Dosing device adapted for dispensing a concentrate from a holder in a metered manner

• US 6,974,052 B1
• Filed: 06/20/2000
• Issued: 12/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sara Lee / De N.V. (Sara Lee Corporation)
• Inventors: Bramer, Albertus Maria, d'Hond, Paul Isodore
• Primary Examiner(s): Bomberg, Kenneth
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cartagena, Melvin A
• Application Number:
  US10/018,232
• Time in Patent Office: 2,002 Days
• Field of Search: 222/129.1, 222/63, 222/383.2, 417/44.1, 417/50, 417/410.1
• US Class Current: 222/63
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/402 Liquid dosing devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 11/22 for liquid or semiliquid

Abstract

The invent related to a dosing device comprising a housing comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet. The dosing device is adapted for dispensing in a metered manner a viscous concentrate from a holder. The concentrate in diluted condition forms a beverage suitable for consumption. The dosing device is adapted to be connected, in use, to a storage space of the holder. According to the invention, the dosing device comprises a rotor connection to the housing for rotation around a rotation axis, for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotation axis by means of a changing magnetic field, the rotor being mechanically connected to the pump for driving the pump with the rotation rotor.

Claims

1. A dosing device removably located in a dispensing machine which dispensing machine comprises a magnetization unit for generating a changing magnetic field, said dosing device comprising a housing comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet, and a pump included in the liquid flow path, the dosing device being adapted for dispensing in a metered manner a viscous concentrate from a holder in which the concentrate is contained, the concentrate in diluted form giving a product suitable for consumption, the holder comprising a storage space in which the concentrate is contained, and the inlet of the dosing device being adapted to be connected, in use, to the storage space of the holder, wherein the dosing device comprises a rotor rotatably connected to the housing for rotation around a rotation axis, for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotation axis in response to the changing magnetic field of said magnetization unit, the pump being mechanically connected to the rotor for driving the pump in response to the rotation of the rotor by changing the magnetic field.

2. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is included in the liquid flow path.

3. A dosing device according to claim 2, wherein the rotor is included in the liquid flow path upstream of the pump.

4. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor is provided with a magnetizable material such as soft iron.

5. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a permanent magnet for contactlessly driving the rotor by means of at least one magnetic field.

6. A dosing device according to claim 5, wherein the ends of the arms form poles of the permanent magnet.

7. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the rotor comprises a plurality of arms extending in radial direction of the rotation axis.

8. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is driven by the rotor by way of a drive shaft of which an axial axis is directed in a direction from the inlet to the outlet.

9. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the housing of the dosing device is of substantially rotation-symmetrical design, with an axial axis of the housing extending in the direction from the inlet to the outlet.

10. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the dosing device is provided, downstream of the pump, with a valve included in the liquid flow path, which opens when the liquid pressure upstream of the valve exceeds a predetermined threshold valve.

11. A dosing device according to claim 1, wherein the pump is constructed as a gear pump.

12. A holder for filling with concentrate, which in diluted form, is suitable for consumption, the holder comprising a dosing device according to claim 1.

13. A holder according to claim 12, wherein the holder comprises a bag formed from a flexible sheetlike material in which the concentrate is contained, and a housing in which the bag is received.

14. A holder according to claim 13, wherein the inlet of the dosing device is connected to the bag.

15. A holder according to claim 12, wherein the housing is of more rigid design than the bag.

16. An assembly comprising an apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption and a holder according to claim 12, the apparatus being loaded with the holder, and the apparatus comprising a driver for driving the dosing device for the dosing device to dispense concentrate from the holder in a metered manner, and a diluter for the dispensed concentrate for obtaining the beverage suitable for consumption.

17. An assembly according to claim 16, wherein the holder is detachably connected to the apparatus.

18. An apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption, the apparatus being adapted to be loaded with a holder for filling with concentrate, which in diluted form, is suitable for consumption, the holder comprising a dosing device for placement in a dispensing machine, the dosing device comprising a magnetization unit for generating a changing magnetic field comprising a housing comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet, and a pump included in the liquid flow path, the dosing device being adapted for dispensing in a metered manner a viscous concentrate from a holder in which the concentrate is contained, the concentrate in diluted form giving a product suitable for consumption, the holder comprising a storage space in which the concentrate is contained, and the inlet of the dosing device being adapted to be connected, in use, to the storage space of the holder, wherein the dosing device comprises a rotor rotatably connected to the housing for rotation around a rotation axis, for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotation axis by means of the changing magnetic field, the rotor being mechanically connected to the pump for driving the pump with the rotating rotor, the apparatus comprising a magnetization unit for generating at least one magnetic field changing such that the rotor is contactlessly driven by the magnetization unit for the dosing device to dispense concentrate from the holder in a metered manner, and a diluter for the dispensed concentrate with water for obtaining the beverage suitable for consumption.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the magnetization unit comprises a magnet and a driver for rotating the magnet for generating the changing magnetic field.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the magnetization unit comprises a plurality of coils.

21. An assembly comprising an apparatus for preparing a beverage suitable for consumption and a holder for filling with concentrate, which in diluted form, is suitable for consumption, wherein the holder comprises a dosing device for placement in a dispensing machine which comprises a magnetization unit for generating a changing magnetic field, the dosing device comprising a housing comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet, a liquid flow path extending from the inlet to the outlet, and a pump included in the liquid flow path, the dosing device being adapted for dispensing in a metered manner a viscous concentrate from the holder, the holder further comprising a storage space in which the concentrate is contained, and the inlet of the dosing device being adapted to be connected, in use, to the storage space of the holder, wherein the dosing device comprises a rotor rotatably connected to the housing for rotation around a rotation axis, for causing the rotor to rotate about the rotation axis by means of the changing magnetic field, the rotor being mechanically connected to the pump for driving the pump with the rotating rotor, characterized in that the apparatus further comprises a magnetization unit for generating at least one magnetic field changing such that the rotor is driven for causing the dosing device to dispense concentrate from the holder, the apparatus being loaded with the holder, and the apparatus further comprising a driver for driving the dosing device for the dosing device to dispense concentrate from the holder in a metered manner, and a diluter for the dispensed concentrate with water for obtaining the beverage suitable for consumption.

22. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the magnetization unit comprises a magnet and a driver for rotating the magnet for generating the changing magnetic field.

23. An assembly according to claim 21, wherein the magnetization unit comprises a plurality of coils.