Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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A CONDIMENT DISPENSING APPARATUS
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to a condiment dispensing apparatus,
and more particularly to an
electronically controlled liquid condiment dispensing apparatus utilizing a
novel linear peristaltic pump as the
liquid pumping element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
to
Liquid condiments such as catsup (ketchup), mustard, mayonnaise, sauces of all
types, salad dressings,
syrups, gravies, oils, dairy products, coffee creamers and sweeteners, food
toppings, flavorings and juices are
widely utilized in restaurants of all types. It is a frequent practice to make
co~iments freely available to
restaurant customers for application to the fare of the restaurant, as the
customer may desire. This practice is
generally known as self serve. Means to do this presently include prepackaged
portions contained in small pre-
made bags known generally as packets, a manually operated pumping apparatus
integrated into a stainless steel
holding pot, and serving pots containing spoons or scoops, and squeeze
bottles.
Each of the described means of providing self serve condiments to a restaurant
patron offers limitations.
In the case of the packets, they are very expensive and their use is
uncontrolled and wasteful. For example,
one study showed that 30°b or more of all packets taken by restaurant
customers were either discarded as refuse
or removed from the restaurant. In the case of squeeze bottles or pots using
scoops or pumps, a great deal of
the condiment placed into these reservoirs is not recoverable. In addition,
these means of presenting
condiments frequently suffer from severe problems of clogging, sanitation,
contamination and are often
aesthetically unappealing in appearance, particularly as condiments congeal or
dry and cake on the edges and
walls of such reservoirs. It is also important to note that these same
condiment dispensing methods, problems
and limitations are found in restaurant kitchens as well. Because of these and
other problems which will be
detailed further on, improved means of providing condiment dispensing in
restaurants of every sort is necessary.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a primary object of the present invention to overcome the numerous
limitations and disadvantages of
known Liquid condiment dispensing methods as set forth above. Furthermore, the
objects of this invention
include providing:
1. Automatic condiment dispensers using either one of two disclosed unique
types of linear peristaltic
pumps as the means of condiment displacement.
2. Automatic condi~nt dispenser systems particularly suited to dispensing all
types of liquid food products
and condiments.
3. Automatic condiment dispensers particularly suited to cleaning and
sanitizing in place without the
necessity of disassembly or replace~nt.
4. An automatic condiment dispensing system in which all control and system
integration functions are
electronically derived.
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5. An automatic condiment dispensing system which includes the ability to
electronically select a dose or on
demand (metered) flow.
6. An automatic condiment dispensing system which includes the ability to
select for the use of an
electronically operated point of dispense positive shut-off valve to achieve a
no drip cut-off of the
condiment, after dispensing.
7. The ability to use reverse pumped flow to achieve a no drip cut-off of
condiment, after dispensing.
8. The ability to electronically determine the condiment dose volume where a
dose mode of operation has
been selected.
9. The ability to electronically dispense, on a priority input basis, to more
than one location using a single
pump, such that only one location at a time is served.
10. The ability to electronically signal dispenser status and diagnostics to a
local annunciator panel or to a
Programmable Logic Controller or computer and thus to a wide area computer
network.
11. The ability to electronically signal and thus record and document
condiment usage for purposes of
inventory keeping and automatic ordering and re-supply.
12. An automatic condiment dispense system capable of effectively dispensing
ketchup, mustard or
mayonnaise at a distance of 100 feet from the condiment displacement pump.
13. An automatic condi~nt dispenser system which utilizes pumps which are
particularly designed so as not
to compress gas pockets found in condiment products to such a degree as to
cause explosive
decompression of these gas pockets when they exit to atmosphere at the point
of dispense.
14. A design for a condiment dispenser system primarily intended for placement
under a counter or cabinet
in a restaurant dining or public area.
15. A design for condiment dispenser system primarily intended far use in a
restaurant kitchen or food
preparation area.
2s BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical under counter installation of two electronically
controlled liquid condiment
dispensers having presentation fixtures mounted on the top of a counter, the
condiment dispenser being mounted
within the cabinet.
FIG. 2 is a right side view of the structure shown in FIG. 1, this view being
taken generally along the
line 2-2 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, this view being taken generally along the
line 3-3 in FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the structure shown in FIG. 2, and
illustrates the check valve -
compressive center section - check valve pump of this invention.
FIG. 4A is a view similar to FIG. 4 but illustrates the condiment dispenser
with the three element pump
of the type shown in co-pending application serial number PCTIUS98/00958 filed
on Jan. 16, 1997, herein
referred to as a pump with three actuating assemblies which act upon a pump
tube.
FIG. 5 is a view showing an enlarged portion of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5A is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing a pump with three actuating
assemblies.
FIG. 6 is a top view of the dispenser assembly shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is a view of FIG. 1 with the doors open.
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FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 7.
FIG. 8A is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing a pump with three actuating
assemblies.
FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 but showing the metal frame without the
condiment box mounted
thereon.
FIG. 9A is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing a pump with three actuating
assemblies.
FIG. 10 is a back view of the structure shown in FIG. 8.
FIG. 10A is a back view of the structure shown in FIG. 8A.
FIG. 11 is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 11A is a top view of the structure shown in FIG. 9A.
FIG. 12 is an enlarged back view of the check valve - compressive center
section - check valve pump
shown, for example, in FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a right side view of the pump shown in FIG. 11.
FIG. 13A is a cutaway view of one of the check valve units utilized in the
pump shown in FIGS. 12 and
13.
FIG. 14 is a top view of the pump shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.
FIG. 14A is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 14.
FIG. 15 is a view of the electronic controller used with the pump shown in
FIGS. 12 and 13.
FIG. 16 is an electrical schematic of the circuit shown in FIG. 15.
FIG. 17 is a view showing a condiment dispenser mounted remotely from the
countertop which receives
the point of dispense devices.
FIG. 18 is a view similar to FIG. 16 but illustrates the manner in which the
compression time and
retraction time of the compressive center section may be varied.
FIG. I9 illustrates how the pump of FIGS. 12 and 13 may be interconnected with
two separate
presentation fixtures.
FIG. 20 is a right side view of a kitchen unit with condiment packages mounted
thereon.
FIG. 21 is a front view of the unit shown in FIG. 20.
FIG. 22 is a top view of the unit shown in FIGS. 2(? and 21.
FIGS. 23 and 24 illustrate separate styles of condiment dispensing wands, the
design shown in FIG. 24
being provided with a positive shut..off device.
