Abstract: A pinch valve that includes a holder and an insert that fits in the holder. The pinch valve receives a dispensing tube for liquids and controls the flow of liquid in the dispensing valve. The insert defines an inner wall portion against which a plunger assembly pushes the dispensing tube to stop liquid from flowing through the dispensing tube. The insert and the holder define a throttle portion that throttles the flow of liquid when the plunger assembly is moved from the pinch position, where is pushed the dispensing tube against the inner wall portion of the insert, to a flow position.

Abstract: A product case for receiving a fluid bag used in gravity based fluid dispensing systems. The product case has a floor and sidewalls that form a rectangular enclosure for the fluid bag, and a bag supporter in contact with the fluid bag. The bag supporter includes a notch formed in a top edge of one sidewall to facilitate receipt of material of the fluid bag, a slot in the one sidewall extending from a bottom of the triangular shaped notch and configured to receive and retain the material of the fluid bag, and a removable retaining wall held by support structures on a pair of the sidewalls opposing each other to divide the rectangular enclosure into a smaller enclosure. The sidewalls and the removable retaining wall constrain the fluid bag within the smaller enclosure, while the triangular shaped notch and the slot minimizes fluid bag material from covering the outlet nozzle as the fluid bag empties and provides for repeatable flow characteristics for portion control applications.

Abstract: An optical liquid height determination system of the present embodiments includes light sensors capturing different amounts of light, based on level of liquid in the tank that blocks or limits light to particular sensors. The tank is enclosed in a container with a light source and the light sensors are installed on walls of the container. Light emitted by the light source is transmitted to the light sensors by passing through the liquid product, scattered, diffused, diffracted or reflected by the dairy product, through the tank walls which may be transparent or translucent, or from other surfaces in the container within which the tank is enclosed by. The set of electrical signals received from all the light sensors are compared against sets of calibrated signals corresponding to known liquid levels in the tank. The known height corresponding to the nearest set of calibrated signals is determined as the measured liquid height in the tank.

Abstract: A pinch valve has an insert housed in a holder. The insert and the holder are shaped to receive a dispensing tube and the insert can rotate within the holder and around the dispensing tube. The insert can be rotated to have the pinch valve in a release configuration where the insert can be moved downward and out of the holder to allow for cleaning of the insert and holder.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is pivotally secured a closure in a clamshell arrangement. The valve body and the closure define a passageway that can hold a liquid-dispensing tube when the pinch valve is in a closed configuration. The axis about which the closure pivots is perpendicular to the passageway.

Abstract: A pinch valve for a liquid-dispensing unit or machine has a pinch valve body to which is connected a pinch bar assembly. The pinch bar assembly has two axes of rotation and can easily be moved by a user from a pinch position, where the pinch bar is the displacement path of a plunger, to an open position where it is not in the displacement path. A liquid-dispensing tube can be installed in the pinch valve between the pinch bar and the plunger.

Abstract: A beverage whitening composition for whitening coffee, tea or hot chocolate, is described. The composition replaces a selected fluid, such as partially skimmed milk or half-and-half cream, in a reduced volume while providing the same or a very similar whitening ability and taste as the selected fluid to be replaced, so as to be indiscernible to the consumer. The target volume for reduction is 45% to 95%. The composition is useful for replacing skim, 1%, 2%, whole milk, light cream, half-and-half cream or coffee cream in dispensers containing bags, to reduce frequency of bag replacement. The composition may be steamed and used to whiten a steamed milk beverage, such as a latte.

Abstract: Described herein is an apparatus and method for dispensing a granular material. The apparatus includes a hopper for storing the granular material and a feeder for delivering the granular material through a hopper outlet to a dispensing tube that is configured to guide the granular material towards a dispensing outlet. The valve assembly is actuatable to pinch and unpinch the dispensing tube, thereby blocking and unblocking the passage of material. The valve assembly is configured to receive a resilient portion of the dispensing tube, and is actuatable to pinch the resilient portion of the dispensing tube to inhibit passage of the granular material to the dispensing port, and to unpinch said resilient portion of the dispensing tube to enable passage of the granular material through the dispensing port. The dispensing tube may be sloped between the hopper outlet and the valve assembly. Sloping of the dispensing tube promotes sliding of the granular material along an inner surface of the dispensing tube.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a measurement device providing at least one signal indicative of the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the measurement device and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and at least one signal from the measurement device, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the measurement device for at least one previous dispense.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a liquid dispenser includes a liquid reservoir, a load cell supporting at least a partial weight of the liquid reservoir, an electrically actuated valve coupled to a tube outlet exiting from a bottom of the liquid reservoir, and a processor. The processor is electrically connected to the load cell and operatively coupled to and controlling operation of the valve. Further, the processor is configured to determine a valve open time for dispensing a requested amount of liquid. The valve open time depends upon a preliminary time based on the requested amount and an output from the load cell, and an adjustment to the preliminary time based on a difference between a requested amount and a measured amount determined by the load cell for at least one previous dispense.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granulated powder, such as a fine sugar or sweetener, which uses an auger driven by a gear motor. The gear motor is controlled by a control unit on the front of the dispenser, allowing a user to select the quantity of powder to be dispensed. The apparatus comprises at least one, preferably two dispensing assemblies within the chassis, each comprising a storage bin for the powder, an inclined base, an auger member abutting the base of the storage bin and a dispensing chute. The base of the storage bin is inclined positively toward to the orifice of the dispensing chute, thereby ensuring that the powder is dispensed at a constant rate with minimized dribbling.

