Dosing device for food products

Abstract

A dosing device (1) for powdered, or granular, or similar food products, comprises a package (2) of powdered, or granular, or similar food product (P), equipped with connecting means (6) to be joined with the dosing device (1), a dosing valve (7) and a hopper (10) equipped with connecting means (11) to be joined with said dosing valve (7) which in turn is operable between a first loading position of the food product (P) and a second dispensing position of the food product (P) and comprises a mobile doser (18) moving between said first loading position of the food product (P) and said second dispensing position of the food product (P), the hopper (10) being equipped with a shutter (12) operating the mobile doser (18); the dosing valve (7) is joined to the package (2) of food product (P) and the assembly formed by the dosing valve (7) and the package (2) is connectable to the hopper (10); the dosing valve (7) is easily disassembleable thanks to the first connecting means (8) complementary to the connecting means (6) of the package (2) and second connecting means (9) complementary to the connecting means (11) of the hopper (10), and is made of washable plastic or metal material suitable for contact with the food products.

Description

[0001] DOSING DEVICE FOR FOOD PRODUCTS

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to a dosing device for food products in powder, granular or similar form, e.g. infusion and / or extraction products, such as ground coffee or similar products, tea, or soluble products in powder, leaf or granular form, etc., capable of constantly and reliably supplying a portion or a predetermined dose of food product.

[0004] The present invention also relates to a package of powdered or granular food products, intended to be coupled to the dosing device of the present invention.

[0005] Reference may also be made here below, without affecting the general nature hereof, to coffee powder.

[0006] DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

[0007] In the state of the art, various types of dosing devices for powdered or granular food products are known, e.g. in the coffee machine sector.

[0008] Generally, these dosing devices, which can also be applied to or integrated into coffee grinders, are based on a sliding or rotating drawer with manual or automatic intermittent movement. The drawer is equipped with at least one compartment into which a dose of coffee powder from the coffee grinder or from the ground coffee container flows by gravity, this dose being then discharged with a subsequent movement of the drawer in order to fill the coffee machine filter.

[0009] One problem with known dosing devices is that the food product remains in contact with air for a long time and this can negatively affect the taste and aroma of the drink prepared with these food products.

[0010] Another problem with known dosing devices is that there may be residues from the previous dosing operation, which can also affect the taste of a drink.

[0011] Another problem with known dosing devices is that they are assembled directly onto the dispensing machine and this makes subsequent cleaning and maintenance operations considerably difficult, since, as often happens, in order to replace a simple part inside the dosing device it may be necessary to disassemble the entire dosing device.

[0012] It is therefore necessary to design and implement a dosing device for food products which helps to overcome the prior art issues listed above.

[0013] OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The technical scope of this invention is to improve the state of the art in the field of dosing devices for powdered, or granular, or similar food products.

[0015] Within this scope, it is an object of the present invention to develop a dosing device for food products that is capable of supplying a constant amount of product.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dosing device for powdered food products that allows easy cleaning of the parts that are in contact with the food product and that allows the disposal of the packaging and its subsequent recycling. Another object of the present invention is to provide a system for obtaining singledose powdered drinks without having to use single-dose products which, once used, do not allow for the correct disposal of the container capsule as they cannot be separated from the product powder contained inside them.

[0017] A further object of the present invention is to provide a dosing device for food products which has low structural complexity and low production costs.

[0018] This scope and these objects are achieved by a dosing device for food products according to claim 1.

[0019] Dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0020] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] The features of the invention will be better understood by anyone skilled in the art from the following description and accompanying drawings, provided by way of non-limiting example, wherein: figure l is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the dosing device for food products according to the present invention; figure 2 is an exploded view of the dosing device of figure 1; figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of figure 1 in an operating position for loading the food product; figure 3a is an enlargement of a detail of figure 3; figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of figure 1 in an operating position for dispensing the food product; figure 4a is an enlargement of a detail of figure 4; figures 5 and 6 illustrate the dosing valve which is part of the dosing device for food products according to the present invention, in a closed and an open configuration - respectively; figures 7-9 illustrate the front, sectional and top perspective views - respectively, of a detail of the mobile dosing device for food products according to the present invention; and figure 10 illustrates a sectional perspective view of a phase of the dispensing of the food product.

[0022] In the accompanying drawings the same parts or components are indicated by the same reference numerals.

[0023] EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present invention and with reference to the accompanying figures, the number 1 indicates globally a dosing device for powdered, granular or similar food products; furthermore, according to the present invention, a package 2 is also provided, intended to be coupled to the dosing device 1.

