Bulk dispenser

• US 6,220,313 B1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Issued: 04/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Estlander
• Original Assignee: Peter Estlander
• Inventors: Estlander, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/401,058
• Time in Patent Office: 580 Days
• Field of Search: 141/114, 141/291, 141/311.R, 141/313, 141/317, 222/153.13, 222/180-185, 222/231, 222/233, 222/236, 222/517, 222/557, 222/530, 222/533, 222/536, 222/538
• US Class Current: 141/313
• CPC Class Codes: A47F 1/03 Dispensing means , e.g. with buttons or handles

Abstract

A dispenser for bulk goods comprises a storage container, and a discharge device connected thereto, a dosing means and a discharge chute extending to a collecting point. The dosing means comprises a valve flap which is pivotable between a closing position and a discharge position. An operating device is adapted to pivot the valve flap between said two positions. A locking device prevents the valve flap from pivoting from the closing position to the discharge position in the absence of a collecting receptacle or bag at the collecting point. Preferably, the operating device comprises two operating handles which are operatively connected to the valve flap for pivoting thereof. In this operative connection, a sensor mechanism is included, which permits power transfer merely in essentially parallel or synchronous actuation of the operating handles.

Claims

1. A dispenser for distributing bulk goods comprising a storage container and a discharge device connected thereto and having a dosing means and a discharge chute extending to a collection point, wherein the dosing means comprises a valve flap, the valve flap being pivotable between a closing position, in which the valve flap closingly engages a valve surface, and a discharge position, in which this engagement is cancelled, and which is connected to an operating device, and a locking means for locking the movement of the valve flap from the closing position to the discharge position in the absence of placement a collecting receptacle or bag at a position adjacent the collecting point wherein bulk goods are received into the receptacle or bag, and wherein the locking means may be unlocked independently of the operating device by placement of a receptacle or bag at the position adjacent the collecting point and then using the operating device independent of the locking means to cause movement of the flap valve from the closing position to the discharge position and resultant discharge of bulk goods into the receptacle or bag so that bulk goods may only be discharged to the collection point by first placing the receptacle or bag at the position adjacent the collecting point so as to unlock the locking means and then independently actuating the operating device to cause bulk goods to be discharged to the collection point.

2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking device comprises a pivotable packing-sensing element with locking means, which in the absence of a collecting receptacle or bag at the collecting point prevent the valve flap from pivoting and in the presence of the receptacle or bag permit the valve flap to pivot.

3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dosing means comprises a compartment which receives bulk goods through a flow opening between the dosing compartment and the container when the pivotable valve flap is located in its closing position, and wherein the valve flap at its end opposite to the valve surface has an arcuate extension for closing the flow opening during the emptying of the content of the dosing compartment into the collecting receptacle or bag.

4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve flap has a front edge portion angled obliquely downwards by means of which the valve flap engages the valve surface.

5. A dispenser for distributing bulk goods comprising a storage container and a discharge device connected thereto and having a dosing means and a discharge chute extending to a collection point, wherein the dosing means comprises a valve flap, the valve flap being pivotable between a closing position, in which the valve flap closingly engages a valve surface , and a discharge position, in which this engagement is cancelled, and which is connected to an operating device, and a locking means for locking the movement of the valve flap from the closing position to the discharge position in the absence of a collecting receptacle or bag at the collecting point, wherein the operating device for the valve flap comprises two operating handles, which are operatively connected to the valve flap for pivoting thereof, and wherein the operative connection comprises a sensor mechanism, which has abutment surfaces for permitting power transfer when the operating handles are actuated synchronously with each other.

6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the operating handles are arranged on opposite sides of the discharge chute at a higher level than the sensor mechanism.

7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the sensor mechanism comprises a yoke, the yoke being pivotally attached at its center to an operating arm on the valve flap and the ends of said yoke each being connected to one of the operating handles each, and wherein the abutment surfaces are adapted to prevent power transfer from the yoke to the operating arm if the yoke is inclined by asynchronous actuation of the two operating handles.

8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the locking means comprise a guide surface formed on the operating handles and adapted to engage a locking slide included in the locking means and movably arranged on the operating arm for displacement substantially perpendicular to the moving direction of the operating handles, said locking slide being adapted, when the operating handles are asynchronously actuated, to be moved into engagement with a stop abutment surface for interrupting movement of the operating arm.

9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8, wherein the locking slide is operatively loaded towards a neutral position, in which the ends of the slide, when the operating arm is actuated by essentially synchronous acutation of both operating handles, move clear of their respective stop abutment surfaces.

10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5, wherein the disengaging means comprises a projection which is arranged on the pivotable yoke and which is arranged relative to the operating arm so as to be drivingly engaged with the operating arm only upon essentially synchronous displacement of the operating handles.