U.S. patent application number 16/051052 was filed with the patent office on 2019-10-10 for solid dispenser.
The applicant listed for this patent is 6D Bytes Inc.. Invention is credited to Venkateswaran AYALUR, Vijayasimha DODDABALAPUR, Vipin JAIN.
Application Number | 20190307262 16/051052 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68096012 |
Filed Date | 2019-10-10 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190307262 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
JAIN; Vipin ; et
al. |
October 10, 2019 |
Solid Dispenser
Abstract
In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a solid
dispenser comprising a dispensing element and a housing. The
dispensing element includes a plurality of blades extending from a
cylindrical base. In one example embodiment, the blades are
separated by 90 degrees to form channels from an upper opening in
the housing to a lower opening in the housing. A hopper for storing
items to be dispensed may be configured on one side of the
dispenser, and a trap for controlling the flow of dispensed items
may be configured on the other side of the dispenser. In one
embodiment, the dispenser is controlled by motors coupled to a
server as part of a fully automated cloud controlled robotic food
preparation system, where each dispenser may accurately deliver
different quantities of ingredients for different orders.
Inventors: |
JAIN; Vipin; (Saratoga,
CA) ; AYALUR; Venkateswaran; (Cupertino, CA) ;
DODDABALAPUR; Vijayasimha; (Foster City, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
6D Bytes Inc. |
Sunnyvale |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68096012 |
Appl. No.: |
16/051052 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62652740 |
Apr 4, 2018 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 25/38 20130101;
B65D 83/06 20130101; B25J 9/161 20130101; B25J 15/0608 20130101;
B25J 9/0096 20130101; B25J 13/006 20130101; B25J 21/00 20130101;
B65D 47/04 20130101; G01G 13/026 20130101; A47J 43/0722 20130101;
G05B 2219/40 20130101; A47F 10/06 20130101; B25J 9/1602 20130101;
B25J 11/00 20130101; G01F 11/261 20130101; A47G 19/34 20130101;
B67D 1/06 20130101; B25J 11/0045 20130101; B25J 9/1661 20130101;
G06F 40/30 20200101; B65G 65/4881 20130101; G01F 13/001 20130101;
B65G 3/04 20130101; B67D 1/0041 20130101; B67D 1/0888 20130101;
B67D 2210/00144 20130101; G01F 13/005 20130101; G05B 19/4147
20130101; B67D 2210/00076 20130101; A47F 1/035 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47F 1/035 20060101
A47F001/035; B65G 65/48 20060101 B65G065/48; G01G 13/02 20060101
G01G013/02 |
Claims
1. An apparatus comprising: a hopper to hold ingredients; and a
dispenser unit coupled below the hopper to receive the ingredients
through an opening in the hopper, the dispenser unit comprising a
housing and a dispenser element, the dispenser element coupled
rotationally about a horizontal axis, the dispenser element having
a first and second channels about the horizontal axis, wherein the
dispenser element and the hopper couple such that the first and
second channels may be selectively rotated dispense
ingredients.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a trap coupled below
the dispenser unit, the trap comprising a flap having a first
position and a second position, wherein in the first position the
flap prevents ingredients from the dispenser unit from passing
through the trap, and in a second position the flap produces an
opening allowing ingredients from the dispenser unit to pass
through the trap.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second channels
are formed from four blades emanating from a cylindrical base about
the horizontal axis, wherein the blades emanate at 90 degrees from
each other along the length of the cylindrical base, and wherein
two adjacent blades of the four blades form the first channel and
the other two adjacent blades of the four blades form the second
channel.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the first and second channels
curve along the horizontal axis such that the first and second
channels shift by 90 degrees from a proximate end to a distal end
of the dispenser element.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first channel may be
selectively rotated between first and second degrees into a first
position to produce a first opening between the first channel and
the opening in the hopper, and in accordance therewith, a first
amount of the ingredients enter the first channel.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the second channel may be
selectively rotated into a second position to produce a second
opening between the second channel and the opening in the hopper,
and in accordance therewith, a second amount of the ingredients
enter the second channel.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the dispenser element is
rotated so that the first and second openings are approximately the
same.
