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Title:
APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A PRODUCT FROM A FORM-RETAINING CONTAINER
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2007/039167
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
The invention relates to an apparatus (1) for dispensing a product from a form-retaining container (2) filled with that product and having an outflow opening (3). The dispensing apparatus (1) comprises a frame (4) defining a space (5) for accommodating said container (2) and means (6) for supplying a displacing medium to the container (2). The displacing medium supply means (6) may include a manually operable or motor driven pump (8) for compressing ambient air. The dispensing apparatus (1) may further include means (7) for controlling the outflow of product from the container (2) . These outflow control means (7) may be adapted to control movement of a closure member (16) of the container (2) or they may include a controllable closure member themselves. The dispensing apparatus (1) may be arranged in a refrigerated housing.

Inventors:
MAAS WILHELMUS JOHANNES JOSEPH (NL)
HURKMANS PETRUS LAMBERTUS WILH (NL)
WIJK DOMINICUS JAN (NL)
Application Number:
PCT/EP2006/009287
Publication Date:
April 12, 2007
Filing Date:
September 25, 2006
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
AFA POLYTEK BV (NL)
MAAS WILHELMUS JOHANNES JOSEPH (NL)
HURKMANS PETRUS LAMBERTUS WILH (NL)
WIJK DOMINICUS JAN (NL)
International Classes:
B67D1/04; A23G9/28
Foreign References:
US5282561A1994-02-01
EP0285709A11988-10-12
EP0133246A11985-02-20
US5492249A1996-02-20
US5405054A1995-04-11
US4420948A1983-12-20
US6435377B12002-08-20
US5735440A1998-04-07
GB335998A1930-10-09
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
BARTELDS, Erik (Sweelinckplein 1, GK The Hague, NL)
Download PDF:
Claims:

Claims

1. An apparatus for dispensing at least one product from a form-retaining container filled with said at least one product and having an outflow opening, comprising:

- a frame defining a space for accommodating said container; and

- means for supplying a displacing medium to the container .

2. The dispensing apparatus of claim 1, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means include at least one pump for compressing ambient air.

3. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the at least one pump is manually operable.

4. The dispensing apparatus of claim 3, characterized in that the at least one pump is a piston pump having a cylinder and a piston that is movable therein, one of the cylinder and piston being attached to a movable operating handle and the other being attached to the frame.

5. The dispensing apparatus of claim 4, characterized in that the operating handle is pivotably connected to the frame.

6. The dispensing apparatus of claim 5, characterized in that the operating handle is substantially U-shaped and has two legs that are pivotably connected to the frame at opposite sides of the container accommodating space. 7. The dispensing apparatus of claim 6, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means include two pumps, each of which is operated by a leg of the U-shaped operating handle .

8. The dispensing apparatus of claim 2, characterized in that the at least one pump is operably connected to a drive motor.

9. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means include a water pipe for connection to a water mains.

10. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means are arranged to supply the displacing medium at a pressure of 0.1 to 5 bar above ambient pressure.

11. The dispensing apparatus of claim 10, characterized in that the displacing medium supply means are arranged to supply the displacing medium at a pressure of 0.5 to 3 bar, in particular 0.75 to 2 bar above ambient pressure. 12. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame includes a fitting for receiving a collar surrounding the outflow opening of the container.

13. The dispensing apparatus of claim 12, characterized in that the fitting has a closed circumference for surrounding the collar.

14. The dispensing apparatus of claim 12, characterized in that the fitting has an open circumference for supporting the collar. 15. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized by means for controlling the outflow of product from the container.

16. The dispensing apparatus of claim 15, characterized in that the outflow control means are adapted to control movement of a closure member of the container.

17. The dispensing apparatus of claim 16, characterized in that the outflow control means include a

manually operable control member engaging the container closure member.

18. The dispensing apparatus of claims 8 and 17, characterized in that the control member is further controllingly connected to the drive motor of the pump of the displacing medium supply means.

19. The dispensing apparatus of claim 15, characterized in that the outflow control means are adapted to selectively close the outflow opening of the container. 20. The dispensing apparatus of claim 19, characterized in that the outflow control means include a controllable closure member.

21. The dispensing apparatus of claim 19, characterized in that the outflow control means include pinch members engaging a relatively flexible outflow conduit of the container.

22. The dispensing apparatus of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame, the displacing medium supply means and/or the outflow control means are arranged in a refrigerated housing having an opening providing access to the outflow opening of the container.

23. The dispensing apparatus of claim 22, characterized in that the container accommodating space is accessible through a door in the housing. 24. The dispensing apparatus of claim 22 or 23, characterized in that the housing includes a storage space for receiving at least one spare container.

25. The dispensing apparatus of claims 23 and 24, characterized in that the storage space is arranged in a main body of the housing and the frame including the container accommodating space forms part of the door of the housing.

26. The dispensing apparatus of claims 8 and 25, characterized in that the main body of the housing includes

an engine room for accommodating a refrigerating unit, and in that the drive motor of the pump of the displacing medium supply means is arranged in this engine room.

Description:

APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A PRODUCT FROM A FORM-RETAINING CONTAINER

The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing at least one product from a form-retaining container.

The dispensing apparatus of the present invention is especially adapted for use in combination with a dispensing assembly as disclosed in the co-pending patent application "Method and assembly for dispensing a product from a form- retaining container".

The dispensing assembly disclosed therein comprises a form-retaining container for receiving the product to be dispensed, which container has an outflow opening for dispensing the product. The assembly further includes means for introducing into the container a medium for displacing the product. These displacing medium introduction means include a chamber for the displacing medium that is separated from the part of the container containing the product by means of a flexible diaphragm. The outflow opening is surrounded by a neck on which a dispensing adapter may be mounted. This dispensing adapter includes a closure member for the outflow opening and a connector for connecting a source of displacing medium to a supply port leading to the chamber.

The dispensing apparatus of the invention comprises a frame defining a space for accommodating a container filled with a product and having an outflow opening and means for supplying a displacing medium to the container. This dispensing apparatus allows a container to be introduced into the space where it is held in stable manner. Whenever a user wishes to dispense part of the product from the container, this may easily be done by actuating the supply means to introduce the displacing medium into the container, in order

to build up sufficient pressure, and then opening the outflow opening. When the required amount of product has been dispensed, the outflow opening is closed again. If during dispensing the pressure drops to a point where the outflow of product through the opening is reduced, additional displacing medium may be introduced into the container by actuating the supply means again.

In a preferred embodiment, the displacing medium supply means include at least one pump for compressing ambient air. This allows the dispensing apparatus to be used anywhere, without the need for providing a special displacing medium.

A low-cost dispensing apparatus that is easy to use is obtained, when the at least one pump is manually operable. In this way the apparatus does not rely on any external power source for its operation.

In a structurally simple yet effective embodiment of the dispensing apparatus the at least one pump is a piston pump having a cylinder and a piston that is movable therein, one of the cylinder and piston being attached to a movable operating handle and the other being attached to the frame. An easy to use dispensing apparatus is obtained when the operating handle is pivotably connected to the frame. In order to provide a sturdy mechanism allowing some force to be applied, the operating handle is preferably substantially U- shaped and has two legs that are pivotably connected to the frame at opposite sides of the container accommodating space.

In that case the displacing medium supply means may include two pumps, each of which is operated by a leg of the U-shaped operating handle, so as to achieve an even load distribution on the handle.

When the dispensing apparatus is intended for fairly regular use, for instance at a point of sale, it may be

preferable to have the at least one pump operably connected to a drive motor. In this way the salesperson's work is made easier.

When the displacing medium supply means include a water pipe for connection to a water mains, there is no need to compress air whenever the product is to be dispensed. This is especially convenient when the dispensing apparatus is permanently installed at a point of use.

In order to generate sufficient force for expelling the product from the container, the displacing medium supply means are preferably arranged to supply the displacing medium at a pressure of 0.1 to 5 bar above ambient pressure. When that the displacing medium supply means are arranged to supply the displacing medium at a pressure of 0.5 to 3 bar, in particular 0.75 to 2 bar above ambient pressure, the loads on the various parts of the dispensing apparatus remain relatively low.

In order to provide a secure coupling between the container and the dispensing apparatus, the frame preferably includes a fitting for receiving a collar surrounding the outflow opening of the container. This fitting may have a closed circumference for surrounding the collar, or it may have an open circumference for supporting the collar.

Although the container may already have its own outflow control means, the dispensing apparatus may also be provided with means for controlling the outflow of product from the container.

When the dispensing apparatus is intended for use in combination with a container having a closure member for closing the outflow opening, the outflow control means are preferably adapted to control movement of the closure member. In that case the outflow control means advantageously include

a manually operable control member engaging the closure member.

