Patent ID: 9737084
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: A23G,B65D

Claim:
1. A dispensing apparatus for dispensing frozen or semi-frozen product, the dispensing apparatus comprising a housing having a refrigerated compartment and a nozzle for dispensing product from the apparatus, a dispensing mechanism provided within the refrigerated compartment of said housing, and a deformable bulk container removably mounted in said refrigerated compartment and having an outlet arranged in communication with said nozzle, the bulk container storing multiple portions of product to be dispensed, and the dispensing mechanism operable to express product from the bulk container to said nozzle, the dispensing mechanism comprising a lead screw arrangement operable within the refrigerated compartment of said housing and a motor operable within the refrigerated compartment of said housing, wherein operation of the motor serves to operate said lead screw arrangement, the dispensing mechanism further comprising a dispensing head movable along a first axis within said refrigerated housing, the lead screw arrangement including a lead screw extending within said refrigerated housing in a direction orthogonal to said first axis and configured to rotate within said refrigerated housing in response to operation of said motor, in order to cause movement of said dispensing head, wherein the apparatus is configured for a first mode of operation in which operation of the motor within said refrigerated housing causes rotation of the lead screw in a first direction, and drives the dispensing head to apply pressure to said bulk container, in order to compress said bulk container and cause product to be dispensed from the bulk container to said nozzle, and wherein the apparatus is further configured for a second mode of operation in which operation of the motor within said refrigerated housing causes rotation of the lead screw in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, in order to reverse movement of said dispensing head in a direction which relieves pressure on said bulk container, the apparatus further comprising a valve mechanism configured for controlling the flow of product from the nozzle of the housing when the lead screw of the dispensing mechanism is rotated in said first direction.