Warm product dispensing
AssigneePti IP LLC
InventorsBenjamin D. Johnson, Jonathan M. Katz, Don W. Cochran
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system is provided using targeted narrowband radiation emitting devices or arrays of devices that offers a solution to the difficulties surrounding heated product dispensing. Rather than maintaining an entire reservoir of product at a raised temperature, much smaller volumes (single portions or small multiples thereof) can be held ready and at temperature to be dispensed without wasting additional energy on keeping a large volume of product warm. This is achieved by leveraging the unique, targeted nature of these devices to quickly and accurately heat a small amount of product separated out from the main reservoir and held ready for dispensing.
Claims29
A warm product dispensing system using narrowband irradiation as a primary heating source, the system comprising:
- a primary storage and supply reservoir for a dispensant;
- a secondary dispensing reservoir for the dispensant connected to the primary reservoir, the secondary reservoir having a smaller volume than the primary reservoir;
- narrowband irradiation devices or arrays of devices directed at the secondary reservoir and configured to emit irradiation at a narrow wavelength band that matches a desired absorption characteristic of the dispensant, wherein the secondary reservoir is formed of a material that is optically transmissive at the narrow wavelength band emitted toward the dispensant;
- and,
- a controller configured to control the system to heat the dispensant in the secondary reservoir.
A heating and control system for use with a volume of dispensant in a primary reservoir and a secondary reservoir for dispensing, the system comprising:
- narrowband irradiation devices or arrays of devices directed at the secondary reservoir and configured to emit irradiation at a narrow wavelength band that matches a desired absorption characteristic of the dispensant, wherein the secondary reservoir is formed of a material that is optically transmissive at the narrow wavelength band emitted toward the dispensant;
- a controller configured to control heating of the dispensant using emitted narrow wavelength band irradiation to, at least one of, monitor dispense cycles, trigger the narrowband irradiation devices or arrays of devices when unheated dispensant enters the secondary reservoir, and trigger the narrowband irradiation device or arrays of devices for holding purposes when no dispensing cycles have occurred for an amount of time.
A method to be used where a volume of dispensant is divided into a primary reservoir and a secondary reservoir for dispensing the method comprising:
- supplying dispensant from the primary reservoir to the secondary reservoir;
- and,
- heating the volume of material in the secondary reservoir for dispensing by emitting from narrowband irradiation devices or arrays of devices irradiation at a narrow wavelength band that matches a desired absorption characteristic of the dispensant, wherein the secondary reservoir is formed of a material that is optically transmissive at the narrow wavelength band emitted toward the dispensant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.