[0025] The dosing device 1 can be used for coffee machines, or for machines for dispensing drinks; in general, a coffee machine, or a drink dispenser using the dosing device 1 is no different from an automatic coffee machine, i.e. capable of grinding coffee beans and serving hot drinks, with the exception of the upper interface to which the dosing device 1 and the package 2 with coffee or food products are screwed.

[0026] The dosing device 1 includes the package 2 inserted and joined at the top; a device for counting the dispensed doses (not illustrated) will warn the user when the package 2 is empty, having memorized the number of doses that can be dispensed from the aforementioned package 2.

[0027] The package 2 for food products may comprise a preferably flexible pack made of plastic / aluminium poly-coupled material or other equivalent materials 3 with an opening 4, equipped with a rigid collar 5, the latter being is equipped with means 6 for connection to the dosing device 1.

[0028] The connecting means 6 of the collar 5 may comprise an internal or external thread, or an internal or external bayonet profile or a similar type of attachment; in any case, the aforementioned connecting means are made in such a way as to guarantee air sealing in order to preserve the chemical-physical and organoleptic properties of the food product.

[0029] The dosing device 1 essentially comprises a dosing valve 7 and a hopper 10; the dosing valve 7 constitutes an interface between the package 2 and the hopper 10; in turn, the latter constitutes an interface between the dosing valve 7 and a beverage dispensing machine (not shown), e.g. a coffee machine.

[0030] The dosing valve 7 is connected to the package 2 of food product P, in turn, the group formed by the dosing valve 7 and the package 2 is connected to the hopper 10 and separable from the hopper 10; in this way it is possible to carry out the correct disposal of the package 2 and of the other parts of the device 1. Therefore, the dosing valve 7 is intended to be connected at the top to the collar 5 of the package 2 and, for this purpose, it is equipped with first connecting means 8 complementary to the connecting means 6 of the package 2; furthermore, the metering valve 7 also includes second connecting means 9 intended to be connected at the bottom to the hopper 10.

[0031] The hopper 10 comprises upper connecting means 11 complementary to the second connecting means 9 of the dosing valve 7; the hopper 10 in proximity to the connecting means 11 also comprises a sealing gasket 54, the sealing gasket 54 constitutes an example of sealing means to be obtained to achieve an optimal hermetic seal, the aforementioned sealing means can also be obtained in a different way, for example by means of a layer of soft plastic material (not illustrated) on the edge of the upper opening of the hopper 10; the connecting means 11 are intended to join with the second connecting means 9 of the dosing valve 7; the hopper 10 comprises on the lower side other sealing means (not shown) intended to connect in a sealed manner to the beverage dispensing machine.

[0032] Also in this case, the connecting means 9, 11 may comprise an internal or external thread, or an internal or external bayonet profile or the like; however they are made, such connecting means must guarantee an airtight seal in order to preserve the chemical-physical and organoleptic properties of the food products and avoid oxidation of the products in contact with air.

[0033] The hopper 10 includes internally a shutter 12, equipped with a plate 14; the shutter 12 is rotatable by approximately 90° between two positions: in one position the plate 14 causes the closing of the hopper 10: the plate 14 is in a horizontal position inserted in a special seat 15 of the hopper 10 (figure 3); in another position the plate 14 causes the opening of the hopper 10: the plate 14 is in a vertical position inserted in a recess 16 (figure 4), so as to leave the passage in the hopper 10 free and not to hinder the descent of the food product coming from the dosing valve 7.

[0034] The shutter 12 is rotated between the two above-mentioned positions by actuation means 13, which are exemplified in the figures by an electric motor with a gear-, or other type, reducer; or the shutter 12 could be non-rotating, e.g. translational.

[0035] Furthermore, the actuating means 13 may comprise actuating means other than the electric motor with reduction gear; for example, the actuating means 13 may comprise rotating electromagnets with a movement angle of approximately 90°.

[0036] According to another version of the present invention, the actuation means 13 are of the mechanical type connected to the actuation lever of the beverage dispensing machine.

[0037] In addition to opening and closing the hopper 10, the shutter 12 operates the dosing valve 7 between a first food product loading position, shown in figures 3 and 5, and a second food product dispensing position, shown in figures 4 and 6.

[0038] The dosing valve 7 comprises a body 17 within which a mobile doser 18 is slidable, which moves between the two aforementioned positions for loading the food product and dispensing the food product.

