Cutlery dispenser and method of dispensing cutlery
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for cutlery storage and use, comprising:
- housing a plurality of cutlery pieces in a dispenser comprising;
a storage chute for containing a plurality of cutlery, wherein each piece of cutlery has a handle end and a food-contact end; and
a dispense mechanism comprising at least two cams, each cam comprising a resting surface and a displacing portion, wherein the displacing portion of the first cam is offset relative to the displacing portion of the second cam in a direction of their rotation; and
contacting the cutlery piece at a first location with the resting surface of a first cam;
contacting the cutlery piece at a second location with the resting surface of a second cam, anddischarging the cutlery piece from the dispenser using the offset displacing portions of the first and second cams so that the handle end of the cutlery piece is discharged from the dispenser prior to the food-contact end.
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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.
328 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for cutlery storage and use, comprising:
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housing a plurality of cutlery pieces in a dispenser comprising; a storage chute for containing a plurality of cutlery, wherein each piece of cutlery has a handle end and a food-contact end; and a dispense mechanism comprising at least two cams, each cam comprising a resting surface and a displacing portion, wherein the displacing portion of the first cam is offset relative to the displacing portion of the second cam in a direction of their rotation; and contacting the cutlery piece at a first location with the resting surface of a first cam; contacting the cutlery piece at a second location with the resting surface of a second cam, and discharging the cutlery piece from the dispenser using the offset displacing portions of the first and second cams so that the handle end of the cutlery piece is discharged from the dispenser prior to the food-contact end. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for cutlery storage and use, comprising:
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housing a plurality of cutlery pieces in a dispenser comprising; a storage chute for containing a plurality of cutlery, wherein each piece of cutlery has a handle end and a food-contact end; and a dispense mechanism comprising at least two cams, each cam comprising a resting surface and a displacing portion, and contacting the cutlery piece at a first location with the resting surface of a first cam; contacting the cutlery piece at a second location with the resting surface of a second cam; discharging the cutlery piece from the dispenser using the displacing portion of the first and second cams, wherein the displacing portion of the first cam is offset relative to the displacing portion of the second cam in a direction of their rotation so that the handle end of the discharged cutlery piece is presented for retrieval by a user. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for cutlery storage and use, comprising:
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housing a plurality of cutlery pieces in a dispenser comprising; a storage chute for containing a plurality of cutlery, wherein each piece of cutlery has a handle end and a food-contact end; and a dispense mechanism comprising at least two cams, each cam comprising a resting surface and a displacing portion, and contacting the cutlery piece at a first location with the resting surface of a first cam; contacting the cutlery piece at a second location with the resting surface of a second cam; discharging the cutlery piece from the dispenser using the displacing portion of the first and second cams, wherein the displacing portion of the first cam is offset relative to the displacing portion of the second cam in a direction of their rotation so that the handle end of the discharged cutlery piece is presented for retrieval by a user; and retaining the food contact end of the discharged cutlery piece in the dispenser until released upon retrieval by the user. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification