Claims:1. A food dispenser comprising:
a support assembly;
a lower vessel supported on the support assembly, the lower vessel comprising a dispensing valve;
an upper vessel configured to receive a food product comprising a mixture of a plurality of solid chunks and a liquid, each of the solid chunks comprises a pre-specified weight; wherein the upper vessel comprises a plurality of holes on a base wall of the upper vessel to allow flow of the liquid from the upper vessel to the lower vessel; and
a vibrating unit configured to support the upper vessel, the vibrating unit, on actuation, vibrates the upper vessel at a predefined frequency for a predefined time period to dispense one or more solid chunks out of the plurality of solid chunks from the upper vessel, a weight of the one or more chunks pertains to a predetermined weight;
wherein the dispensing valve of the lower vessel is configured to, on actuation, dispense a portion of the liquid from the lower vessel; and
wherein the lower vessel and the upper vessel are configured such that at least one of the lower vessel and the upper vessel moves relative to other.
2. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower vessel is slidably supported with the support assembly to move between a raised position away from the support assembly, in which a lower portion of the upper vessel is accommodated in the lower vessel, and a lowered position towards the support assembly, in which the upper vessel is lifted on the vibrating unit above the lower vessel, wherein in the raised position of the lower vessel the solid chunks are immersed in the liquid.
3. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the food dispenser comprises a weight sensing unit configured below the support assembly to sense a weight of the support assembly, lower vessel, upper vessel, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel and the upper vessel, and wherein the weight sensing unit comprises an upper plate, a lower plate, and any of strain gauges and load cells configured between the upper plate, the lower plate.
4. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 3, wherein the food dispenser comprises a control unit operatively coupled to the weight sensing unit, dispensing valve, the vibrating unit, and the support assembly, and wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the vibrating unit based on a sensed weight of the support assembly, lower vessel, upper vessel, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel and the upper vessel by the weight sensing unit when the weight of the dispensed one or more chunks pertains to the predetermined weight.
5. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 4, wherein the control unit is configured to actuate the dispensing valve of the lower vessel.
6. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dispensing valve is any of a mechanical valve, an electronic valve and an electro-mechanical valve to facilitate controlled passage of the liquid through the dispensing valve.
7. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper vessel comprises an outlet opening in a side wall coupled to the base wall of the upper vessel to allow dispensing of the one or more solid chunks.
8. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 7, wherein the vibrating unit comprises a plurality of support members fixed to flanges of the side wall of the upper vessel at upper ends of the plurality of support members, and one or more motors operatively coupled to lower ends of the plurality of support members for moving the plurality of support members.
9. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower vessel comprises a slider guide configured with the lower vessel to enable guided dispensing of the one or more solid chunks.
10. The food dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower vessel comprises a hot water jacket configured with an outer surface of the lower vessel to circulate hot water for heating the liquid in the lower vessel, and wherein the lower vessel comprises one or more stirrers for stirring the liquid in the lower vessel. , Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates, generally, to the field of food product dispensing equipment. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a food dispenser for metered dispensing of a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both.

BACKGROUND
[0002] The background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] As changing consumer lifestyles have increasingly resulted in an emphasis on speed, convenience, hygiene and cleanliness. Foodborne illness has become a most serious food and beverage safety issue. As more consumers rely on manufacturers and food stores for food-safety protection, food and beverage providers must take heightened steps to eliminate those risks most often responsible for foodborne illness. The food producer, distributor and retailer must work toward elimination of foodborne hazards resulting from improper holding temperature and post-cooking contamination factors.
[0004] Hotels, restaurants, residential institutions and other establishments in which buffets are available frequently present food items/products in large bowls to which the consumer may help himself using a scoop. There are many disadvantages associated with these storage and dispensing arrangements. Firstly, spillage frequently occurs during transfer of the from the storage bowl to the consumer's bowl, causing wastage and mess. Secondly, freshness is not preserved. Thirdly, these methods are unhygienic, since the food is exposed to contamination by dust, insect matter and other airborne particles. Such contamination may occur even if the box is closed or a cover is provided, since each consumer must remove the cover prior to helping himself to food. Furthermore, the food may inadvertently be touched by the consumer during the scooping process.
[0005] Devices or apparatus for storing and dispensing food products are known. However, these food dispensers are suitable either for solid food comprising hard pieces, such as beans or hard candies, or for beverages, and do not offer a way of dispensing food mixtures of solid-liquid without any particular damage to the food itself. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus for efficiently, hygienically and easily dispensing a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both. Further, there is also a need to allow adjustability of the amount of food product dispensed based on the requirement of the consumer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a food dispenser.
[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a food dispenser which can facilitate dispensing of solid alone, liquid alone, and a mixture of solid-liquid.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a food dispenser for efficiently, and hygienically dispensing a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a food dispenser which can facilitate weight-based dispensing solid chunks and volume-based dispensing of liquid of a solid-liquid mixture.
[0010] Still another object of the present disclosure is to provide an efficient and cost-effective food dispenser that allows adjustability of the amount of food products dispensed based on the requirement of consumers.

SUMMARY
[0011] Aspects of the present disclosure relate to food product dispensers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a food dispenser for metered dispensing of a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both. The food dispenser facilitates weight based dispensing of the solid chunks suspended in a liquid.
[0012] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a food dispenser which can include a support assembly; a lower vessel supported on the support assembly, the lower vessel comprising a dispensing valve; and an upper vessel configured to receive a food product comprising a mixture of a plurality of solid chunks and a liquid. Each of the solid chunks comprises a pre-specified weight. The upper vessel can include a plurality of holes or slots/openings on a base wall of the upper vessel to allow flow of the liquid from the upper vessel to the lower vessel but not the solid pieces. The solid chunks remain in the upper vessel. The food dispenser can include a vibrating unit configured to support the upper vessel. The vibrating unit can, on actuation, vibrate the upper vessel at a predefined frequency for a predefined time period to dispense one or more solid chunks out of the plurality of solid chunks from the upper vessel, where a weight of the one or more chunks pertains to a predetermined weight. The dispensing valve of the lower vessel can be configured to, on actuation, dispense a portion of the liquid from the lower vessel. The lower vessel and the upper vessel are configured such that at least one of the lower vessel and the upper vessel moves relative to the other.
[0013] In an embodiment, the lower vessel can be slidably supported with the support assembly to move between a raised position away from the support assembly, in which a lower portion of the upper vessel is accommodated in the lower vessel, and a lowered position towards the support assembly, in which the upper vessel is lifted on the vibrating unit above the lower vessel. In the raised position of the lower vessel the solid chunks are immersed in the liquid.
[0014] In an embodiment, the food dispenser can include a weight sensing unit configured below the support assembly to sense a weight of the support assembly, lower vessel, upper vessel, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel and the upper vessel. The weight sensing unit can include any of strain gauges and load cells placed between an upper plate and a lower plate of the weight sensing unit.
[0015] In an embodiment, the food dispenser can include a control unit operatively coupled to the weight sensing unit, dispensing valve, the vibrating unit, and the support assembly. The control unit is configured to actuate the vibrating unit based on a sensed weight of the support assembly, lower vessel, upper vessel, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel and the upper vessel by the weight sensing unit when the weight of the dispensed one or more chunks pertains to the predetermined weight.
[0016] In an embodiment, the control unit can be configured to actuate the dispensing valve of the lower vessel.
[0017] In an embodiment, the dispensing valve can be any of a mechanical valve, an electronic valve and an electro-mechanical valve to facilitate controlled passage of the liquid through the valve.
[0018] In an embodiment, the upper vessel can include an outlet opening in a side wall coupled to the base wall of the upper vessel to allow dispensing of the one or more solid chunks.
[0019] In an embodiment, the vibrating unit can include a plurality of support members fixed to flanges of the side wall of the upper vessel at upper ends of the plurality of support members, and one or more motors operatively coupled to lower ends of the plurality of support members for moving the plurality of support members.
[0020] In an embodiment, the food dispenser can include a slider guide configured with the lower vessel to enable guided dispensing of the one or more solid chunks.
[0021] In an embodiment, the food dispenser can include a hot water jacket configured with an outer surface of the lower vessel to circulate hot water for heating the food content in the vessels..
[0022] In an embodiment, the lower vessel can include one or more stirrers for stirring the liquid in the lower vessel.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of the proposed food dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0026] FIGs. 2A and 2B illustrate exemplary perspective and side views, respectively, of a lower vessel of the proposed food dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary perspective view of an upper vessel of the proposed food dispenser, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0028] FIG. 4A illustrates an arrangement of an upper vessel in a lower vessel when the lower vessel is moved to a raised position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] FIG. 4B illustrates an arrangement of an upper vessel above a lower vessel when the lower vessel is moved to a lowered position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The embodiments are in such detail as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0031] While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not limited to these embodiments only. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as described in the claim.
