Dispensing apparatus for fluid contained in flexible packages

A dispenser for dispensing a supply of fluid, the dispenser comprising:

• a flexible package accommodating the primary supply of fluid, the flexible package being connected to a first conduit, the first conduit connecting the flexible package to a buffer reservoir, the first conduit being connected to a second conduit at a point disposed between the flexible package and the buffer reservoir, the second conduit being connected to a cylinder, the cylinder being connected to a piston comprising a lower end and an upper end, the lower end being slidably accommodated in the cylinder, the upper end being detachably connected to an actuator, the cylinder being in communication with an outlet,
• the buffer reservoir being disposed vertically below the flexible package so that fluid flows downward from the flexible package through the first section of the conduit to the buffer reservoir,
• when the fluid is disposed in the flexible package, upward movement of the actuator results in upward movement of the piston and a drawing of fluid from the flexible package, through a portion of the first conduit and into the cylinder below the lower end of the piston,
• when the supply of fluid in the flexible package is depleted and fluid is disposed on the buffer reservoir, upward movement of the actuator results in a drawing of fluid from the buffer reservoir, through a portion of the first section of the conduit, through the second section of conduit and into the cylinder,
• when the fluid in the flexible package and buffer reservoir is depleted, upward movement of the actuator and piston results in a reduction in pressure in the cylinder, the conduit and the package until the pressure is reduced to a level where the piston is drawn downward causing the upper end of the piston to become detached from the actuator.

A fluid dispenser comprising:

• a flexible package connected to a first pump by a conduit, the flexible package containing a supply of fluid to be dispensed, the first pump comprising a first cylinder and a first piston, the first piston comprising a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the first piston being slidably accommodated in the first cylinder, the upper end of the first piston detachably engaging an actuator,
• the dispenser further comprising a buffer reservoir connected to the conduit between the flexible package and the first pump, the buffer reservoir comprising a buffer pump comprising a buffer cylinder connected to a buffer piston comprising an upper end and a lower end, the lower end of the buffer piston being disposed in the buffer cylinder, the upper end of the buffer piston being biased above the buffer cylinder by spring disposed between the buffer cylinder and the upper end of the buffer piston, a buffer supply of fluid being disposed in the buffer cylinder below the lower end of the buffer piston,
• when fluid is disposed in the flexible package, upward movement of the actuator results in upward movement of the first piston and a drawing of fluid from the flexible package, through the conduit and into the first cylinder,
• when the supply of fluid in the flexible package is depleted, upward movement of the actuator results in an initial upward movement of the first piston which results in a reduction in pressure in the first cylinder, conduit and package until the pressure is reduced to a level where the buffer piston is urged downward causing the lower end of the buffer piston push fluid into the conduit before being drawn into the first cylinder,
• when the supply of fluid in the flexible package is depleted and the supply of fluid in the buffer reservoir is depleted, the first piston is urged downward by reduced pressure in the first cylinder causing the upper end of the first piston to become detached from the actuator.

A dispensing station for dispensing a plurality of fluids contained in flexible packages, the station comprising:

• a rotary table, the table comprising an outer periphery having a plurality of fluid dispensers disposed around the periphery, the table rotating so that one dispenser is disposed in front of a receiving vessel at a time, the table comprising an actuator for activating the dispenser disposed in front of the receiving vessel,
• each dispenser comprising
• a flexible package connected to a first pump by a conduit, the flexible package containing a supply of fluid to be dispensed, the first pump comprising a first cylinder and a first piston, the first piston comprising a lower end and an upper end, the lower end of the first piston being slidably accommodated in the first cylinder, the upper end of the first piston detachably for engaging the actuator,
• when the fluid is disposed in the package, upward movement of the actuator results in upward movement of the first piston and a drawing of fluid from the package, through the conduit and into the first cylinder,
• when the supply of fluid in the package is depleted, upward movement of the actuator results in an initial upward movement of the first piston which results in a reduction in pressure in the first cylinder, conduit and package until the pressure is reduced to a level where the first piston is urged downward by reduced pressure in the first cylinder causing the upper end of the first piston to become detached from the actuator.

A method of dispensing a recipe from a rotary dispensing station, the method comprising the following steps:

• providing a plurality of different viscous fluids, each fluid being contained in an individual flexible package attached to one of a plurality of dispensers, each dispenser being mounted onto a rotary table, the table comprising an outer periphery having the fluid dispensers disposed around the periphery, the table rotating so that one dispenser with one flexible package is disposed in front of a receiving vessel at a time, the table further comprises an actuator for activating the dispenser disposed in front of the receiving vessel, each dispenser comprising a flexible package connected to a pump by a conduit,
• rotating the table so that a first dispenser with a first flexible package containing a first viscous fluid is disposed in front of the receiving vessel and the actuator is detachably attached to the upper end of the piston of the first dispenser,
• moving the actuator upward thereby drawing of fluid from the first flexible package, through the conduit and into the cylinder of the first dispenser,
• moving the actuator downward to pump fluid from the cylinder of the first cylinder into the receiving vessel,
• rotating the table so that a second dispenser with a second flexible package containing a second viscous fluid is disposed in front of the receiving vessel and the actuator is detachably attached to the upper end of the piston of the second dispenser,
• moving the actuator upward thereby drawing of fluid from the second flexible package, through the conduit and into the cylinder of the second dispenser,
• moving the actuator downward to pump fluid from the cylinder of the second cylinder into the receiving vessel.