8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein a rotation to generate the
first or second openings is determined by a predetermined
calibration factor corresponding to at least a size of the first or
second channels, a desired amount of the ingredients, and a cut
size of the ingredients.
9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the first and second channels
may be selectively rotated into a third position allowing the first
amount of ingredients to fall out of the first channel, and wherein
the first and second channels may be selectively rotated into a
fourth position allowing the second amount of ingredients to fall
out of the second channel.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the first amount of
ingredients is an incremental amount, and wherein the dispenser
element rotates between a plurality of positions for a
predetermined number of cycles to provide a final amount of the
ingredients.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a scale to measure
a weight of dispensed ingredients, wherein a value measured by the
scale is used to recalculate a number of cycles of rotation to
dispense a final amount of the ingredients.
12. An apparatus comprising: a housing having upper opening for
receiving ingredients to be dispensed and a lower opening for
dispensing the ingredients; and a dispenser element comprising four
blades configured 90 degrees from each other around a central
cylinder and curved along a length of the cylinder by a 90 degrees
to create a first channel and a second channel between the upper
opening and lower opening, wherein the blades are rotated between
first and second positions to control the flow of ingredients from
the upper opening through the first and second channels and to the
lower opening.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein, for a first size of
ingredients, the cylinder has a first diameter and the blades have
a first radial length, and wherein for a second size of ingredients
greater than the first size of ingredients, the cylinder has a
second diameter and the blades have a second radial length, and
wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter and
the first radial length is less than the second radial length.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a hopper coupled
to the upper opening; and a trap coupled to the lower opening.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a first motor
coupled to rotate the dispenser element and produce the flow of
ingredients.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising: a controller
coupled to control the first motor; a second motor coupled to a
trap and further coupled to the controller to open and close the
trap; and a server coupled to the controller, wherein in response
to a command from the server to the controller to dispense, the
controller configures the motor to open the trap, and wherein the
controller closes the trap prior to responding to the server that
the dispense operation is completed.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising: a receptacle
positioned below the trap to receive the ingredients exiting the
trap; and a scale coupled to the receptacle to measure a weight of
the ingredients located within the receptacle.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the scale provides a feedback
signal to the controller such that the dispenser element responds
to the weight of ingredients within the receptacle to deliver a
weight of ingredients specified in an instruction received by the
controller from a server.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the controller provides a
feedback signal to the server such that the server responds to the
weight of ingredients within the receptacle to configure the
controller to dispense an updated weight of ingredients.
20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein an initial calibration factor
is loaded from the server to the controller to set a rotation value
and a cycle value to deliver the desired weight of the items.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/652,740, filed Apr. 4, 2018,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to apparatuses, systems, and
methods of solid dispensing, and in some embodiments, to a computer
controlled solid dispenser for an automated robotic system.
[0003] Dispensers are typically used to store and deliver items.
One challenge with creating a reliable dispenser is the ability to
control the amount of material that is delivered. This is
particularly challenging when the material is food, for example,
such as solid chucks of fruits. Another challenge with creating a
reliable dispenser is that the materials cannot get stuck inside
the system. For automated delivery systems, ensuring that there are
no jams and that repeatable quantities of materials can be
delivered reliably may be paramount.
[0004] The present disclosure introduces a solid dispenser
mechanism that may be used to reliably deliver repeatable
quantities of items, such as food items.
SUMMARY
[0005] In one embodiment, the present disclosure includes a solid
dispenser comprising a dispensing element and a housing. The
dispensing element includes a plurality of blades extending from a
cylindrical base. In one example embodiment, the blades are
separated by 90 degrees to form channels from an upper opening in
the housing to a lower opening in the housing. A hopper for storing
items to be dispensed may be configured on one side of the
dispenser, and a trap for controlling the flow of dispensed items
may be configured on the other side of the dispenser. In one
embodiment, the dispenser is controlled by motors coupled to a
server as part of a fully automated cloud controlled robotic food
preparation system, where each dispenser may accurately deliver
different quantities of ingredients for different orders.
