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CA-3116689-C - FOOD PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL

CA3116689CCA 3116689 CCA3116689 CCA 3116689CCA-3116689-C

Abstract

A dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package includes an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package, a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet, a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and operable to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle, and a temperature control assembly including a temperature control element in thermally conductive contact with the product package and the dispensing nozzle to heat or cool the product package and the dispensing nozzle.

Inventors

  • Shawn Campbell
  • Ralf Reiser
  • Seung-Yeol Hong
  • Michael Paul Piatko

Assignees

  • RICH PRODUCTS CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20191015
Priority Date
20181015

Claims (20)

  1. 14 CLAIMS: 1. A dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package, the dispenser comprising: an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package; a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet; a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and operable to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle; a fluid pathway extending between the pump and the dispensing nozzle, the fluid pathway including an aerator configured to receive the product from the pump and to whip the product as the product flows along the aerator; and a temperature control assembly including a temperature control element in thermally conductive contact with the product package and the dispensing nozzle to heat or cool the product package and the dispensing nozzle, wherein the temperature control assembly is further configured to heat or cool the fluid pathway.
  2. 2. The dispenser of claim 1, wherein the temperature control element includes a plate configured to at least partially support the product package.
  3. 3. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-2, wherein the temperature control assembly includes a thermoelectric device configured to heat or cool the temperature control element.
  4. 4. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-3, wherein the temperature control element is in thermally conductive contact with the fluid pathway.
  5. 5. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the temperature control element includes a first zone and a second zone, and wherein the temperature control assembly is configured to control a temperature of the first zone and a temperature of the second zone independently. 88328570
  6. 6. The dispenser of claim 5, wherein the first zone is located adjacent the fluid pathway, and the second zone is located adjacent the product package such that the temperature control assembly is configured to control a temperature of the fluid pathway and a temperature of the product package independently.
  7. 7. The dispenser of claim 6, wherein the first zone and the second zone have different heating or cooling capacities.
  8. 8. The dispenser of claim 7, wherein the first zone has a greater heating or cooling capacity than the second zone.
  9. 9. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-8, wherein the pump includes an outlet in fluid communication with the fluid pathway, and wherein the pump is configured to discharge the product from the outlet at a discharge pressure of at least 40 psi.
  10. 10. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1-9, further comprising a motor configured to drive the pump, wherein the motor includes a motor shaft, wherein the pump includes a pump shaft, and wherein the pump shaft is removably coupled to the motor shaft.
  11. 11. The dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a wall separating the pump and the motor, wherein at least one of the pump shaft or the motor shaft extends through the wall.
  12. 12. The dispenser of claim 10, further comprising a housing including a first compartment and a second compartment, wherein the pump is supported within the first compartment, and wherein the motor is supported within the second compartment.
  13. 13. The dispenser of claim 12, wherein the first compartment is configured to receive the product package.
  14. 14. The dispenser according to any one of claims 1 or 10-13, wherein the inlet is insertable into the product package, and wherein the inlet is removably coupled to the pump. 88328570 16
  15. 15. A dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package, the dispenser comprising: a housing including a first compartment configured to receive the product package and a second compartment separated from the first compartment; a motor positioned in the second compartment, the motor including a motor shaft defining an axis; an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package; a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet; a pump positioned in the first compartment, the pump in fluid communication with the inlet and driven by the motor shaft to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle; a fluid pathway extending between the pump and the dispensing nozzle, the fluid pathway including an aerator configured to receive the product from the pump and to whip the product as the product flows along the aerator; and a temperature control assembly configured to heat or cool the product package when the product package is received in the first compartment.
  16. 16. The dispenser of claim 15, wherein the temperature control assembly includes a plate configured to at least partially support the product package within the first compartment.
  17. 17. The dispenser according to any one of claims 15-16, wherein the temperature control assembly includes a temperature control element in thermally conductive contact with the product package and the dispensing nozzle, and the temperature control assembly includes a thermoelectric device configured to heat or cool the temperature control element.
  18. 18. The dispenser according to any one of claims 15-17, wherein the temperature control assembly is configured to heat or cool the fluid pathway.
  19. 19. The dispenser according to any one of claims 15-18, wherein the fluid pathway is disposed entirely within the first compartment. 88328570 17
  20. 20. The dispenser according to any one of claims 15-19, wherein the temperature control assembly is configured to heat or cool the product package, the fluid pathway, and the dispensing nozzle by conduction.

Description

FOOD PRODUCT DISPENSER WITH TEMPERATURE CONTROL CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/745,851 filed on October 15, 2018, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE [0002] The present disclosure relates to product dispensers, and more particularly to temperature controlled product dispensing machines for dispensing consumable food or beverage products, such as whipped topping. [0003] Conventional whipped topping dispensing machines typically include a container, tank, or other reservoir for storing a bulk quantity of product to be dispensed. Thoroughly cleaning and refilling the reservoir can be difficult and time consuming. In addition, to keep the product in the reservoir cool, conventional whipped topping dispensing machines typically employ compression refrigeration systems which are often complex, relatively expensive to produce, and require periodic maintenance. SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0004] The present disclosure provides, in one aspect, a dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package. The dispenser includes an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package, a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet, a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and operable to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle, and a temperature control assembly including a temperature control element in thermally conductive contact with the product package and the dispensing nozzle to heat or cool the product package and the dispensing nozzle. [0005] The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package. The dispenser includes a housing including a first compartment configured to receive the product package and a second compartment separated 1 WO 2020/081545 PCT/0S2019/056295 from the first compartment, a motor positioned in the second compartment, the motor including an output shaft defining an axis, an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package, a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet, a pump positioned in the first compartment, the pump in fluid communication with the inlet and driven by the output shaft to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle, and a temperature control assembly configured to heat or cool the product package when the product package is received in the first compartment. [0006] The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a method of disassembling a dispenser including a first compartment configured to receive a product package and a pump configured to pump product from the product package, through an aerator, and to a dispensing nozzle. The method includes opening a lid to access the first compartment, detaching the dispensing nozzle from the aerator, disengaging a retainer from the pump, and removing the pump and the aerator from the first compartment. [0007] The present disclosure provides, in another aspect, a dispenser configured to dispense a product from a product package, the dispenser including an inlet configured to receive the product from the product package, a dispensing nozzle downstream of the inlet, a pump in fluid communication with the inlet and operable to pump the product from the product package to the dispensing nozzle through a fluid flow path, and a temperature control assembly including a first zone configured to heat or cool the fluid flow path and a second zone configured to heat or cool the product package. The second zone has a greater heating or cooling capacity than the first zone. [0008] Other features and aspects of the disclosure will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. I is a perspective view of a dispenser according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [0010] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, taken along line 2A- 2A, with internal components omitted. 2 WO 2020/081545 PCT/0S2019/056295 [0011] FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, taken along line 2B- 2B, with a lid of the dispenser omitted. [0012] [0013] [0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is another exploded perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the dispenser of FIG. 1, illustrating an embodiment of a lid assembly of the dispenser. [0015] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a portion of a lid assembly according to another embodiment and usable with the dispenser of FIG. 1. [0016] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a lid assembly according to another embodiment and usable with the dispenser of FIG. 1. [0017] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a lid assembly according to another embodime