Automatic seasoning dispenser having an improved dispensing accuracy

Abstract

A product dispenser for granular product includes a reservoir, and a flexible tube that receives product from the reservoir. An actuatable top tube pincher is movable between a tube closing position in which the flexible tube is pinched closed at a first location and an open position. An actuatable bottom tube pincher located below the top tube pincher, is movable between a tube closing position in which the flexible tube is pinched closed at a second location and an open position, such that a defined portion of the product is held in the flexible tube between the first and second locations when the top and bottom tube pinchers are in the respective closing positions. A dispenser tube is located downstream and receive the product from the flexible tube. A dispensing head is connected to a dispensing end of the dispenser tube. A controller controls metering and dispensing of the product.

Description

SPECIFICATIONAUTOMATIC SEASONING DISPENSER HAVING AN IMPROVED DISPENSING ACCURACYTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of food preparation devices. More particularly, the invention relates to a dispenser for a flowable dry product, such as salt and / or seasoning, on restaurant-sized quantities of food products located in a cooked food dump zone / bin or on a receiving surface, for example, French fries, in order to provide uniform seasoning across all of the product as well as from batch-to-batch that is not user dependent.BACKGROUND

[0002] Applicant has developed and markets various devices for dispensing food, monitoring cooking as well as handling both cooked and uncooked food products, particularly for restaurant and fast food applications.

[0003] When cooking or frying certain foods in restaurant quantities, such as French fries or chicken nuggets, the food products are placed on a tray or in a fry basket. During or after cooking, the cook then applies seasoning usually from a hand shaker or dispenser. For French fries, this is typically after the fry basket is lifted and the french-fries are dumped into a dump bin.

[0004] However, the known methodology is user dependent and can result in inconsistent application of seasoning from batch to batch based on the preparer as well as within a specific batch.

[0005] Some attempts that address the application of seasoning are known. U.S. 7,975,642 discloses a hopper, a rotating drum and diverter rods to form different streams of seasoning for a more even distribution of seasoning on food to be seasoned that is located on a receiving surface. This reference also discloses the use of dispenser plates that have openings through which seasoning can be dispensed. However, these plates are coextensive with the receiving surface where the food to be seasoned is located.

[0006] U.S. 5,353,959 discloses a seasoning arrangement that is used in food packaging in which the food product is moved through a tumbler where seasoning can be applied.

[0007] U.S. 2020 / 0165059 discloses a hand-held dispenser for granular or flowable products. Here, a user squeezes a trigger on the dispenser to move a slider body to allow a discrete amount of the granular product held in a metering chamber to be dispensed. A dispersion cone is located beneath a delivery chute to disperse the granular product outwardly.

[0008] WO 2009 / 036049 discloses another hand-held granular material dispenser that allows a metered amount of product to be dispensed when a trigger is actuated.

[0009] The known fixed arrangements either take up a large amount of space or are impractical for use in a retail food preparation setting, such as a restaurant, and in the case of hand-held devices, still apply product in a manner that is user dependent.

[0010] It would be desirable to improve the application of seasoning to food products that are being prepared so that it is predictable & uniform within a batch as well as from batch-to-batch regardless of the food preparer.SUMMARY

[0011] The present disclosure is directed to a product dispenser for a granular, powdered and / or flaked product (“flowable product”), which can be, for example, salt and / or other seasonings. The dispenser includes a reservoir, and a flexible tube located downstream from and adapted to receive the product from the reservoir. An actuatable top tube pincher is provided that is movable between a tube closing position in which the flexible tube is pinched closed at a first location and an open position in which the flexible tube is open. An actuatable bottom tube pincher is located below the top tube pincher, and the actuatable bottom tube pincher is movable between a tube closing position in which the flexible tube is pinched closed at a second location, below the first location, and an open position in which the flexible tube is open, such that a defined portion of the product is adapted to be held in the flexible tube between the first and second locations when the actuatable tube top pincherand the actuatable bottom tube pincher are in the respective closing positions. A dispenser tube is located downstream of and adapted to receive the product from the flexible tube. A dispensing head is connected to a dispensing end of the dispenser tube. A controller is also provided.

