Pellet dispensing apparatus and method

Abstract

A pellet dispensing apparatus includes a plurality of pellet dispensers, each including a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of pellets and a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a quantity of pellets in response to selective operation of the dispensing mechanism; and a support configured to support a plurality of pellet dispensers in respective relative locations allowing for selective individual operation of respective dispensing mechanisms to dispense respective pellets. A method of dispensing pellets, comprising selecting a pellet dispenser that is held in a support among a plurality of other pellet dispensers, and operating the pellet dispenser to dispense a prescribed quantity of pellets.

1 . A pellet dispensing apparatus, comprising
 a. a plurality of pellet dispensers, each comprising
 i. a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of pellets and 
 ii. a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a quantity of pellets in response to selective operation of the dispensing mechanism, and 
   b. a support configured to support a plurality of pellet dispensers in respective relative locations allowing for selective individual operation of respective dispensing mechanisms to dispense respective pellets.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a generally vertical support structure supporting the pellet dispensers. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a plurality of generally vertical columns each supporting pellet dispensers in a one-dimensional array along the respective vertical column, and a fastener holding respective pairs of respective generally vertical columns in side-by-side relation, whereby the pellet dispensers are arranged in a two-dimensional array. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a base and an upstanding support structure, the pellet dispensers respectively arranged in spaced apart locations along the upstanding support structure. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the dispensers have an outlet from which to dispense pellets, and the support extends in a generally vertical sloping direction such that the dispensers slope downwardly for gravity to tend to urge pellets in the reservoir toward the outlet. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pellet dispensers are in a two-dimensional array on the support. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support has openings in which the dispensers are supported. 
     
     
         8 - 9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a generally horizontal support structure and an attachment to attach respective dispensers to the support structure. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the attachment comprises a plurality of openings in which respective dispensers are located. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the support comprises a plurality of generally horizontal support structures arranged in generally parallel, longitudinally spaced relation. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the support structure comprises a tree structure having a central support and a plurality of branches extending from the central support, and respective branches and the attachment comprising a holder to hold a respective dispenser to a branch. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , the support further comprising a base, the central support extending up from the base. 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising pellets in the reservoir, and wherein the pellets comprise nutritional products or pharmaceutical products, and the support and dispensers are configured to conveniently dispense such products for use. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a generally flat support structure, and mounts configured to hold respective pellet dispensers to the support structure. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the generally flat support structure comprises a generally circular disc. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the mounts comprise recesses in the generally flat support structure, and wherein the pellet dispensers are configured to fit in respective recesses. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the support comprises a generally vertical column supporting the pellet dispensers in a one-dimensional array along the generally vertical column. 
     
     
         21 . A pellet dispensing container, comprising
 a. a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of pellets to be dispensed,   b. the reservoir having an open area through which pellets may be loaded into the reservoir,   c. a cap positionable with respect to the reservoir to block pellets from exiting the reservoir via the open area,   d. the cap and reservoir having respective outlets, and   e. wherein with the cap positioned with respect to the reservoir to cover the open area, the cover and reservoir being relatively movable and cooperative selectively to align the outlets to dispense a prescribed pellet quantity.   
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the prescribed pellet quantity comprises one pellet at a time. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the cap is rotatable with respect to the reservoir to provide for selective aligning of the outlets to dispense a prescribed pellet quantity, and wherein the cap comprises a plurality of outlets that respectively align with the reservoir outlet based on the rotational relation of the cap and reservoir. 
     
     
         24 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein the reservoir outlet comprises a slot through a wall of the reservoir at a location in proximity to the cap,
 wherein the cap comprises a plurality of openings through the cap, and wherein the cap is rotatable relative to the reservoir to selectively align respective cap openings with the reservoir outlet, and   further comprising a resilient snap connection between the cap and the reservoir holding the two together while permitting the cap to rotate relative to the reservoir.   
     
