Food dispenser with removable module

Abstract

To provide a food dispenser which is inexpensive, compact, low in noise during operation, and small in power consumption.SOLUTION: The food dispenser includes a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit. The dispensing unit includes a product reservoir configured to store the food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly including a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to convey the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] [CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 985,142, filed March 4, 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to food dispensers, and more particularly to temperature controlled food dispensing machines for dispensing consumable food or beverage products such as whipped toppings.

[0003] Existing dispensers for whipped products (e.g., whipped cream or other aerated emulsions) include a product reservoir containing the liquid product to be whipped, a whip assembly (such as a static mixer / aerator rod), and a drive mechanism (such as a motor / pump or pressurized gas source) configured to move the product from the product reservoir through the whip assembly to form the whipped product, which is then dispensed through a nozzle for use.

[0004] For food safety reasons, the product reservoir and downstream components that come into contact with the product must be maintained at a sufficiently low temperature. Accordingly, conventional dispensers include internal refrigeration systems to keep the product and other components cool. However, these refrigeration systems increase the cost, size, operating noise, and energy consumption of the dispenser. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one aspect, the present invention provides a food dispenser including a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, the dispensing unit including a product reservoir configured to store the food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly including a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to convey the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.

[0006] In another aspect, the present invention provides a food dispenser including a drive unit and a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, the dispensing unit including a product reservoir configured to store the food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to convey the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle, the product transfer assembly including a stationary mixing rod upstream of the dispensing nozzle to aerate the food product before it is expelled from the dispensing nozzle.

[0007] In another aspect, the present invention provides a dispensing system including a drive unit and a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units removably coupled to the drive unit, each dispensing unit including a product reservoir configured to store food product, a dispensing nozzle, and a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to transport the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.

[0008] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a food dispenser including a drive unit and a dispensing unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food dispenser of FIG. 1 with a portion of the drive unit housing hidden. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the food dispenser of FIG. 1 illustrating the dispensing unit separated from the drive unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dispensing unit of the food dispenser of FIG. 1. [Figure 5] 2 illustrates a plurality of dispensing units that may be used in conjunction with the food dispenser of FIG. 1 stored in a refrigerator. [Figure 6] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the distribution unit of FIG. 4. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the air intake of the distribution unit taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a pump of the distribution unit taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the product flow path of the distribution unit taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 4. [Figure 10] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a distribution system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0010] Before any embodiments of the invention are described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] 1 illustrates a food dispenser 10 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. Dispenser 10 includes a drive unit 14 and a dispensing unit or module 18 removably coupled to drive unit 14. Dispensing unit 18 includes a product reservoir 20 containing a liquid product to be whipped, a dispensing nozzle 22, and a product transfer assembly or whip assembly 26 configured to be powered by drive unit 14 to move the product from reservoir 20 to dispensing nozzle 22.

[0012] 2 and 3, the illustrated drive unit 14 includes a housing 27, a motor 28 (FIG. 2) supported within the upper portion of the housing 27, and a drive shaft 30 (FIG. 3) driven by the motor 28. The drive shaft 30 engages a drive socket 32 ​​on the whip assembly 26 to provide a rotational input to the whip assembly 26 when the dispensing unit 18 is coupled to the drive unit 14.

[0013] 2, drive unit 14 includes a power supply 33 for powering motor 28. In the illustrated embodiment, power supply 33 is positioned within housing 27 below motor 28, although the relative locations of power supply 33 and motor 28 may vary. Power supply 33 may receive a source of AC power (e.g., from a wall plug) and may include a rectifier that converts the AC to DC power for supply to motor 28. In other embodiments, motor 28 may be an AC motor. In yet other embodiments, power supply 33 may include a battery to enable cordless operation of drive unit 14.

[0014] As described in more detail below, the whip assembly 26 includes an aerator in fluid communication with the product reservoir 20 and a pump (e.g., a gear pump, wiper pump, etc.) driven by a motor 28 (via a drive shaft 30 and a drive socket 32) for drawing product from the product reservoir and forcing it through the aerator to form an aerated or "whipped" product. The aerator communicates with a dispensing nozzle 22 configured to dispense the whipped product.