[0012] For dispensing the defined portion of flowable product, with the actuatable bottom tube pincher in the tube closing position and the actuatable top tube pincher in the open position in which the flexible tube is open, upon activation of a dispensing cycle, the controller is configured to: a) actuate the actuatable top tube pincher to close the flexible tube at the first location by moving to the tube closing position to provide the defined portion of the product in the flexible tube between the first location and the second location, b) actuate the actuatable bottom tube pincher to the open position in which the flexible tube is open to release the product to the dispenser tube where the product travels by gravity to the dispensing head to be dispensed, c) after a predetermined time period, actuate the actuatable bottom tube pincher to the closing position in order to close the flexible tube at the second location, and d) actuate the actuatable top tube pincher to the open position in order to open the flexible tube at the first location to allow the product in the reservoir to refill the flexible tube between the first location and the second location.

[0013] In one embodiment, the flexible tube is made of a food grade silicone.

[0014] In one embodiment, the actuatable top tube pincher comprises a top plunger, which may have a top cross-piece, that is adapted to contact the flexible tube, and the actuatable bottom tube pincher comprises a bottom plunger, which may have a bottom cross-piece, that is adapted to contact the flexible tube.

[0015] In one embodiment, an actuator is provided for actuating the top and bottom tube pinchers. The actuator can include a motor, with a cam driven by the motor. The motor can be connected to the cam via a gearbox. In one preferred arrangement, the cam has first and second cam lobes, and the first cam lobe contacts the top plunger and the second lobe contacts the bottom plunger. Upon the activation of the dispensing cycle, the controller energizes the motor to rotate the cam such that the first cam lobe moves the top plunger to the tube closing position and the second cam lobe allows the bottom plunger to move to the open position at the second location in order to dispense the product. This allowed movement can be via a spring that biases the bottom plunger toward the cam. As the motor continues torotate the cam, the second cam lobe then moves the bottom plunger to the tube closing position after the defined portion of the product is dispensed, and the first cam allows the top plunger to move to the open position. This allowed movement can be via a further spring that biases the top plunger toward the cam. The top and bottom plungers may include rollers to contact the cam in order to reduce friction. Other types of actuators, such as solenoids, separate motor driven cams or rollers could also be used as the actuator in order to actuate the actuatable top and bottom tube pinchers.

[0016] In one embodiment, the actuatable top tube pincher and the actuatable bottom tube pincher are mounted in a housing, and the actuatable top tube pincher is mounted via at least one adjustment screw for movement over an adjustment range closer to or farther from the actuatable bottom tube pincher in order to allow adjustment of the defined portion of the product in the flexible tube between the first location and the second location. The portion size can be controlled by this movement as well as by the use of flexible tubes having different sized internal open cross- sectional areas.

[0017] With this adjustable mounting as well as the use of a single cam, in one preferred arrangement, the first cam lobe extends an axial distance that is at least equal to the adjustment range. In this manner, regardless of where the actuatable top tube pincher is positioned in order to set the first location, it can still be actuated by the first cam lobe when the cam is rotated.

[0018] In one embodiment, the dispenser tube is at least one of flexible or pivotable. This allows for retrofitting of the dispenser on an existing hood, and the dispenser tube can be routed through existing openings and be positioned to avoid interference with existing equipment, such as heat lamps

[0019] In one embodiment, the dispenser head includes a pathway that extends outwardly in a radial direction as the pathway extends downwardly and away from the dispensing end of the dispenser tube to a pathway opening. In one preferred arrangement, the dispenser head includes a perforated lower shield that delimits a bottom portion of the pathway, and a periphery of the lower shield delimits an inner edge of the pathway opening. The perforations of the perforated lower shield may have perforation axes that extend generally vertically. In one particular arrangement, the lower shield has four angled sides that extend at an angle of between 30° and60° to vertical, and more preferably about 45° with respect to vertical. Additionally, in order to control the amount and distribution of the product that is dispensed through the perforations in the lower shield, in one preferred arrangement the perforations of the perforated lower shield are arranged such that only a single one of the perforations is centered on a ray extending from a center of the lower shield.