[0032] Embodiments explained herein relates to food product dispensers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a simple and efficient food dispenser for metered dispensing of a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both.
[0033] Complete automation of the food industry is a next big thing that is going to revolutionize the entire industry. The present disclosure relates to a concept of removal of any manual contact with food after the cooking process is done. The food product after cooking is transferred into the disclosed automated dispensing apparatus, which itself serves as a storage unit and keeps the food warm. The dispenser then can dispense an accurate amount of food, based on weight as and when required. The concept of the dispenser pertains to dispensing food which is a mixture, in nature, of solid chunks immersed in a liquid.
[0034] In an embodiment, the disclosed automated dispensing apparatus has various applications like, in the food industry, such as restaurants, kitchens, and other places where food is to be dispensed into a small portion from a large batch.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 1, where an exemplary perspective view of the proposed food dispenser is shown, the proposed food dispenser 100 can include a support assembly 102, and a weight sensing unit 104 configured below the support assembly 102. The weight sensing unit 104 can include a lower plate 106, an upper plate 108, and any or combination of strain gauges and load cells placed between the lower plate 106 and the upper plate 108. The food dispenser 100 can include a lower vessel 110 movably supported on the support assembly 102. The lower vessel 110 can be configured to move between a raised position (shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4A) in which the lower vessel 110 moves away from the support assembly 102 and a lowered position (shown in FIG. 4B) in which the lower vessel 110 moves towards the support assembly 102. In an exemplary embodiment, the support assembly 102 can include a suitable moving arrangement such as a guide arrangement including a plurality of guide members (not shown) coupled to the lower vessel 110 at upper ends of the plurality of guides and slidably configured with a housing of the support assembly 102 to enable movement of the lower vessel 110 between the raised position and the lowered position
[0036] Referring to FIG. 2A and 2B, in an embodiment, the lower vessel 110 can include a dispensing valve 112 coupled to an opening provided in a base wall 114 of the lower vessel 110, a slider guide 116 configured with a side wall 118 of the lower vessel 110, a hot water jacket 124 configured with an outer surface of the lower vessel, and a stirrer 146. The hot water jacket 124 can be provided with a water inlet valve 126 and a water outlet valve 128 to circulate hot water through the hot water jacket 124.
[0037] In an embodiment, the food dispenser can include an upper vessel 130 to receive a food product comprising a mixture of a plurality of solid chunks and a liquid. Each of the solid chunks comprises a pre-specified weight. The upper vessel 130 can include a plurality of holes 132 (shown in FIG. 3) on a base wall 134 of the upper vessel 130 to allow flow of the liquid from the upper vessel 130 to the lower vessel 110. The upper vessel 130 can be configured with the lower vessel 110 such that a lower portion of the upper vessel 130 is accommodated in the lower vessel 110 when the lower vessel 110 is moved to the raised position. In this position, the solid chunks are immersed inside the
liquid or gravy so that the solid chunks/pieces do not dry out. In the lowered position of the lower vessel 110, the lower vessel 110 moves towards the support assembly 102 or away from the upper vessel 130, in which the liquid percolates into the lower vessel 110 through the holes/openings 132 of the upper vessel 130. In an embodiment, the upper vessel can include an outlet opening 140 in a side wall 136 coupled to the base wall 134 of the upper vessel to allow dispensing of the one or more solid chunks.
[0038] In an embodiment, the food dispenser 100 can include a vibrating unit that is configured to support the upper vessel 130 such that the upper vessel 130 is lifted above the lower vessel 110 when the lower vessel 110 is moved to the lowered position. The vibrating unit can include a plurality of support members 142 fixed to flanges 138 of the side wall 136 of the upper vessel 130 at upper ends of the plurality of support members 142, and one or more motors (not shown) operatively coupled to lower ends of the plurality of support members 142 for moving the plurality of support members 142 for vibrating the upper vessel 130. The vibrating unit is configured to vibrate the upper vessel 130 at a predefined frequency for a predefined time period for dispensing the solid chunks. The one or more motors of the vibrating unit can be enclosed in the housing of the support assembly 102.
