The invention relates to a product container (1) for multiple dosing of a food product, comprising an inner volume (3) with a food product, this inner volume (3) being pressurized with nitrogen gas; the product container (1) further comprising a rotatable outlet element (7, 30) able to move from a position where the outlet of the container is open to a position where the outlet of the container is closed, being able to open and close the volume of the container under pressure; the pressure inside the container being higher than the atmospheric pressure. The invention further relates to a multi-serving product dispenser system for multiple dosing of a food product, comprising a product container (1) according as disclosed and a dosing mechanism (50), the container (1) being connectable to the dosing mechanism (50) by means of the rotatable outlet element (7, 30) in a tight manner, the dosing mechanism (50) comprising a moveable element (23) which movement is sequential with that of the rotatable outlet element (7, 30) such that the product can be stored, and can be dispensed into a dosing chamber (70) in the dosing mechanism (50), keeping the inner volume (3) of the container at a pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure. The invention also relates to a method for dispensing a food product one or a plurality of times using a multi-serving dispenser system as described.

A system for dispensing one or more products can include one or more product containers, each with a port for dispensing a product, a housing with one or more product cavities for removably receiving the product containers, one or more quantity sensors for detecting a quantity of product within one or more product containers, one or more actuators for dispensing product from one or more product containers, and a controller configured to monitor or control one or more aspects of the system.

An improved dispenser unit for dispensing bulk food items, including a cabinet having at least one hopper having a drum with product compartments, a deflector and flexible gate valve, a dispense assembly, and a control system. The dispense assembly may or may not include one or more belts and/or sensors. The product compartments include flexible and/or elastic membranes, which dynamically change the effective product storage volume within a compartment, and eliminate rigid or semi-rigid pinch points between the drum and drum compartment. A product flow divider may be positioned above the receiving container in the dispense assembly, said divider configured to cause the dispensed product to divide into two or more flow streams into the receiving container. The receiving container may be vibrated or oscillated.

An improved dispenser unit for dispensing bulk food items, including a cabinet having at least one hopper having a drum with product compartments, a deflector and flexible gate valve, a dispense assembly, and a control system. The dispense assembly may or may not include one or more belts and/or sensors. The product compartments include flexible and/or elastic membranes, which dynamically change the effective product storage volume within a compartment, and eliminate rigid or semi-rigid pinch points between the drum and drum compartment. A product flow divider may be positioned above the receiving container in the dispense assembly, said divider configured to cause the dispensed product to divide into two or more flow streams into the receiving container. The receiving container may be vibrated or oscillated.

A computer-implemented method for indicating to a user an amount of an item to dispense from a bulk item dispenser is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes detecting a real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser. The computer-implemented method further includes overlaying an augmented scale onto the bulk item dispenser, wherein the augmented scale is positioned with respect to the real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser.

A computer-implemented method for indicating to a user an amount of an item to dispense from a bulk item dispenser is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes detecting a real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser. The computer-implemented method further includes overlaying an augmented scale onto the bulk item dispenser, wherein the augmented scale is positioned with respect to the real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser.

A computer-implemented method for indicating to a user an amount of an item to dispense from a bulk item dispenser is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes detecting a real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser. The computer-implemented method further includes overlaying an augmented scale onto the bulk item dispenser, wherein the augmented scale is positioned with respect to the real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser.

A computer-implemented method for indicating to a user an amount of an item to dispense from a bulk item dispenser is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes detecting a real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser. The computer-implemented method further includes overlaying an augmented scale onto the bulk item dispenser, wherein the augmented scale is positioned with respect to the real-world scale located on the bulk item dispenser.

A bulk food product gravity-feed dispenser includes a compartment configured to receive and store bulk food material. A valve separates the compartment from an outlet. The valve operates to open and close to selectively permit bulk food material to pass from the compartment through the outlet. An electromechanical motor is communicatively connected to a controller and mechanically connected to the valve. The controller operates in response to receipt of a dispense instruction input to produce a control signal to the electromechanical motor. The electromechanical motor operates to move the valve between a closed position and an open position to dispense a portion of the bulk food material.

There is disclosed a dispenser 10 for dispensing product objects, comprising: a main chamber 20 for storing product objects; and a portion dispensing mechanism for dispensing a portion comprising a plurality of project objects 40. The portion dispensing mechanism comprises a gate arrangement 36 and a collection chamber 24 which are configured for relative linear movement between a loading configuration and a dispensing configuration. In the loading configuration a plurality of product objects 40 within the main chamber 20 collect within the collection chamber 24 and the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects 40 from being dispensed from the collection chamber 24. In the dispensing configuration the gate arrangement 36 prevents product objects within the main chamber 20 from entering the collection chamber 24 and a plurality of product objects are dispensed from the collection chamber.