WO2004054380A1

WO2004054380A1 - A unit and an apparatus for dispensing a frozen product, particularly icecream

Info

Publication number: WO2004054380A1
Application number: PCT/EP2003/001920
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ezio Tarolli
Original assignee: Ezio Tarolli
Priority date: 2002-12-18
Filing date: 2003-02-25
Publication date: 2004-07-01
Also published as: ITMI20022667A1; AU2003221488A1

Abstract

A dispensing unit (10) of frozen products (12), particularly hand-made icecream disposed in elongated flexible bags (13), said unit comprising: a cylindrical housing (11) containing an axially movable piston (14) and a flexible container of the product to be dispensed; a refrigerated tubular extension (23) provided with a dispensing spout (27) ; and a hollow thermally insulated post (2) surrounding said tubular extension (23). An apparatus for dispensing the products is realised employing one or more dispensing units (10).

Description

"A UNIT AND AN APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING A FROZEN PRODUCT, PARTICULARLY ICECREAM"

The present invention concerns a dispensing unit, as well as a dispensing apparatus comprising one or more of such units for dispensing frozen products, particularly hand-made" or Italian-style icecreams. Although the dispenser object of the invention is particularly suitable in bar or counter dispensers of icecreams and similar products, the invention applies also to dispensing of other frozen, semifrozen or chilled products and confectionery.

While industrial icecreams have storage times in the order of 6 months and longer, the mixtures of "hand-made" icecream or "gelato" must be kept at about +5°C and consumed within about 5 days .

Despite their very superior quality, hand-made icecreams require high storage expenses and severe hygienic conditions for storing and dispensing the products that increase the operation costs and often prevent commercial businesses such as bars and restaurants from selling this type of product, particularly in the cold season when the consumption is reduced and the amount of product discarded for passing the expiry date can become consistent.

Apparatuses are known for dispensing icecreams and other frozen products comprising a metal cylindrical container in which the product is housed inside of a disposable flexible container or bag, generally of a plastic material, from which the product is expelled and dispensed under the action of a piston.

More particularly there are known apparatuses that deliver the product from the lower end of the cylindrical container. For example EP-A-348 468 discloses an apparatus for dispensing frozen products and icecreams comprising a vertically arranged cylindrical housing in which a corrugated deformable container of the product to be dispensed is located, this deformable container being closed at the top end and provided with a dispensing opening at the lower end. The product is dispensed through a pressure bar operated by an electric motor and threaded shafts, and the whole system is located inside a refrigerated cabinet. Apparatuses of this type tend to be bulky since they appreciably extend above the dispensing spout or nozzle and require the refrigeration of the upper portion of the apparatus. Additionally, because of the raised position of the housing storing the product, their capacity is somewhat limited.

There are further known apparatuses allowing the product to be dispensed from the upper portion of the cylindrical housing. For example EP-A-938 265 discloses a dispenser for frozen dessert products comprising a vertically arranged cylindrical housing, in which the product to be dispensed is located in a flexible plastic bag, and is squeezed out by a movable piston operated by a pressurised fluid. Under the control of the piston, a desired amount of product is expelled upwards through a spout located in the upper portion of the cylindrical housing, with the apparatus being disposed inside a refrigerated cabinet .

In a dispenser of this type the housing can be located in a refrigerating cabinet or closet, but the apparatus must be lifted to such a height that the dispensing spout is at a reasonable height for the operator actuating the control lever (about 150-160 cms from ground) .

Moreover in the apparatuses of both types, the nozzle delivering the icecream is positioned quite near the cylindrical housing, and this limits the possibility of effectively positioning the housing, particularly to fit two or more housings in a same apparatus to dispense icecreams of different tastes.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks and limitations of the prior art, and to provide a dispensing apparatus with limited overall dimensions, that is moreover of simple construction and efficient, as well as versatile and of low cost, and particularly adapted to be used in counter or bar dispensers of frozen products. In accordance with a first aspect, the invention achieves the above objects through a dispensing unit of a frozen product, particularly of hand-made icecream, as claimed in claim 1.

In accordance with a second aspect the invention consists of a dispensing apparatus of a frozen product, particularly of hand-made icecream, as claimed in claim 8.

Further advantageous characteristics are recited in the dependent claims.

A dispenser in accordance with the present invention achieves several advantages over those of the prior art .

It can deliver and properly store icecreams of hand-made production and it allows an easy regulation of the temperature, in case through a timer, that results particularly profitable in restaurants and the like for timing the icecream distribution at or near the end of the meals .

