Dispensing – Processes of dispensing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-14
2001-02-06
Shaver, Kevin (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Processes of dispensing
Reexamination Certificate
active
06182862
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and in particular to apparatus for dispensing frozen material such as ice cream or other frozen, semi-frozen or chilled confectionery.
Ice cream is usually dispensed at the point of sale in prepacked form, by scoops out of containers in a refrigerator, or in a flow from a freezing, mixing and dispensing machine.
Prepacked ice cream is relatively expensive to produce and distribute but has the advantage that a wide range of flavors and types of ice cream can be sold at a single outlet. The only requirement is a refrigerator to keep the product frozen.
Dispensing ice cream by scoop from a container has the advantage of cheapness in production and transport but dispensing of the ice cream is slow, especially when the proper hygiene precautions are taken. Scoop-dispensed ice cream also provides the facility for providing a range of ice cream including those containing fruit, nuts and other solids.
Machines for dispensing so-called “soft” ice cream are known in which liquid ingredients are loaded into the machine which mixes, freezes and dispenses the ice cream into cones or other containers. Such machines have previously had high power requirements and are expensive to manufacture. Different mixing and dispensing equipment is required for each flavor so it is usual for such machines to have only a one, two or, perhaps, three flavor facility. Moreover, the machines are often difficult to maintain and due to the nature of the product which must be used the ice cream does not compare favorably with the quality possible with scoop dispensed products.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,452,823 there is described a dispenser for frozen food product in which a collapsible container for the product is fitted with a spout through which the product is extruded directly into a receiving member.
An object of the invention is to provide dispensing apparatus which overcomes problems and disadvantages of existing systems.
According to the invention dispensing apparatus for dispensing a frozen product comprises deformable container means for containing the frozen product in semi-solid form to be dispensed, the container means having outlet means through which the product is discharged, dispensing means for deforming and reducing the internal volume of the container means whereby to cause product in the container means to issue from the outlet means, drive means operable to cause the dispensing means to discharge incremental quantities of product by progressive deformation of the container means, valve means for controlling the discharge of product by the dispensing means, a housing for the container means, and refrigeration means whereby the housing and container means are kept at a low temperature to maintain the product in a frozen condition in operation.
Preferably the valve means includes a shut-off valve operation of which allows product to be dispensed and the shut-off valve is interposed in duct means through which the product passes from the container means to an outlet, at least part of the duct means being movable in and out of the housing between operating and non-operating positions.
Conveniently the container means is located in an upright position in the apparatus during discharge, the outlet means being at the lower end of the container means.
The drive means may include motor means rotation of which causes the product to be dispensed by driving a plunger against the container means, and the plunger moves parallel to the axis of the container so that rotation of the motor effects a dispensing operation by deforming the container.
Conveniently the motor means is coupled to the plunger by a rotary member extending parallel to the axis of movement of the plunger and driven by the motor means, threaded engagement between the rotary member and the plunger causing said movement of the plunger when the rotary members are rotated.
The apparatus may include an upright frame having an intermediate platform for supporting the container means, above which platform is the container housing and below which is the outlet means. The outlet means may also, at least in part, be located in a refrigerated housing.
A movable support may be provided for the container means, the support being mounted on the intermediate platform and movable to a discharge position to load and unload the container means in the container housing. The invention also provides container means for use with the dispensing apparatus of the invention comprising a generally cylindrical body with deformable side walls and an outlet at one end, the opposite end of the body being arranged for engagement by the dispensing means.
The container means may have side walls in the manner of a bellows such that one end of the container means is movable towards the other, outlet end to effect a reduction in the internal space under the action of the drive means.
The valve controlling the discharge of product during operation of the drive means may have a flexibly-walled tube and the valve is operated by pinching together the walls of the tube by control means.
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Deal David
Gifford, Krass, Groh Sprinkle, Anderson & Citkowski, P.C.
McGill Technology Limited
Shaver Kevin
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