FIG. 25 illustrates a point of dispense condiment wand which can dispense two
condiments either
individually or at the same time.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
IN GENERAL
The present invention consists of electronically controlled condiment
dispensers. Two preferred
embodiments are disclosed, one generally intetxted for self serve use in the
public areas of restaurants, and one
for the kitchen or food preparation area of the restaurant.
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Two different pumps are suitable for use with the described dispenser systems.
One is described fully in
co-pending application PCT/US98/00958, and is briefly described below. The
second pump type is unique and
novel and is fully described in this patent specification.
The condiment dispensers described herein consist of stands particularly
designed to bold a bulk supply
of condiment, the positive displacement dispensing pump, the particular means
of mounting the pump to the
stand, the flexible tubing required to connect the pump to the supply, the
flexible tubing needed to connect the
outfeed of the pump to the point of dispense, and the point of dispense
apparatus.
CHECK VALVE - COMPRESSIVE CENTER SECTION - CHECK VALVE PUMP
to
The first novel and unique feature of the present invention consists of the
check valve - compressive
center section - check valve pump, the pumping means being indicated generally
at 10.
This pump consists of a suitable infeed check valve assembly 12 connected to
one end of a short section
of high durometer flexible tubing 14, with an outfeed check valve assembly 16
connected to the other end. The
check valves, which allow fluid flow in only one direction, are fitted such
that both allow flow in the same
direction. Disposed between the two check valves is a p~umatically operated
displacement assembly 18. Each
of the valves 12 and 16 are essentially identical and a cross section of valve
12 is shown in FIG. 13A. As can
be seen from an inspection of this cross section, the valve consists of a
valve body 12.1, infeed and outfeed
barbs 12.2 and 12.3 which are screwed into the valve body 12.1. A cartridge
12.4 is disposed within the valve
body 12.1. The valve body is provided with a seat 12.11 and when the parts are
assembled, a ball 12.5 will be
caused to bear against the seat 12.11 by a pressure spring 12.6. This spring
is so selective that its cracking
pressure will be 0.33 psi. In addition to the foregoing components, an annular
seal 12.7 of the illustrated cross
section is provided, the seal being positioned adjacent the seat 12.11 and in
contact with the ball (when in its
closed position) and the cartridge 12.4. O-ring seals 12.8 and 12.9 are also
provided. The various components
are made of suitable materials for use in a sanitary environment.
Pumps using two check valves connected by an intervening flexible element are
well known in the art.
Sheesley (3,048.121) describes a "flexible diaphragm pump" which is
hydraulically operated with an infeed
check valve and outfeed check valve, the pump requiring positive liquid feed
pressure in order to operate.
Hutchinson (3,048,104) describes a dual check valve pump in which the flexible
center displacement section is
hand squeezed to cause pumping. Smith (3,318,25I) describes a dual check valve
pump wherein the flexible
center section is hydraulically compressed using a closely mounted plunger or
piston pump as a hydraulic pump.
Weber (3,349,716) teaches a flexible displacement tube which is situated on a
flat backer plate and is acted
upon by an arc shaped plunger which is driven by a rotary motion actuated
connecting rod. Shill (3,724,973)
teaches a dual check valve blood pump where the flexible center displacement
element is compressed
circumferentially by gas pressure and wherein the rebound of the tube is
assisted by vacuum, and whereby the
compression and rebound times are fluidically adjustable. Dockum (4,OI4,3I8)
discloses an implantable blood
pump wherein the flexible tube is compressed by an electric solenoid directly
coupled to an arc shaped
compressive member. Bogen (5.316,452) teaches a compressible displacement tube
actuated by an "electrically
driven reciprocating hammer actuator".
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In the present invention, as can best be seen from FIGS. 12 - 14, the pump
frame to support the dual
check valve-flexible hose fluid flow pathway and the compression element used
to cyclically compress the pump
hose is constructed using stainless steel sheet. The frame uniquely consists
of only two parts, a check valve
mount plate 20 and an upper anvil mount plate 22. The valve mount plate
consists of a flat intermediate section
5 20.1 generally spanning the length of the flow tube. At each end of the flat
section 20.1, the plate turac at 90
degrees and an extension section 20.2 extends toward each check valve. After
an interval, the plate 20 again
turns 90 degrees away from the center line of the pump. The result of this
shape is to create a platform 20.3 at
each end of the valve mount plate upon which the check valves rest and to
which they are affixed. The
extension sections 20.2 also provide means for uniquely mounting the pump
within the condiment dispenser as
will be detailed further on. The check valves can be fastened to their
respective platforms by many means, but
in the preferred embodiment a simple plastic cable tie 24 is used. Two holes
20.4 are provided on each valve
platform suitably spaced to allow the cable tie to pass around the valve and
through the platform. Thus
fastened, the pump tube is assured of being centered on compression anvils 26,
28 at right angles to the flow
axis of the pump, compression anvil 26 being carried by a piston rod 29 by
means of a spring pin (as shown in
PCT/US98/00958), which piston rod is com~ected to a piston within a
pneumatically operated cylinder assembly
30. The other anvil 28 is carried by the mounting plate 22. This method offers
durability, simplicity and the
ties are easily removed and replacements easily re-installed upon the
infrequent changing out of the fluid flow
pathway of the pump. The vertical elevation of the valve mount plate is
sufficient in any given size of the
pump to generally center the outer walls of the pump tube 14 between the two
opposing compression anvils in
the pump displacement section. As best shown in FIG. 14, the upper anvil mount
22 is a U-shaped piece
having a bight portion 22.1 which spans across the flat bottom section of the
valve mount plate at 90 degrees to
the long axis of the pump and is located at the center line of the anvil-
actuator assembly. The upper anvil
mount is located against the bottom surface of the valve mount plate such that
it is captured between the
shoulder 30.1 of the actuating pneumatic cylinder assembly 30 and the valve
mount plate. The result of this
arrangement is the creation of a very stiff and strong anvil mount. The two
frame pieces are assembled
together using the threaded nose piece 32 and nut 34 of the actuating air
cylinder. This single fastener uniquely
serves to assemble the entire pump frame and actuator assembly.
