US 12,344,474 B2
System for dispensing ingredients
Kent A. Deemter, Hudsonville, MI (US); R. William Kneifel, II, West Bloomfield, MI (US); Eric Brasseur, Detroit, MI (US); Edward Gleich, Detroit, MI (US); Anita Klopfenstein, Detroit, MI (US); David Scrivano, South Lyon, MI (US); Dana Tilley, Detroit, MI (US); Thomas Hennessy, Royal Oak, MI (US); Kyle M. Bey, Davison, MI (US); Evan Allen, Detroit, MI (US); and Alex Szmatula, Detroit, MI (US)
Assigned to Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 13, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/440,637.
Application 18/440,637 is a continuation of application No. 17/410,914, filed on Aug. 24, 2021, granted, now 11,939,159.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/070,026, filed on Aug. 25, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2024/0262623 A1, Aug. 8, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B65G 1/08 (2006.01); A47J 47/01 (2006.01); A47J 47/08 (2006.01); B65G 1/10 (2006.01); B65G 54/02 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 1/08 (2013.01) [A47J 47/01 (2013.01); A47J 47/08 (2013.01); B65G 1/10 (2013.01); B65G 54/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system comprising:
a cabinet that accommodates a container, the container having an ingredient, wherein the cabinet is refrigerated via a cooling system;
a conveyor including a dispensing region, wherein the cabinet is insulated from the dispensing region of the conveyor by an air curtain generated by the cooling system;
an ejector in communication with the container and operable to dispense the ingredient from the container;
a chute configured to direct the ingredient dispensed from the container to the dispensing region of the conveyor; and
a bin received at the conveyor, the conveyor operable to move the bin within the dispensing region to position the bin to receive the ingredient from the chute.