[0020] With the dispenser head having one or more of these features, a uniform dispersion pattern for the flowable product, such as salt and / or seasoning, can be achieved over a defined area. In one preferred application, the defined area can be a square with a size in the range of 800 - 1600 cm2, and more preferably in a range of 1000 - 1250 cm2, that is located at a distance of 40 - 80 cm from the dispensing head. This arrangement is particularly beneficial for the application of salt and / or seasoning in a restaurant setting in order to have consistent application of salt and / or seasoning to prepared and / or cooked / fried food products on a receiving surface. This is particularly useful in the preparation of French fries, in in a particularly preferred application, the dispenser can be set to dispense and uniformly disperse between 1 and 12 grams of salt per dispensing cycle, and more preferably between 2 and 6 grams of salt per dispensing cycle over the defined area which is adapted to be a French Fry dump bin.

[0021] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a food preparation station that includes a food product dump bin or receiving surface, and the dispenser having one or more of the features disclosed herein is located above the food product dump bin or receiving surface for dispensing the product, such as salt and / or seasoning, on the food.

[0022] The various features noted above can be used alone or in various combination to provide for metered dispensing of products, and in particular frozen food products, in an accurate manner.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will become apparent by the below description of embodiments making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a food preparation station having three flowable product dispensers mounted on a hood thereof in order to dispensegranular, powdered and / or flaked product onto respective dump bins or food receiving surfaces.

[0025] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the hood and product dispenser shown on the food prep station in Figure 1.

[0026] Figure 3 is a perspective view of one of the product dispensers shown in Figure 1.

[0027] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of the product dispenser shown in Figure 3 shown here with the actuatable bottom tube pincher in a tube closing position and the actuatable top tube pincher in a tube open position.

[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to Figure 4 which also shows the dispensing tube and dispensing head extending from the bottom of the product dispenser, which is shown here with the actuatable bottom tube pincher in a tube open position and the actuatable top tube pincher in a tube closing position in order to dispense a defined portion of the flowable product that is held in the flexible tube.

[0029] Figure 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the product dispenser showing one preferred arrangement of the actuatable top tube pincher and the actuatable bottom tube pincher, shown here in the same positions as in Figure 4.

[0030] Figure 7 is a perspective view looking up at the bottom of the actuatable top tube pincher showing the adjustment screws which allow adjustment of a location of the top tube pincher relative to the bottom tube pincher.

[0031] Figure 8 is a perspective view looking down at the top of the actuatable top tube pincher.

[0032] Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view through the dispenser head shown in Figure 5.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The words “right,” “left,” “top,” and “bottom” designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. The words “a” and “one,” as used in the claims and in the corresponding portions of the specification, are defined as including one or more of the referenced item unless specifically stated otherwise. This terminology includes the words abovespecifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import. The phrase “at least one” followed by a list of two or more items, such as “A, B, or C,” means any individual one of A, B or C as well as any combination thereof. The terms approximately or generally mean within + / - 10% of a specified value unless otherwise noted, and within + / - 25° of a specified angle or direction.

[0034] A “flowable product” as used herein refers to a granular, powdered, and / or flaked product, and can be, for example, salt and / or other seasonings.

[0035] Referring to Figure 1 , a food preparation station 10 is shown which includes at least one, and as illustrated, three dump bin / receiving surfaces 12 for food product. The illustrated embodiment is a fry dump station; however, any other type of food prep station including a dump bin or receiving surface 12 could be provided. In the illustrated embodiment, the food prep station 10 includes a hood 14 which, as shown in Figure 2 can include heat lights 15 for keeping food product on the dump bin / receiving surface 12 warm. Also shown is a timer 16 which can be set in order to time how long a food product remains on the dump bin / receiving surface 12 before it must be used or scrapped.

[0036] In accordance with the present disclosure, a flowable product dispenser 20 which can dispense a granular, powdered and / or flaked product 18, and more particularly spices and / or salt, is disposed on the food prep station 10, more particularly on the hood 14. In the illustrated embodiment in Figure 1 , three of the flowable product dispensers 20 are shown.

[0037] Referring now to Figures 3-8, the flowable product dispenser 20 will be described in detail.

[0038] The flowable product dispenser 20 includes a reservoir 22, preferably having a removable cover 24 in which the flowable product 18 can be poured from a bulk source prior to usage. The reservoir is preferably somewhat funnel-shaped in order to direct product located therein to a bottom opening 23. Both the reservoir 22 and the cover 24 may be made of polymeric materials, with the cover 24 preferably being made of a flexible, for example, silicone, material so that it can seal the open top of the reservoir 22 when installed. A window 26 may be provided in the reservoir 22, with the window being made of a clear plastic material so that the amount of bulk product 18 within the reservoir 22 can be easily ascertained.

[0039] As shown in detail in Figures 4-6, a flexible tube 30 is located downstream from and adapted to receive the product 18 from the reservoir 22. The flexible tube 30 is preferably made of a flexible and / or elastic polymeric material, and in one preferred embodiment is made of a food grade silicone. The flexible tube 30 can be pressed onto the end of the reservoir 22 about the bottom opening 23. A suitable clamp or other connection can be provided. The size of the tube may vary depending upon the particular application, and in the illustrated embodiment, the tube has an ID of approximately 10-15mm, and more preferably between 12 and 13mm. This specific size can vary depending upon the type of flowable product 18 being dispensed as well as the volume to be dispensed in a single application.

[0040] Still with reference to Figures 4-6, an actuatable top tube pincher 32 is shown that is movable between a tube closing position 32A in which the flexible tube 30 is pinched closed at a first location 34 and a tube open position 32B in which the flexible tube 30 is opened. In one preferred arrangement, shown in detail in Figures 6-8, the top tube pincher 32 includes a top plunger 35 that is supported for sliding movement and includes a cross-piece 37 at the flexible tube-facing end. A roller 38 is provided on the opposite end. A spring 36 is also provided which biases the top plunger 35 against a cam 52 which is described in detail further below.

[0041] Still with reference to Figures 4-6, an actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 is located below the top tube pincher 32. As used herein, below means with respect to gravity as the product dispenser 20 is preferably gravity fed. The actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 is moveable between a tube closing position 42A in which the flexible tube 30 is pinched closed at a second location 44 and a tube open position 42B in which the flexible tube 30 is open. In one preferred arrangement, the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 includes a bottom plunger 45 which is slidably mounted that has a cross-piece 47 at the flexible tube-facing end. A roller 48 is located on the opposite end. A spring 46 biases the bottom plunger 45 against the cam 52, as described in further detail below. These elements 45. 46. 47. 48 are similar in shape and arrangement to elements 35, 36, 37, 38 shown in Figure 8.

[0042] According to the disclosure, a defined portion of the product 18 to be dispensed is adapted to be held in the flexible tube 30 between the first and second locations 34, 44, when the actuatable top tube pincher 32 and the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 are in the respective closing positions 32A, 42A. This allows ametered amount of the flowable product 18 to be dispensed in one cycle. While the illustrated arrangement includes the actuatable top tube pincher 32 that has the top plunger 35 that is adapted to contact the flexible tube 30 and the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 that includes the bottom plunger 45 that is adapted to contact the flexible tube 30, other types of pincher arrangements can be utilized, such as a pivoting bar that provides a pliers-type pinching action, a roller which can roll into and out of contact with the flexible tube 30, as well as any other squeezing arrangement which presses the flexible tube to a pinched closed position and / or releases it at the first and second locations 34, 44. These are all generally referred to as “tube pinchers” or “actuatable tube pinchers”.

