Dispensing – Collapsible wall-type container – With casing or support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-03
2001-06-26
Derakshani, Philippe (Department: 3754)
Dispensing
Collapsible wall-type container
With casing or support
C222S413000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250506
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention generally relates to dispensing devices suitable for dispensing flowable substances, in particular dry soluble flowing materials, for use in beverage dispensing or vending machines.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various automated beverage dispensers for making hot or cold beverage products are known in the art. In a conventional beverage dispenser, a metered amount of water-soluble beverage powder, stored in powder refillable canisters, and a metered amount of hot or cold water, supplied from a water source, is conveyed into a mixing chamber to produce a beverage or soup product, which is then dispensed into a receptacle and served.
The conventional dispensing units comprises a series of canisters mounted at various locations within the machine for holding large quantities of dry powder such as milk, sugar, chocolate, powdered creamer, ground tea and coffee. The canisters are generally rigid plastic or metal boxes having a removable lid to allow periodical refilling with the dry powders. On-demand dispensing of measured amounts of the powder within the canister can be produced by augering or other delivery methods that are well known in the art.
These canister-based dispensing machines have serious drawbacks. In particular, the refilling of the canisters requires time consuming manual operations from the operator. The operator has usually to refill the canisters by pouring the powder from large powder bags. This can cause significant loss of powder and hygienic problems due to possible contamination with the outside environment. Periodical cleaning of the machine is also rendered necessary to avoid these hygiene hazards.
Another problem associated with the dispensing of dry and powdered materials in canisters is that such materials are very hygroscopic and therefore have a very high tendency to form caking, bridging or rat holes within the canister. These cause serious flowing problems and consequently affect the accuracy of the metered dosage during reconstitution of the beverage. As the canisters are built to remain removable or openable, it is very difficult to ensure a tight arrangement of the canister to prevent the environmental humidity from reaching the powder, especially when the powder is left for storage during extensive periods of time, such as during several weeks or so.
Canisters due to a lack of flexibility are also cumbersome and the vending machines must be sufficiently oversized to allow the desired number of the canisters to be mounted therein. There is an increasing tendency to promote smaller vending systems but it is detrimental to the powder capacity and to the choices for varied beverages.
Therefore, there is a need for a novel dispensing device which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a dispensing device for flowable substances, especially dry powdered food materials, which can be more conveniently and more rapidly refilled with powder while necessitating less labor time. In addition, this dispensing device ensures essentially no loss of the flowable substance, reduces cleaning requirements and consequently diminishes the risks of potential hygienic hazards. Furthermore, the dispensing device also preserves the flowable substance from environmental humidity by reducing and/or delaying moisture ingress. This, in turn, promotes the flowing capabilities of the powder substance through the system by preventing the substance from caking or clumping. Finally, the invention allows optimization of the size of the dispensers or vending machines as a function of the capacity of service and of the choice of beverages.
Therefore, the present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a flowable substance, especially for a beverage vending machine. This device includes a removable container which in a filled state has a main pouch into which is stored the flowable substance and a fitment located at the bottom of the pouch and attached thereto. The fitment is shaped to include a pair of side-extending end flanges. The fitment further comprises at least one passage for allowing the flowable substance to pass therethrough by gravity. The device further has a dispensing base adapter comprising a pair of side channel guide members shaped to guide in slidable arrangement the flanges and a bottom bearing surface for supporting the fitment. A closure member is further provided for maintaining a downwardly oriented pressure on the flanges toward the bottom bearing surface. This pressure is effective to create a substantially tight seal arrangement and prevent the flowable substance from flowing between the flanges and the bottom bearing surface.
In a preferred embodiment, the fitment of the container is of a boat style comprising an upper sealing portion having an elongated boat style shape along which the bottom of the pouch is tightly sealed and a lower engaging portion at the lower end of which laterally extends the pair of flanges and which defines the at least one passage therebetween. This construction has numerous advantages including:
a reliable and quick latching system for connecting a supple container to a rigid piece of equipment;
adaptability to form to the suitable shape for promoting the flow and dispense of the substance;
a reliable, efficient and strong seal configuration which preserves the flowable substance inside in dry and clean conditions.
In one embodiment, the flanges of the fitment include elastic member which comprises an upward oriented brim at the edge of the flanges when the container is in a disengaged position. The channel guide members are configured to force the brim to flex downwardly as the flanges slidably engage the channel guide members of the dispensing base adapter. Advantageously, the upper surface of the channel guide members provides a restriction which is smaller than the overall dimensional height of the brim. Such a construction provides essentially perfect sealing conditions for a closed system with, on one hand, reduced ingress of humidity, and on the other hand, substantial elimination of loss of powder material that could find its way outside the system.
In an alternative embodiment, the channel guide members may include a spring member which causes the expansion of the dimensional height sufficiently to adjust to the thickness of the flanges while forcing the flanges to tightly press on the bottom bearing surface of the fitment. In that case, this is the system in the dispenser that carries the elasticity function, thus simplifying the construction while making it more robust.
In another embodiment, emptying of the container may be facilitated and the space required may be reduced if the dispensing base adapter further comprises a pair of side bearing members extending upwardly and arranged in a close relationship with the pouch to support the flexible sidewalls of the pouch so as to maintain the pouch in a substantially upright position.
The invention also relates to a container especially adapted to closely fit with a dispensing device for preparing beverages comprising a pouch sized to receive a flowable food substance and a fitment portion located at the bottom of the pouch and attached thereto. The fitment comprises a pair of side-extending end flanges and at least one passage therebetween within which the flowable substance can flow by gravity and a removable closure member for sealing the passage before the container is in a fully engaged state within the dispensing device.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the fitment is of a boat style and comprises an upper sealing portion having an elongated boat-style shape along which the bottom of the pouch is tightly sealed and a lower engaging portion at the lower end of which laterally extends the flanges. More preferably, the flanges of the fitment comprise an upward oriented brim at the edge of the flanges.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising means for adapting a container with a fitment havin
Bartoletti Larry
Geiger Wendy
Overbaugh William
Derakshani Philippe
Nestec S.A.
Winston & Strawn
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