Abstract:
A pizza sauce dispensing apparatus that includes a base, a motor mounted within the base, a pump mounted to the base, a container of sauce mounted on the base, a removable conduit connecting the container and the pump, a valve removably mounted to the container, a nozzle, another removable conduit between the pump and the nozzle, a nozzle switch, a bracket for storing the nozzle when not in use, an electrical control circuit for programming the apparatus to dispense sauce as a function of pizza size, a sauce addition switch and a sauce subtraction switch, and an electrical path including two metal posts and wire from the base to the nozzle switch. The parts having the sauce path are removable and washable even though some of the parts include an electrical path which typically cannot be immersed in water. The result is an efficient, relatively inexpensive apparatus.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a dispensing apparatus and more particularly to a food dispensing apparatus which is efficient, reliable and effective. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Food dispensing devices are well known in the art. For example, single and multiple condiment dispensing devices, usually with under-counter condiment bags and a carbon dioxide tank to power the devices, are currently on the market. With such devices dispensing nozzles are located above the counter for use by consumers or by professional food preparers. 
     There are also dispensers for such food products as pizza sauce. These include a nozzle having the shape of a ladle. The handle for the ladle includes a sauce conduit which empties into the ladle, and there is an operating switch, also attached to the handle, to activate the compressed gas which forces the sauce from a sauce container to the ladle when the switch is activated. Other nozzles for pizza sauce dispensing include those having a spoodle base. These may be suspended from flexible overhead hoses so as to leave counter space free for food items. Counter top devices including the spoodle nozzle base, a flexible hose, a base unit with a pump and a motor and a sauce container mounted on the base have all appeared in the marketplace, but each such device has undesirable shortcomings. 
     The above described devices have, however, a number of desirable features when compared to dispensing food items manually. For example, they provide reproducible, consistent portions, and they provide for faster food preparation. They also tend to be more sanitary, there is less spoilage and waste, and less counter space is used for equipment. Nevertheless, there is a need for more reliable and efficient structures than those which now exist. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The difficulties encountered by previous systems have been overcome by the present invention. 
     What is described here is a dispensing apparatus comprising a base, a motor operatively connected to the base, a pump operatively connected to the base, a conduit adapted to connect to the pump and a container of product to be pumped, a nozzle operatively connected to the pump and being movable between a storage position and a dispensing position, a second conduit for connecting the pump and the nozzle, an electrical conducting wire adapted to connect the motor to a source of power, a first switch connected to the electrical line adapted to control power from a source and a bracket removably mounted to the base for mounting the nozzle when the nozzle is in the storage position and for controlling leakage of product from the nozzle. The invention is disclosed in another manner by providing a dispensing apparatus comprising the base, the motor, the pump, the first conduit, the nozzle, the second conduit, the electrical conducting wire, the first switch and a monitoring element operatively connected to the motor for indicating the number of revolutions made by the pump. The invention also includes a dispensing apparatus comprising the base, the motor, the pump, the first conduit, the nozzle, the second conduit, the electrical conducting wire, the first switch, a container for storing the product to be pumped, a valve having a valve seat, an element movable between open and closed positions, and a biasing element, the valve being removably connected to the container and the movable element being biased to the closed position, and an end portion on the first conduit for biasing the valve element to its open position. Further the invention may be described as a dispensing apparatus comprising the base, the motor, the pump the first conduit, the nozzle, the second conduit, the electrical conducting wire, the first switch where the switch is connected to the nozzle and is movable therewith an electrical path connecting the second conduit and operatively connected to the switch and the motor, the electrical path including two metal rods and electrical wire. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which is reliable and relatively inexpensive. A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which is efficient and which utilizes a minimum number of parts for ease of handling. Another aim of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which is easy to disassemble and clean and thereafter reassemble. Still a further advantage of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus with an electrical path that is effective in operation and yet the apparatus may be immersible in water without damage. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing apparatus which includes an inexpensive and effective shut-off valve structure, a simple but accurate mechanism for metering the dispensing product and a bracket for cleanly cradling the dispensing nozzle when it is not in use. 
