1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a dispensing device and, more particularly, to a dispensing device for storing and dispensing bulk food products such as confectioneries.
It is a growing trend for supermarkets and specialty stores to feature bulk foods in which the customer is permitted to select and package a desired quantity of goods. Thus, the customer is permitted to selectively purchase goods so that the customer receives the feeling that he has purchased the best or freshest possible goods. A further advantage is that the customer is liberated from the weight and freshness limitations of packaged food products. A still further advantage is that by allowing the customer to serve himself, there is no need for an employee to package and stack such packaged goods so that the store limits its overhead costs, which savings may be passed on to customers.
Typically, bulk foods are stored in containers such as barrels or bins. Access is often gained to the product by means of a hinged door. The customer utilizes a scoop or cup to transfer the desired quantity from the barrel to a purchasing medium or receptacle, such as a plastic bag. However, such an arrangement does not prevent contamination of the foods. The very act of opening the hinged door exposes the remaining contents of the barrel to contamination by dust and other airborne particles. It is also impossible to keep the scoop free from food residue or customer mishandling since this arrangement allows the customer to have direct physical contact with the entire quantity of bulk product throughout the selection process. Further, a customer is not prevented from returning dispensed food or product to the bin in such an arrangement, thereby enhancing the possibility of product contamination.
An additional consideration in the storage and dispensing of bulk food products is the option of maintaining a continual flow of fresh product. In the method of dispensing bulk foods, as described above, it is difficult, if not impossible, to place fresh product beneath existing product. Therefore, stale product may easily become commingled with the fresher food product.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,211,343 to Hughes, et al is directed to a bulk dry food product storage, display and dispensing apparatus which includes a plurality of modules with each module having a plurality of hoppers. Each hopper comprises a continuously changing radius of curvature with the front portion being different than the rear portion so that older product moves forward towards the customer as new product is added in the apparatus. The apparatus also includes a rake to permit the customer to manipulate the product from any angle to a dispensing chute.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,609 to Morse, et al. is directed to a sanitary foodstuff dispenser in which bulk product is dispensed from a main storage hopper into a smaller intermediate dispensing bin to allow a customer to accurately measure the desired quantity of product. The customer then manipulates a lever in order to dispense the product.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,578 to Radek, et al. is directed to bulk goods dispenser, which like the Morse patent, permits the bulk product to be dispensed from a main storage hopper into a closed dispensing chamber. The customer then manipulates a lever to dispense the selected product into a receptacle.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,592,494 and 4,650,898 to Ellis, et al. are directed to sealed barrier containers in which bulk product is stored in a main storage container and dispensed into a second storage area through a valve mechanism. Once in the second storage area, the product may be maneuvered to the dispensing chute by the customer by a variety of dispensing mechanisms include a rake.
While these patents provide dispensing mechanisms which work to prevent contamination by the customer and from airborne particles, these patents provide complicated structures and do not provide the regulator means and funnel means of the present invention. Further, these patents fail to provide the removable bottom and raking means which enables the present invention to be readily cleaned.