Cutlery Dispenser and Method of Dispensing Cutlery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
- a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein;
an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber;
an actuator for driving the ejector; and
a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cutlery dispenser comprises a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event.
132 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
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a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and a sensor for triggering the actuator in response to an event. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
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a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein, the storage chamber comprising a storage chute for retaining the plurality of cutlery in a stacked array; a touchless sensor for generating a signal in response to a user; an electronic controller adapted to receive the signal from the touchless sensor and trigger the automated dispenser mechanism in response thereto; and an automated dispense mechanism in operative communication with the electronic controller, the automated dispense mechanism adapted to discharge at least a portion of one of the plurality of cutlery pieces from the storage chute upon triggering by the electronic controller. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
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a storage chute for containing a plurality of cutlery, each piece of cutlery having a handle end and a food-contact end; and a dispense mechanism for sequentially dispensing the cutlery one at a time from the storage chute, by presenting the handle end of a dispensed cutlery for retrieval by a user and retaining the food-contact end of the dispensed cutlery until released upon retrieval by the user. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A cutlery dispenser comprising:
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a storage chamber adapted to retain a plurality of cutlery therein; an ejector for sequentially ejecting the plurality of cutlery from the storage chamber; an actuator for driving the ejector; and an ultraviolet lamp for anti-microbial effect disposed within the storage chamber.
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25. A method of dispensing pieces of cutlery comprising:
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sensing an input; and automatically dispensing one of a plurality of pieces of cutlery from the dispenser in response to the input.
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Specification