     A more complete understanding of the present invention and other objects, aspects, aims and advantages thereof will be gained from a consideration of the following description of the preferred embodiments read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings provided herein. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front isometric view of the food dispensing apparatus of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is an exploded front isometric view, partially broken away, of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a front isometric view of the motor and mounting plate of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 4 is an exploded rear isometric view of the motor and mounting plate shown in FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 5 is an exploded rear isometric view of the pump of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 6 is an enlarged rear elevation view of the inner housing of the pump shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged rear elevation view of the outer housing of the pump shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged top plan view of the pump shown in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a connector used in the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 10 is an exploded front isometric view of a sauce hose and two adapters used to connect a food container and a pump of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 11 is a rear exploded isometric view of a valve of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 12 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 13 is an elevation view of a spring retainer taken along line  13 — 13  of FIG.  12 . 
     FIG. 14 is a sectional elevation view of a variation of the valve shown in FIG.  11 . 
     FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a combination spring and retainer of the valve illustrated in FIG.  14 . 
     FIG. 16 is a front exploded isometric view of a nozzle, a nozzle handle, an outer hose, an inner hose and a connector block of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 17 is a front sectional view of the nozzle assembly shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 18 is a side elevation view, partially broken away, of the nozzle assembly shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. 
     FIG. 19 is an enlarged sectional view of an outer hose adapter shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 20 is an enlarged sectional view of an inner hose adapter shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 21 is an enlarged isometric view of the connector block shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 22 is a top plan view of the connector block shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 23 is a bottom plan view of the connector block shown in FIG.  21 . 
     FIG. 24 is a sectional elevation view taken along line  24 — 24  of FIG.  22 . 
     FIG. 25 is a sectional elevation view taken along line  25 — 25  of FIG.  23 . 
     FIG. 26 is an isometric view of the nozzle and the nozzle handle shown in FIG.  16 . 
     FIG. 27 is an elevation view of the nozzle shown in FIG.  26 . 
     FIG. 28 is a partial elevation view of a variation of the nozzle shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. 
     FIG. 29 is a rear isometric view of a bracket of the food dispensing apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. 
     FIG. 30 is an enlarged elevation view of the bracket shown in FIG.  29 . 
     FIG. 31 is a diagrammatic elevation view of an automated food dispensing apparatus. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is open to various modifications and alternative constructions, the preferred embodiments shown in the drawings will be described herein in detail. It is understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalent structures and methods, and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims. 
     The food dispensing apparatus of the present invention has a number of beneficial features. The apparatus has a minimum number of parts for cost savings in production and to enhance handling when assembling and disassembling sections of the apparatus. The apparatus is also easy to assemble and disassemble to facilitate washing; the food path must typically be washed on a daily basis. Thus, the hoses from the food container to the pump and from the pump to the nozzle are easily removed and are water safe. To allow this, the apparatus includes a self-closing valve so that food in the container does not inadvertently spill out. Also, the electrical path to the nozzle is easily engaged and disengaged and is also fully immersible in water without malfunction. Further, the food holding container may be removed easily from the apparatus and put within a refrigeration unit every night. The pump itself is also easily disassembled for washing. Again, the number of parts are minimized so as to reduce the likelihood of parts being misplaced or lost. The apparatus also includes a mechanism to easily count motor revolutions down to a quarter rotation so that food may be accurately dispensed and the amount dispensed may be reproduced time after time. In addition, controls are provided which specifically address pizza sauce dispensing so that different size pizzas may be easily handled, and variations in sauce amounts for each size may be easily accommodated. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a food dispensing apparatus  10  having a base  12  in the form of a stainless steel metal enclosure, a container  14  of food product to be dispensed, a pump  16 , a first or supply conduit  18  communicating the product in the container  14  with the pump  16 , and a second or dispensing conduit  20  communicating the pump  16  and a nozzle  22 . The nozzle  22  is movable between a storage or at rest position where it is supported by a bracket  24  at the front of the base and a dispensing position when an operator holds the nozzle by a handle  26  over a location, usually in front of the base, where food product  28  is situated. A first switch  30  on the nozzle handle  26  may be used to activate the pump. Another switch  32  mounted on the base offers an alternative means for activating the pump. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  4 , the base  12  includes a front slanted wall  34 , a back wall  36 , left and right side walls  38 ,  40 , a bottom wall  42  and a flat top wall  44 . A motor  46  is mounted within the base to the right side wall  40 . Mounting is facilitated with a wall block  48 . A motor shaft  50  is connected to a pump shaft  52 , which when assembled extends beyond the right side wall  40  to engage the pump  16 , for causing the pump to operate when the motor is activated. 
