Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/0001—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/0019—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes using ingredient cartridges
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/0058—Details
  • B67D3/0061—Details of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means
  • B67D3/0067—Details of liquid containers, e.g. filling, emptying, closing or opening means relating to shape or materials, e.g. bag-in-box packages [BIB], pouches

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a food dispenser which is particularly suitable for dispensing oil or other foods in homes and or in the catering industry.
• 'oil' denotes a high-viscosity, organic, lipophilic liquid which is miscible with other oils and is hydrophobic, i.e. immiscible with water.
• oilseeds such as, for example, sunflower seed, peanuts, etc. or olives or other parts of plants containing such oils.
• Italy in particular, is renowned for its olive oil tradition and there are many varieties of oil which feature different aromas, flavours, acidity and density levels, etc. , such peculiarities being due to the different production areas and to climatic and environmental differences. Indeed, the different production locations lend the oil different organoleptic and appearance characteristics.
• flavoured oils that are used in the kitchen to lend dishes a particular taste and flavour, such as a herb and/or rosemary seasoned oil for meat or chilli pepper-seasoned oil to make food hot, which is recommended for drizzling over pasta, and many other flavours.
• the oils just mentioned stated are mostly stored in glass bottles or cans, with different sizes and capacities.
• a first drawback is that they are rather heavy - which means users tend to buy one bottle at a time - and they are fragile - which means they may break (either during transport or at home) if they are knocked, dropped, or fall - resulting in wasted contents and the risks associated with having to handle broken glass as well as to clean up an oily substance
• bottles are made of dark glass so that the light does not filter through and change the oil, but this means that it is not possible for the buyer to see the colour of the oil contained in it and, consequently, it is not it is possible to assess the condition and type thereof.
• the comments on glass bottles also apply to cans.
• the metal comprising the can may alter the flavour of the oil and the seams, if not made properly, may contaminate it.
• opening a can is always very tricky and decidedly impractical due to the shape thereof and the position of the cap.
• the aim of the present invention is essentially to solve the problems of the known technique by overcoming the difficulties described above by means of a food dispenser which offers a different way of using the food, in particular oil.
• a second aim of the present invention is to provide a food dispenser, which allows several types of food to be available at once and offers practical and convenient use thereof.
• a further aim of the present invention is to offer a food dispenser, which allows easy interchangeability of the different types of the same food without and possibility of error.
• a further aim of the present invention is to provide a device which enhances a symbol of Italian tradition, like oil, and ensures it retains and maintains the original characteristics during use.
• a further but not final aim of the present invention is to produce a food dispenser which is easy to manufacture and works well.
• Figure 1 shows, schematically and from a perspective view, a food dispenser according to the present invention
• Figure 2 shows, schematically, an exploded perspective view of the food dispenser in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 3 shows, schematically, a front view of a component of the dispenser in question
• Figure 4 shows a detail of the component in Figure 3 ;
• 1 denotes, as a whole, a food dispenser according to the present invention.
• the food dispenser in question is substantially constituted of a containment structure 2 comprising a base 20, a pair of side walls 21 and 22, a rear wall 23 , and a front wall 24.
• the front wall 24, is shaped so as to have an operating space, as are the side walls 21 and 22, whose configuration is designed to couple with the front wall.
• the front wall features an upper portion 240 which is envisaged to seal the upper part of the dispenser, thereby creating, overall, a casing inside which one or more container elements 3 are housed, each one thereof being envisaged to house a type of food which will be better described later on.
• the inner surface of the portion 240 of the front wall is equipped with one or more hooking means, each of which is designed to support a container element 3.
• the container element 3 consists of a bag made of either foodgrade plastic or plastic for pharmaceutical use, that can contain from 200 ml to 1 000 ml of oil or other food.
• the bag 3 has a slit 30 in the upper part thereof envisaged to engage with the hooking means of the upper portion 240 of the front wall 24 and, in the lower part, features a first tube 4 envisaged to engage with a nozzle 5 and a second tube 6 used to fill the bag, which is hermetically sealed once filled so as to prevent the contents being tampered with.
• the nozzle 5 is connected to a fitting 7 whose task is to j oin the nozzle with a delivery device 8 disposed on the front wall 24, as shown in Fig. 1 .
• the said fitting 7 is equipped, on the inside thereof, with a suitably gauged needle which enables delivery of an adequate trickle of oil and is inserted into the nozzle 5 so as to connect the bag to the delivery tap 8.
• the nozzle 5 connecting the bag to the fitting 7 has a membrane whose task is to block the passage of oil until the suitably gauged needle is inserted and, at the same time, prevent air entering the bag.
• the nozzle 5 is immovably connected to the first tube 4 and features, at the neck 50 thereof, a guarantee seal envisaged to show any tampering with the bag and to keep the nozzle - and therefore the bag - perfectly closed.
• a guarantee seal envisaged to show any tampering with the bag and to keep the nozzle - and therefore the bag - perfectly closed.
• the oil contained in the bag 3 is not contaminated by nitrogen or anhydride as often occurs with the commonly known types of draught units used for beer or wine.
• the oil flows out of the bag, by the effect of gravity alone, when the tap 8 is opened.
• the dispenser in question is equipped with one or more taps 8, corresponding to the number of bags, and, consequently, the number of different foods which can be inserted and used.
• the bag is transparent so the user can see the appearance and colour of the oil, a condition which makes the product appealing and the purchase thereof attractive. Furthermore, the quality of the oil is always constant and no deposit or residue is formed as occurs in bottles since the dispensing involves downwards motion. Furthermore, the collapsing effect created on the bag walls as the oil flows out creates a kind of "squeezing" of the bag, which empties out completely, unlike bottles and cans, with which a certain amount of oil is always thrown away.
