HK40061802A - Food product dispenser with removable module - Google Patents

Description

Food product dispenser with movable module

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. provisional patent application No.62/985,142, filed on 3/4/2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to food product dispensers, and more particularly to temperature controlled food product dispensers for dispensing consumable food or beverage products, such as whipped toppings.

Background

Existing dispensers for whipped products (e.g., whipped cream or other aerated emulsions) include a product reservoir containing a liquid product to be whipped, a whipping assembly (such as a static mixer/aerator bar), and a drive mechanism (such as a motor/pump or pressurized gas source) configured to move the product from the product reservoir through the whipping assembly to form the whipped product. The whipped product is then dispensed through a nozzle for use.

For food safety reasons, the product reservoir and downstream components in contact with the product must be maintained at a sufficiently low temperature. Therefore, previous dispensers have included internal refrigeration systems for keeping the product and other components cool. However, these refrigeration systems increase the cost, size, operational noise, and energy consumption of the distributor.

Disclosure of Invention

In one aspect, the present invention provides a food product dispenser comprising a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit. The dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store a food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly including a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a food product dispenser comprising a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit. The dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store a food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit. The product delivery assembly includes a stationary mixing rod upstream of the dispensing nozzle to aerate the food product prior to discharge from the dispensing nozzle.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispensing system including a drive unit and a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units removably coupled to the drive unit. Each dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store a food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a food product dispenser including a drive unit and a dispensing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the food dispenser of fig. 1 with a portion of the housing of the drive unit concealed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the food product dispenser of FIG. 1 showing the dispensing unit separated from the drive unit.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a dispensing unit of the food product dispenser of fig. 1.

Fig. 5 illustrates a plurality of dispensing units stored in a refrigerator, which may be used in conjunction with the food dispenser of fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the dispensing unit of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 in fig. 4 showing the air inlet of the dispensing unit.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the pump of FIG. 4 taken along line 8-8 showing the dispensing unit.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 9-9 in FIG. 4 showing the product flow path of the dispensing unit.

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram illustrating a dispensing system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 illustrates a food product dispenser 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The dispenser 10 includes a drive unit 14 and a dispensing unit or module 18 removably coupled to the drive unit 14. The dispensing unit 18 includes a product reservoir 20 containing a liquid product to be whipped, a dispensing nozzle 22, and a product delivery or whipping assembly 26, the product delivery or whipping assembly 26 being configured to be powered by the drive unit 14 to move the product from the reservoir 20 to the dispensing nozzle 22.

Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the illustrated drive unit 14 includes a housing 27, a motor 28 (fig. 2) supported within an upper portion of the housing 27, and a drive shaft 30 (fig. 3) driven by the motor 28. When the dispensing unit 18 is coupled to the drive unit 14, the drive shaft 30 engages a drive sleeve 32 on the agitation assembly 26 to provide a rotational input to the agitation assembly 26.

Referring to fig. 2, the drive unit 14 includes a power supply 33 for providing power to the motor 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the power source 33 is positioned within the housing 27 below the motor 28; however, the relative positions of the power source 33 and the motor 28 may vary. Power supply 33 may receive a source of AC power (e.g., from a wall outlet) and may include a rectifier to convert the AC power to DC power to be supplied to motor 28. In other embodiments, the motor 28 may be an AC motor. In still other embodiments, the power supply 33 may include a battery to allow cordless operation of the drive unit 14.

As described in more detail below, whipping assembly 26 comprises an aerator (aerator) in fluid communication with product reservoir 20 and a pump (e.g., gear pump, wiper pump, etc.) driven by motor 28 (via drive shaft 30 and drive sleeve 32) for drawing product from the product reservoir and forcing the product through the aerator to form aerated or "whipped" product. The aerator is in communication with a dispensing nozzle 22, the dispensing nozzle 22 being configured to dispense the whipped product.

In some embodiments, dispensing unit 18 may include a motor 28. In such an embodiment, the drive shaft 30 and the drive sleeve 32 may be replaced by an electrical connector. Then, when the drive unit 14 is coupled to the dispensing unit 18, the power source 33 of the drive unit 14 may power the motor 28 in the dispensing unit 18 via the electrical connector to drive the pump.

In other embodiments, the drive unit 14 may include a source of pressurized gas (such as a fillable and/or interchangeable pressurized gas tank) and/or a compressor operable to generate pressurized gas as desired. In such embodiments, the drive shaft 30 and drive sleeve 32 may be replaced by a pneumatic connector, and preferably a quick release pneumatic connector (such as a bayonet fitting). The drive unit 14 may then supply pressurized gas to the dispensing unit 18 to force the liquid product from the product reservoir 20 through the aerator (e.g., by pressurizing the product reservoir 20). Alternatively, the pump may include rotating vanes, and the pressurized gas may drive the rotating vanes to operate the pump. In still other embodiments, the pressurized gas may be directed through a venturi, thereby creating suction to draw the liquid product from the product reservoir. The liquid product may then be entrained in a flow of pressurized gas and directed through an aerator.

Referring to fig. 3, the dispensing unit 18 and the drive unit 14 include alignment features 34, 38 (e.g., a non-circular protrusion 34 on the dispensing unit 18 and a correspondingly shaped recess 38 on the drive unit 14, or vice versa) that cooperate to align the dispensing unit 18 and the drive unit 14. The alignment features 34, 38 facilitate connecting the drive shaft 30, electrical or pneumatic connector (all of which may be referred to as an energy transfer connector) on the drive unit 14 to the dispensing unit 18 to drive the whipping assembly 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 34 and the recess 38 are each generally shaped as a parallelogram.

Referring to fig. 4 and 5, the dispensing unit 18, including the product reservoir 20, whipping assembly 26 and dispensing nozzle 22, can be quickly removed from the drive unit 14 as a single, independent assembly. This enables the user to remove the dispensing unit 18 when not in use and store it in the refrigerator 50. Thus, the product and all downstream components in contact with the product can be maintained at a safe temperature without the need for a dedicated refrigeration system. This advantageously reduces the size, cost, complexity, energy requirements, and operational noise of the dispenser 10 as compared to prior dispensers having on-board refrigeration systems.

Referring to fig. 4-6, the product reservoir 20 of the dispensing unit 18 is preferably insulated to maintain the product contained therein at a suitably low temperature for an extended period of time when the dispensing unit is outside the refrigerator 50. For example, the product reservoir 20 may be a double-layered vacuum insulated tank. The product reservoir 20 may be made of stainless steel or any other insulated, food-safe material, including but not limited to a plastic material. In some embodiments, the product reservoir 20 may include a thermally conductive area in contact with an inner wall of the product reservoir 20 to enhance cooling of the product within the reservoir 20 when the dispensing unit 18 is placed in the refrigerator 50. In such embodiments, an insulated lid may be provided to cover the thermally conductive area when the product reservoir 20 is removed from the refrigerator 50 for use. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive area may be cooled by ice or a cooling device (such as a thermoelectric cooler) when the dispensing unit 18 is coupled to the drive unit 14.

In some embodiments, the product reservoir 20 may be a disposable product package (such as a sterile brick package), a plastic or metal foil bag, or a bag-in-box assembly. The disposable product package may facilitate the exchange of the type of product to be dispensed by the dispensing unit 18 without having to clean the product reservoir 20. In any such embodiment, the product reservoir 20 may be selectively inserted into an insulated sleeve or housing.

Referring to fig. 4 and 6, whipping assembly 26 comprises a housing 52 removably coupled to product reservoir 20. In the illustrated embodiment, housing 52 includes a protrusion 54 (e.g., a pin) that is received in an L-shaped slot 56 in product reservoir 20 to removably couple housing 52 to product reservoir 20. The agitation assembly 26 may thus be removed from the product reservoir 20 by rotating the housing 52 relative to the product reservoir 20, which may facilitate cleaning and refilling of the product reservoir 20. In some embodiments, a plurality of interchangeable product reservoirs 20 may be provided and respectively coupled to whipping assembly 26. In such embodiments, the product reservoirs 20 may have different sizes and/or volumes. In some embodiments, the housing 52 and the product reservoir 20 may be coupled together in other manners (e.g., via a threaded connection).

