초록 ▼

The comestible fluid dispensing system of the present invention preferably employs a pump or valve operable to control movement of comestible fluid from a comestible fluid source to a tap provided with a draw-back valve. The draw-back valve is preferably capable of drawing comestible fluid in an ups

The comestible fluid dispensing system of the present invention preferably employs a pump or valve operable to control movement of comestible fluid from a comestible fluid source to a tap provided with a draw-back valve. The draw-back valve is preferably capable of drawing comestible fluid in an upstream direction in the tap during closure of the draw-back valve. Preferably, suction generated by closure of the draw-back valve is employed for one or more purposes including: to remove comestible fluid dangling from the tap, to draw comestible fluid into the tap away from view and from exposure to the environment, to reduce comestible fluid buildup on and near the tap outlet, to enclose or at least partially enclose comestible fluid downstream of the draw-back valve, and to operate a downstream cutoff valve in the tap. A damper is employed in some embodiments to control valve movement.

대표청구항 ▼

The comestible fluid dispensing system of the present invention preferably employs a pump or valve operable to control movement of comestible fluid from a comestible fluid source to a tap provided with a draw-back valve. The draw-back valve is preferably capable of drawing comestible fluid in an ups

The comestible fluid dispensing system of the present invention preferably employs a pump or valve operable to control movement of comestible fluid from a comestible fluid source to a tap provided with a draw-back valve. The draw-back valve is preferably capable of drawing comestible fluid in an upstream direction in the tap during closure of the draw-back valve. Preferably, suction generated by closure of the draw-back valve is employed for one or more purposes including: to remove comestible fluid dangling from the tap, to draw comestible fluid into the tap away from view and from exposure to the environment, to reduce comestible fluid buildup on and near the tap outlet, to enclose or at least partially enclose comestible fluid downstream of the draw-back valve, and to operate a downstream cutoff valve in the tap. A damper is employed in some embodiments to control valve movement. 1. A device for dispensing a flowable substance comprising: a container holding assembly adapted for receiving a container that includes a flowable substance therein, and comprising: opening means for selectively opening the container and being adapted to move from a closed position to an open position and vice versa, and locking means for initially holding the opening means in the closed position of the container; reservoir means adapted for retaining the container holding assembly thereon and for receiving flowable substance from the container when in a delivery position; and means for latching the container holding assembly on the reservoir means when the container is in the delivery position. 2. A device according to claim 1, which further comprises release means for releasing the locking means with the release means being capable of actuating the locking means when the container is in the delivery position so that the opening means is capable of being moved into an open position to allow the flowable substance to flow from the container into the reservoir means. 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein the release means is coupled to the latching means so that the release of the opening means of the container holding assembly is simultaneously achieved with the latching of the container holding assembly onto the reservoir means. 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container holding assembly comprises integrated means for unlatching the latching means for freeing the container holding assembly. 5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the unlatching means is arranged on the container holding assembly and is configured to act by pulling the container holding assembly off the reservoir means for withdrawal of the container. 6. A device according to claim 1, which further comprises a secondary locking means for locking the latching means for more securely engaging the container holding assembly to the reservoir means in the delivery position, with the secondary locking means being arranged with respect to the opening means of the container assembly so that it becomes disengaged from the latching means when the opening means of the container holding assembly is moved into the closed position to thus prevent further flow of substance from the container into the reservoir means. 7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the container holding assembly comprises primary sliding means to move the opening means from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. 8. A device according to claim 7, wherein the container holding assembly is guided in sliding engagement onto the reservoir means by secondary sliding engaging means that include stopping means capable of stopping the container from movement past the delivery position. 9. A device according to claim 8, wherein the primary and secondary sliding means are arranged to move in the same direction so that the engagement of the container assembly and the opening of the container can be carried out sequentially during a continuous sliding motion. 10. A device according to claim 9, wherein the opening means and primary sliding means form a gate plate for slidably engaging a container carriage onto which the container is removably attached. 