Flexible impeller pump for flowable food product

Abstract

A flexible impeller pump designed for use in dispensing a flowable food product is disclosed. The flexible impeller pump includes a cover, impeller assembly and a pump body that are assembled to create the pump without other separate components. The components can be permanently connected to each other to create a disposable pump or can be disassembled for cleaning and reuse. The impeller assembly includes an impeller shaft and a flexible impeller molded over the impeller shaft to prevent separation. The impeller assembly is received within the pump body and the cover is secured to the pump body. The cover includes a seal that is molded over the pump body to prevent separation of the seal from the cover. The impeller shaft extends through the pump body and is coupled to a drive shaft of an electric motor that is operable to drive the impeller pump.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A pump operable to pump a flowable food product, comprising:
 a pump body including an inlet port, an outlet port and an open impeller chamber;   an impeller assembly configured to be received within the open impeller chamber, the impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller portion having a plurality of vanes; and   a cover member having a body and a seal member, wherein the cover member is configured to be received and retained on the pump body such that the seal member is positioned between the cover member and the pump body.   
     
     
         2 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the impeller portion is molded over an interface section of the impeller shaft. 
     
     
         3 . The pump of  claim 2  wherein the interface section includes a plurality of splines that frictionally engage the impeller portion. 
     
     
         4 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the impeller shaft is formed from molded plastic and the impeller portion is formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         5 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the cover member is mechanically secured to the pump body to retain the impeller assembly within the impeller chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The pump of  claim 5  wherein the cover member is ultrasonically welded to the pump body. 
     
     
         7 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the cover member includes a body having an annular receiving slot on an inner surface of the body, wherein the seal member is received and retained within the annular receiving slot. 
     
     
         8 . The pump of  claim 7  wherein the seal member is molded within the annular receiving slot. 
     
     
         9 . The pump of  claim 1  wherein the impeller shaft includes a drive shaft portion that extends from the pump body for engagement with a drive motor 
     
     
         10 . The pump of  claim 9  wherein the impeller portion includes a rear seal that surrounds the drive shaft portion and contacts the pump body when the impeller is received in the pump body. 
     
     
         11 . A flowable food product dispenser for dispensing a flowable food product from a supply of food product, comprising:
 a pump operable to pump the supply of flowable food product out of the dispenser; and   a drive motor coupled to the pump and operable to rotate the pump,   wherein the pump comprises:
 a pump body including an inlet port, an outlet port and an open impeller chamber; 
 an impeller assembly configured to be received within the open impeller chamber, the impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller portion having a plurality of vanes; and 
 a cover member having a body and a seal member, wherein the cover member is configured to be received and retained on the pump body such that the seal member is positioned between the cover member and the pump body. 
   
     
     
         12 . The food product dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the impeller portion is molded over an interface section of the impeller shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The food product dispenser of  claim 12  wherein the interface section includes a plurality of splines that frictionally engage the impeller portion. 
     
     
         14 . The food product dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the impeller shaft is formed from molded plastic and the impeller portion is formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         15 . The food product dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the cover member is mechanically secured to the pump body to retain the impeller assembly within the impeller chamber. 
     
     
         16 . The food product dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the cover member includes a body having an annular receiving slot on an inner surface of the body, wherein the seal member is received and retained within the annular receiving slot. 
     
     
         17 . The food product dispenser  claim 16  wherein the seal member is molded within the annular receiving slot. 
     
     
         18 . The food product dispenser of  claim 11  wherein the impeller shaft includes a drive shaft portion that extends from the pump body for engagement with a drive motor 
     
     
         19 . The food product dispenser pump of  claim 18  wherein the impeller portion includes a rear seal that surrounds the drive shaft portion and contacts the pump body when the impeller is received in the pump body. 
     
     
         20 . A pump for use in a food product dispenser to pump a flowable food product, comprising:
 a pump body including an inlet port, an outlet port and an open impeller chamber;   an impeller assembly configured to be received within the open impeller chamber, the impeller assembly including an impeller shaft and an impeller portion having a plurality of vanes, wherein the impeller portion is mold over an interface section of the impeller shaft; and   a cover member having a body and a seal member molded into the body, wherein the cover member is configured to be received and retained on the pump body such that the seal member is positioned between the cover member and the pump body.