Abstract:
A controlled dose dispensing valve has two miniature poppet valves that are activated by the movement of a piston in a valve chamber to control the inward and outward flow of a liquid product into and from the valve. By adjusting the travel of the piston, the amount of liquid forced from the chamber is adjusted. The portion size is determined by adjusting the piston travel to the portion size desired. This is accomplished by adjusting the rotational position of a plunger so that one of several shoulders on the stem of a piston activating plunger is either blocked by or moved free of an interfering abutment along the plunger&#39;s path of movement.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority from the provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/645,539 filed Jan. 19, 2005 in the name of Gerard F. Goepfert, Raymond S. Zuckerman and Bradley M. Seames entitled “Systems and Methods for Dispensing Controlled Portions” incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to dispensers of liquid or semi-liquid food products, and more particularly to such a dispenser providing measured dosing of the disposed product.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various types of product dispensers are used in convenience stores, fast food restaurants, coffee shops, convenience stores and the like for dispensing liquid or semi-liquid (which is to say Favorable viscous) food products (together “product”), such as, without limitation, milk for coffee cream, half and half, creamer flavorings and various condiments. Typically, a product to be dispensed is stored in a disposable bag, which is attached to a dispensing valve that has an outlet extending out of the product dispenser. When connected, a user may dispense product by pressing an actuator of the dispensing valve that permits product to flow through the valve and out of the outlet.  
         [0004]     In most cases, product dispensers are gravity fed. In other words, the dispensing valve simply opens a flow path between the product bag and the outlet port, which permits gravity to move product along the flow path. As a result, as long as the actuator is activated and there is product remaining in the dispenser, product will continue to flow out of the dispenser. This may lead to undesirable consequences, such as making it difficult for a user to control how much product should be dispensed, because the only way a user will get a desired amount of product is by correctly timing how long he or she activates the actuator. The business proprietor may want a consistent, controlled dosage as well, to avoid waste and control cost.  
         [0005]     Thus, it is desired that a product dispenser dispense a predetermined measured amount of product each time the dispenser is activated.  
         [0006]     It is also desired that a user or business proprietor be able to select one out of a plurality of various predetermined measured amounts of product to be dispensed when the dispenser is activated.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     The present invention relates to disposable portion control dispensing valves to dispense liquid products (e.g., creamers, syrups, milk, etc.). These are used with a refrigerated or non-refrigerated dispensers for dispensing from above-counter or below-counter stores of product. An example of a suitable dispenser from an above-counter product store can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,186,361 of Teetsel entitled “Liquid Dispenser” and issued Feb. 13, 2001, incorporated herein by reference. An example of a suitable dispenser from a below-counter product store can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/613,973 of Goepfert entitled “Under Counter Dispenser,” and filed Jun. 3, 2003, incorporated herein by reference. The valves are designed to adjust and dispense varying amounts of liquids, such as ¼ oz., ⅜ oz. &amp; ½ oz. doses.  
         [0008]     In general, the preferred embodiments of the portion control dispensing valve comprise two miniature poppet valves that are activated by the movement of a piston in a valve chamber to control the inward and outward flow of a liquid product into and from the valve. By adjusting the travel of the piston, the amount of liquid forced from the chamber is adjusted. The portion size is determined by adjusting the piston travel to the portion size desired. This is accomplished by adjusting the rotational position of a plunger so that one of several shoulders on the stem of a piston activating plunger is either blocked by or moved free of an interfering abutment along the plunger&#39;s path of movement.  
         [0009]     The portion control valve has attached to its inflow aperture a connector suitable to be inserted irremovably into sterile (aseptic) and non-sterile dairy or non-dairy liquid-containing poly-bag fitments. When inserted into the poly-bag fitment, the specially designed connector penetrates the fitment&#39;s protective foil closure and locks into a non-removable, leak proof position. The locking prevents the portion control valve from being removed from the dairy bag and reused.  
         [0010]     The portion control valve can be manually operated by pressing the plunger or electronically operated through the use of motorized activation. The manually operated plunger is spring loaded and interlocks with the portion control valve piston. The plunger is used to activate the piston inside the portion control valve. When the plunger head is pushed the portion control valve piston moves forward in its chamber opening the outflow poppet and dispensing the liquid product. As the plunger is released the spring returns the plunger to its most outward position. As the plunger returns it pulls the portion control valve piston. Backwards movement of the piston creates a vacuum or partial vacuum within the cylinder. That opens the inflow poppet and liquid product is drawn into the portion control valve&#39;s chamber. By pushing the plunger the entire process is repeated until the liquid product is exhausted. The electronically operated, motorized portion control valve will perform dispensing exactly as the manually operated valve. The electronic, motorized portion control valve plunger and piston movement is activated and controlled electronically through the use of a button switch and servo motor, for example. In either design, the plunger and the mechanism to activate the plunger (manual or electronic) are retained as permanent re-usable, non-food-contacting parts of the dispensing hardware device. Every food contacting part is designed to be disposed of with the exhausted bag to which it is attached.  
         [0011]     This disposable portion control valve is unique in that the dosage sizes and valve sizes are variable as desired. Its dose can be altered for various liquid products such as milk, cream, half-and-half, flavorings and beverages. Designed to be disposable, it provides for food safety where liquid product is susceptible to spoilage. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     The drawings and the associated descriptions are provided to illustrate embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Throughout the drawings, reference numbers are reused to indicate correspondence between referenced elements.  
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic front view of a dispenser in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 2  is a side perspective view of a valve assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a fragmentary perspective view of an interior portion of a product bag fitment and bag;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view of the valve assembly of  FIG. 2  showing a valve sliding into a housing;  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of housing and plunger assembly portions of the valve assembly of  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a front perspective view of the housing portion of the valve with the plunger portion removed;  
         [0019]      FIG. 7  is an exploded side view of the plunger and a coupler;  
         [0020]      FIG. 8  is a fragmentary bottom view of the plunger partially pushed into the housing portion of the valve assembly;  
         [0021]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the valve engaged with a slide in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional side view of the valve and slide of  FIG. 9 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the valve and slide of  FIG. 9 ; and  
         [0024]      FIG. 12  is a fragmentary perspective view of the housing of  FIG. 6  with the plunger of  FIG. 7  inserted through a collar of the housing. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0025]     As seen in  FIG. 1 a  typical consumable liquid dispenser  100  has a surface  102  to support a cup  104  to dispense one of a number of products into the cup. The products are dispensed from internal flexible product-containing bags  106  through a series of valve assemblies  108  operated by the depressible heads  110  of a series of valve operating plungers. Dispensers like the dispenser  100  as shown in  FIG. 1  are common place and are used widely for dispensing cream, milk or other flavorings or products into coffee or tea, for example.  
         [0026]     In accordance with a preferred and exemplary embodiment of the present invention, portion control is achieved in valve assemblies like those illustrated at  108  in  FIG. 1 . A valve assembly  108  in accordance with the invention is shown in  FIG. 2 . A plunger head  110  is shown at an outwardly extended position at the left in  FIG. 2 . A housing  111  is adapted to be slid into place and secured by conventional means (not shown) on a dispenser like the dispenser  100  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . A front surface  112  of the upper, product bag containing portion of the dispenser  100  may be equipped to swing open allowing replacement of the bags  106  upon exhaustion and removal and replacement of the valve assemblies  108 . As seen in both FIGS.  1  and  2  the valve assemblies  108  have spouts  114  of the nature of plastic tubes opening downward from the valve assemblies. These communicate with the interior of a valve  116  an upper portion of which can be seen in  FIG. 2  and as described more fully below. The valve  116  has an upwardly projecting intake connector  118  designed to interact with a fitment  122  on a conventional flexible bag  106  as partly illustrated in  FIG. 3 . The fitment  122  is conventional and has a circular opening sealed by a portion of thin foil  124  that is penetrated by the intake projection  118 . The bag  106  and its fitment  102  are commercially available from Scholle Corporation of Chicago, Ill. Resilient plastic barbs  126  on the sides of the connector  118  are forced inward as the connector is inserted in an opening through the fitment  122 . These spring outward and lock the connector  118  irremovably to the fitment upon insertion of the connector  118  into the interior of the bag  106 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4  the valve  116  drops into place in the assembly housing  111 . Once a bag  106  is exhausted the bag and its attached valve  116  are discarded. In this way no liquid-contacting part of the bag or valve is re-employed and no remnants of spoiling liquid can contaminate liquid being dispensed from a fresh bag. The need to carefully clean the permanent parts of the dispenser is greatly reduced.  
         [0027]     In the exploded view of  FIG. 5 a  plunger stem  132  can be seen affixed to the plunger head  110 . The stem  132  extends into and through a cylindrical collar  134  and the end of a coil spring  136  fits into the collar  134  and engages a shoulder  138  formed in the interior at the end of the collar closest to the plunger head  110 . The farther end of the spring  136  extends into a further collar  140  that also telescopically accepts the first-mentioned collar  138 . Within the collar  140  the inserted spring end abuts a further circular shoulder  142  best seen in  FIG. 6 . As best seen in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the telescoping collars  134  and  140  serve to mask the contained spring  136  and plunger stem  132 . Returning to  FIG. 5 , it can be seen that the plunger stem  132  ends in small, square foot  143  set off by slots  144 - 147 . A coupler  150  best illustrated in  FIG. 7  has a pair of inward facing slots  152  and  153  to receive the foot  143  with the plunger stem rotationally oriented in one of four directions. The coupler  150 &#39;s purpose is two fold. Installed on the foot  143  of the plunger stem  132 , as seen best in  FIG. 8 , its flanges  154  engage the interior surface  156  of the housing  110  and prevent the plunger being forced from the housing  110  by the bias of spring  136 . Also, when the valve  116  is moved into place as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , with the coupling  150  pushed slightly inward into alignment with a pair of housing slots  160  and  162  as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the coupler  150  joins the plunger to a piston  182  in the valve  116 . A valve piston&#39;s external surface  164  ( FIG. 9 ) is formed with a pair of tabs  166  and  168 . These serve to couple to the plunger foot  150 . The tabs  166  and  168  of  FIG. 9  slip into a pair of outward facing slots  170  and  172  on the coupler  150  as best seen in  FIG. 8 . To slide the valve  116  into place an upwardly extending and manually engageable slide  174  permits the valve  116  to be held and moved into and out of place as shown in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0028]     The internal workings of the valve  116  are best understood with respect to  FIG. 10 . A main body  178  of the valve defines a chamber  180 . A piston  182  is slidable within the chamber and is sealed around its periphery by an O ring  184 . It is the outer face of this piston  182  that carries the pair of tabs  166  and  168  that connect with the coupling  150 . When the plunger head  110  is pushed inward, the piston  182  moves to the left in  FIG. 10 . With a liquid filled flexible bag  106  attached to the connector  118 , when the piston  182  is retracted to its position shown in  FIG. 10  by the spring  136  acting on the plunger head  110 , liquid from a bag  106  is drawn into and through the connector  118  past a first poppet valve  186  and into the chamber  180 . In other words, retraction of the piston  182  towards its position illustrated in  FIG. 10  (the compression release position) produces a vacuum or partial vacuum (i.e. reduced pressure) within the chamber  180 . The pressure differential across a poppet  188  drives that poppet and its ring seal  190  away from its seat  192  against the bias of the poppet&#39;s spring  194 . Liquid, of course, flows from the bag into the connector  118  past the poppet  188  into the chamber  180 . When the plunger head  110  is again pushed in to drive the piston  182  leftward in  FIG. 10  to a compression position, a second poppet valve  196  opens and liquid is dispensed past that poppet valve and through an outlet channel  198  communicating with a spout  114  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In other words, forcing the piston  182  to the left in  FIG. 10  by depressing the plunger head  110  increases the pressure within the chamber  180 . The pressure differential across the poppet  100  forces the poppet and the poppet&#39;s ring seal  102  away from a seat  104  against the bias of the spring  106 , allowing liquid to be forced from the chamber  180  to a waiting cup, for example.  
         [0029]     The amount of liquid dispensed is controlled by limiting the travel of the valve piston  182 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 7  the stem  132  of the plunger is cruciform in section. It has four elongate ribs  200 - 203 . Two of these ribs,  200  and  202 , have enlarged ends  206  and  208  that form shoulders  210  and  212 , respectively, at different locations along the length of the stem  132 .  
         [0030]     Returning now to  FIG. 6 , it will be seen that within the collar  140  formed on the housing  111  is a cylindrical projection  216  broken by three lengthwise slots  218 ,  219  and  220 . As seen in  FIG. 6 , the slots are at nine o&#39;clock, six o&#39;clock and three o&#39;clock. There is no slot at twelve o&#39;clock.  
         [0031]      FIG. 12  shows the plunger in place in the collar  140  but with the collar  134  and spring  136  removed for clarity. It will be seen that the narrower lengths of the ribs  200  and  202  fit within the interior of the cylindrical projection  216 . The enlarged rib portions  206  and  208  do not, however. The shoulder  210  of the enlarged rib portion  206  has engaged the unslotted twelve o&#39;clock location on the cylinder  216 . This limits the travel of the plunger. The travel of the internal piston  182  ( FIG. 10 ) will likewise be limited and a volume of liquid less than the full volume of the chamber  180  will be dispensed as a result.  
         [0032]     Similarly, the piston of  FIG. 12  can be rotated 180 degrees before being coupled to the piston  182  of the internal valve  116 . The shoulder  212  of the enlarged rib portion  208  will then engage the twelve o&#39;clock location on the cylindrical projection  216 . In that case the enlarged rib section  206  will simply extend into the slot at twelve o&#39;clock in  FIG. 6 . and move inward until the shoulder  212  engages the edge of the cylindrical projection  216 . Finally, rotated 90 degrees in either direction, the head  110  of the plunger can be fully depressed to the collar  140  representing a full throw of the valve piston  182  of  FIG. 10 , since both enlarged rib portions  206  and  208  and their shoulder  210  and  212  are now aligned with the slots  218  and  220  and move freely past the end of the cylindrical projection  216 . Consequently three volumetric portions can be set by the positioning of the plunger in the exemplary embodiment here described.  
         [0033]     It will be seen, then, that a disposable, variable portion dispensing valve has been provided. Relocation of the shoulders  210  and  212  along the length of the plunger stem permits other measured amounts of liquid to be dispensed as desired. Additional plunger stem shoulders and slots in the cylindrical projection can afford a greater number of portion choices. Activation of the plunger by a solenoid, not shown, will be within the skill of the ordinarily skilled artisan.  
         [0034]     Rotation of the collar  140  and its slotted cylindrical projection may be readily accomplished as an alternative means of setting portion amount. That can also be accomplished automatically by use of known servo controls, stepper motors or the like.  
         [0035]     While a preferred and exemplary embodiment has been described here, it will be appreciated that various modifications, alterations and the like are possible within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 
        We claim: