Rapid comestible fluid dispensing apparatus and method

A comestible fluid dispensing apparatus, comprising:

• a nozzle having a chamber defined therein for receiving and retaining comestible fluid;
• a plunger valve in telescoping relationship within the nozzle, the plunger valve defining a wall of the chamber;
• and
• an actuator coupled to the plunger valve,
• the plunger valve having an open position in which comestible fluid in the chamber can exit the chamber and a sliding seal defining a range of closed positions in which comestible fluid in the chamber cannot exit the chamber, the plunger valve movable by the actuator through the open position and the range of closed positions.

A comestible fluid dispenser, comprising:

• a nozzle having a dispensing outlet and having an elongated chamber defined therein for receiving and retaining comestible fluid;
• and
• a plunger valve in the elongated chamber and movable through a range of positions including at least two closed positions in which the plunger valve blocks flow of comestible fluid through the discharge port and at least one open position in which the plunger valve does not block flow of comestible fluid through the dispensing outlet,
• the at least two closed positions including a first closed position in which the plunger valve seals the elongated chamber at a first location in the nozzle wherein fluid pressure of the comestible fluid in the nozzle is at a first pressure and a second closed position in which the plunger valve seals the elongated chamber at a second location in the nozzle wherein fluid pressure of the comestible fluid in the nozzle is at a second pressure lower than the first pressure. fluid pressure of the comestible fluid in the nozzle is at a second pressure lower than the first pressure.

A method of dispensing a comestible fluid, comprising the steps of:

• providing a nozzle with an interior surface thereof at least partially defined by a movable wall having a fluid-tight seal;
• maintaining comestible fluid in a fluid line at a first pressure, the fluid line terminating at the nozzle closed against flow of comestible fluid therethrough;
• moving the movable wall and seal to a different position in the nozzle to lower pressure in the fluid line to a second pressure by enlarging a cavity defined in the nozzle;
• and
• opening the nozzle to permit flow of the comestible fluid through the nozzle substantially at the second pressure.

A method of dispensing a comestible fluid, comprising the steps of:

• feeding comestible fluid at a first pressure to a nozzle closed by a valve within the nozzle;
• moving the valve between positions in the nozzle in which the valve is sealed at different locations in the nozzle to increase a chamber size within the nozzle and to lower pressure of the comestible fluid to a second pressure;
• opening the nozzle by moving the valve to an open position after the step of moving the valve to increase the chamber size;
• and
• dispensing comestible fluid from the nozzle substantially at the second pressure.

A method of dispensing a quantity of comestible fluid from a dispensing device with minimal foaming of the comestible fluid, the method comprising the steps of:

• receiving the quantity of comestible fluid at a first pressure within a chamber in a nozzle, the chamber being at least partially bounded by a surface of a plunger valve, the plunger valve defining a sliding seal within the nozzle;
• moving the plunger valve to increase a size of the chamber and to reduce pressure of the comestible fluid in the chamber to a second pressure;
• and
• moving the plunger valve further to open the nozzle and to dispense the comestible fluid from the nozzle substantially at the second pressure.