Dispensing cartridge
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device comprising:
- a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of items;
a chute coupled to the reservoir, the chute including a chute path to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing;
a housing about the reservoir and the chute;
a cap for the housing, the cap including a dispensing hole, and the cap movably coupled relative to the chute to permit the dispensing hole to move into and out of alignment with the position for dispensing;
an agitator positionable within the reservoir;
an actuator mechanically coupled to the agitator and the cap, the actuator configured to concurrently move the agitator within the reservoir to agitate the items and move the cap relative to the chute to align the dispensing hole with the position for dispensing;
an inner layer of the housing having inner layer walls and an inner layer base that form the reservoir;
a middle layer disposed around the inner layer and rotatably coupled to the inner layer, the middle layer having middle layer walls and a middle layer base, wherein the agitator protrudes from the middle layer base, through the inner layer base, and into the reservoir;
a middle layer hole disposed on the middle layer base offset from an axis of the reservoir, wherein the middle layer hole is the dispensing hole for the device;
a plurality of inner layer holes disposed around a circumference of the inner layer base; and
an agitator arm extending from the agitator and disposed above the middle layer hole, the agitator configured to align items around the circumference of the inner layer base, the agitator arm configured to direct one of the items toward the middle layer hole and to direct another one of the items away from the middle layer hole,wherein rotation of the middle layer aligns the middle layer hole with one of the inner layer holes thereby allowing release of one of the items.
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Abstract
A dispensing cartridge may be improved by the inclusion of an actuator and an agitator. Specifically, activation of the actuator may move the agitator within the cartridge to agitate the items and to direct one of the items into a position for dispensing. Concurrently, activation of the actuator may move a cap of the cartridge to align a dispensing hole with the position for dispensing, thereby allowing for the dispensing of a single item.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A device comprising:
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a reservoir configured to hold a plurality of items; a chute coupled to the reservoir, the chute including a chute path to direct at least one of the items into a position for dispensing; a housing about the reservoir and the chute; a cap for the housing, the cap including a dispensing hole, and the cap movably coupled relative to the chute to permit the dispensing hole to move into and out of alignment with the position for dispensing; an agitator positionable within the reservoir; an actuator mechanically coupled to the agitator and the cap, the actuator configured to concurrently move the agitator within the reservoir to agitate the items and move the cap relative to the chute to align the dispensing hole with the position for dispensing; an inner layer of the housing having inner layer walls and an inner layer base that form the reservoir; a middle layer disposed around the inner layer and rotatably coupled to the inner layer, the middle layer having middle layer walls and a middle layer base, wherein the agitator protrudes from the middle layer base, through the inner layer base, and into the reservoir; a middle layer hole disposed on the middle layer base offset from an axis of the reservoir, wherein the middle layer hole is the dispensing hole for the device; a plurality of inner layer holes disposed around a circumference of the inner layer base; and an agitator arm extending from the agitator and disposed above the middle layer hole, the agitator configured to align items around the circumference of the inner layer base, the agitator arm configured to direct one of the items toward the middle layer hole and to direct another one of the items away from the middle layer hole, wherein rotation of the middle layer aligns the middle layer hole with one of the inner layer holes thereby allowing release of one of the items. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification