Viscous Food Dispenser with Flexible Container and Roller Evacuation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing food and beverage dispensers face challenges with health hazards due to equipment contamination, wear and tear leading to malfunctions, and the need for frequent cleaning and maintenance, especially when dealing with viscous products.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser machine that stores and dispenses soft food or beverage products from a flexible container, using a roller system to apply pressure and a pump unit with adjustable pins for different viscosities, while maintaining temperature control to prevent contamination and extend equipment lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical mixing and dispensing devices are used to keep ingredients mixed and viscous, then the product can be dispensed on an as-needed basis, but the equipment components in contact with the product lead to health hazards and require frequent cleaning and sanitization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the product from direct contact with mechanical mixing and dispensing components by using a flexible container system where the product remains sealed until dispensing. The product is extracted from the harmful environment of mechanical contact, eliminating contamination risks while maintaining continuous dispensing capability through the flexible container's controlled opening mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a flexible container as an intermediary between the product and the dispensing mechanism. This intermediary allows the product to be stored and dispensed without direct contact with mechanical components that could contaminate it, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous dispensing and contamination prevention.
2Ease of operation
If mechanical mixing apparatus components are in contact with food or beverage product, then the product can be mixed and dispensed, but wear and tear leads to malfunction and requires repairs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the product from contact with mechanical mixing apparatus, eliminating wear and tear on components. The flexible container system provides mixing and dispensing functions without requiring the product to contact mechanical parts, thus maintaining ease of operation while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a disposable flexible container system that eliminates the need for durable mechanical mixing apparatus. The container is used once and then discarded, removing wear and tear issues entirely while maintaining the mixing and dispensing functions through the container's design.
3Stability of the object's composition
If mechanical mixing and dispensing devices are used, then the product can be kept in mixed condition, but the equipment requires frequent cleaning and sanitization to prevent health hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the product from contact with mechanical mixing devices that require cleaning. The flexible container maintains the product in a mixed condition through its design while eliminating the need for cleaning and sanitization of equipment, thus improving ease of manufacture and operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable flexible containers that eliminate the need for cleaning and sanitization. The container is discarded after use, removing all cleaning requirements while maintaining the product's mixed condition through the container's structural design.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures safe and efficient dispensation of products without direct contact with equipment, reducing maintenance needs and preventing bacterial growth, thus enhancing hygiene and operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The roller is adapted to press the flexible viscous liquid containing bag against the support plate to squeeze the viscous liquid from the dispensing opening
Implementation Method 2
A pump unit, which is configurable by the addition or removal of pump pins to provide for the dispensation of both food and beverage products with different viscosities, draws product from the container
Implementation Method 3
When the dispenser is deactivated, the pump unit stops and the one or more pump pins incorporated into the pump apparatus operate to pinch and prevent the flow of product from the container tube spout
Implementation Method 4
an evacuation system which includes a roller or slidable weight in contact with one or more sides of the product container and which operates by force of gravity to apply pressure to and direct the food or beverage product contained in the product container toward a tube spout
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A dispenser machine for storing and dispensing viscous foods and beverages and provides for the efficient and safe dispensation of a viscous food or beverage product that is contained in a flexible product container and which does not come into direct contact with the dispenser equipment. The dispenser includes an evacuation system which includes a weighted roller or slidable weight in contact with one or more sides of the product container and which operates by force of gravity to pressure and direct the food or beverage product contained in the container toward and out of the bag or container tube spout. A pump unit, which is configurable to provide for the dispensation of both food and beverage products with different viscosities by the addition or removal of one or pump pins, draws product from the container as desired and the pump unit pins operate to pinch and prevent the flow of product from the container tube spout after the pump is shut off.