The spaced apart sides 22.2 of the U-shaped upper anvil mount are each
provided with hole, (no
number) on each side, suitably spaced to allow insertion of the compression
anvil 28 which is in the shape of a
round rod, typically made of stainless steel. The anvil 28, when inserted,
serves to capture and pre-compress
the pump flow tube 14. The upper anvil 28 is provided with two circumferential
grooves 28.1, one disposed
toward each end of the anvil. When iactalled into the pump, these grooves
engage with the mount anvil holes
in the sides 22.2 of the upper anvil mount as shown in FIG. 14A, thus securely
capturing the upper anvil. The
overall geometry and function of the compression anvils 26, 28 and the
pneumatic actuator assembly 18 are
analogous to that described for the displace~nt section of the three element
pump described in co-pending
application PCT/US98/00958, and will thus not be discussed herein.
The pump of the present invention is novel in that the pneumatically operated
cylinder displacement
assembly 18 is provided to act directly upon the flexible and compressive pump
tube in order to effect
compression of the tube and hence liquid displacement. Pumps of the prior art
disclose circumferential gas and
hydraulic enclosures surrounding the pump tube, motor coupled linkage driven
compression assemblies, and
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solenoid driven compressive ele~nts, but fail to disclose direct compression
of a dual check valve pump using
a pneumatic cylinder assembly.
Another unique feature of the pump of the present invention is the ability, by
virtue of the method of
construction, to directly visually inspect all aspects of the unit for
correctness of fluid flow pathway positioning,
anvil positioning and overall assembly.
Still another novel feature of the pump of the present invention is that the
pump mechanism contains only
five mechanical moving parts or elements in order to produce pumping. These
are the solenoid valve, the
pneumatic cylinder-anvil assembly, the pump tube, the infeed check valve, and
the outfeed check valve. This
economy of moving parts contributes to great simplicity of construction and
exceptional reliability.
The check valve - compressive center section - check valve pump of the present
invention incorporates
many of the novel features with the pump described in co-pending application
PCT application Ser. No.
PCT/US98/00958. While these will not be reviewed herein, for the sake of
clarity, these common features will
be briefly described as referenced by the listing of novel features described
in the co-pending specification:
1. First Novel Feature: Method of construction.
2. Second Novel Feature: Symmetrical dual round tube compression anvil design.
3. Third Novel Feature: Force multiplication.
4. Fourth Novel Feature: Use of a thick-walled, mufti-layer, laminated,
compound reinforced, high
durotneter, high pressure rated liquid pump tube.
5. Sixth Novel Feature: Positioning of the ends of the pump tube fittings
within a multiple of 1.20 to 2.00
of the internal diameter of the liquid pump tube relative to the center line
of compression of the
displacement actuator anvils.
6. Ninth Novel Feature: Direct close coupling of the electrically operated
pneumatic solenoid valve to the
pneumatic port of the air cylinder displacement actuator.
7. Eleventh Novel Feature: The use of an encoded actuator.
8. Twelfth Novel Feature: High viscosity priming capability.
9. Thirteenth Novel Feature: Methods of liquid flow rate control, of which the
first, second, fifth and sixth
methods are applicable.
The >bans of pumping of the dual check valve pump 10 of the present invention
is straight forward.
The pneumatic air cylinder actuator 18, the pressure of which is regulated by
a pneumatic regulator 35 acting
upon the flexible pump tube 14, serves to compress the tube, to variable
degree as determined by the control
electronics, thus causing the infeed check valve 12 to be reverse flow
pressurized, and causing the outfeed
check valve 16 to be forced open. When the pneumatic cylinder is
depressurized, the stiff walled pump tube 12
forces it to reverse direction and the pump tube rebounds to a more open or
uncompressed condition. This
opening creates a lumen or volume greater than that at compression, thus
causing the infeed check valve to be
opened to flow due to the differential pressure created between the lumen
(low) and the liquid in the infeed
tubing (high) as acted upon by atmospheric pressure. (The terms "low" and
"high" are relative to each other).
When the pump of the present invention is in a dry condition and is to be
primed with liquid, the
pumping action previously described must displace the gas in the
pump to create a vacuum condition in order to draw liquid into the pump. In
reference to this priming the
pump of the present condition has two novel features.
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As will be explained elsewhere in this specification, this dual check valve
pump is particularly designed
to be incapable of pumping gas at a significant discharge pressure. This is
the case because the compressive
stroke of the actuator reduces the volume of the pump tube lumen only
partially and thus compresses the gas in
the lumen only moderately. Because this is true, and because the pump must
create sufficient vacuum over
many cycles to suction prime viscous liquid materials such as ketchup, mustard
and mayonnaise, the pump of
the present invention is particularly and uniquely fitted with check valves
which open to Bow based upon a
differential pressure of 0.33 pounds per square inch (1/3 PSI). This crucial
check valve cracking pressure can
be empirically demonstrated as being necessary for efficient and effective
priming of the pump of the present
invention.
Another unique feature of the pump of the present invention concerns the
electronic control of priming.
In some embodiments, it is beneficial to be able to vary the degree of pump
tube compression and hence the
displaced volume of the pump per cycle. When so configured, this capability
allows easy adjustment of the
flow rate of the pump as desired. However, a partial compression further
reduces the gas pressure which can
be generated in a dry suction priming situation, and may cause the outfeed
check valve to fail to open at all.
When this occurs, priming does not occur. To overcome this problem, the pump
electronics can be uniquely
designed such that a prime mode can be entered into, either by manual switch
setting or by automatic change
where after a certain number of uninterrupted pump cycles, the stroke of the
displacement cylinder actuator is
altered to become a full compressive or occlusive stroke and thus able to
create the maximum possible gas
displacement in order to maximize pump suction priming performance.
It is important to note that when equipped with the check valves described in
this specification the check
valve pump is not well suited to the pumping of liquids which contain solids
of any significant size. Thus, this
pump is largely intended for use in a condiment dispenser pumping smooth or
unparticulated liquids such as
catsup, smooth mustard, mayonnaise, oils and the like. Where particulated
liquids are to be dispensed, the
three element pump described in co-pending application PCTlUS98/00958 is
utilized, which pump is briefly
described below. It should also be noted that the dual check valve pump
detailed in this specification is capable
of embodiment across a large scale of size and detail and is suitable for use
in many diverse pumping
applications and is thus not to be considered restricted in embodiment by this
description.
The dual check valve pump herein described is designed to be controlled
electronically. Thus, in its
simplest embodiment, a control circuit card 36 is provided to be mounted
directly onto the pump actuator by
use of a suitable bracket or clip 38 which is secured to the card by suitable
fasteners 39. In its simplest
embodiment, the control card consists of an AC to DC power supply circuit 40
(FIG. 16), a timer circuit for
actuator compression 42, a timer circuit for actuator retraction 44, a power-
on initialization circuit 46, a run
input buffer circuit 48, an on demand mode driver 50, an adjustable dose timer
circuit 52, a pump valve driver
54 and a point of dispense (POD) valve driver 56. When used in a condiment
dispenser, the inclusion of a
selectable on demand and dose capability on the same electronic controller is
unique.
