Pellet dispensing unit
First Claim
1. A pellet dispenser unit comprising:
- a motor and a rotor assembly, said assembly including attachment means for a pellet container and being constructed and arranged to be inverted so as to be easily attached to said container when said container is in an upright position;
a pellet discharge tube extending from said motor and rotor assembly;
electrical connection means disposed on said motor and rotor assembly; and
a housing member for detachably receiving said combined motor and rotor assembly, said housing member including a pellet discharge tube and electrical connection means, said electrical connection means of said housing member and said motor and rotor assembly constructed and arranged for alignment when said pellet discharge tube of said housing member is aligned with said pellet discharge tube of said motor and rotor assembly.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A pellet dispenser unit in which a container of pellets can be attached to a motor and rotor assembly while the container is in an upright position. After attachment with the container, the container is inverted and the motor and rotor with the container are placed in a housing member from which the pellets are dispensed. The motor is electrically connected automatically when the motor and rotor assembly is placed in the housing member. In a preferred manner, plastic foam is placed in a housing for the motor and rotor to protect the motor as well as a circuit board from any corrosive fumes. The motor and rotor assembly are placed in a housing which is constructed so as to be easily handled by one hand for ease of attachment to the container when the container is in an upright position and the motor and rotor assembly inverted.
38 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A pellet dispenser unit comprising:
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a motor and a rotor assembly, said assembly including attachment means for a pellet container and being constructed and arranged to be inverted so as to be easily attached to said container when said container is in an upright position; a pellet discharge tube extending from said motor and rotor assembly; electrical connection means disposed on said motor and rotor assembly; and a housing member for detachably receiving said combined motor and rotor assembly, said housing member including a pellet discharge tube and electrical connection means, said electrical connection means of said housing member and said motor and rotor assembly constructed and arranged for alignment when said pellet discharge tube of said housing member is aligned with said pellet discharge tube of said motor and rotor assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. In a pellet dispensing unit wherein pellets are dispensed by a rotor driven by a motor with said motor and said rotor located in a housing from which extends a pellet discharge tube, the improvement comprising:
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said motor and said rotor constructed in a one piece body member, with said body member including attachment means for a pellet container in which said pellets are originally supplied, said one piece body member being constructed and arranged to be inverted so as to be easily attached to said container when said container is in an upright position and subsequently connected to a housing having a pellet discharge tube and electrical connection means; and wherein a pellet discharge tube and electrical connection means are open externally from said one piece body member for respective connection to said pellet discharge tube and to said electrical connection means of said housing. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A pellet dispenser unit comprising:
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a motor and a rotor assembly including circuit means and foam plastic encapsulating a motor and rotor and said circuit means in said assembly, said assembly further including threaded engagement means for a pellet container and being constructed and arranged to be inverted so as to be easily attached to said container when said container is in an upright position; a pellet discharge tube extending from said motor and rotor assembly; electrical connection means disposed on said motor and rotor assembly; and a housing member for detachably receiving said combined motor and rotor assembly, said housing member including a pellet discharge tube and electrical connection means encapsulated in foam plastic, said electrical connection means of said housing member and said motor and rotor assembly constructed and arranged for alignment when said pellet discharge tube of said housing member is aligned with said pellet discharge tube of said motor and rotor assembly.
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Specification