Abstract:
A dispenser for dispensing food products at an elevated temperature includes a housing for supporting and heating a container of food product located within the housing and a pump for moving the food product from the container to a location external to the housing. One or more actuators are operatively connected to the pump and are selectively configurable to operate the pump in a first momentary state for dispensing the food product while the actuator is actuated and a second timed state for dispensing the food product for a predetermined period of time. An interlock device is provided to disable the pump when the housing is opened.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to fluid dispensers and, more particularly, to a dispenser for dispensing viscous food products at an elevated temperature. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Dispensers for dispensing various food products at an elevated temperature are known. These dispensers are typically found at restaurants, convenience stores and concession stands for dispensing cheese sauces, ice cream toppings, syrups, chili or other food products. Typically, these types of food products do not flow well at room temperature so the dispenser is designed to heat and maintain the food product at an elevated temperature, thereby increasing the flow capability of the food product. The food product may be pre-packaged in a flexible bag or pouch having an elongated flexible hose through which the food product is dispensed from a discharge end of the hose. The pouch is heated within the dispenser by heated air circulated within the dispenser and a pump is provided in the dispenser to move the food product from the pouch to the discharge end of the hose located external to the dispenser. 
         [0003]    Dispensers of this type are typically configured with a single button located on a housing of the dispenser to operate the pump only while the button is depressed and maintained depressed by the user. Alternatively, the dispenser may be configured to operate the pump for a predetermined period of time when the single button is initially depressed by the user. 
         [0004]    One of the drawbacks of such a dispenser is that the dispenser is configured for only one type of dispensing operation, i.e., the dispenser is configured to only operate when the user depresses and maintains depression of the single button or, alternatively, the dispenser is configured to only dispense food product for a predetermined period of time when the button is initially depressed. The dispenser can only be configured to operate in one of these two modes of operation at a given time. If a change in the mode of operation of the dispenser is desired, the user must reconfigure the dispenser for the desired mode of operation which is thereafter fixed until the dispenser is yet again reconfigured. 
         [0005]    While this type of the dispenser may be well suited for a particular dispensing environment in which only one or the other mode of operation is desired, it is typically not convenient for dispensing environments that require different volumes of food product to be dispensed from the dispenser at different times. 
         [0006]    For example, the timed operation of the pump may be well suited to dispense cheese onto a hot dog, but the single button may need to be depressed multiple times by the user to fill a cheese cup for nachos, for example. This requires extra time and attention by the user which may be at a premium during busy times. If the dispenser is configured to dispense food product only when the button is depressed and maintained depressed by the user, the user is required to remain at the dispenser until the desired volume of food product is dispensed. This does not allow the user to perform other tasks that may be required at the same time. 
         [0007]    Accordingly, there is a need for a dispenser for dispensing viscous food products at an elevated temperature that is readily suitable for various dispensing requirements. 
         [0008]    There is also a need for such a dispenser that minimizes the attention required by the user to dispense food product in desired volume from the dispenser. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention overcomes the foregoing and other shortcomings and drawbacks of dispensers for dispensing viscous food products heretofore known. While the invention will be described in connection with certain embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, the invention includes all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0010]    In accordance with principles of the present invention, a dispenser is provided for dispensing viscous food product at an elevated temperature from the dispenser. In one embodiment, the dispenser includes a substantially enclosed housing that defines a heated internal cavity for heating and supporting a container of viscous food product located within the housing. The container may comprise a flexible bag or pouch that has an elongated flexible hose through which the food product is dispensed from a discharge end of the hose. A fan and heater are provided in the dispenser to circulate heated air within the internal cavity to heat the food product within the container. 
         [0011]    The dispenser includes a pump that is configured to move the food product from the container to a location external to the enclosed housing. In one embodiment, the pump is a peristaltic pump having a rotor with pinch rollers that contact and pinch the flexible hose to move the food product toward the discharge end of the tube. When the pump is stopped, the pinch rollers sufficiently block the flow of food product through the flexible hose so that food product is not dispensed from the dispenser. 
         [0012]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the dispenser includes a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to the pump. One of the actuators is configured to operate the pump in a momentary state for dispensing the food product while the actuator is maintained actuated by the user and another of the actuators is configured to operate the pump in a timed state for dispensing the food product for a predetermined period of time. In this way, the dispenser is configured to readily operate in either mode of operation depending on which actuator is actuated by the user. 
         [0013]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the dispenser includes a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to the pump. One of the actuators is configured to operate the pump in a timed state for a first predetermined period of time and another of the actuators is configured to operate the pump in the timed state for a second predetermined period of time. In this way, the dispenser may be programmed to dispense different volumes of food product for different dispensing requirements with minimal attention by the user. 
