Food metering and dispensing device
First Claim
1. A pump apparatus comprising:
- a cylinder for containing a piston and for forming a product chamber, said cylinder having a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving a product into said product chamber and an outlet for allowing said product chamber to be evacuated;
a piston mounted in said cylinder and movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said piston having a first longitudinally directed internal aperture, a second longitudinally directed internal aperture spaced from said first longitudinally directed internal aperture, a third longitudinally directed internal aperture spaced from said first and said second longitudinally directed internal apertures, and a laterally directed aperture,said laterally directed aperture being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis,said second and said third longitudinally directed internal apertures having communication with said first longitudinally directed internal aperture, said second longitudinally directed internal aperture also having communication with said inlet, and said third longitudinally directed internal aperture also having communication with said outlet;
a valve mounted to reciprocate in said first longitudinally directed internal aperture of said piston, said valve having a first structure for engaging a source of motion to move said valve in a reciprocating manner,a second structure for connecting to said piston to selectively move said piston, anda third structure for providing communication with said second and said third longitudinally directed internal apertures of said piston,wherein during a cycle of movement of said piston and said valve, said valve moves together with said piston during a part of the cycle and said valve moves when said piston is stationary during another part of the cycle.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A pump apparatus for an adjustable metering and dispensing pump apparatus for food products including a product piston moving in a product cylinder, the product cylinder being connected to a food hopper and a dispensing nozzle. The pump apparatus also includes a cylindrical valve moving within a central aperture in the product piston to selectively open and close passageways also in the product piston which communicate with intake and outlet ports connected to the product cylinder. The valve is attached to a valve piston moving within a valve piston cylinder and the valve piston cylinder is attached to a source of compressed air, to a sensor and to a control assembly. The control in turn is connected to a foot switch to allow an operator to initiate a cycle of the pump apparatus. The valve piston reciprocates both the valve piston and the product piston, however, while the valve moves directly with the valve piston, the product piston is connected with a lateral pin mounted in an elongated lateral slot formed in the product piston resulting in a delayed movement of the product piston. A screw is mounted to the valve piston cylinder to abut the valve piston in an adjustable manner so that the valve piston stroke is changeable resulting in a corresponding change in the volume of a food product in a product chamber in the product cylinder.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A pump apparatus comprising:
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a cylinder for containing a piston and for forming a product chamber, said cylinder having a longitudinal axis, an inlet for receiving a product into said product chamber and an outlet for allowing said product chamber to be evacuated; a piston mounted in said cylinder and movable in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis, said piston having a first longitudinally directed internal aperture, a second longitudinally directed internal aperture spaced from said first longitudinally directed internal aperture, a third longitudinally directed internal aperture spaced from said first and said second longitudinally directed internal apertures, and a laterally directed aperture, said laterally directed aperture being elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis, said second and said third longitudinally directed internal apertures having communication with said first longitudinally directed internal aperture, said second longitudinally directed internal aperture also having communication with said inlet, and said third longitudinally directed internal aperture also having communication with said outlet; a valve mounted to reciprocate in said first longitudinally directed internal aperture of said piston, said valve having a first structure for engaging a source of motion to move said valve in a reciprocating manner, a second structure for connecting to said piston to selectively move said piston, and a third structure for providing communication with said second and said third longitudinally directed internal apertures of said piston, wherein during a cycle of movement of said piston and said valve, said valve moves together with said piston during a part of the cycle and said valve moves when said piston is stationary during another part of the cycle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A food metering and dispensing device comprising:
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a metering pump assembly, said pump assembly having an inlet and an outlet; an inlet structure connecting said inlet of said pump assembly and a source of food to be pumped; a discharge structure connected to said outlet of said pump assembly; a control assembly connected to said pump assembly for operating said pump assembly in a predetermined manner; and a switch for starting a cycle of said pump assembly, said pump assembly including a product cylinder for forming a product chamber, a product piston with a longitudinally directed aperture, a valve located to move in said longitudinally directed aperture of said product piston, a structure connected to said valve for moving said valve in said longitudinally directed aperture, and a second structure that allows said product piston to be stationary while said valve is moving. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification