High volume reciprocating dispenser for viscous and other foodstuffs

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11952257-B2
Application number	US-202117909122-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 3, 2021
Priority date	Mar 3, 2020
Publication date	Apr 9, 2024
Grant date	Apr 9, 2024

Abstract

A fixed nozzle pump appropriate for food service and dispensing of other fluids of varying viscosities is contemplated. The components are modularly connectable for easy assembly and cleaning. A piston and sealing ring cooperate with the chamber extension formed in the pump body to facilitate reciprocating pump action while minimizing the number of components disposed in and exposed to the fluid flow path. A novel, injection-moldable valve is integrated on the dispensing nozzle. The entire assembly may be disposed within a container shell which itself includes a replaceable pouch filled with the fluid to be dispensed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fixed nozzle dispenser pump having a modular construction for disassembly and cleaning, the dispenser pump comprising:
a pump body element having a lower inlet end with lower engagement features, a dispensing nozzle extending at an angle away from a pump chamber extension defining an inner volume to receive fluid through the lower inlet, and a skirt: i) formed integrally with the pump body, ii) coaxially extending around a portion of the pump chamber extension at a defined gap, and iii) having one or more outer facing keying projections;
an actuator cap comprising a hollow tube sealed at a top end by a top panel and having engagement features disposed at a lower end;
a piston element configured to fit coaxially around the pump body extension, the piston element detachably coupled to the engagement features of the actuator cap so that the piston element and the actuator cap move axially in concert around an outer facing of a portion of the pump chamber extension;
a sealing ring detachably coupled to a top edge of the pump chamber extension and configured to sealingly engaging an inner surface of the hollow tube;
a unitary nozzle adapter including an outlet valve detachably coupled to a distal edge of the dispenser nozzle;
a base detachably coupled to the lower engagement features of the body element;
an inlet element interposed between the pump body element and the based unit element, the inlet element including an inlet valve;
a shroud comprising a resilient sleeve coaxially enclosing the pump chamber extension, the skirt, and the piston element, the shroud having one or more attachment apertures so that one or more keying projections disposed on an outer facing of the skirt are: i) detachably held within the attachment apertures when the sleeve is assembled to the pump body, and ii) released when the sleeve is deformed by compressive force; and
wherein the sealing ring prevents the piston element from coming into contact with the fluid in the inner volume.

2. The pump of claim 1 wherein the pump body extension and the dispensing nozzle form an L-shape.

3. The pump of claim 1 wherein the sealing ring includes a sealing member disposed on an outermost circumference.

4. The pump of claim 3 wherein a cooperating interface is formed between a web on an upper facing of the sealing ring and one or more axial fins formed on the top panel.

5. The pump of claim 4 wherein the axial fins are configured to be received in and engage portions of the web on the sealing ring to selectively prevent rotation and/or axial movement of the actuator cap relative to the pump body element.

6. The pump of claim 1 wherein the piston element includes an inner cylinder guide attached by a web to an outer cylinder having engagement features detachably coupled to the engagement features of the actuator cap, the inner cylinder guide slidably engaging the pump chamber extension.

7. The pump of claim 1 wherein the base includes a piercing element configured to fluidically connect to a pouch-style container and wherein the pump assembly is carried within a rigid container having a lid member with an aperture through which the actuator cap protrudes.

8. The pump of claim 1 wherein the shroud includes an inwardly projecting radial shoulder that defines an upper limit to the axial movement of the piston element and wherein a top edge of the skirt defines a lower limit to the axial movement of the piston element.

9. The pump of claim 8 wherein the sleeve includes a cutout at a lower end, the cutout configured to fit around a top facing of the dispensing nozzle.

10. The pump of claim 1 comprising a cooperatingly shaped interface attaching the nozzle adapter and the distal edge.

11. The pump of claim 1 further comprising a biasing member disposed beneath the piston element within the defined gap, the biasing member urging the actuator cap into an axially extended position.

12. The pump of claim 11 wherein a flow path is defined by interstices within the pump body element and the base and the axial movement of the actuator cap draws fluid through the inlet valve and dispenses fluid through the outlet valve.

13. The pump of claim 11 wherein the outlet valve consists of a plurality of injection molded flat panel members and wherein the outlet valve is a slit provided at an angled intersection of flat panels at the lowermost point of the outlet valve.

Assignees

• Rieke Packaging Systems Ltd

Inventors

• Knight Simon Christopher

Classifications

• B67D1/102 Primary

  for one liquid component only · CPC title

• B67D1/1256

  Anti-dripping devices (drip trays B67D1/16) · CPC title

• B67D1/1281

  responsive to pressure · CPC title

• B67D2001/0827

  Bags in box · CPC title

• B05B11/1015 Primary

  actuated without substantial movement of the nozzle in the direction of the pressure stroke (B05B11/1011 takes precedence) · CPC title