Confectionery Dispenser with Gate-Controlled Portion Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing confectionery dispensers lack control over the size of the portion dispensed, making it difficult to manage the quantity of confectionery pieces dispensed.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a portion dispensing mechanism featuring a gate arrangement and collection chamber that moves between loading and dispensing configurations, allowing for controlled dispensing of a defined portion of confectionery pieces, utilizing a resilient biasing element and guides to manage the flow of pieces between chambers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a simple flip top lid container is used for dispensing confectionery, then the dispenser is easy to manufacture and operate, but control over the size of the portion dispensed is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into distinct functional segments: a storage chamber for bulk confectionery, a collection chamber for the dispensed portion, and a gate mechanism for controlled transfer. This segmentation allows the device to provide portion control through the gate arrangement while maintaining ease of operation, as each segment performs a specific function independently
Solution Approach 2:
The gate arrangement is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, enabling dynamic control over the flow of confectionery from the storage chamber to the collection chamber. This dynamic element provides precise portion control without requiring complex automated systems, as the user can manually operate the gate to dispense exact portions
2Productivity
If confectionery pieces are tipped directly into the user's hand from an open container, then the dispensing process is simple and quick, but the quantity of confectionery dispensed cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The collection chamber acts as an intermediary between the storage chamber and the user's hand. Confectionery is first transferred to the collection chamber through the controlled gate arrangement, ensuring precise portion measurement, and then dispensed to the user. This intermediary step maintains dispensing speed while enabling accurate portion control
Solution Approach 2:
The gate arrangement performs preliminary action by pre-measuring and collecting the exact portion of confectionery needed before it is dispensed to the user. This preliminary measurement ensures that the correct quantity is prepared in advance, allowing for both speed and precision in the final dispensing action
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables precise control over the dispensing of confectionery pieces, ensuring a consistent portion size is dispensed while preventing backflow into the storage chamber, enhancing user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
The portion dispensing mechanism may be resiliently biased to the loading configuration. The portion dispensing mechanism may be resiliently biased to the loading configuration with a spring such as a coil spring.
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of product objects within the main chamber collect within the collection chamber
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a dispenser 10 for dispensing product objects, comprising: a main chamber 20 for storing product objects; and a portion dispensing mechanism for dispensing a portion comprising a plurality of project objects 40. The portion dispensing mechanism comprises a gate arrangement 36 and a collection chamber 24 which are configured for relative linear movement between a loading configuration and a dispensing configuration. In the loading configuration a plurality of product objects 40 within the main chamber 20 collect within the collection chamber 24 and the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects 40 from being dispensed from the collection chamber 24. In the dispensing configuration the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects within the main chamber 20 from entering the collection chamber 24 and a plurality of product objects are dispensed from the collection chamber.