[0043] As shown in detail in Figures 4-6, an actuator 50 can be provided for actuating the top and bottom tube pinchers 32, 42. In one preferred arrangement, the actuator 50 includes a motor 51 as well as a cam 52 that is driven by the motor 51. The cam 52 has first and second cam lobes 53, 54, with the first cam lobe 53 contacting the top plunger 35 and the second cam lobe 54 contacting the bottom plunger 45. As discussed above, the respective springs 36, 46 respectively bias the top plunger 35 against the cam 52 at a path of the first cam lobe 53 and the bottom plunger 45 against the cam 52 at a path of the second cam lobe 54. Other type of actuators could be used depending on the type of tube pincher, such as a motor, solenoid or fluid-actuated cylinder-plunger arrangement.

[0044] As shown in Figures 3-6, a dispenser tube 60 is located downstream of and adapted to receive the product 18 from the flexible tube 30. The dispenser tube 60 can be connected to a fitting 64 into which a downstream end 30A of the flexible tube 30 is received or connected. A dispensing head 70 is connected to a dispensing end 62 of the dispensing tube 60 and is adapted to dispense the flowable product 18 in a generally uniform dispersion onto the dump bin or receiving surface 12 in one preferred application.

[0045] A controller 80, schematically illustrated in Figure 6, is provided which can be a PLC or microprocessor based on any other suitable type of controller. The controller is used to activate the actuator 50, for example, when a user presses an activation button 81. The controller can also initiate the countdown timer 16 if present.

[0046] In order to dispense product, with the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 and the tube closing position 42B and the actuatable top tube pincher 32 in the tube open position 32B as shown in Figure 4, flowable product flows from the reservoir 22 into the flexible tube 30 until it is stopped by the bottom tube pincher 42. Upon activation of a dispensing cycle, the controller 80 is configured to: a) actuate the actuatable top tube pincher 32 to close the flexible tube 30 at the first location 34 by moving to the tube closing position 32A to provide the defined portion of the product 18 in the flexible tube 30 between the first location 34 and the second location 44 (with the tube 30 now pinched closed at both locations), b) actuate the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 to the open position 42B at the second location 44 in which the flexible tube 30 is open to release the product 18 to the dispenser tube 60 where the product 18 travels by gravity to the dispensing head 70 to be dispensed, c) after a pre-determined time period, the controller 80 actuates the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 to close the flexible tube 30 at the second location 44 so that the bottom tube pincher 42 is in the tube closing position 42A, and d) actuates the actuatable top tube pincher 32 to open the flexible tube 30 such that the actuatable top tube pincher is in the tube open position 32B at the first location 34 to allow the flowable product 18 in the reservoir 22 to refill the flexible tube 30 at least between the second location 44 and the first location 34. The time for the dispensing cycle can be, for example 0.2 seconds to 5 seconds or longer depending on the particular application.

[0047] As the flowable product 18 is in the silicone tube when it is filled at the first location 34, the actuator 50 for actuating the actuatable top tube pincher 32 must provide sufficient force to displace the flowable product in the area of the first location 34 in order to allow the flexible tube 30 to be pinched closed.

[0048] Referring to Figures 4-6 in connection with the preferred actuator 50 that includes the motor 51 and the cam 52, during the dispensing cycle, the controller 80 may energize the motor 51 to rotate the cam 52 such that the first cam lobe 53 moves the top plunger 35 to the tube closing position 32A against the force of the spring 36, and the second cam lobe 54 allows the bottom plunger 45 to move to the open position 42B at the second location 44 via the action of the spring 46 moving the bottom plunger 45 so that it is continuously biased against the cam 52 opening the flexible tube 30 in order to allow the flowable product 18 to be dispensed. Themotor 51 then continues to rotate the cam 52 such that the second cam lobe 54 then moves the bottom plunger 45 against the force of the spring 46 to the tube closing position 42A after the product 18 is dispensed, and the first cam lobe 53 allows the top plunger 35 to move to the open position 32B as it is rotated out of contact with the top plunger 35 and more specifically with the roller 38 at that cam-facing end of the top plunger 35. With this arrangement, the timing of the dispensing cycle can be set by a speed that the motor 51 turns that cam 52 (which can be reduced relative to the motor speed via a reduction gear box 55), as well as the profiles of the first and second cam lobes 53, 54.