With continued reference to fig. 4 and 6, the dispensing nozzle 22 is removably coupled to the housing 52. To facilitate hygienic storage of the dispensing unit 18, the dispensing unit 18 may include a hygienic cover (not shown) configured to cover the dispensing nozzle 22. The lid is held in place by a threaded connection, friction (e.g., a press-in connection), a retaining pin or ring, or any other suitable means. The user may manually remove the cap prior to using the dispensing unit 18, or in some embodiments, the cap may be automatically removed from the dispensing nozzle 22 or moved away from the dispensing nozzle 22 in response to coupling the dispensing unit 18 to the drive unit 14 (fig. 1). In other embodiments, the dispensing nozzle 22 may include an internal gland made of a resilient material (such as rubber or silicone). In such embodiments, the gland may be retracted into the dispensing nozzle 22 during storage, and the gland may be extended from the dispensing nozzle 22 upon activation of the dispensing unit 18 or upon coupling of the dispensing unit 18 to the drive unit 14.

In still other embodiments, the dispensing nozzle 22 may be removed from the position shown in fig. 4 during storage of the dispensing unit 18. In such embodiments, the dispensing nozzle 22 may be inserted into an opening (not shown) in the housing 52 to protect the product contacting surface of the dispensing nozzle 22 from dust or other contaminants during storage of the dispensing unit 18. In such embodiments, the opening in the housing 52 may also provide an air inlet passage into the product reservoir 20. Insertion of the dispensing nozzle 22 into the opening both protects the dispensing nozzle 22 from contamination and seals the air inlet passage to maintain the freshness of the product contained in the product reservoir 20.

Referring to fig. 6-9, whipping assembly 26 comprises an aerator 142 (fig. 6 and 9) in fluid communication with dispensing nozzle 22, an air inlet 144 (fig. 7), and a pump assembly 146 (fig. 6 and 8), which pump assembly 146 is operable to draw product from product reservoir 20 and air through air inlet 144, and force a mixture of product and air through aerator 142. In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustable valve 156 (e.g., a duckbill valve or any other suitable valve) is provided at the air inlet 144 for selectively varying the amount of air drawn in through the air inlet 144 during operation of the pump assembly 146 in order to provide a desired consistency to the whipped product discharged through the nozzle 22. The illustrated valve 156 includes a knob 161 disposed on a top side of the housing 52 to facilitate adjustment of the valve 156.

The illustrated pump assembly 146 includes a housing 148, a rotor shaft 150, and a wiper assembly 152 coupled for common rotation with the rotor shaft 150 within the housing 148. The housing 52 includes a first channel 154 extending from the air inlet 144 and a second channel 155 in communication with the product reservoir 20 via a pickup tube 159 (fig. 7). The first and second channels 154, 155 intersect at an inlet passage 157 of the pump assembly 146. The discharge passage 158 (fig. 6) of the pump assembly 146 is in fluid communication with the aerator 142.

Referring to FIG. 8, the housing 148 of the pump assembly 146 includes an eccentric aperture 160 that receives the wiper assembly 152. As the rotor shaft 150 rotates the wiper assembly 152, air is drawn in through the first channel 154 and product is drawn in through the second channel 155 (fig. 7). The air and product mix at inlet 157 and are drawn into housing 148. The mixture is compressed by the rotating wiper assembly 152 and discharged through a discharge passage 158 (fig. 6) to the aerator 142.

Referring to fig. 9, the housing 52 of the whipping assembly 26 includes an aerator housing portion 170 that extends into the product reservoir 20. The housing portion 170 includes a first chamber 172 and a second chamber 174 separated by a longitudinally extending dividing wall 175. The second chamber 174 is in fluid communication with the first chamber 172 via a transfer passage 176 extending through the dividing wall 175.

