WO2020201583A1

WO2020201583A1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: WO2020201583A1
Application number: PCT/EP2020/059806
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johannes GÖKEN
Original assignee: Johann Göken Honigversand GmbH & Co. KG
Priority date: 2019-04-05
Filing date: 2020-04-06
Publication date: 2020-10-08
Also published as: DE102019109077A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing device (1) for dispensing a viscous food, which has a predetermined viscosity. The food is packaged in a container (2), which can be compressed, e.g. in a bag, a flexible bottle or the like, and the dispensing device (1) has a chamber (3) for receiving the container (2), the chamber (3) having at least one delimiting wall against which the container (2) lies. A displaceable body, e.g. a roller (5), which can be moved between a starting position and an end position in the receiving chamber (3), is accommodated in the receiving chamber (3), and the container (2) for the food is arranged between the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5), and the delimiting wall of the receiving chamber (3). The dispensing device (1) has a drive apparatus (8), which, during driving, moves the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5), toward the end position by a predefined distance (9) and in the process pressure is applied to the food in the container (2) by the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5). The container (2) has a first end, which lies in the region of the starting position of the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5), in the receiving chamber (3), and a second end, which lies approximately in the region of the end position (28, 29) of the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5). The second end has an opening for dispensing the food.

Description

Dispenser

description

The invention relates to a dispensing device, in particular one with claim 1 or one of the subclaims.

In particular, the invention relates to a dispensing device (dispenser) for viscous foodstuffs, which preferably have thixotropic properties and, in the unpressurized state, have a relatively high (= heavily liquid) viscosity. In particular, the invention relates to a dispensing device for nut-nougat cream of the Nutella® type or jams or comparable foods (e.g. cream cheese), in particular for foods that are used as a topping on bread. Such foods are also regularly consumed for breakfast and are therefore regularly offered at breakfast buffets in hotels, canteens, cruise ships and the like.

There are several partially contradicting requirements for the presentation of these foods and the invention is intended to meet these requirements as well as possible.

It is known that the foods such as nut nougat creams, jams and the like are filled and packaged in small portions. These packages regularly have a receiving tray, e.g. B. made of plastic, and a corresponding cover that can be detached from the shell. This cap is z. B. made of metal or aluminum.

The problem with this dosage form is that a relatively large amount of and above all problematic waste is generated, namely plastic waste on the one hand and the metal cover film still adhering to it on the other hand, and these must then be laboriously separated during the subsequent plastic processing.

The alternative to this is that the viscous food, such as typically nut-nougat cream, jam, cream cheese, spread sausage or the like, in an open, relatively large container, e.g. Glass, pot, is offered, from which the user or guest then removes a portion of his desired size with a spoon, knife, fork or the like, ie with a tool. With this solution, the accumulation of waste is extremely minimized, but on the other hand the food is also exposed to the atmosphere, i.e. the ambient air, over a relatively long period of time, namely at least as long as the buffet is open, which on the one hand leads to the aging of the food , on the other hand, it can also be problematic from a hygienic point of view. Precisely because of the hygienic problem, there are already regulations in some countries not to use this "open" form of administration as described above.

Finally, there is also the solution known from DE 10 2005 053 016.8, in which the viscous food is housed in a larger bag or in a deformable bottle and in which, by operating the dispensing device that receives the container, i.e. the bag or bottle, the guest can "tap" a portion of the size / volume of his choice by operating the dispenser.

This solution also works excellently with honey and other rather thin-bodied foods, e.g. orange juice, but is not convincing for foods that have the special thixotropic properties on the one hand and a certain "heavy / thick liquid" on the other. The problem with relatively thick / viscous foods is that the known technology does not lead to the desired result, be it that enough of the food to be dispensed can be dispensed from the dispenser with one operating movement (lever movement), or otherwise the entire dispensing process takes too long because, as mentioned, the food is too thick / thick, in any case significantly thicker / thicker than juice, orange juice, apple juice or even honey. As further prior art, reference is made to US 8,602,267 B2, US 5,100,025 A, US 6,726,061 B2, WO 2008/1 15047 A1 or WO 2003/097519. Even for the solutions presented in this known prior art, a viscous food such as a nut-nougat cream of the Nutella® type or jams or comparable foods cannot be dispensed satisfactorily, especially since in some of the previously known solutions it is also necessary that food is to be filled into a special container, which in turn is relatively expensive because a special filling is therefore necessary for the filled food and not known and already introduced packaging or containers can be used. The object of the invention is to produce a dispensing device which overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages, i.e. on the one hand prevents unnecessary waste accumulation, on the other hand complies with the sometimes very strict hygiene regulations, prevents aging or contamination of the food and also in a relatively long time of dispensed by an operator, ie can be tapped. The object is achieved with a dispensing device according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

It should particularly be noted that the present invention is particularly suitable when the food, such as. B. nut nougat cream, jam, spreadable cream cheese or the like, in a deformable container, for. B. a bag, a compressible (plastic) bottle or the like is filled, the container being more than 3, preferably more than 5, and particularly preferably more than 6 to 10 times as long as its diameter. Ideally observed, the container forms a cylinder that is closed at the top and bottom.

