Umc Industries, Inc.

White Consolidated Industries, Inc.

Splendid Blend System, Inc.

Baskin-robbins Usa, Co.

John W Gilliom

Robert T Topper

James M Tucker

David F Allgeyer

James V Broussalian

Philip P Johnson

Robert L Weber

Edgardo J Garcie-Caes

A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston begins to move in the second direction through the material. Suctioning the material from the collapsible container, as opposed to compressing the container to expel the material, is preferable when the material contains entrapped gas, as is the case with ice cream, since repeated compression of such containerized material can diminish its quality.

Reciprocating pump with cooperating piston shearing portions

A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston beings to move in the second direction through the material. Suctioning the material from the collapsible container, as opposed to compressing the container to expel the material, is preferable when the material contains entrapped gas, as is the case with ice cream, since repeated compression of such containerized material can diminish its quality.

Dispenser with pressure operated, spring biased, reciprocating piston

Viscous material dispenser

A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. Each cartridge uses compressed air to urge the frozen confection from the cartridge through a valve assembly. A valve assembly comprises a valve body that defines a passageway that connects an inlet opening at the cartridge with an outlet opening outside the dispensing cabinet. A valve for alternatively blocking or permitting flow of frozen confection through the passageway is provided at the outlet opening. The valve can include a piston that is moved between the opened and closed positions by a lever. The valve can also include an inflatable bladder that is alternatively inflated or deflated by compressed air that flows through a push button switch. When inflated, the flow of frozen confection is prevented and when deflated, flow is permitted. If a bladder valve is used, a leak detection system senses any leak in the compressed air system and operates a pressure switch to simultaneously block further flow of compressed air to the cartridge and depressurized the cartridge to prevent the contents of the cartridge from spilling.

Dispensing valve for frozen soft serve confections

A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. A valve assembly comprises a valve plunger housing and a valve plunger. The housing is mounted within the interior of the dispenser cabinet and comprises an entrance port for receiving frozen soft serve confection from the cartridge and a bore which intersects with the entrance port. The valve plunger is slideably disposed within the bore. The plunger has an elongated body with a hollow interior chamber, a rearward entrance opening and a forward exit opening. The valve plunger extends through the wall of the dispensing cabinet and the exit opening is outside of the dispensing cabinet. The valve plunger is afforded lengthwise movement within the bore between an open position wherein the entrance opening of the valve plunger is aligned with the entrance port of the housing and frozen soft serve confection is allowed to flow through the entrance port of the housing and the valve plunger and a closed position wherein the plunger blocks the flow of frozen soft serve confection through the entrance port of the housing.

Dispensing unit for frozen soft serve confections

A knockdown metal cabinet is particularly suited for the food merchandising business and can be quickly assembled from a plurality of flat panels. A rectangular base member has upstanding brackets at each corner along front and back sides which receive channel members secured to a pair of opposed side panels. The side panels are joined together at the top by a pair of horizontal braces each secured at two vertically spaced points to the adjacent side panel to produce a rigid box structure. Front and back panels are then hung in place and supported by the horizontal braces and the base without fasteners. The assembly may then be completed by a top member which is secured to horizontal flanges extending along the top edges of each of the side panels.

Knockdown steel counter

Disposable pan for heating and serving food

Apparatus for heating food, such as a serving of partially or fully precooked french fried potatoes supplied in a refrigerated or frozen state and requiring heating for being eaten, comprising a blower for blowing air, a heater for heating the air, a support for holding a receptacle containing the food in position for heating of the food by the heated air, and a system for causing the air to sweep through the receptacle and blow over and around the food in the receptacle for rapidly heating the food solely by the air. And a method of heating the food involving holding a receptacle containing food in a stream of high-velocity heated air and constraining the air to sweep through the receptacle and over and around the food in heat exchange contact with the exposed surfaces of the food.

Method of heating food

Apparatus for heating food, such as a serving of partially or fully precooked french fried potatoes supplied in a refrigerated or frozen state and requiring heating for being eaten, comprising a blower for blowing air, a heater for heating the air, a support for holding a receptacle containing the food in position for heating of the food by the heated air, and a system for causing the air to sweep through the receptacle and blow over and around the food in the receptacle for rapidly heating the food solely by the air. And a method of heating the food involving maintaining a receptacle holding it in a stream of high-velocity heated air and constraining the air to sweep through the receptacle and over and around the food in heat exchange contact with the exposed surfaces of the food.

Growing community of inventors

Wooster, AR, United States of America

John W Gilliom