BACKGROUND With particular reference to coffee beans, dispensing systems are known for use in supermarkets and the like comprising a cabinet housing one or more containers adapted to refillably receive coffee beans.

A lower, outlet portion of the housing incorporates a valve assembly for regulating the dispensing of the coffee beans from the assembly.

A problem encountered with these arrangements is contamination of the containers with, for example, beans of different flavours. Unfortunately typical housings do not permit of easy cleaning of the housing interiors between refills.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the abovementioned disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention there is provided a dispenser system for granular materials, said dispenser system comprised of one or more modules, each said module including a dispenser module removably supported between a top support plate and a lower support plate whereby each said dispenser module can be releasably removed.

Preferably each said dispenser module is in communication with an exit chute.

Preferably said exit chute includes a valve and chute assembly.

Preferably said valve and chute assembly includes a butterfly valve for sealing retention of the contents of said dispenser module.

Preferably said dispenser module can be releasably removed in a direction perpendicular to its longitudinal axis for the purpose of cleaning or the like.

Preferably each said dispenser module can be releasably removed in a direction in line with its longitudinal axis for the purpose of cleaning or the like.

In a further broad form of the invention there is provided a dispenser carousel comprised of a plurality of dispenser modules arranged substantially about a longitudinal axis of rotation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompany drawings wherein: Fig. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of a dispenser system according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side, section view of a valve assembly suitable for use with the dispenser system of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the valve assembly of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is an end, section view of the valve assembly of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a dispenser system according to a second embodiment of the invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective, exploded view of a dispenser system according to a third embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With initial reference to Fig. 1 there is illustrated a perspective, exploded view of a dispenser system 10 according to a first embodiment of the invention.

The dispenser system 10 comprises three primary components adapted for releasable housing within a dispenser support structure 11. In this instance the dispenser support structure 11 comprises top support plate 12 having apertures 13,14 therein and a lower support plate 15 having apertures

16,17 therein. Aperture 13 is vertically aligned with its corresponding aperture 16 whilst aperture 14 is also correspondingly vertically aligned with its corresponding aperture 17. The top support plate 12 and lower support plate 15 are retained in position and relative relationship to each other by backing plate 18 and side support plates 19.

In this arrangement each dispenser module 20 comprises the three primary components, being container cylinder 21, cap 22 and exit chute 23. The three primary components are arranged vertically in the manner and in the order indicated in Fig. 1. The container cylinder 21 can be made of a clear material, for example Perspex, and is adapted to house coffee beans, confectionery or the like which is poured therein by way of top aperture 24 which, in turn, is in communication with aperture 13 in support structure 11 which aperture, in turn, is, in use, capped and sealed by removable cap 22.

In use coffee beans, confectionery or the like exits through lower aperture 25 of container cylinder 21, through aperture 16 in lower support plate 15 and into exit chute 23.

The arrangement is such that cylinder 21 is supported by its lower rim 26 on lower support plate 15.

When it is desired to clean container cylinder 21 it is possible to remove the cylinder 21 by sliding it in the direction of arrow A in Fig. 1, thereby to remove it entirely

from the dispenser support structure 11 whilst leaving that structure intact.

With particular reference to the inset of Fig. 1 a support arrangement for container cylinder 21 which permits removal in the direction of arrow A involves sizing the flange portion 35 of exit chute 23 such that a support ledge 36 is provided for seating the lower end rim 37 of container cylinder 21 thereon. In this particular arrangement container cylinder 21 has an outside diameter which either matches or is just slightly smaller than the inside diameter of aperture 16 thereby permitting sliding entry of rim 37 within aperture 16. Aperture 13 is similarly sized relative to the diameter of container cylinder 21 thereby allowing the sliding withdrawal in a vertical direction of cylinder 21 up through aperture 13.

In an alternative arrangement shown in Fig. 6 cylinder 21 can be supported in a manner which permits removal in the direction of arrow B of Fig. 1.

In this third embodiment shown in Fig. 6 like components are numbered as for the first embodiment. So, for example, container cylinder 21 remains numbered as container cylinder 21.

