Bulk dispenser actuation detection
AssigneeRetail Space Solutions LLC
InventorsChristopher Lyons, Craig Pavlich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A gravity-feed dispenser is connected to a hopper configured to hold a bulk material for dispense. The gravity-feed dispenser includes a spout and a valve separating the hopper from the spout. An actuator assembly is connected to the valve and includes a detectable element. The actuator assembly is operable to move the valve between open and closed conditions to selectively permit bulk material to pass from the hopper out of the spout. A fixture is configured to engage and support the gravity feed dispenser. A sensor is connected to the fixture and is positioned relative to the actuator assembly. The sensor operates to detect the detectable element of the actuator assembly and produce a signal indicative of the open condition or the closed condition.
Claims20
A gravity-feed bulk food dispensing system comprising:
- a hopper configured to hold a bulk food for dispense, the hopper comprising an identification element;
- a gravity-feed dispenser removably connected to the hopper, the gravity feed dispenser comprising:
- a spout;
- a valve separating the hopper from the spout;
- an actuator assembly connected the valve, the actuator assembly operable to move the valve between open and closed conditions to selectively permit bulk food to pass from the hopper out of the spout;
- a detectable element configured to move in coordination with the valve;
- a fixture configured to engage and support the gravity feed dispenser, the fixture comprising a reader configured to read identification information from the identification element on the hopper when the gravity feed dispenser is supported by the fixture;
- and
- a sensor connected to the fixture and positioned relative to gravity-feed dispenser, the sensor operable to detect the detectable element and produce a signal indicative of the open condition or the closed condition of the valve;
- and
- a controller configured to receive the signal indicative of the open condition or the closed condition of the valve from the sensor and configured to receive the identification information from the reader.
A system for gravity-feed dispensing of bulk food, the system comprising:
- a plurality of hoppers, each configured to hold a bulk food for dispense;
- a first gravity-feed dispenser comprising a first hopper with a first identification element, a first spout, a first valve separating the first hopper from the first spout, a first actuator assembly connected to the first valve and operable to move the first valve between open and closed conditions to selectively permit bulk food to pass from the first hopper out of the first spout, and a first detectable element configured to move in coordination with the valve;
- a second gravity-feed dispenser comprising a second hopper with a second identification element, a second spout, a second valve separating the second hopper from the second spout, a second actuator assembly connected to the second valve and operable to move the second valve between open and closed conditions to selectively permit bulk food to pass from the second hopper out of the second spout, and a second detectable element configured to move in coordination with the valve;
- a fixture configured to engage and support the first gravity-feed dispenser and the second gravity-feed dispenser, the fixture comprising a first reader associated with the first gravity-feed dispenser and configured to read identification information from the first identification element on the first hopper and a second reader associated with the second gravity-feed dispenser and configured to read identification information from the second identification element on the second hopper;
- a first sensor connected to the fixture and positioned relative to the first gravity-feed dispenser, the first sensor configured to detect the first detectable element and configured to produce a first signal indicative of the open condition or the closed condition of the first valve;
- a second sensor connected to the fixture and positioned relative to the second gravity-feed dispenser, the second sensor configured to detect the second detectable element and configured to produce a second signal indicative of the open condition or the closed condition of the second valve;
- and
- a controller communicatively connected to the first and second readers, the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and configured to determine a dispense operation of the first gravity-feed dispenser or the second gravity-feed dispenser from the first signal and or the second signal, and wherein the controller is configured to receive the identification information from the readers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.