Apparatus for dispensing a quantity of flowable material

Viscous flowable material dispensing apparatus for dispensing viscous flowable material such as food material. The apparatus is provided with a supply manifold for receiving and distributing the viscous material with air actuated reciprocating pump connected to the manifold to force the material therethrough, facilitated by one way inlet and outlet valves in the manifold. A pattern plate adapted to receive the material from the manifold into a flat chamber with a dispersing pattern plate supported in the chamber to disperse the material throughout the chamber. A pattern plate covering the plate chamber to receive the dispersed material and dispense same in a pattern over object to receive the material. Pneumatic control valves are utilized for operating the pump to continuously provide repeated movement of material through the apparatus.

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Claims

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supply manifold has said inlet and outlet thereof in alignment and said passageway thereof extending laterally thereto whereby said pump means will alternately withdraw and inject the material laterally to said inlet and outlet alignment.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said pump means comprises a pump cylinder chamber adapted to receive material from said supply manifold passage and a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder chamber alternately actuatable away from and toward said source manifold passage to alternately withdraw and inject material into and out of said pump cylinder chamber from said supply manifold, and means for actuating said pump piston in said alternate directions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pump piston actuating means comprises a cylinder having a sealed piston chamber and a piston reciprocally mounted in said piston chamber and having a piston rod axially slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to said pump piston for reciprocal movement therewith, and a source of flowable media under pressure in communication with said actuating chamber on both sides of said piston and selectively operable to alternately move said piston in opposite directions to similarly actuate said pump piston.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said pump cylinder actuating means comprises a cylinder having a sealed piston chamber and a piston reciprocally mounted in said piston chamber and having a said piston rod axially slidably mounted in said cylinder and connected to said pump piston for reciprocal movement therewith, and a source of flowable media under pressure in communication with said actuating chamber on both sides of said piston and selectively operable to alternately move said piston in opposite directions to similarly actuate said pump piston.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said inlet valve comprises an inlet valve body having an outlet opening adapted to pass material therethrough into said supply manifold, an inlet valve plug having a stem shaft slidably mounted in said valve body and biased for normally releasably forcing said plug into engagement with said outlet opening of said inlet body to releasably and normally seal said body opening, and said inlet valve body having a separate passage connecting said source with the outlet opening of said inlet valve body whereby said inlet valve plug will be moved away from said inlet valve outlet opening to open said inlet valve to allow material to flow through said inlet valve body and into said supply manifold when said pump withdraws material from said supply manifold against the bias of said inlet valve plug.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said outlet valve comprises an outlet valve body having an outlet opening adapted to pass source material therethrough into said dispensing manifold pattern plate chamber, an outlet valve plug having a stem shaft slidably mounted in said valve body and biased for normally releasably forcing said plug into engagement with said outlet opening of said inlet body to releasably and normally seal said body opening, and said outlet valve body having a separate passage connecting said source with the outlet opening of said outlet valve body whereby said outlet valve plug will be moved away from said outlet valve outlet opening to open said outlet valve to allow material to flow through said outlet valve body and through said passage into the pattern plate chamber when said pump injects material into said source manifold against the bias of said plug.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said outlet valve comprises an outlet valve body having an outlet opening in passage communication with said dispensing manifold pattern plate chamber, an outlet valve plug having a stem shaft slidably mounted in said valve body and biased for normally releasably forcing said plug into engagement with said inlet body adjacent said outlet opening to releasably and normally seal said body opening, and said outlet valve body having a separate passage connecting said source with the outlet opening of said outlet valve body whereby said outlet valve plug will be moved away from said outlet valve outlet opening to open said outlet valve to allow material to flow through said outlet valve body and through said passage into the pattern plate chamber when said pump injects material into said source manifold against the bias of said plug.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said pump means comprises a pump cylinder chamber adapted to receive material from said supply manifold passage and a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder chamber alternately actuatable away from and toward a manifold passage to alternately withdraw and inject material into and out of said pump cylinder chamber from said supply manifold, means for actuating said pump piston in said alternate directions, and said pump cylinder actuating means comprises a cylinder having a sealed piston chamber and a piston and attached piston rod with said piston reciprocally mounted in said piston chamber with said piston rod axially slidably mounted in said cylinder and operably connected to said pump piston for reciprocal movement therewith, and a source of flowable media under said actuating chamber on both longitudinal sides of said piston and selectively operable to alternately move said piston in opposite longitudinal directions to similarly actuate said pump piston whereby material is pumped out of end into said source manifold.

10. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pump cylinder actuating means is adjustable to limit the movement of said piston thereof and the corresponding amount of material pumped by said pump means.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said pattern plate chamber has an opening width greater than the diameter of said pump cylinder chambers whereby the linear movement of said cylinders required to pump a given amount of material into the pattern plate chamber is greater than the linear movement required to move the same amount of the material through said pattern plate chamber whereby linear adjustment in the limits of movement of said pump cylinder will result in a lesser linear and more precise movement of the material in the pattern plate chamber.

12. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said pump means comprises a pump cylinder chamber adapted to receive material from said supply manifold passage and a piston reciprocally mounted in said cylinder chamber alternately actuatable away from and toward said source manifold passage to alternately withdraw and inject material into and out of said pump cylinder chamber from said supply manifold, means for actuating said pump piston in said alternate directions, and said pump cylinder actuating means comprises a cylinder having a sealed piston chamber and a piston and attached piston rod with said piston reciprocally mounted in said piston chamber with said piston rod axially slidably mounted in said cylinder and operably connected to said pump piston for reciprocal movement therewith, and a source of flowable media under pressure in communication with said actuating chamber on both longitudinal sides of said piston and selectively operable to alternately move said piston in opposite longitudinal directions to similarly actuate said pump piston whereby material is pumped out of end into said source manifold.

13. Apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said pump cylinder actuating means is adjustable to limit the movement of said piston thereof and the corresponding amount of material pumped by said pump means.

14. Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said pattern plate chamber has an opening width greater than the diameter of said pump cylinder chambers whereby the linear movement of said cylinders required to pump a given amount of material into the pattern plate chamber is greater than the linear movement required to move the same amount of the material through said pattern plate chamber whereby linear adjustment in the limits of movement of said pump cylinder will result in a lesser linear and more precise movement of the material in the pattern plate chamber.

15. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said inlet valve body and said outlet valve body are provided with converging surfaces forming the outlet openings thereof and the seat for said plugs thereof to provide a closing of said valve opening of said valves.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15 wherein plugs thereof have a tapered surface on the inlet side thereof adapted for engaging said converging surfaces of respective valve bodies at the convergence thereof to close said respective valves.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16 wherein said converging surfaces converge at an acute angle for providing a line contact between said plugs and respective valve bodies for penetrating the material of said source when said plugs engage the respective valve bodies to aid in the closing of said valves..Iadd.

18. A dispensing manifold for delivering a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from an upstream source of supply to a downstream object, the dispensing manifold comprising:

a dispensing chamber capable of receiving a quantity of viscous flowable material from the source of supply;
a pattern plate at the downstream end of the dispensing chamber, the pattern plate having a plurality of passages therethrough to allow passage of the viscous flowable material from the dispensing chamber to the object; and
diffuser means in the dispensing chamber upstream of the pattern plate for distributing the viscous flowable material about the pattern plate, the diffuser means having a plurality of passages therethrough;
wherein the viscous flowable material is dispensed substantially evenly upon at least a portion of the object..Iaddend..Iadd.19. The dispensing manifold of claim 18 wherein the diffuser means is suspended at or near the center of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.20. The dispensing manifold of claim 18 wherein the diffuser means comprises a diffuser plate..Iaddend..Iadd.21. The dispensing manifold of claim 18 wherein the passages through the diffuser means are apertures..Iaddend..Iadd.22. The dispensing manifold of claim 18 wherein the pattern plate is wider than the diffuser means..Iaddend..Iadd.23. The dispensing manifold of claim 18 in combination with a supply means, the supply means including a supply manifold and means for conveying the viscous flowable material between the

supply manifold and the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.24. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 23 wherein the supply means further comprises a reciprocating pump to repeatedly move a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from the supply manifold to the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.25. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 24 wherein the reciprocating pump is adjustable to thereby vary the predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material moved from the supply manifold to the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.26. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 23 wherein the viscous flowable material is conveyed between the supply manifold and the dispensing chamber through an inlet at the upstream end of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.27. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 26 wherein the pattern plate is wider than the diffuser means and

the diffuser means is wider than the inlet..Iaddend..Iadd.28. A dispensing manifold for delivering a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from an upstream source of supply to a downstream object, the dispensing manifold comprising:

a dispensing chamber capable of receiving a quantity of viscous flowable material from the source of supply the dispensing chamber receiving the viscous flowable material at its upstream end through an inlet;
a pattern plate at the downstream end of the dispensing chamber, the pattern plate having a plurality of passages therethrough to allow passage of the viscous flowable material from the dispensing chamber to the object, the pattern plate being wider than the inlet; and
diffuser means in the dispensing chamber upstream of the pattern plate for distributing the viscous flowable material about the pattern plate, the diffuser means being wider than the inlet, and the diffuser means having a plurality of passages therethrough;
wherein the viscous flowable material is substantially uniformly dispensed upon at least a portion of the object..Iaddend..Iadd.29. The dispensing manifold of claim 28 wherein the diffuser means is suspended at or near the center of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.30. The dispensing manifold of claim 28 wherein the pattern plate is wider than the diffuser means..Iaddend..Iadd.31. The dispensing manifold of claim 28 wherein the diffuser means comprises a diffuser plate..Iaddend..Iadd.32. The dispensing manifold of claim 28 wherein the passages through the diffuser means are apertures..Iaddend..Iadd.33. The dispensing manifold of claim 28 in combination with a supply means, the supply means including a supply manifold and means for conveying the viscous flowable material between the supply manifold and the inlet at the upstream end of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.34. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 33 wherein the supply means further comprises a reciprocating pump to repeatedly move a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from the supply manifold to the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.35. The dispensing manifold and supply means of claim 34 wherein the reciprocating pump is adjustable to thereby vary the predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material moved from the supply manifold to the dispensing

chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.36. A dispensing apparatus for delivering a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from an upstream source of supply to a downstream object comprising:

a supply means,
the supply means including a supply manifold;
a dispensing manifold,
the dispensing manifold including a dispensing chamber capable of receiving a quantity of viscous flowable material,
a pattern plate at the downstream end of the dispensing chamber, the pattern plate having a plurality of passages therethrough to allow passage of the viscous flowable material from the dispensing chamber to the object, and
diffuser means in the dispensing chamber upstream of the pattern plate for distributing the viscous flowable material about the pattern plate, the diffuser means having a plurality of passages therethrough; and
means for conveying the viscous flowable material between the supply manifold and the dispensing chamber;
wherein the viscous flowable material is dispensed substantially evenly upon at least a portion of the object..Iaddend..Iadd.37. The dispensing manifold of claim 36 wherein the diffuser means is suspended at or near the center of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.38. The dispensing apparatus of claim 36 wherein the diffuser means comprises a diffuser plate..Iaddend..Iadd.39. The dispensing manifold of claim 36 wherein the passages through the diffuser means are apertures..Iaddend..Iadd.40. The dispensing apparatus of claim 36 wherein the pattern plate is wider than

the diffuser means..Iaddend..Iadd.41. The dispensing apparatus of claim 36 wherein the supply means further comprises a reciprocating pump to repeatedly move a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from the supply manifold to the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.42. The dispensing apparatus of claim 41 wherein the reciprocating pump is adjustable to thereby vary the predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material moved from the supply manifold to the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.43. The dispensing apparatus of claim 36 wherein the viscous flowable material is conveyed between the supply manifold and the dispensing chamber through an inlet at the upstream end of the dispensing chamber..Iaddend..Iadd.44. The dispensing apparatus of claim 43 wherein the pattern plate is wider than the diffuser means and the diffuser means

is wider than the inlet..Iaddend..Iadd.45. A dispensing apparatus for delivering a predetermined quantity of viscous flowable material from an upstream source of supply to a downstream object comprising:

a supply means,
the supply means including a supply manifold;
a dispensing manifold,
the dispensing manifold including a dispensing chamber capable of receiving a quantity of viscous flowable material, the dispensing chamber receiving the viscous flowable material at its upstream end through an inlet,
a pattern plate at the downstream end of the dispensing chamber, the pattern plate having a plurality of passages therethrough to allow passage of the viscous flowable material from the dispensing chamber to the object, the pattern plate being wider than the inlet, and
diffuser means in the dispensing chamber upstream of the pattern plate for distributing the viscous flowable material about the pattern plate, the diffuser means being wider than the inlet, and the diffuser means having a plurality of passages therethrough; and
means for conveying the viscous flowable material between the supply manifold and the inlet at the upstream end of the dispensing chamber;
wherein the viscous flowable material is substantially uniformly dispensed upon at least a portion of the object..Iaddend.
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Other references
  • Correspondence between Pizzamatic Corporation and Quantum Technical Services, Inc (Jan. 14, 1998-Mar. 12, 1998). Drawings (4 sheets) of Pizzamatic Sauce Applicator Model No. 2100A, Serial No. 0019-12, Mar. 12, 1998. Copies of photographs (3 sheets) of Pizzamatic Sauce Applicator Model No. 2100A, Serial No. 0019-12.
Patent History
Patent number: RE36178
Type: Grant
Filed: Apr 17, 1997
Date of Patent: Apr 6, 1999
Inventors: Mark J. Freudinger (Peotone, IL), David J. White (Beecher, IL)
Primary Examiner: Gregory L. Huson
Law Firm: Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue
Application Number: 8/843,891