[0006] The following detailed description and accompanying drawings
provide a better understanding of the nature and advantages of the
present disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser apparatus according to one
embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 2 illustrates another view of a dispenser unit coupled
to a trap unit according to another embodiment.
[0009] FIG. 3 illustrates an example trap according to one
embodiment.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a dispenser unit according to one
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5 illustrates the dispenser element according to one
embodiment.
[0012] FIG. 6 illustrates a dispenser element in a first threshold
position according to one embodiment.
[0013] FIG. 7 illustrates a dispenser element in a second threshold
position according to one embodiment.
[0014] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a food dispenser apparatus
according to one embodiment.
[0015] FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of an ingredient dispenser
apparatus according to one embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 10 illustrates another example dispenser element 1000
according to another embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 11 illustrates a fully automated computer controlled
dispenser system according to an embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] In the following description, for purposes of explanation,
numerous examples and specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. Such
examples and details are not to be construed as unduly limiting the
elements of the claims or the claimed subject matter as a whole. It
will be evident to one skilled in the art, based on the language of
the different claims, that the claimed subject matter may include
some or all of the features in these examples, alone or in
combination, and may further include modifications and equivalents
of the features and techniques described herein.
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a dispenser apparatus according to one
embodiment. The dispenser apparatus may include a hopper 110, a
dispenser unit 120, and a trap unit 130, for example. The dispenser
unit may be coupled to the hopper to receive the components to be
dispensed. In this example, the trap is configured below the
dispenser and the hopper 110 is configured above the dispenser 120.
The hopper 110 is coupled to the dispenser 120 at an opening 111 in
the bottom of the hopper 110 and a corresponding opening in the top
of the dispenser 120 described in more detail below.
[0020] The hopper may hold components to be dispensed (aka
ingredients), such as food ingredients, for example. The food
ingredients may be frozen or fresh ingredients, either whole pieces
or with different size cuts, for example. In this example, the
hopper includes a minor incline 112 and major incline 113. An upper
opening in the top of the hopper 110 may be larger than the lower
opening 111 in the bottom of the hopper so that the hopper can hold
a larger amount of ingredients to be dispensed, for example. In
this example, the major incline 113 directs the ingredients from at
least one side of the hopper 110 toward one side of the lower
opening 111 in the bottom of the hopper. Additionally, in this
example, the minor incline 112 directs the ingredients from at
least another side of the hopper 110 toward one side of the lower
opening 111 in the bottom of the hopper. Opening 111 is exposed to
a dispenser unit 120 to allow ingredients to smoothly flow from the
hopper to the dispenser. In this example, the hopper 110 may be
rectangular to allow multiple such structures to be placed adjacent
to each other for efficient dispensation of multiple ingredients
using limited space along a particular surface (e.g., optimizing
space where units are placed side-by-side for access by a robotic
system).
[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates another view of a dispenser unit 220
coupled to a trap unit 230 according to another embodiment. This
view illustrates the rotational nature of a dispenser element 221
and its configuration within the dispenser housing 222 of the
dispenser unit 220. Hopper opening 224 is aligned with an upper
opening 223 of dispenser 220 so that ingredients from the hopper
may move into the channels created between the dispenser element
221 and dispenser housing 222. As described in more detail below,
the dispenser element 221 is rotated (e.g., by a motor controlled
by a computer) to move a controlled amount of ingredients through
the channels and into a lower opening 225 in the dispenser housing
222 and into the trap unit 230. In one embodiment, the lower
opening 225 of the dispenser 222 is coupled to an upper opening in
the trap 230. The trap 230 includes a flap 231 comprising a hole.
