91 results about "Food dispensers" patented technology

A system and method for dispensing fluids is introduced. A preferred embodiment comprises a sealed tank, a bag containing fluid inside the sealed tank, an outlet for dispensing the liquid in the bag, and a pressure generating device to create pressure in the sealed tank.

The present invention relates generally to dispensing system configured for dispensing food product. The device includes a fluid container in fluid communication with a conduit having a compressible portion which is associable with a pumping mechanism for pumping a fluid therethrough. The compression portion contains an upstream uni-directional valve and a downstream uni-directional valve, so that when the compression portion is resiliently compressed, fluid is forced through the downstream valve, and upon decompression, fluid is drawn through the upstream valve. The present invention also relates to a method for dispensing a food product.

The present invention relates generally to dispensing system configured for dispensing food product. The device includes a fluid container in fluid communication with a conduit having a compressible portion which is associable with a pumping mechanism for pumping a fluid therethrough. The compression portion contains an upstream uni-directional valve and a downstream uni-directional valve, so that when the compression portion is resiliently compressed, fluid is forced through the downstream valve, and upon decompression, fluid is drawn through the upstream valve. The present invention also relates to a method for dispensing a food product.

A flowable food dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product. The dispenser includes a housing with first and second bays, and a plurality of cassettes that are removably receivable within the bays. Each cassette is configured for receiving a pouch containing the flowable food. First and second thermal exchange units are associated with the first and second bays, respectively, in heat-exchanging association with the cassettes received therein. A temperature-controlled system is connected with the thermal exchange units for controlling them independently to independently heat or cool the cassettes in the bays and the food product that is disposed therein. A least one dispensing mechanism is associated with the first and second bays to selectively dispense the food from the pouches that are in the cassettes.

A motion activated food dispenser having a housing with a food dispensing outlet, means for controlling and directing the discharge of food product from the dispensing outlet when a receptacle is placed suitably near the discharge outlet, an electrically driven dispenser door in the interior space of said housing, a motion sensor, control electronics electronically connected to said motion sensor, and a control circuit electrically connected to the electric motor and the control electronics.

A dry particulate food dispenser provides food to pets in response to a scratching action upon a scratching surface. The scratching action operates an adjustable valve located inside a food hopper and limits the amount of food dropped into a supporting bowl. The adjustable valve allows the user to control the amount of food provided in each actuation of the valve and accommodates different shapes and sizes of dry food.

A food dispenser comprise a flexible container with a spout member at the bottom end thereof. The bottom end of the container is supported by means of a cap stand which surrounds the spout member. The cap stand has a cap for closing or opening the dispenser in view of discharging a fluid food product. Because the cap stand has a collar which is at least partly transparent, the spout member as well as the discharge of the food product from the spout member can be readily observed by the consumer. Thereby, the consumer may control the dosing of the food product from the dispenser in a better way.

A water and food dispenser for pets comprises a first dish member and a second dish member, wherein the second dish member is stacked above the first dish member. The first dish member has means for automatically replenishing water within the dish as the water is either consumed or evaporates. The second dish member comprises a food storage reservoir which gravitationally dispenses food into the second dish member. The water and food dispenser may be configured such that the position of the second dish member may be rotated about a vertical axis with respect to the first dish member.

The present invention provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for energy management in store or dispense equipment for food and / or beverages. Such store or dispense equipment may allow for food and / or beverages to be heated, cooled, or maintained near the ambient temperature, or a combination thereof. The store or dispense equipment may include vending machines, appliances, coolers, dispensers such as food dispensers and beverage dispensers (e.g., fountain drink dispenser), and other like electrical equipment. Demand data may be retrieved from the vending machine, appliance, cooler, dispenser, or other store or dispense equipment. Demand data may include sales, usage, and / or occupancy information for the respective vending machines, appliances, coolers, dispensers, and other store or dispense equipment. This demand data may then analyzed to determine whether there are demand patterns such that there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management. If there are opportunities for energy conservation or energy management, an instruction set may be prepared, where the instruction set is based at least in part on this analyzed data. The instruction set is loaded onto the vending machine, appliance, or other equipment, which operates in accordance with the instruction set. While the following embodiments of the present invention may be discussed with respect to a vending machine for illustrative purposes, they are equally applicable to appliances, coolers, dispensers, and other store or dispense equipment,

A food dispenser for dispensing dry food, the food dispenser comprising: a food receiving module for receiving the food; a metering module for metering a quantity of the food to dispense, the metering module including an impeller having at least one arm defining a vane, the impeller being rotatably mounted in the metering module, the metering module also including a power drive unit operatively coupled to the impeller for selectively rotating the impeller; a discharge module operatively coupled to the output port for receiving the food from the output port and dispensing the food; an impeller rotation detector operatively coupled to the impeller for detecting a rotation of the impeller when the power drive unit is used to rotate the impeller. The metering module is configured and sized to discharge a predetermined quantity of the food when the impeller rotates over a predetermined rotation angle. The impeller rotation detector detects that the impeller has rotated over the predetermined rotation angle after the power drive unit has been energized to detect dispensing of the predetermined quantity of the food.

