Dispensing device

Abstract: The present invention relates to a dispensing device (1) for dispensing a predetermined portion of free-flowing material (2) at each time of dispensing, whereby the free-flowing material (2) preferably consists of free-flowing foodstuff, e.g. viscous foodstuff which preferably is to be dispensed on dishes (3), e.g. hamburgers, whereby the dispensing or portioning effect is achieved by means of a liquid or gaseous pressurized medium, preferably compressed air, and whereby the dispensing portion (10) has such a shape and elasticity that said portion, by resuming its normal shape (NF) when the pressure application has ceased, by itself is capable of sucking fresh free-flowing material (2) into the dispensing chamber (5) for subsequent dispensing. In order to make this dispensing device reliable in operation, to give it a long working life and to permit dispensing of exact small amounts also if these contain solid constituents, the wall thickness of central parts of the dispensing portion (10) are increasing successively in outwards direction towards outer parts of said dispensing portion (10), whereby said central parts first start to deform at pressure application on said dispensing portion (10).

Description: The present invention relates to a dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined portion of free-flowing material at each time of dispensing, whereby the free-flowing material preferably consists of free-flowing foodstuff, e.g. viscous foodstuff which preferably is to be dispensed on dishes, e.g. hamburgers, and whereby the dispensing or portioning effect is achieved by means of a liquid or gaseous pressurized medium, preferably compressed air and whereby the dispensing portion has such a shape and elasticity that said portion, by resuming a normal shape when pressure application thereof has ceased, by itself is capable of sucking fresh free-flowing material into a dispensing chamber for subsequent dispensing. US-A-4 603 793 relates to a dispensing device for dispensing viscous material, e.g. foodstuff. This prior art dispensing device however, is not adapted to permit dispensing of predetermined portions of foodstuff at each time of dispensing, which sets special demands, particularly if the portions are small and the material hard to dispense, as is the case when exact portions of mustard, ketchup, sauce, dressing or similar shall be dispensed quickly on a hamburger. Other dispensing devices for free-flowing foodstuff are shown in US-A-4 717 047 and 5 016 779, but these devices do not permit exact dispensing of small amounts of foodstuff by means of pressurized medium in gaseous or liquid form, preferably compressed air, if said foodstuff contains very solid constituents and thus, is normally difficult to dispense. The object of the present invention is to eliminate said drawbacks and to provide by simple means a liquid or gas operated, preferably compressed-air-operated dispensing device of the abovementioned type, which device permits exact dispensing also of small amounts of foodstuff and also if said foodstuff contains very solid constituents and thus, is normally hard to dispense. This is accomplished according to the invention substantially while the dispensing device defined above has received the characterizing features of subsequent claim 1. Since the dispensing device is provided with said characterizing features, it is primarily ensured that small, exact amounts of foodstuff can be dispensed or discharged without hindrance of solid constituents in said foodstuff. The invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which figure 1 is a schematic side view of the dispensing device according to the invention; figure 2 is a longitudinal section through members forming part of the dispensing device, whereby a dispensing portion is shown in its normal shape; figure 3 is a view similar to fig. 2, but shows the dispensing device after free-flowing material has been sucked into said device; figure 4 is a view similar to figs. 2 and 3, but shows the dispensing device after the free-flowing material has been dispensed therefrom; figure 5 is a section through the dispensing device along the line V-V i fig. 3; figure 6 is a section through the dispensing device with a dispensing portion during the initiation of a dispensing step; figure 7 is a section similar to fig. 6, but shows the dispensing portion in position after the dispensing step; figure 8 is a side view, partly in section, of coupling members forming part of the dispensing device before interconnection; figure 9 shows the coupling members in fig. 8 after interconnection; figures 10-12 are schematic side views of a nozzle in the dispensing device after dispensing, during cleaning and after cleaning; and