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WO2004071205A1 - Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires - Google Patents

Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004071205A1
WO2004071205A1 PCT/US2003/003883 US0303883W WO2004071205A1 WO 2004071205 A1 WO2004071205 A1 WO 2004071205A1 US 0303883 W US0303883 W US 0303883W WO 2004071205 A1 WO2004071205 A1 WO 2004071205A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
scoop
container
food product
channel
product
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
PCT/US2003/003883
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David J. Howe
William A. Johnson
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to PCT/US2003/003883 priority Critical patent/WO2004071205A1/fr
Priority to AU2003215118A priority patent/AU2003215118A1/en
Publication of WO2004071205A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004071205A1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47J—KITCHEN EQUIPMENT; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; APPARATUS FOR MAKING BEVERAGES
    • A47J43/00—Implements for preparing or holding food, not provided for in other groups of this subclass
    • A47J43/28—Other culinary hand implements, e.g. spatulas, pincers, forks or like food holders, ladles, skimming ladles, cooking spoons; Spoon-holders attached to cooking pots
    • A47J43/282—Spoons for serving ice-cream

Definitions

  • This invention relates generally to the apparatus for dispensing food products and, more particularly, to an ice cream scoop rotatably mounted to a container of food product.
  • the product is poured into the machine in its liquid state and chilled to a temperature that allows the product to be dispensed tlirough a nozzle in a soft-serve state.
  • these devices There are several drawbacks with these devices including their inability to dispense food products that are frozen to a firmer state and the inability to automatically dispense consistently sized serving portions. Additionally, food product is often wasted when using these devices because unused product must be emptied periodically in order to clean the machine with a sanitizing solution. The product emptied from the machine is also generally not reusable. Ice cream and other frozen food products that are frozen to a firm or hard state are often dispensed by hand using an implement such as a curved spatula or scoop.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,385,464 issued to Anderson teaches an apparatus for automatically dispensing hard ice cream that includes a conveyor mechanism for dispensing a predetermined quantity of food product.
  • the conveyor mechanism compresses the frozen ice cream during delivery, thereby reducing the volume and changing the texture of the dispensed product.
  • the Anderson device is only designed for use with three gallon tubs and is not adaptable to various sizes and types of containers.
  • the present invention is directed to fulfilling these needs and overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
  • the present invention for dispensing food products such as ice cream, yogurt, sherbet, sorbet, whipped topping, cheesecake filling, pudding and the like, comprises a scoop having a channel portion with a tapered, semi-circular cross section along a curved axis.
  • the scoop is designed to be mounted on and adjacent to a container of food product and to extend substantially across one half of the opening of the container.
  • the scoop may be mounted to the container with the smaller cross-sectional area mounted adjacent to the sidewall of the container and the larger cross-sectional area mounted proximate the center of the container.
  • the cross-sectional area of the channel is also preferably tapered.
  • the channel has a leading edge and a trailing edge.
  • the scoop is rotated around the container with the trailing edge engaging the exposed layer of the food product. As the exposed layer of food product is scraped up by the trailing edge, it is guided within the semicircular channel and moved toward an opening in the portion of the scoop having the larger cross-sectional area.
  • the product is dispensed using product forming means to gather the product as it moves through the opening in the scoop and forms it into the desired shape and size for the serving.
  • the scoop is attached to the mounting means so that the trailing edge engages the exposed layer of product.
  • the mounting means for the scoop is attached to one end, the open end, of the container.
  • the container may be fitted with a movable portion at the opposite end of the container so that as force is exerted on the movable portion it pushes the product toward the scoop as it rotates and continues to remove the exposed layer of product. With this configuration, the edges of the scoop remain engaged with product as the exposed layer is dispensed.
  • the scoop may be rotated by various means including manually, or with a drive mechanism such as a belt or a gear and sprocket assembly. Alternatively, the container may rotate while the scoop remains essentially stationary. Serving portions are controlled by the size of the channel in the scoop, the depth of the trailing edge engaged with the product, the number of rotations of the scoop around the container, and the forming and dispensing means.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scoop member of the present invention showing a curved channel portion;.
  • Fig. 1.1 is a cross-sectional view of the scoop member showing the relative heights of the leading and trailing edges of the semi-circular channel portion;
  • Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the scoop member of the present invention showing an opening in the scoop member;
  • Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a forming and dispensing apparatus for use with the scoop member;
  • Fig 4 is a perspective view showing the forming apparatus in the dispensing position;
  • Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the various components associated with the scoop member of the present invention mounted adjacent to a container of frozen product;
  • Fig. 6. is a perspective view of the scoop member in an alternate position with respect to a container;
  • Fig. 7 is a top view of an example of means for rotatably mounting the scoop member adjacent the container.
  • Fig. 8 is a top view of another example of means for rotatably mounting the scoop member adjacent the container.
  • Fig. 1 shows a scoop 20 having a curved channel 22 with a semi-circular cross-section.
  • the channel 22 has a leading edge 24 and a trailing edge 26 as best shown in Fig. 1.1 wherein the trailing edge 26 extends outwardly further than the leading edge 24.
  • the trailing edge 26 engages the product and scrapes off the exposed layer of the product as the scoop 20 is moved across the container and feeds the scraped off product into and along the channel 22.
  • the semi-circular channel 22 guides the product so that it rolls around itself in the channel 22 as the exposed layer of the product is scraped off.
  • the leading edge 24 of the channel 22 may be curved inwardly to promote rolling of the product and to help retain the layer of product scraped off by the trailing edge 26 within the channel 22.
  • the semi-circular channel 22 is tapered having its larger diameter near first end portion 28 and its smaller diameter near second end portion 30 of the scoop 20.
  • the taper associated with the channel 22 serves to further guide tlie product in the channel 22 toward the first or larger end portion 28 of the scoop as the product fills the small end of the taper and expands toward the larger end portion 28.
  • the scoop 20 and the channel 22 are shown in Fig. 1 as being curved along their lengths. The curvature may be varied in different embodiments of the scoop 20, and may even be substantially straight, along the length of one or both sides of the scoop 20 and/or the channel 22.
  • Fig. 2 shows a side of the scoop 20 that is opposite the side with the open channel 22 in Fig. 1.
  • the product As the product is guided through the channel, it emerges tlirough an opening 32 at the end portion 28 of the scoop 20.
  • means for forming the product into the desired shape and size for serving may be positioned adjacent the opening 32 in the scoop 20.
  • Figs. 3 and 4 show an example of a forming and dispensing assembly 33 including a semi-spherical cup 34 sized to fit in the opening 32 in the scoop 35.
  • rotatable bar members 36, 38 are fastened respectively to opposite sides of the cup 34.
  • the means for fastening the bar members 36, 38 on either side of the cup 34 can include a screw or a rivet 40 passing tlirough the side of the cup 34 and the scoop 35 to engage one end of the bar members 36, 38.
  • a handle 42, 44 or motor is or may be attached to the other end of each of the bar members 36, 38 to aid rotation of the bar members 36, 38.
  • Fig. 3 shows the concave side of the cup 34 positioned over the opening 32 of the scoop 35 to receive the product as it emerges from the opening 32. Once the cup 34 is filled, the operator can rotate either bar member 36 or 38 thereby rotating an edge of the cup 34 through the product to obtain the desired serving portion.
  • the forming and dispensing assembly 33 may include means (not shown) for releasing the product from the cup
  • the present invention may be used with various types of forming and dispensing means.
  • the forming and dispensing means shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are shown solely to illustrate one means for forming and dispensing a desired quantity of product.
  • Other forming and dispensing means may be used in conjunction with the present scoop 35.
  • cups having a various shaped may be positioned to receive the product as it emerges from the opening 32 in the scoop 35.
  • Means such as a knife or spatula (not shown) may also be used to cut through the product between the cup 34 and the opening 32 of the scoop 35. If the cup has a shape that prevents it from, being rotated within the opening of the scoop 35, then it may be pivotally attached adjacent to the opening in the scoop 35 to allow access to the product in the cup.
  • any heating device can be controlled depending on the movement of the scoop to prevent unnecessary melting of the product.
  • Fig. 5 shows an assembly of the present scoop 50 mounted to a platform 52 that is built into or otherwise fixedly attached to a lid structure 56 that fits over an open end of a container 54 of frozen product such as ice cream.
  • the scoop 50 may be formed as an integral part of the lid 56.
  • Any size or shape of container 54 may be used with the present invention, however, a round container 54 with a radius similar to the length to the scoop 50 results in most of the product being accessible for dispensing as the scoop 50 is rotated around the container 54.
  • the scoop 50 is mounted in the platform 52 or formed in the lid 56 so that the edge 58 of the scoop 50 engages the exposed layer of the product when the lid 56 is positioned over or against the container 54.
  • the lid 56 may be sealed, clamped, or otherwise fixedly attached to the container 54 using any suitable means. It is important for the scoop 50 to be attached to the lid 56 in a manner that allows the scoop 50 or the scoop 50 and the lid 56 combination to rotate around the open end of the container 54.
  • FIG. 5 shows the container 54 having an example of means for moving the product in the container 54 toward the scoop 50.
  • the end 59 of the container 54 opposite the scoop assembly 50 has a cover 60 with a central access port 61 to allow force to be applied to a plunger 62 that has rod 63 and from there to the plunger 62.
  • a seal 64 may be included around the edge of the plunger 62 that scrapes the product from the sidewall of the container 54 as the plunger 62 moves, to reduce waste of the product.
  • the plunger and related parts may be disposed of along with the container 54 after the food product is removed from the container 54.
