DEPOSITOR SYSTEM
A dispensing device for supplying measured quantities of batter to baking containers, and a method of operating such device use a peristaltic pump driven by a servo-motor drive. The peristaltic pump has a flexible conduit with a first end connected to a supply container for receiving batter and a second end from which the batter is dispensed. A movable pump element precisely moves batter through the flexible conduit from the first end toward the second end. A shut-off valve adjacent the second end of the flexible conduit closes the conduit when the measured quantity of batter has been dispensed. A conveyor is positioned beneath the second end of the flexible conduit for moving baking containers into position therebeneath for deposit of batter. The movable pump element has a peristaltic driver including a plurality of rollers, a drive shaft to rotate the peristaltic driver such that the rollers apply pressure to the flexible conduit, pressing the flexible conduit against a curved pressure surface of a shoe.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a depositor or dispenser system and, more particularly, to depositors and dispensers of the type that are used to deposit accurately measure amounts of a food batter or similar material on a pan, tray, baking sheet, or the like. The batter is then baked to produce food products such as cakes, muffins, pastries, and the like.
In commercial bakeries, baking mixes such as cake batters, are mixed in large quantities, and then dispensed onto baking containers. The containers are then carried by a conveyor system into and through baking ovens. Known batter depositors have typically used a piston pump to pump quantities of batter from a mixing container into the baking container in which the food product will be baked. Such food products are typically sold by weight, with the purchaser being advised as to the weight of the baked product by product labeling. It is important that the weight of the product that the customer receives be at least the weight that is indicated on the product packaging. It is also important, however, that the actual product weight of the product not exceed significantly the nominal product weight, as this would add to the cost of the product.
One prior art dispenser used in the commercial baking industry is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,170,253, issued Oct. 9, 1979, to McArthur. The '253 patent dispenser has a plunger mounted within a chamber at the bottom of a mixing bowl. The plunger includes a one-way valve passing the batter mix through the plunger head when the plunger moves away from the dispensing port and urging the batter mix out of the dispensing port when the plunger moves toward the dispensing port. The plunger is driven by a piston and cylinder assembly which includes an adjustable stop that limits the travel of the plunger and hence determines the quantity of batter mix that is dispensed.
A number of other dispensing devices of this general type have been used. One difficulty in using such dispensers is the effort required to clean them. It will be appreciated that all remnants of one type of dough or batter must be removed from the dispensing system before a second type of dough or batter is used, so that cross contamination of the batters is prevented. The path through which batter is pumped with a piston pump typically requires some disassembly of the pump to clean the dispenser effectively. Another difficulty encountered is a lack of precision in the quantity of batter dispensed, especially with pneumatically driven piston pumps.
Other dispensing systems have used peristaltic pumping in which one or more flexible tubes are compressed to move viscous material or fluid material toward a dispensing nozzle. Such a system is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 7,191,957, issued Mar. 20, 2007, to Anderson, in which viscous fluids from a hopper are dispensed simultaneously through a number of nozzles. The Anderson system includes draw back control valves adjacent to the nozzles. While the Anderson system has advantages with respect to cleaning as compared to piston type dispensers, the amount of material that can be dispensed, and the speed and accuracy with which it is dispensed, are both limited.
It is seen that there is a need for a simple dispenser that provides flexibility in the speed and the amount of batter that is dispensed, and that is designed for easy cleaning and other service operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis need is met by a dispensing device according to the present invention which includes a supply container, a peristaltic pump having a flexible conduit, and a conveyor. The supply container holds a quantity of batter. The flexible conduit of the peristaltic pump has a first end connected to the supply container for receiving batter. A movable pump element includes a plurality of rollers which precisely move batter through the flexible conduit from the first end toward a second end. The rollers press on the outside of the conduit, causing it to occlude at a number of points. As the rollers move, the points of occlusion move, and the batter passes along the conduit. The pump further includes a shut-off valve adjacent the second end of the flexible conduit. If desired, the shutoff valve may be constructed as an integral part of the peristaltic pump. A conveyor is positioned beneath the second end of the flexible conduit for moving baking containers into position there beneath for deposit of batter.