[0015] In some embodiments, the distribution unit 18 may include a motor 28. In such embodiments, the drive shaft 30 and drive socket 32 ​​may be replaced by an electrical connector. The power source 33 of the drive unit 14 may then power the motor 28 in the distribution unit 18 via the electrical connector to drive the pump when the drive unit 14 is coupled to the distribution unit 18.

[0016] In other embodiments, the drive unit 14 may include a source of pressurized gas, such as a refillable and / or replaceable pressurized gas canister and / or a compressor operable to generate pressurized gas on demand. In such embodiments, the drive shaft 30 and drive socket 32 ​​may be replaced by a pneumatic connector, preferably a quick-release pneumatic connector such as a bayonet fitting. The drive unit 14 may then supply pressurized gas to the dispensing unit 18 to force the liquid product from the product reservoir 20 through the aerator (e.g., by pressurizing the product reservoir 20). Alternatively, the pump may include a rotating impeller, and the pressurized gas may drive the rotating impeller to operate the pump. In yet other embodiments, the pressurized gas may be directed through a venturi to create suction that draws the liquid product from the product reservoir. The liquid product may then be entrained in the flow of pressurized gas and directed through the aerator.

[0017] 3 , the dispensing unit 18 and the drive unit 14 include alignment features 34, 38 (e.g., a non-circular protrusion 34 on the dispensing unit 18 and a correspondingly shaped recess 38 on the drive unit 14, or vice versa) that cooperate to align the dispensing unit 18 and the drive unit 14. The alignment features 34, 38 facilitate connecting the drive shaft 30, electrical connector, or pneumatic connector (all of which may be referred to as energy transfer connectors) on the drive unit 14 to the dispensing unit 18 for driving the whip assembly 26. In the illustrated embodiment, the protrusion 34 and recess 38 are each generally shaped as a parallelogram.

[0018] 4-5 , the dispensing unit 18, including the product reservoir 20, whip assembly 26, and dispensing nozzle 22, can be quickly detached from the drive unit 14 as a single, self-contained assembly. This allows a user to remove the dispensing unit 18 when not in use and store it in a refrigerator 50. Thus, the product and all downstream components that contact the product can be maintained at a safe temperature without the need for a dedicated refrigeration system. This advantageously reduces the size, cost, complexity, energy requirements, and operating noise of the dispenser 10 compared to existing dispensers with on-board refrigeration systems.

[0019] 4-6 , the product reservoir 20 of the dispensing unit 18 is preferably insulated to keep the product contained therein at a suitably low temperature for extended periods of time when the dispensing unit is outside the refrigerator 50. For example, the product reservoir 20 may be a double-walled, vacuum-insulated canister. The product reservoir 20 may be made of stainless steel or any other insulating, food-safe material, including, but not limited to, a plastic material. In some embodiments, the product reservoir 20 may include a heat-conducting area in contact with the interior wall of the product reservoir 20 to enhance cooling of the product within the reservoir 20 when the dispensing unit 18 is placed in the refrigerator 50. In such embodiments, an insulating cover may be provided to cover the heat-conducting area when the product reservoir 20 is removed from the refrigerator 50 for use. In some embodiments, the heat-conducting area may be cooled by ice or a cooling device (such as a thermoelectric cooler) while the dispensing unit 18 is coupled to the drive unit 14.

[0020] In some embodiments, the product reservoir 20 may be a disposable product package, such as a sterile brick package, a plastic or metal foil pouch, or a bag-in-box assembly. Disposable product packages may facilitate changing the type of product dispensed by the dispensing unit 18 without having to clean the product reservoir 20. In any such embodiment, the product reservoir 20 may optionally be insertable into an insulating sleeve or casing.

[0021] 4 and 6, the whip assembly 26 includes a housing 52 that is removably coupled to the product reservoir 20. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 52 includes a protrusion 54 (e.g., a pin) that is received in an L-shaped slot 56 in the product reservoir 20 to removably couple the housing 52 to the product reservoir 20. Thus, the whip assembly 26 can be removed from the product reservoir 20 by rotating the housing 52 relative to the product reservoir 20, which can facilitate cleaning and refilling of the product reservoir 20. In some embodiments, multiple replaceable product reservoirs 20 can be provided, each coupled to the whip assembly 26. In such embodiments, the product reservoirs 20 can have different sizes and / or volumes. In some embodiments, the housing 52 and product reservoir 20 can be coupled together in other ways (e.g., via a threaded connection).

