US 6,056,157 AGranted

Device for dispensing flowable material from a flexible package

AssigneeGehl's Guernsey Farms, Inc.

InventorsJohn P. Gehl, Carol J. Nikolaus, Tim Freeman, David A. Borsheim, Arnold A. Jahn

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A device for sanitary dispensing from a flexible package a heated flowable material, such as cheese sauce, to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened. The dispensing device includes a housing defining heated compartment, a heating unit for maintaining the compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level, a package support in the compartment arranged to promote gravity flow of the material and a valve for selectively controlling flow of the material from the package and having a dispensing portion disposed substantially entirely in the compartment or the package support. The valve is removably connected to a package outlet and a valve member mounted in a valve body is moved from a closed position to an open position by an operator to discharge cheese sauce through a discharge opening in the housing. A second package of cheese sauce preferably is placed on top of the dispensing package to serve as a weight for promoting gravity flow from the dispensing package and to precondition the second package. In one embodiment, the package support is divided into a dispensing compartment and a preheating compartment which is arranged to hold a package in a configuration which permits the cheese sauce to be heated to an elevated temperature required by ANSI/NSF standards. The package support preferably is a one piece hopper molded from a synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting material and packages in the dispensing and preheating compartments are heated by electrical heating elements molded into the hopper walls.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A combination for dispensing a flowable food product, said combination comprising:

a flexible package having an outlet and containing the food product, wherein the food product is to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after said package is initially opened;
and
a dispensing device including
a housing including opposed walls cooperating to define a compartment for holding at least one of said packages,
a heating unit for maintaining said compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level,
means for supporting said package in said compartment at an orientation promoting gravity flow of the food product toward and through said package outlet,
a valve for selectively controlling flow of the food product from said package, said valve including a dispensing portion and an actuating portion, said dispensing portion being disposed entirely within said compartment and heated by said heating unit, said dispensing portion including a valve body having a flow passage, a valve outlet communicable with said flow passage, and a valve member mounted in said valve body for movement between an open position, in which the food product can flow from said package, through said flow passage and out through said valve outlet, and a closed portion to prevent such flow, said actuating portion being operably connected to said valve member for movement of said valve member between the open and closed positions,
means for removably connecting said valve body to said package outlet with said flow passage in communication with said package outlet, and
a dispensing outlet in one of said housing walls through which the food product flowing through said valve outlet is discharged from said compartment,
wherein said actuating portion includes an elongated member having an outer end portion and an inner end portion operably connected to said valve member, means connected to the outer end portion of said elongated member and accessible from outside said compartment for moving said valve member from the closed position to the open position, and means for biasing said valve member toward the closed position,
wherein said valve member further includes an outer end having a keyway, and wherein the inner end portion of said elongated member is releasably and operably received in said keyway.

8 more elements

A combination for dispensing a flowable food product, said combination comprising:

