Dispensing apparatus and method for semi-solid product

• US 20050189375A1
• Filed: 06/17/2002
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: McGill Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: McGill Technology Limited
• Inventors: Mcgill, Shane Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,665,630 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/1
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/28 for portioning or dispensing
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 9/283 for filling containers with material

Abstract

Dispensing apparatus is primarily intended for dispensing product from product containers (12) by extrusion. In controlling discharge of product a flexible tube (25) is connected to the container outlet and the tube is engageable with drive means (29, 31) for deforming the tube and controlling product discharged along the tube to an outlet nozzle (26). Usually there will be valves towards the entry (27) and exit (28) of the flexible tube and the drive means engages the tube between the spaced positions.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing semi-solid product by extrusion wherein a container of product is pressurised to cause the product to be discharged by extrusion through an outlet from the container into a flexible tube, controlling the flow of product from the outlet through the tube to an outlet nozzle, and compressing the flexible tube using drive means to express product from the tube towards the nozzle.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the flow of product is controlled by a first inlet valve between the container outlet and the flexible tube, and a second outlet valve between the flexible tube and the nozzle.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first valve is opened to admit product into the tube with the second valve closed, the first valve is then closed and the second valve opened, and the drive means is then operated to compress the tube and express product in the tube through said nozzle downstream of the second valve.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein operation of the drive means is controlled to express a predetermined portion of the product in the tube through the nozzle, the size of the portion being adjustable to range between all the product in the tube and a proportion of said product.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes tube engagement means which is moveably reciprocally towards and away from the tube to compress the tube.

6. A method according to claim 2 wherein the first and second valves are spaced along the tube to open and close the tube by reciprocal movement to engage, deform and close the tube at said spaced locations.

7. A method according to claim 1 wherein the container outlet is releasably connected to the tube, the tube extending towards the outlet nozzle which is shaped to shape a product discharged therethrough.

8. A method according to claim 1 wherein the drive means includes tube engagement means moveable along the tube towards the outlet nozzle to discharge the tube contents.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein the tube engagement means includes a roller which engages the tube towards one end thereof and moves towards the outlet nozzle after said engagement.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the flow of product from the container is controlled by an outlet valve located between the tube and the nozzle and by the drive means.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein the container and the flexible tube are contained within a refrigerated environment, the nozzle projecting outwards from said environment.

12. Apparatus for dispensing semi-solid product, comprising a product container, the container having an outlet, pressurising means for putting the product in the container under pressure to thereby extrude product from the outlet, flexible tube means communicating with the outlet at one end and with an outlet nozzle at the other end, drive means for engaging the flexible tube means to deform the tube and cause product in the tube to be discharged through said nozzle, and valve means for controlling the flow of product from the nozzle.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the valve means includes a valve adjacent to the nozzle, which valve controls the flow of product form the tube to the nozzle.

14. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the valve means includes a further valve between the container outlet and the tube to control flow of product to the tube.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the drive means includes a reciprocal drive member arranged to engage the flexible tube to deform and flatten the tube whereby to cause product in the tube to be discharged from said nozzle.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the reciprocal drive member is moveable along the tube towards said nozzle after engaging the tube.

17. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the container outlet and the flexible tube are releasably connected to one another and the tube is removeable from the apparatus for replacement and/or sanitising.

18. Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein the container and the flexible tube are located in a refrigerated housing whereby to keep product frozen, the nozzle projecting outwardly from the housing.