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A device for sanitary dispensing from a flexible package a heated flowable material, such as cheese sauce, to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened. The dispensing device includes a housing defining heated compartment, a heating unit for maintaining

A device for sanitary dispensing from a flexible package a heated flowable material, such as cheese sauce, to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened. The dispensing device includes a housing defining heated compartment, a heating unit for maintaining the compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level, a package support in the compartment arranged to promote gravity flow of the material and a valve for selectively controlling flow of the material from the package and having a dispensing portion disposed substantially entirely in the compartment or the package support. The valve is removably connected to a package outlet and a valve member mounted in a valve body is moved from a closed position to an open position by an operator to discharge cheese sauce through a discharge opening in the housing. A second package of cheese sauce preferably is placed on top of the dispensing package to serve as a weight for promoting gravity flow from the dispensing package and to precondition the second package. In one embodiment, the package support is divided into a dispensing compartment and a preheating compartment which is arranged to hold a package in a configuration which permits the cheese sauce to be heated to an elevated temperature required by ANSI/NSF standards. The package support preferably is a one piece hopper molded from a synthetic thermoplastic or thermosetting material and packages in the dispensing and preheating compartments are heated by electrical heating elements molded into the hopper walls.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A device for dispensing a flowable material from a flexible package, the flexible package having a package outlet, the flowable material to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened, said device comprising.a housing including opposed

[ We claim:] [1.]1. A device for dispensing a flowable material from a flexible package, the flexible package having a package outlet, the flowable material to be maintained at or above a predetermined temperature level after the package is opened, said device comprising.a housing including opposed walls cooperating to define a compartment for holding at least one package;a heating unit for maintaining said compartment at or above the predetermined temperature level;means for supporting, the package in said compartment at an orientation promoting gravity flow of the material toward and through the package outlet;a valve for selectively controlling flow of the material from the package and including a dispensing portion and an actuating portion, said dispensing portion being disposed entirely within said compartment and heated by said heating unit and including a valve body having a flow passage, and a valve outlet communicable with said flow passage, and further including a valve member mounted in said valve body for movement between an open position, in which the material can flow from the package, through said flow passage and out through said valve outlets and a closed position to prevent such flow, said actuating portion being operably connected to said valve member for movement of said valve member between the open position and the closed position;means for removably connecting said valve body to the package outlet with said flow passage in communication with the package outlet; anda dispensing outlet in one of said housing walls through which the material flowing through said valve outlet is discharged from said compartment.