Dispensing – Nozzles – spouts and pouring devices – Antidrip
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-13
2001-05-08
Jacyna, J. Casimer (Department: 3751)
Dispensing
Nozzles, spouts and pouring devices
Antidrip
C222S001000, C222S108000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227420
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to dispensing systems, and more particularly to a passive drawback valve for condiment dispensing.
At present, condiment packers are unable to remove all air from the condiment during manufacturing or packing. Additionally, small CO
2
gas or atmosphere air leaks can cause the pump for the condiment to suck air in the system, literally blending this air with the condiment. The air or gas can cause the condiment to splatter at the nozzle when it exits under pressure and to drip and build up on the nozzle if not properly handled.
Typically, this air is trapped within the condiment between the condiment pump outlet and the dispensing head on/off valve. When the condiment button is deactivated, the mechanical valve seals off the condiment conduit at the delivery nozzle, which in turn stops the condiment flow and thereby stops the pump. At the time of deactivation, pressure is trapped between the pump outlet and the valve at the delivery nozzle. When the condiment button in the delivery nozzle is depressed again, and if an air pocket is within a few feet of the nozzle, the air bubble exits the delivery nozzle with sufficient velocity to cause “spitting” (splattering, spraying) within the immediate area. This can soil a customer's clothes and is a problem for the equipment user.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a system for dispensing condiments or the like. It is especially suitable for dispensing condiments that contain solids or semi-solids or particles such as in thousand island dressing and various “secret sauces” favored by restaurants without fouling the dispensing system. The invention provides for dispensing condiment rapidly and efficiently, and uses a passive drawback valve in the condiment dispensing conduit to prevent buildup of the condiment on the dispensing nozzle. The invention is particularly useful in handling condiments that contain residual air or other gases without causing the condiment to splatter when delivered.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a condiment drawback valve includes a condiment inlet, a condiment outlet, and a condiment channel between the condiment inlet and the condiment outlet. A drawback chamber is coupled with the condiment channel. A spring is disposed in the drawback chamber. A piston is coupled with the spring and is movable to change the volume of the drawback chamber. A gas chamber is separated from the drawback chamber by the piston. A source of gas is fluidicly coupled with the gas chamber.
In some embodiments, the condiment channel is free-flowing. The drawback chamber is in continuous fluid communication with the condiment channel. The piston includes a seal providing sealing separation between the drawback chamber and the gas chamber. A controller is coupled with the source of gas for controlling the flow of gas to the gas chamber. In a specific embodiment, the controller is configured to supply a flow of gas to the gas chamber generally simultaneously with condiment flow through the condiment channel and to terminate the flow of gas to the gas chamber generally simultaneously with termination of condiment flow through the condiment channel.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a condiment drawback valve includes a condiment inlet, a condiment outlet, and a continuous-flowing condiment channel between the condiment inlet and the condiment outlet. A drawback chamber is fluidicly coupled with the condiment channel. A mechanism is coupled with the drawback chamber for decreasing the volume of the drawback chamber during condiment flow through the condiment channel and increasing the volume of the drawback chamber during termination of condiment flow through the condiment channel.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a condiment drawback valve includes a condiment inlet, a condiment outlet, and a condiment channel between the condiment inlet and the condiment outlet. A drawback chamber is coupled with the condiment channel. A movable member is movable to change the volume of the drawback chamber. A resilient member is coupled with the movable member, and resiliently biases the movable member with a biasing force to a rest position providing a maximum volume of the drawback chamber. A mechanism is coupled with the movable member for applying a variable pressure on the movable member against the biasing force of the resilient member.
In specific embodiments, the mechanism includes a gas chamber separated from the drawback chamber by the movable member and a source of gas fluidicly coupled with the gas chamber. The mechanism further includes a controller for controlling the flow of gas from the source of gas to the gas chamber to apply variable pressure on the movable member against the biasing force of the resilient member.
Another aspect of this invention is a method of dispensing condiment at a dispensing outlet from a condiment source using a gas-driven pump and drawing back the condiment from the dispensing outlet during termination of condiment dispensing. The method includes providing a drawback valve including a continuous-flowing condiment channel fluidicly coupled between the pump and the dispensing outlet. The drawback valve has a drawback chamber fluidicly coupled with the condiment channel. A flow of gas is supplied to compress and reduce the volume of the drawback chamber substantially simultaneously with activation of the pump by a flow of gas to pump the condiment from the condiment source through the condiment channel to the dispensing outlet. The flow of gas is terminated to increase the volume of the drawback chamber substantially simultaneously with deactivation of the pump by stopping the flow of gas to terminate condiment flow from the condiment source through the condiment channel to the dispensing outlet.
In specific embodiments, the drawback valve includes a movable member separating the drawback chamber from a gas chamber and is resiliently biased to a rest position. A flow of gas is supplied to the gas chamber to move the movable member from the rest position to reduce the volume of the drawback chamber. The flow of gas to compress and reduce the volume of the drawback chamber is supplied from a gas flow line which supplies gas to activate the pump.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3895748 (1975-07-01), Klingenberg
patent: 3913797 (1975-10-01), Brym
patent: 4254806 (1981-03-01), Elsworth
patent: 4394945 (1983-07-01), Taylor, Jr.
patent: 4854354 (1989-08-01), Moeller
patent: 4957226 (1990-09-01), Pacia
patent: 5067531 (1991-11-01), Herzog
patent: 5906296 (1999-05-01), Martindale et al.
patent: 5938119 (1999-08-01), Yamada et al.
Automatic Bar Controls Inc.
Jacyna J. Casimer
Townsend and Townsend / and Crew LLP
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