The invention discloses an automatic device for evaluating the memory function of a primate experimental animal and a method for evaluating the memory function of the primate experimental animal. The device comprises an experimental operation cage (1), a touch display screen (15), a horizontal exhibition stand (12), an infrared ray sensing automatic award food distributor (16) and a main control computer (19). Through interactive operation of the touch display screen and the animal, direct interactive operation between experiment personnel and the animal is avoided, and the evaluation of the cognitive ability is more objective. Through the device, the brain function can be evaluated subjectively according to a judgment made by a tester. The device and the method are particularly suitable for evaluating the cognitive memory of primate animals, particularly old non-human primate experimental animals and disease model non-human primate experimental animals.

An electric grill comprising a primary cooking unit that is defined as a ribbed grilling surface adjoined by a planar cooking surface with four shallow walls around the unit and an adjustable food divider used to separate food from liquids, when positioned on the primary unit. The ribbed surface is for grilling foods and the flat surface is suitable for cooking foods. The ribbed surface has channels between the ribs that carry away liquids and grease while cooking. A reservoir at the end of the ribbed surface collects the runoff. The parallel ribs slope downwardly to the reservoir area. Placement of the food divider within the primary unit, will yield two or three cooking compartments. Liquids from food, are contained in different areas on the primary unit, when the food divider is in use. A thermostat with an on-off control is used to select any desired temperature for cooking. The primary cooking unit sits on a platform base structure that is not attached or encumbered to the primary unit. The electric grill uses the food divider to separate food to prevent the loss of flavor and also to restrict the mixing of unwanted liquids as excess water and grease, generated while cooking.

A food dispenser for dispensing dry food, the food dispenser comprising: a food receiving module for receiving the food; a metering module for metering a quantity of the food to dispense, the metering module including an impeller having at least one arm defining a vane, the impeller being rotatably mounted in the metering module, the metering module also including a power drive unit operatively coupled to the impeller for selectively rotating the impeller; a discharge module operatively coupled to the output port for receiving the food from the output port and dispensing the food; an impeller rotation detector operatively coupled to the impeller for detecting a rotation of the impeller when the power drive unit is used to rotate the impeller. The metering module is configured and sized to discharge a predetermined quantity of the food when the impeller rotates over a predetermined rotation angle. The impeller rotation detector detects that the impeller has rotated over the predetermined rotation angle after the power drive unit has been energized to detect dispensing of the predetermined quantity of the food.

A device for oral use includes at least two removable members, namely: a cartridge for containing a first fluid component to be dispensed; and a deformable tank for containing a second propulsion fluid component. The device can be assembled into at least two separate configurations: a first configuration forming a self-contained toothbrush with an interchangeable cartridge, wherein the cartridge is provided between the deformable tank and a toothbrush head end piece in order to permit the discharge of the first and optionally the second fluid components entirely or partially through a same continuous channel; and a second configuration defining a dual-component food dispenser in which the cartridge is connected to the deformable tank so as to permit the discharge of the first and optionally the second fluid components towards an oral dispensing end piece integrated or added on the device, entirely or partially through a same continuous channel.

The poultry feeder of the present invention relates to a device that will be used to store food and be a component of food dispenser mainly for birds that are found in floor or in a cage, that need to be feeding continuously, efficiently distributed, hygienic and safe, mainly during their initiation period, which extends from the first day of age until the age of twenty-one days, but can be used in adult birds or other avian species and for longer time. To solve this need, a poultry feeder is provided which comprises: a bifurcated clamp (100), a bifurcated holding nozzle (200), a shutter (300), a hopper (400) and food receiving plate (500) of a rectangular shape with rounded ends.

Embodiments of the present invention provide snack and food dispensers on passenger transport vehicles, particularly aircraft, that will ensure fair distribution of self-serve snacks provided between meals and / or during flight in an organized, systematic, safe, and sanitary manner as well as allow a more accessible means for buying “Food for Purchase” items with less crew dependence for serving.