In operation, a power switch 58 mounted on the circuit card 38 applies power
to the circuit. Power is
supplied to the pump electronic controller circuit card by use of a
commercially available plug-in sealed plastic
housed main AC ttgnsfortner (not shown) which provides a 24 VAC output. This
method assures a safe source
of power at a low voltage, thus allowing the circuit card packaging to be
Limited to a moisture proof and
corrosion resistant protective coating. The power-on initialization circuit
assures that functions are properly
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initialized and also forces the pump actuator compression timer 42 to fire,
which, in turn, forces the pump
actuator retract timer 44 to fire. The retract timer then again fires the
compression timer such that a self gated
flip-flop or oscillator is established. Each timer period is separately
established to achieve the desired pump
function. An on card LED 60 is driven by the compression timer and provides a
power on indicator and
oscillator function indicator combined into the same device. Another circuit
card mounted switch 62 allows
selection between an on demand mode of operation and a timed dose mode of
operation.
In operation, a normally open momentary switch 64 (FIG. 6) connected to the
run inputs 66a, 66b
applies a signal to the input buffer 48. The buffer output allows the
intermittent compression timer signal to be
applied to the pump valve driver 54 which is connected to the pump solenoid
control valve 68 (FIG. 13)
through suitable leads 70 (FIG. 13) and terminals 54a, 54b, the signal in turn
cyclically applying power to the
pump valve solenoid coil. In the on demand mode, the pump cycle continues
until the run switch 64 is opened.
In the dose mode, the pump cycle continues until the pre-set dose time ends.
The dose time is established using
a board mounted potentiometer 72. The point of dispense valve driver 56 is
continuously on whenever a run
input is applied, and off when no run input is provided. This signal also is
provided to separate connector
positions 76a, 76b in order to allow the driving of an LED ?6 (FIG. 6) located
at the point of dispense, if
desired. The point of dispense valve 78 is intended to allow a pneumatic
solenoid operated valve to control a
flow shut-off mechanism at the condiment point of dispense when such point is
located a sufficient distance from
the pump that clean cut-off of flow, free of drip or ooze, requires a local
shut-off, the valve being connected to
the card 36 via connectors 78a, 78b.
In conjunction with the use of the dose capability in combination with a
positive shut-off device 79
(alternatively termed the flow shut-off mechanism); it is important to
understand that the positive shut-off as
shown is an electropneumatically actuated device, and that the dose time
uniquely controls the shut-off and that
the shut-off cannot close off the flow or interrupt the dose before its
completion. In dispensers known in the
prior art (5,366,117), a dose mechanism is enabled in conjunction with a
manually actuated liquid flow valve,
but the liquid flow valve is not actuated or opened or maintained open by the
dose mechanism. Thus, in a dose
mode, if the manually opened valve is released before the dose is completed,
the dose is interrupted and is
partial in nature. The positive shut-off valve includes a pneumatically
operated cylinder assembly similar to the
pneumatic cylinder assembly 30. When operated to shut-off tlow, an anvil bears
upon a tlexible tube to occlude
the tube to effect shut-off. When air is released from the pneumatic air
cylinder assembly of the shut-off valve
the flexible tube will open. While the positive shut-off valve described is
the preferred valve, it is possible to
use other forms of shut-off valves.
Beyond the simplest embodiment of the pump control electronics above
described, which is particularly
suited for use in a simple and economical condiment dispensing system, many
more capabilities are possible by
use of control electronics substantially the same as that described as the
Fourteenth Novel Feature of the co-
pending Linear Peristaltic Pump application PCT/US98/00958. By omission of the
infeed valve (1FV) and
outfeed valve (OFV) control functions and capabilities dependent thereon, the
novel capabilities and features
embodied in the control electronics of the three element pump are directly
applicable to the dual check valve
pump particular to this application. These capabilities include the use of a
microcontroller integrated circuit as
the primary control engine, means of establishing metered flow, means of
establishing dose volume, the
4U provision for an electronic output tiring signal, the use of pre-settable
digital counters, the provision for multiple
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start inputs, the provision for a no liquid supply input signal to the pump
with an associated pump inhibit and
alarm output capability, the provision for automatic liquid supply changeover
capability, and the provision for a
ruNcount output signal.
U.S. 3,724,974 discloses a dual check valve-flexible center element pump in
which the compression time
and the retraction times can be independently fluidically controlled. In the
pump of the present invention, the
compression time and the retraction time can be uniquely independently
controlled and adjusted on an electronic
basis via board mounted potentiometers 80, 82 as shown in FIG. 18. This novel
capability provides important
advantages. Adjustment of the compression time allows adjustment of the range
of physical motion of the
compression anvil, thus allowing direct electronic control of the displaced
volume of the pump per pump cycle.
This provides, in turn, direct electronic control of the flow rate of the
pump. This can prove to be important
and useful. For example, when used as the displacement pump in a condiment
dispenser system as herein
disclosed, it allows the flow rate of the pump to be modulated to produce a
pleasing and gentle flow for delivery
of condiments in a self serve setting while allowing much higher flow rates to
be selected when the device is
used to dispense condiments in a restaurant kitchen where faster speed of
delivery is important to throughput.
In the case of independent electronic adjustment of the retraction time of the
pneumatic piston
displacement cylinder, more viscous liquids require a longer in-flow time into
the pump in order to completely
fill the pump lumen. Thus, the ability to increase the retraction time allows
the pump to function free of
cavitation across a broader range of liquid viscosities than would otherwise
be the case. Further, electronically
changing the retraction time can offer another means of flow rate adjustment
where displacement per cycle is
unaltered, but cycles per unit time is altered.
PUMP WITH THREE ACTUATING ASSEMBLIES WHICH ACT UPON A PUMP TUBE
The pump with three actuating assemblies incorporates additional novel
features of the pump described in
co-pending application PC1'IUS98100958. While these additional novel features
will not be fully reviewed
herein, for the sake of clarity, these additional common features will be
briefly described as referenced by the
listing of novel features described in the co-pending specification:
1. Fifth Novel Feature: Use of pressure rings in conjunction with pump tube.
2. Fourteenth Nove! Feature: Electronic control capabilities.
3. Fifteenth Novel Feature: Ability of the pump to operate over a broad range
of actuator pressures.
