Method and Apparatus for Dispensing a Granular Product

Abstract

A method and apparatus with interchangeable parts for dispensing a repeatably precise portion of a variety of different granular products without crushing or breaking fine products and without sticking or jamming. The dispensing mechanism for fine products can include a rotatable member having a smooth surface containing one or more cavities that mates into a flexible dispensing cup forming a product seal. The dispensing mechanism for larger products can include a variety of different paddle wheels with different numbers of paddles. An optional detent mechanism can provide stopping on rotation and precise angular control leading to dispensing of very accurate, repeatable portions.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for dispensing a granular food product comprising:
 a granular food product storage container in communication with a dispensing mechanism;   said dispensing mechanism including a rotatable member attached to a rotatable shaft, the rotatable member having a smooth surface, wherein said smooth surface contains at least one cavity;   a flexible dispensing cup receiving the rotatable member and allowing the rotatable member to turn in the dispensing cup, said dispensing cup also in communication with a dispensing orifice;   whereby, in a first position, the cavity fills with a product from the granular food product storage container, and in a second position dispenses the product into the orifice.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said flexible dispensing cup is food-grade silicon rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said rotatable member is spherical. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said cavity is elliptical with an approximately parabolic or Gaussian profile. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable shaft is terminated in a detent mechanism on a distal end. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said rotatable shaft is terminated with a handle on a proximal end. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the rotatable shaft is affixed to a handle and secured on the distal end by a retaining clip. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus for dispensing granular food products comprising:
 a food product storage container in communication with a dispensing part and a dispensing orifice;   said dispensing part being one of a group of interchangeable dispensing mechanisms, said group of interchangeable dispensing mechanisms including at least a ball/cup dispenser and at least a paddle wheel dispenser;   a removable shaft with a handle, the shaft engaging said dispensing part allowing at least part of the dispensing part to rotate upon rotation of the shaft;   wherein, the ball/cup dispenser includes a rotatable ball having a smooth surface containing at least one cavity, the ball mating with a flexible dispensing cup;   whereby, in a first position, the paddle or dispensing part fills with a granular food product from the food product storage container, and in a second position dispenses the food product into the dispensing orifice.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said flexible cup is silicon rubber. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the ball is a sphere, and the cavity is approximately an ellipsoid. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said cavity has an approximately parabolic or Gaussian cross-section. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein at least part of the dispensing part is mounted on a shaft terminated by a detent mechanism. 
     
     
         13 . A method for dispensing a granular food product comprising:
 providing a food product storage container in communication with a dispensing mechanism;   providing in said dispensing mechanism a rotatable member attached to a rotatable shaft, said rotatable member having a smooth surface, wherein said smooth surface contains at least one cavity;   also providing in said dispensing mechanism a flexible dispensing cup receiving said smooth surface and allowing said rotatable member to rotate in said dispensing cup, said dispensing cup also in communication with a dispensing chute, said dispensing cup having a sealing lip adapted to contact said smooth surface;   whereby, in a first position said cavity fills with granular food product from the food product storage container, and in a second position dispenses said food product into the chute.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said flexible dispensing cup is food-grade silicon rubber. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said rotatable member is spherical. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said cavity is elliptical with an approximately parabolic or Gaussian cross-section. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said rotatable member is cylindrical. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said dispensing mechanism is interchangeable with a paddle wheel having a plurality of paddle blades, whereby, in a first position space between said blades fills with a granular food product from the food product storage container, and in a second position dispenses the food product into the chute. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a detent mechanism in cooperation with said rotatable member. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising a handle attached to a shaft in cooperation with said rotatable member having a retaining clip attached to the distal end of the shaft. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for dispensing a granular product comprising:
 a shaft;   a ball removably attachable to said shaft, said ball having a smooth surface with at least one cavity, said ball mating to a flexible cup;   a paddle wheel also removably attachable to said shaft having a plurality of paddle blades;   wherein either said ball and cup or said paddle wheel can be placed on said shaft to rotate when said shaft rotates;   a bulk storage compartment in product communication with said ball and cup or said paddle wheel;   said ball and cup or said paddle wheel in product communication with a dispensing orifice;   wherein, when said shaft is rotated, the ball or paddle wheel dispenses product from said bulk storage compartment to said dispensing orifice.   
     
     
         22 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 21  further comprising a detent mechanism attached to a distal end of said shaft. 
     
     
         23 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said smooth, flexible cup is food-grade silicon rubber. 
     
     
         24 . The dispensing apparatus of  claim 21  wherein said cup includes a sealing lip adapted to contact said ball. 
     
     
         25 . An apparatus for dispensing a granular product comprising:
 a rotatable member attached to a rotatable shaft, the rotatable member having a smooth surface, the smooth surface containing a cavity;   a flexible dispensing cup receiving the rotatable member and allowing the rotatable member to turn in the dispensing cup;   whereby, in a first position of said rotatable member, the cavity fills with a granular product, and in a second position dispenses said product.   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus for dispensing a granular product of  claim 25  further comprising a sealing lip around said flexible dispensing cup adapted to contact said smooth surface. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus for dispensing a granular product of  claim 25  wherein said flexible dispensing cup is food-grade silicon rubber. 
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for dispensing a granular product comprising an interchangeable ball/cup mechanism for dispensing a fine granular product and a paddle wheel mechanism for dispensing a coarse granular product.