Dispensing – With recorder – register – indicator – signal or exhibitor – Flow and/or overflow type
Patent
1998-12-21
2000-11-14
Shaver, Kevin
Dispensing
With recorder, register, indicator, signal or exhibitor
Flow and/or overflow type
99455, 222 54, 222 57, 222 63, 2221451, 2221457, 2221466, 222149, 222413, 425135, 425145, B67D 508
Patent
active
061457019
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to a machine for dispensing a soft-serve product.
In the present specification, where the expression soft-serve product is used, this shall be understood to include both soft-serve ice-cream and soft-serve frozen yoghurt. So-called soft-serve product is dispensed from a machine which comprises a mix hopper for receiving the soft-serve mix in a liquid form and a draw spout from which soft-serve emerges. The machine further includes a freezer barrel with refrigeration means surrounding it. The mix hopper is connected to the freezer barrel via an air tube assembly. A beater assembly in the barrel displaces the soft-serve mix along the barrel, into a vertical passage and out through the draw spout which is at the lower end of the passage. The beater assembly and refrigeration means run until a sensor in the circuit of the motor which drives the beater assembly senses a predetermined resistance. This indicates that the soft-serve is solidifying. The beater motor and refrigeration means then switch off. A timer switches the motor and refrigeration means on again after a predetermined delay and the cycle recommences.
A plunger which constitutes a valve slides up and down in the vertical passage down which soft-serve flows from the freezer barrel to the draw spout. When the plunger is in the position in which it closes off the exit from the freezer barrel, the beater assembly simply recycles the soft-serve in the barrel.
The opening in the air tube assembly which places the mix hopper in communication with the barrel is small and easily blocked by solid particles in the soft-serve mix. Thus, additives such as chocolate chips or nuts which it is desirable to incorporate into the soft-serve cannot be added to the mix hopper. They are thus added, after the soft-serve has been dispensed, as a topping.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a machine for dispensing a soft-serve product, the machine comprising a freezer barrel, a mix hopper for containing soft-serve mix and being in flow communication with the freezer barrel so that soft-serve mix can flow from the mix hopper into the freezer barrel, a flow passage leading from the freezer barrel to a draw spout, means for expelling frozen product from the freezer barrel via the flow passage to the draw spout, a solids hopper for containing a flowable solid food product, and feed means for feeding said solid food product from the solids hopper into the flow stream of soft-serve product as it passes through said flow passage.
According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a machine for dispensing a soft-serve product, the machine comprising a freezer barrel, a mix hopper for containing soft-serve mix and being in flow communication with the freezer barrel so that soft-serve mix can flow from the mix hopper into the freezer barrel, a flow passage leading from the freezer barrel to a draw spout, means for expelling frozen product from the freezer barrel via the flow passage to the draw spout, and flow metering means for metering the flow of soft-serve product through the flow passage.
For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a side view of a freezer door assembly of a soft-serve dispensing machine in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow II in FIG. 1, with the topping unit forming part of the assembly having been removed;
FIG. 3 is a section on III--III in FIG. 2, of a door plate forming partlof the assembly;
FIG. 4 is a section on IV--IV in FIG. 2, of a carrier forming part of the assembly, with the topping unit in place;
FIG. 5 is a front view of the door plate, in the direction of arrow V in FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a rear view of the assembly, in the direction of arrow VI in FIG. 2;
FIG. 7 is schematic drawing illustrating the various controls of the machine; and
FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the operation of the ma
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Erasmus Mark Henry
Van Der Merwe Marcel
Shaver Kevin
Van Der Merwe Marcel
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