4. Sixteenth Novel Feature: Ability to pump highly particulated or non-
homogeneous liquids and slurries.
5. Seventeenth Novel Feature: Inability of pump to displace gas at high
pressure.
In summary, the pump with three actuating assemblies is illustrated in FIGS.
4A, SA, 8A, 9A, 10A,
11A, 20 and 21. Initially, it should be noted that while either the check
valve - compressive center section -
check valve pump assembly or the pump with three actuating assemblies may be
used with the self serve
condiment dispenser shown in FIGS. 7 and 17, the pump with three actuating
assemblies is the preferred pump
for the kitchen unit shown in FIGS. 20 and 21. It is also the preferred pump
for condiments with particulates.
As previously noted, the pump with three actuating assemblies is fully
described in co-pending application serial
number PCTlUS98/00958 tiled on !an. 16, 1998. Therefore, reference should be
made to that disclosure for a
4ti full description. However, the three actuating assembly pump, which is
indicated generally at 83 in FIG. 4A,
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includes a central displacement actuator assembly 84 which is substantially
identical to the displacement actuator
assembly 18 of the check valve - compressive center section - check valve pump
assembly described above.
Instead of check valves it is provided with an infeed valve assembly which
incorporates an actuator 86 and
suitable anvils, and an outfeed valve assembly which incorporates an actuator
88 and other suitable anvils. Each
s of the actuators includes a piston rod which in turn carries an anvil which
bears against a tube similar to tube
14. The tube is trapped between the anvils carried by the actuators and an
anvil plate 90 which is held in place
by pull pins 92 which pass through suitable apertures in a channel shaped
support 94, which channel also
receives the tube. The actuators are powered by air, the pressure of which is
regulated by regulator 96.
Operation of the actuators is controlled by solenoids 98 in response to an
electronic controller 186 in a manner
10 more fully set forth in the foregoing patent application. As can be seen
from FIGS. 4A and 10A, an electronic
controller 186 for each pump is supported by the metal frame 106. In the
design shown in FIGS. 20 - 22, the
electronic controller is located within a pump mount enclosure 180.
SELF SERVE CONDIMENT DISPENSER SYSTEM
is
Another novel feature of the present invention consists of a self serve
condiment dispenser system
configured for use in the dining or public areas of a restaurant or food
service establishment. A first
embodiment of a dispenser system is indicated generally at 100 in FIGS. 2 and
3, and is primarily intended for
placement under a serving counter 102 and/or in a cabinet 104 such as is
typically found in most food serving
establishments. The system generally consists of a mount frame 106, typically
constructed of welded metal
rectangular tubes, a dispensing pump 10 mounted to the frame, a bulk supply
108 of the condiment to be
dispensed, a point of dispense device or presentation fixture, which is
indicated generally at 110, and
interconnecting resilient flexible tubing 112, 114. The mount frame of this
embodiment receives a condiment
bag within a box, and is generally rectangular in shape as can best be seen
from FIGS. 4, 9 and 11. It is
uniquely provided with a slanted upper surface formed by top tubes 106.11,
106.12, 106.13 and 106.14, with
an angle from the horizontal of approximately 30 degrees. In addition to the
angled top tubes, the mount frame
includes a transverse top tube 106.1s, bottom side and transverse tubes 106.21
- 24, and four corner vertical
tubes 106.3! - 34. The frame contains two cleat stops 116, 118 on the slanted
top surface. These rails 106.1
and cleats 116, 118 serve as a stable and secure mounting surface for a bulk
supply of condiment which
generally consists of a Bag-In-Box package (BIB). The Bag-In-Box consists of
an outer corrugated box 108, and
a t7exible laminated film pillow-like inner bag (not shown) containing the
liquid condiment. The bag is
provided with a fitment or spout 120 which typically can be exposed through a
slot or flap on one of the large
side surfaces of the box. These packages are commercially available and are
widely utilized for packaging
liquid products of all types and are generally the package of choice for
beverage syrups. Because of the wide
use of BIB packages in restaurant environments, they are the dominant choice
for packaging bulk condiments for
automated dispensing.
The unique slanted upper surface is important in promoting the flexible bag to
completely empty of
condiment. Empirical tests have shown that BIB units placed at an angle as
here disclosed are more likely to
empty completely as compared with BIB units where the large surface is placed
flat. Thus, the slanted surface
4U mount promotes economy and efficiency of condiment utilization.
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Because the BIB mount frame of the self serve dispenser embodiment presently
under discussion is
generally intended to be placed under a counter, several unique provisions are
made in the design of the frame
to facilitate the removal of empty BIB packages and the installation of new
ones. First, the BIB mount surface
is uniquely elevated away from the bottom surface of the cabinet, allowing
easy access to the under surface of
the' BIB package for connection of the BIB spout 120 to the connector 122 on
the end of feed tube 112.
Second, the slanted BIB mount surface is uniquely slanted toward the front of
the cabinet, improving the
ergonomics of the BIB package installation and removal. Third, the BIB frame
can be equipped with simple
inboard mounted rubber or plastic wheels 107 mounted toward the back of the
frame, one on each side, and
smooth plastic slide strips or skids 107A along the bottom surfaces of each
side frame rail 106.21, 106.22. This
combination allows easy partial withdrawal and reinsertion of the frame from
the cabinet, thus greatly improving
access.
Mounted in a generally vertical orientation, a pump unit is novelty attached
to the rear surface of the BIB
mount frame. The pump used may be the three element Linear peristaltic pump
herein referenced, or the dual
check valve design herein described. The choice of pump is primarily a
function of the type of condiment to be
dispensed. Any condiment substantially free of entrained particulates may be
effectively pumped by the dua!
check valve design 10, and this design is substantially less expensive than
the three element design. In the case
where particulated or chunky food products are to be dispensed, the three
element, active valve, linear
peristaltic design is the pump of choice.
