Hopper cover

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764880-B2
Application number	US-201615017119-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 5, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A hopper cover for a dispensing machine includes an exterior side having an exterior surface and an interior side having an interior surface that defines a plurality of recesses. The plurality of recesses are configured to receive a plurality of components of the dispensing machine. Each recess of the plurality of recesses corresponds with a specific component of the plurality of components. The hopper cover is configured to cover a hopper cavity of the dispensing machine when in a first orientation and facilitate organized disassembly and reassembly of the dispensing machine when in a second orientation.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hopper cover for a dispensing machine, comprising:
an exterior side having an exterior surface defining a handle that facilitates lifting the hopper cover from the exterior side; and
an interior side having an interior surface that defines a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses configured to receive a plurality of components of the dispensing machine, wherein each recess of the plurality of recesses corresponds with a specific component of the plurality of components;
wherein the hopper cover is configured to cover a hopper cavity of the dispensing machine when in a first orientation; and
wherein the hopper cover is configured to facilitate organized disassembly and reassembly of the dispensing machine when in a second orientation.

2. The hopper cover of claim 1 , further comprising a rim extending around a periphery of the hopper cover.

3. The hopper cover of claim 2 , wherein the rim is configured to interact with a retaining structure positioned around a periphery of the hopper cavity to prevent the hopper cover from inadvertently moving.

4. The hopper cover of claim 2 , wherein the rim extends past the interior surface of the interior side such that the interior surface is recessed relative to an edge of the rim.

5. The hopper cover of claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface includes a plurality of surfaces that extend at an angle from the handle to a periphery of the hopper cover.

6. A hopper cover for a dispensing machine, comprising:
an exterior side having an exterior surface and including a plurality of feet extending from the exterior surface; and
an interior side having an interior surface that defines a plurality of recesses, the plurality of recesses configured to receive a plurality of components of the dispensing machine, wherein each recess of the plurality of recesses corresponds with a specific component of the plurality of components;
wherein the hopper cover is configured to cover a hopper cavity of the dispensing machine when in a first orientation; and
wherein the hopper cover is configured to facilitate organized disassembly and reassembly of the dispensing machine when in a second orientation.

7. The hopper cover of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of feet are positioned about the exterior surface to fit within the hopper cavity when the hopper cover is in the second orientation.

8. The hopper cover of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of feet include a first face configured to abut an inner wall of the hopper cavity and a second face configured to rest on a top edge of the hopper cavity when the plurality of feet are disposed within the hopper cavity.

9. The hopper cover of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of feet are structured to elevate the exterior surface of the hopper cover above a surface when the plurality of feet are resting upon the surface.

10. A cover for a dispensing machine, comprising:
a first side including a plurality of feet, the plurality of feet having a face shaped to correspond with at least one of a ledge and an interior surface of an opening of the dispensing machine;
an opposing second side including a surface; and
an extension structure positioned around a periphery of the cover and extending past the surface of the opposing second side, defining a cavity therebetween.

11. The cover of claim 10 , wherein the surface of the opposing second side defines a plurality of depressions configured to receive a plurality of components of the dispensing machine such that the plurality of components are disposed within the cavity, wherein each depression of the plurality of depressions corresponds with a specific component of the dispensing machine.

12. The cover of claim 11 , wherein the surface of the opposing second side includes a plurality of indicia, wherein one of the plurality of indicia is positioned at least one of near and within each of the plurality of depressions, and wherein each of the plurality of indicia identify one of the plurality of components that is received within each of the plurality of depressions.

13. The cover of claim 10 , wherein the extension structure forms a wall around the cavity.

14. The cover of claim 10 , wherein the cover is configured to extend over the opening of the dispensing machine.

15. The cover of claim 14 , wherein the first side includes a handle that facilitates lifting the cover off of the dispensing machine when the cover is positioned over the opening.

16. The cover of claim 14 , wherein the extension structure is configured to engage a lip positioned around a periphery of the opening of the dispensing machine when the cover is positioned over the opening.

17. The cover of claim 10 , wherein the cover is configured to facilitate organized disassembly and reassembly of the dispensing machine during at least one of maintenance, repair, and cleaning of the dispensing machine.

Assignees

• The Vollrath Co Llc

Inventors

• Hundley Jill
• Koehl Richard
• Wetenkamp Ken

Classifications

• A47J31/4407 Primary

  Lids, covers or knobs · CPC title

• A23G9/30

  Cleaning; Keeping clean; Sterilisation · CPC title

• A23G9/22

  Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups · CPC title

• B65D25/24

  for spacing bases of containers from supporting surfaces, e.g. legs (for pallets B65D19/40) · CPC title

• B65D1/36

  with moulded compartments or partitions · CPC title