figure 13 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the dispensing device according to the invention. The dispensing device 1 illustrated in the drawings is adapted for dispensing a predetermined portion of free-flowing material 2 at each time of dispensing. The free-flowing material preferably consists of free-flowing foodstuff, e.g. viscous foodstuff such as mustard, ketchup, sauce, dressing or similar, which preferably is to be dispensed on dishes 3, e.g. hamburgers. At the embodiment of the dispensing device 1 of fig. 1, the free-flowing material 2 is sucked out of a package 4 into a dispensing chamber 5. The free-flowing material 2 in the dispensing chamber 5 is pressed out of or discharged from said chamber by means of a dispensing means 6 operated by a pressurized medium, whereby said material 2 is dispensed on dishes 3 in the form of predetermined portions 7 at each time of dispensing. The dispensing means 6 is located between a first (lower) support means 8 and a second (upper) support means 9 and it includes preferably a longitudinal dispensing portion 10. This dispensing portion 10 has in normal shape NF (see fig. 2) preferably a concave cross section relative to the first support means 8, and it defines therewith the dispensing chamber 5. The dispensing portion 10 is by pressure application with said pressurized medium deformable from its concave normal shape in a direction towards the first support means 8 for conducting a dispensing stroke (see arrow PS in fig. 4) in a direction into the dispensing chamber 5. The length of this dispensing stroke PS is limited by the first support means 8 and when said stroke PS is completed, the dispensing portion 10 has dispensed a predetermined amount of free-flowing material 2 from the dispensing chamber 5. The dispensing portion 10 has such shape and elasticity that said portion, by resuming its normal shape NF when the pressure application ceases, by itself is capable of carrying out such a sucking stroke (see arrow SL in fig. 3) that new free-flowing material 2 is sucked into the dispensing chamber 5 for subsequent dispensing. The dispensing portion 10 of the dispensing means 6 has preferably such a wave form, that said portion, at pressure application in the beginning of a dispensing stroke PS, starts to deform first at such central parts 11 (see fig. 6) which form the top 12 of said dispensing portion. Thereafter, the dispensing portion 10 successively deforms in a direction outwards from said central parts 11 towards outer parts 13, 14 of said dispensing portion 10 until its dispensing stroke PS is completed. The wall thickness of the central parts 11 of the dispensing portion 10 are preferably increasing successively in outwards direction towards the outer parts 13, 14, whereby it is facilitated that said central parts 11 first start to deform at pressure application on said dispensing portion 10. The outer parts 13, 14 of the dispensing portion 10 transform into sealing portions 15 which extend around said dispensing portion 10 and the opposite sides of which are sealingly engaged by the support means 8, 9. The sealing portions 15 preferably define a seal between the support means 8, 9 and/or tight caps for such passages for pressurized medium and/or for free-flowing material 2 which form part of said support means 8, 9. The dispensing portion 10 and the sealing portions 15 extending therearound are preferably designed as a unit of elastic material, e.g. rubber material, preferably of silicone rubber type. The dispensing portion 10 and/or such support members 16 of the first support means 8 against which said dispensing portion 10 can rest, is/are mounted such that a pocket or pockets 17 (see dashed and dotted lines in fig. 4) for free-flowing material 2 is/are defined between said dispensing portion 10 and said first support means 8 when said dispensing portion 10 is situated in an outer position wherein its dispensing stroke PS is limited. Such a pocket 17 can extend along e.g. the entire dispensing chamber 5 or along only portions thereof. The first support means 8 is preferably designed as a rigid channel plate with one or more channels or passages 18, 19 for free-flowing material 2 and that the second support means 9 is designed preferably as a rigid channel plate with one or more channels or passages 20, 21 for pressurized medium. The first support means 8 is preferably provided with a recess 22 which is located just opposite the dispensing portion 10. This recess 22 is adapted to define the dispensing chamber 5 together with said dispensing portion 10. The wall portions of said recess 22 preferably define the support members 16 for the dispensing portion 10. The passage 18 of the first support means 8 preferably defines an inlet