System for dispensing viscous or chunky materials

Apparatus for mixing and dispensing a flowable material comprising:

• a reservoir having an open top closeable by a lid movable between open and closed positions;
• a dispensing valve adjacent the bottom of said reservoir and being movable from a closed position to an open position for gravitationally dispensing material therefrom;
• vacuum means for drawing a vacuum in said reservoir when said lid is closed and being in communication with the interior of said reservoir adjacent the top thereof;
• and said valve providing reverse airflow therethrough in said closed position thereof when said reservoir is under a vacuum during operation of said vacuum means so that air enters said reservoir through said valve to maintain said valve free of clogging as by packing of settled material therein and the air bubbles up through the material in the reservoir to mix same between intermittent movement of said valve to its open position to dispense portions of material from said reservoir.

A method of dispensing and mixing a flowable material comprising the steps of:

• providing a substantially sealable reservoir of flowable material having adjacent the bottom thereof a dispensing valve movable between open and closed positions and providing reverse air leakage therethrough in its closed position;
• establishing a vacuum in said reservoir in its substantially sealed condition to create reverse airflow into said reservoir through said valve in its closed position and thereby maintain said valve substantially clear of clogging as by packing of settled material therein;
• causing the air flowing through said valve to bubble up through the material in said reservoir to mix said material;
• intermittently moving said valve to its open position to dispense material from said reservoir;
• and continuously maintaining said reservoir under said vacuum all the while said valve is open or closed.