As described in more detail below, in a first closed position, the
hole may extend horizontally (side-to-side), and a sidewall of the
flap 231 forms a barrier between the upper opening of the trap 230
to stop movement of ingredients from dispenser 220, for example. In
a second open position, the hole may extend vertically
(top-to-bottom) to create passage (or vertical channel) between the
upper opening of the trap 230 and a lower opening of trap 230 to
allow movement of ingredients from dispenser 220, through the trap
230, and to a physical interface where a receptacle may be
positioned to receive the ingredients exiting the trap, for
example. In the following Figures and description, it is to be
understood that dispenser 220 may or may not include a transparent
material 250 (e.g., glass or plastic) to form a window (here,
circular) to view the operation of the dispenser element 221, for
example.
[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates an example trap 300. The trap 300
includes a flap 310 which can be rotated to create a passage (or
hole) 320 from an upper opening to a lower opening of the trap. In
one example embodiment, the trap is configured below the dispenser
element such that when the flap is in a home position, the passage
is closed and no amount of the ingredients passes from the
dispenser through the trap (the top opening is closed). In this
example, the flap is a cylinder having a central hollow region
forming a rectangular hole 320. When the flap is in a first
position where the rectangular hole is in a horizontal position,
the trap is closed, and there is no pathway from an upper opening
of the trap to a lower opening of the trap. However, when the flap
is in a second position where the rectangular hole is rotated into
a vertical position, the trap is open, and there is a pathway from
the upper opening of the trap to the lower opening of the trap. In
one embodiment, the upper opening 321 in the trap and the lower
opening in the trap (not shown) are rectangular and approximately
the same size (e.g., aligned in position, size, and cross-sectional
shape) as the rectangular hole in the flap to minimize the
impedance of ingredients flowing through the trap, for example. In
this example, the internal passage of the flap 310 forms a
rectangular chamber with rounded edges and the upper and lower trap
openings have the same rectangular shape and rounded edges to align
with the hole in the flap. In another embodiment, the trap may be
integrated with a weighing scale that provides feedback (e.g., to a
server or a control unit) about the quantity of product that has
been dispensed.
[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a dispenser unit 400 according to one
embodiment. The dispenser unit includes a housing 410 and a
dispenser element 420. The dispenser element 420 is coupled about a
horizontal axis of rotation 401. The housing 410 has an upper
opening 411 coupled to a lower opening 450 of the hopper (not
shown) to receive ingredients and a lower opening 412 in which the
ingredients exit the dispenser. The dotted line approximately
indicates the proximate location of an interface between opening
450, which would be formed by the minor and major inclines at the
bottom of the hopper (see FIG. 1), and the upper opening 411 of the
dispenser housing. In this example, the upper opening 411 of
dispenser 400 has curved sloping surface 430 from an outer opening
to an edge forming an inner opening, which intersects with blades
431 of the dispensing element 420 as described below. The blades
431 also intersect with the hopper opening to open and close
channels through the dispenser unit from the hopper as described
below. A rod may be coupled through the center of the dispenser
element 420 and may be coupled to a stepper motor (not shown). The
stepper motor may be coupled to a controller (not shown) which may
control the rotational position of the dispenser element, which
controls the amount of ingredients dispensed as described
below.
[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates the dispenser element 500 according to
one embodiment. In this example, the dispenser element 500 includes
four (4) blades 501-504 which form first and second channels 520
and 521. In this example, the channels are in opposite quadrants on
opposite sides of the dispenser element. The 4 blades emanate from
a cylindrical base 510 about the horizontal axis 501. The blades
501-504 emanate from the base 510 at a number of degrees (e.g., 90
degrees) from each other at a proximate end 511 of the cylinder
510. Two adjacent blades 501 and 504 of the four blades 501-504
form the first channel 520 and the other two adjacent blades 502
and 503 of the four blades 501-504 form the second channel 521.