The peristaltic pump further includes a shoe defining a curved pressure surface, and a movable pump element. The movable pump element includes a peristaltic driver including a plurality of rollers, and a drive shaft to rotate the peristaltic driver such that the rollers apply pressure to the flexible conduit, pressing the flexible conduit against the curved pressure surface of the shoe. Finally, the pump includes a pump motor for rotating the peristaltic driver. The pump motor may comprise a servo motor for rotating the peristaltic drive by a precise distance so as to dispense a precise amount of batter. The shut-off valve comprises a clamp mechanism, including a stationary clamp element and a pivotal clamp element, and a clamp actuator for moving the pivotal clamp element toward the stationary clamp element. The clamp actuator for moving the pivotal clamp element toward the stationary clamp element comprises a pneumatic cylinder. The peristaltic driver may comprise four rollers, or it may comprise three rollers.
The peristaltic pump many comprise a plurality of flexible conduits, each conduct having a first end connected to the supply container for receiving batter, a plurality of movable pump elements, and a plurality of shut-off valves. Each of the movable pump elements is arranged to move batter through an associated one of the plurality of flexible conduits from the first end toward a second end. Each of the shut-off valves is positioned adjacent the second end an associated one of the plurality of flexible conduits.
A method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers, comprises the steps of providing a quantity of batter in a container, and pumping the batter through a flexible conduit with a peristaltic pump. The batter is pumped from a first end of the flexible conduit connected to the container toward a second end of the conduit. The method further includes the steps of actuating a valve at the second end of the flexible conduit to permit a measured quantity of batter to be dispensed, and conveying baking containers into position beneath the flexible conduit for receipt of a measured quantity of batter.
The method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers, comprises the steps of providing a quantity of batter, and pumping the batter through a flexible conduit with a peristaltic pump. The batter is pumped from a first end of the flexible conduit toward a second end of the conduit by pressing the conduit at a plurality of spaced points along the length of the conduit and moving the spaced points in a direction from the first end toward the second end. The method further includes the step of pinching closed the second end of the conduit after a measured quantity of batter has been dispensed from the second end of the conduit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved batter dispenser and method of operating such a dispenser, in which accurately metered, significant quantities of batter can be dispensed quickly.
Reference is made to
The peristaltic pump 18 includes a pair of side plates 36 that are held by spacer bolts 38 and that carry bearings 40. The movable pump element 24 includes a peristaltic driver 42 having a pair of plates 44 and a plurality of occlusion rollers 46 extending there between. The peristaltic pump 18 further includes a shoe 48, best shown in
A shut-off valve 52, best shown in
A number of variations in the construction of the device of
It will be appreciated that it is necessary for the depositor to dispense simultaneously a plurality of equal measured quantities of batter, as for example in each of the recesses in the row of recesses across the muffin tins 12 of
It will be appreciated that the present invention operates according to a unique method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers. A quantity of batter is provided in a container. The batter is pumped through a flexible conduit with a peristaltic pump. The batter is pumped from a first end of the flexible conduit connected to the container toward a second end of the conduit by applying pressure to the conduit with a plurality of rollers that press the conduit against a curved pressure surface and roll along the surface. The rollers are precisely moved using a servo motor. A valve at the second end of the flexible conduit permits a measured quantity of batter to be dispensed, and then pinches closed the second end of the conduit after this measured quantity of batter has been dispensed. During this process, baking containers are conveyed into position beneath the flexible conduit for receipt of a measured quantity of batter.
Other aspects, objects, and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims.
Claims
1. A dispensing device for supplying measured quantities of batter to baking containers, comprising:
- a supply container for holding a quantity of batter,
- a peristaltic pump, including a flexible conduit having a first end connected to said supply container for receiving batter, a movable pump element for precisely moving batter through the flexible conduit from said first end toward a second end, including a servo-motor drive, and a shut-off valve adjacent the second end of the flexible conduit, and
- a conveyor, beneath said second end of said flexible conduit, for moving baking containers into position therebeneath for deposit of batter.