In this arrangement top support plate 12 incorporates first portion 12A hingedly connected to second portion 12B.

In this instance portion 12A is hingedly connected to portion 12B by hinge 45. In this instance the first portion 12A defines a half portion of aperture 13 and also a half portion of aperture 14. Second portion 12B defines respective second half portions of apertures 13,14 as generally illustrated in Fig. 6.

In this arrangement first portion 12A of top support plate 12 is fixedly attached to backing plate 18 whilst second portion 12B can be rotated from a first position (as shown in Fig. 6) to a second position by rotation in the direction of arrows S of Fig. 6 about axis TT of hinge 45.

In the second, upwardly rotated position container cylinder 21 is released from engagement within aperture 13 so that top aperture 24 can be urged forwardly and away from backing plate 18, then container cylinder 21 lifted slightly so that lower rim 26 thereof clears lower support plate 15 sufficient to allow the container cylinder 21 to then be withdrawn in the direction of arrow B in Fig. 6 from the dispenser support structure 11.

The container cylinder 21 can be reinstalled into the dispenser support structure 11 by a reversal of the above described procedure whereby lower aperture 25 of container cylinder 21 is first seated in aperture 16 and then top aperture 24 is urged into first half portion of aperture 13

defined by first portion 12A of top support plate 12. Second portion 12B of top support plate 12 is then rotated downwardly to its closed position about axis TT whereby top aperture 24 of cylinder 21 is seated within the thus formed circular aperture 13 defined by aligned first portion 12A and second portion 12B of top support plate 12.

The arrangement of this third embodiment, as described with reference to Fig. 6, in fact allows removal of cylinder 21 in either direction A or direction B.

With reference to Figs. 2,3 and 4 exit chute 23 can incorporate a butterfly valve 28 of the type illustrated.

In this instance the chute portion of valve and chute assembly 27 is made from metal material, typically an alloy.

The valve portion of valve and chute assembly 27 comprises a butterfly valve 28, the substantive portions of which are perhaps best seen in Fig. 3.

The butterfly valve 28 comprises a substantially circular valve plate 29 mounted on axis 30. The axis 30 is rotatably supported for rotation about its longitudinal axis XX in lower cylindrical wall portions 31 of valve and chute assembly 27.

A consumer can rotate axis 30 by rotation of knob 32 mounted on an end of axis 30, thereby to rotate valve plate 29 from a closed, sealing position substantially

perpendicular to longitudinal axis YY of valve and chute assembly 27 to an open, dispensing position wherein valve plate 29 becomes substantially aligned with longitudinal axis YY of valve and chute assembly 27.

A spring 33 can be mounted on axis 30 and utilised to urge valve plate 29 towards a closed, sealing position as illustrated in Fig. 3.

An indent 34 can be utilised to permit a user to lock the valve plate 29 in an open position. In an alternative version no such lock arrangement is utilised thereby preventing a user from inadvertently leaving the valve plate 29 in an open position.

With reference to Fig. 5 a second preferred embodiment of a dispenser system 39 is illustrated wherein dispenser modules 20 are arranged in a circular format between a circular top support plate 40 and a circular lower support plate 41. In this instance the support plates 40,41 are themselves supported by attachment at their centres to support pole 42 and cross plates 43. The arrangement includes a bearing assembly (not shown) by which the support plates 40,41 can rotate about the longitudinal axis of support pole 42 with the end result that the dispenser modules 20 also rotate about support pole 42.

The dispenser modules 20 are otherwise of the same construction and supported in the same manner as the modules 20 of the first embodiment previously described.

Each module incorporates within its exit chute 23 a valve and chute assembly 27 as previously described with reference to Figs. 2,3 and 4.

Again, as for the first embodiment, each cylinder 21 is topped by a removable lid or cap 22. Also, as for the first embodiment, for the purposes of cleaning, each dispenser module 20 can be slid out from between the top and lower support plates 40,41 for the purposes of cleaning.

In one particular preferred form locking means (not shown) can be utilised to lock container cylinder 21 to the dispenser support structure 11 to prevent inadvertent removal during use.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.