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System and method for dispensing toppings

  • US 9,326,544 B2
  • Filed: 11/05/2014
  • Issued: 05/03/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A system for selectively dispensing toppings onto topping vehicles, comprising:

  • a receiver;

    a blade supported by the receiver;

    a set of hoppers comprising a first hopper and a second hopper configured to contain topping samples of a first topping type, the second hopper adjacent and offset behind the first hopper;

    a magazine operable between a first magazine position and a second magazine position, the magazine aligning the first hopper with the receiver and supporting the second hopper behind the receiver in the first magazine position, the magazine aligning the second hopper with the receiver in the second magazine position;

    a retaining plate adjacent and offset from the blade opposite the magazine;

    a conveyor sequentially advancing topping vehicles from an initial position to a dispense position aligned with the receiver;

    an actuator;

    configured to selectively advance and retract the blade relative to the receiver to slice topping servings from topping samples dispensed from the first hopper and to selectively advance and retract the retaining plate relative to the receiver to dispense topping servings from the receiver onto topping vehicles in the first position during a dispense cycle; and

    configured to selectively advance the magazine from the first magazine position into the second magazine position during a magazine cycle in response to evacuation of a last topping sample from the first hopper; and

    a latch operable between an open position and a closed position, the latch releasing the magazine from the actuator during a segment of the dispense cycle in the open position and yoking the actuator to the magazine during a segment of the magazine cycle in the closed position.

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