[0039] The mobile doser 18 comprises an actuation pin 20, which is actuated by the shutter 12, and in particular, by the plate 14 of the shutter 12, and comprises an elastic return means, e.g. a spring 19, which tends to keep the mobile doser 18 in the second position for dispensing the food product; the spring 19 may be coaxial with the pin 20.

[0040] When, as shown in figure 3, the shutter 12 closes the hopper 10, the related plate 14 applies pressure on the pin 20 moving it in an axial direction and, overcoming the force of the spring 19, keeps the mobile doser 18 in the first loading position of the food product.

[0041] Figure 4 shows the shutter 12 in the opening position of the hopper 10. Since the plate 14 of the shutter 12 does not apply pressure on the pin 20, the spring 19 brings the mobile doser 18 to the second position in which the food product loaded earlier when the mobile doser 18 was in the first position is dispensed.

[0042] In practice, when the shutter 12 is in the closing position of the hopper 10, the mobile doser 18 is moved upwards inside the bag 3 and is loaded with food product powder coming out of the bag 3 by gravity; when the shutter 12 is in the opening position of the hopper 10, the mobile doser 18, which has previously been loaded, travels downwards under the thrust of the spring 19 and discharges the food product into the hopper 10 through a hole located in the mobile doser 18.

[0043] In both positions, raised and lowered, the mobile doser 18 keeps the food product bag 3 closed, preserving its aroma.

[0044] Furthermore, according to one version of the present invention, the dosing device comprises suction means 21, or means for creating vacuum, eliminating any residual air found inside the bag 3, the valve 7 and the hopper 10.

[0045] In detail, the means for suction 21, or for creating the vacuum, comprise a suction pump 22, connected via a duct 23 to the hopper 10, filtering means 24 for the impurities taken in by the pump 22 which comprise a coarse mesh filter 25 and a micron filter 26; a non-return valve 27 located on the connecting duct 23 complete the suction means 21.

[0046] The suction means 21 and the non-retum valve 27 allow both the hopper 10, the dosing valve 7 and the package 3 to be kept under negative pressure, so as to prevent any loss of aroma of the food product; this measure, for given food products such as coffee, is very important in order to preserve the organoleptic properties of the food product for a long time.

[0047] The body 17 of the dosing valve 7 comprises a sleeve 28 which forms an interface between the package 2 and the hopper 10, and an internal section 29 connected to the sleeve 28 by means of a few connecting spokes 30; the spokes 30 are shaped to provide stable and safe support for the internal section 29 and at the same time allow easy flow of the food product.

[0048] The inner part of the sleeve 28 and the internal section 29 of the body 17 define a passage 31, e.g. an annular-shaped passage, which allows the transfer of the food product coming from the package 2 to the beverage dispensing machine, via the mobile doser 18.

[0049] The sleeve 28 comprises, at its upper end, a circular shaped stop 45 on which a corresponding conical element of the mobile doser 18 is rested. This condition occurs when, as illustrated in figure 6, the dosing valve 7 is open in the second position for dispensing the food powder.

[0050] The internal section 29, which has a substantially cylindrical shape, has an upper portion 32, a lower portion 33 and a central hole 34; the upper portion 32 has a larger diameter than the lower portion 33, to work in conjunction with the mobile doser 18 determining the opening or closing of the passage 31, for this purpose the mobile doser 18 has a central hole 46 located in its lower part, this hole 46 is used to dispense the food product, as will be described below.

[0051] Figure 5 shows the dosing valve 7 in the closed valve condition; it can be observed that the mobile doser 18, which is in its raised position, has the aforementioned hole 46 closed by the upper portion 32 of the internal section 29 of the body 17; figure 6 shows the dosing valve 7 in the open valve condition; it can be noted that in the mobile doser 18, which is in the lowered position, the aforementioned hole 46 is open, so as to allow the downward transfer of the food product loaded into the mobile doser 18.

[0052] The central hole 34 of the internal section 29 has the purpose of guiding the axial sliding of the pin 20 of the mobile doser 18 with respect to the internal section 29 itself.

[0053] In particular, as shown in figures 5, 6 and starting from the top, the hole 34 has a first part 35 with a length LI, with diameter DI, within which a corresponding first portion 36 of the pin 20 is slidable, which in turn has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter DI of the first part 35, so that it can be slidable within the aforementioned first part 35.