[0049] Referring now to Figures 6-8, in order to allow for adjustment of the amount of flowable product 18 that is dispensed within one dispensing cycle, in one embodiment the actuatable top two pincher 32 and the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 are mounted in a housing 58, and the actuatable top tube pincher 32 is mounted via at least one, and preferably two, adjustment screws 82A, 82B for movement over an adjustment range closer to or farther from the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42 in order to allow adjustment of the defined portion of the product 18 in the flexible tube 30 between the first location 34 and the second location 44. Here, a gear box 83 is provided that includes helical gears 84A, B that are mounted on an adjustment shaft 85. Gears 86A, 86B are located at the bottoms of the adjustment screws 82A, 82B and engage with the helical gears 84A, B. In one embodiment, the adjustment shaft 85 is manually turnable in order to synchronously rotate the adjustment screws 82A, 82B in order to move the actuatable top tube pincher 32 closer to or farther from the actuatable bottom tube pincher 42, thereby adjusting the distance X, shown in Figure 6. In one arrangement, this adjustment range X can be varied to be from 3 to 12 cm. However, the specific adjustment range can be varied based on the specific application.

[0050] Still with reference to Figures 4-8, in the case where the actuatable top tube pincher 32 is adjustably mounted and the embodiment of the actuator 50 is as discussed above and includes the motor 51 and the cam 52, in order to allow for activation of the actuatable top tube pincher 32 in any location within the adjustment range, the first cam lobe 53 extends a distance that is at least about equal to the range of travel of the actuatable top tube pincher 32. For the example above where the adjustment range X is from 3 - 12 cm, the first cam lobe would extend a distanceof about 9 cm. This allows the actuator 50 to carry out a dispensing cycle regardless of the position of the actuatable top tube pincher 32.

[0051] As shown in Figures 3-6, an activation button 81 is provided for activating a dispensing cycle by signaling the controller 80 to actuate the actuator 50. In the disclosed embodiment, activation of the actuator 50 rotates the cam 52 360° for one complete dispensing cycle.

[0052] Referring to Figures 3 and 9, in order to ensure uniform dispersion of the flowable product 18 from the dispenser tube 60, the dispenser head 70 may include a pathway 71 that extends outwardly in a radial direction as the pathway 71 extends downwardly and away from the dispensing end 62 of the dispenser tube 60 to a pathway opening 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the pathway opening 72 is generally rectilinear and more preferably generally square-shaped, although the corners may be rounded as shown in Figures 3. As illustrated in Figure 9, the dispenser head 70 may include a perforated lower shield 73 that delimits a bottom portion 71a of the pathway 71. Here, a periphery of the lower shield 73 delimits an inner edge of the pathway opening 72. A shroud 75 can be provided above the lower shield 73 with the pathway 71 extending between the shroud 75 and the lower shield 73. This results in the flowable product being dispensed 360°. Here, the lower shield 73 preferably includes a upper point 73A that is generally centered under the opening of the dispenser tube 60. The lower shield 73 can be pyramid-shaped and, in order to ensure uniform dispersion within the area beneath the lower shield 73 includes perforation 74. In a preferred arrangement, the perforations each have an axis A that extends generally, vertically through the slope surface of the lower shield 73. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the perforations 74 of the perforated lower shield 73 are arranged such that only a single one of the perforations 74 is centered on a ray R that extends from a center of the lower shield 73 outwardly and downwardly to the pathway opening 72.

[0053] In order to allow the product dispenser 20 to be mounted on existing equipment, preferably, the dispenser tube 60 is at least one of flexible or pivotable. In one preferred embodiment, the dispenser tube 60 is made of a stainless steel material and is pivotable about an axis that extends through the flexible tube 30.