     Counting motor revolutions to ensure the feature of consistent and reproducible dispensing amounts is accomplished by a disk  54 , FIG. 4, having four openings  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62 . The disk is fixed to the pump shaft  52  and attached to the motor shaft  50  by any suitable means, such as threaded fasteners (not shown). An electrical component  64  comprising a light source and a photo sensor is mounted to the wall block  48  to operate with the disk, and is connected to control circuitry  66 , FIG. 2, mounted to the back wall  36  of the base. As the disk rotates with the motor shaft and pump shaft, light from the light source of the electrical component  64  will energize the photo sensor every time light passes through one of the openings  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62  of the disk  54 . In this way, each revolution of the motor causes four light pulses to be received by the photo sensor. Each pulse creates a signal that is transmitted to a counter in a programmable control circuitry  66 . Thus, counting revolutions to a quarter turn is easily accomplished in a simple, economical and reliable manner. Once the programmed number of revolutions have been signaled, the control circuitry switches the motor off. 
     A seal  68  is provided around the pump shaft  52  where it passes through the right side wall of the base. Two electrical pins  70 ,  72  made of stainless steel are also mounted to the wall block  48  and these also extend through the right wall  40  of the base  12 . Seals  74  and  76  are mounted to the wall block  48  around the pins  70 ,  72  respectively, to prevent moisture from getting inside the base. Four threaded fasteners  78 ,  80 ,  82 ,  84 , four spacers  86 ,  88 ,  90 ,  92  and four nuts  94 ,  96 ,  98 ,  100  are provided to secure the motor and the wall block. An additional four threaded fasteners  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  pass through the wall block  48  and the side wall  40  of the base to mount the motor and block assembly to the base. A power cord  110 , FIG. 1, is connected to the motor and allows energy from a wall socket (not shown) to activate the motor. The cord is connected to the control circuitry and the motor in the usual fashion. 
     The motor  46  is preferably a direct current type and has a one-eighth horse power rating. Such motors may be purchased from Flolo Electric of Calumet City, Ill. Electrical terminals  112 ,  114  are attached to threaded ends  116 ,  118  of the electrical pins  70 ,  72 , respectively. Washers  120 ,  122 , lock washers  124 ,  126  and nuts  128 ,  130  which engage the electrical pins are provided to make electrical contacts between the pins and electrical wires  132 ,  134 . The wires  132 ,  134  lead back to the control circuitry  66 . 
     A switch  136 , FIG. 1, is connected to the control circuitry for controlling the speed of rotation of the motor  46 . The switch may be in the form of a variable resistor. This allows an operator, for example, who is new to the dispensing apparatus to run the motor in a slow mode until he/she reaches a comfort level that allows the speed of the motor to be increased. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 5-8, the pump  16  is illustrated in more detail. The pump includes an inner housing  138 , an outer housing  140  and an impeller  142 . The outer housing  140  includes an opening  144  for receiving the impeller. The impeller is mounted to the pump shaft  52 , FIG. 4, and the pump shaft extends through an opening  146  in the inner housing  138 . A shaft seal  148  is provided to prevent leakage through the opening  146 . A casing seal  150  is provided to fit into a recess  151  about the opening  144  and prevents leakage between the inner and outer housings. An impeller pin  152  is connected to the impeller and the impeller slips over the pump shaft  52  so that the pin is received by a slot  153  in the shaft. In this manner the rotational force of the shaft is transferred to the pin which then drives the impeller. 
     The inner housing  138  has two vertically disposed cylindrical openings  154 ,  156  relating to the electrical path to be described below. The outer housing also has two vertically disposed cylindrical openings, an input opening  158  and an output opening  160 . Both of these openings  158 ,  160  communicate with the impeller opening  144 . The input opening is in communication with the food product in the container  14  and the output opening is in communication with the nozzle  22 . The inner housing has four corner openings  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  and the outer housing has four aligned corner openings  170 ,  172 ,  174 ,  176 . The two sets of four corner openings allow the pump to be mounted to the base in a simple and effective manner. 