  • the plunger 62 and the adjacent end cover 60 may be removable for use with another container 54 or to allow the container 54 to be refilled with food product.
  • the scoop 50 may remain stationary and the container 54 may be rotated. Additionally, the means for keeping the trailing edge 58 of the scoop 50 engaged with the product could include means for pushing the scoop 50 toward the product during rotation.
  • Fig. 6 shows an alternative position of a scoop member 72 which is located adjacent to a container 70 that rotates. The scoop 72 is mounted so that the opening 74 is adjacent to the outer edge rather than the center of the container 70. The product moves toward the opening 74 as the container 70 rotates and the exposed layer of product is removed by the scoop 72. Forming and dispensing means such as that discussed hereinabove, may then be positioned near the edge of the container 70.
  • the orientation of the scoop, the container, and the forming and dispensing means may vary depending on the needs of the user.
  • the scoop may be oriented with the side containing the channel facing upwardly, downwardly, to the side, or at any angle in between.
  • the orientation of the container and the forming and dispensing means depend on the orientation of the scoop.
  • the trailing and/or leading edge of the scoop may also be tapered from one side to the other to engage and remove more product.
  • the scoop may be oriented at an angle with respect to the exposed layer of product in the container depending on the particular application of the present invention.
  • the amount of product dispensed is controlled by the number of rotations of the scoop or container relative to each other, the depth of the cutting or scraping edge of the scoop, the cross-sectional area of the channel, the forming and dispensing means, and the texture or consistency of the product.
  • the present scoop may be used with a variety of frozen or semi-frozen products including those containing solid particles such as crushed cookies, and is especially useful for products that are frozen at temperatures between plus and minus 10° F. At these temperatures, products such as ice cream, yogurt and sherbet are in a "hard freeze" state and are difficult to scoop by hand. Further, products at these temperatures contain suspended air particles that form during the freezing process and are important to the texture and appearance of the product.
  • the present scoop is designed to dispense consistently sized serving portions so that the desired number of servings expected from large containers is known in advance and are delivered. The present scoop is adaptable to various types of containers that are used to distribute commercial quantities of food product.
  • the present scoop may be manufactured from several types of materials including various plastic and metallic compounds.
  • One important aspect of the present scoop is that it may be used to improve sanitation in retail and commercial applications by reducing contact between the operator and the products. This is accomplished by installing the scoop and/or any related assemblies with the container before it is distributed, and disposing of the scoop along with the container once the product is emptied from the container. Since the scoop does not have to be re-used, problems associate with improper cleansing and transferring contaminated implements from one container to another are avoided. Further, use of the present scoop reduces manual handling of the product, thereby reducing the risk of product contamination by humans.
  • Figs. 7 and 8 show alternate means for rotating the scoop or the container. Fig.
  • FIG. 7 shows a conventional, motorized gear and sprocket mechanism 90 wherein the gearing 92 may be attached to the edge of a lid containing the scoop member 94. Alternatively, the gearing may be attached to the container, depending on whether the scoop or the container is to be rotated.
  • Fig. 8 shows a conventional motorized belt drive mechanism 100 that may be used to rotate the scoop or the container. Further, the scoop or the container may be rotated manually using an external handle.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Confectionery (AREA)
  • Packging For Living Organisms, Food Or Medicinal Products That Are Sensitive To Environmental Conditiond (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif permettant de distribuer des produits alimentaires, tels que de la glace, et comprenant une louche articulée (20) présentant une partie de canal (22) comprenant une section transversale tronconique et semi-circulaire le long d'un axe incurvé. La louche articulée est montée de manière adjacente par rapport à un contenant (54) de produit alimentaire et s'étend sensiblement à travers une moitié de l'ouverture du contenant. La zone transversale du canal est tronconique d'une extrémité à une autre. Le canal comprend un bord arrière (26) s'étendant vers l'extérieur de façon plus importante que le bord d'attaque (24), de manière à venir en contact avec le produit alimentaire et à le prélever au moyen de la louche articulée, au moment où celle-ci est tournée par rapport au contenant. La couche exposée du produit alimentaire est raclée et guidée dans le canal de la louche articulée et en direction d'une ouverture (32) dans la partie (28) de la louche articulée possédant la zone transversale la plus large. Des moyens de formation de produit (33) recueillent le produit au moment où ils se déplacent dans l'ouverture de la louche articulée et le façonnent selon une forme et des dimensions souhaitées de distribution.
PCT/US2003/003883 2003-02-10 2003-02-10 Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires Ceased WO2004071205A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2003/003883 WO2004071205A1 (fr) 2003-02-10 2003-02-10 Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires
AU2003215118A AU2003215118A1 (en) 2003-02-10 2003-02-10 Apparatus for dispensing food products