2. The dispensing device of claim 1, in which said peristaltic pump further comprises:
- a shoe defining a curved pressure surface, and
- said movable pump element comprising a peristaltic driver including a plurality of rollers, a drive shaft to rotate said peristaltic driver such that said rollers apply pressure to said flexible conduit, pressing said flexible conduit against said curved pressure surface of said shoe, and a servo pump motor for rotating said peristaltic driver.
3. The dispensing device of claim 2, in which said servo pump motor rotates said peristaltic drive by a precise distance so as to dispense a precise amount of batter.
4. The dispensing device of claim 3, in which said shut-off valve comprises a clamp mechanism, including a stationary clamp element and a pivotal clamp element, and a clamp actuator for moving said pivotal clamp element toward said stationary clamp element.
5. The dispensing device of claim 4, in which said clamp actuator for moving said pivotal clamp element toward said stationary clamp element comprises a pneumatic cylinder.
6. The dispensing device of claim 2, in which said peristaltic driver comprises four rollers.
7. The dispensing device of claim 2, in which said peristaltic driver comprises three rollers.
8. The dispensing device of claim 1, in which said peristaltic pump comprises:
- a plurality of flexible conduits, each conduct having a first end connected to said supply container for receiving batter,
- a plurality of movable pump elements, each of said movable pump elements arranged to move batter through an associated one of said plurality of flexible conduits from said first end toward a second end, and
- a plurality of shut-off valves, each of said shut-off valves positioned adjacent the second end an associated one of said plurality of flexible conduits.
9. A dispensing device for supplying measured quantities of batter, comprising:
- a supply container for holding a quantity of batter,
- a peristaltic pump, including a plurality of flexible conduits each having a first end connected to said supply container for receiving batter, a servo pump motor, a movable pump element driven by said servo pump motor for precisely moving batter through the flexible conduits from said first end of each of said conduits toward a second end, and a plurality of shut-off valves, each adjacent the second end of a respective one of said plurality of flexible conduits.
10. The dispensing device of claim 9, in which said peristaltic pump further comprises:
- a shoe defining a curved pressure surface, and
- said movable pump element comprising a peristaltic driver including a plurality of rollers, and a drive shaft to rotate said peristaltic driver such that said rollers apply pressure to said flexible conduits, pressing said flexible conduits against said curved pressure surface of said shoe, said drive shaft being connected to, and driven by, said servo pump motor.
11. A method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers, comprising:
- providing a quantity of batter in a container,
- pumping said batter through a flexible conduit with a peristaltic pump, said batter being pumped from a first end of said flexible conduit connected to said container toward a second end of said conduit by applying pressure to said conduit with a plurality of rollers that press said conduit against a curved pressure surface and roll along said surface,
- actuating a valve at the second end of said flexible conduit to permit a measured quantity of batter to be dispensed, and
- conveying baking containers into position beneath said flexible conduit for receipt of a measured quantity of batter.
12. A method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers according to claim 11, in which the step of pumping said batter through a flexible conduit includes the step of pumping batter through a plurality of flexible conduits have respective first ends connected to said supply container.
13. A method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers according to claim 12, further comprising the step of pinching off said flexible conduits adjacent the second ends thereof to insure that the measured amount of batter is deposited by each conduit on said baking containers.
14. A method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers, comprising the steps of:
- providing a quantity of batter,
- pumping said batter through a flexible conduit with a peristaltic pump, said batter being pumped from a first end of said flexible conduit toward a second end of said conduit by pressing said conduit at a plurality of spaced points along the length of the conduit and moving the spaced points in a direction from said first end toward said second end, and
- pinching closed said second end of said conduit after a measured quantity of batter has been dispensed from said second end of said conduit.
15. The method of dispensing measured quantities of batter to baking containers according to claim 14, further comprising the step of
- conveying baking containers into position beneath said flexible conduit for receipt of measured quantities of batter.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 4, 2007
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2009
Applicant: PEERLESS MACHINERY CORP. (Sidney, OH)
Inventors: Dale K. Wells (Dayton, OH), John Allen Cremeens (Piqua, OH)
Application Number: 11/867,203
International Classification: B65B 43/42 (20060101); F04B 43/12 (20060101); B65D 37/00 (20060101);