In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer passage 176 includes a first circular aperture 176a and a second circular aperture 176b that intersects the first circular aperture 176 a. The circular apertures 176a, 176b may have a substantially spherical profile. In some embodiments, the first circular aperture 176a is formed by inserting a ball end mill into the first chamber 172 through the bottom end of the aerator housing portion 170 until the ball end mill engages the dividing wall 175 and removes material from the dividing wall 175. Likewise, a second circular aperture 176b is formed by inserting a ball end mill into the second chamber 174 through the bottom end of the aerator housing until the ball end mill engages the dividing wall 175 opposite the first circular aperture 176a and removes material from the dividing wall 175. Machining the transfer passages 176 in this manner advantageously allows the transfer passages 176 to be formed without any additional access openings (e.g., drilling transversely through the dividing wall 175 using a straight drill would require an access opening). In addition, the circular apertures 176a, 176b are free of sharp corners and 90 degree interface angles, which prevents product from stagnating in the transfer passage 176, thereby facilitating cleaning. In some embodiments, the transfer passages 176 (including the circular apertures 176a, 176b) may be formed in other ways, including but not limited to injection molding or 3D printing.

With continued reference to fig. 9, a first mixing rod 178 is supported within the first chamber 172 and a second mixing rod 180 is supported within the second chamber 174. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second mixing rods 178, 180 are fixed labyrinth (labyrinth) mixing rods, each having a plurality of grooves and/or teeth to define a tortuous flow path along the exterior of the mixing rods 178, 180. In other embodiments, other types or geometries of one or more mixing rods may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the mixing rods 178, 180 is made of plastic; however, in other embodiments, the mixing rods 178, 180 may be made of other materials.

Referring to fig. 6, in the illustrated embodiment, each of the mixing rods 178, 180 includes an annular groove 191 that receives a retaining pin assembly 192 to couple the mixing rods 178, 180 to the housing 52. To remove the mixing rods 178, 180 (e.g., for cleaning or replacement), the retaining pin assembly 192 may be withdrawn from the housing 52, and then the mixing rods 178, 180 may be pushed down from the top side of the housing 52 and out of their respective chambers 172, 174. In other embodiments, the mixing rods 178, 180 may be removably coupled to the housing 52 in other manners. For example, in some embodiments, the mixing rods 178, 180 may include threads, cam profiles, or the like to allow the mixing rods 178, 180 to be inserted into and removed from the bottom end of the aerator housing portion 170.

In use, the drive unit 14 drives the pump assembly 146, and the pump assembly 146 forces the air and product mixture through the discharge passage 158 and into the first chamber 172 of the housing portion 170. The air and product mixture then flows along the first mixing rod 178 in a first direction (i.e., the direction of arrow a as shown in fig. 9), which partially aerates the product. Upon reaching the end of the first mixing rod 178, the partially aerated product flows in a second direction through the transfer passage 176. In the embodiment shown, the second direction is substantially transverse to the first direction. The partially aerated product then flows in a third direction (i.e., in the direction of arrow B) generally opposite the first direction and through the second mixing rod 180. This completes the aeration of the product and the aerated or whipped product is discharged from the second chamber 174 through the dispensing nozzle 22.

By providing two mixing rods 178, 180 in separate sections, the overall height of the aerator 142 is reduced, which in turn enables the overall size of the distribution unit 18 to be minimized. In addition, manufacturing tolerances of the hybrid rods 178, 180 may be reduced because the relatively short length of each rod 178, 180 (as compared to a one-piece rod having a length equal to the combined length of the rods 178, 180) produces less tolerance stack-up. However, in other embodiments, the aerator 142 may include other mixing rod configurations, including a one-piece mixing rod or any other number of mixing rods.

During operation, heat generation from the shearing of the product mixture occurs as the product mixture flows through the mixing rods 178, 180. Because the mixing rods 178, 180 are made of a material with a low thermal conductivity (e.g., plastic in the illustrated embodiment), a minimal amount of heat is absorbed by the mixing rods 178, 180. Instead, the heat generated is carried away by the product. In the illustrated embodiment, the thermal conductivity of the mixing rods 178, 180 is between 0.1 and 0.5 watts/(meter Kelvin). In contrast, conventional mixing rods, which are typically made of metal (such as stainless steel), may have a thermal conductivity of 10 to 20 watts/(meter kelvin) or higher. Thus, conventional mixing rods may have a thermal conductivity that is at least 50 to 100 times greater than the mixing rods 178, 180, resulting in more heat being absorbed by the mixing rods. The low thermal conductivity of the mixing rods 178, 180 in the illustrated embodiment is particularly advantageous when the housing portion 170 is submerged within the product contained within the product reservoir 20, such that the heat of the product within the product reservoir 20 is minimized.