     When discussing the motor and block in relation to FIGS. 3 and 4 above, the four threaded fasteners  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108  projected through the wall block  48  and the right wall  40  of the base. Fitted to each of these fasteners is a two headed connector such as the connectors  186 ,  188 ,  190 ,  192 , FIG.  2 . These connectors, exemplified by the connector  186 , FIG. 9, are generally cylindrical in shape and each includes a first threaded end portion  194 , an opposite second threaded end portion  196  and a wrench receiving a flattened middle portion  198 . The first end portion  194  is threaded to the fastener  102 . Each of the other connectors mates with one of the remaining fasteners  104 ,  106 ,  108  in the same way. The connectors not only fasten the motor  46  and the wall block  48  to the base but they provide mounting studs over which the pump is mounted. For example, the two aligned sets of openings of the inner and outer housings  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  168  and  170 ,  172 ,  174 ,  176 , respectively, fit over the connectors  186 ,  188 ,  190 ,  192  which are tightly threaded to the threaded fasteners  102 ,  104 ,  106 ,  108 , respectively. 
     Four additional threaded fasteners  178 ,  180 ,  182 ,  184 , FIG. 5, are provided, each with a knurled knob, such as the knobs  202 ,  204 ,  206 ,  208 , to threadedly engage to second end portions of each of the connectors, such as second end portion  196 . The fastener and knob combinations are provided to allow quick and easy manual disassembly of the inner and outer pump housings and the impeller to allow all of the parts of the pump to be washed; as can be appreciated, the pump is part of a food path from the container  14  to the nozzle  22  and must be washed regularly. Retainer rings, such as the ring  210 , are attached to each of the additional threaded fasteners  178 ,  180 ,  184 ,  186  so that when the housings are disengaged from one another and from the base, the additional fasteners remain with the outer housing  140  and do not become lost or misplaced. 
     Two additional openings  212 ,  214 , horizontally disposed, are provided in the inner housing  138  to receive the electrical pins  70 ,  72 , respectively. These pins intersect the vertical cylindrical openings  154 ,  156  so that rods plugged into the openings  154 ,  156  will engage the pins  70 ,  72  as will be explained below. The preferable material for the inner and outer housings is Delrin, a trademark of DuPont for one of its synthetic resins commonly used in food handling equipment. Delrin may also be used for the wall block  48 . Sealing rings  216 ,  218  are provided in the vertical openings  158 ,  160  of the outer housing  140  to prevent seepage of food product during use of the dispensing apparatus. A locking pin  220  is also provided. The pin slips into a hole  222  in the outer housing  140 . The pin has a flat region  224  facing the vertical opening  160  and an adapter  226 , as shown in FIG. 20, to be described later, may be inserted into this opening  160 . An annular recess  228  in the outer surface of the adapter  226  aligns with the pin. The flat region does not interfere with the adapter  226  when inserted into the opening  160 . But when the pin is rotated, the flat region  224  moves away and is replaced with the usual rounded circumference of the pin. This expanded geometry engages the recess  228  and provides a lock of the adapter  226  in the opening  160 . Since the pump creates a high pressure in the opening  160 , the “output” of the pump, the lock ensures that the adapter  226  is not blown out of the opening  160 . The pin has a head portion  227  which extends beyond the outer housing  140  for gripping by an operator. 
     The pump  16  and the container  14  are bridged by the supply conduit  18 . The supply conduit includes a valve adapter  230 , FIG. 10, a hose  232  and a pump adapter  234 . The container  14  has an opening  236 , FIG. 2, near its bottom which is used to receive a valve assembly  238 . The valve assembly  238  comprises a housing  240 , FIGS. 11-13, having a central opening  242 . Three grooves  244 ,  246 ,  248  are provided for receiving O-ring seals  250 ,  252 ,  254 , respectively. The valve assembly  238  includes a threaded downstream outer surface  256  and a flange  258 . An outer seal  260  is provided to abut against the flange. An upstream portion of the housing has a smooth outer surface  262 . The valve assembly is mounted to the container  14  by having the valve assembly placed within the container. The housing is inserted into the container opening  236  such that the threaded downstream outer surface  256  extends outside the container. The valve assembly is retained by a nut  264  threaded onto the threaded downstream outer surface  256  and tightened against the container wall  14  so as to squeeze the container wall between the nut  264  on the outside and the seal  260  and flange  258  on the inside. 
