Dispensing apparatus

Abstract

Individual portions of ice cream are dispensed from a bulk container. A motor drives a lead screw, to expand a scissor linkage and drive a dispensing head against the bulk container. Pressure applied to the container causes it to collapse and discharge ice cream from an outlet. The lead screw is orthogonal with the movement of the dispensing head and the axis of collapse of the container. The container, motor and lead screw are carried on a drawer which is slidably mounted in a refrigerated housing. Pressure is monitored to regulate operation of the motor. An encoder controls the motor for a specific portion size.

1 . A dispensing apparatus for dispensing frozen or semi-frozen product such as ice cream or sorbet or the like, wherein the dispensing apparatus is of the kind comprising a bulk container for storing multiple portions of product to be dispensed, wherein the container has an outlet and is of deformable construction, for reducing the internal volume of the container and expressing product through the outlet, a dispensing mechanism including a dispensing head which is movable to apply pressure to said container to cause product to be expressed from the container through the outlet, and a valve mechanism for controlling the flow of product from the apparatus, and wherein the dispensing mechanism further includes a rotatable lead screw arrangement wherein rotation of a lead screw in a first direction causes movement of the dispensing head in a dispensing direction and rotation of the lead screw in a second direction causes movement of the dispensing head in a return direction,
 wherein the lead screw is orthogonal with the axis of movement of the dispensing head or with an axis of collapse of the container under load from the dispensing head.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container has an axis of collapse under load from the dispensing head, and wherein said axis is arranged horizontally in the apparatus. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the apparatus includes a housing and the container is mounted in a drawer or cartridge which is movable in said housing between an open position for loading or unloading a multi portion container and a stowed position for a dispensing operation, e.g. along a horizontal axis or an axis which is parallel with an axis of collapse of the container or an axis of movement of the dispensing head. 
     
     
         4 . Apparatus according to  claim 3  wherein the dispensing mechanism is carried on the movable drawer or cartridge. 
     
     
         5 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a motor for operation of the lead screw and wherein the relative position of the motor moves during operation of the lead screw, e.g. wherein the axis of movement of the motor is parallel with an axis of collapse of the container or an axis of movement of the dispensing head. 
     
     
         6 . Apparatus according to  claim 5  wherein the lead screw is arranged to operate an expandable scissor linkage for driving the dispensing head in a dispensing direction, e.g., wherein the motor is carried by said scissor linkage, and/or wherein the dispensing head is connected to the scissor linkage. 
     
     
         7 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a refrigerated housing having a compartment for receiving the container, wherein the compartment includes an inlet for receiving an outlet of the container, and the apparatus is configured to activate the dispensing mechanism for movement to engage an end of the container to hold the outlet of the container in said inlet in a non-dispensing state. 
     
     
         8 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a control system operable to control operation of the dispensing head, for dispensing individual portions of product from the container via the dispensing mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the apparatus includes a motor having a rotatable output, wherein rotation of the output in a first direction causes movement of the dispensing head in a dispensing direction for applying a load to the container, and wherein the control system is programmed to dispense a predefined portion size of product from the bulk container on demand, corresponding to a number of revolutions of the rotatable output of the motor. 
     
     
         10 . Apparatus according to  claim 8  wherein the control system is programmed to monitor the volume of product remaining in the bulk container, e.g., based upon the number of revolutions of the output of the motor, and is configured to generate an alert (e.g., audio, visual or electronic message) when the control system determines that the container is in need of replacement (e.g., when only a small proportion of product remains in the container or when the container is in a specific state of compression). 
     
     
         11 . Apparatus according to  claim 8 , further including a nozzle through which product from the container outlet is dispensed, wherein the valve mechanism is in communication with said nozzle, for selectively closing or opening said nozzle, wherein operation of the valve mechanism is controlled by the control system and wherein the control system is programmed to close the valve mechanism to prevent express of product from the outlet, once a desired portion size has been dispensed. 
     
     
         12 . Apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor pressure inside the container, and is configured to open the valve mechanism for a dispensing operation when the monitored pressure reaches a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configured to monitor pressure inside the container during dispensing operations, and to relieve or reduce the load applied to the container via the dispensing head if the monitored pressure reaches a predetermined threshold value during a dispensing operation. 
     
     
         14 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a motor for driving the dispensing head in a dispensing direction, and the apparatus is configured to reduce, interrupt or cease operation of the motor if the monitored pressure reaches a predetermined threshold value during a dispensing operation. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a force detection device, e.g., a load cell, for monitoring pressure inside the container during dispensing operations. 
     
     
         16 . Apparatus according to  claim 13  wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a motor for driving the operation of the dispensing head for a dispensing operation, and the apparatus is configured to monitor electrical changes, e.g., changes in motor current, during dispensing operations, in order to indicate changes in pressure inside the container. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the dispensing mechanism includes a motor for driving the dispensing head in a dispensing direction, and said motor is controlled to operate at a first speed in order to increase the pressure on the container (for a ‘ready to dispense’ condition) until a predetermined level is reached (e.g., indicated by the current of the motor), and the valve mechanism is then triggered to open, which in turn triggers a second speed for compressing the container and expressing product through its outlet, wherein the time period for operation at said second speed (which may be lower than the first speed) is preset to desired level relevant for dispensing a specific size of portion under normal operating conditions. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container is deformable and comprises of a single piece blow moulding of self supporting construction, the container having multiple convolutions along its length which are configured to collapse under load against a closed end of the container. 
     
     
         19 . Apparatus according to  claim 1  wherein the container has an outlet through which the product is filled and subsequently dispensed from the container, the outlet having a radially protruding collar with an angled face for sealing engagement in an inlet on said apparatus during the application of load to a closed end of the container in said apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . A container for use in the apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container is deformable and comprises of a single piece blow moulding of self supporting construction, the container having multiple convolutions along its length which are configured to collapse under load against a closed end of the container, and an outlet through which the product is filled and subsequently dispensed from the container, the outlet having a radially protruding collar with an angled face for sealing engagement in an inlet on said apparatus during the application of load to a closed end of the container in said apparatus.