US1547045A - Ice-cream-dispensing device - Google Patents

Description

. W. H. KIMBALL ICE CREAM DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Oct. 28, 1922 Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES WALTER n. KIMBALL, OF rnnv'r, MICHIGAN.

IGE-GREAIVI-DISPENSING DEVICE.

Application filed October 28, 1922. Serial No. 597,680.

v pensing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

Thls invention relates to ice cream dis- PGIlSlDg dGVlCQS and proposes the construction of novel and efiicient means for filling the cardboard or other cartons of the sanitary type constituting the container in which ice cream is soldin packaged form.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a dispensing device for filling ice cream cartons, constructed to permit the carton to be inserted with the open end downward, and removed therefrom with the open end uppermost, whereby the necessity of handling that part of the carton adjacent the upper end thereof eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a casing for the reception of the carton, having a peripheral knife edge at its lOWer end which terminates in a shoulder serving as an abutment for the open end of the carton, and beingextended inwardly a slight distance beyond the wall of said carton to produce, when pressed into the body of ice cream in a storage vessel, a

block of slightly smaller dimension than that of the carton, allowing space for the distribution of the air compressed in the upper end of the inverted carton in the act of filling the latter, thus preventing compression of the ice cream with consequent loss of volume due to the squeezing out of the overrun or air-content of the ice cream. 1

Still another object of the invention is the, provision of a quick-detachable top for the dispensing device and covering that end of the latter through which the carton is illserted and removed, said top being provided with a handle.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the improved ice cream dispensing device illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and particularly claimed, and in such variations and modifications thereof as will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates.

In the drawings accompanying and forming a part of this specification, and wherein the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated: a

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved ice creamdispensing device, parts being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same from beneath.

Figure 3 is a section taken along the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4; is a side elevation, partly in section, taken'in a plane at right angles to the planes of Fig. l, the lower part showing a slightly modified form of the invention. 1

Referring now in detail to the several figures, the numeral 1 represents a casing. In the preferred form here shown it is cylindrical in shape, although it may be made of any shape desired and still be within the spirit of the invention. A pair of lugs 2 are arranged at opposite sides of the casing 1, the upper ends of which extend beyond said casing and are formed with transverse slots 8, the lower walls vof said slots being preferably in the plane-of the top of said casing.

The upper end of the casing is adapted to be closed by means of the cover plate 4: which may be formed with a downwardly extending projection 5 fitting the open end of the container 1, and with diametrically projecting lugs 6, each of which is furnished with a transverse slot7.v From the central portion of the cover plated arises the stem 8 which is bifurcated as shown at 9 and 10 in Figure 3, the divided portions forming a yoke within which is secured the hand-hold 11 by means of suitable securing device 153. The cover plate is adaptedto be manipulated by means of the hand-hold 11 and to be placed upon the upper open end of the casing 1 and turned until theslots 7 cooperate with the slots 3 in the lugs 2 in interlocking relation. By this construction a quick-detachable securing means is provided forthe cover plate. Upon removing the latter a cardboard carton 13 may be introduced into the casing 1, with the open end downward. V j j The lower end of the casing 1 is open and formed with a cutting edge 14 extending peripherally therearound, which edge in the form of the invention shown in Figure 1 consists of a ring 15 inserted within the lower end of the casing and separately secured thereto. This ring widens inwardly from its cutting edge forming a shoulder 16 which is so designed as to be slightly greater than the thickness of the material constituting the carton. A wire or rod 17 extends across the lower end of the casing and has for its purpose to sever the ice cream within said carton from the body of ice cream within the Vessel.

In the operation of my improved ice cream dispensing device, an empty carton having been inserted mouth downward through the upper end of the casing 1, the cover plate is secured in place in a manner already described and the casing is then thrust downward into the main body of the ice cream in the storage vessel. The shape or the ring 15 causes a cylindrical block of ice cream of slightly less diameter than the inside diameter of the carton to progressively enter the latter until the carton is filled. By rotating the casing 1 this cylindrical block may be cut oii from the main body of the ice cream and the dispensing device then withdrawn. Upon removing the cover plate the carton may be withdrawn by inverting the casing 1 above a suitable support and letting the filled carton slide therefrom through gravity. The slight space provided between the cylindrical ice cream block and the wall of the carton prevents adhesion of the ice cream to the carton before the latter has been completely filled and it also aiiords a space for the distribution of the air which otherwise would be compressed in the upper closed end of the inverted carton. It is well known that the volume of ice cream may consist of as much as of air which is incorporated into the ice cream in the freezing process. This entrained air not only contributes to the volume but also to the flavor and texture of the ice cream. Vere no distribution space left between the ice cream and carton the compressed cushion of air formed at the top of the ice cream block would tend to density the adjacent portion of the block by-compressing out the entrained air, thus causing a loss to the ice cream merchant through diminution in the volume and also impairing the quality of the ice cream. The provision of the air distribution space on all sides of the ice cream block substantially equalizes the pressure in all directions throughout the mass of the block permitting it to retain its percentage of incorporated air and prevent unequal densification thereof. The air in the cont ainer above the ice cream block may also berelieved by venting the: same'through a small hole punched through the container while in situ within the casing by a suitable tool inserted through the aperture 19 in the cover-plate 4;.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figure 5 the cutting edge 18 is formed integrally with the casing 1 by turning up the lower edge of the latter inwardly a short distance the carton fitting within the groove thus constituted.

By the constructions above described I am enabled to provide an ice cream dispensing device which is inexpensive to manufacture and simple in construction having the advantage that the portion of the carton adjacent the open end thereof need not be touched by human hands during the dispensing process. Moreover the construction 01' the cutting edge flush with the outside face of the casing and with no substantial internal shoulder or projection when the carton is in place makes it possible to transfer the dispensing device from an ice cream of one flavor or color to one of a different kind wjthout materially contaminating the latter.

While I have above described what I have found to be a very practical embodiment of my invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that the ice cream dispensing device may also be exemplified in numerous other alternative constructions and I accordingly reserve the right of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

l laving described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

'An ice cream dispensing device comprising a casing member open at its upper end for the reception of a carton, means at the lower end of said casing member affording a seat for the open end of said carton, a cover member for the upper end of said casing member having a handle associated therewith, means for detachably securing said cover member and easing member together comprising an element having an open sided slot on one of said members and a lug on'the other of said members for entering said slot for holding said members against relative movement when the handle is rotated in one direction, but automaticallv detaching said casing member from said cover member when. the handle is rotated in the opposite direction.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

l VALTER H. KIMBALL.

"In presence of- RALrI-i E. GAULT, 1w. R. Ronnn'rs.

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