[0022] With continued reference to FIGS. 4 and 6 , the dispensing nozzle 22 is removably coupled to the housing 52. To facilitate sanitary storage of the dispensing unit 18, the dispensing unit 18 may include a sanitary cover (not shown) configured to cover the dispensing nozzle 22. The cover may be held in place by a threaded connection, friction (e.g., a press-fit connection), a retaining pin or ring, or any other suitable means. The cover may be manually removed by a user prior to using the dispensing unit 18, or in some embodiments, the cover may be automatically removed or moved away from the dispensing nozzle 22 in response to coupling the dispensing unit 18 to the drive unit 14 ( FIG. 1 ). In other embodiments, the dispensing nozzle 22 may include an internal gland made of a resilient material such as rubber or silicone. In such embodiments, the gland may be stored within the dispensing nozzle 22 during storage, and the gland may extend from the dispensing nozzle 22 upon activation of the dispensing unit 18 or upon coupling the dispensing unit 18 to the drive unit 14.

[0023] 4 during storage of the dispensing unit 18. In such embodiments, the dispensing nozzle 22 may be inserted into an opening (not shown) in the housing 52 to protect the produce-contacting surface of the dispensing nozzle 22 from dirt or other contaminants during storage of the dispensing unit 18. In such embodiments, the opening in the housing 52 may also provide an air inlet passageway into the product reservoir 20. Insertion of the dispensing nozzle 22 into the opening may both protect the dispensing nozzle 22 from contamination and seal the air inlet passageway to maintain the freshness of the product contained within the product reservoir 20.

[0024] 6-9, the whip assembly 26 includes an aerator 142 (FIGS. 6 and 9) in fluid communication with the dispensing nozzle 22, an air inlet 144 (FIG. 7), and a pump assembly 146 (FIGS. 6 and 8) operable to draw product from the product reservoir 20 and air through the air inlet 144 and force the product and air mixture through the aerator 142. In the illustrated embodiment, an adjustable valve 156 (e.g., a duckbill valve or any other suitable valve) is provided at the air inlet 144 for selectively varying the volume of air being drawn through the air inlet 144 during operation of the pump assembly 146 to provide a desired consistency for the whipped product discharged through the nozzle 22. The illustrated valve 156 includes a knob 161 disposed on the top side of the housing 52 to facilitate adjustment of the valve 156.

[0025] The illustrated pump assembly 146 includes a casing 148, a rotor shaft 150, and a wiper assembly 152 coupled for co-rotation with the rotor shaft 150 within the casing 148. The housing 52 includes a first sub-passage 154 extending from the air inlet 144 and a second sub-passage 155 in communication with the product reservoir 20 via a pickup tube 159 (FIG. 7). The first and second sub-passages 154, 155 intersect at an inlet passage 157 of the pump assembly 146. An outlet sub-passage 158 (FIG. 6) of the pump assembly 146 is in fluid communication with the aerator 142.

[0026] Referring to Figure 8, the casing 148 of the pump assembly 146 includes an eccentric bore 160 in which the wiper assembly 152 is received. As the rotor shaft 150 rotates the wiper assembly 152, air is drawn through a first sub-passage 154 and product is drawn through a second sub-passage 155 (Figure 7). The air and product mix at an inlet 157 and are drawn into the casing 148. The mixture is compressed by the rotating wiper assembly 152 and discharged to the aerator 142 through a discharge sub-passage 158 (Figure 6).

[0027] 9, the housing 52 of the whip assembly 26 includes an aerator housing portion 170 that extends into the product reservoir 20. The housing portion 170 includes a first chamber 172 and a second chamber 174 separated by a longitudinally extending dividing wall 175. The second chamber 174 is in fluid communication with the first chamber 172 via a transfer passage 176 that extends through the dividing wall 175.