         [0014]    In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, the dispenser includes an interlock device to stop the operation of pump when a front door of the dispenser is opened. In one embodiment, the interlock device comprises a magnetically operated switch mounted on the housing and a cooperating magnet located on the door. When the door is opened, the magnetically operated switch is actuated to stop and prevent operation of pump. When the door is closed, the magnetically operated switch is actuated to permit operation of the pump. 
         [0015]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be made apparent from the accompanying drawings and the description thereof. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0016]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a dispenser for dispensing viscous food product at an elevated temperature in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a front elevational view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 , showing dispenser opened; 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of the dispenser shown in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a control system for operating the dispenser of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0021]    Referring now to the Figures, a dispenser  10  for dispensing viscous food products at an elevated temperature is shown in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. Dispenser  10  includes a substantially enclosed housing  12  having a base  14 , a pair of vertical side walls  16 , rear wall  17 , a top wall  18 , and a hinged front door  20 . The housing  12  may be made of a washable, food-grade plastic or other suitable material. As will be described in greater detail below, the housing  12  defines a heated internal cavity  22  for heating a container  24  of food product located within the housing  12 . 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the container  24  of food product may comprise a flexible pouch or bag known to those skilled in the art for containing the food product therein and an elongated flexible hose or discharge tube  26  in fluid communication with the pouch  24 . By way of example, the food product may comprise a cheese sauce, ice cream topping, syrup, chili or other viscous food product that generally congeals or is otherwise resistant to flow until it is heated above room temperature. 
         [0023]    A receptacle  28 , such as an inclined shelf by way of example as shown in  FIG. 3 , is provided within the internal cavity  22  and is configured to support the pouch  24  with a front end of the pouch  24  inclined downwardly relative to the rear end of the pouch  24 . In this way, the food product within the pouch  24  is urged by gravity through an opening in the front end of the pouch  24  and toward the flexible hose  26  when the food product is heated to an elevated temperature. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, the receptacle  28  includes an inclined bottom wall  30 , a generally vertical front wall  32 , and an elongated slot  34  formed in the front wall  32 . When the flexible pouch  24  is supported on or in the receptacle  28 , the flexible hose  26  passes through the slot  34  and extends downwardly from the front end of the pouch  24  as shown in  FIG. 2 . While the container  24  is described and illustrated herein as comprising a flexible bag or pouch in one embodiment, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the container  24  may take many other forms without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the container  24  may comprise a generally rigid reservoir or other container structure into which the viscous food product is poured or, alternatively, into which the food product is pre-packaged and placed within the internal cavity  22 . Moreover, the receptacle  28  may take many other forms in other embodiments, such as a tray by way of example, and so is not limited to an inclined shelf as shown and described herein. In one embodiment, the receptacle  28  may be made of metal or other suitable thermally conductive material so as to conduct heat to the pouch  24  as will be described in detail below. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dispenser  10  may include a second receptacle  36  located above the receptacle  28 . In one embodiment, the second receptacle  36  may comprise a slidable tray having a bottom wall  38 , a front wall  40 , a rear wall  42  and a pair of side walls  44  by way of example. The second receptacle  36  may be provided to support a second replacement container  46  of food product so that the second container  46  is also heated within the housing  12 . The second receptacle  36  may also be used to support other food products within the housing  12 . 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the dispenser  10  includes a fan  48  ( FIG. 3 ) mounted to the rear wall  17  of the housing  12  and a heater (not shown) associated with the fan  48 . The fan  48  is located beneath the receptacle  28  and circulates heated air within the internal cavity  22  to heat the containers  24  and  46  and a substantial length of the flexible hose  26 . In this way, the food product may be maintained at an elevated temperature within the pouches  24  and  46  and generally to near the distal or discharge end  50  of the hose  26 . 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the dispenser  10  includes a pump  52  for moving the food product from the pouch  24  to the discharge end  50  of the flexible hose  26 . In one embodiment, the pump  52  is a peristaltic pump having a pump housing  54 , a rotor  56  ( FIG. 2 ) and a motor  58  ( FIG. 3 ) for rotating the rotor  56 . The pump housing  54  includes two components  60   a  and  60   b  that form a stator. The first pump component  60   a  is stationary while the second pump component  60   b  is mounted to slide toward and away from the rotor  56 . 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the flexible hose  26  is positioned between the slidable second pump component  60   b  and the rotor  56  as shown in  FIG. 2 , with the discharge end  50  of the hose  26  extending downwardly from the pump  52  and external to the housing  12 . The rotor  56  includes a plurality of pinch rollers  62  ( FIG. 2 ) that are spaced circumferentially around the rotor  56 . As the rotor  56  is rotated by the motor  58 , the pinch rollers  62  contact and pinch the flexible hose  26  to move the food product toward the discharge end  50  of the hose  26 . When the pump  52  is stopped, the pinch rollers  62  sufficiently block the flow of food product through the flexible hose  26  so that food product is not dispensed from the dispenser  10 . The flexible hose  26  may be removed from the pump  52  by moving the second pump component  60   b  away from the rotor  56 . When the container  24  is replaced, the flexible hose  26  of the new or replacement container  24  is inserted between the second pump component  60   b  and the rotor  56  and the second pump component  60   b  is then moved toward the rotor  56  so that the pinch rollers  62  contact the flexible hose  26 . One peristaltic pump configuration suitable for use in the device  10  is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,803,317 and 6,003,733, each disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. While a peristaltic pump is shown and described herein, it will be appreciated that other types of pumps well known to those of ordinary skill in the art are possible as well. 
         [0029]    In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a control system  64  ( FIG. 4 ) is provided to operate the pump  52  to discharge food product through the flexible hose  26 . The control system  64  includes a controller  66 , multiple buttons  68   a - c  ( FIG. 2 ) and multiple dip switches  70   a - c  that define various actuation settings or operations of the pump  52  in response to actuation of the buttons  68   a - c.  In one embodiment, manually depressable buttons  72   a - c  are provided on the front door  20  of the housing  12  that engage and actuate the buttons  68   a - c  when the buttons  72   a - c  on the front door  20  are depressed. 
         [0030]    The controller  66  may take many forms and may comprise a digital, analog or digital/analog controller as will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The dip switches  70   a - c  is associated with each of the respective buttons  68   a - c  and are individually settable to define a different operation of the pump  52  when any one of the buttons  72   a - c  is depressed. While dip switches  70   a - c  is described herein in one embodiment, it will be appreciated that other setting devices are possible as well. 
         [0031]    In one embodiment, one or more of the dip switches  70   a,    70   b  and/or  70   c  may be set so that the pump  52  will operate in a momentary state to discharge food product from the discharge end  50  of the flexible hose  26  only while the button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  is depressed. The pump  52  will be actuated only while the user maintains depression of the button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  so that a variable volume of food product may be dispensed depending on how long the button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  is depressed. When the button  72   a,    72   b  and or  72   c  are released, the pump  52  will stop operating to stop dispensing of food product from the dispenser  10 . 
         [0032]    One or more of the dip switches  70   a - c  may also be set so that the pump  52  will operate in a timed state to discharge food product from the discharge end  50  of the flexible hose  26  for a predetermined period of time following depression of the button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c.  Each of the dip switches  70   a - c  may be individually set so that the predetermined period of time varies for each of the buttons  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c.  The controller  66  may include a timer that controls the predetermined period of time set for one or more of the buttons  72   a - c.  The pump  52  will be actuated for the predetermined period of time upon depression and release of the button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  so that different volumes of food product may be dispensed from the dispenser  12  depending on which button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  is depressed. 
         [0033]    In one embodiment, one of the dip switches  70   a,    70   b  or  70   c  may be set to operate the pump  52  in a momentary state, while the other dip switches  70   a,    70   b  and/or  70   c  may be set to operate the pump  52  in the timed state, with each timed state being different for each button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c.  For example, one of the buttons  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  may be set to operate the pump  52  in a momentary state to fill a cheese cup with a predetermined volume of cheese, the second button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  may be set to operate the pump  52  for a relatively short period of time for dispensing a proper volume of cheese onto a hot dog and the third button  72   a,    72   b  and/or  72   c  may be set to a operate the pump for a longer period of time for dispensing a proper volume of cheese onto nacho chips. In this way, the user is able to configure the dispenser  10  at one time to provide various operations of the pump  52  to optimize use of the dispenser  10  for different dispensing requirements. Moreover, the attention required of the user is minimized for each type of dispensing operation. 
         [0034]    In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the dispenser  10  includes an interlock device  74  ( FIGS. 2 and 4 ) to stop the operation of pump  52  when the front door  20  is opened. In one embodiment, the interlock device  74  comprises a magnetically operated switch  76  ( FIG. 2 ) mounted on the housing  12  and a cooperating magnet  78  ( FIG. 2 ) located on the front door  20 . When the door  20  is opened, the magnetically operated switch  76  is actuated to stop and prevent operation of pump  52 . When the door  20  is closed, the magnetically operated switch  76  is actuated to permit operation of the pump  52 . While a magnetically operated switch  76  is described herein in one embodiment, it will be appreciated that other types of interlock devices are possible as well. A second pair of magnets  80   a,    80   b  ( FIG. 2 ) are provided on the door  20  and housing  12 , respectively, to facilitate closing of the door  20 . 
         [0035]    While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit or scope of applicants&#39; general inventive concept.