When, on the other hand, the dispensing apparatus is intended to be used with a container lacking any provision for closing the outflow opening, the outflow control means are preferable adapted to selectively close the container outflow opening. In that case, the outflow control means may include a controllable closure member.

The container may have a relatively flexible outflow conduit, in which case the outflow control means may include pinch members engaging the outflow conduit to close it. Although in a typical household environment the dispensing apparatus may be used for dispensing ice cream from a container that is normally stored in the deep freezer, and that is only inserted into the apparatus when there is actually demand for ice cream, it is also conceivable that the dispensing apparatus will be used at a point of sale. In that case, the frame, the displacing medium supply means and/or the outflow control means are preferably arranged in a refrigerated housing having an opening providing access to the outflow opening of the container. In that way the dispensing apparatus is permanently ready for use.

In order to allow the container to be replaced when empty, the container accommodating space is preferably accessible through a door in the housing.

When the housing includes a storage space for receiving at least one spare container, the dispensing apparatus can be used as a stand-alone unit for a relatively long time. A compact and efficient dispensing apparatus is obtained when the storage space is arranged in a main body of the housing and the frame including the container accommodating space forms part of the door of the housing.

When the dispensing apparatus is provided with a motor driven pump, and the main body of the housing includes an engine room for accommodating a refrigerating unit, the drive motor of the pump of the displacing medium supply means is advantageously arranged in this engine room as well. In that way all power consuming parts are packed together, which is an advantage from a maintenance and inspection point of view.

The invention will now be elucidated by way of some non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective front view of a first embodiment of the dispensing apparatus in accordance with the present invention; Figures 2A and 2B are transparent perspective front views showing the dispensing apparatus of Figure 1 in a position of rest during a pump stroke, respectively;

Figure 3 is a perspective front view showing a container being inserted into the dispensing apparatus of the preceding Figures;

Figure 4 is a perspective front view of the apparatus and container in a position of rest;

Figure 5 is a view corresponding with that of Figure 4 during a pump stroke; Figure 6 is a view corresponding with those of

Figures 4 and 5 showing the container outflow opening to be opened;

Figures 7A to 7F are partially cut-away side views of the outflow control means during various stages of dispensing;

Figure 8 is a transparent side view of a second embodiment of the dispensing apparatus;

Figure 9 is a transparent perspective rear view of the dispensing apparatus of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a view corresponding to Figure 8 showing a container being inserted into the dispensing apparatus; Figure 11 is a view corresponding with Figures 8 and 10 showing the dispensing apparatus during a pump stroke;

Figures 12A and 12B are detailed front views showing the outflow control means opening and closing the container outflow opening, respectively; Figure 13 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view showing the operation of the pinch members for controlling the outflow;

Figure 14 is a perspective front view of a third embodiment of the dispensing apparatus in combination with a somewhat different container in a position of rest;

Figure 15 is a view corresponding to Figure 14 showing the dispensing apparatus at the end of a suction stroke;

Figure 16 is a partially cross-sectional side view of the dispensing apparatus and container of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a detailed longitudinal sectional view showing the connection between the container and the dispensing apparatus;

Figure 18 is a front perspective view of the lower part of the dispensing apparatus only;

Figure 19 is a view corresponding to Figure 15 showing a fourth embodiment of the dispensing apparatus;

Figure 20 is a view corresponding to Figure 19 showing the dispensing apparatus during a pump stroke; Figure 21 is a view corresponding to Figure 18 of this embodiment of the dispensing apparatus;

Figure 22 is a perspective front view of a fifth embodiment of the dispensing apparatus, which includes a refrigerated housing;

Figure 23 is a perspective front view from a different angle, showing the door of the housing of the dispensing apparatus in an open position;

Figure 24 is a perspective front-to-rear sectional view, showing the lower part of the housing;

Figure 25 is a perspective left-to-right sectional view showing the main body of the housing; and

Figure 26 is a perspective view showing the refrigerating unit and air pump used in this embodiment of the dispensing apparatus.

An apparatus 1 for dispensing a product from a form- retaining container 2 that is filled with that product and that has an outflow opening 3, comprises a frame 4 that defines a space 5 for accommodating container 2 (Fig. 1) . The dispensing apparatus further includes means 6 for supplying a displacing medium to the container 2. In this embodiment the dispensing apparatus 1 also comprises means 7 for controlling the outflow of product from the container 2.

In the illustrated embodiment the displacing medium supply means 6 include a manually operable pump 8 for compressing ambient air. This pump is a piston pump, having a cylinder 9 attached to a movable operating handle 10 and a piston 11 attached to the frame 4 (Fig. 2). The piston 11 is mounted on a hollow piston rod 12, which forms part of a supply line 13 running from the interior of the cylinder 9 to a connector 14. During use this connector 14 is connected to a supply port that is arranged in the neck 15 of the container 2.

This first embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 is intended to be used with a container 2 having a pivotable

closure member 16 arranged at the end of the neck 15 for closing the outflow opening 3. Therefore, the outflow control means 7 are adapted to control movement of this closure member 16. To this end, the outflow control means 7 include a manually operable control member 17 having ridges 18 which engage a protruding edge 19 of the container closure member 16 (Fig. 7). This control member 17 is pivotable about an axis 20 that is coaxial with the pivot axis 21 of the closure member 16 when the container 2 is accommodated in the receiving space 5.

In order to prevent inadvertent operation of the control member 17, which might lead to loss of product from the container 2, the dispensing apparatus 1 further includes a locking member 22 that is movably arranged on the frame 4. The locking member 22 has a protruding leg 23, which fits through an opening 24 in the control member 17 when the locking member 22 is moved to its unlocked position (Figs. 7B to 7E) , but which extends beyond a forward edge 25 of the opening 24 when the locking member 22 is in its locked position (Figs. 7A and 7F). The locking member 22 is biased to its locking position by suitable biasing means, like a spring (not shown here) .

The frame 4 includes an upright part or fitting 26 having a closed circumference, thus defining an opening for accommodating the neck 15 of the container 2, or in this case a dispensing adapter 27 arranged on the container neck 15. This fitting 26 includes the outflow control means 7 and the connector 14, which is connected to a corresponding connector 28 in the dispensing adapter 27, which in turn is connected to the supply port for the displacing medium arranged in the container neck 15.

The operation of the dispensing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment is as follows. After the container 2 has

been placed in the receiving space 5 and the dispensing adapter 27 has been received in the fitting 26 (Figs. 3 and 4), the ambient air that will serve as displacing medium is pressurized by pivoting the operating handle 10 (Fig. 5). Then the outflow opening 3 is freed by pivoting the control member 17 upward, taking the closure member 16 with it (Fig. 6) . Before the control member 17 can be moved, it has to be unlocked by an opposite pivoting movement of the locking member 22 (Fig. 7B) , after which the control member 17 and closure member 16 can be pivoted towards the locking member 22 and the product can be dispensed (Figs. 7C and 7D). When a sufficient amount of product has been dispensed, the closure member 16 is returned to its closed position by pivoting the control member 17 forward (Fig. 7E) and the locking member 22 is returned to its locked position by the biasing means (Fig. 7F) .

In a second embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 (Fig. 8), which is intended to be used with a container 2 that does not have a dispensing adapter including a closure member, the outflow control means 7 are adapted to selectively close the outflow opening 3 of the container 2. In this embodiment the container 2 is provided with a relatively flexible neck 15. In order to close the outflow opening 3, the outflow control means 7 include upper and lower pinch members 29, 30 that are pivotally mounted on the upright fitting 26 of the frame 4 and that include operating levers 31, 32. Both these pinch members 29 and 30 are substantially L-shaped in side view, and include cooperating gears 33, 34. The lower pinch member 30 is rectangular in front view and is arranged around the neck 15 of the container 2 when this is accommodated in the receiving space 5.

When one of the operating levers 31, 32 is moved, the pinch members 29, 30 move towards or away from each other due to the action of the intermeshing gears 33, 34, thus freeing the outflow opening 3 in the container neck 15 (Figs. 12A and 13) or pinching it shut (Fig. 12B) .

In this embodiment the receiving space 5 is tilted towards the upright fitting 26, so that gravity will assist in forcing the product towards the outflow opening 3 in the container neck 15. This arrangement also allows the pump 8 to be centrally located below the receiving space 5 (Fig. 9). Consequently, the operating handle 10 is configured as a U- shaped bracket including a transverse member 35 attached to the cylinder 9.

Here again, after the container 2 has been connected to the dispensing apparatus (Fig. 10), the outflow opening 3 has to be closed before the pump 8 may be operated. This is done by moving the operating levers 31, 32 together, after which the operating handle 10 may be actuated (Fig. 11). The outflow opening 3 may be freed to start dispensing product from the container 2 by either pulling the operating lever 32 of the lower pinch member 30 forward or pushing the operating lever 31 of the upper pinch member 29 backward, thus moving the pinch members 29, 30 away from each other.

