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:
Dec. 28, 2010
Filed:
Oct. 24, 2003
Peter W. Carhuff, Eau Claire, WI (US);
Takeshi Masu, Nishinomiya, JP;
Gene Clyde, Shanghai, CN;
Edward L. Dickinson, Littleton, MA (US);
Andrew C. Harvey, Waltham, MA (US);
Edward M. Kolvek, West Newbury, MA (US);
Michael H. Lago, New Milford, CT (US);
Peter W. Carhuff, Eau Claire, WI (US);
Takeshi Masu, Nishinomiya, JP;
Gene Clyde, Shanghai, CN;
Edward L. Dickinson, Littleton, MA (US);
Andrew C. Harvey, Waltham, MA (US);
Edward M. Kolvek, West Newbury, MA (US);
Michael H. Lago, New Milford, CT (US);
Nestec S.A., Vevey, CH;
Abstract
The invention relates to a food product dispenser that includes a food delivery mechanism and a cleansing mechanism. The food delivery mechanism includes a food source, a food conduit associated with the food source for receiving a food component therefrom, and a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense servings of the food component from the conduit. The cleansing mechanism includes a cleansing conduit associated with the food delivery mechanism to direct a cleansing fluid along a fluid path in cleansing association with the food delivery mechanism under conditions for performing a cleansing operation on the food delivery mechanism. A controller can be provided for automatically conducting cleansing operations based on predetermined conditions. The controller, delivery mechanism and cleansing mechanism can be configured to switch between the dispensing of the servings and the cleansing operation at a plurality of intervals during a day without substantial intervention from an operator.