Spiraling frustoconical dispenser

Abstract

A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects includes a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped. The first housing portion has a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed. There is a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for sequentially dispensing individual objects, comprising:
 a housing having a first housing portion which is conically-shaped, the first housing portion having a first end proximate a supply of objects and a second end proximate a location where the objects are to be dispensed; and   a spiral race, disposed on an interior surface of the first housing portion and extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, along which the objects to be dispensed travel.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a second housing portion with a first end and a second end; wherein the first end of the first housing portion is interconnected with the first end of the second housing portion. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing portion is frusto-conical in shape. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first housing portion and the second housing portion are mechanically detachable. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing portion has a hopper in its interior for holding a supply of objects. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein surface of the hopper is angled to urge the objects toward the first housing portion. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the second housing portion includes an opening with a mechanically detachable lid through which the supply of objects can be introduced to the hopper. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the second housing portion includes a spiral race disposed on its interior surface which aligns with the spiral race disposed on the interior surface of the first housing portion; the second housing portion holding a supply of objects. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis and the spiral race on the interior surface of the first housing portion is disposed about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the second housing portion includes a plurality of aggregating ribs on the interior surface of the second housing portion, the aggregating ribs having lengths substantially in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis and widths substantially in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein the housing has a longitudinal axis and the spiral races on the interior surfaces of the first and second housing portions are disposed about the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second housing portions are frustoconical in shape. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein the first end of the first housing portion is wider than the second end of first housing portion. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the housing is disposed on a mount to enable rotation of the housing about the longitudinal axis; wherein when the housing is rotated the objects to be dispensed travel from the hopper along the spiral race due to frictional engagement between the spiral race and the objects. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the housing is angled upwards, relative to a surface on which the device is disposed, from the second end of the second housing portion to the second end of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the first housing portion comprises an opening for the exit of the objects. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the objects to be dispensed are particles of food. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17 , wherein the particles range from 0.4 cm to 4.0 cm. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 16 , further including a drive system configured to cause rotation of the housing. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further including a controller in communication with the drive system to control rotation of the housing to dispense objects from the opening in the second end of the first housing portion one object at a time. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral race includes a spiral wall extending from the interior surface of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the spiral wall extending from the interior surface of the first housing portion is formed by indenting an exterior surface of the first housing portion. 
     
     
         23 . A system for training animals, comprising:
 a food container;   an interactive device for providing stimulation to the animal in order to elicit a response from the animal; and   a dispensing device for sequentially dispensing individual particles of food to the food container in response to input from the interactive device, the dispensing device including:
 a housing having a first housing portion interconnected to a second housing portion, the first housing portion being conically-shaped and having a first end interconnected to the second housing portion and a second end proximate the food container; 
 wherein the first housing portion has a spiral race disposed on its interior surface extending from the first end to the second end of the first housing portion, and wherein the second housing portion has a hopper in its interior for holding a supply of food particles; 
 a mount on which the housing is rotatably mounted to enable rotation of the housing about a longitudinal axis of the housing; wherein when the housing is rotated the food particles travel from the hopper along the spiral race due to frictional engagement between the spiral race and the food particles, until the particles are individually dispensed through an opening in the second housing portion to the food container. 
   
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the housing of the dispensing device is detachable from the mount. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 23  wherein the housing is inclined at an upward angle from the second housing portion to the first housing portion. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25  wherein one or more of the following parameters can be adjusted to control the travel of food particles along the spiral race: the angle of incline of the housing, the rotational speed of the housing, and the height, pitch and frictional properties of the spiral race.