What is claimed is:
1. A valve driving apparatus, comprising:
a first pipe, a second pipe and a third pipe, which are airtightly connected with each other;
a valve body;
cam member, which rotates about a rotation axis for moving the valve body so as to openclose the first pipe and the second pipe so that the third pipe is selectively communicated with the first pipe and the second pipe, the cam member being movable in a direction parallel with the rotation axis; and
a cam actuator, which drives the cam member so as to move the cam member in the direction parallel with the rotation axis to open both of the first pipe and the second pipe, when the cam member is rotated at a predetermined angle.
2. A valve driving apparatus, comprising:
an inflow pipe;
an outflow pipe;
a casing body having an airtight chamber formed with openings respectively communicated with the inflow pipe and the outflow pipe;
a valve body;
a cam member, which provides an urging force on the valve body in such a direction that the valve body closes at least one of the openings;
a cam driver, which provides a driving force for rotating the cam member; and
a cam actuator, which moves the cam member against the urging force such that the openings are simultaneously opened.
3. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the cam actuator includes:
a seesaw portion, which performs a seesaw action in which the urging force moves the cam actuator and the seesaw portion moves the cam member against the urging force as a reaction; and
an actuating portion, which moves the valve body to simultaneously open the openings when the seesaw action is performed.
4. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the cam member provides the urging force by utilizing the driving force of the cam driver.
5. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a direction in which the cam member is moved as the reaction of the seesaw action is a direction parallel with a direction in which the urging force acts.
6. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein;
the seesaw portion extends in a direction perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cam member;
a first position at which the urging force is applied is situated in a first end portion of the seesaw portion;
the first position serves as a fulcrum of the seesaw action;
a second position at which the actuating portion is provided is situated in a second end portion of the see saw portion; and
a slider which moves the cam member is situated at a third position closer to the second position.
7. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a guide member which restricts a direction in which the seesaw action is performed.
8. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein:
the valve body is spherical body which is urged by an urging member so as to close the openings; and
the guide member restricts a position of the valve body.
9. The valve driving apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:
a rotor, integrated with the cam member; and
a stator, provided an outer periphery of the casing body,
wherein a motor formed by the rotor and the stator constitutes the cam driver.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A dispensing apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a container coupled to the frame, the container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the closure having a cap, a first rotor, and a second rotor, the cap is received on the container and has an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed, the first rotor is positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first rotor being rotatable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, the second rotor is positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second rotor is rotatable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors is always blocking the aperture;
a drive member coupled to the frame and actuatable to rotate a portion of the closure relative to the frame;
a receptacle positioned to receive material dispensed from the cap and having an opening through which material from the cap is dispensed into the receptacle, the opening substantially facing the cap in all positions of the first and second rotors;
a sensor operable to sense the rotational position of the first and second rotors relative to the aperture of the cap and stop the drive member only when the sensor determines a rotational position of at least one of the first and second rotors.
2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a Hall effect sensor that senses the position of a magnet.
3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the magnet is moved in response to the drive member.
4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inside face of the cap is generally concave.
5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second rotor has a generally planar configuration adjacent the aperture.
6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first rotor has at least one protrusion movable to eject material from the aperture.
7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor controls activation of the drive member through a predetermined number of rotations of the first and second rotors.
8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor controls activation of the drive member to stop the first rotor and second rotor.
9. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first rotor has a hook-shaped portion extending toward the container.
10. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second rotor has a protrusion extending in a direction substantially axially away from the container.
11. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is removable from the frame.
12. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receptacle comprises a funnel into which material from the container is dispensed upon rotation of the first and second rotors.
13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the funnel is rotatable with respect to the container.
14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein a portion of the funnel drives at least one of the first and second rotors to rotate.
15. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the portion of the funnel engages at least one of the first and second rotors.
16. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the funnel is driven to rotate by the drive member.
17. The dispensing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drive member is located laterally adjacent the funnel.
18. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable to stop the drive member only when the sensor determines at least one of the first and second rotors covers the aperture.
19. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor is operable to stop the drive member only when the sensor determines that both of the first and second rotors cover the aperture.
20. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second rotors are engaged with one another through the cap.
21. A dispensing apparatus comprising:
a frame;
a container coupled to the frame, the container containing a granular or powdered material and having a closure that selectively dispenses the material from the container via rotation of at least a portion of the closure, the closure having a cap, a first rotor, and a second rotor, the cap is received on the container and has an inside face, an outside face, and an aperture extending from the inside face to the outside face through the cap to allow materials within the container to be dispensed, the first rotor is positioned adjacent the inside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the first rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation of the first rotor between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, the second rotor is positioned adjacent the outside face of the cap to selectively block the aperture in the cap, the second rotor being rotatable between a first position in which the aperture is blocked and a second position in which the aperture is not blocked, rotation of the first rotor and the second rotor is sequenced such that at least one of the rotors is always blocking the aperture;
a drive member coupled to the frame and actuatable to rotate a portion of the closure relative to the frame;
a receptacle rotatable about an axis of the receptacle that is substantially parallel to that of the first rotor; and
a sensor operable to sense the rotational position of the first and second rotors relative to the aperture of the cap and stop the drive member only when the sensor determines a rotational position of at least one of the first and second rotors.