초록 ▼

This invention relates to assemblies for pumping from a container, dispensing and heating or cooling edible viscous food products having the viscosity of ketchup, mustard, melted cheese, sour cream, salsa or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to peristaltic pumping and dispensing ass

This invention relates to assemblies for pumping from a container, dispensing and heating or cooling edible viscous food products having the viscosity of ketchup, mustard, melted cheese, sour cream, salsa or the like. More specifically, the invention relates to peristaltic pumping and dispensing assembly with housing and heating/cooling flow channels for dispensing food products with such viscosity.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [22.] In an assembly for dispensing viscous food such as melted cheese, mustard, ketchup, sour cream or the like, wherein a discharge tube having a distal end with an outlet for discharging viscous food products is connected to a reservoir of viscous food product:(a) a housing

[ What is claimed is:] [22.] In an assembly for dispensing viscous food such as melted cheese, mustard, ketchup, sour cream or the like, wherein a discharge tube having a distal end with an outlet for discharging viscous food products is connected to a reservoir of viscous food product:(a) a housing, the housing having means for being enclosed, the housing having a strut with a front side and a rear side, and the housing comprising side insulation walls with interior surfaces;(b) a peristaltic pump comprising a pump head with pressure members, said pump mounted in association with the housing so that the pump head is mounted to the front side of the strut so that the pump head can rotate relative to the strut, and means associated with the housing for allowing the discharge tube to be positioned to extend along the peristaltic pump head;(c) means for providing support for the reservoir of viscous food products, said reservoir support means having a bottom, a front, a rear and sides;(d) the housing having a means for controlling the temperature of air circulated throughout the assembly,(e) means for forcing circulation of the temperature controlled air within the housing; and means for providing structure establishing flow paths within the housing for circulating the temperature controlled air about the distal end of the discharge tube, alongside the discharge tube and about the reservoir support and then to return to the means for forcing circulation; the flow path means comprising a tube cover portion detachably mounted to the rest of the housing and wherein the flow path of temperature controlled air about the distal end of the discharge tube, and along side the discharge tube comprises a flow path through the tube cover; said flow path means further comprising said strut having openings therethrough to allow flow of air from the forced circulation means from the rear side of the strut through the said strut openings to the front side of the strut and thence along the discharge tube and thence along the front of said reservoir support and over the reservoir of food in the reservoir support and thence return to the means for forcing circulation; the flow path means also comprising structure for establishing a flow path from the forced circulation means to travel along the bottom of the reservoir support and thence along the sides of the reservoir support, and thence return to the means for forcing circulation, comprising the reservoir support sides being spaced from the interior surfaces of the housing side insulation walls, so that forced circulation of temperature controlled air can flow upwardly along the reservoir support sides and thence return to the means for forcing air circulation; and the flow path means also comprising an intermediate wall mounted within the housing, the intermediate wall having a front side and a rear side, the intermediate wall having an opening for allowing the passage of air by the means for forcing circulation with the said forced circulation means mounted to the intermediate wall about said intermediate wall opening, so that air flowing over the reservoir and the reservoir support can flow to the rear side of the intermediate wall toward the forced circulation means; and wherein the means for controlling the temperature of air is positioned to the front side of the said intermediate wall.