The dispensing device according to the invention is particularly suitable for receiving a piping bag, e.g. the well-known 1 kg piping bag from Nutella® (hazelnut nougat spread) as it has been produced by the manufacturer Ferrero for a long time, especially for bakeries, pastry shops, confectionery shops, etc.

This piping bag has a length which is approximately 5.5 × 7 as large as the width or the diameter (at the widest point) of the piping bag. The advantage of the invention is also that the structural length of the dispensing device according to the invention is essentially predetermined solely by the length of the container in which the highly viscous (= heavy / thick) food is filled.

Finally, the invention also has the advantage that it allows quick conversion and, above all, the invention enables the container to be almost completely emptied, i.e. That is, up to less than 10% of the food, preferably less than 5%, ideally even only 2-3% or less of the food remain in this container as a residual amount when the container is emptied to the maximum.

For comparison, it should be pointed out that it is already known to use viscous foods such as B. mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup or nut nougat creams in buckets and to provide the buckets with a lid equipped with a well-known "hand lever dispenser" (hand pump) so that the food is tapped from the bucket by the user (pumped ) can be. As mentioned, such a device is particularly known for mustard, mayonnaise and ketchup. The problem, however, is that up to 20% or even more of the food remains in the bucket, so that further tapping (pumping out) is no longer possible because the lower suction point (on the bottom of the bucket) of the dispensing device has "fallen dry", but a lot of the food still remains in the bucket, so that when retrofitting either the food still in the bucket has to be given away (high waste), or it has to be tipped over into a new, filled bucket, which is not only time-consuming, but also under is viewed critically from a hygienic point of view.

Due to the extremely high emptying rate of the device according to the invention, such cumbersome solutions are no longer necessary and the above-described “dispensing bucket solution” is also often unsuitable for many other reasons, in particular for aesthetic reasons and reasons of space, to be presented at a breakfast buffet.

The invention provides in particular a dispensing device 1 for dispensing a viscous food which has a predetermined viscosity, the food being filled in a container 2 which can be compressed, e.g. in a bag, a flexible bottle or the like, and the dispensing device 1 has a space 3 for receiving the container 2 and the space has at least one boundary wall 4, 31, 20 against which the container 2 rests and wherein a displaceable body, for example a roller 5, is housed in the receiving space 3, which is between a Start position 6 and an end position 28 in the receiving space 3 is movable, and the container 2 for the food between the displaceable body, so for example the roller 5 on the one hand and the boundary wall 4, 31, 20 of the receiving space 3 on the other hand is arranged and the dispensing device 1 is a Has drive device 8, which when driving the displaceable body, so z. B. moves the roller 5 by a predetermined distance 9 in the direction of the end position 28 and thereby through the displaceable body, so z. B. the roller 5 pressure is exerted on the food in the container 2, and wherein the container 2 has a first end 10, which is in the area of the starting position (of the displaceable body, e.g., the roller 5 in the receiving space 3 and a second end 1 1, which lies approximately in the region of the end position 28 of the displaceable body, so for example the roller 5 and wherein the second end 1 1 has an opening for dispensing the food.

An advantageous further development consists in that the drive device 8 for moving the roller 5 travels along a predetermined path of movement 12 and, after the displaceable body has been driven, e.g. B. the roller 5 moves back into the starting position 13 of the movement path 12 by a force support, preferably a spring force.

Another advantageous development is that the movement path 12 of the drive device 8 has a first drive path section 14, a second drive path section 15 and at least one third drive path section 16, with the first drive path section 14 essentially covering a distance 9 perpendicular to the second drive path section 15 and When the drive moves along the second drive path section, the roller 5 is moved in the direction of the end position 28 and the drive device 8 moves towards the roller 5 on the first drive path section 14 and the drive device 8 moves back to its starting position 13 in the third drive path section 16.

A further advantageous further development is that the drive device 8 has a structured surface 17, for example a corrugation, tooth structure, structure with high friction or the like and that the roller 5 on the outside also has a structured surface 18, e.g. a corrugation, tooth structure, structure with a high friction or the like and the drive device 8 and the roller 5 is in engagement or contact with the surface structure of the roller 5 when the drive is moved along the second drive path in order to move the roller 5 by a predetermined distance in the direction of the end position 28 . Another advantageous development is that after the drive device 8 has been detached from the roller 5, the roller 5 can be moved back a predetermined distance 9 in the direction of the starting position 6 due to the pressure relief of the food in the container 2. Another advantageous further development is that the drive device 8 on the side facing the roller 5 consists of a material with a high frictional resistance and the outside of the roller 5 also has a material with a high frictional resistance, so that when the drive device 8 and the outside of the roller 5 come into contact of the mutually high frictional resistance, the roller 5 can be moved in the direction of the end position 28.

A further advantageous further development consists in that the drive device 8 is formed by a substantially linearly aligned plate 36, which has a front side and a rear side, the front side of the plate 36 facing the roller 5 and a drive structure on the rear side of the drive device , e.g. a linkage, bracket 37, joints, levers 34 or the like are attached to guide the drive device 8 in the desired manner along the first drive path, along the second drive path and along the third drive path.

A further advantageous development consists in that the device has an operating lever 23 which can be moved between a first position, namely a rest position and a further position, namely an end position 28, and which is mechanically coupled to the drive device 8, the operating lever 23 from a person who wants to operate the output device 1 can be operated by the person moving the operating lever 23 between the rest position and the end position 28, and after releasing the operating lever, the operating lever is actuated by a restoring force, for example a tension and / or compression spring, can be moved automatically into the rest position.

Another advantageous development consists in the fact that the container 2 for receiving the viscous food can be fixed between two plates in the region of the second end 11, e.g. B. can be clamped, of which at least one plate 36 is movable and the movable plate 36 is mechanically coupled to the operating lever 23 in such a way that the movable plate can be moved away from the other plate 36 when the operating lever 23 is operated and thus the output of the Releases food from the container 2. A further advantageous further development consists in that the container 2 is fixed in the region of the first end 10, which is opposite the second end 11, for example by a clamping device 24 in or on the receiving space 3.

A further advantageous further development consists in that the roller 5 is held in the area of the starting position 6 by a retaining device 24, the roller 5 being releasable from the retaining position by the drive device 8.

A further advantageous development consists in the fact that the receiving space 3 for the food receptacle is formed by a cover which, in cross section, consists of an angular or round U-profile or the like. A further advantageous development consists in the fact that the receiving space 3 for the container 2 for receiving the food has two approximately parallel opposing walls and a third wall connecting the two walls arranged parallel to one another and thus perpendicular to it, and with the roller 5 with their structured surface 17, 18 is aligned in the direction of the third wall and with their two end faces each aligned with the first and second wall and thus the roller with its structured surface 17, 18 rolls on the third wall when driven by the drive device 8 and on the fixed there between the wall on the one hand and roller 5 on the other hand, z. B presses jammed container 2. Another advantageous further development consists in the fact that the receptacle is oriented essentially vertically through the receptacle for the food.

Another advantageous further development is that the food has a viscosity of around 5,000 mPa s to 15,000 mPa s (26 ° C, IOCCC method 46-2000).

Another advantageous development consists in the fact that the food has thixotropic properties, i.e. that it has a different (lower) viscosity when pressurized than when it is not under pressure.

Another advantageous development consists in the fact that the food is a nut nougat cream, a jam or the like. A further advantageous further development consists in the fact that when the roller 5 is driven, it moves in a predetermined distance 9 in the direction of the end position 7 and simultaneously executes a rolling movement during the movement and thereby presses the container 2 against the third wall of the receiving space and that in the container 2 the food located in the area clamped between the roller 5 and the boundary wall 4 in the direction of the end position 28.

Claim 19 proposes a dispensing system according to the invention consisting of a dispensing device 1 with a container 2, the dispensing system being used to dispense a food that is filled in the container with a predetermined portion of the food,

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and drawings:

1 shows the side view of a dispensing device 1 according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows the perspective view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention of the removed protective cap and of the assumed task area.

3 shows a known piping bag of the Nutella® type (Food Service) with a capacity of 1 kg of the known nut-nougat cream.

Fig. 3b shows the view of the removable injection molded bag receiving container; Fig. 3c shows the view of an expulsion unit in the form of a roller and a

Clamping device for this (will be explained later).

Fig. 4 shows a clamping device, the detached expulsion device in

Shape of the roller.

5 shows a plan view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention with an inserted piping bag, in which the corner that has not yet been separated can be seen (the piping bag is still closed).

6 shows the view from behind of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention. 7 shows an enlarged rear view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention.

8 shows the piping bag inserted into the receptacle with the fixation through

Jamming at the upper end (first end) by the clamping device and the inserted expulsion unit in the form of the roller.

9 shows a further view of the injection-molded bag receptacle and the inserted piping bag.

FIG. 10 shows a front view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention with the injection-molded bag removed for reception. Fig. 11 shows a schematic representation of the interaction of the drive with the roller.

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged representation of the surfaces of the drive on the one hand and the roller on the other hand.

FIG. 13a shows a cross section along the line A-A in FIG. 11. FIG. 13b shows an alternative embodiment to FIG. 13a, the drive device

8 lies in front of the plate 36 of the rear part 20 in relation to the roller 5 and thus the clearance for the roller is determined solely by the wall 31, the container 2 and the surface of the drive device 8.

14 shows a perspective view of the rear part of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention with the partial representation of the drive.

Fig. 15 shows the front view of the rear part with the drive (without structured

Surface).

16a / b show a perspective view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention. Figure 1 shows the side view of a dispensing device according to the invention. The output device 1 has a base plate 19 which receives the output device 1 according to the invention. This consists of a rear part 20 firmly connected to the base and a receptacle 21 which is detachably attached to the rear part 20 and which is closed on the top with a cover 22. Finally, the dispensing device 1 also has an operating lever 23 which, in the situation shown, is in the rest position and can be pushed down by a person from a predetermined angle.

