably mounted to the first end of the container, in which the first plate has a plurality of openings therein, and the total volume of the sum of the openings of the first plate is in the range of about about 2.3 to about 0.001 cubic centimeters, (iii) a second plate which is adjacent to and fixably mounted in relation to the first plate, in which the second plate has a plurality of openings therein, and (iv) a third plate which is adjacent to the second plate and rotatably mounted in relation to the first end of the container, in which the third plate has a plurality of openings therein, wherein the first plate is moveable between a first position in which the openings in the first plate are not in registry with the openings in the second plate, and a second position in which the openings in the first plate are in registry with the openings in the second plate, and the third plate is moveable between a first position in which the openings in the second plate are not in registry with the openings in the third plate, and a second position in which the openings in the second plate are in registry with the openings in the third plate;
(b) providing the powdered material into the container when the first plate is in the first position to fill the openings in the first plate with the powdered material;
(c) moving the first plate to the second position to transfer the powdered material from the openings in the first plate to the openings in the second plate; and
(d) moving the first plate back to the first position; and
(e) moving the third plate from the first position to the second position to transfer the powdered material from the openings in the second plate through the openings in the third plate to dispense the powdered material. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54)
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Specification