US Patent 9980463 Device for and method of dispensing variable shaped items

An item dispensing device having a wheel with a dispensing bucket formed into the wheel wall. The device can have a number of features to prevent items being dispensed from interlocking and thereby preventing further dispensing. These features can include protrusions on the cylinder wall, and a torsion spring to agitate the items to be dispensed, and a reed sweeper to help prevent jamming of an item during dispensing. Further, the device includes an ejection arm having an ejection face configured to dispense items in a manner that are engaging for a pet.