passage for feeding free-flowing material 2 to the dispensing chamber 5 and the passage 19 preferably defines an outlet passage for feeding free-flowing material 2 from said dispensing chamber 5. In the first support means 8 there are also preferably provided two valve seats 23, 24 for two valve bodies 25, 26. The valve body 25 is adapted to prevent free-flowing material 2 from being discharged in the wrong direction from said dispensing chamber 5 during dispensing. The valve body 26 is adapted to prevent air from being sucked into said dispensing chamber 5 through a dispensing nozzle 27 during the suction stroke of the dispensing portion 10. The valve bodies 25, 26 preferably consist of tongues of elastic material which extend from the dispensing means 6 and which preferably are made integral therewith and of the same material. The second support means 9 is designed as a channel plate for pressurized medium, wherein the passage 21 can define a space in which the dispensing portion 10 can assume normal shape NF. A source 28 of pressurized medium, e.g. a source of compressed air, is connected with said space 21 through a conduit 29 for applying pressure on the dispensing portion 10. The space 21 preferably has edge portions 30 which a sealing ridge 31 extending around said dispensing portion 10 is adapted to sealingly engage. The sealing ridge 31 is preferably made of an elastic material, extends from the dispensing means 6 and is preferably made integral therewith and of the same material. The support means 8, 9 and the dispensing means 6 located therebetween together preferably define a sandwich-like unit which is kept tight or clamped by one or more clamping means 32, 33, e.g. bolts with wing nuts. Clamping limiting means 34, 35 are provided preferably to ensure that the sealing portions 15 of the dispensing means 6 can be tightened only to a certain least thickness by means of the clamping means 32, 33. As is apparent from the figures, each support means 8, 9 consists preferably of a single unit. Also the dispensing means 6, the dispensing portion 10 thereof and eventual valve bodies 25, 26 therein preferably consist of a single unit, all through preferably of the same material. The clamping means 32, 33 for tightening or clamping said units together are preferably quickly disconnectable such that said units quickly can be demounted into three separate parts for cleaning. As is shown in fig. 13, the dispensing device 1 may comprise three dispensing portions 10 which cooperate with dispensing chambers 5a, 5b, 5c of various sizes. Each dispensing portion 10 cooperates with a pressurized-medium-operated and remote-controlled operating valve 36a, 36b, 36c which permits application of a pressure on one of the three dispensing portions 10. Hereby, the dispensing device 1 can be used for dispensing portions 7 of three different sizes. The operating valves 36a, 36b, 36c are through conduits 37 connected with the source 28 of pressurized medium and they can be remotely controlled by means of push buttons 38 which are provided on the dispensing nozzle 27 and connected with the operating valves 36a, 36b, 36c through conduits 39. To bring such free-flowing material 2 to release what is left on the dispensing nozzle 27, pressurized medium from the source 28 thereof is used. This is done by feeding pressurized medium to the dispensing nozzle 27 through a conduit 40. Said conduit 40 is connected with a conduit branch 41 which connects a three way valve 42 (which is located in the conduit 29 between the source 28 of pressurized medium and the space 21) to a pressurized-medium outlet 43 (which is preferably provided with sound dampers) having such a restriction that a portion of the pressurized medium is brought to flow to the dispensing nozzle 27 when the operating valve 42 is opened for exiting or discharging pressurized medium through said outlet 43 when the dispensing portion 10 is operated to conduct its suction stroke SL. The pressure blow thus generated in the dispensing nozzle 27, forces eventual residuals 45 of the free-flowing material 2 remaining at the mouth 44 of the nozzle 27 to let go from said nozzle such that no such residuals 45 find their way from the mouth 44 (see figs. 10-12). A conduit 46 is connected with the dispensing chamber 5 and through a coupling unit 47 (see figs. 8 and 9) preferably connectable with the package 4 with free-flowing material 2. This coupling unit 47 comprises a valve 48 which in normal shape closes said coupling unit 47 such that free-flowing material is prevented from flowing therethrough. The coupling unit 47 further comprises a break portion 49 and a coupling portion 50, whereby said break portion 49 is adapted to permit breaking up of the package 4 and said coupling portion 