[0028] In the illustrated embodiment, the transfer passage 176 includes a first rounded bore 176a and a second rounded bore 176b that intersects the first rounded bore 176a. The rounded bores 176a, 176b may have a generally spherical profile. In some embodiments, the first rounded bore 176a is formed by inserting a ball end mill through the bottom end of the aerator housing portion 170 into the first chamber 172 until the ball end mill engages and removes material from the dividing wall 175. Similarly, the second rounded bore 176b is formed by inserting a ball end mill through the bottom end of the aerator housing into the second chamber 174 until the ball end mill engages and removes material from the dividing wall 175 opposite the first rounded bore 176a. Machining the transfer passage 176 in this manner advantageously allows the transfer passage 176 to be formed without the need for additional access openings, such as those required to laterally drill through the dividing wall 175 using a straight drill bit. Additionally, the rounded bores 176a, 176b lack sharp corners and 90-degree interface angles, which inhibit product from lodging in the transfer passage 176, thereby facilitating cleaning. In some embodiments, the transfer passage 176 (including the rounded bores 176a, 176b) can be formed by other methods, including, but not limited to, injection molding or 3D printing.

[0029] 9 , a first mixing rod 178 is supported within the first chamber 172, and a second mixing rod 180 is supported within the second chamber 174. In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second mixing rods 178, 180 are each stationary labyrinth mixing rods having a plurality of grooves and / or teeth to define a serpentine flow path along the exterior of the mixing rods 178, 180. In other embodiments, one or more mixing rods of other types or geometries may be used. In the illustrated embodiment, each of the mixing rods 178, 180 is made of plastic, although the mixing rods 178, 180 may be made from other materials in other embodiments.

[0030] 6 , each of the mixing rods 178, 180 in the illustrated embodiment includes an annular groove 191 that receives a retaining pin assembly 192 to connect the mixing rods 178, 180 to the housing 52. To remove the mixing rods 178, 180 (e.g., for cleaning or replacement), the retaining pin assembly 192 can be withdrawn from the housing 52, and the mixing rods 178, 180 can then be pushed down and out of their respective chambers 172, 174 from the top side of the housing 52. In other embodiments, the mixing rods 178, 180 can be removably connected to the housing 52 in other ways. For example, in some embodiments, the mixing rods 178, 180 can include threads, cam profiles, or the like, allowing the mixing rods 178, 180 to be inserted and removed from the bottom end of the aerator housing portion 170.

[0031] In use, the drive unit 14 drives the pump assembly 146, which forces the air and product mixture through the discharge passage 158 and into the first chamber 172 of the housing portion 170. The air and product mixture then flows in a first direction (i.e., the direction of arrow A as shown in FIG. 9 ) along the first mixing rod 178, which partially aerates the product. Upon reaching the end of the first mixing rod 178, the partially aerated product flows in a second direction through the transfer passage 176. In the illustrated embodiment, the second direction is generally transverse to the first direction. The partially aerated product then flows in a third direction (i.e., the direction of arrow B), which is generally opposite the first direction, over the second mixing rod 180. This completes the aeration of the product, and the aerated or whipped product is discharged from the second chamber 174 through the dispensing nozzle 22.

[0032] By providing two mixing rods 178, 180 in separate sections, the overall height of the aerator 142 is reduced, thereby allowing the overall size of the dispensing unit 18 to be minimized. Additionally, manufacturing tolerances for the mixing rods 178, 180 can be reduced because the relatively short length of each rod 178, 180 (compared to a single rod having a length equal to the combined length of the rods 178, 180) creates fewer cumulative tolerances. However, in other embodiments, the aerator 142 can include a single mixing rod, or other mixing rod configurations including any other number of mixing rods.

[0033] During operation, shearing of the product mix as it flows over the mixing rods 178, 180 generates heat. Because the mixing rods 178, 180 are made of a material with low thermal conductivity (e.g., plastic in the illustrated embodiment), minimal heat is absorbed by the mixing rods 178, 180. Rather, the generated heat is carried away with the product. In the illustrated embodiment, the mixing rods 178, 180 have a thermal conductivity of 0.1 to 0.5 Watts / Meter-Kelvin. In contrast, conventional mixing rods, which are typically made of metals such as stainless steel, may have a thermal conductivity of 10 to 20 Watts / Meter-Kelvin or greater. Therefore, conventional mixing rods may have a thermal conductivity at least 50 to 100 times greater than the mixing rods 178, 180, resulting in more heat being absorbed by the mixing rods. The low thermal conductivity of the mixing rods 178, 180 in the illustrated embodiment is particularly advantageous when the housing portion 170 is immersed in the product contained within the product reservoir 20 so that heating of the product within the product reservoir 20 is minimized.

[0034] 8 illustrates a dispensing system 300 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The dispensing system 300 includes a drive unit 14 and multiple interchangeable dispensing units 18. By including multiple interchangeable dispensing units 18, the illustrated dispensing system 300 allows a user to connect dispensing units 18 containing different products (e.g., dairy-based products, soy-based products, almond milk-based products, oat milk-based products, etc.) to the drive unit 14 to quickly change the type of product being dispensed. Because all product-contacting components are part of the interchangeable dispensing units 18, no disassembly or cleaning is required when changing products.

[0035] Various features and aspects of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A food dispenser comprising: A drive unit; a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, a product reservoir configured to store the food product; A dispensing nozzle; a product transfer assembly including a pump assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to transport the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle;

2. 10. The food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the pump assembly includes a rotor shaft and the drive unit includes a drive shaft, the drive shaft being drivingly connected to the rotor shaft when the dispensing unit is connected to the drive unit.

3. 3. The food dispenser of claim 2, wherein the drive shaft is decoupled from the rotor shaft when the dispensing unit is decoupled from the drive unit.

4. The food dispenser of claim 1 , wherein the product reservoir comprises an insulated container.

5. 10. The food dispenser of claim 1, wherein the product transfer assembly includes a housing removably coupled to the product reservoir.

6. 6. The food dispenser of claim 5, wherein the product transfer assembly includes an aerator upstream of the dispensing nozzle, and the pump assembly is configured to convey the food product along the aerator to aerate the food product before it is discharged from the dispensing nozzle.

7. 7. The food dispenser of claim 6, wherein the aerator extends into the product reservoir.

8. 8. The food dispenser of claim 7, wherein the aerator comprises a stationary mixing rod.

9. 10. The food dispenser of claim 8, wherein the mixing rod is made of plastic.

10. 7. The food dispenser of claim 6, wherein the housing includes an aerator housing portion having a first chamber and a second chamber, and the aerator includes a first stationary mixing rod supported in the first chamber and a second stationary mixing rod supported in the second chamber.

11. 11. The food dispenser of claim 10, wherein the aerator housing portion includes a transfer passageway interconnecting the first chamber and the second chamber.

12. 12. The food dispenser of claim 11, wherein the transfer passage includes a first rounded bore and a second rounded bore intersecting the first rounded bore.

13. 12. The food dispenser of claim 11, wherein the food is configured to flow over the first stationary mixing rod in a first direction and over the second stationary mixing rod in a second direction opposite the first direction.

14. 1. A food dispenser comprising: A drive unit; a dispensing unit removably coupled to the drive unit, a product reservoir configured to store the food product; A dispensing nozzle; a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to transport the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle; The food dispenser, wherein the product transfer assembly includes a stationary mixing rod upstream of the dispensing nozzle for aerating the food product before it is discharged from the dispensing nozzle.

15. 15. The food dispenser of claim 14, wherein the product reservoir comprises an insulated container and the product transfer assembly comprises a housing removably coupled to the product reservoir.

16. 16. The food dispenser of claim 15, wherein the stationary mixing rod is a first stationary mixing rod, the product transfer assembly further includes a second stationary mixing rod fluidly positioned between the first stationary mixing rod and the dispensing nozzle, and the housing includes an aerator housing portion having a first chamber in which the first stationary mixing rod is received and a second chamber in which the second stationary mixing rod is received.

17. 17. The food dispenser of claim 16, wherein the aerator housing portion extends into the product reservoir.

18. 18. The food dispenser of claim 17, wherein the first and second stationary mixing rods are made of plastic.

19. 17. The food dispenser of claim 16, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are separated by a dividing wall, and a transfer passage extends through the dividing wall to interconnect the first chamber and the second chamber.

20. 1. A distribution system comprising: A drive unit; a plurality of interchangeable dispensing units removably coupled to the drive unit, each dispensing unit comprising: a product reservoir configured to store food; a plurality of replaceable dispensing units including a dispensing nozzle; a product transfer assembly configured to be driven by the drive unit when the dispensing unit is coupled to the drive unit to transport the food product from the product reservoir to the dispensing nozzle.

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