Regardless of the pump selected, it is mounted to the BIB frame in a unique
and beneficial manner. In
either case, the pump is captured by and suspended from upper and lower
stretched rubber or rubber-like straps,
or hold-downs 124, 126, also commonly known as bungee cords. This mounting
method is simple, inexpensive
and durable. Moreover, this method serves to isolate the pump (of either
species) from the BIB mount frame
thus dramatically reducing the transmission of sound generated by the
pneumatically operated pump into the
frame and hence into the cabinet, counter or mount surface. The sound
reduction gained from the use of this
mount method is dramatic. For example, using the dual check valve pump, sound
pressure at 36 inches from
the pump is reduced from 62 dB when the pump is hard mounted to the frame, to
51 dB when the pump is
mounted in the prescribed manner. Each end of each bungee cord is provided
with an S-hook. The raiis
106.15 and 106.24 are each provided with suitable spaced apart apertures for
the reception of one end of each
of the S-hooks 128.
The condiment in the BIB is introduced into the pump using a connector 122
which mates with the
fitment 120 of the BIB. This connector is variably referred to as a probe,
quick-connect-disconnect fitting, or
hookup valve. The BIB connector is attached to a flexible pump feed tine 112
which connects to the infeed of
the pump. On the outfeed of the pump, a flexible tube or hose 114 conducts the
condiment to the point of
dispense. When within a few feet of the pump, the fluid flow pathway of the
condiment dispensing system is
completed by direct hookup of the pump outfeed tube to the presentation
fixture 110. The presentation fixture
at the point of dispense may take on an enormous number of variations, one
typical example being pictured in
FIGS. 1 - 3. The presentation fixture is required to be sanitary in
construction and is herein provided for as
being of stainless steel construction with one continuous flow tube from point
of fluid connection to point of
dispense.
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When the point of dispense presentation fixture is more than a few feet
removed from the pump as
shown in FIG. 17, a positive shut-off device 78 is required to be positioned
locally at or near the fixture in
order to effect a clean and rapid cut-off of condiment flow which is
substantially free of ooze or drip. It is
important to note that a suitable electronic drive signal to operate such a
shut-off device is uniquely provided for
in each embodiment of the condiment dispense systems herein described.
The self serve system presently under discussion is completed by a power
hookup and by the wiring of a
start switch 130 into the electronic control card as previously described. The
start or run switch 130 is typically
a mechanical unit located as part of the presentation fixture but may also
take many other fortes, including the
use of an optoelectronic device, a touch activated switch or surface (even
including the presentation fixture
itself), or an ultrasonic sensor. It should be noted that in instances where
the three element linear peristaltic
pump is utilized, a condiment dispenser so configured is uniquely capable of
pumping back briefly at the end of
a dispensing event. This reverse flow pumping allows the pump to be separated
from the point of dispense
fixture by a distance of 10 to 20 feet, without the use of a positive shut-off
device, while still achieving a rapid
drip free, ooze free cut-off, depending upon the particular condiment being
pumped. Where applicable, this
novel capability allows a simplified fluid flow pathway which is free of
product drip or ooze even at the
separation distances described.
Regardless of the pump species utilized in the self serve or dining room
embodiment presently being
described, the system is particularly and novelty suited to rapid and thorough
cleaning and sanitizing in situ. By
example, when equipped with the dual check valve pump, a ketchup filled system
with a 30 inch infeed tube
and a 36 inch outfeed tube can be shown to be free visually of ketchup after
through pumping (no recirculation)
of less than three quarts of wattrt or hot water. This very low liquid
cleaning volume capability is a function of
several unique design factors including the simple straight through design of
the pump, which is free of trapping
areas, crevices, or bends or turns; the relative high frequency of pump
operation, which is typically on the
order of 6 to 9 Hz; and the stop-start flow pattern resultant from the
intermittent flow characteristic of the
pump, which results in an aggressive washing machine like mechanical cleaning
action. Even with condiments
with high lipids content such as mayonnaise, through pumping with three quarts
of a warm water and mild
detergent solution followed by a through pump rinse with three quarts of a
bacteria killing sanitizes such as a
low concentration chlorine bleach and water solution, followed by a through
pump with three quarts of clear
water rinse will result in a clean and sanitized system suitable for re-use
with edible liquid condiments. When
the three element pump is utilized essentially the same results are achieved
with a cleaning sequence using less
than four quarts of liquid at each step. The increase in cleaning liquid
volume is due only to the somewhat
larger infeed and outfeed lines typically used with this pump species.
More advanced electronics features uniquely enhance the utility and value of
the self serve system
presently being described. For example, the size, scale and public traffic
frequency of restaurants and food
service establishments of all types varies greatly, one to the next. In tttany
cases, it is economically desirable to
utilize only one condiment dispensing system to service two presentation
fixtures located at separate areas within
an establishment. The unique provision for electronically controlled and
integrated multipoint dispensing allows
this to be readily and inexpensively implemented.
In the embodiment of the design of the present invention shown in FIG. 19,
first and second start inputs
150, 152 are available, each input being electronically linked to a positive
shut-off output driver. 'This feature
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allows a single pump 10 to service more than one location. In addition, there
are first and second positive shut-
off devices and first and second fixtures 158, 160 respectively, In operation,
the first start input to arrive
electronically locks out or disables all other inputs. Thus, operation of the
first start input 1S0 initiates Bumping
and opens the ftrst remotely located positive shut-off device 154, thus
allowing condiment flow only through the
presentation fixture 158 at that location. If the dispenser system is
configured in a dose mode, the correct dose
is delivered at the first location and all other dispensing points or
locations remain locked out until the dose at
the first location is completed. If the dispenser system is configured in an
on demand mode, flow at the first-in
location continues until the start switch is released, and all other locations
remain locked out until demand flow
ceases. it is important to understand that any start input switch closure at
any other location is ignored during
dispensing at the first active location. Equally important, any start input
switch which is closed at any other
location at the end of dispensing at the first active location novelty does
not result in condiment flow at that
location since the person at that location might have no expectation that flow
was about to begin. Thus, a
surprise flow condition is uniquely avoided by the design of the electronics
such that it is necessary to release or
open any start switch which has been previously closed while locked out by
dispensing at another location.
Also uniquely, the use of an electronically addressed and actuated positive
shut-off device, such as 154 or
156, at each point of dispense indicated by fixtures 158 and 160,
respectively, such that only one shut-off can
be opened at any given time, assures that a correct dose or flow rate is
always delivered since division of the
pump's flow to more than one location cannot occur.
Because the condiment dispensing system of the present invention is designed
to provide flow at only one
Location at a time, an output driver for an LED lamp 162 and 164,
respectively, is provided for each start input
provided. Whenever a particular start input is active, the LED driver
associated with every other start input is
active. Thus, if implemented, all other presentation locations can be equipped
with a visual indication via an
associated LED lamp to show that the system is busy. This is helpful to a
patron wishing to utilize the
dispenser but finding it inoperable. The individual need only wait for the
busy LED to go out in order to gain
access to the system.