     Within the central opening  242  is a movable valve element  266  having a head portion  268  at one end and a threaded portion  270  at the other end. A spring retainer  272  is provided to engage the threaded end portion  270  of the movable valve element. The retainer has an outer ring  274  and a bridge  276  with a threaded hole  278 . Right and left openings  280 ,  282  are provided through which food product being dispensed may pass. A spring  284  is trapped between the spring retainer  272  and a converging section  286  of the central opening  242 . Normally the spring biases the movable valve element to seat against an outer or upstream surface  288  of the valve assembly  238  as shown in FIG.  12 . 
     The valve adapter  230 , FIG. 10, is generally tubular in shape and has a first downstream end  290  which fits into an upstream end  291  of the hose  232  until the hose abuts a downstream flange  292 . A second upstream flange  294  limits the insertion of the valve adapter into the valve assembly  238 , FIG. 11. A leading edge  296  of the valve adapter opens the valve assembly by having the leading edge  296  abut and push a downstream side  298 , FIG. 12, of the spring retainer  272 . This leading edge engages the spring retainer and causes it to move approximately one-tenth of an inch against the bias of the spring  284 . Engagement is complete when the upstream flange  294 , FIG. 10, on the valve adapter abuts the downstream edge  300 , FIG. 12, of the housing  240 . An upstream end  302  of the adapter includes two grooves  304 ,  306  which engage the O-ring seals  250 ,  252  of the valve assembly. This is sufficient to retain the valve adapter  230  and the valve assembly  238  in engagement during operation of the dispensing apparatus. The third O-ring  254  acts as a seal and frictionally engages the valve adapter. When the valve adapter  230  is withdrawn from the valve assembly, the biasing spring  284  acting upon the upstream side  308  of the spring retainer  272  causes a leftward movement (with reference to FIG. 12) of the valve element  266  and causes the head portion  268  to engage the upstream surface  288  of the housing  240  thereby closing the valve assembly. Hydrostatic pressure within the container also helps to close the movable valve element as soon as the force acting upon the retainer is removed. 
     Referring now to FIGS. 14 and 15, a variation of the valve assembly is illustrated. Like the FIG. 12 embodiment, the modified valve assembly  310  includes a housing  312 , a peripheral flange  314 , an O-ring seal  316  and a threaded downstream outer surface  318 . A nut  320  is engageable with the downstream outer surface. A valve element  322  is movable away from and into engagement with an upstream surface  324  of the housing. Instead of a spring and spring retainer, there is a one-piece biasing element  326  having a downstream abutment base  328  and extending flexible biasing beams  330 ,  331 ,  333 ,  335 . When the valve adapter  230  engages the abutment base  328  of the biasing element, it moves rightwardly opening the valve. At the same time the beams flex inwardly upon sliding along the converging section  332  of the housing. Since the biasing beams have memories, once the valve adapter is removed, the beams will tend to flex outwardly to return to the positions shown in FIGS. 14 and 15. The expansion of the beams against the converging section  332  will cause the valve element to move leftward thereby closing the valve. 
     A downstream end  334 , FIG. 10, of the hose  232  engages the pump adapter  234 . The adapter has an upstream end portion  336  which fits inside the hose and an upstream flange  338  for limiting movement of the adapter into the hose. A downstream flange  340  acts as a stop or limit to the insertion of a downstream end portion  342  into the pump  16  through the opening  158  in the outer housing. 
     The conduit  20  between the nozzle  22  and the pump  16  takes the form of a flexible outer hose  344 , FIGS. 16-20, a flexible inner hose  346 , a metal support tube  348 , a support block  350 , the upstream adapter  226  and a downstream adapter  354 . The food carrying path extends from the output opening  160 , FIG. 5, of the pump  16  to the upstream adapter  226  to the inner hose  346  to the nozzle  22 . The upstream adapter has a tubular body with an upstream portion  356  and a downstream portion  358 . The upstream portion  356  includes an upstream annular recess  228  which is engaged by the locking pin  220 , FIG. 5, of the pump  16 . When the upstream adapter is plugged into the output opening of the pump and the looking pin is rotated so that the flat portion  224  is moved away from the upstream adapter, the adapter is effectively locked in place. A second smaller annular recess  362  is provided to receive a press fitted pin  364 , FIG. 21, into the support block  350 . In this fashion the upstream adapter  226  is attached to the support block  350  so that they move during assembly and disassembly as a single unit along with all of the other elements shown in FIG.  16 . The downstream portion  358  of the upstream adapter includes annular barbs  360  which are used to frictionally engage the upstream end  361  of the inner hose  346 . 