• the bag makes it possible to have smaller quantities of product available than a bottle and, therefore, to always have a fresh product, and to keep the oil in an optimal condition since the said oil i s not exposed to the light as inside the dispenser and is not in contact with air (as occurs in bottles) and therefore rancidity and aging of the oil do not occur, since the bag is hermetically sealed and does not allow air to enter during emptying.
• the present invention it is possible to have multiple product types available in one space at the same time, leaving the kitchen shelves free for other objects.
• the rear wall 23 is movable, since the bags are inserted into the dispenser and into the housing therefor through the opening left by the rear wall.
• a sign for recognition - such as a colour or a particular design or symbol - will be used to ensure proper coupling.
• the same recognition sign is also affixed to the corresponding dispensing tap so that the user cannot make a mistake when pressing the button to activate the output of the desired type of oil (releasing the button will cease dispensing).
• the materials used for the structure of the dispenser are metal materials, such as steel and aluminium, or plastic materials.
• the material of which the container element 3 is made is plastic and is of the recyclable type.
• the bag made of a plastic material is suitable for holding foods or pharmaceuticals, which means storage safety is guaranteed and the constituent material helps protect the product contained therein (so as to maintain the characteristics of the product over time) since it is a sealed container. Indeed, the fact that the bag does not allow any air to enter promotes a longer product shelf-life.
• the food dispenser according to the present can be used for other foods, such as, for example, yogurt, j am, mayonnaise, ketchup, vinegar, wine, fruit juices, and much more.
• the dispenser will be equipped with adequate refrigeration means, which will create the ideal temperature for the storage of the said food.
• the food dispenser in question is suitable for home use and food-serving venues such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, sandwich bars, etc.
• food-serving venues such as restaurants, hotels, cafes, sandwich bars, etc.
• the bag for food-serving venue use will have dimensions and capacities that are proportionate to the greater oil use in such venues.
• the dispenser with bags according to the present invention guarantees freshness, a condition which is more difficult to offer in a large-scale distribution situation.
• oil which is kept strictly in the dark and at a proper temperature, from the time of the pressing thereof to the time of consumption is actually significantly different from an oil that has travelled in tanks and been packaged and exposed to light and temperature variations.
• the user When the oil in the bag is finished, the user will simply remove the empty bag and replace it with a new one, of the same type, so that there is no contamination between the different types of oil and the tastes and flavours thereof.
• the presence of distinguishing signs on the taps and bags facilitates the task.
• the user whenever the user wishes to change the type of oil, they simply have to procure the new type, unscrew the fitting, wash it so that there are no oil residues remaining and install the new bag in the way explained. Then, to help make sure the oil types are not mixed up, the user will have to change the distinguishing sign on the tap, using a special adhesive.
• the food dispenser in question offers a different way of using food and, in particular, oil, as the dispenser is designed to enhance the oil, thereby helping the user understand and appreciate the differences between the various types thereof.
• the dispenser can hold, for example, a container element with extra virgin olive oil inside which is suitable for raw use as a dressing, a second element with chilli pepper- or rosemary-flavoured oil which are suitable, respectively, for use on pasta and meat, and a third container with oil for frying, and so on.
• the user has a practical and convenient use of several types of oil at the disposal thereof simultaneously, which are also easily interchangeable.
• the dispenser is a very functional and convenient device which allows users to appreciate the various characteristics and typologies of a food such as oil, while preserving the original characteristics thereof during use.
• the dispenser according to the present invention completely overcomes all the drawbacks presently experienced with glass bottles and/or cans.
• this particular, practical packaging of the oil allows a user to have several types of oil at the disposal thereof at the same time and in small quantities, which are therefore suitable for home use, and allows the user to have product which is always fresh, with the possibility of varying the type; a condition which, prior to now, with bottles, was practically impossible to achieve without occupying a considerable amount of space in the kitchen.
• the dispenser according to the present invention enhances a symbol of Italian tradition by dispensing a genuine product with a high level of quality, helping the said symbol become another symbol of Italian gastronomy.
• one advantage provided by the bag derives from the fact that the small amount of oil contained therein makes it possible to have a product that is always fresh and perfectly preserved, since there is no possibility of contamination from the external environment, as occurs with bottles and/or cans.
• the oil contained in the bag in question maintains the original the characteristics over time and does not lose its flavour, unlike the oil in bottles, which lose the flavour and aroma thereof over time due to contact with the air.
• a further advantage of the present dispenser emerges from the fact that the said dispenser is very practical to use and the oil can also be dispensed with one hand - a very useful feature in the kitchen - without running the risk of getting oneself or the surrounding area greasy.
• the filling/preparation process which the bags undergo ensures high standards of hygiene and storage safety, and the bags can be transported easily and conveniently and at a reduced cost even for long j ourneys, all the while maintaining the original characteristics of the contents, which are consequently always kept at a high level.
• oil plays an important role in all the nutrition and customs of Italians, but not only because it is an excellent ingredient in the kitchen, good for dressing food, and a good, genuine product but also because it allows users to rediscover or discover the genuine and authentic flavours of Italian traditions, in which the product in question plays a part.
• a further but not final advantage of the present invention is that the said system proves to be remarkably easy to use, easy to manufacture, and works well.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Meat, Egg Or Seafood Products (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=58606444

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (6)

• 2016
  • 2016-09-14 IT IT102016000092693A patent/IT201600092693A1/it unknown
• 2017
  • 2017-09-12 WO PCT/IT2017/000192 patent/WO2018051379A1/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (6)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events