50 adapted to permit connection of said coupling unit 47 with said package 4. Additionally, the valve 48 of the coupling unit 47 can be opened by means of the conduit 46 connected with the dispensing chamber 5, such that free-flowing material 2 can flow from the package 4 and through said coupling unit 47 into said conduit 46 when said unit 47 is connected with said package 4 and said conduit 46 is connected with said coupling unit 47. The valve 48 comprises a normally semi-spherical valve body 51 of elastic material. This semi-spherical valve body 51 is slotted, preferably by means of crosslaid cuts 52, whereby the cuts 52 defined by the slotting are closed when said valve body 51 is in its normal shape. The valve body 51 can be opened by pressing the conduit 46 into said valve body 51 such that said cuts 52 open, whereby said valve 48 is mounted such that the parts thereof, by means of said conduit 46, can fold back completely from the flow path of the free-flowing material 2 through the coupling unit 47. The package 4 is preferably provided on a stand 53 which along with said package 4 can be placed in a position lying down on an underlayer 54 such that a coupling member 55 provided in said package 4 can rest on said underlayer 54 when the coupling unit 47 is pressed through the wall of the package 4 for connection therewith. It should also be mentioned that the operating valve 42 can be remote-controlled by means of a push botton 56 on the dispensing nozzle 27 and the control signal to said operating valve 42 can be transferred through a conduit 57. The invention described above and shown in the drawings can vary in shape and function within the limits set by the subsequent claims. As examples of alternative embodiments it could be mentioned that the dispensing portion 10 can carry out the function described also if said portion has another shape than what is described above, all passages in the support means 8, 9 can be open towards the sealing portions 15 which in that case define tight caps for said passages. Finally, it should be mentioned that the clamping limiting means 34, 35 can be sleeves which are sufficiently high and threaded on bolts which may form part of the clamping means 32, 33.

Claims: Dispensing device (1) for dispensing a predetermined portion of free-flowing material (2) at each time of dispensing, whereby the free-flowing material (2) preferably consists of free-flowing foodstuff, e.g. viscous foodstuff which preferably is to be dispensed on dishes (3), e.g. hamburgers, whereby the dispensing or portioning effect is achieved by means of a liquid or gaseous pressurized medium, preferably compressed air, and whereby the dispensing portion (10) has such a shape and elasticity that said portion, by resuming its normal shape (NF) when the pressure application has ceased, by itself is capable of sucking fresh free-flowing material (2) into the dispensing chamber (5) for subsequent dispensing, characterized in that the wall thickness of central parts (11) of the dispensing portion (10) are increasing successively in outwards direction towards outer parts (13, 14) of said dispensing portion (10), whereby said central parts (11) first start to deform at pressure application on said dispensing portion (10). Dispensing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) of the dispensing means (6) has such a wave form that said portion, at pressure application in the beginning of a dispensing stroke (PS), starts to deform first at such central parts (11) which form the top (12) of said dispensing portion (10), and deforms thereafter successively in a direction outwards from said central parts (11) towards outer parts (13, 14) of said dispensing portion (10) until its dispensing stroke (PS) is completed. Dispensing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a dispensing means (6) which is provided between a first and a second support means (8, 9) which closely engage said dispensing means (6) around a dispensing portion (10) forming part thereof. Dispensing device according to claim 3, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) has a concave normal shape (NF) relative to the first support means (8) and defines wherewith a dispensing chamber (5) for the free-flowing material (2), and that the dispensing portion (10) by pressure application with the pressurized medium is workable in a direction towards the first support means (8) for conducting a dispensing stroke (PS), the length of which is limited by said first support means and which causes dispensing of material present in the dispensing chamber (5). Dispensing device according to any of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) has outer parts (13, 14) which transform into sealing portions (15) which extend around said dispensing portion (10) and the opposite sides of which are sealingly engaged by the support means (8, 9). Dispensing device according to claim 5, characterized in that the sealing portions (15) define a seal between the support means (8, 9) and/or tight caps for such passages for pressurized medium and/or for free-flowing material (2) which form part of said support means (8, 9). Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) is designed as an elongated portion with a waved cross-section. Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) and the sealing portions (15) extending therearound are designed as a unit of elastic material, e.g. rubber material, preferably of silicone rubber type. Dispensing device according to any of claims 2 - 6, characterized in that the dispensing portion (10) and/or such support members (16) of the first support means (8) against which said dispensing portion (10) can rest, is/are mounted such that a pocket or pockets (17) for free-flowing material (2) is/are defined between said dispensing portion (10) and said first support means (8) when said dispensing portion (10) is situated in an outer position wherein its dispensing stroke (PS) is limited. Dispensing device according to claim 9, characterized in that a pocket (17) extends along the entire dispensing chamber (5). Dispensing device according to any of claims 2-6,9-10, characterized in that the first support means (8) is designed as a rigid channel plate with one or more channels or passages (18, 19) for free-flowing material (2) and that the second support means (9) is designed as a rigid channel plate with one or more channels or passages (20, 21) for pressurized medium. Dispensing device according to any of claims 2-6,9-11, characterized in that the first support means (8) is provided with a recess (22) which is located just opposite the dispensing portion (10), that said recess (22) is adapted to define the dispensing chamber (5) together with said dispensing portion (10) and that wall portions of said recess (22) are adapted to define support members (16) for limiting the dispensing stroke (PS) of said dispensing portion (10). Dispensing device according to any of claims 2-6,9-12, characterized in that the first support means (8) has an inlet passage (18) for feeding free-flowing material (2) to the dispensing chamber (5) and an outlet passage (19) for feeding free-flowing material (2) from said dispensing chamber (5) and that in said first support means (8) there are provided valve seats (23, 24) for valve bodies (25, 26), of which one valve body (25) is adapted to prevent free-flowing material (2) from being discharged in the wrong direction from said dispensing chamber (5) while the other valve body (26) is adapted to prevent air from being sucked into said dispensing chamber (5) through a dispensing nozzle (27). Dispensing device according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve bodies (25, 26) consist of tongues of elastic material which extend from the dispensing means (6) and which preferably are made integral therewith and of the same material. Dispensing device according to any of claims 2-6, 9-14, characterized in that the second support means (9) is designed as a channel plate for pressurized medium, whereby said channel plate is provided with a space (21) wherein the dispensing portion (10) can assume normal shape (NF), that a source (28) of pressurized medium is connected with said space (21) for applying pressure on said dispensing portion (10) and that said space (21) has edge portions (30) which a sealing ridge (31) extending around said dispensing portion (10) is adapted to sealingly engage. Dispensing device according to claim 15, characterized in that the sealing ridge (31) is made of an elastic material, extends from the dispensing means (6) and is preferably made integral therewith and of the same material. Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the dispensing means (6) around the dispensing portion (10) is located between support means (8, 9) and defines sealing portions (15) which engage said support means (8, 9), whereby the support means (8, 9) and the dispensing means (6) therebetween together define a sandwich-like unit which is kept tight or clamped by clamping means (32, 33). Dispensing device according to claim 17, characterized in that the sealing portions (15) of the dispensing means (6) define a seal between the support means (8, 9) and caps for passages (18, 19, 20, 21) for free-flowing material (2) and/or pressurized medium in said support means (8, 9). Dispensing device according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by clamping limiting means (34, 35) which ensure that the sealing portions (15) of the dispensing means (6) can be tightened only to a certain least thickness by means of the clamping means (32, 33). Dispensing device according to any of claims 17-19, characterized in that each support means (8, 9) consists of a single unit and that the dispensing means (6), the dispensing portion (10) thereof and eventual valve bodies (25, 26) therein consist of a single unit, all through preferably of the same material, and that clamping means (32, 33) for tightening or clamping said units together are quickly disconnectable such that said units quickly can be demounted into three separate parts for cleaning. Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the dispensing device (1) comprises at least two dispensing portions (10) of which one cooperates with a dispensing chamber (5a) of a certain size and the other with a dispensing chamber (5b) of another size, and that each dispensing portion (10) cooperates with a remote-controlled hand or operating valve (36a, 36b) which permits application of a pressure on the selected dispensing portion (10) such that free-flowing material (2) is dispensed from the selected dispensing chamber (5a or 5b). Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a conduit (40) for pressurized medium is connected with a dispensing nozzle (27) for dispensing free-flowing matrial (2) from the dispensing chamber (5), which conduit (40) is adapted to feed pressurized medium into the dispensing nozzle (27) such that after dispensing, eventual residuals of material remaining at the mouth (44) of the dispensing nozzle (27) are forced to let go from said dispensing nozzle (27) by means of a blow of pressurized medium. Dispensing device according to claim 22, characterized in that the conduit (40) for feeding pressurized medium to the dispensing nozzle (27) is connected with a conduit branch (41) to a pressurized-medium outlet (43) which is adapted to discharge pressurized medium such that the dispensing portion (10) can resume its normal shape (NF), whereby said pressurized-medium outlet (43) is provided with such a restriction for exiting pressurized medium that a portion of said exiting pressurized medium flows through said conduit (40) to said dispensing nozzle (27) and provides a pressure blow therein. Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a conduit (46) is connected with the dispensing chamber (5) and through a coupling unit (47) connectable with a package (4) with free-flowing material (2), that the coupling unit (47) comprises a valve (48) which in normal shape closes said coupling unit (47) such that free-flowing material is prevented from flowing therethrough, that the coupling unit (47) further comprises a break portion (49) and a coupling portion (50), whereby said break portion (49) is adapted to permit breaking up of the package (4) and said coupling portion (50) adapted to permit connection of said coupling unit (47) with said package (4), and that the valve (48) of the coupling unit (47) can be opened by means of the conduit (46) connected with the dispensing chamber (5), such that free-flowing material (2) can flow from the package (4) and through said coupling unit (47) when it is connected with said package (4) and said conduit (46) to said dispensing chamber (5) is connected with said coupling unit (47). Dispensing device according to claim 24, characterized in that the valve (48) comprises a normally semi-spherical valve body (51) of elastic material, that said semi-spherical valve body (51) is slotted, preferably by means of crosslaid cuts (52), whereby the cuts (52) defined by the slotting are closed when said valve body (51) is in its normal semi-spherical shape, and said valve body (51) can be opened by means of the conduit (46) connected with the dispensing chamber (5) by pressing said conduit (46) into said valve body (51) such that said cuts (52) open, whereby said valve (48) is mounted such that the parts thereof, by means of said conduit (46), can fold back completely from the flow path of the free-flowing material (2) through the coupling unit (47). Dispensing device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that a conduit (46) is connected with the dispensing chamber (5) and through a coupling unit (47) connectable with a package (4) with free-flowing material (2), and that the package (4) is provided on a stand (53) which along with said package (4) can be placed in a position lying down on an underlayer (54) such that a coupling member (55) provided in said package (4) can rest on said underlayer when the coupling unit (47) is connected with said package (4).

Inventors: STERN LEIF EINAR, STERN, LEIF EINAR
Applicants: ASEPT INT AB, ASEPT INTERNATIONAL AB
Application year: 1993
Main classification: B67D1
IPC codes: G01F11, B67D1, B65D83, B67D7