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the container carriage supports a first part of the secondary sliding means and is adapted to complement a second part of the secondary sliding means of the reservoir means. 12. A device according to claim 10, wherein the gate plate and the container carriage both have openings that substantially coincide together when the container holding assembly is moved to the opening position on the reservoir means. 13. A device according to claim 12, wherein the reservoir means comprises a passage for collecting the flowable substance with the passage extending beyond the openings of the container assembly so that any excess of powder can be wiped from the gate plate and collected t hrough the passage during the closure of the gate plate with respect to the container carriage. 14. A device according to claim 12, wherein the locking means of the container holding assembly comprises a first resilient member which locks the container carriage in a position in which the opening of the carriage is shut off by a solid closing portion of the gate plate. 15. A device according to claim 14, wherein the latching means of the reservoir means comprises a second resilient member which has a first engaging surface that compresses the first resilient member in response to the sliding engagement of the container holding assembly onto the reservoir means, thereby resulting in the release of the plate gate with respect to the container carriage. 16. A device according to claim 15, wherein the first resilient member is a spring biased blocking element and the second resilient member is a lever having a second surface extending with the first engaging surface, which second surface engages a transversal portion of the container carriage for securely holding it in the delivery position. 17. A device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir means comprises a portion of a hopper that is configured, positioned and adapted to collect the flowable substance as it flows through the container holding assembly. 18. A device according to claim 17, wherein the container, when opened, forms an extension of the hopper and wherein the container has a capacity that exceeds the capacity of the hopper portion. 19. A device according to claim 17, wherein the reservoir means comprises a dosing assembly located at the bottom of the hopper for receiving flowable substance and for transporting a predetermined amount of flowable substance toward an outlet of the hopper portion. 20. A device according to claim 19, wherein the dosing assembly comprises a rotary auger driven in rotation by an electrically powered motor. 21. A dispensing device which includes a device according to claim 1 with the flowable substance being a powdered food or beverage. 22. A device according to claim 21, wherein the flowable substance is a milk or milk based product, soup, sauce, mashed potato or other dehydrated food product. 23. A container holding assembly configured and adapted to be attached to a container that contains a flowable food substance which comprises an opening means for selectively opening the container, the opening means being adapted to move from a closed position to an open position of the container and vice versa, and locking means for holding the opening means in the closed position; wherein the locking means is configured for operative association with release means of a reservoir assembly and is arranged so that release of the opening means from the locking means is effected when the container holding assembly is held in a fixed position for delivering the flowable food substance into the reservoir means. 24. A container holding assembly according to claim 23, wherein the container opening assembly further comprises a container carriage with a main opening onto which the container is attached by connection means and a gate plate slidably engaging the container carriage, wherein the locking means are arranged to hold the container carriage in a non-delivery position in which the opening is obturated by the gate plate. 25. A container holding assembly according to claim 24, wherein the container carriage includes a retaining portion adapted to engage latching means carried by the reservoir assembly to lock the carriage in a position where the main opening of the carriage substantially matches a passage of the reservoir assembly. 26. A container holding assembly according to claim 25, wherein the gate plate includes means for unlatching the latching means of the reservoir means, with the unlatching means being arranged to act when a force is exerted in the longitudinal direction of withdrawal of the container from the reservoir means. 27. A contai ner holding assembly according to claim 26, wherein the unlatching means includes an articulated handle on the gate plate that connects to an actuating arm adapted to force the latching means to disengage from the retaining portion of the carriage when the articulated handle is pulled. 28. A container assembly comprising a container holding assembly according to claim 23 with a container attached to it. 29. A container assembly according to claim 24, wherein the container is attached to the holding assembly by a removable connection that includes screw threads or a snap fitting connection. 30. A device for dispensing a flowable substance comprising: (i) a cartridge holder adapted for receiving a refill cartridge containing a flowable substance comprising an apertured plate member for selectively opening of the cartridge, whereby the plate member is adapted to move from a closed position, where a portion of the plate member obturates the cartridge, to an open position where the plate member leaves the cartridge open, and vice versa, wherein the apertured plate member is initially maintained with the cartridge in the closed position; and (ii) a hopper adapted to receive the cartridge holder in a delivery position for receiving the flowable substance from the cartridge, wherein the hopper is adapted to release the apertured plate member when the cartridge holder engages the hopper in the delivery position such that the cartridge holder is capable of being moved from the closed position to the open position thereby allowing flowable substance to flow from the cartridge into the hopper. 