Powder dispenser
AssigneeDr. Brown's Company
InventorsDouglas Hanneken, Bernard J. Kemper
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powder dispenser generally includes a reservoir adapted to contain a powder, a rotor disposed within the reservoir, a plate, and an engagement member. The rotor is configured to rotate about an axis and engage the powder within the reservoir. The plate is positioned below the rotor and defines a slot configured to receive the powder as the rotor rotates about the axis. The plate is arranged to rotate relative about the axis. The engagement member is aligned with at least one opening and is configured to extend into the slot defined in the plate. The engagement member is configured to direct a volume of the powder from the slot into the at least one opening as the plate rotates. The volume of the powder is dispensed through the opening as the plate rotates.
Claims17
A powder dispenser comprising:
- a reservoir adapted to contain a powder;
- a rotor disposed within the reservoir, wherein the rotor is configured to rotate about an axis and engage the powder within the reservoir;
- a first plate positioned below the rotor and defining a slot configured to receive the powder as the rotor rotates about the axis;
- a second plate positioned below the first plate and defining at least one opening aligned with a portion of the slot, wherein the first plate or the second plate is arranged to rotate relative to the other of the first plate or the second plate;
- and
- an engagement member extending upward from the second plate and into the slot defined by the first plate, the engagement member being aligned with the at least one opening on the second plate, wherein the engagement member is configured to direct a volume of the powder from the slot into the at least one opening as the first plate or the second plate rotates, and wherein the volume of the powder is dispensed through the opening as the first plate or the second plate rotates.
A metering assembly for a powder dispenser, the metering assembly comprising:
- a first plate sized to fit within a reservoir, the first plate having a slot extending around an axis, wherein the first plate is configured to rotate about the axis and receive powder within the slot;
- a second plate positioned below the first plate, the second plate defining at least one opening aligned with a portion of the slot;
- and
- an engagement member extending upward from the second plate and into the slot defined by the first plate, the engagement member being aligned with the opening on the second plate, wherein the engagement member is configured to direct a volume of the powder from the slot into the at least one opening as the first plate rotates, wherein the slot extends continuously around the axis to provide a continuous unobstructed path for the engagement member as the first plate rotates, and wherein the volume of the powder is dispensed through the opening as the first plate rotates.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.