Abstract: A concentrated flavor dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a fraction of a milliliter and a few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is realizably connected to a disposable pre-filled fluid cartridge. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod that is advanced or retracted by any one of several predetermined distances. The drive rod impels a plunger positioned within the disposable cartridge to dispense a volume of fluid. Flexible capillary tubes connected to the output of each disposable cartridge direct the fluid to a central dispensing area. The disposable cartridge includes an expandable plunger which draws fluid back into the cartridge when the drive rod is withdrawn after a dispense operation for drip prevention.

Abstract: A beverage whitening composition for whitening coffee, tea or hot chocolate is described. The composition replaces conventional milk in a reduced volume. The target volume for reduction is 45% to 95%. The composition comprises 0.5-80% by weight of cream having from 5-42% by weight fat; 15-97% by weight of milk having from 0.1-3.25% by weight fat; serum solids, such as skim milk powder; and optionally a stabilizer. When used in the amount of the target volume, the composition has the beverage whitening ability of the selected milk to be replaced. The composition is useful for replacing skim, 1%, 2% or whole milk in dispensers containing bags, to reduce frequency of bag replacement. The composition may be steamed and used to whiten a steamed milk beverage, such as a latte.

Abstract: A beverage whitening composition for replacing cream or milk in a reduced volume comprising: cream having a higher butter fat content than the cream or milk to be replaced; milk having a lower butter fat content than the cream or milk to be replaced; and serum solids, such as skim milk powder. The composition has the beverage whitening ability of the cream or milk to be replaced in a target volume of from 30% to 95% of the volume of cream or milk to be replaced. The composition is formulated so that from 300 mL to 950 mL of the composition has the whitening ability of 1 liter of the cream or milk to be replaced. The composition is useful for replacing conventional coffee cream in dispensers containing bags of cream so as to reduce frequency of bag replacement.

Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granulated powder, such as a fine sugar or sweetener, which uses an auger driven by a gear motor. The gear motor is controlled by a control unit on the front of the dispenser, allowing a user to select the quantity of powder to be dispensed. The apparatus comprises at least one, preferably two dispensing assemblies within the chassis, each comprising a storage bin for the powder, an inclined base, an auger member abutting the base of the storage bin and a dispensing chute. The base of the storage bin is inclined positively toward to the orifice of the dispensing chute, thereby ensuring that the powder is dispensed at a constant rate with minimized dribbling.

Abstract: A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a fraction of a millilitre and a few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is realisably connected to a disposable pre-filled fluid cartridge. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod that is advanced or retracted by any one of several predetermined distances. The drive rod impels a plunger positioned within the disposable cartridge to dispense a volume of fluid. Flexible capillary tubes connected to the output of each disposable cartridge direct the fluid to a central dispensing area. The disposable cartridge includes an expandable plunger which draws fluid back into the cartridge when the drive rod is withdrawn after a dispense operation for drip prevention.

Abstract: A concentrated flavour dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a few millilitres and few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is in direct fluid communication with a respective storage tank, and a control panel having a programmable microprocessor mounted to the cabinet for receiving user selections and controlling each individual pump. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod for advancing a piston by any one of several predetermined distances to dispense a corresponding volume of fluid. The control panel receives a valid user selection for actuating one or more pumps to dispense the appropriate volume of a concentrated flavouring fluid.

Abstract: A beverage whitening composition for replacing cream or milk in a reduced volume comprising: cream having a higher butter fat content than the cream or milk to be replaced; milk having a lower butter fat content than the cream or milk to be replaced; and serum solids, such as skim milk powder. The composition has the beverage whitening ability of the cream or milk to be replaced in a target volume of from 30% to 95% of the volume of cream or milk to be replaced. The composition is formulated so that from 300 mL to 950 mL of the composition has the whitening ability of 1 litre of the cream or milk to be replaced. The composition is useful for replacing conventional coffee cream in dispensers containing bags of cream so as to reduce frequency of bag replacement.

Abstract: A concentrated flavor dispensing machine having displacement pumps for delivering between a fraction of a milliliter and a few ounces of fluids having a viscosity value between 1 to 4000 centepoise is described. The dispensing machine includes a cabinet for containing a multitude of displacement pumps, where each displacement pump is realizably connected to a disposable pre-filled fluid cartridge. Each displacement pump includes a stepper motor in engagement with a threaded drive rod that is advanced or retracted by any one of several predetermined distances. The drive rod impels a plunger positioned within the disposable cartridge to dispense a volume of fluid. Flexible capillary tubes connected to the output of each disposable cartridge direct the fluid to a central dispensing area. The disposable cartridge includes an expandable plunger which draws fluid back into the cartridge when the drive rod is withdrawn after a dispense operation for drip prevention.