Fig. 8 illustrates a dispensing system 300 according to an embodiment of the disclosure. The dispensing system 300 includes a drive unit 14 and a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units 18. By including a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units 18, the illustrated dispensing system 300 allows a user to couple dispensing units 18 containing different products (e.g., dairy-based products, soy-based products, almond milk-based products, oat milk-based products, etc.) to the drive unit 14 to quickly change the type of product to be dispensed. Since all product-contacting components are part of an interchangeable dispensing unit 18, there is no need to disassemble or clean the product when it is replaced.

Various features and aspects of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims.

Claims (20)

1. A food product dispenser comprising:

a drive unit;

a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, the dispensing unit comprising:

a product reservoir configured to store a food product,

a dispensing nozzle, and

a product transfer assembly comprising a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit.

2. The food product dispenser of claim 1 wherein the pump assembly includes a rotor shaft, wherein the drive unit includes a drive shaft, and wherein the drive shaft is drivably coupled to the rotor shaft when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit.

3. The food product dispenser of claim 2 wherein the drive shaft is disengaged from the rotor shaft when the dispensing unit is disengaged from the drive unit.

4. The food product dispenser of claim 1 wherein the product reservoir comprises an insulated container.

5. The food product dispenser of claim 1 wherein the product transfer assembly includes a housing removably coupled to the product reservoir.

6. The food product dispenser of claim 5 wherein the product transfer assembly includes an aerator upstream of the dispensing nozzle, and wherein the pump assembly is configured to convey the food product along the aerator to aerate the food product prior to discharging the food product from the dispensing nozzle.

7. The food product dispenser of claim 6 wherein the aerator extends into the product reservoir.

8. The food product dispenser of claim 7 wherein the aerator comprises a stationary mixing rod.

9. The food product dispenser of claim 8 wherein said mixing rod is made of plastic.

10. The food product dispenser of claim 6 wherein the housing comprises an aerator housing portion having a first chamber and a second chamber, and wherein the aerator comprises a first stationary mixing bar supported within the first chamber and a second stationary mixing bar supported within the second chamber.

11. The food product dispenser of claim 10 wherein the aerator housing portion includes a transfer passage interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber.

12. The food product dispenser of claim 11 wherein the transfer passage comprises a first circular bore and a second circular bore intersecting the first circular bore.

13. The food product dispenser of claim 11, wherein the food product is configured to flow through the first stationary mixing bar in a first direction and through the second stationary mixing bar in a second direction opposite the first direction.

14. A food product dispenser comprising:

a drive unit;

a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, the dispensing unit comprising:

a product reservoir configured to store a food product,

a dispensing nozzle, and

a product delivery assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit,

wherein the product delivery assembly includes a stationary mixing rod upstream of the dispensing nozzle to aerate the food product prior to discharge from the dispensing nozzle.

15. The food product dispenser of claim 14, wherein the product reservoir comprises an insulated container, and wherein the product transfer assembly comprises a housing removably coupled to the product reservoir.

16. The food product dispenser of claim 15, wherein the stationary mixing bar is a first stationary mixing bar, wherein the product delivery assembly further comprises a second stationary mixing bar fluidly positioned between the first stationary mixing bar and the dispensing nozzle, and wherein the housing comprises an aerator housing portion having a first chamber that receives the first stationary mixing bar and a second chamber that receives the second stationary mixing bar.

17. The food product dispenser of claim 16 wherein the aerator housing portion extends into the product reservoir.

18. The food product dispenser of claim 17 wherein the first and second stationary mixing bars are made of plastic.

19. The food product dispenser of claim 16 wherein the first and second chambers are separated by a dividing wall, and wherein a transfer passage extends through the dividing wall to interconnect the first and second chambers.

20. A dispensing system, comprising:

a drive unit;

a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units removably coupled to the drive unit, each dispensing unit comprising:

a product reservoir configured to store a food product,

a dispensing nozzle, and

a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit to deliver the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit.