Fluid Management Operations LLC

Fluid Management, Inc.

Christopher K Khoo

William A Miller

James R Cleveland

John J Hsing

James L Martin

Ryan Hanawalt

Anton Obrecht

Sam J Ford

Marty Leider

Jeffrey Mumford

Tim Patrick Hogan

Thomas J Amsler

Brian R Hill

Donald A Rummelhart

Gary L Takata

Timothy P Hogan

Tim J DeGroot

Christopher E Peters

James A Martin

Tim Hogan

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, a base that has been sufficiently aerated, and at least one flavor. The horizontal freeze plate rotates about its central axis. The apparatus also includes a spreader body for distributing the chilled aerated mix on the rotating freeze plate. The spreader body extends radially across at least a portion of the upper surface of the freeze plate. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a scraper blade with a leading edge that extends radially across the portion of the freeze plate and that engages the upper surface of the freeze plate. The scraper blade is directed opposite the direction of rotation of the freeze plate. The scraper further includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel above the scraper blade that extends radially above the freeze plate for the collection of scraped, frozen and aerated mix. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup-lifter mechanism disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.

Point of sale method and apparatus for making and dispensing aerated frozen food products

A paint dispenser for dispensing paint components such as colorants and possibly base into 5 gallon and 1 gallon containers is disclosed. The paint dispenser includes a cabinet for accommodating a plurality of colorant and optionally base canisters in communication with a common dispense outlet. The canisters may be connected to individual pumps which, in turn, are connected to a dispense outlet. A container shelf unit is disposed in front of the cabinet and below the dispense outlet. The shelf unit includes a base including a plurality of rollers particularly suitable for supporting and moving 5 gallon pails of paint. The base is disposed below the dispense outlet a first vertical distance sufficient to permit the 5 gallon cylindrical containers to be disposed on top of the rollers and below the dispense outlet without engaging the dispense outlet. The shelf unit further a pivoting shelf being pivotally connected to the cabinet above the base. The pivoting shelf pivots between a first vertical position where the shelf is flat against the vertical cabinet thereby enabling a 1 gallon pail to be disposed on top of the rollers and below the dispense outlet.

Fluid dispenser with improved shelving system for accommodating containers of various sizes

An apparatus for making and dispensing frozen aerated products includes a rotating horizontal freeze plate with an upper surface for receiving a chilled aerated mix. The chilled aerated mix includes, in one embodiment, ice cream base that has been sufficiently aerated, and flavor. The apparatus further includes a scraper for scraping frozen aerated mix off of the rotating freeze plate. The scraper includes a body that forms an elongated semi-cylindrical channel. The apparatus also includes a plow for pushing the scraped, frozen and aerated mix through the channel towards a cup held by a cup lifter disposed at an end of the channel. The action of the plow pushes the scraped frozen aerated mix through the channel and into the cup resulting in a generally round scoop of scraped frozen aerated mix in the cup that resembles a serving scoop experienced at a traditional ice cream shop.

An improved multi fluid dispenser for simultaneous dispensing of a plurality of fluids shown and described. The dispenser includes a controller that is linked to a coordinator board. The controller has a memory with a plurality of recipes stored in the memory. A coordinator board is linked to a first module. The first module may include one or two pumps, each connected to a fluid reservoir. The module is then linked in series to a plurality of other modules as well as a manifold module. Each module includes a module board for controlling the pump or pumps of that module. The controller, coordinator board and module boards are all programmed for the simultaneous or sequential pumping of multiple fluids from the reservoirs through outlet nozzles of the manifold in accordance with a recipe selected by the user and retrieved from the memory of the controller.

Multiple fluid dispenser

A manually operated seal/closure system for a fluid dispenser manifold is disclosed. The manifold includes at least one nozzle and, more typically, a plurality of nozzles ranging from more than one to twelve or more. The manifold housing includes a sidewall or other stationary structure. The stationary sidewall is pivotally connected to an arm. The sidewall further includes a lateral slot and a curved slot. The arm includes a proximal end pivotally connected to the sidewall and a distal end with an elongated slot disposed therebetween. The closure system also includes a bracket for supporting a cup and a seal. The bracket is coupled to the arm and the sidewall by a first pin that extends from the bracket through the lateral slot in the sidewall and through the elongated slot of the arm. The brackets also coupled to the sidewall by a second pin that extends through the lateral slot of the sidewall and laterally between the first pin and the manifold.

Manually operable manifold/nozzle closure for fluid dispenser

An improved holder for pivotally supporting a flexible bag containing a liquid component is disclosed for use in a multiple fluid dispensing system. The holder supports the bag in an upright position for space efficiency as well as for dispensing efficiency. An improved shelving system for pivotally supporting a plurality of holders in a compact row and in an upright dispensing position is also disclosed. An improved dispensing system incorporating the disclosed shelving system and flexible bag holder is also disclosed.

Shelving systems and holders for flexible bags for containing fluid for use in fluid dispensing systems

A fluid mixer is disclosed which alters or changes the operation of the automatic clamping mechanism for different sizes, shapes and styles of containers. Removable and replaceable bottom plates are used on the lower base. These bottom plates have indicia on the resting surfaces thereof which provides the user with a clear indication as to which type of container is used with each plate surface. Typically, both surfaces of the replaceable/reversible bottom plates are used for different styles of containers. The bottom plate provides an identification to a sensor associated with a lower base for communicating a signal to the controller. By selecting the appropriate bottom plate and installing it on the lower base, a signal is generated and sent to the controller indicative of the type of container loaded into the mixing apparatus. The controller retrieves an appropriate algorithm or routine from its memory and imposes the appropriate clamping force by way of an upper plate that is lowered down into clamping engagement with a container or containers. Thus, one mixer can be used for a variety of different types, styles and sizes of containers.

Intelligent reversible/replaceable bottom plates for fluid mixers

An improved fluid dispenser specially adapted to provide sample-size amounts of a fluid mixture is shown and described. An automated closure and seal system is provided for the manifold that moves, on command from a controller, from a closed or sealed position thereby limiting exposure of the manifold and fluid outlet nozzles from the ambient atmosphere, to a dispense system where a sample-size container is held up against and engaging a lower end of the manifold for a sealing element disposed on a lower portion of the manifold. When the dispense is complete, the system automatically moves back toward a closed position where the filled container is held open and ready to be removed by a technician before it is capped and labeled.

Apparatus for dispensing paint and stain samples and methods of dispensing paint and stain samples

An improved cosmetics dispensing system that includes a controller, a plurality of mutating pumps, a plurality of reservoirs of cosmetics ingredients, a plurality of nozzles, a manifold for concentrically supporting the nozzles, a turntable rotatably connected beneath the manifold wherein the turntable includes a through opening for permitting the passage of fluid from one of the nozzles through the turntable, a motor for rotating the turntable, and wherein the controller is linked to each of the mutating pumps and the motor and each pump is in fluid communication with one of the reservoirs and vice versa and each pump is connected to one of the nozzles and vice versa. The system is computer operated whereby the turntable can rotate in either of the clockwise or counterclockwise directions and the turntable is equipped with a container holder that can accommodate containers of varying sizes. An improved method of dispensing ingredients for a cosmetic application at a point of sale is also disclosed which avoids coating an interior wall of the container with tints or colorants which are difficult to mix into the final solution once they engage the container wall or next surface.

Growing community of inventors

Lake in the Hills, IL, United States of America

Christopher K Khoo