a flexible package having an outlet and containing the food product, wherein the food product is to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after said package is initially opened;
and
a dispensing device including
a housing including opposed walls cooperating to define a compartment for holding at least one of said packages,
a heating unit for maintaining said compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level,
means for supporting said package in said compartment at an orientation promoting gravity flow of the food product toward and through said package outlet,
a valve for selectively controlling flow of the food product from said package, said valve including a dispensing portion and an actuating portion, said dispensing portion being disposed entirely within said compartment and heated by said heating unit, said dispensing portion including a valve body having a flow passage, a valve outlet communicable with said flow passage, and a valve member mounted in said valve body for movement between an open position, in which the food product can flow from said package, through said flow passage and out through said valve outlet, and a closed portion to prevent such flow, said actuating portion being operably connected to said valve member for movement of said valve member between the open and closed positions,
means for removably connecting said valve body to said package outlet with said flow passage in communication with said package outlet, and
a dispensing outlet in one of said housing walls through which the food product flowing through said valve outlet is discharged from said compartment,
wherein said valve body includes a bore defining said flow passage, wherein said valve member includes a port and is mounted in said bore for reciprocal axial movement relative to said valve body between an open position, in which said port is aligned with said valve outlet to connect said valve outlet in communication with said flow passage, and a closed position, in which said valve outlet is covered,
wherein said actuating portion includes an actuating meter having an outer end portion and an inner end portion connected to said valve, means connected to the outer end portion of said actuating member and accessible from outside said housing for moving said valve member from the closed position to the open positions and means for biasing said valve member toward the closed position,
wherein said actuating portion has an outer surface, wherein said valve member and said actuating portion are connected to form a subassembly, wherein said dispensing valve includes means for removably connecting said valve body to said subassembly, and
wherein said means for removably connecting said valve body to said subassembly includes a deflectable finger and a retainer, said finger being connected to said valve body and extending axially outwardly from said valve body in a direction toward the outer end portion of said actuating portion, said finger having an elongated body and an outer end terminating in an enlarged portion, said retainer being on said actuating portion, extending radially outwardly therefrom and including an arcuate, circumferentially extending slot for receiving the outer end of said finger, said slot including first and second offset portions, wherein, when said valve body and said subassembly are rotated relative to each other to an unlocking position, said first offset portion permits relative axial movement of said valve body and said subassembly such that the enlarged outer end portion of said finger can be roved through and withdrawn from said first offset portion, said second offset portion being circumferentially spaced from said first offset portion and receiving the body of said finger, wherein, when said valve body and said subassembly are in a locked position, said second offset portion prevents the enlarged outer end portion of said finger from being withdrawn through said second offset portion and prevents said valve body and said subassembly from being rotated relative to each other without said finger being deflected.

10 more elements

A combination for dispensing a flowable food product, said combination comprising:

a flexible package having an outlet and containing the food product, wherein the food product is to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after said package is initially opened;
and
a dispensing device including
a housing including opposed walls cooperating to define a compartment for holding at least one of said packages,
a heating unit for maintaining said compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level,
means for supporting said package in said compartment at an orientation promoting gravity flow of the food product toward and through said package outlet,
a valve for selectively controlling flow of the food product from said package, said valve including a dispensing portion and an actuating portion, said dispensing portion being disposed entirely within said compartment and heated by said heating unit, said dispensing portion including a valve body having a flow passage, a valve outlet communicable with said flow passage, and a valve meter mounted in said valve body for movement between an open position, in which the food product can flow from said package, through said flow passage and out through said valve outlet, and a closed portion to prevent such flow, said actuating portion being operably connected to said valve member for movement of said valve member between the open and closed positions,
means for removably connecting said valve body to said package outlet with said flow passage in communication with said package outlet, and
a dispensing outlet in one of said housing walls through which the food product flowing through said valve outlet is discharged from said compartment,
wherein said package support comprises a hopper molded from a synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting material and having a bottom wall outwardly inclined toward said dispensing valve for supporting the package in an orientation for promoting gravity flow of the food product through the package outlet,
wherein said hopper includes a front wall having an opening including a lower portion, wherein said dispensing device further includes mounting means on said valve body and said hopper front wall for removably mounting said valve body in the lower portion of said opening with said valve body and said valve member located substantially entirely inside said hopper,
wherein said valve body has an exterior surface, and
wherein said mounting means includes opposed, generally vertically extending edges defining a portion of the lower end of said opening and opposed slots in the exterior of said valve body for slidably receiving said edges.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/625,210Filed 1 Apr 1996 · continuation in part
Priority: 14 Mar 1994
Granted: 2 May 2000
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

B67D 3/0019
Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes: using ingredient cartridges
B65D 77/06
Articles or materials enclosed in two or more containers disposed one within another: liquids or semi-liquids or other materials or articles…
B67D 3/0022
Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes: provided with heating arrangements
B67D 3/045
Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer: with a closing element having a linear movement,…