Ingredients from the hopper may flow from the top down (here, from
the right to the left). The dispenser element 500 may be rotated
back and forth (e.g., clockwise and then counter clockwise) between
first and second degrees (e.g., from 0 to less than 90 degrees and
back) to control the flow of items from an upper opening in the
dispenser housing through the first and second channels and to a
lower opening in the housing (see FIG. 4). As described in more
detail below, FIG. 5 illustrates opening 550 formed by the blade
501, a sidewall 551 of the dispenser housing (not shown, but
illustrated using a dashed line), and an edge 552 of the lower
opening in the hopper (also not shown but illustrated using a
dashed line). A similar triangular shaped channel opening may be
formed for the second channel 521. As discussed below, the angle of
rotation of the dispensing element may increase or decrease the
size of channel openings 550 to control the amount of ingredients
that flow into each channel and through the dispenser, for
example.
[0025] In one embodiment, the first and second channels curve about
the horizontal axis such that the first and second channels shift
by a number of degrees (e.g., 90 degrees) from the proximate end
511 (e.g., the top in FIG. 5) to the distal end 512 (e.g., the
bottom in FIG. 5) of the dispenser element 500.
[0026] In one example embodiment, the hopper incorporates an
agitation mechanism that periodically agitates the product in the
dispenser without dispensing the product such that the product
stays in state that is easy to dispense. The frequency and the
agitating mechanisms (e.g., circular motion with different blades,
impact force along the back wall, etc. . . . ) may be controlled by
a combination of local and cloud servers in concert with the type
of product in the hopper, for example.
[0027] FIG. 6 illustrates a dispenser element 500 in a first
threshold position in which the leading edge (here, blade 504) of
the first channel 520 at the rear (and not visible) is at 0 degrees
(relative to angle A). For example, blade 504 of the first channel
520 curves from the horizontal position in the front of the
dispenser housing to the vertical position in the rear of the
dispenser housing, where blade 504 may form a seal with incline 112
(FIG. 1) at the edge of the opening 590 (opening 111 in FIG. 1)
defined by the hopper (See FIG. 8 showing a top view where the
upper blade 504 of the first channel 520 is at the edge of the
hopper opening 590 and the first channel 520 is closed).
Additionally, blade 503 of the second channel 521 curves from the
vertical position in the front of the dispenser housing to the
horizontal position in the rear of the dispenser housing.
Accordingly, blade 503 is also at the edge of the opening 590
defined by the hopper to form an opening 550 (in FIG. 5) into the
second channel (See FIG. 8 showing a top view where the upper blade
503 of the second channel 521 is at the edge of the hopper opening
590 and the second channel 521 is fully opened). As the dispensing
element is rotated (e.g., first clockwise and then
counterclockwise) an input opening into the first channel may
increase in size and the opening into the second channel may
decrease in size. As ingredients enter each channel they may move
through a channel formed by the sidewalls of the blades and the
sidewall 600 of the dispenser housing toward the lower opening in
the dispenser housing 601.
[0028] FIG. 7 illustrates a dispenser element in a second threshold
position in which the leading edge of the second channel 521 (blade
503) at the front (and visible) is at 0 degrees (relative to angle
B). Since the upper blade 503 of the second channel 521 is adjacent
to the upper opening of the dispensing unit, the second channel is
closed in this position (See FIG. 9). More specifically, blade 504
of the first channel 520 curves from the shown position in the
front of the dispenser housing to a position in line with the front
position of blade 503 (90 degrees) in the rear of the dispenser
housing, where blade 504 is at a second edge of the opening 590
defined by the hopper (See FIG. 9 showing a top view where the
upper blade 504 of the first channel 520 is at a second edge of the
hopper opening 590 and the first channel 520 is fully opened). Note
that embodiments of the disclosure may include blades that are long
enough to intersect the edge of the hopper incline 112 (FIG. 1) to
seal the first channel, for example. Additionally, blade 503 of the
second channel 521 curves from shown position in the front of the
dispenser housing (zero degrees relative to angle B) to a position
in line with the front position of blade 502 (90 degrees) in the
rear of the dispenser housing. Accordingly, blade 503 is also at
the same edge of the opening 590 as the rear portion of blade 504
(e.g., the edge of the opening 590 defined by the dispenser
housing, See FIG. 9 showing a top view where the upper blade 503 of
the second channel 521 is at the edge of the hopper opening 590 and
the second channel 521 is fully closed). As the dispensing element
is rotated (e.g., first counterclockwise and then clockwise) an
input opening into the second channel may increase in size and the
opening into the first channel may decrease in size.