The dispenser can use prepacked cartridges formed by a flexible container and a desired amount of icecream, with a given gross weight, such cartridges being provided with seals ensuring hygienic conditions of the product both during the storage and during the dispensing.

The dispenser allows to exploit in optimal way the available space, since the containers of the product are lodged in the lower portion of the apparatus and a conventional refrigerating cabinet can be used, while at the same time the dispensing levers are placed at a comfortable height, and the product is maintained refrigerated up to the spout . Using the dispensing units according to the invention, a dispensing apparatus can be assembled for supplying a desired number of icecream tastes, while allowing for a quick replacement of the empty bags .

The invention will now be disclosed with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate preferred but not limiting embodiments thereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic cross-section view of a dispensing apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a front schematic view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal cross section view of a dispensing unit according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows with enlarged details the connection between the cylindrical housing and the tubular extension member; Figs. 5 and 6 are a side view and a bottom view, respectively, of the dispensing post.

In the Figures the same numeral references have been used for indicating equal parts or parts that substantially perform equivalent functions.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, a dispensing apparatus according to the present invention includes a refrigerated and thermally insulated box-like cabinet 1, of the tank- shaped type, inside which a number of dispensing units 10 are located, that will be disclosed with more details hereinbelow with reference to Figs. 3-6. The upper edge of the cabinet 1 is closed by a removable cover or flat panel 9, provided with openings from which stick out the dispensing posts 2 of one or more dispensing units 10. In the lower portion of the cabinet 1 there is lodged a refrigeration plant 30 of conventional type and not illustrated in details. There is further provided a source of a fluid under pressure that can be either inside or outside the cabinet 1. In the illustrated embodiment an additional air compressor 31 is located inside the cabinet as shown in Fig . 1.

With reference now to Figs . 3 and 4 a preferred embodiment of a dispensing unit according to the invention will be illustrated with more details. A dispensing unit 10 according to the invention includes a cylindrical housing 11, preferably of stainless steel, open at one end and containing the frozen product to be dispensed. The product 12 to be dispensed, e.g. an icecream, is contained in a flexible elongated container or bag 13 of a substantially cylindrical shape the open end (mouth) of which can be secured to the rim of the housing open edge. The flexible container 13, generally of a plastic material or formed from a plastics-aluminium laminated sheet, is shown with dashed line in Fig. 3 and its open mouth is preferably joined or welded to a ring 35 of a stiffer material. The ring 35 is then secured to the open end of the housing 11.

Within the cylindrical housing 11 there is positioned an axially movable piston 14, which is preferably hollow and with a dome-shaped portion contacting the bag 13. The other end of the housing (the lower one in the Figures) is closed by a disk 15 fitted with a pipe union or nipple 16, provided with a closure valve, that can be connected to the compressor 31 or to an external source for admitting a pressurised fluid into the housing 11.

At the open end of the cylindrical housing there is fitted a tubular member or extension 23 having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical housing 11. The tubular member 23, the inner surface of which is to come in contact with the product to be dispensed, extends axially, i.e. along the axis of the housing 11, for a given length and terminates with a connection member formed by a portion 29 curved at about 90° that carries a dispensing device 25 controlled by a lever 26 to deliver the product 12 through a spout or nozzle 27. The tubular member 23 is connected to the open end of the cylindrical housing 11 through a funnel-shaped member 19 and a metal ring or locknut 17.

The tubular member 23 is further provided with an air gap or duct 22 formed by an outer wall 21 surrounding the extension 23, and such air gap is in turn divided by two diametrically opposed and longitudinally extending walls 28, so as to form two channels 38 and 39 that communicates with one another only near the dispensing device 25. Near the other ends of the channels, in proximity of the funnel member 19, a cloak 37 is provided for conveying a flow of cooling air along the channels, preferably driven by a fan or other means located in the refrigerated cabinet for achieving a forced cooling ventilation.

As shown with more details in Fig. 4, the duct 22 formed between the tubular member 23 and the outer wall 21 is connected to the open end of the cylindrical housing 11 through the funnel member 19, which is secured by the locknut 17 also engaging the ring 35 welded to the mouth of the flexible bag 13. The locknut 17 is removably secured onto the cylindrical housing, e.g. by a bayonet connection, to allow the replacement of an exhausted flexible container, and an 0 ring indicated by 18 or other gasket means allows a sealing connection.

The dispensing unit according to the invention further comprises an hollow dispensing post 2, internally provided with a thermally insulating material 36 and provided with an upper opening 33 from which protrudes a dispensing nozzle 25. As better shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the base cross-section of the post 2 is preferably elliptic to reduce the overall dimensions, while its top is substantially cylindrical. The post is realised of a thermally insulating material, for example ceramics, and it is shown with dashed line in Fig. 3, and the free space is filled with a thermally insulating material 36.

Returning now to the dispensing apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cover 9 is equipped with a number of openings equal to the number of the posts, or even higher, and in such case thermally insulating disks (not shown) are provided for closing the openings not in use. A fan 7, located below the plane 9, together with the cloak 37 generates a circulation of (cold) forced air that flows in the ascending direction along one of the channels 38, 39 of the air gap and descends along the other channel to refrigerate the tubular member 23. In operation, the valve of the connection 16 is open whereby a predetermined pressure is applied to the piston (s) 14 that - in turn - squeezes the product to be dispensed out of the flexible container 13 and fills the tubular member 23 which is maintained refrigerated as previously illustrated. When the operator actuates the lever 26, a predetermined amount of product is dispensed by the spout 27 and the piston 14 is raised by a corresponding volume. The apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2 provides for two units, nevertheless it is evident that the number of units will be different according to the demands .

Although the invention has been illustrated with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof and for dispensing icecream, other applications and modifications of the same will fall within its scope, such for example a tilted or horizontal arrangement of the housing (s) and similar modifications, as it will be clear to the skilled of the art .

Claims

1. A dispensing unit (10) of a frozen product (12) contained in a flexible container (13) , comprising:

- a cylindrical housing (11) opened at one end and adapted for receiving said flexible container (13) , in which housing (11) a piston (14) is axially movable, said housing (11) being further provided with inlet means

(16) for a fluid under pressure to actuate said piston (14);

- a tubular member (23) having an inner diameter smaller than the inner diameter of said cylindrical housing (11) , said tubular member (23) comprising at least an axially extending portion having one end connected with the open end of said cylindrical housing (11) , and being provided with a spout (27) for dispensing said product, said tubular member (23) being further provided with at least one hollow space (22) adapted to allow the passage of a refrigerating fluid;

- a hollow and thermally insulating member (2) surrounding at least said axial portion of said tubular member (23) .

2. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said frozen product is a hand-made icecream, and that said tubular member (23) is connected to the end of said cylindrical housing (11) through a funnel-shaped member (19) and a metal locknut (17) .

3. A dispensing unit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that said tubular member (23) is formed with a peripheral air gap (22) formed by a wall (21) surrounding said tubular member (23) and divided in two channels (38, 39) by two longitudinal radially extending walls (28) , and in that said insulating member (2) is a hollow post having a base cross-section that is elliptical and a top cross-section that is circular.

4. A dispensing unit as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that between said tubular member (23) and said dispensing spout (25) there is provided a connection member formed by a curved portion (29) that carries a dispensing device (25) controlled by a lever (26) for delivering the product through the nozzle (27) of said spout .

5. A dispensing unit as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that said means (16) for admitting a fluid under pressure comprises a valve fitted to a disk (15) closing the end of said cylindrical housing (11) opposite to the one connected to said tubular member (23) .

6. A dispensing unit as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that said locknut (17) is provided with a bayonet connection to close the open end of said cylindrical housing (11) and to block in position a stiff peripheral ring (35) provided on the mouth of said flexible container (13) .

7. A dispensing unit as claimed in the preceding claims, characterised in that it further provides a cloak (37) for conveying a refrigerating air flow cooling along said channels (38, 39) .

8. An apparatus for dispensing a frozen product, comprising:

- a refrigerated cabinet (1) ;

- at least one dispensing unit (10) as claimed in any of the preceding claims, having said cylindrical housing (s)

(11) located inside said refrigerated cabinet (1) , said cylindrical housing (s) (11) containing an elongated deformable container (13) of the product to be dispensed

(12), a source (31) of pressurised fluid being connectable to the inlet means (16) of said at least one dispensing unit (10) .

9. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said frozen product is a hand-made icecream, and in that said source (31) of a pressurised fluid is located inside said cabinet (1) ; and by further comprising ventilating means (7) for circulating a flow of cooling air along the channels (38, 39) of said at least one dispensing unit (10) .

10. A dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised by further comprising a removable cover (9) provided with openings from which stick out the dispensing post(s) (2) of said unit (s) (10).