FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing a viscous liquid, particularly in the beverage industry.

BACKGROUND Condensed milk is commonly used in Asian countries when making beverages. It is a convenient solution which is able to provide both sweetness and creaminess to a beverage when used.

Unfortunately, there are some downsides with regard to using condensed milk. The shelf life of condensed milk is short during use of the condensed milk, and should be refrigerated during use. In addition, the sweetness of the condensed milk attracts insects, which is detrimental to the hygiene of the beverage being made if the insects come into contact with the condensed milk.

Increasingly, evaporated milk is being used as an alternative to condensed milk, and there are also similar downsides to using condensed milk. In addition, when powdered diary creamers are used for the making of beverages, the consequent taste of the beverages is not desirable. This is the reason why the use of condensed or evaporated milk is preferable. In view of the aforementioned, it is evident that there are challenges when condensed or evaporated milk is used in vending machines or food service machines for dispensing beverages. These challenges will need to be overcome to ensure that these machines are able to operate in a desired manner within safe food service standards.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect, there is provided an apparatus for dispensing a viscous liquid, the apparatus comprising :

a container mount for securing a container containing the viscous liquid;

a receptacle for mounting of the container mount;

a pump-mixer configured to be coupled to the container when the container mount is mounted to the receptacle; and

a controller for controlling the pump-mixer.

It is preferable that the pump-mixer is configured to dispense the viscous liquid in measured amounts as controlled by the controller.

In a second aspect, there is provided a container mount for placement of a liquid container, the container mount being configured to be secured within a receptacle with the liquid container being located at a first position and orientation within the receptacle, the first position enabling a coupling of the liquid container with a pump-mixer.

It will be appreciated that the broad forms of the invention and their respective features can be used in conjunction, interchangeably and/or independently, and reference to separate broad forms is not intended to be limiting.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES A non-limiting example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :

FIG 1 is a first perspective view of an example apparatus for dispensing a viscous liquid;

FIG 2 is a second perspective view of the apparatus of FIG 1; and

FIG 3 is a third perspective view of the apparatus of FIG 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention provides users with an apparatus for dispensing a viscous liquid, particularly milk-based liquids. The apparatus is configured to ensure that the milk-based liquids are able to be stored in a hygienic manner during a shelf-life of the milk-based liquids. In addition, the milk-based liquids are also able to be dispensed in measured amounts, while allowing the introduction of water for dilution.

Referring to FIGs 1 to 3, there are shown various perspective views of a first example of an apparatus 100 for dispensing a viscous liquid. The apparatus 100 can be installed in a vending/food service machine configured to dispense beverages, or can be a standalone device that is used for the making of beverages. The apparatus 100 requires a power source to operate in a desired manner, and the power source can be from a mains power supply or a portable power source. The apparatus 100 includes a base plate 110, which can be formed from a metal sheet, and is configured to be mounted to a fixed structure so as to support a load of at least 12 kg. The fixed structure is not shown, but it can be a structure within a vending/food service machine or a structure at a beverage making platform.

The apparatus 100 can also include a central frame 130, the central frame 130 being configured to provide a structure for mounting various components of the apparatus 100 in a fixed configuration with each other. Other than having mounting fixtures for the various components, the central frame 130 should be able to support a load of at least 12 kg. Typically, a first portion 140 of the central frame 130 has a footprint which ensures stability and prevents toppling of the central frame 130. A second portion 150 of the central frame 130 includes a receptacle 160 for locating a container containing the viscous liquid. The container can be either an aseptic bag or a rigid container. The receptacle 160 is configured to receive a container mount 170, the container mount 170 being configured to allow mounting of the container. When the container mount 170 is mounted to the receptacle 160, the container is consequently located at a desired position and orientation in the receptacle 160. One way that the container mount 170 is mounted to the receptacle 160 is with the use of a plurality of retention fixtures 180 for securing the container mount 170. In one example, the container mount 170 can be slid into the receptacle 160 akin to a drawer in a cupboard. It should be appreciated that other ways of locating the container mount 170 into the receptacle 160 can be carried out, which need not require use of the plurality of retention fixtures 180. In some instances, the container mount 170 can be integrated with the container containing the viscous liquid. The apparatus 100 also includes a refrigerator 120 which encloses the central frame 130. It should be noted that the refrigerator 120 can be optional, and need not be included if the viscous liquid being dispensed does not require refrigeration. The refrigerator 120 can be used to provide a pest-resistant enclosure for a container containing the viscous liquid. In some embodiments, the refrigerator 120 can be replaced with an enclosure without a capability to cool a space within the enclosure. The apparatus 100 also includes a pump-mixer 190 which can be configured to dilute contents of the container mounted to the container mount 170. Examples of the pump-mixer 190 can include, for example, Quantex™ BIB-19 (with/without dilution function, low or high pressure versions), Quantex™ LR-20 (with/without dilution function, low or high pressure versions), and the like. In this example, the pump-mixer 190 is connected to a water source via a conduit 185. It should be appreciated that when the container mount 170 is mounted to the receptacle 160, the container is in a desired position and orientation which enables the container to be coupled to the pump-mixer 190. When the container is coupled to the pump-mixer 190, a seal covering an opening on the container is broken to ensure that contents in the container are able to enter the pump-mixer 190. The pump-mixer 190 is actuated by a controller 195. The controller 195 can be programmed using a cabled connection or using a wireless data connection (remotely). When the controller 195 can be programmed remotely, recipes for beverages using the apparatus 100 can be varied conveniently and easily. For example, a rate of viscous liquid being dispensed by the pump-mixer 190 can be controlled, a degree of dilution of the viscous liquid can be controlled, a timing sequence with regard to dispensing of the viscous liquid, and so forth. In some examples, the pump-mixer 190 can be disposable, which aids in ensuring hygiene of the apparatus 100, and also ensures an effectiveness of the pump-mixer 190 is not compromised by clogging caused by remnants of viscous liquids passing through the pump-mixer 190. It should be appreciated that disposable does not mean single-use, instead, it means multiple-use instances over a short period of time of less than one month. It should also be appreciated that disposable means that multiple units of the pump-mixer 190 will be utilised during the life of the apparatus 100.

Regarding the operation of the apparatus 100, typically, a user mounts a container containing the viscous liquid for use when making a beverage(s) to the container mount 170. Subsequently, the user opens a door of the refrigerator 120, and mounts the container mount 170 to the receptacle 160. Finally, the user closes the door of the refrigerator 120, and the apparatus 100 is then in a ready state for use.

Generally, the apparatus 100 is configured in a manner which allows quick and convenient restocking of a viscous liquid (for example, a milk- based product) which is used in the making of beverages. In addition, the apparatus 100 ensures that viscous liquid milk-based products can be utilised in measured amounts when making beverages, and this ensures that the taste of the beverages is more desirable compared to when powdered diary creamers are used and can be more easily customised for users' respective taste preferences, for example, beverages of different degrees of sweetness, arbitrarily illustrated as not sweet, less sweet, normal sweetness and extra sweet. Furthermore, the appearance of the beverages is also more palatable, as it is possible to introduce a frothy appearance for the beverages.

Throughout this specification and claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that numerous variations and modifications will become apparent. All such variations and modifications which become apparent to persons skilled in the art, should be considered to fall within the spirit and scope that the invention broadly appearing before described.