[0029] FIG. 8 illustrates a top view of a dispenser apparatus
according to one embodiment. FIG. 8 shows a dispenser unit view
through the top of a hopper 110 in the first threshold position
shown in FIG. 6. The position of the blade corresponds to FIG. 6,
or with reference to FIG. 7 to a configuration where the dispensing
element is rotated along angle B approximately 40-45 degrees which
creates an opening minor B 550 which would allow ingredients to
fall into the second channel 521. In this position, the first
channel 520 may be close or have an opening so small that no
ingredients may enter, for example. However, the rotation that
opens the second channel 521 to the upper opening of the housing
(e.g., hopper opening 224) also creates an opening in the first
channel to the lower opening of the housing 601 (see FIGS. 6-7),
allowing items to flow out of the first channel 520. Additionally,
dispensing element 500 may be rotated such that there may be
positions in which both the first and second channels have upper
openings simultaneously. The size of the opening minor B for the
second channel is approximately the same size as the lower opening
for the first channel. Accordingly, the size of these openings, as
set by the angle of rotation by a motor, for example, may be used
to control the amount of items that flow through the channels.
[0030] FIG. 9 illustrates a top view of a dispenser apparatus
according to one embodiment. FIG. 9 shows a dispenser unit view
through the top of a hopper 110 in the second threshold position
shown in FIG. 7. The position of the blade corresponds to FIG. 7,
or with reference to FIG. 6 a configuration where the dispensing
element is rotated along angle A approximately 40-45 degrees which
creates an opening minor A 551 which would allow ingredients to
fall into the first channel 520 but not the second channel. Since
no ingredients can enter the second channel, flow through the
second channel is stopped. Additionally, referring again to FIG. 7,
ingredients may enter the first channel but flow is stopped because
the sidewalls of the dispensing unit housing extend at least 90
degrees between an upper opening of the housing and a lower opening
of the housing. As shown in FIG. 7 the lower blade 501 of the first
channel 520 is adjacent to the edge of the housing sidewall 600,
thereby forming a seal in the first channel that prevents the flow
of items from the upper opening to the lower opening of the
dispensing unit. According, given the symmetry of the present
example, when either the first or second channels are fully opened
at the top of the dispensing unit to receive ingredients, they are
also fully closed at the bottom of the dispensing unit to prevent
ingredients from exiting the dispenser. Conversely, when either the
first or second channels are fully closed at the top of the
dispensing unit, they are also fully opened at the bottom of the
dispensing unit so that ingredients may exit the dispenser.
Similarly, the size of one input opening for one channel is
typically the same size as an output opening of the other channel
in this example.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the dynamic operation of the
dispenser is as follows. Referring to FIG. 6, the first channel 520
may be selectively rotated into a position between 40 and 80
degrees from the first threshold position (e.g., in the direction
of angle A) corresponding to a variable opening between the first
channel 520 and the opening 590 (See FIG. 9 showing the first
channel forming an opening 551 in the dispenser housing and bottom
of the hopper). This allows a first amount of the ingredients to
enter the first channel. If the angle of rotation is less than 45
degrees (A<45 degrees), for example, based on the configuration
of the particular lower opening of the dispenser housing, the
dispenser element may be in a position allowing the first amount of
ingredients to exit the first channel and fall into the trap. This
is illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, where the lower vertical
blade 501 of the first channel maintains an opening to the trap up
to about 45 degrees, where blade 501 intersects an edge of the
lower opening 601 in the dispenser housing and the first channel
520 becomes closed at the bottom.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 7, the second channel 521 may be
selectively rotated into a position between 40 and 80 degrees, for
example, from the second threshold position (e.g., in the direction
of angle B) corresponding to a variable opening between the second
channel and the opening in the housing (See FIG. 8 showing the
second channel forming an opening 550 in the dispenser housing and
bottom of the hopper). This allows a second amount of the
ingredients to enter the second channel. If the angle of rotation
is less than 45 degrees (B<45 degrees), for example, based on
the configuration of the particular dispenser housing lower
opening, the dispenser element may be in a position allowing a
second amount of ingredients to fall out of the second channel and
into the trap.
