US 6,659,309 B2 · Portion control dispenser

Abstract

A portion control dispensing apparatus for dispensing precise portions of a product in a tightly controlled manner that minimizes waste caused by residual product left undispensed in a container. The device provides a dispenser for fluid products stored in a flexible container, enabling a portion control pump combined with an extrusion apparatus to squeeze the flexible container, thus continuously directing all remaining product in the container towards the dispensing end. A portion control pump removes product from the container by peristaltic action. A preferred embodiment of the apparatus comprises a frame with an upwardly spring biased carriage configured to removably hold a flexible container that holds product to be dispensed. A pair of rollers is preferably situated at the top of the frame and is positioned such that the carriage will pull the flexible container upward between the rollers as product is dispensed from the container.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An apparatus for dispensing a portion of material from a flexible container, comprising:

an extrusion assembly;
a moveable carriage, said moveable carriage further comprising a mount configured to hold an end of a flexible container, said moveable carriage being positioned with respect to said extrusion assembly so as to draw a flexible container mounted to said mount through said extrusion assembly when said moveable carriage is moved away from said extrusion assembly;
a spring biasing said moveable carriage away from said extrusion assembly;
and
a dispensing pump positioned for fluid communication with a flexible container mounted to said mount, said dispensing pump being configured to dispense a predetermined volume upon a single operation of said dispensing pump.

2 more elements

An apparatus for dispensing a portion of material from a flexible container, comprising:

a frame;
an extrusion assembly mounted to said frame;
a carriage moveably mounted to said frame, said moveable carriage further comprising a mount configured to hold an end of a flexible container;
a flexible container having a first end held by said mount and a second end opposite said first end, and a material therein;
a spring biasing said moveable carriage away from said extrusion assembly;
and
a dispensing pump in fluid communication with said flexible container, said dispensing pump being configured to dispense a predetermined volume of material from said flexible container upon a single operation of said dispensing pump;
wherein said movable carriage is positioned with respect to said extrusion assembly so as to draw said flexible container through said extrusion assembly when said moveable carriage is moved away from said extrusion assembly.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Portion control dispenser

Life of this patent

Portion control dispenser

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24