Sealed, self-cleaning, food dispensing system including pump and bypass passage

A food product processing and dispensing apparatus comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of panel members coupled to the frame a product chamber positioned within the frame, the product chamber having an inlet;
• a faceplate coupled to the product chamber, the faceplate defining a dispense bore passing generally vertically through the faceplate and a bypass passage having a first end opening, a portion of the faceplate being adapted to be coupled to a blocking cap in such that the blocking cap, when coupled to the faceplate, blocks the dispensing of product when the blocking cap is coupled to the faceplate;
• a movable valve element positioned at least partially within the dispense bore, the movable valve stem including a sealing surface for creating a seal with an interior portion of the dispense bore;
• and a valve actuator coupled to the valve element, the valve actuator being configured to move the valve element from a first position to permit dispensing of a food product from within the product chamber to a second position where the seal between the valve element and the interior of the dispense bore precludes dispensing of the food product;
• wherein the bypass passage is positioned such that, when the valve stem is in the second position, and the blocking cap is coupled to the faceplate, a fluid path exists between the interior of the product cylinder and the first end of the bypass passage;
• a cleaning fluid tank having an outlet;
• a fluid pump having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet of the fluid pump being fluidly coupled to the inlet of product chamber and the inlet of the fluid pump being fluidly coupled to a connection element that may be removably coupled to one of either:
• a self-cleaning receiver port that may be fluidly coupled to the cleaning fluid tank such that activation of the fluid pump will result in creation of a negative pressure causing the introduction of cleaning fluid from the cleaning fluid storage reservoir into the product cylinder;
• or the outlet of a source of a food ingredient such that when the connection element is removably coupled to the outlet of a source of food ingredient, activation of the pump will result in the pumping of a food ingredient into the product chamber.

A food processing apparatus comprising:

• a cylinder, the cylinder having an inlet for receiving a food ingredient;
• a faceplate coupled to the cylinder, the faceplate defining a dispense bore and a bypass passage having a first open end;
• a blocking cap coupled to the faceplate to block the dispensing of product from within the cylinder;
• and
• a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of pump being fluidly coupled to a connection element that may be removably coupled to a source of cleaning fluid;
• wherein, when the connection element is removably coupled to the source of cleaning fluid, activation of the pump will result in the pumping of cleaning fluid into the food dispensing cylinder, though the cylinder into the blocking cap, and through the blocking cap into the bypass passage.