[0033] In one example embodiment, the first and second channels are
selectively rotated into a home position, which may be the position
shown in FIG. 7, for example. In the home position, no amount of
the ingredients passes through the dispenser unit. In one
embodiment, the first and second openings created by moving the
dispenser element clockwise and counter clockwise are configured to
be the same so that approximately equal portions pass through each
channel. The angle of rotation may further control the amount
flowing into each channel, for example.
[0034] Advantageously, as mentioned above, the size of the channel
inputs may be varied so that the system reliably delivers different
amounts of repeatable quantities of ingredients. For example, one
or more rotational movements may deliver a first amount of
ingredients for a first use, and another one or more rotational
movements may deliver a second amount of ingredients for a second
use. This is particularly advantageous where the dispenser is used
to dispense solid food items for consecutive orders which may use
different amounts of ingredients, for example.
[0035] FIG. 10 illustrates another example dispenser element 1000
according to another embodiment. The dispenser element has a first
channel 1020. Other embodiments may further include a symmetrical
second channel in an opposite quadrant on the opposing side of the
first channel. In one embodiment, the first, or first and second,
channels may operate similar to the dispenser element of FIG. 5.
However, different shapes of first and second channels may be
machined or molded such that the ingredients are less likely to
stick and flow more effectively.
[0036] FIG. 11 illustrates a fully automated computer controlled
dispenser system according to an embodiment. This example
illustrates a hopper unit 1100 coupled to a dispenser unit 1101,
coupled to a trap unit 1102. Ingredients in the hopper move into
the dispenser unit and through the trap as described above. The
dispenser element in the dispenser unit may be controlled by a
motor 1111 and a flap in trap unit 1102 may be controlled by a
motor 1102, for example. Motors 1111 and 1112 are coupled to a
controller 1110, which receives instructions from a server (e.g.,
local server 1130). Instructions from server 1130 may include an
amount of ingredients to dispense, for example, which may have been
received as part of are recipe from cloud server 1140, for example.
The amount may be converted into a particular number of back and
forth movements of the motor 1111 to move a dispenser element to
dispense the amount in the instruction. In this example, a
receptacle 1103 is placed (e.g., by a robotic arm) in a physical
interface 1104 to receive ingredients that flow through the
dispenser and through the trap. The receptacle 1103 may be placed
on a scale 1105 to measure the weight of ingredients dispensed.
Scale 1105 sends the weight of the dispensed ingredients to
controller 1110 to form a feedback loop causing motor 1111 to
rotate dispensing element to dispense more ingredients until a
desired weight is obtained. In one embodiment, the weight measured
on the scale is sent from the controller to the server, and the
server continues to issue updated amounts to dispense until a
desired weight is obtained, for example. For example, the
controller may provide a feedback signal to the server with a
weight measured by the scale such that the server responds to the
weight of ingredients within the receptacle to configure the
controller to dispense an updated weight of ingredients (e.g., a
final weight less the weight measured by the scale). Motor 1112 may
rotate the flap to configure trap 1102 in the open position at the
beginning of a dispense operation, for example, and may configure
trap 1102 in the closed position after a desired weight is
obtained. For example, in response to a command from the server to
the controller to dispense, the controller configures the motor to
open the trap, and the controller closes the trap prior to
responding to the server that the dispense operation is completed.
