Discharge means for dispensing apparatus

A discharge assembly for use in or with dispensing apparatus, said discharge assembly including:

• an entry chamber for receiving material to be dispensed;
• at least one discharge outlet provided in the entry chamber;
• a directing member movably mounted in the entry chamber for directing the material through the at least one discharge outlet;
• at least one opening defined in or associated with the directing member for allowing the material to move through the at least one opening and towards the discharge outlet;
• a closure member associated with the at least one opening of the directing member and said closure member arranged to move between an open position, wherein the material can move through the at least one opening of the directing member, and a closed position, wherein the material is prevented from moving through the at least one opening of the directing member;
• wherein a resilient biasing member is provided on or associated with the closure member to bias the closure member to the open position, at least in an initial stage of opening of the closure member;
• and
• a drive member provided on or associated with the directing member for driving movement or rotation of the directing member
• wherein an end of the resilient biasing member is arranged to engage with the closure member at least when the closure member is in the closed position and for an initial stage of opening of the closure member,
• wherein once the resilient biasing member has provided an initial biasing force to the closure member to start opening of the closure member, said end of the resilient biasing member disengages with the closure member and the force of the material moving against the closure member continues to move the closure member to the fully open position.

A method of using a discharge assembly, said discharge assembly including:

• an entry chamber for receiving material to be dispensed;
• at least one discharge outlet provided in the entry chamber;
• a directing member rotatably mounted in the entry chamber;
• at least one opening defined in or associated with the directing member;
• a closure member associated with the at least one opening of the directing member, said closure member pivotably mounted, directly or indirectly, to the directing member;
• said method including the steps of
• moving the directing member to move and direct the material from an exterior of the directing member to an interior of the directing member through the at least one opening and towards the discharge outlet;
• moving the closure member between an open position, wherein the can move through the at least one opening of the directing member, and a closed position, wherein the material is prevented from moving through the at least one opening of the directing member;
• and
• wherein resilient biasing member is provided on or associated with the closure member to bias the closure member from the closed position to the open position, at least in an initial stage of opening of the closure member.