[0054] The hole 34 has a second part 37 with length L2, with diameter D2 smaller than diameter DI, within which a corresponding second portion 38 of the pin 20 is slidable, which has a diameter slightly smaller than diameter D2 of the second part 37, so that it can be slidable within the aforementioned second part 37; the second part 37 of the hole 34, having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the first part 35, defines an upper annular stop 40 on which the pin 20 can be rested with the first portion 36.

[0055] The hole 34 also has a third part 39 with length L3, with diameter D3 larger than diameter D2; the aforementioned third part 39 of the hole 34, having a larger diameter than the diameter of the second part 37, defines a lower annular stop 41; inside the third part 39 is the spring 19, in this case the spring 19 is of the helical type and is arranged coaxially with the pin 20, the spring 19 rests at the top on the annular stop 41.

[0056] To secure the lower end of the spring 19, on the pin 20 there is a tubular spacer 42 and a snap ring 43 which is locked on to a special groove 44 of the pin 20.

[0057] The preload of the spring 19 can be changed by replacing the spacer 42 with other spacers of greater length to increase the preload, or of shorter length to decrease the preload; furthermore, to increase the preload, washers (not shown) of appropriate thickness can be added.

[0058] In this way, by changing the preload, in addition to the possibility of replacing the spring 19 with another with different elastic characteristics, the strength of the spring 19 can be adjusted to allow the mobile doser 18 to be easily moved to the second position for dispensing the food powder.

[0059] Figures 7-9 show in detail the mobile doser 18, it has an axially symmetrical shape and comprises, in a central position, the aforementioned pin 20; a first conical element 47 is fixed to the upper end of the pin 20, equipped with cusp means 48, a second frusto-conical element 49 is connected to the first conical element 47 via a set of columns 50.

[0060] The second frusto-conical element 49 is also equipped with the aforementioned hole 46 for the downward transfer of the food product loaded into the mobile doser 18. The first conical element 47 has a diameter substantially similar to that of the stop 45 of the tubular section 29 of the body 17 and is in fact intended to rest on this stop 45 when the dosing valve 7 is open in the second position for dispensing the food powder (figure 6).

[0061] The second frusto-conical element 49 has a smaller diameter than the first conical element 47 as it is slidable in the internal part of the sleeve 28 of the body 17 during the travel of the mobile doser 18.

[0062] The mobile doser 18 also includes a cylindrical protector 51 arranged under the first conical element 47 which is used to prevent the food product, being in powder or granular form, from entering the space between the first conical element 47 and the upper portion 32 (figure 5) making it difficult to lower, or preventing the lowering of, the mobile doser 18 (figure 6).

[0063] In the embodiment of the figures, the cusp means 48 comprise three pointed elements 52 equipped with a comb 53, the aforementioned means 48 help the food product fall from the bag 3 and avoid the formation of lumps inside the package 2. It should be noted that the dosing valve 7, comprising first connecting means 8 complementary to the connecting means 6 of the package and second connecting means 9 intended to be connected below the hopper 10, is easily removable; furthermore, it is made of completely washable plastic or metal material suitable for contact with food products.

[0064] Initially, the dosing valve 7 is in the loading position of the powdered or granular food product shown in figures 3 and 5, the food product included in a tubular volume between the first conical element 47 and the second frusto-conical element 49 constitutes the dose of product to be dispensed. The dose of food product is then transferred by lowering the mobile doser 18 with the volume of food product comprised between the first conical element 47 and the second frusto-conical element 49.

[0065] As illustrated in figure 10, the food product P, exemplified by small spheres, can go through the hole 46 of the second frusto-conical element 49 which, in the meantime, has opened and, as shown by the arrows, the food product P can fall into the hopper 10.

[0066] The dosing device 1 according to the present invention allows the known type of problems of dosing devices to be overcome by providing a dosing device for food products that is easy and reliable to use.

[0067] The dosing device 1 according to the present invention has a low structural complexity and low production costs with respect to the dosing devices for food products shown by the state of the art.

[0068] The dosing valve 7 of the dosing device according to the present invention is easily removable and is made of materials compatible with washing.

[0069] In practice, the dosing device according to the present invention also allows the usual capsules used for coffee and similar drinks to be eliminated, also leading to an enormous reduction in the environmental impact.

