Heated Pot Dispenser With Vacuum Lid for Precise Food Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensing systems for flowable food products at elevated temperatures face challenges in precise metering, efficient product utilization, and risk of contamination due to mechanical parts and exposure to air, leading to bacterial growth and product solidification.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing apparatus featuring a pot with a rope heater, a pump, and a movable lid with a wiper, along with a check valve and thermal insulation to maintain product temperature and prevent solidification, while allowing for controlled dispensing and easy product replacement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual dispensing with ladle or spout is used, then ease of operation is improved, but manufacturing precision and measurement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical dispensing (ladle/spout) with an automated pump system that uses peristaltic or diaphragm pumping mechanisms. This substitution enables precise metering through controlled pump operation while maintaining ease of operation through automated control, resolving the contradiction between manual simplicity and dispensing precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system is designed to automatically dispense predetermined amounts of product without requiring manual intervention for each dispensing action. The system self-regulates the dispensing amount through programmed pump operation, eliminating the imprecision of manual ladling while maintaining operational simplicity through automated service.
2Ease of operation
If food product is exposed to air during dispensing, then ease of operation is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a vacuum-sealed pot system that creates an inert atmosphere by removing air from the product storage environment. This prevents bacterial growth and oxidation during storage and dispensing while maintaining ease of operation through automated vacuum-controlled dispensing mechanisms that do not require manual handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual opening and handling of food containers with an automated vacuum-sealed pump system. This eliminates the need to break seals or expose product to air during normal operation, preventing contamination while maintaining operational simplicity through automated vacuum-controlled dispensing.
3Temperature
If heated gas flow system is used, then temperature control is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the heating function from a complex gas flow system and implements it through simpler alternative heating mechanisms such as heating elements or heat exchangers integrated into the pump system. This maintains effective temperature control for product viscosity management while reducing overall device complexity by eliminating the need for complex heated gas circulation infrastructure.
4Productivity
If roller squeezing mechanism is used, then productivity is improved, but object-generated harmful factors worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the roller squeezing mechanism with a pump-based dispensing system that uses peristaltic or diaphragm pumping actions. This substitution eliminates direct mechanical contact between rollers and food product, preventing contamination while maintaining high productivity through controlled pump operation that can dispense product rapidly and consistently.
Solution Approach 2:
The pump system acts as an intermediary between the vacuum-sealed product container and the dispensing outlet. This intermediary mechanism transfers product through sealed tubing or chambers without requiring direct mechanical contact with the product, eliminating contamination risks while maintaining efficient dispensing speed and productivity.
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, efficient, and precise dispensing of flowable products at elevated temperatures, minimizing bacterial growth and product waste, and preventing contamination through vacuum sealing and thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
A rope heater configured to heat the pot
Implementation Method 2
The pot may have a check valve to prevent product spilling when the pot is lifted out of the stationary vat
Implementation Method 3
The lid may be designed to scrape any food product residue off the vertical walls of the pot, while also maintaining the vacuum as it moves into the pot
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments of the present invention are directed to a dispensing apparatus for dispensing a flowable product at or above a preset elevated temperature through a dispensing outlet. Such an apparatus includes a pot in which to house the product. The dispensing apparatus also includes a pump coupled between the pot and the dispensing outlet to pump the flowable product from the pot to the dispensing outlet. A rope heater configured to heat the pot may also be included in the dispensing apparatus. The pot may have a movable lid, which may vacuum seal the product against the exterior environment. The lid is designed to scrape any food product residue off the vertical walls of the pot, while also maintaining the vacuum as it moves into the pot. The pot may have a check valve to prevent product spilling when the pot is lifted out of the housing.