31. A device according to claim 30, wherein the apertured plate is slidably connectable to the cartridge. 32. A device according to claim 31, wherein the apertured plate is slidably connectable by a carriage attached to the cartridge. 33. A device according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge is capable of being latched in a stable delivery position onto the hopper while the apertured plate is manually slid into the open position. 34. A device according to claim 30, wherein the cartridge is securely latched to the hopper and is releasable only when the closed position of the apertured plate is restored. 35. A device according to claim 34, wherein the cartridge is releasable by pulling the apertured plate in the same direction as the direction for restoring the closed position of the apertured plate. 36. A device according to claim 30, wherein the hopper has an extended volume area adapted sufficient to receive flowable substance that is wiped when the apertured plate is moved to the closed position. 37. A device according to claim 30, wherein the flowable substance is a powdered food or beverage substance. 38. A device according to claim 30, wherein the refill cartridge has a capacity higher than the capacity of the hopper. 39. A device according to claim 30, wherein the hopper is adapted to dose the flowable substance to a mixing zone in order to prepare a beverage or food. 40. A device according to claim 30, wherein the hopper comprises a dosing screw adapted to move the flowable substance from the extended volume area to the mixing zone. 41. A device according to claim 30, wherein the hopper has sloped sidewalls forming an angle of between about 15 to 30 degrees with respect to the direction of gravity. 42. A cartridge assembly comprising: a cartridge containing a food or beverage powder; and a cartridge holder adapted for receiving the cartridge comprising an apertured plate member for selectively opening the cartridge, with the plate member being adapted to move from a closed position, wherein a portion of the plate member obturates the cartridge, to an open position wherein the plate member leaves the cartridge open, and vice versa, wherein the apertured plate member is locked to the cartridge in the closed position; and is adapted to be released when the cartridge holder is fixedly engaged in a hopper with the plate member in the ope n position for delivering the flowable substance from the cartridge. 43. A method for rapidly and cleanly delivering a powder into a reservoir assembly from a container containing the powder which comprises: providing a container holder adapted for receiving the container; the container holder comprising an apertured means for selectively opening the container whereby the apertured means is adapted to move from a closed position, wherein a portion of the apertured means obturates the container, to an open position of the container wherein the apertured means leaves the container open and vice versa, wherein the apertured means is locked to the container in a closed position of the container; and is released as resulting from the container holder securely engaging onto the reservoir assembly in a delivery position with the apertured means in the open position for delivering the flowable substance from the container. 44. The method according to claim 43, wherein the container is attached to the container holder before loading in the reservoir assembly as the container holder is in closed position by the apertured means. 45. The method according to claim 43, wherein the container holder is capable of being removed from the reservoir assembly only when the container is returned to the closed position by the apertured means. 46. A method for conveniently removing a charging container from a hopper assembly in a limited space area which comprises providing a container holder adapted to attach to the container and having a gate portion adapted to move relative to the container to open or close the container, providing a hopper assembly, providing means for complementary fitting the container holder and the hopper assembly in a fitting direction, providing means for securing the container on the hopper assembly, and providing means for unlatching the container which acts when the container holder is pulled in a direction opposite to the fitting direction, thus allowing the charging container to be easily removed from the hopper. 47. A method for dispensing a flowable food substance in a convenient manner while protecting quality of the substance delivered which comprises providing a charging container having an interface that closes the container and that complementary fits a reservoir of the dispensing device, securely fitting the charging container top-down on the reservoir while the interface complementary fitting onto the reservoir wherein resulting from the interface securely fitted onto the reservoir, the flow communication can be established, leaving the charging container as an extension of the reservoir. 48. The method according to claim 47 wherein the container is made of moisture barrier material. 49. The method according to claim 48 wherein the container is made of oxygen barrier material. nward of the annular member in a radial direction thereof to contact with at least the compressed portion.