Finally, this example illustrates the use of an agitator 1113
coupled to controller 1110. Agitator 1113 may include an electrical
vibrator activated by controller 1110 to create vibrations in the
hopper 1110 so that ingredients do not stick to the sidewalls or
inclines of the hopper, for example.
[0037] Referring again to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, a second
position a rotational difference from the home position (shown in
FIG. 7) may be determined by a predetermined calibration factor
corresponding to at least a size of the first channel, a desired
amount of the ingredients, and/or a cut size of the ingredients,
for example. This calibration factor may also include other
positions as well. The calibration factor may comprise different
values downloaded from a cloud server over the internet based on
different ingredients of different sizes, for example. For
instance, ingredients may be pineapple which has a chef's cut.
Fruit of this cut may have been empirically characterized at the
factory and a table of values may be ready for sending to each
dispenser apparatus. In one embodiment, an initial calibration
factor is loaded from the server to the controller to set a
rotation value (e.g., amount of rotation for a given amount of a
particular ingredient) and a cycle value (e.g., number of back and
forth cycle) to deliver the desired weight of the items.
[0038] Additionally, different cut sizes of different ingredients
may have different size dispenser elements. For example, a larger
cut size may have a cylindrical base with a smaller radius and
blades with correspondingly larger heights, where another smaller
cut size may have a cylindrical base with a larger radius and
blades with correspondingly smaller heights. Accordingly, in one
embodiment, for a first size of items, the cylinder has a first
diameter and the blades have a first radial length. In another
embodiment, for a second size of items greater than the first size
of items, the cylinder has a second diameter and the blades have a
second radial length. The first diameter is greater than the second
diameter and the first radial length is less than the second radial
length.
[0039] In one embodiment, the dispenser element agitates (rotates
back and forth) between two predefined positions to provide first
and second amounts of ingredients. The two positions may be
symmetrical because, as mentioned above, the input opening size of
one channel at the upper opening may correspond to an output
opening size of the other channel at the lower opening. This allows
for alternating first and second channel dispensing of ingredients
in succession. This may provide for nearly equal quantized portions
of the ingredient to be dispensed from each channel into the lower
opening of the dispenser unit and through the trap, for
example.
[0040] In yet another embodiment the first amount of an ingredient
is an incremental amount, and the dispenser element agitates
between the two positions through a predetermine number of cycles
to provide a final amount of the ingredient.
[0041] In one embodiment, the dispenser apparatus includes a scale
to measure the weight of the first amount of ingredients after
falling out of the first channel. In one embodiment, a receptacle
is situated to receive the items exiting the trap and a scale is
situated to measure the weight of the receptacle and items located
within the receptacle. In another embodiment, the value of weight
is used to control the motor coupled to the dispensing element to
dispense a final amount of the ingredients specified in an
instruction received from the local server, for example.
[0042] In yet another embodiment, a controller is coupled to
control a motor (e.g., a stepper motor) coupled to open and close
the trap, and a server is coupled to the controller. In response to
an instruction from the server to the controller to dispense, for
example, the controller opens the trap, and the controller closes
the trap prior to responding to the server that the dispense
operation is completed.
[0043] In one embodiment, the scale provides a feedback signal to
the controller such that the dispenser element responds to the
weight of items within the receptacle in a local feedback loop to
deliver a desired weight of the items. In another embodiment, a
feedback loop between the dispenser and the local server may fine
tune the weight of items in the receptacle.
[0044] In another embodiment, the dispenser apparatus includes a
server coupled to the controller. An initial calibration factor is
loaded from the server to the controller to begin an initial
rotation value and cycle value to deliver the desired weight of the
items.
[0045] The above description illustrates various embodiments of the
present disclosure along with examples of how aspects of the
particular embodiments may be implemented. The above examples
should not be deemed to be the only embodiments, and are presented
to illustrate the flexibility and advantages of the particular
embodiments as defined by the following claims. Based on the above
disclosure and the following claims, other arrangements,
embodiments, implementations and equivalents may be employed
without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as
defined by the claims.
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