[0039] In an embodiment, when the food product needs to be dispensed, the lower vessel 110 moves to the lowered position in order to separate the liquid and the solid chunks such that the liquid is collected in the lower vessel 110 and the solid chunks remain in the upper vessel 130. The vibrating unit, on actuation, vibrates the upper vessel 130 at the predefined frequency for the predefined time period to dispense one or more solid chunks out of the plurality of solid chunks from the upper vessel 130. A combined weight of the one or more chunks pertains to a predetermined weight. The dispensing valve 112 of the lower vessel 110 is configured to, on actuation, dispense a portion of the liquid from the lower vessel.
[0040] In alternate embodiment, the upper vessel 130 can be configured to move relative to the lower vessel 110, and the lower vessel 110 can be stationary and fixed with the support assembly 102.
[0041] In an embodiment, the weight sensing unit 104 can be configured to sense a weight of the support assembly 102, lower vessel 110, upper vessel 130, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel 110 and the upper vessel 130.
[0042] In an embodiment, the food dispenser 100 can include a control unit (not shown) operatively coupled to the weight sensing unit 104, dispensing valve 112, the vibrating unit, and the support assembly 102.
[0043] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit can include one or more processors. The processors may be implemented as one or more microprocessors, microcomputers, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, central processing units, logic circuitries, and/or any device that manipulates data based on operational instructions. Among other capabilities, the processors are configured to fetch and execute computer-readable instructions stored in a memory of the control unit. The memory may store one or more computer-readable instructions or routines, which may be fetched and executed to create or share the data units over a network service. The memory may comprise any non-transitory storage device including, for example, volatile memory such as RAM, or non-volatile memory such as EPROM, flash memory, and the like.
[0044] In an embodiment, the control unit can be configured to actuate the vibrating unit i.e. the motors of the vibrating unit based on a sensed weight of the support assembly 102, lower vessel 110, upper vessel 130, vibrating unit, and the food product in the lower vessel and the upper vessel by the weight sensing unit 104 when the weight of the dispensed one or more chunks pertains to the predetermined weight.
[0045] In an embodiment, the control unit can be configured to actuate the dispensing valve 112 of the lower vessel 110 for dispensing a desired portion of the liquid from the lower vessel 110. In an embodiment, the dispensing valve 112 can be any of a mechanical valve, an electronic valve and an electro-mechanical valve to facilitate controlled passage of liquid through the valve 112.
[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit can include a user interface to receive inputs from consumers/users or to transmit signals to other computing devices.
[0047] In another embodiment, the control unit can actuate the vibrating unit, and the dispensing valve 112 based on receipt of an input from a user.
[0048] In an embodiment, the dispensing action can be based on measured weight of the one or more solid chunks, i.e. required amount or weight of the solid chunks.
[0049] In an embodiment, the slider guide 116 of the lower vessel 110 is configured to enable guided dispensing of the one or more solid chunks in order to avoid any damage to the solid chunks.
[0050] In an embodiment, the hot water jacket 124 of the lower vessel 110 is configured for heating the liquid in the lower vessel and/or solid in the upper vessel 130.
[0051] In an embodiment, the stirrer 146 of the lower vessel 110 is configured for stirring the liquid in the lower vessel 110 to maintain liquid consistency.
[0052] In an embodiment, legs 144 can be provided with the lower plate 106 to support the food dispenser 100.
[0053] Thus, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the diagrams, schematics, illustrations, and the like represent conceptual views or processes illustrating systems and methods embodying this invention. The functions of the various elements shown in the figures may be provided through the use of dedicated hardware as well as hardware capable of executing associated software. Similarly, any switches shown in the figures are conceptual only. Their function may be carried out through the operation of program logic, through dedicated logic, through the interaction of program control and dedicated logic, or even manually, the particular technique being selectable by the entity implementing this invention. Those of ordinary skill in the art further understand that the exemplary hardware, software, processes, methods, and/or operating systems described herein are for illustrative purposes and, thus, are not intended to be limited to any particular named.
[0054] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
[0055] The present disclosure provides a simple and efficient food dispenser.
[0056] The present disclosure provides a food dispenser which can facilitate dispensing of solid alone, liquid alone, and a mixture of solid-liquid.
[0057] The present disclosure provides a food dispenser for efficiently, and hygienically dispensing a mixture of solid chunks immersed in a liquid in a preset proportion of both.
[0058] The present disclosure provides a food dispenser which can facilitate weight-based dispensing solid chunks and a volume-based dispensing of liquid of a solid-liquid mixture.
[0059] The present disclosure provides an efficient and cost-effective food dispenser that allows adjustability of the amount of food products dispensed based on the requirement of consumers.