In many restaurants, it is difficult to monitor the status of equipment placed
in the dining room or public
service areas, either because of the size or layout of the establishment, or
because the background noise level
may make local audible alarms or warnings difficult to hear. The features of
the electronic controller of the
automated condiment dispensing system of the present invention offer unique
solutions to these problems, by
allowing remote monitoring of dispenser status. In any of the embodiments of
the condiment dispenser systems
herein disclosed, the electronic controller can provide diagnostic
information. The systems herein disclosed
have utilities requirements consisting of compressed gas at a specified
minimum pressure, and electric power.
The availability of correct gas pressure can be monitored by a suitable
pressure switch, and an input is provided
to monitor the status of the pressure switch when the system is so configured.
For remote transmission of information to a convenient central location within
the restaurant, the
dispenser electronic controller may be uniquely equipped with an Remote
Information Port lb6 (RIP). This port
consists of an optically isolated output which may be used to establish a two
wire current or voltage loop to a
Remote Information Module (RIM). In operation the RIP transmits a steady state
DC signal to the RIM as long
as correct compressed gas pressure and power are available. 'This constitutes
an on line or service ready status.
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Loss of power or gas pressure causes the signal to drop out completely. The
loss of signal at she RIM for a
period greater than two seconds will constitute, by definition, a utilities
failure at that particular dispenser.
The same two wire RIP can transmit an out of condiment product condition to
the RIM. The electronic
controller of any of the disclosed dispensers can be provided with an input to
monitor a condiment product
availability device. When lack of condiment is defected and signaled into the
dispenser controller, the RIP
signal pair is pulsated at a frequency of approximately one Hz. This
constitutes a distinct signature condition
which can be detected by the R1M. When utilized, any of the utility or empty
BIB faults inhibit the function of
the dispenser. If power is available, and a status LED is located at the
presentation fixture or other form of
point of dispense, the LED is caused to pulse rapidly, providing local
indication of a malfunction.
LO Another very important capability and benefit uniquely provided by the
disclosed condiment dispensers
concerns the ability to predict an empty BIB condition before customer service
is interrupted. This is difficult to
do without annunciation of a low BIB status at some control monitor location.
The RIM device previously
mentioned serves this purpose.
In operation, the RIP data loop established with the RIM provides consumption
data allowing prediction
of an imminent empty BIB condition. That is, the same two wire connection
providing diagnostics and empty
BIB status can also transmit consumption data. To understand how this is
accomplished, recall that both pumps
defined by this and the referenced specification are positive displacement
devices and thus capable of displacing
a known volume of condiment with each pump cycle. It is also true that bulk
condiments supplied in BIB
packages are filled with a precisely defined amount of product. With these two
conditions, it is readily apparent
that BIB product usage can be traced and depletion predicted.
In practice, each cycle of the pump produces a 10 millisecond pulse
transmission from the RIP to the
RIM. This constitutes a unique signal which can be unambiguously decoded by
the RIM as a pump cycle event.
Thus, by counting cycles generated by a particular dispenser pump with each
cycle representing a known
volume of condiment, and with the starting weight of the BIB known, an empty
BIB condition is readily
predictable.
Another unique and important benefit available as a result of the ability of
the dispensers of the present
invention to provide condiment consumption information, is the ability to
provide inventory tracking and re-
supply information. This data flows directly from the above described usage
tracking link and it can be
formatted locally by use of a dedicated microprocessor based inventory data
collection terminal (as commonly
used in food markets), via a PLC and modem onto a local or wide area network
or by formatting in a PC for
local use or transmission onto a wide area network.
KITCHEN CONDIMENT DISPENSER SYSTEM
Another novel feature of the present invention consists of a condiment
dispenser configured for use in the
kitchen or food preparation area of restaurants and food service
establishments. This second embodiment of a
condiment dispenser system is generally indicated by FIGS. 20-22.
The kitchen system generally consists of a compact system frame 170, typically
fabricated from stainless
steel, the bulk supply of condiments in BIB packages complete with the outer
cardboard box 172, the point of
4l) dispense device (shown in FIGS. 23-26), and the interconnecting product
flow tubing. The system frame is
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generally rectangular and consists of an upper shelf 174 designed to hold the
boxed BIB packages 172, generally
on an edge-wise orientation such that each BIB fitment 176 projects downward
through a hole 178 (or slot) in
the shelf toward the bottom of the stand. The bag within the BIB box 172 is
the same as the bag within the BIB
box 108, the only difference being the manner in which the box is opened to
expose the BIB fitment 120 or
5 176. While in the application, the condiment bags are shown mounted within
an associated box, it is possible to
remove the bag from the box and still practice the principles of this
invention. Thus the bag may by hung in
the manner shown in US patent 5,366,117, alternatively, the bag may be placed
in a cradle as taught in US
patent 5,624,056. Alternatively the condiment container could be something
other than a bag, for example a
suitable bucket or the like.
10 Mounted to the system frame below the BIB shelf of the kitchen dispenser is
a pump mount enclosure
180. This enclosure is generally fabricated from stainless sleet and is
gasketed to be generally resistant to the
entry of water, cleaning solutions and food products. The pump mount enclosure
180 is mounted in the system
frame in such a way as to assure a substantial separation of the bottom of the
pump mount enclosure and the
floor F in order to assure easy access to the underside of the stand for
cleaning of the stand and the floor area
15 occupied by the stand.
The placement of the BIB packages on edge is unique and is particularly
intended to allow the stand to be
as compact as possible in order to minimize the floor space required for its
placement. Also unique is the use
of the BIB package while still in its shipping box. When removed from the box,
bags of condiment, which
typically are in three gallon sizes and weigh approximately 25 pounds, are
very difficult to handle, there being
no firm surface to grasp or control. Thus, by unique use in the box, the
dispenser system of Ehe present
invention simplifies and speeds handling and reduces installation and
replacement times.
The use of a free standing system frame novelty allows the complete condiment
system to be self
contained and eliminates the need to place the unit under a table or counter.
This greatly improves access and
allows greater freedom of placement in restaurants with greatly varied
layouts. The pump mount enclosure is
uniquely designed with four removable stainless steel dress plates 182 a-d,
allowing modular mounting of one to
four condiment pumps of either of the two species herein described. This novel
design allows pumps to be
added or deleted from a system while assuring the integrity and cleanliness of
the pump mount enclosure. It is
possible to design stands accommodating two or more pumps, although the 4-
position unit illustrated is believed
to be the most common variant.
