Automated dispenser and method for dispensing

An automated spice, herb, condiment, tea, and/or ground coffee dispenser, comprising:

• (a) a plurality of cartridges, adapted to be individually filled, respectively, with one of the items selected from the group of items comprising spices, herbs, teas, condiments, and ground coffee beans;
• (b) a cartridge carrier adapted to hold said plurality of cartridges in a radially spaced and contiguously arranged circumferential manner around said vertical axis of said cartridge carrier;
• (c) a dispensing means, comprised of a least one spindle or rotary arm extending radially outwardly from said vertical axis, which when activated, engages with a slider member to trigger dispersal by gravity of a calibrated amount of spice, herb, condiment, or powdered beverage, from a selected cartridge;
• (d) said dispensing means adapted for circular movement relative to said cartridge carrier about said vertical axis.

A method for dispensing spice, herbs, condiments, and/or powdered beverages via an automated dispenser, wherein said automated dispenser comprises:

• (a) a plurality of cartridges, adapted to be individually filled, respectively, with a variety of spices, herbs, condiments, and/or powdered beverages;
• (b) a cartridge carrier, having a vertical axis, designed to hold said plurality of cartridges in a radially spaced and contiguously arranged circumferential manner around said carrier and vertical axis thereof;
• (c) a dispensing means, comprised of a least one spindle or rotary arm extending radially outwardly from said vertical axis, which when activated, engages with a slider member to trigger dispersal by gravity of a calibrated amount of spice, herb, condiment, or powdered beverage, from a selected cartridge;
• (d) said dispensing means adapted for circular movement relative to said cartridge carrier about said vertical axis;
• and
• (e) a memory look-up table, containing a plurality of separate, discrete dispensing programs for directing relative motion of the dispensing means relative to said cartridge carrier to dispense a particular variety of mixtures and quantities from said cartridges,
• wherein when a dispensing program is selected by a user, the dispensing program aligns the dispensing means relative to the cartridge carrier and, in particular, a selected cartridge to:
• (i) dispense a particular quantity of spice or condiment;
• (ii) and, in the case of a mix, to subsequently align with other selected cartridges to provide, from said cartridges, a desired mix of spice, herbs, condiments, and/or granulated beverage;
• said method comprising the steps of:
• (i) a user selecting a dispensing program;
• (ii) said dispensing program thereafter aligning one or more of said cartridges with said dispensing means to dispense quantities of said spice, condiment, herbs, or granulated beverage, from one or more of said cartridges.