[0054] In a preferred embodiment, the flowable product dispenser 20 dispenses granular, powdered and / or flaked product such as salt and / or spices with agenerally uniformed dispersion pattern on to the dump bin or product receiving surface 12. In a preferred arrangement, the defined portion of the flowable product 18 is between 1 and 10 grams and more preferably between 2 and 6 grams. Further, the dispenser head 70 is adapted to distribute the flowable product 18 in a uniformly dispersed manner over a 800-1600 cm2surface and more preferably over a 1000- 1250 cm2surface, with the surface located between 40 and 80 centimeters from the dispenser head 70. This is particularly useful in the application of salt and / or spices to fried food products such as French fries that are placed in a dump bin or tray in a food preparation station 10 as shown in Figure 1. With this arrangement, a predictable and uniform amount of salt and / or seasoning can be applied on a batch of food product, as well as from batch-to-batch in a non-user dependent manner, making for more uniform food product preparation and ensuring higher quality salt and / or seasoning application within a batch and from batch-to-batch of food product.

[0055] A further advantage of the present dispenser 20 is that the flowable product does not come into contact with any of the internal mechanisms for creating and releasing the desired dispensing portions, which allows for longer life as well as reduced maintenance and easier cleaning.

[0056] It will be appreciated that the foregoing is presented by way of illustration only and not by way of any limitation. It is contemplated that various alternatives and modifications may be made to the described embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described the present invention in detail, it is to be appreciated and will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many physical changes, only a few of which are exemplified in the detailed description of the invention, could be made without altering the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. It is also to be appreciated that numerous embodiments incorporating only part of the preferred embodiment are possible which do not alter, with respect to those parts, the inventive concepts and principles embodied therein. The present embodiment and optional configurations are therefore to be considered in all respects as exemplary and / or illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the ap-pended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all alternate embodiments and changes to this embodiment which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of said claims are therefore to be embraced therein.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A flowable product dispenser (20), the dispenser (20) comprising: a reservoir (22); a flexible tube (30) located downstream from and adapted to receive the product (18) from the reservoir (22); an actuatable top tube pincher (32) movable between a tube closing position (32A, 42A) in which the flexible tube (30) is pinched closed at a first location (34) and a tube open position (32B, 42B) in which the flexible tube (30) is open; an actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) located below the top tube pincher (32), the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) being movable between a tube closing position (32A, 42A) in which the flexible tube (30) is pinched closed at a second location (44) and a tube open position (32B, 42B) in which the flexible tube (30) is open, wherein a defined portion of the product (18) is adapted to be held in the flexible tube (30) between the first and second locations (44) when the actuatable tube top pincher and the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) are in the respective closing positions (32A, 42A); a dispenser tube (60) located downstream of and adapted to receive the product (18) from the flexible tube (30); a dispensing head (70) connected to a dispensing end (62) of the dispenser tube (60); and a controller (80); wherein, with the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) in the tube closing position (32A, 42A) and the actuatable top tube pincher (32) in the tube open position (32B, 42B), upon activation of a dispensing cycle, the controller (80) is configured to: a) actuate the actuatable top tube pincher (32) to close the flexible tube (30) at the first location (34) by moving to the tube closing position (32A, 42A) to provide the defined portion of the product (18) in the flexible tube (30) between the first location (34) and the second location (44), b) actuate the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) to the open position (32B, 42B) at the second location (44) in which the flexible tube (30) is open to release the product (18) to the dispenser tube (60) wherethe product travels by gravity to the dispensing head (70) to be dispensed, c) after a predetermined time period, actuate the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) to close the flexible tube (30) at the second location (44), and d) actuate the actuatable top tube pincher (32) to open the flexible tube (30) at the first location (34) to allow the product (18) in the reservoir (22) to refill the flexible tube (30) between the first location (34) and the second location (44).

2. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the flexible tube (30) is made of a food grade silicone.

3. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the actuatable top tube pincher (32) comprises a top plunger (35) that is adapted to contact the flexible tube (30), and the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) comprises a bottom plunger (45) that is adapted to contact the flexible tube (30).

