Bulk dispenser for pre-cut edible film

Abstract

A bulk dispenser (10) for dispensing pre-cut pieces of film is disclosed. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a container body (12), a dispenser housing assembly (52) housed within the container body, arid a lid (14) which forms a moisture-tight seal with the container body. The dispenser housing assembly includes a product reservoir, a dispenser housing in engagement with the product reservoir, and a flexible indexing arm that is movable relative to the dispenser housing to dispense the pre-cut pieces of film. The pre-cut pieces of film can be encapsulated within a perforated continuous carrier (30) and contained within the product reservoir. The flexible indexing arm has features that cooperate with the continuous carrier to index the continuous carrier and dispense an individual pre-cut film piece. In an alternative embodiment, the dispenser employs a suction cup (150) in the container lid which is forced onto a film piece in a stack of film pieces to be dispensed. The vacuum that is generated by the suction cup causes the film piece to be securely attached to the suction cup so that, when the container lid is opened, a single film piece is lifted from the stack of film pieces.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.