The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 15, 1999
Michael James Vincent, Pleasanton, CA (US);
Hershel Edward Fancher, New Albany, IN (US);
David Anthony Harpring, Louisville, KY (US);
Patrick Joseph Ogburn, Louisville, KY (US);
Grand Soft Equipment Co., Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A system dispenses a desired portion of frozen product at a uniform rate from a product container containing the frozen product. The product container has a spout, and a dispensing valve connected to the spout to seal the product container. The dispensing valve is used to control dispensing of the frozen product from the product container. A label, attached to the product container identifying the formulation of the frozen product, is read to determine at least the formulation of the frozen product. Based upon at least the formulation, a controller controls the applied force from a drive and applied the force to a piston in the product container in order to dispense the frozen product at a uniform rate. The force is adjusted by the controller such that the frozen product is dispensed at a uniform rate until the desired portion is dispensed. The product container is sufficiently rigid so as not to deform when the force is applied to dispense the frozen product. The product container is also sufficiently deformable so that the product container is collapsible when it is empty of frozen product. Further, a product volume sensor is provided to determine the amount of frozen product in the product container and when the product container is empty of frozen product.