FIG. 2 shows another view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention with the receptacle 21 removed for receiving a container 2 in which the food is filled. In FIG. 2 a drive device 8 can be seen which is designed in the form of a plate which has a structured surface 17 on the outside, e.g. in the form of a corrugation.

FIG. 3a shows a known container 2 for a hazelnut cream (nut-nougat cream) of the Nutella® brand, the container 2 itself being designed as a piping bag. The container 2 is known and is produced by the manufacturer as a 1 kg container and is sold in particular to bakeries, confectioners, etc.

FIG. 3b shows a view of the detached receptacle 21 for the container 2;

FIG. 3c shows a view of a roller 5 with a clamping device 24. This clamping device 24 with the roller 5 is to be inserted into the container 2, as will be shown below. The roller 5 is an exemplary embodiment of a displaceable body.

FIG. 4 shows the clamping device 24 with the roller 5 detached from it.

FIG. 5 shows a further view of the output device 1 according to the invention from the front. The receptacle 21 for the container 2 and the upper cover 22 can be seen. In the lower area, the not yet cut tip of the injection molded bag 2 can be seen. As long as this tip is not cut off, the container for holding the food is completely closed.

FIG. 6 shows the partial view from behind of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention with a linkage, lever 34, etc. Moving the operating lever 23 causes an opening (of the detached tip) of the container 2 to be released. In principle, in this area of the output device 1, the information from DE 10 2005 053 016 known solution can be used, whereby simple adjustments are possible. The operating lever 23 is moved downwards and in the process the lever 34, which is rigidly coupled to the operating lever 23, is also moved downwards in order to move a drive device 8 for driving the roller 5. FIG. 7 shows the overall view from behind of the rear part 20 of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention. Tension springs 26 can be seen in the upper area.

FIG. 8 shows a further view of the receiving device 21 for the container 2, the container 2 being clamped at the uppermost end by the holding device 24 for the roller 5, that is, it is fixed so that the container 2 is in its starting position when the food is expelled to keep.

FIG. 9 shows a further view into the receiving device 21 for receiving the container 2 and the two opposite ends 10, 11 of the container 2 can be clearly seen.

In the illustration, the clamping device 24 is detached and in the lower part it can be seen that there is an opening 27 in the receptacle 21 through which the end 11 is inserted through which the food is passed when it emerges.

FIG. 10 shows a further front view of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention, without the receptacle 21.

The drive device 8 can be seen here, which is guided by a linkage, lever 34, which is guided through an opening in the wall 28 located behind the drive device 8 and which executes a hysteresis-like movement path 12 during a drive movement, that is to say that during a drive movement is moved from an initial position 13 to an end position 28, the path in the movement from the initial movement to the end position being different from the movement path from the end position back into the initial movement. For the return movement from the end position to the initial movement, in particular the tension springs 26 are provided, which ensure that the return movement takes place automatically, while during the movement from the initial position to the end position due to the mechanical coupling of the operating lever 23 with the linkage and lever 34 and a Type gear this is made the way from the starting position to the end position. FIG. 11 shows schematically the hysteresis movement between the initial position of the drive unit and the final position back.

It can be clearly seen that when the drive unit is driven, a movement path 12 is covered, which can consist of a first movement path section 14, a second movement path section 15 and at least one third movement path section 16.

The third movement path section 16 can in turn be divided into two movement sections that are perpendicular to one another.

In the first movement path section 14, the drive unit 8 moves towards the roller 5, then comes into contact or engagement with the roller 5 and moves it in the direction of arrow 29 due to the engagement or the correspondingly high friction between the drive of the device 8 and roller 5 , at the same time the roller 5 makes a rolling movement 30 through a predetermined angle. As soon as the drive device 8 has traveled along the second path of movement 15, the drive device 8 is released again from the roller 5 and returns to the starting position 13.

In Figure 11 it can also be seen that the roller 5 practically rolls on the boundary wall 31 of the receptacle and thereby squeezes the receptacle 2 and, when moving downward, pushes the food in the receptacle 2 in the direction of arrow 29 and thus for the best possible emptying of the receptacle 2 cares. For a complete emptying of the container 2, the movement of the drive unit has to be repeated several times, e.g. B. carried out more than 100 times after how large the second movement path 18 is selected and how large the portion of the food that is removed from the container 2 should be.

If the container 2, as in the example shown, is clamped or fixed as an injection-molded bag in the upper area, it cannot be pulled down in the direction of the arrow 29 towards the end position 28 due to the rolling movement 30.

As indicated in FIG. 12, the side of the drive device 8 which is aligned with the roller 5 is provided with a structure. According to FIG. 12, this structuring 17 is a tooth-like structure and the roller also has a corresponding tooth structure 18, so that when the drive device 8 contacts the roller 5, the teeth of the structure interlock and thus can take place by power transmission from the drive device 8 to the roller 5.

Instead of the tooth structure shown, another corrugation is alternatively possible, or a solution in which the surface of the drive device 8 on the one hand, as well as the roller 5 on the other hand, consists of a rubber or another material that has a high frictional force (adhesive / Sliding friction) when the drive device 8 and roller 5 touch.

