Apparatus for Dispensing a Product from a Rotary Surface

Abstract

Apparatus for dispensing a product includes a surface with a rotary axis and a periphery for supporting a layer of material, a motor for rotating the surface, a vertical forming cylinder positioned adjacent to the periphery, the cylinder having a side window opposite the periphery and a bottom opening below the surface, and a first scraper positioned above the surface and extending cross-wise to the direction of rotation of the surface. The first scraper engages the rotary surface while the surface is rotating to scrape the material into a row of scrapings on the surface. A second scraper is positioned above the surface adjacent to the first scraper and extends perpendicular to the first scraper, the second scraper engaging the surface and being movable parallel to the first scraper. An actuator moves the second scraper between a first position adjacent to the axis and a second position adjacent to the periphery so that the second scraper pushes the row of scrapings from the surface into the forming cylinder through the window thereby collecting the scrapings within the cylinder. An ejector movable within said forming cylinder pushes the collected scrapings as a shaped product out of the cylinder through the bottom opening thereof. A dispensing method is also disclosed.

1 . Dispensing apparatus comprising 
 a surface for supporting a layer of material, said surface having a rotary axis and a periphery;    a motor for rotating said surface about said axis;    a first scraper positioned opposite the surface and extending cross-wise to the direction of movement of said surface, said first scraper having an inner end adjacent to said axis and an outer end adjacent to said periphery, said first scraper engaging said surface while said surface is rotating to scrape said material from said surface into a row of scrapings in front of the first scraper;    a second scraper positioned opposite the surface in front of the first scraper and extending generally perpendicular to the first scraper, said second scraper engaging said surface and being movable parallel to the first scraper between an inner position adjacent to the inner end of the first scraper and an outer position adjacent to the outer end of the first scraper, and    an actuator for moving the second scraper between said inner and outer positions so that the second scraper pushes said row of scrapings from said surface to said periphery.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus defined in  claim 1  and further including a receptacle supported adjacent to said periphery for receiving and collecting the row of scrapings pushed to said periphery.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus defined in  claim 1 , wherein 
 the first scraper comprises a channel supported above said surface, said channel having opposite walls defining between them an alley that extends along said surface and contains the second scraper, one of said walls located behind the second scraper supporting a scraping edge that contacts said surface, and    said second scraper is movable along said alley between said inner and outer positions.    
   
   
       4 . The apparatus defined in  claim 3 , wherein said scraping edge is separable from said one of the walls.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus defined in  claim 3 , wherein said channel has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus defined in  claim 3 , wherein said actuator comprises 
 a rack extending along said channel, and    a motorized pinion in mesh with said rack.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus defined in  claim 1 , wherein said surface is circular and is of a thermally conductive material.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus defined in  claim 1  and further including a depositing mechanism for depositing the layer of material on said surface.  
   
   
       9 . Dispensing apparatus comprising 
 a generally horizontal surface having a rotary axis and a periphery and for supporting a layer of material;    a motor for rotating said surface about said axis;    a vertical forming cylinder positioned adjacent to said periphery, said cylinder having a side window opposite said periphery and a bottom opening spaced below said surface;    a first scraper positioned above the surface and extending cross-wise to the direction of movement of said surface, said first scraper engaging said surface while said surface is rotating to scrape said material from said surface into a row of scrapings in front of the first scraper;    a second scraper positioned above said surface in front of the first scraper and extending generally perpendicular to the first scraper, said second scraper engaging said surface and being movable parallel to the first scraper;    motive means for moving the second scraper between a first position on said surface spaced from said cylinder and a second position on said surface at or adjacent to said cylinder so that the second scraper pushes said row of scrapings from said surface into the forming cylinder through said window thereby collecting the scrapings within the cylinder, and    an ejector slidable within said forming cylinder to push the collected scrapings as a shaped product out of the cylinder through said bottom opening thereof.    
   
   
       10 . The apparatus defined in  claim 9 , wherein the ejector comprises 
 a shaft having an end facing the bottom opening and being moveable within the forming cylinder;    an ejector member positioned at said shaft end, and    an actuator for moving the shaft between a first position wherein the ejector member is above said window and a second position wherein the ejector member is adjacent to said bottom opening.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus defined in  claim 10 , wherein the ejector member includes 
 a concave wall facing said bottom opening, and    an elastomeric cover covering said concave wall.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus defined in  claim 11 , wherein said cover normally spans the concave wall so that it is substantially parallel to said bottom opening.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus defined in  claim 12 , wherein said cover stretches to conform to the contour of said concave wall when said shaped product is being ejected from said cylinder.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus defined in  claim 9  and further including 
 a closure member for selectively opening and closing said bottom opening, and    means for controlling the closure member so that the bottom opening is closed when said scrapings are being collected within the cylinder and open when the collected scrapings are being pushed from the cylinder through the bottom opening thereof.    
   
   
       15 . The apparatus defined in  claim 9 , wherein 
 the first scraper comprises a channel supported above the rotary surface, said channel having opposite walls defining between them an alley that extends over said surface and contains the second scraper, one of said walls located behind the second scraper supporting an edge that contacts said surface, and    said second scraper is moveable along said alley between said first and second positions.    
   
   
       16 . The apparatus defined in  claim 15 , wherein the second scraper is shaped to close said window when the second scraper is in said second position.  
   
   
       17 . Apparatus for dispensing a product comprising 
 a substantially flat surface having an edge;    a scraping device including a channel supported above said surface, said channel having opposite walls defining between them an alley that extends over said surface and one of the walls supporting a scraping edge that contacts said surface;    motive means for moving said scraping device and said surface relatively so that the scraping edge scrapes a product deposited on said surface from said surface into said alley as a ridge row of product scrapings, and    a pusher for pushing said ridge row of scrapings along said alley to the edge of said surface.    
   
   
       18 . The apparatus defined in  claim 17 , wherein the pusher comprises 
 a movable scraper slidable along said alley, and    an actuating device for moving the scraper along said alley between a retracted position spaced away from the edge of said surface and in an extended position close to the edge of said surface.    
   
   
       19 . The apparatus defined in  claim 17 , wherein the scraping device includes a biasing device for biasing said scraping edge toward said surface.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus defined in  claim 17 , wherein the scraping edge is releasably secured to said one of said walls for easy replacement.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus defined in  claim 17 , wherein the scraping device supports the channel so that the channel is self-leveling relative to said surface.