APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING AND/OR VENDING A BULK PRODUCT
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system for dispensing a bulk product, said system comprising:
- one or more bins, each for holding a bulk product;
an interface for receiving a user request for one of said bulk products;
a controller for dispensing the requested bulk product from the associated bin in an amount based on said user request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for dispensing and/or vending a bulk product. The apparatus comprises one or more bins for holding a bulk product, a dispensing mechanism operatively coupled to each of the bins, a controller operatively coupled to the dispensing mechanisms, and an interface for receiving a request for one of the bulk products. The controller is operatively coupled to the interface and configured to generate one or more control signals in response to a request for controlling the dispensing mechanism to dispense one of the bulk products.
6 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for dispensing a bulk product, said system comprising:
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one or more bins, each for holding a bulk product; an interface for receiving a user request for one of said bulk products; a controller for dispensing the requested bulk product from the associated bin in an amount based on said user request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for dispensing bulk products from one or more bins, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a bulk product selection from a user; receiving a bulk product dispensing amount from the user; enabling the bin containing the selected bulk product; and dispensing the selected bulk product from the enabled bin in the amount specified by the user. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6)
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7. A system for dispensing a bulk product, said system comprising:
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a controller, said controller including a user interface; one or more bins, each for holding a type of bulk product, and each of said bins including a control unit; a communication bus for communicatively coupling said controller with the control units of each of said bins; said controller being responsive to an input from a user and generating one or more control commands for dispensing an amount of bulk product from one of said bins, wherein said dispensed amount is based on the user input.
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8. An apparatus for dispensing one or more bulk products, said bulk products being contained in one or more bins, each of the bins including a dispensing mechanism and the dispensing mechanism being operatively coupled to a controller, said apparatus comprising:
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an interface configured for receiving a user request for one of the bulk products and generating one or more signals representative of said user request; a control unit operatively coupled to said interface for receiving said one or more representative signals, and said control unit being configured for generating one or more controls signals based on said one or more representative signals; said control unit including an interface for operatively coupling to the one or more controllers and being configured for sending one or more control signals to one or more of the controllers; and the one or more controllers being responsive to said one or more control signals to dispense the bulk product from the bin based on said user request. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A bin for holding a bulk product and suitable for use with a dispensing apparatus, said bin comprising:
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a housing; a primary baffle for supporting the bulk product, said primary baffle being mounted inside said housing, said primary baffle being configured at a downwardly sloping angle, and having an opening at a lower portion; a secondary baffle mounted inside said housing, said secondary baffle being configured at a downwardly sloping angle and adjacent to said opening; and a lower compartment adjacent said secondary baffle, said lower compartment having an opening for releasing bulk product from said secondary baffle to a dispensing mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dispensing wheel for use with a bulk product dispensing apparatus, said dispensing wheel comprising:
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an outer rim; a longitudinal member spanning across the rim and including a hub; said outer rim having a plurality of slots for receiving one end of a partition member; and said hub having a plurality of slots for receiving another end of said partition member. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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20. A container dropper suitable for use with a bulk product dispensing apparatus, said container dropper comprising:
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a first member having an opening for receiving one or more containers; a second member, and said second member supporting at least one auger component positioned adjacent to said opening; said at least one auger component including a threaded portion for engaging said one or more containers; and a motor operatively coupled to said at least one auger, and said motor being configured for turning said auger in response to one or more container dropper control signals. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22)
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Specification