     
         34 - 38 . (canceled) 
     
     
         39 . The container of  claim 21 , wherein
 the reservoir comprises open area through which pellets may be placed into the reservoir, and   the cap comprises a mount configured to attach the cap with respect to the reservoir permitting rotating of the cap, and a cover wall positionable with respect to at least part of the open area of the reservoir to block exiting of pellets from the open area of the reservoir when the cap is attached with respect to the reservoir, and wherein   the reservoir comprising an annular wall circumscribing the open area, and an opening in the annular wall for passing pellets therethrough to a cap outlet entrance area,   the cap outlet comprising an entrance area to receive a quantity of pellets from the reservoir and an exit area from which a quantity of pellets may be dispensed from the container,   the entrance area and exit area of a cap outlet being relatively arcuately displaced in the cap, connected for movement of pellets from the entrance area to the exit area, and cooperative with the reservoir such that while a quantity of pellets is entering the entrance area the exit area is blocked from dispensing pellets.   
     
     
         40 . (canceled) 
     
     
         41 . The container of  claim 39 , wherein the cap comprises a plurality of cap outlets arranged in the cap in arcuately separated locations and cooperative with the reservoir annular wall, the opening in the reservoir annular wall, and the reservoir outlet such that with the cap oriented with respect to the reservoir to receive a pellet at the entrance area of a cap outlet the exit areas of the cap outlets are blocked to prevent dispensing of a pellet from the respective cap outlet, and with the exit area of a cap outlet is aligned with the reservoir outlet to dispense a pellet the entrance areas of the cap outlets are blocked from receiving pellets from the reservoir. 
     
     
         42 . A pellet dispensing container, comprising
 a. a reservoir configured to contain a plurality of pellets to be dispensed,   b. an outlet from the reservoir from which pellets are to be dispensed,   c. the outlet including an opening, a movable compartment having a wall configured to close the outlet opening, a compartment opening to receive pellets into the compartment and for dispensing pellets from the compartment, and   d. an actuator configured to move the compartment from a first orientation to receive pellets via the compartment entrance and a second orientation to dispense pellets via the compartment exit while blocking receiving of pellets in the compartment entrance.   
     
     
         43 - 52 . (canceled) 
     
     
         53 . A cap to dispense pellets from a reservoir, comprising
 a mount configured to attach the cap with respect to the reservoir, wherein the reservoir has an open area through which pellets may be placed into the reservoir,   a cover wall supported by the mount and positionable with respect to at least part of the open area of the reservoir to block exiting of pellets from the open area of the reservoir,   a dispensing outlet positionable with respect to the reservoir to receive pellets from the reservoir, and   wherein the dispensing outlet is selectively operable to discharge a prescribed pellet quantity in response to operating of the dispensing outlet.   
     
     
         54 . (canceled) 
     
     
         55 . The cap of  claim 53 , wherein the dispensing outlet comprises a plurality of dispensing compartments respectively configured to receive at least one pellet from the reservoir based on relative location of the compartment with respect to a reservoir outlet, and each dispensing compartment having a discharge opening to dispense the at least one pellet in response to aligning of the discharge opening with an outlet opening of the reservoir. 
     
     
         56 . The cap of  claim 55 , wherein the cap is rotatable about an axis, wherein each dispensing compartment has a arcuate extent along the path of rotation of the cap, the dispensing compartment having an entrance alignable with an opening in the reservoir to receive the at least one pellet while a wall of the dispensing compartment blocks dispensing the at least one pellet, the entrance of the dispensing compartment and the discharge opening are located arcuately displaced along the arcuate extent, and wherein the dispensing outlet receives the at least one pellet from the dispensing compartment and discharges the at least one pellet while a wall of the dispensing compartment blocks receiving at least one pellet from the reservoir. 
     
     
         57 . A method of dispensing pellets, comprising selecting a pellet dispenser that is held in a support among a plurality of other pellet dispensers, and operating the pellet dispenser to dispense a prescribed quantity of pellets.