An apparatus for dispensing food articles to a food article receiving container that includes a hopper that defines a primary food article storage location configured to hold the food articles, and an accumulator that defines a secondary food article storage location and is positioned adjacent to the primary food article storage location so as to receive food articles held in the primary storage location. The food article receiving container is positioned generally beneath the accumulator so that food articles moving from the accumulator food article storage location land in the food article receiving container. The apparatus also includes a cooling device and a substantially air-tight seal in order to maintain a predetermined temperature range in the primary food article storage location and the accumulator food article storage location. The apparatus may also include a load / weight sensing / measuring assembly in place of or in addition to the cooling device. The load / weight sensing / measuring assembly is configured to weigh the food articles in the primary food article location and generate a weighed signal.

A food product dispenser has a hinged lid which can be converted between a self-closing lid and a lid which is not self-closing and, in the non-self-closing configuration, can be retained open by gravity, including while the dispenser is in a frontwardly-tilted orientation. The invention includes methods of making the lid conversion while setting up the dispenser, illustratively by inspecting one or all of the hinge structures and adding a hinge stop to a hinge structure, or removing a hinge stop from the hinge structure, in light of the result of the inspection. An optional frontwardly-disposed down panel may have a planar surface or surface element which can be printed with graphics and / or a textual message.

An automatic pet wet canned food dispenser robot has a robotic arm comprised of mechanical elements and motors, and a programmed microprocessor. The programmed microprocessor guides the robotic arm to grasp a food can and utilize levers and / or motors to open the pop top can, then the microprocessor guides the robotic arm to invert the opened food can over an empty bowl and shake out the food contents into a bowl for a pet at predetermined times setup by the pet owner whose presence is not required at time of feeding. All prior pet wet food dispensers required a pet owner to open a hermetically sealed can many hours or days in advance of when the food is actually served to their pets, thus creating health hazards for pets and pet owners' environment. There are two exceptions to noted prior arts which open and serve wet canned food on demand without requiring human presence. The first invention has a number of serious limitations such as its capacity to handle only one can and its inability to serve food safely in a bowl for a pet. Second invention is present inventor's own pending, patent 13 / 792,543, which overcomes these limitations, however, requires use of an electric can opener comprising of a blade to cut through wet food can. The current invention utilizes advanced automation and programming to overcome prior limitations to deliver freshly opened canned food to pets without human presence required at the time of operation and does not require use of a can opener for opening the pop top cans.

A food dispensing apparatus includes a refrigerated cabinet having a dispense aperture, a hopper, an accumulator assembly, a weighing system, and a flap door. The hopper is positioned in the cabinet and configured to hold food articles. The accumulator assembly is positioned vertically below the first hopper and includes an accumulator bin and a door assembly. The accumulator door is positioned in the cabinet and arranged to receive food articles dispensed from the first hopper. The door assembly is configured to retain the food articles in the accumulator bin and is actuatable between an open position and a closed position. The weighing system is configured to determine an amount of food articles held in the accumulator bin. The flap door is positioned adjacent to the door assembly and is movable between a closed position substantially sealing closed the cabinet dispense aperture, and an open position. The flap door automatically closes upon actuation of the door assembly into the closed position.

The invention discloses an animal disease detection early-warning system and method based on the technology of internet of things. An animal motion detection area is defined, an animal excitation device, such as a food distributor or a water drinking system, and an RFID tag reader are arranged in the detection area, and animals wearing RFID tags are recorded and counted when entering or getting out of the detection area. When moving situations of the animals are monitored by means of the method, a user of a prewarning system can receive a message that the animals have potential health problems if the moving situations of the animals in the detection area in a period are reduced to a low level such as being lower than an alarm trigger point. The method is used for prompting to examine the animals further to find whether the animals have diseases or are infected so as to achieve the functions of early detection and treatment.

The present invention includes methods and apparatus for the automated provision of goods through the use of scanning systems. More specifically, the present invention provides a method for automatically conveying which goods are being ordered, where the goods will be picked up, an associated method of payment, kitchen fulfillment, item tracking, and automatic delivery by a dispenser apparatus. In preferred embodiments, the present invention is applied to the automated ordering and pick-up of food items at a fast food restaurant and delivery to a food dispenser at a customer location.

The present invention is a powder dispenser for dispensing predetermined amounts of a powder product. The powder dispenser includes a housing and a dispensing tube. The dispensing tube removes a predetermined amount of the powder product from the housing to be dispensed into a container. The dispensing tube includes recesses having a predetermined volume to control the amount of powder product dispensed. The housing includes a lower cavity for storing containers that receive the dispensed powder product.