4. The dispenser (20) of claim 3, further comprising an actuator (50) for actuating the top and bottom tube pinchers, the actuator (50) including a motor (51), a cam (52) driven by the motor (51), the cam (52) having first and second cam lobes (54), the first cam lobe (53) contacts the top plunger (35) and the second lobe contacts the bottom plunger (45), wherein upon the activation of the dispensing cycle, the controller (80) energizes the motor (51) to rotate the cam (52) such that the first cam lobe (53) moves the top plunger (35) to the tube closing position (32A, 42A) and the second cam lobe (54) allows the bottom plunger (45) to move to the open position (32B, 42B) at the second location (44) in order to dispense the product (18), and the motor (51) continues to rotate the cam (52) such that the second cam lobe (54) then moves the bottom plunger (45) to the tube closing position (32A, 42A) after the product (18) is dispensed, and the first cam allows the top plunger (35) to move to the open position (32B, 42B).

5. The dispenser (20) of claim 4, further comprising respective springs that respectively bias the top plunger (35) against the cam (52) in a path of the first cam lobe (53) and the bottom plunger (45) against the cam (52) in a path of the second cam lobe (54).

6. The dispenser (20) of claim 5, wherein the top plunger (35) and the bottom plunger (45) each include a roller (38, 48) for contacting the cam (52).

7. The dispenser (20) of claim 3, wherein the top plunger (35) and the bottom plunger (45) each include a cross-piece (37, 47) that contacts the flexible tube (30).

8. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the actuatable top tube pincher (32) and the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) are mounted in a housing (58), and the actuatable top tube pincher (32) is mounted via at least one adjustment screw for movement over an adjustment range closer to or farther from the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) in order to allow adjustment of the defined portion of the product (18) in the flexible tube (30) between the first location (34) and the second location (44).

9. The dispenser (20) of claim 8, wherein the actuatable top tube pincher (32) comprises a top plunger (35) that is adapted to contact the flexible tube (30), and the actuatable bottom tube pincher (42) comprises a bottom plunger (45) that is adapted to contact the flexible tube (30).

10. The dispenser (20) of claim 9, further comprising an actuator (50) for actuating the top and bottom tube pinchers, the actuator (50) including a motor (51), a cam (52) driven by the motor (51), the cam (52) having first and second cam lobes (54), the first lobe is contacts the top plunger (35) and the second lobe contacts the bottom plunger (45), wherein upon the activation of the dispensing cycle, the controller (80) energizes the motor (51) to rotate the cam (52) such that the first cam lobe (53) moves the top plunger (35) to the tube closing position (32A, 42A) and the second cam lobe (54) allows the bottom plunger (45) to move to the open position (32B, 42B) at the second location (44) in order to dispense the product (18), and the motor (51) continues to rotate the cam (52) such that the second cam lobe (54) then moves the bottom plunger (45) to the tube closing position (32A, 42A) after the product (18) is dispensed, and the first cam allows the top plunger (35) to move to the open position(32B, 42B), and the first cam lobe (53) extends a distance that is at least equal to the adjustment range.11 . The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , further comprising an activation button (81) for activating the dispensing cycle.

12. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser head (70) includes a pathway (71) that extends outwardly in a radial direction as the pathway (71) extends downwardly and away from the dispensing end (62) of the dispenser tube (60) to a pathway opening (72).

13. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser head (70) includes a perforated lower shield that delimits a bottom portion (71a) of the pathway (71), and a periphery of the lower shield delimits an inner edge of the pathway opening (72).

14. The dispenser (20) of claim 13, wherein perforations (74) of the perforated lower shield have perforation axes that extend generally vertically.

15. The dispenser (20) of claim 13, wherein perforations (74) of the perforated lower shield are arranged such that only a single one of the perforations (74) is centered on a ray extending from a center of the lower shield.

16. The dispenser (20) of claim 13, wherein the lower shield has four angled sides that extend at an angle of between 30° and 60° to vertical.

17. The dispenser (20) of claim 1 , wherein the dispenser tube (60) is at least one of flexible or pivotable.

18. A food preparation station (10), comprising: a food product dump bin or receiving surface; and the dispenser (20) of claim 1 located above the food product dump bin or receiving surface for dispensing the product (18) on the food.

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