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/US2003/003883 WO2004071205A1 (fr) 2003-02-10 2003-02-10 Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004071205A1 true WO2004071205A1 (fr) 2004-08-26

Family

ID=32867403

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2003/003883 Ceased WO2004071205A1 (fr) 2003-02-10 2003-02-10 Appareil de distribution de produits alimentaires

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU2003215118A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004071205A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1638134A (en) * 1925-07-06 1927-08-09 Sidney B Whiteside Ice-cream-handling apparatus
US2534782A (en) * 1947-09-16 1950-12-19 Duanc C Maddux Dispensing machine for ice cream and sherbets
US4796784A (en) * 1987-07-02 1989-01-10 G & S Metal Product Company, Inc. Soft ice cream dispenser
US5385464A (en) * 1993-05-26 1995-01-31 Anderson; David B. Apparatus for automatically dispensing food product such as hard ice cream

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1638134A (en) * 1925-07-06 1927-08-09 Sidney B Whiteside Ice-cream-handling apparatus
US2534782A (en) * 1947-09-16 1950-12-19 Duanc C Maddux Dispensing machine for ice cream and sherbets
US4796784A (en) * 1987-07-02 1989-01-10 G & S Metal Product Company, Inc. Soft ice cream dispenser
US5385464A (en) * 1993-05-26 1995-01-31 Anderson; David B. Apparatus for automatically dispensing food product such as hard ice cream

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU2003215118A1 (en) 2004-09-06

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