As soon as the drive device 8 detaches itself from the roller 5, it is also possible for the roller 5 to move back a little further upwards against the direction of the arrow 29. This is possible if, due to the pressure build-up, the food in the container 2 is again relieved of pressure after the drive device 8 has been detached from the roller 5 and thus the food in the container 2 pushes the roller 5 back a little against the direction of arrow 29 .

Overall, this has the consequence that when the roller 5 moves in the direction of arrow 29 (downward in FIG. 11), not only is pressure exerted on the food, but also because of its thixotropic properties it becomes more flowable and thus out of the second end 11 of the container 2 can leave a predetermined portion (the size or volume of this portion can be predetermined).

When the drive device 8 then detaches from the roller 5 again and the pressure is released, the viscosity of the food also increases again, that is, it becomes thicker / heavier again and remains in the container 2, whereby, as described, then also the container 2 again in the area of its end position 28 by clamping two plates against one another, the two plates then clamping and closing the second end 11 of the container 2. FIG. 13 a) shows a cross section through FIG. 11 along the line AA.

It can be seen that the container 2 is clamped / squeezed between the boundary wall 31 and the roller 5, the part of the container 2 visible in FIG. 13 a) being that which has already been emptied. The wall 36 serves as a counter-bearing for the roller 5, so that it is not too far from the roller when it is not being driven Boundary wall 31 moved away. In the figure it can be clearly seen that in the rest position the drive 8 is at a smaller distance, e.g. B. 0.5 to 10 mm to the roller, but this z. B. not touched (which would be entirely possible), but, as explained in FIG. 11 and in the description for this, travels a prescribed path of movement during a drive action, namely first a path of movement 14 in the direction of the roller and then in the following when the surfaces of the drive 8 engage with the surface of the roller 5, another movement path 15 moves the roller downwards in the direction of the second end position.

Under certain circumstances, a small distance may also be possible between the roller 5 and the wall 36, so that a rotation and thus displacement of the roller 5 by the wall 36 due to friction is not hindered.

As a result, a lever movement of the manual control lever 23 triggers two actions, namely the described movement action of the drive 8 on the one hand and, at the same time, the release of the clamping plates for closing the container 2 at its second end 11, so that when pressure builds up on the food, this at its lower end The end of the container can leave.

The clamping device 24 shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 8 and 9 also has a double function, namely on the one hand clamping the container 2 at the upper end 10, that is to say the end which is opposite the outlet end 1 of the container 2. At the same time, the clamping device 24 has a holding function for the roller 5 in its starting position 6. As soon as the roller 5 is driven once or several times, it leaves the position on the holding clamps 32 and is only guided through the side walls 33a, 33b of the receiving container 21 in the receiving space and rolls, as described, on the front of the receiving container during a drive movement and is as shown in Figure 8, held in alignment by the two parallel side walls.

As described, the invention is shown in the embodiment for the dispensing, ie, the dispensing of a nut-nougat cream of the Nutella® type. But it is also easily possible to put another food in a container 2, such as. B. a piping bag or the like to fill. This other food can e.g. B. jam, cream cheese, but also ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard or the like. The invention is particularly well suited for dispensing, ie dispensing, a foodstuff when it has a viscosity of about 5,000 mPa s to 15,000 mPa s (26 ° C., IOCCC method 46-2000).

In FIGS. 8 and 9, it can be seen that the receptacle 21 for receiving the receptacle 2 has an angular U-profile through the cross section and thus a corresponding receptacle. It is also possible for this to be a round U-profile, the outer contours of the roller 5 then being adapted to this round U-profile in order to clamp the container over the entire width and to express it when the roller 5 moves forward. Instead of a roller, it is also possible to use another cylindrical body in which, on the one hand, its central axis M is rotatable and which, on the other hand, is supported against the boundary wall 31 and thereby clamps the container 2 in such a way that the food filled in the container in the direction of the Opening of the container is pressed. Furthermore, it is also possible to arrange a displaceable body instead of a roller, which in turn presses the container against the boundary wall and which is to be brought into engagement with the drive device on a front side, so that this body is displaced towards its end position with every operating action.

Even if not shown, it is still possible to use a deformable bottle as a container instead of the container 2 in the form of an injection molded bag, whereby this bottle should then be deformable so that its entire internal volume can be compressed to almost zero.

Tests of the invention have shown that the dispensing device 1 according to the invention is not only excellently suited to dispensing a predetermined portion of the food during an operator action, i.e. discharging and dispensing, but that the inside of the food even when the entire discharge of the food is off the container 2 lasts for several days, remains hygienically securely closed and thus the food in the container 2 is not exposed to aging or degeneration or the like due to the air, outside atmosphere, etc. Finally, tests have also shown that it is necessary to empty the container 2 down to a few percent of the maximum volume, ie to empty it in such a way that at the end only 10% of the initial volume remained in the container as a residual amount, was easily possible, even emptying to less than 5%, even to less than 3%.

This has the particular advantage that not only is there an excellent emptying rate, which enables the customer, the operator of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention, to use the food purchased in the best possible way up to the remaining quantity. Above all, it counteracts food waste, i.e. throwing away good food.

