Dispensing system
AssigneeFBD Partnership, LP
InventorMatthew Gates
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved beverage dispensing system includes a main system structure and an improved dispensing structure. The main system structure includes a freezing chamber for freezing a food item to be dispensed by the system and elements for conveying the unfrozen food item into the freezing chamber, for freezing the food item within the chamber and maintaining the overall proper operation of the system. The food item to be dispensed by the main system structure may be a frozen carbonated beverage. The improved dispensing structure that operates such that the venturi effect will create a pressure differential across a venturi insert tending to pull (or push) dispensed product through a venturi insert and out of the dispensing portion of a faceplate.
Claims20
A food or beverage dispensing device, comprising:
- a venturi insert comprising
- a flow opening disposed in the insert;
- at least one convergent area upstream of the opening;
- at least one divergent area downstream of the opening;
- and
- a cylindrical bore upstream of the at least one convergent area;
- and
- a valve stem structure comprising an elongate member with an outside surface configured to seal against the cylindrical bore, and a tip disposed on an end of the elongate member and configured to extend beyond the divergent area when the stem structure is sealed to the cylindrical bore.
A food or beverage dispensing device, comprising:
- a product flow path with at least one opening in communication with at least one product chamber and a dispensing nozzle;
- a venturi insert disposed within the flow path comprising at least one convergent area, at least one divergent area below the at least one convergent area, and a shaft area above the at least one convergent area;
- a valve stem structure slidably retained within the dispense path comprising a first end, and configured to cooperate with the shaft area to form a seal to open or close the flow path.
A frozen beverage dispenser, comprising:
- a dispensing flow path comprising a channel in fluid communication with at least one product chamber and a dispensing nozzle;
- a venturi insert within the dispensing flow path defining at least one convergent area, at least one divergent area below the at least one convergent area, a shaft area with substantially vertical sides above the at least one convergent area, and a flow constriction disposed between the convergent area and the divergent area;
- a valve stem structure retainably and movably disposed within the dispensing flow path comprising an elongate member with an outside surface, and a first end configured to cooperate with the venturi insert to form a seal;
- wherein the valve stem structure has a first position within the dispensing flow path permitting flow of product from the at least one product chamber through the dispensing flow path and out the dispensing nozzle;
- and
- wherein the valve stem structure has a second position within the dispensing flow path wherein the first end of the valve stem structure cooperates with the shaft area to form the seal thereby preventing the flow of product from the at least one product chamber through the dispensing flow path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.