Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid material

• US 4,830,581 A
• Filed: 06/23/1987
• Issued: 05/16/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lever Brothers Company (Unilever PLC)
• Original Assignee: Lever Brothers Company (Unilever PLC)
• Inventors: Hendriks, Albertus G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hepperle, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US07/065,812
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 137/115, 137/566, 137/569, 137/116, 251/129.04, 200/83 R, 200/83 N, 417/287, 417/252
• US Class Current: 417/252
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 37/06 by pistons or pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 1/14 Conveying liquids or viscous products by pumping
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 7/0106 the sensing element being a flexible member, e.g. bellows, diaphragm, capsule
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/264 Electrical control
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86139 Serial

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid or liquefied material, comprising first pumping means, capable of delivering a continuous flow of material, second pumping downstream from said first pumping means, said second pumping means being capable of delivering less than the amount fed thereto by said first pumping means, a recirculation line, connected to the line connecting said first and said second pumping means, said recirculation line being provided with a valve and means for compensating excess of material fed by said first pumping means, which means for compensating excess material are present in said connecting line, and can activate a switch for opening said valve. In order to obviate possible problems concerning contamination by microorganisms, and to provide longer production runs, the invention is characterized in that said means for compensating excess material comprises a membrane which is impermeable for said liquid or liquefield material.

Claims

1. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of an edible liquid or liquefied material, comprising first pumping means, capable of delivering a continuous flow of material, second pumping means downstream from said first pumping means, said second pumping means being capable of delivering less than the amount fed thereto by said first pumping means, a recirculation line connected to a line connecting said first and said second pumping means, said recirculation line being provided with a valve and means for compensating excess of material fed by said first pumping means, which means for compensating excess material are present in said connecting line, and can activate a switch for opening said valve, characterized in that said means for compensating excess material comprises a tubular membrane which is impermeable for and in direct contact with said liquid or liquefied material and wherein said material can pass through the inside of said tubular membrane, said membrane activating a switch which activates said valve.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a substantially flat membrane is used.

3. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid or liquefied material comprising:

first pumping means capable of delivering a continuous flow of material;

second pumping means downstream from said first pumping means, said second pumping means being capable of delivering less than the amount fed thereto by said first pumping means;

a line connecting said first and said second pumping means;

a unit for cooling or working said liquid or liquefied material which is an edible product;

said unit positioned in said connecting line between said first and said second pumping means;

a recirculation line connected to said line connecting said first and said second pumping means;

a valve provided in said recirculation line;

means for compensating excess of material fed by said first pumping means, which means for compensating excess material is present in said connecting line, and can activate a switch for opening said valve, said means for compensating excess material comprising a tubular membrane which is impermeable to and directly in contact with said liquid or liquefiable material, and wherein said material can pass through the inside of said tubular membrane.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said edible product is selected from the group consisting of margarine, soups and mayonnaise.

5. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of an edible liquid or liquefied material, comprising first pumping means, capable of delivering a continuous flow of material, second pumping means downstream from said first pumping means, said second pumping means being capable of delivering less than the amount fed thereto by said first pumping means, a recirculation line connected to a line connecting said first and said second pumping means, said recirculation line being provided with a valve and means for compensating excess of material fed by said first pumping means, which means for compensating excess material are present in said connecting line, and can activate a switch for opening said valve, characterized in that said means for compensating excess material comprises a membrane which is impermeable for and in direct contact with said liquid or liquefied material, said membrane activating a switch which activates said valve, and wherein a pressure by means of a pressurizing liquid or gas can be applied to that side of the membrane that does not come into contact with the liquid or liquefied material.

6. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of a liquid or liquefied material comprising:

first pumping means capable of delivering a continuous flow of material;

second pumping means downstream from said first pumping means, said second pumping means being capable of delivering less than the amount fed thereto by said first pumping means;

a line connecting said first and said second pumping means;

a unit for cooling or working said liquid or liquefied material which is an edible product;

said unit positioned in said connecting line between said first and said second pumping means;

a recirculation line connected to said line connecting said first and said second pumping means;

a valve provided in said recirculation line;

means for compensating excess of material fed by said first pumping means, which means for compensating excess material is present in said connecting line, and can activate a switch for opening said valve, said means for compensating excess material comprising a membrane which is impermeable to and directly in contact with said liquid or liquefiable material, and wherein a pressure by means of a pressurizing liquid or gas can be applied to that side of the membrane that does not come into contact with the liquid or liquefied material.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said edible product is selected from the group consisting of margarine, soups and mayonnaise.