     A downstream end  365  of the inner hose  346  attaches to a barbed stem  366 , FIG. 27, molded with or affixed to the nozzle  22 . Between the two ends the inner hose is protected and supported by the support tube  348  and the outer hose  344 . The support tube is comprised of a bent stainless steel tube and a stainless steel cover plate  368  which is fastened to the support block  350  by threaded fasteners  370 ,  372 ,  374 ,  376 . The support tube  348  in turn is attached to the downstream adapter  354 . The downstream adapter  354  includes a tubular upstream portion  378  and a downstream barbed portion  380 . A flange  382  separates the two portions and acts to limit both the depth of insertion of the barbed portion  380  into an upstream end  382  of the outer hose  344  and the depth of the upstream end  378  into the support tube  348 . The outer hose, made of PVC, extends to its downstream end  384  which receives a barbed upstream end  386 , FIGS. 16 and 27, of the handle  26  of the nozzle. The inner hose is made of silicon especially adapted to carry food product. 
     The support block  350 , FIGS. 21-25, is made of Delrin resin and includes an upper surface  390 , four side walls  392 ,  394 ,  396 ,  398  and a lower surface  400 . Formed in the block is a hole  402  into which is seated the upstream adapter  226 , FIG. 16, and the upstream end  361  of the hose  346 . A lateral hole  404  is formed in the block to receive the pin  364  that locks the upstream adapter in place. Two parallel holes  406 ,  408  are also formed in the block. These receive stainless steel rods  410 ,  412 , FIGS. 16 and 18, which terminate in the support block  350  and support not only the block but also the dispensing conduit  20  including the support tube  348 , the outer hose  344 , the inner hose  346 , the upstream adapter  226 , the downstream adaptor  354 , the handle  26  and the nozzle  22 , in other words, all of the elements shown in FIGS. 16-18 are supported. The rods are retained by two threaded fasteners  416 ,  418 . The threaded fasteners also connect two electrical wires  420 ,  422 , respectively, and appropriate washers  424 ,  426 ,  428 ,  430  are also provided. The electrical wires form an electrical path with the rods  410 ,  412  from the pins  70 ,  72  to the switch  30 . These are all placed in a chamber  414  which is sealed by the plate  368 . The electrical wires extend the electrical path from the rods through the support tube  348 , the downstream adapter  354 , the outer hose  344  and the nozzle handle  26  before terminating at a switch  30  in the handle. The electrical wires parallel the inner hose  346  but are exterior to the inner hose so that food product and the wires never come into contact. Instead, the food path is separate and distinct and so is the electrical path. Furthermore, the electrical wires are sealed so that the conduit  20  can be washed to sanitize the food path and yet no harm comes to the electrical path. 
     Four openings  434 ,  436 ,  438 ,  440  are provided to receive the fasteners  370 ,  372 ,  374 ,  376  for sealing the plate  368  to the top of the block. In addition, an indentation  442  is provided in the bottom of the support block to accommodate the pump adapter  234 , FIG.  10 . 
     The downstream end  384  of the outer hose  344 , attaches to the barbed end  386  of the handle  26 , FIGS. 26 and 27. The nozzle  22  is press fitted to the opposite end of the handle. Integral with the handle is a projection  444  with an opening  446  for receiving the switch  30 . The switch is connected to the wires  420 ,  422  so that a user may activate the dispenser from the handle. The nozzle has a bowl shaped face  450  surrounding a central opening  452  through which the dispensing product flows. The nozzle face may be relatively flat as is the face  454  shown in FIG. 28 or it may be domed as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27. The shape may depend upon the use for which the dispenser is operated. When the dispenser is being used for very thin crust pizza, it has been found that the domed face  450  operates better, since it does not create an attachment through surface tension or otherwise with the surface of the thin crust pizza. It has been found that the flat face may cause the thin pizza dough to adhere to the sauce and the sauce to the nozzle and tear apart when the nozzle is lifted after the pizza sauce is dispensed. 