Using the three element pump shown in Appendix A, as an example, the condiment
pump can be face
mounted on the dress plate with the infeed port up and the outfeed port down.
This allows a direct flood feed
of the pump from the BIB package located directly above each pump
respectively. While the described pumps
have robust suction capability, flood feeding speeds priming of condiments of
all types and viscosities and
enhances discharge flow rates. The juxtaposition of the BIB package directly
over the pump uniquely allows the
interconnecting infeed tube 184 to be as short as possible, which has the dual
benefit of reducing system volume
to a minimum and also reducing flow friction to a minimum.
Connected to the outfad of each pump is a length of outfeed tubing 188. When
using the three element
pump, the outfeed may uniquely terminate in a point of dispense device (FIG.
23) consisting of a simple handle
tixture 19U containing a suitable start switch 192, and a short stainless
steel delivery tube 194, the switch being
connected to the controller ll36 by suitable electrical leads 196. When so
configured, condiments of essentially
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any type may be dispensed in an on demand or dose mode. Uniquely, condiments
that can be displaced with
the same pump include smooth and chunky condiments such as pumpable pickle
relish, special sauces such as
Big Mac Sauce and Arch Deluxe Sauce of McDonald's Corporation, thick picante
sauces with particulates in
excess of 0.375 inches in diameter, and tartar sauces. When terminated by a
simple flow tube (no positive shut-
off device) the configurable and adjustable pump back (reverse pumping)
capability of the three element pump
can provide a rapid cut-off of flow, free of drip or ooze, at a distance of up
to 15 to 20 feet from the pump
discharge port.
The novel ability of the condiment system of the present invention to
effectively pump condiments
containing large chunks of food materials in high concentrations is directly a
result of the design of the three
element pump, as previously disclosed, but also of the ability of the pump
electronic-controller to effect a
reverse flow capability for cut-off of such condiments at the point of
dispense such that a straight through fluid
flow pathway free of restrictions or obstructions can be utilized.
A suitable positive shut-off device 198 (shown in phantom lines in FIG. 24)
can also be used to cleanly
cut-off the flow of chunky or nonhomogeneous liquid condiment products. Unique
to this capability, and
germane to this specification, is the provision for the positive shut-off
device to be actively driven or positively
controlled by the pump electronic controller. Also uniquely, when a suitable
positive shut-off is used, the three
element condiment pump is capable of pumping viscous highly particulated
condiments, such as tartar sauce, a
distance of at least forty feet from the pump without detectable latency of
flow from moment of start switch
actuation. By example, at such a distance, the condiment system of the present
invention, utilizing the three
element pump species, can deliver a one third ounce dose of tartar sauce in
less than one second. Also
uniquely, when a suitable positive shut-off device is used, the condiment
system of the present invention is
capable of pumping a smooth condiment such as ketchup, mustard or mayonnaise a
distance of at least 100 feet
from the pump without detectable delay or latency of flow from the instant of
start switch actuation.
The unique ability of the condiment system herein described to pump liquid
products over an extensive
distance without a bothersome or noticeable delay in the inception of flow
upon start switch actuation is a direct
consequence of the use of an active or driven shut-off at the remote point of
dispense. This is true because, at
the end of each dispensing cycle, the shut-off is rapidly electronically
closed such that the outfeed pathway to
the remote point of dispense cannot decay in pressure. Thus with the next
dispensing cycle the pump is not
required to pump the outfeed structure up to some pressure where flow ensues,
and thus flow occurs on an
essentially instantaneous basis upon electronically opening the shut-off.
The use of electronic controls as elsewhere described allows unique and
important capabilities for the
kitchen condiment dispenser. For example, it is frequently true that many fast
food or quick serve restaurants
prepare sandwiches with a variable combination of condiments, the most
frequently used being ketchup and
mustard. Because the electronic controller of the three element pump has the
provision for multiple start inputs
and for a slave start output pulse, a dispenser (as shown in FIG. 25) can be
readily configured, as desired, to
dispense at the point of dispense ketchup only by pressing switch 192A,
mustard only by pressing switch 192B,
or ketchup and mustard simultaneously by pressing switch 192AB. In this
regard, ketchup will be received
from an associate condiment supply and pump through flexible hose or tube
188a, and mustard will be received
through tube 188b. Thus, this unique ability to simultaneously dose two or
more condiments simultaneously
with the touch of only one start switch or button has the effect of greatly
compressing the time of dispensing.
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This time savings is considered to be very important to the speed of sandwich
making in many fast food restaurant
settings.
Speed of condiment delivery in a kitchen setting is generally considered
crucial to efficiency of sandwich
assembly. The kitchen system of the present invention, when equipped with the
three element condiment pump, is
demonstrably and uniquely capable of delivering a one third ounce dose of
ketchup at a distance of twenty-five feet
from the pump in less than 500 milliseconds.
The kitchen system, as with the self serve system, is capable of being placed
into a dose mode whereby a
predetermined amount of condiment is accurately delivered at the point of
dispense. As with the self serve system,
the dose capability of the kitchen system is uniquely designed to be self
completing regardless of the point of
dispense structure.
As briefly mentioned with regard to the self serve system, the single
compressive element dual check valve
pump and the three element linear peristaltic pump are uniquely designed to be
incapable of pumping gas at a
significant discharge pressure. This is true because each of the two pump
species is designed so that the pump lumen
cannot be completely compressed or collapsed with pump displacement actuation.
Because this is true, users of both
the kitchen and self serve systems are uniquely protected from the expensive-
like depressurization of gas embolisms
which are frequently encountered within BIB packaged condiment products. These
eruptions and rapid expansions of
compressed gas pockets to atmosphere at the point of dispense are common and
known problems with condiment
dispenser systems utilizing other types of positive displacement pumps,
particularly gas operated dual diaphragm
pumps and gas operated piston type pumps.
While the best modes of this invention known to applicant at this time has
been shown in the accompanying
drawings and described in the accompanying text, along with variations of the
illustrated best modes, it should be
understood that applicant does not intend to be limited to the particular
details illustrated in the accompanying
drawings and described above. Thus, it is the desire of the inventors of the
present invention that it be clearly
understood that the embodiments of the invention, while preferred, can be
readily changed and altered by one skilled
in the art and that these embodiments are not to be limiting or constraining
on the form or benefits of the invention.
