Food dispenser

• US 10,154,676 B1
• Filed: 11/07/2017
• Issued: 12/18/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Walter Ready
• Original Assignee: Walter Ready
• Inventors: Ready, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Buechner, Patrick M
• Assistant Examiner(s): MELARAGNO, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US15/805,206
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 2221465, 222391
• CPC Class Codes: A21C 15/005 of which at least the dispensing part is hand-held, e.g. comprising a flexible container, pouch or gun-like applicator
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 1/202 Apparatus in which the material is shaped at least partially by a die; Extrusion of cross-sections or plates, optionally with the associated cutting device
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 30/20 Extruding
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00513 of the thread type
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00523 provided with means to heat the material
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00526 the material being supplied to the apparatus in a solid state, e.g. rod, and melted before application B05C17/0054 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/00596 The liquid or other fluent material being supplied from a rigid removable cartridge having no active dispensing means, i.e. the cartridge requiring cooperation with means of the handtool to expel the material
• CPC Class Codes: B05C 17/0123 Lever actuated

Abstract

The food dispenser is a configured for use with a viscous foodstuff. The food dispenser is an extrusion device. The food dispenser extrudes the viscous foodstuff. The food dispenser is a temperature controlled device. The food dispenser maintains the viscous foodstuff at a set temperature during the extrusion of the viscous foodstuff. The food dispenser comprises a piping gun, a heating element, and a thermal control. The piping gun contains and extrudes the viscous foodstuff. The heating element heats the viscous foodstuff contained within the piping gun. The thermal control turns the heating element on and off to control the temperature of the viscous foodstuff during extrusion.

Claims

1. An extrusion device comprising:

a piping gun, a heating element, and a thermal control;

wherein the heating element and the thermal control attach to the piping gun;

wherein the extrusion device is a configured for use with a viscous foodstuff;

wherein the extrusion device extrudes the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the extrusion device is a temperature controlled device;

wherein the extrusion device maintains the viscous foodstuff at a previously determined temperature during the extrusion of the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the piping gun contains and extrudes the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the heating element heats the viscous foodstuff contained within the piping gun;

wherein the thermal control controls the temperature of the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the piping gun is a mechanical extrusion device;

wherein the piping gun stores the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the piping gun drives the viscous foodstuff through a nozzle;

wherein the thermal control is an electrical circuit;

wherein the thermal control measures the temperature of the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the thermal control energizes and de-energizes the heating element;

wherein the thermal control has an adjustable temperature set point;

wherein the piping gun comprises a piping tip, a hopper, and a drive mechanism;

wherein the hopper attaches the piping tip to the drive mechanism;

wherein the piping tip is a hollow truncated cone;

wherein the piping tip is formed with openings in the base and the apex of the truncated cone;

wherein the viscous foodstuff is physically extruded through the piping tip;

wherein the piping tip forms the nozzle of the piping gun;

wherein the piping tip is removably attached to the hopper;

wherein the hopper is a hollow rigid cylindrical tube;

wherein the hopper is a reservoir that stores the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the heating element attaches to the hopper such that the heating element will heat the viscous foodstuff stored within the hopper;

wherein the drive mechanism comprises a plunger, a pawl, a handle, and a pivot point;

wherein the pawl is a lever that moves the plunger through the hopper;

wherein the handle is a grip;

wherein the pivot point attaches the pawl to the handle;

wherein the pivot point is a shaft that attaches the pawl to the handle;

wherein the pivot point forms a center of rotation around which the pawl rotates;

wherein the plunger comprises a drive disk and a ratchet stem;

wherein the ratchet stem attaches to the drive disk;

wherein the drive disk is positioned such that the face of the drive disk is perpendicular to the center axis of the hopper;

wherein the ratchet stem is a shaft that attaches to the surface of the drive disk that is distal from the piping tip;

wherein the center axis of the ratchet stem is aligned with the center of the drive disk and the center axis of the piping tip;

wherein the ratchet stem is a toothed bar upon which the pawl catches;

wherein the movement of the pawl forces the ratchet stem and the drive disk into the hopper;

wherein the heating element is a resistive wire;

wherein the heating element is further defined with an eleventh lead and a twelfth lead.

2. The extrusion device according to claim 1

wherein the thermal control comprises a thermostat, a set point circuit, and a power source;

wherein the thermostat, the set point circuit and the power source are electrically interconnected.

3. The extrusion device according to claim 2

wherein the thermostat comprises a thermostat switch, a feedback circuit, and a temperature sensor;

wherein the temperature sensor, the feedback sensor, and the thermostat switch are electrically connected;

wherein the thermostat switch is further defined with a fifth lead and a sixth lead;

wherein the thermostat switch is an electrical switch that is controlled by the thermostat;

wherein the thermostat switch controls the flow of electricity through the heating element;

wherein the feedback circuit is an electrical circuit contained within the thermostat;

wherein the temperature sensor measures the temperature of the viscous foodstuff.

4. The extrusion device according to claim 3

wherein the set point circuit provides a reference voltage that provides the thermostat with the targeted temperature for the viscous foodstuff;

wherein the set point circuit comprises a first resistor, a second resistor, a selection switch, and a master switch;

wherein the first resistor, the second resistor, the selection switch, and the master switch are electrically interconnected;

wherein the first resistor is further defined with a first lead and a second lead;

wherein the second resistor is further defined with a third lead and a fourth lead;

wherein the selection switch is further defined with a seventh lead and an eighth lead;

wherein the master switch is further defined with a ninth lead and a tenth lead;

wherein the feedback circuit compares the temperature of the viscous foodstuff to a target temperature indicated by the set point circuit;

wherein the first resistor is a two terminal electrical device;

wherein the second resistor is two terminal electrical device;

wherein the first resistor and the second resistor combine to form an electrical circuit configuration known as a voltage divider;

wherein the set point voltage generated by the feedback circuit is measured at the electrical connection of the first resistor and the second resistor;

wherein the selection switch is a maintained switch that is wired in parallel to the first resistor;

wherein the set point voltage generated by the set point circuit is changed using the selection switch;

wherein the master switch is a maintained switch placed in series between the power source and both the thermostat and the set point circuit.

5. The extrusion device according to claim 4

wherein the extrusion device is configured for use in melting and piping chocolate;

wherein the temperature set points of the set point circuit are selected such that the chocolate will reach a temperature selected from the group consisting of a temperature that allows the chocolate to maintain its temper and a temperature that allows the chocolate to lose its temper.

6. The extrusion device according to claim 5

wherein the piping gun further comprises a threaded connection;

wherein the threaded connection comprises an exterior screw thread and an interior screw thread;

wherein the exterior screw thread is a hollow cylindrical structure further formed with an exterior screw thread;

wherein the exterior screw thread attaches the base of the piping tip;

wherein the interior screw thread is formed on the interior surface of the hopper that is proximal to the piping tip;

wherein the exterior screw thread is sized to fit into the interior screw thread.

7. The extrusion device according to claim 6

wherein the power source electrically connects to the ninth lead of the master switch;

wherein the tenth lead of the master switch electrically connects to the fifth lead of the thermostat switch;

wherein the tenth lead of the master switch electrically connects to the seventh lead of the selection switch;

wherein the tenth lead of the master switch electrically connects to the first lead of the first resistor;

wherein the second lead of the first resistor electrically connects to the feedback circuit;

wherein the voltage level at the second lead provides the set point voltage to the feedback circuit;

wherein the second lead of the first resistor electrically connects to the third lead of the second resistor;

wherein the eighth lead of the selection switch electrically connects to the third lead of the second resistor;

wherein the sixth lead of the thermostat switch electrically connects to the eleventh lead of the heating element;

wherein the fourth lead of the second resistor electrically connects to the power source;

wherein the twelfth lead of the heating element electrically connects to the power source.

8. The extrusion device according to claim 7

wherein the thermal control resides within the handle;

wherein the exterior screw thread attaches to the base of the truncated cone that forms the piping tip;

wherein the piping tip attaches to the hopper by screwing the exterior screw thread into the interior screw thread to form the threaded connection.