US 12,274,288 B2Granted

Foamed product dispensing system, valve member, and product container

AssigneeFrieslandCampina Nederland B.V.

InventorsQuintijn Innikel, Mark Robert René Massa, Robert Matheus Adriaan Poets, Koen Beeckman

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Abstract

A foamed product dispensing system, wherein the system includes: a product dispensing machine, configured to receive an exchangeable product container; a product container, configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine, after placement in the machine; wherein the product container contains a foamable product, preferably a food product, for example cream, wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit including a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product, wherein the processing unit is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, wherein the system includes a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container, wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable (and sealable) by a thermally insulating closure member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A foamed product dispensing system, comprising:

(a) a product dispensing machine configured to receive an exchangeable product container;
(b) a product container configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine after placement in the machine;
wherein the product container is configured to contain a foamable product,
wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit (CPU) including a frothing device, the CPU having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product,
wherein the CPU is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, and
(c) a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container,
wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable by a thermally insulating closure member,
wherein the closure member is movable between a first position and a second position,
wherein, in the first position, the thermally insulating closure member provides a passage for a flow of foamed product from the product exit of the CPU through the product outlet port,
wherein, in the second position, the thermally insulating closure member closes the product outlet port, and
wherein the closure member comprises a product dispensing passage that is located opposite the product outlet port when the closure member is in the first position, wherein in the second position of the closure member, as compared to the first position, the product dispensing passage is arranged at a distance from the product outlet port.

8 more elements

A foamed product dispensing system, comprising:

(a) a product dispensing machine configured to receive an exchangeable product container;
(b) a product container configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine after placement in the machine,
wherein the product container is configured to contain a foamable product,
wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit (CPU), and a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product,
wherein the CPU is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product,
wherein the CPU comprises a product feedthrough channel (PFC) upstream of the frothing device, closable by a valve member,
wherein the CPU comprises a fluid feedthrough channel (FFC) upstream of the frothing device,
wherein the valve member is configured for providing a fluid communication between the fluid feedthrough channel (FFC) of the CPU and a fluid supply of the dispensing machine,
wherein at the valve member, there is provided at least one of:
(i) a distally arranged first sealing structure configured to provide a first sealed closure which blocks the product feedthrough channel (PFC) when the product feedthrough channel (PFC) is closed by the valve member;
and/or
(ii) a second sealing structure configured to provide a second sealed closure, remote from a distal end of the valve member at a location between a distal section and proximal section of the valve member;
and/or
(iii) a third sealing structure arranged near or at a proximal section of the valve member.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/883,254Filed 8 Aug 2022 · continuation
Priority: EP 2016019328 Feb 2020
Published: US 2023/0033650 A12 Feb 2023
Granted: 15 Apr 2025
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification15 codes

A23P 30/40
Shaping or working of foodstuffs characterised by the process or apparatus: foaming or whipping
A23G 9/28
Details, component parts or accessories of apparatus insofar as not peculiar to a single one of the preceding groups: for portioning or dispensing
A47J 31/4485
Parts or details or accessories of beverage-making apparatus: nozzles dispensing heated and foamed milk, i.e. milk is sucked from a milk…
B01F 23/235
By introducing gases into liquid media, e.g. for producing aerated liquids: for making foam