     Reference is now made to FIGS. 29 and 30 where the bracket  24  is illustrated. The bracket has a rounded front surface  460  and a slanted back surface  462 . A dishlike recessed surface  464  is formed in the top  466  of the bracket and this surface mates with the nozzle. An upstanding post  468  is formed in the middle of the recess. The size of the recess is such that the nozzle  22  may be received and supported. When the nozzle is placed in the recess  464 , the upstanding post  468  is received by the central opening  452 , FIG. 26 of the nozzle and the post acts as a plug to prevent or control any leakage from the nozzle. A shoulder  469  is formed in the post for this purpose. As can be seen, the bracket is centrally located on the front slanted wall  34 , FIG. 2 of the base, which wall has the same slant as the back surface  462  of the bracket so that mating may occur. This is done for the convenience of the operator and provides the ergonomically beneficial feature of placing the nozzle handle in a convenient location to be gripped by the operator. The nozzle handle  26  is positioned close to the operator and near to the pizza dough on which pizza sauce is to be dispensed. 
     To facilitate removal of the bracket for cleaning, there are two projections, such as the post  470 , mounted to the front wall  34  of the base. Two post openings  472 ,  474  are formed in the slanted back face of the bracket which allows the bracket to be mounted on the posts simply by aligning the openings with the posts and pressing downwardly toward the front wall of the base. The opposite motion removes the bracket from the slanted wall. The operator merely grips the bracket and moves the bracket at an angle of about 45 degrees from a reference horizontal, such as a counter on which the dispensing apparatus is placed. The bracket may be formed of Delrin while the posts are stainless steel. Again, it can be appreciated how easy it is to disassemble and clean parts of the apparatus and then reassemble them quickly and easily. 
     The nozzle  22  may also be mounted to an arm  476 , FIG. 31, which is movable in a linear and/or a rotatable fashion. The arm may also be mounted to move vertically by any suitable arrangement shown diagrammatically at  477 . A rotating platform  478  may also be used. The pizza dough may be placed on the platform to be rotated while the arm may simply be moved back and forth. In this fashion the dispensing process may be automated and the movable arm or the arm in combination with the platform may cause the nozzle to move over the pizza dough in a predetermined pattern. After completion of the sauce dispensing, the nozzle may be lifted and returned to the bracket  24 . 
     As mentioned earlier, there is a unique electrical path used in the present invention to allow the nozzle  22  and the conduit  20  to be easily removed and washed. And, this is true even though the nozzle hose  344  and support block  350  contain electrical elements which are generally incompatible with immersion in water. As explained above, power emanates from a wall socket through the electrical cord  110  to the control circuitry  66  and from there to the motor  46 , the switch  32  on the front wall of the base  12  and the switch  30  in the nozzle handle  26 . To connect the switch in the nozzle handle there must be an electrical path. This path from inside the base  12  terminates in the pins  70 ,  72  which then project from the right side wall  40  of the base. The inner and outer housings  138 ,  140  of the pump are removably connected to the base and two horizontal openings  212 ,  214  in the inner housing  138  of the pump receive the pins such that they are physically exposed in the vertically disposed cylindrical openings  154 ,  156  also in the inner housing  138 . The two rods  410 ,  412  connected to the support block, when inserted into the vertical openings, make physical contact with the pins. Since both the pins and the rods are formed of stainless steel, which are good electrical conductors, the electrical path extends from the pins to the rods. Hence, the rods both support the dispensing conduit and also become part of the electrical path. The wires  420 ,  422  are attached to the upper ends of the rods and extend from the upper portion of the support block through the nozzle hose to the nozzle handle. The switch is mounted in the nozzle handle and is connected to the wires. The wires are sealed against water, as are all other electrically related components except the stainless steel pins and rods. 
     The front wall  34  of the base  12 , FIG. 1, includes a control panel comprising a series of switches. For example, there are four control panel switches  480 ,  482 ,  484 ,  486  on the left side of the front wall and four control switches  488 ,  490 ,  492 ,  32  on the right side of the front wall. The switches on the left determine the basic quantity of pizza sauce to be dispensed. For example, there may be an “S” switch  480  to dispense sauce for a “small” pizza, an “M” switch  482  for a medium size pizza, an “L” switch  484  for a large pizza and an “X” switch  486  for an extra large pizza. In all cases the precise amount of pizza sauce for each of the sizes is predetermined and programmed into the control circuitry so that when the motor is activated, it will rotate the predetermined number of revolutions and then stop. For example, it may be predetermined that 163¼ revolutions of the motor will cause the pump to dispense two cups of sauce which may be the right amount of sauce for a large pizza as determined by the operator of the apparatus. 
     The switches on the right may control such features as extra sauce, switch  488  (and labeled “+”), less sauce, switch  490  (and labeled “−”), a cycle start, switch  32  (and labeled “C”) and initial set up, switch  492  (and labeled “*”). During set up, motor revolutions for each pizza size are programmed into the control circuitry. The number of extra revolutions or a percentage for more sauce and the number of revolutions or percentage to be subtracted for less sauce may also be programmed into the control circuitry. The number of revolutions added or subtracted are from the number of revolutions programmed for each size pizza and determined by the S, M, L and X switches. 
     For thin crust pizza, it has been found that a suitable pizza is created when the motor dispenses a half cup of sauce for a small pizza, a full cup for a medium pizza, a cup and a half for a large pizza and two cups for an extra large pizza. An extra large pizza has a diameter of eighteen inches, a large size pizza has a diameter of sixteen inches, a medium size pizza has a diameter of twelve inches and a small pizza has a diameter of ten inches. Depressing the “extra” switch causes the motor to revolve an additional twenty-five percent more revolutions than the programmed number based on size. Depressing the “less” switch will subtract twenty-five percent of the number of revolutions from the predetermined amount based on size. Pressing the cycle start switch causes the control circuitry to reset in anticipation of new instructions from the operator. 
     The control circuitry may include a programmable microprocessor of the type commonly available. A suitable microprocessor is GE Programmable Logic Controllers and may be purchased from Powermation, located in Illinois and Minnesota. As explained, the microprocessor is programmed with the number of motor revolutions for each of four sized pizzas. Thus, when a signal is received from one of the four switches  480 ,  482 ,  484  and  486 , the motor, upon activation of the “cycle” switch  32  or the switch  30  on the nozzle handle will proceed to rotate the number of predetermined revolutions. If the “extra” or “less” switch  488 ,  490  is also depressed, then more or less revolutions will occur. Each switch is illuminated and is sold by Newark Electronics for MGR Industries, Inc. 
     In operation, the dispensing apparatus is first calibrated. This is done by an operator who meters sauce into a measuring cup, the amount of sauce he/she normally uses for each pizza size. In some cases an experienced operator may “eyeball” the amount to be used. In others the operator has already determined the exact amounts. After the pump is primed, the operator momentarily depresses a pizza size switch on the left, “S”, “M”, “L” or “X”, and the “set up” switch  492  on the right. Then he/she depresses the “cycle” switch  32  (or the nozzle switch  30 ) while a cup or other container is filled to the desired level. These operations program the apparatus. The same technique is used to calibrate the “extra” or “less” operations. There is a light associated with each switch so that the operator is informed which switches have been depressed. 
     Once calibration is completed, an operator places a disk of pizza dough in front of the base, lifts the nozzle from the bracket by the nozzle handle and brings the nozzle to a position just above the disk of pizza dough. The operator begins dispensing sauce by pressing the appropriate size switch and the cycle switch either on the nozzle handle or on the front wall of the base. The amount dispensed is determined by revolutions of the impeller which in turn is directly tied to the number of revolutions of the motor shaft. The number of revolutions of the motor shaft is predetermined by the user. Once the motor has rotated the predetermined number of revolutions, the motor will stop automatically. During the time that the motor is rotating, the operator will move the nozzle about the pizza dough to spread the sauce evenly over the dough. When the operator is finished, he/she replaces the nozzle into the bracket and the pizza dough with the sauce is moved to another station, or other ingredients are brought to the same station and deposited on the pizza. Thereafter, the pizza is baked in an oven until finished. 
     The specification describes in detail several embodiments of the present invention. Other modifications and variations will under the doctrine of equivalents come within the scope of the appended claims. Various types of containers of food to be dispensed may be used. A large plastic bucket is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, however, food to be dispensed may be packaged in soft sided resin packages. The specific shape of the base may be varied as a function of the counter space available or of the packaging of the food to be dispensed as may be the shape of the nozzle. The nozzle handle may also be modified to the taste of various operators. The apparatus may also be used to deposit sauce on food items beside pizza. Still other alternatives will also be equivalent as will many new technologies. There is no desire or intension here to limit in any way the application of the doctrine of equivalents.