[0070] It has thus been seen how the invention fully achieves the intended purposes. Changes to and variants of the invention are possible within the scope of protection defined by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Dosing device (1) for powdered, or granular, or similar food products, comprising a package (2) of powdered, or granular, or similar food product (P), equipped with connecting means (6) to be joined with said dosing device (1), a dosing valve (7) and a hopper (10) equipped with connecting means (11) to be joined with said dosing valve (7), said dosing valve (7) being operable between a first loading position of the food product (P) and a second dispensing position of the food product (P) and comprising a mobile dispenser (18) between said first loading position of the food product (P) and said second dispensing position of the food product (P), said hopper (10) being equipped with a shutter (12), characterised in that said dosing valve (7) is joined to said package (2) of food product (P) and that the assembly formed by said dosing valve (7) and said package (2) is connectable to said hopper (10).

2. Dosing device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said dosing valve (7) being separable from said package (2) of food product (P) is easily disassembleable by comprising first connecting means (8) complementary to the connecting means (6) of said package (2) and second connecting means (9) complementary to said connecting means (11) of the hopper (10), and is made of washable plastic or metal material and suitable for contact with the food products.

3. Dosing device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said mobile dosing device is operated by said shutter (12).

4. Dosing device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said mobile dosing device (18) includes an operating pin (20) for moving said mobile dosing device (18) between said first loading position of the food product (P) and said second dispensing position of the food product (P), and wherein said pin (20) is operated by said shutter (12).

5. Dosing device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said mobile dosing device (18) comprises an elastic return means, for example a spring (19), which tends to keep said mobile dosing device (18) in said second dispensing position of the food product.

6. Dosing device (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein said mobile dosing device (18) comprises a first conical element (47) fixed to said pin (20), said first conical element (47) being equipped with cusp means (48), and a second frusto-conical element (49) connected to said first conical element (47) via a series of small columns (50).

7. Dosing device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said second frusto-conical element (49) has a hole (46) for the flow of said food product (P).

8. Dosing device (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein said dosing valve (7) comprises abody (17) within which said mobile dosing device (18) is slidable.

9. Dosing device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said body (17) includes a sleeve (28) which constitutes an interface between the package (2) and the hopper (10).

10. Dosing device (1) according to claim 9, wherein said body (17) includes an internal section (29) connected to said sleeve (28) via some connecting supports (30), said supports (30) being shaped to create a stable and safe support of said internal section (29) and allow easy flowing of the food product (P).

11. Dosing device (1) according to claim 10, wherein said internal section (29) has a substantially cylindrical shape, features an upper portion (32), a lower portion (33) and a central hole (34); said upper portion (32) having a larger diameter than said lower portion (33).

12. Dosing device (1) according to claim 10, when dependent on one of claims 7 to 10, wherein said hole (46) of said second frusto-conical element (49) is closed by said upper portion (32), when said mobile doser (18) is in its lifted position, and said hole (46) is open when said mobile doser (18) is in its lowered position, so as to allow the transfer of the food product loaded into the mobile doser (18) through said hole (46) towards the hopper (10).

13. Dosing device (1) according to any of the previous claims, comprising suction means (21), or means for creating vacuum, for eliminating the residual air found inside the bag (3), the valve (7) and the hopper (10).

14. Dosing device (1) according to claim 13, wherein said suction means (21) comprise a suction pump (22), connected via a duct (23), equipped with a nonreturn valve (27), for said hopper (10), filtering means (24) for the impurities taken in by said pump (22), said non-return valve (27) allowing said hopper (11), said dosing valve (7), and said bag to be kept under negative pressure conditions (3), so as to prevent any loss of aroma of said food product (P).

15. Dosing device (1) according to claim 14, wherein said filtering means (24) comprise a coarse mesh filter (25) and a micron filter (26).

16. Dosing device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 15, wherein said shutter (12) is equipped with a plate (14), said plate (14) being provided for the operation of said pin (20).

17. Dosing device (1) according to claim 16, wherein said shutter (12) is rotatable by about 90° between two positions: in one position said plate (14) determines the closure of said hopper (10), in another position said plate (14) determines the opening of said hopper (10).

18. Dosing device (1) according to one of claims 4 to 17, wherein said shutter (12) is set to rotate between a closed position of said hopper (10) and an open position of said hopper (10) by means of operating means (13).

19. Dosing device (1) according to claim 18, wherein said operating means (13) comprise an electric motor with a gear type or other type reducer, or said operating means (13) are of the mechanical type connected to the operating lever of the beverage dispensing machine.

20. Dosing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said package (2) comprises an opening (4), provided with a rigid collar (5) comprising said connecting means (6) to be joined with said dosing device (1).

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