A third embodiment of the dispensing apparatus 1 (Fig. 14), which is intended to be used with a somewhat different container 2, lacks separate outflow control means. In this embodiment, the fitting 26 has an open, semi-circular circumference, allowing the collar 36 of the dispensing adapter 27 on the container neck 15 to be simply lowered into the fitting 26. The container 2 is held in place by a ridge 41 on the collar 36 fitting into a groove 42 along the inside of the fitting 26 (Fig. 17) . The dispensing adapter 27 includes a control member 37 for operating the closure member

16, which in this embodiment of the container 2 is arranged on the inside. The control member 37, which is pivotable about two half shafts 38 that form the connection to the closure member 16, extends outside the collar 36 and is shaped such as to be complementary to the fitting 26. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the contour of the control member 37 forms a continuation of the upper edge of the frame 4.

In this embodiment the cylinder 9 of the pump 8 is fixed inside the frame 4, next to the container accommodating space 5 (Fig. 18) . The piston 11 is connected to a leg 39 of the U-shaped operating handle 10 through its piston rod 12, which includes pivots 40 at both ends (Fig. 16). Both the operating handle 10 and the frame 4 of this embodiment are asymmetrical . An embodiment of the dispensing apparatus that is symmetrical is shown in Figs. 19 and 20. Here the displacing medium supply means 6 include two smaller pumps 8 having their cylinders 9 fixedly arranged in the frame 4 on opposite sides of the space 5. This arrangement results in a particularly compact dispensing apparatus. Moreover, the symmetry results in an even distribution of loads over the various parts of the apparatus.

In yet another embodiment, which is intended primarily for use at a point of sale, the entire dispensing apparatus 1 is arranged in a refrigerated housing 43 (Fig.

22). This housing 43 consists of a main body 44 and a door 45 pivotably connected thereto by hinges 46. The container accommodating space 5 is defined by the door 45, while the main body 44 of the housing 43 defines a storage space 47 for two spare containers 2 (Fig. 23). A seal 55 is arranged along the circumference of the door 45, while a magnet 56 ensures that the door 45 is kept closed.

In the lower part of the main body 44 an engine room 48 is defined, in which a refrigerating unit 49 is arranged (Figs. 24, 25). This refrigerating unit 49 includes a compressor 50 with start condenser, a condenser/heat exchanger 51 with a cooling fan 52 and an evaporator (not shown) . The motor driven pump 8 is also arranged in the engine room 48 (Fig. 26) .

The operating handle 10 is arranged on the outside of the door 45, and is connected to the closure member 16 of the dispensing adapter 27 on the container neck 15 either mechanically or electrically. An opening 53 at the bottom of the door 45, which is closed off by a valve 54, allows the product to be dispensed from the refrigerated housing 43. The valve 54 is operated by movement of the handle 10, which may be connected to the valve 54 either mechanically or electrically as well. The actuating sequence of the closure member 16 and the valve 54 is such that no product can be trapped in the door 45. In other words, when dispensing starts, the valve 54 is opened before the closure member 16, while the closure member 16 is the first to be closed at the end of a dispensing operation. The operating handle 10 is also electrically connected to the motor driven pump 8, so that this will be actuated when the operating handle 10 is moved, in order to supply displacing medium (pressurized air) to expel the product from the container 2.

In all the illustrated embodiments, the displacing medium supply means 6 are arranged to supply the displacing medium to the container 2 at a pressure that is 0.1 to 5 bar above ambient pressure. This range is chosen such that sufficient force is generated to dispense a normal amount of product relatively quickly, while at the same time keeping the loads on the various parts of the dispensing apparatus 1 and the container 2 at reasonable levels. In particular, the

displacing medium can be supplied at a pressure of 0.5 to 3 bar, and preferably 0.75 to 2 bar above ambient pressure.

Although the invention has been illustrated by way of some exemplary embodiments, it will be clear that it is not limited thereto, but may be modified and adapted in various ways. For instance, the means for supplying displacing medium might include a canister filled with pressurized gas. It is also conceivable that these displacing medium supply means take the form of a water supply pipe including a controllable valve and arranged to be connected to the water mains.

Moreover, it is not always necessary to arrange the connector for supplying the displacing medium next to the outflow control means. When the dispensing apparatus is used in combination with a container in which the supply port for the displacing medium is arranged at a different location, e.g. opposite the outflow opening, the connector may be rearranged accordingly.

Consequently, the scope of invention is defined solely by the following claims.