Finally, tests have also shown that the interior of the container 2 remains largely clean and if the receptacle 21 for the receptacle 2 is still soiled, the receptacle 21 can also be easily cleaned, e.g. B. in a dishwasher or the like.

The same also applies to the roller 5 itself.

In the example shown according to the figures, the receiving space 3, that is to say the receiving container 21, which receives the container 2 with the dispenser, is made of a metal z. B. stainless steel, sheet metal or the like. But it is also easily possible to make this receptacle 21 made of a transparent material, for. B. plastic or the like to form that from the outside also the entire container 2 for the reception of the food is visible and thus the customer knows which food from which manufacturer and from which brand he is filling because of the transparency of the housing material of the receiving space, the mark that is applied to the bag is visible.

At the same time, however, a user himself can recognize and read the entire food label carried by the bag, which has the further advantage that operation by a person who may have a nut allergy, because this also increases the risk Safety and enjoyment of the food made possible by the dispensing device 1 according to the invention without having to be asked about the operating personnel.

Another advantage of the invention is that, as shown, the container 2 in which the food is filled is one that has already been used by the manufacturer. is manufactured and marketed by the manufacturer and thus a new container 2 does not have to be specially developed for the output device 1 according to the invention. In this respect, it also reduces the costs and makes it possible for the manufacturer of the food who packs it in the container (injection-molded bag) to be able to supply the food on the basis of previous resources without having to start an expensive new development.

It would be easily possible that at the end at which the food leaves the dispensing device 1 according to the invention, a tapered hollow cone or a hollow rod is attached, for. B. by screwing, locking or the like, so that the food is driven through the hollow cone or through the hollow rod and thus leaves the dispensing device 1. This variant then also allows the use of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention to, for example, baked goods, e.g. B. Berliners (also called donuts) or the like to be filled with the food in which this food is injected into the food with a control lever action. The container 2 shown in the example shown for receiving the food is an injection molded bag made of z. B. polypropylene or polyethylene material. However, it would also be easily possible to use a different material as the injection-molded bag material, including a compostable material or the like.

The tests have also shown that the filled food is then also discharged by means of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention, ie. H. can be dispensed when the food is relatively heavy, z. B. due to the cooling of the food, e.g. B. also due to the cooling of the food to 10 ° C. Then the food is z. B. the nut nougat cream is no longer as easily flowing as z. B. at room temperature or higher, but the pressure or force applied to the food by the roller 5 is sufficient to make the food with its thixotropic property on the one hand more liquid and on the other hand to expel it from the container 2.

In the example shown, a purely mechanical solution based on the manual control lever 23 is shown. It would also be possible to provide such an electrically or motor-assisted solution in which the drive device 8 then executes the above-described movement due to an electrical drive.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 12, the drive device 8 consists essentially of a linear (straight) part (for example a plate or a Web), which has a structured surface 17 on the top, which can come into engagement with a corresponding structured surface 18 of the roller 5.

As can be seen in particular in FIG. 11, this engagement of these structured surfaces does not exist (or not necessarily) when the dispensing device 1 according to the invention is in the idle state, but only when a user uses the operating lever 23 to operate the drive 8 and consequently the To set the roller in motion.

FIG. 14 shows a side view of the part of the drive 8 which is located on the rear side of the structured surface 17 of the drive device. It can be seen that below the tension spring 26 at least one, in the illustrated example two or four, levers 34 each preloaded by a spring 35 rest on the rear side of the rear part 20 designed as a plate 36. These levers 34 have the function that the drive 8 initially moves forward in the direction of the roller 5 when operated and only when a corresponding counter pressure acts on the drive 8, the drive moves downwards, the levers 34 then along the rear part 20 slide. A spring-loaded lever 34 thus prevents the drive from sliding downwards before it exerts the necessary pressure on the roller.

The spring-preloaded levers 34 thus also have a braking function which ensures that, before the drive 18 moves downward along the second movement path section 15, the drive 18 initially moves along the first movement path section 14.

The springs 35 of the lever 34 shown in FIG. 14 are tension springs, and the lever pressure (and sliding pressure) on the plate of the rear part 20 can also be determined by the number of levers 34 and the appropriate selection of the tension spring.

In FIG. 14 it can also be seen that the drive 8 is connected to a rear structure 38 via the bracket 37. The tension spring 26 lies on the rear structure 38, so that when the operating lever is released (not shown in FIG. 14), the rear structure 38 moves back into its starting position and thereby tilts the upper bracket 37 about a pivot point 39 so that the Drive 8 or its structured surface is no longer in engagement with roller 5. The pivot point or the pivot bearing 39 is located on a component which has a groove in which a stop 40 or guide roller is located, which is firmly connected to the plate 36 of the rear part 20. The stops 40 define the maximum movements of the bracket 37. In FIG. 14, the lower bracket 37 strikes the stop 40; if the upper bracket 37 is tilted, this only goes at most until the upper stop 40 is touched.

