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US 9,848,620 B2Granted
Frozen food dispensing machine and method of operation
AssigneeCarrier Corporation
InventorsJames J. Minard, Benjamin A. Vosmek, Stephen M. Wadle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A frozen food dispensing machine includes a refrigerated first zone including a product storage chamber. A second zone is operably connected to the first zone for flowing product from the first zone. A third zone is configured to receive a flow of product from the second zone, freeze the flow of product and dispense the flow of product. The first zone, the second zone and the third zone are isolatable from each other.
Claims9
A frozen food dispensing machine comprising:
- a refrigerated first zone including a product storage chamber;
- a second zone operably connected to the first zone for flowing product from the first zone;
- and
- a third zone configured to:
- receive a flow of product from the second zone;
- freeze the flow of product;
- and
- dispense the flow of product;
- the second zone including:
- one or more product feed lines in flow communication with the first zone and the third zone;
- a check valve disposed at the one or more product feed lines to prevent flow from the second zone into the first zone;
- a pump downstream of the check valve to urge the flow of product from the first zone into the second zone;
- and
- a sanitizer source and a sanitizer conduit extending therefrom, the sanitizer conduit intersecting the one or more product feed lines at or near the check valve and configured to flush the second zone with a flow of sanitizer from the sanitizer source via operation of the pump;
- wherein the first zone, the second zone and the third zone are isolatable from each other.
12 more elements
A method of operating a frozen food dispensing machine comprising:
- urging a flow of product from a refrigerated first zone into a second zone via operation of a pump disposed in the second zone;
- conveying the flow of product through the second zone and into a third zone via one or more product feed lines;
- freezing the product in a freezing cylinder in the third zone;
- dispensing the product from the third zone;
- fluidly isolating the second zone from the first zone and the third zone;
- and
- flushing the second zone with a flow of sanitizer from a sanitizer source and sanitizer conduit disposed in the second zone while the second zone is fluidly isolated from the first zone and the third zone via operation of the pump;
- wherein the first zone, the second zone and the third zone are isolatable from each other, the first zone isolated from the second zone via a check valve disposed at the one or more product feed lines between the pump and the first zone.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.