Abstract: A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston begins to move in the second direction through the material.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston beings to move in the second direction through the material.

Abstract: A reciprocating piston with an integral valve moves in a first direction within a cylinder to pressurize viscous material contained therein, such as ice cream or the like, thereby pushing it out of a dispensing nozzle located at one end of the cylinder while simultaneously extracting viscous material from a collapsible container into the other end of the cylinder by suctioning the material from the container. When the piston moves in a second direction, the integral valve opens to allow the piston to pass through the previously suctioned viscous material then within the cylinder. The dispensing nozzle includes a normally closed, spring-biased valve opened by the force of the pressurized material, closing of the valve being assisted by a transient suction force occurring as the valved piston begins to move in the second direction through the material.

Abstract: A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. Each cartridge uses compressed air to urge the frozen confection from the cartridge through a valve assembly. A valve assembly comprises a valve body that defines a passageway that connects an inlet opening at the cartridge with an outlet opening outside the dispensing cabinet. A valve for alternatively blocking or permitting flow of frozen confection through the passageway is provided at the outlet opening. The valve can include a piston that is moved between the opened and closed positions by a lever. The valve can also include an inflatable bladder that is alternatively inflated or deflated by compressed air that flows through a push button switch. When inflated, the flow of frozen confection is prevented and when deflated, flow is permitted.

Abstract: A dispenser for frozen soft serve confections comprises a refrigerated dispensing cabinet. One or more rigid cartridges containing frozen soft serve confection are releasably mounted within the interior of the dispensing cabinet. A valve assembly comprises a valve plunger housing and a valve plunger. The housing is mounted within the interior of the dispenser cabinet and comprises an entrance port for receiving frozen soft serve confection from the cartridge and a bore which intersects with the entrance port. The valve plunger is slideably disposed within the bore. The plunger has an elongated body with a hollow interior chamber, a rearward entrance opening and a forward exit opening. The valve plunger extends through the wall of the dispensing cabinet and the exit opening is outside of the dispensing cabinet.

Abstract: A knockdown metal cabinet is particularly suited for the food merchandising business and can be quickly assembled from a plurality of flat panels. A rectangular base member has upstanding brackets at each corner along front and back sides which receive channel members secured to a pair of opposed side panels. The side panels are joined together at the top by a pair of horizontal braces each secured at two vertically spaced points to the adjacent side panel to produce a rigid box structure. Front and back panels are then hung in place and supported by the horizontal braces and the base without fasteners. The assembly may then be completed by a top member which is secured to horizontal flanges extending along the top edges of each of the side panels.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating food, such as a serving of partially or fully precooked french fried potatoes supplied in a refrigerated or frozen state and requiring heating for being eaten, comprising a blower for blowing air, a heater for heating the air, a support for holding a receptacle containing the food in position for heating of the food by the heated air, and a system for causing the air to sweep through the receptacle and blow over and around the food in the receptacle for rapidly heating the food solely by the air. And a method of heating the food involving holding a receptacle containing food in a stream of high-velocity heated air and constraining the air to sweep through the receptacle and over and around the food in heat exchange contact with the exposed surfaces of the food.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating food, such as a serving of partially or fully precooked french fried potatoes supplied in a refrigerated or frozen state and requiring heating for being eaten, comprising a blower for blowing air, a heater for heating the air, a support for holding a receptacle containing the food in position for heating of the food by the heated air, and a system for causing the air to sweep through the receptacle and blow over and around the food in the receptacle for rapidly heating the food solely by the air. And a method of heating the food involving maintaining a receptacle holding it in a stream of high-velocity heated air and constraining the air to sweep through the receptacle and over and around the food in heat exchange contact with the exposed surfaces of the food.

Abstract: Apparatus for heating food, such as a serving of partially or fully precooked french fried potatoes supplied in a refrigerated or frozen state and requiring heating for being eaten, comprising a blower for blowing air, a heater for heating the air, a support for holding a receptacle containing the food in position for heating of the food by the heated air, and a system for causing the air to sweep through the receptacle and blow over and around the food in the receptacle for rapidly heating the food solely by the air. And a method of heating the food involving maintaining a receptacle holding it in a stream of high-velocity heated air and constraining the air to sweep through the receptacle and over and around the food in heat exchange contact with the exposed surfaces of the food.

Abstract: The gas burner and blower powered oven includes a mixing chamber of appreciable length that receives bottom outflow air from the oven and, in general opposition, an input from the burner which includes make-up room air. A substantial flame is produced in the chamber for combusting volatiles in the oven outflow and the latter is mixed in the chamber before proceeding to the inlet of the blower, the latter discharging the hot air into the oven through a multiplicity of holes in a top manifold for downward substantially uniform flow throughout the oven.

Abstract: The oven cooking cavity has a perforated top wall above which there is a substantially full width plenum chamber which receives from a rear exterior duct heated air and gases under pressure for discharge of the same downwardly through the cavity top substantially uniformly over the area of the same. The heated air and gases exit from the cavity at the bottom and comingle with newly heated air and gases from a bottom forward gas burner in passage therewith to motor-driven impeller means which discharges into the delivery duct. In such gas embodiment, a small portion of the circulation within the cavity is vented to the atmosphere at the top front of the oven and compensating make-up room air supplied. The heat source can also be electric, with full instead of substantially full recirculation as in the gas embodiment.