It is advantageous for the dispensing device 1 according to the invention that the displaceable body, that is to say z. B. the roller (roller) is advanced a predetermined distance in the direction of the end position, thus exerting pressure on the food in the container, the movement path, so the forward movement of the movable body, so z. B. the roller, is issued so that the size of the portion of the food to be dispensed is specified. Thus, the movable body, so z. B. the roller, is only moved by such a large piece towards the end position that leaves this container with a predetermined and desired volume of the food in the container.

The advantage of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention also consists in the modular structure and in the simple assembly. This also allows individual parts of the dispensing device 1 according to the invention to be easy to clean, e.g. B. by running water or in a dishwasher. At the same time, the dispensing device 1 according to the invention takes up relatively little space on a buffet in a breakfast room due to its vertical orientation and since the operating lever is arranged very far down, it also ensures a sufficiently high level of stability. The operating lever is mounted in the lowest quarter of the device in relation to the entire vertical height, that is to say far below the center of gravity of the output device 1 according to the invention.

For the hygienically improved operability of the output device 1 according to the invention, the operating lever 23 can also be designed, for. B. can be extended so that it can be easily operated with the elbow and therefore no longer has to be touched with the hand.

This is possible, for example, with an operating lever 23 whose length is greater than 25 cm, preferably in the range between 35 and 50 cm, particularly preferably in the range between 25 and 35 cm, without reducing the stability of the output device 1. The best results could be achieved with the dispensing device 1 according to the invention when the roller 5 presses the container 2 against the wall 31 at all times so that no contents from the container 2 pass the roller (roller) 5 upwards can, because food which is located above the pressure point of the roller 5 on the wall 31 is ultimately lost and can no longer be removed from the container 2.

Thus, as shown preferably in FIG. 13a, the roller is always held in position between the bag holder and the delimiting wall 31 as well as the wall 36 of the rear part 20, so it can practically not move between the walls 31 on the one hand and 36 on the other hand, in the best possible way, but only along the driving position from the starting position to the end position.

The roller (roller) 5 therefore presses the bag firmly and with a certain pressure against the wall 31 at all times.

When the operating lever 23 is operated, a mechanism first presses the drive 8 (the drive bar) against the roller 5 and when the resistance (counterforce) between roller 5 and drive 8 is large enough, the movement then takes place downwards. This ensures that the roller (roller) 5 maintains the pressure on the container (bag) 2 and when the container 2 is "rolled out", no container contents can get past the roller upwards (towards the initial position). The emptying takes place only with high pressure (maximum pressure) of the roller 5 against the container 2. This is important for the emptying of the container 2, since if the pressure on the roller 5 is too low, the contents would be pushed up past the roller and thus a significant amount of food would then remain in the container 2.

If you let go of the control lever, the pressure on the roller 5 is also relieved downwards. Only the pressure of the roller 5 against the walls 31 / container 2 on the one hand and wall 36 of the rear part 20 is retained. It is therefore possible through the invention and decisive and important for emptying the bag (container 2) that the pressure of the roller 5 against the container 2 is maintained at all times. The roller 5 and thus the container

2 is clamped in idle mode between the “retaining strips”, that is, the plate 36 of the rear part 20 and the wall 31, so that no container contents can get past the roller 5 upwards. For emptying when the operating lever 23 is actuated, the pressure of the roller 5 against the wall 31 is increased by the drive 8 and then the contents are pushed out / rolled out / pushed out of the container 2 by the downward pressure. During a drive action of the drive 8, the roller 5 thus develops a very high pressure against the container 2 in order to thus push the contents of the container out of its opening at the second end position. When the control lever is relieved 23 the pressure on the contents of the container 2 is removed so that the container 2 is not constantly under high pressure and does not leak.

FIGS. 16a and 16b show the dispensing device 1 according to the invention in the operational state with a base plate, the structure arranged above it with a receiving space and an upper cover like the operating lever.

Reference list

1 dispenser

2 container

3 recording room

4 boundary wall

5 roller, roller

6 starting position

7 end position

8 Drive device

9 Distance

10 first end

1 1 second end

12 path of movement

13 starting position

14 first movement path section

15 second movement path section

16 third movement path section

17 structured surface

18 structured surface

1 9 base plate

20 back

21 Recording

22 lids

23 Control levers

24 clamping device

25 points

26 mainspring

27 opening

28 end position

29 Direction of arrow

30 Rolling movement through a predetermined angle

31 boundary wall

32 retaining clips

33a, b side walls

34 levers

35 spring 36 plate, wall

37 bracket

38 back structure

39 Pivot bearing 40 Stop, guide

Claims

Expectations

1 . Dispensing device (1) for dispensing a viscous food which has a predetermined viscosity, the food being filled in a container (2) which can be squeezed, e.g. in a bag, a flexible bottle or the like, and the dispensing device (1) has a space (3) for receiving the container (2) and the space has at least one boundary wall (4, 31, 20) on which the container (2 ) is applied and wherein in the receiving space (3) a displaceable body, for example a roller (5) is accommodated, which can be moved between a start position (6) and an end position (28) in the receiving space (3), and the container (2) for the food between the displaceable body, e.g. the roller (5) on the one hand and the boundary wall (4, 31, 20) of the receiving space (3) on the other hand is arranged and wherein the output device (1) has a drive device (8) which when driving the displaceable body, so z. B. moves the roller (5) by a predetermined distance (9) in the direction of the end position (28) and thereby through the displaceable body, so z. B. the roller (5) pressure is exerted on the food in the container (2), and wherein the container (2) has a first end (10) which in the region of the starting position (6) of the movable body, so z. B: the roller (5) lies in the receiving space (3) and has a second end (11) which is approximately in the region of the end position (28) of the displaceable body, i.e. B. the roller (5) and wherein the second end (1 1) has an opening for dispensing the food.

2. Output device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive device (8) for moving the roller (5) travels a predetermined path of movement (12) and after a drive of the displaceable body, for. B. the roller (5) moves back into the starting position (13) of the path of movement (12) by means of force assistance, preferably a spring force.

3. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the movement path (12) of the drive device (8) has a first drive path section (14), a second drive path section (15) and at least one third drive path section (16), with the first Drive path section (14) essentially covers a distance (9) perpendicular to the second drive path section (15) and when the drive moves along the second drive path section, the roller (5) is moved towards the end position (28) and on the first drive path section (14) ) the drive device (8) moves towards the roller (5) and in the third drive path section (16) the drive device (8) moves back into its starting position (13).

4. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (8) has a structured surface (17), e.g. a corrugation, tooth structure, structure with high friction or the like and that the roller (5) on the outside also has a structured surface (18), e.g. has a corrugation, tooth structure, structure with a high friction or the like and the drive device (8) and the roller (5) when the drive is moved along the second drive path with the surface structure of the roller (5) is in engagement or contact, around the Roller (5) to move a predetermined distance in the direction of the end position (28).

5. Output device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that after detachment of the drive device (8) from the roller (5), the

Roller (5) can be moved back a predetermined distance (9) in the direction of the starting position (6) due to the pressure release of the food in the container (2).

6. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (8) on the side facing the roller (5) consists of a material with a high frictional resistance and the roller (5) ) on the outside also has a material with a high frictional resistance, so that when the drive device (8) and the outside of the roller (5) come into contact, the roller (5) can be moved in the direction of the end position (28) due to the mutually high frictional resistance.

7. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive device (8) is formed by a substantially linearly aligned plate which has a front side and a rear side, the front side of the plate of the roller (5) is facing and on the back of the drive device a drive structure, for example a linkage, bracket (37), joints, levers (34) or the like are attached to the drive device (8) in the desired

Way along the first drive path, along the second drive path and along the third drive path.

8. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device has an operating lever (23) which is movable between a first position, namely a rest position and a further position, namely an end position (28) and which is mechanically is coupled to the drive device (8), wherein the operating lever (23) can be operated by a person who wants to operate the dispensing device (1) by the person using the operating lever (23) between the The rest position and the end position (28) are moved, and after the control lever has been released, the control lever can be moved automatically into the rest position by a restoring force, for example a tension and / or compression spring.

9. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) for receiving the viscous food in the region of the second end (11) can be fixed between two plates, for. B. can be clamped, of which at least one plate is movable and the movable plate is mechanically coupled to the operating lever (23) in such a way that the movable plate can be moved away from the other plate when the operating lever (23) is operated and thus the output of the food from the container (2) releases.

10. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the container (2) is fixed in the region of the first end (10) which is opposite the second end (11), e.g. by a clamping device (24) in or on the receiving space (3).

11. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the roller (5) is held in the region of the starting position (6) by a retaining device (24), the roller (5) being driven by the drive device (8) the holding position is releasable.

12. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiving space (3) for the food receptacle is formed by a cover, which in cross section consists of an angular or round U-profile or the like.

13. Dispensing device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the receiving space (3) for the container (2) for receiving the food has two approximately parallel opposite walls and a third, the two walls arranged parallel to each other connecting and thus perpendicular the wall due to it and wherein the roller (5) is aligned with its structured surface (17, 18) in the direction of the third wall and with its two end faces the first and second wall are aligned and thus the roller with its structured surface (17 , 18) rolls on the third wall when driven by the drive device (8) and on the fixed there between the wall on the one hand and roller (5) on the other hand, z. B presses the jammed container (2).

14. Dispensing device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receptacle is aligned essentially vertically by receiving the food.

15. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the food has a viscosity of about 5,000 mPa s to 15,000 mPa s (26 ° C, IOCCC method 46-2000).

16. Dispenser (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the food has thixotropic properties, i. E. that it has a different (lower) viscosity when pressurized than when it is not under pressure.

17. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the food is a nut-nougat cream, a jam or the like.

18. Dispensing device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when driving the roller (5) it moves in a predetermined distance (9) in the direction of the end position (7) and at the same time executes a rolling movement during the movement and thereby the The container (2) presses against the third wall of the receiving space and presses the food in the container (2) in the area clamped between the roller (5) and the boundary wall (4) towards the end position (28).

19. Dispensing system, consisting of a dispensing device and a container according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the dispensing system is used to dispense a food that is filled in the container with a predetermined portion of the food.