Foamed product dispensing system, valve member, and product container

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12274288-B2
Application number	US-202217883254-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 8, 2022
Priority date	Feb 28, 2020
Publication date	Apr 15, 2025
Grant date	Apr 15, 2025

Abstract

A foamed product dispensing system, wherein the system includes: a product dispensing machine, configured to receive an exchangeable product container; a product container, configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine, after placement in the machine; wherein the product container contains a foamable product, preferably a food product, for example cream, wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit including a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product, wherein the processing unit is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, wherein the system includes a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container, wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable (and sealable) by a thermally insulating closure member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A foamed product dispensing system, comprising:
(a) a product dispensing machine configured to receive an exchangeable product container;
(b) a product container configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine after placement in the machine;
wherein the product container is configured to contain a foamable product,
wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit (CPU) including a frothing device, the CPU having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product,
wherein the CPU is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product, and
(c) a hermetically sealable wall structure that encloses a container receiving space for receiving the container,
wherein the wall structure includes a product outlet port that is closable by a thermally insulating closure member,
wherein the closure member is movable between a first position and a second position,
wherein, in the first position, the thermally insulating closure member provides a passage for a flow of foamed product from the product exit of the CPU through the product outlet port,
wherein, in the second position, the thermally insulating closure member closes the product outlet port, and
wherein the closure member comprises a product dispensing passage that is located opposite the product outlet port when the closure member is in the first position, wherein in the second position of the closure member, as compared to the first position, the product dispensing passage is arranged at a distance from the product outlet port.

2. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein:
(i) the closure member is manually removable from the product dispensing machine and subsequently manually replaceable therein, wherein optionally the closure member comprises a handling structure for manually handling the closure member while removing the closure member from the product dispensing machine; and/or
(ii) the product dispensing machine is configured to automatically open and close the product outlet port using the closure member after a manual replacement of the closure member.

3. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the closure member comprises a drip retaining structure for receiving and retaining therein drips of product emanating from the product outlet port at least when the product outlet port is closed by the closure member.

4. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 3 , wherein the drip retaining structure is at least partly arranged under and/or over the product outlet port when the product outlet port is closed by the closure member.

5. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 , wherein the product dispensing machine further comprises a closure member actuator for actuating the closure member, wherein the closure member actuator is configured to engage and disengage the closure member.

6. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 5 , wherein the system comprises a blocking element for blocking a movement of the closure member at a predetermined position thereof.

7. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 5 , wherein the closure member actuator is configured to magnetically engage the closure member, wherein the closure member optionally comprises a magnetically engageable element which is configured to be engaged by the closure member actuator.

8. A foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the product dispensing machine is configured for pressurizing a placed product container to at least two mutually different operating pressures for supplying product to the processing unit (CPU),
wherein the dispensing machine optionally includes a user operable controller (CTR) for selecting a desired container operating pressure,
wherein the gas supply is optionally configured for providing a predetermined gas flow rate during operation that is substantially independent of a set product container operating pressure.

9. A foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the gas supply is a choked flow gas supply, comprising a gas restriction for achieving choked flow during operation,
wherein the flow constriction is arranged in one of:
(i) a movable fluid injector connector of the product dispensing machine, in particular in a distal part of the fluid injector; and
(ii) the product processing unit (CPU).

10. The system according to claim 9 , wherein the gas supply is configured to provide a gas buffer volume upstream of the flow constriction for providing a pressurized gas buffer, the gas buffer volume being located between a gas pressurization pump of the system and the flow restriction.

11. A foamed product dispensing system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
an exchangeable capsule configured to exchangeably receive the product container,
wherein the machine is configured to exchangeably receive the capsule containing the product container,
wherein the capsule is configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine to be pressurized,
wherein the product dispensing machine is configured to enable a pressurization of the capsule depending on a position and/or orientation of the capsule relative to the machine.

12. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 11 ,
wherein the product dispensing machine comprises a retaining member which is movable from a releasing position to a retaining position depending on the position and/or orientation of the capsule relative to the machine,
wherein in the releasing position the capsule is releasable from the machine,
wherein in the retaining position the capsule is retained in the machine.

13. The foamed product dispensing system according to claim 12 ,
wherein the product dispensing machine comprises a door which is movable from an opened position to a closed position when the retaining member is in its retaining position,
wherein in its releasing position the retaining member substantially blocks a movement of the door from the opened position to the closed position,
wherein the machine is optionally configured to detect when the door is in the closed position.

14. A foamed product dispensing system, comprising:
(a) a product dispensing machine configured to receive an exchangeable product container;
(b) a product container configured to cooperate with the product dispensing machine after placement in the machine,
wherein the product container is configured to contain a foamable product,
wherein the product container is provided with a product processing unit (CPU), and a frothing device having a product entrance for receiving product and a product exit for discharging product,
wherein the CPU is connectable to a gas supply for supplying gas to the product,
wherein the CPU comprises a product feedthrough channel (PFC) upstream of the frothing device, closable by a valve member,
wherein the CPU comprises a fluid feedthrough channel (FFC) upstream of the frothing device,
wherein the valve member is configured for providing a fluid communication between the fluid feedthrough channel (FFC) of the CPU and a fluid supply of the dispensing machine,
wherein at the valve member, there is provided at least one of:
(i) a distally arranged first sealing structure configured to provide a first sealed closure which blocks the product feedthrough channel (PFC) when the product feedthrough channel (PFC) is closed by the valve member; and/or
(ii) a second sealing structure configured to provide a second sealed closure, remote from a distal end of t

Assignees

• Frieslandcampina Nederland Bv

Inventors

• Innikel Quintijn
• Massa Mark Robert René
• Poets Robert Matheus Adriaan
• Beeckman Koen

Classifications

• B01F35/451

  by rotating them about an axis parallel to the plane of the opening · CPC title

• B01F23/235

  for making foam · CPC title

• B01F35/71805

  using valves, gates, orifices or openings · CPC title

• B01F2101/07

  Mixing ingredients into milk or cream, e.g. aerating · CPC title

• B01F35/42

  Clamping or holding arrangements for mounting receptacles on mixing devices · CPC title