GB2119029A

GB2119029A - A dispenser device for a pasty type of mass

Info

Publication number: GB2119029A
Application number: GB08211159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Uno Larsson
Original assignee: Unro Teknik AB
Current assignee: Unro Teknik AB
Priority date: 1982-04-16
Filing date: 1982-04-16
Publication date: 1983-11-09
Also published as: GB2119029B

Abstract

To meter the discharge of mustard, ketchup and similar types of paste a container (10) is provided with a freely dependent flexible pipe (15), having a bottom outlet (17) and a check valve (19) which is held by members (21, 24) from sinking downwards in the pipe. In use the pipe 15 is squeezed with a full-hand grip without mechanically affecting the valve 19 which abuts a seat (18, 27) from below when the pipe is gripped and squeezed, to prevent return flow to the container 10 thereby releasing an enlarged portion (22) of a member (21) from the outlet opening 17, to allow discharge of the paste. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A dispenser device for a pasty type of mass The present invention relates to a dispenser device for a pasty type of mass, the dispenser being of the type comprising an outlet pipe of flexible material freely dependent from a container and atthe bottom thereof being terminated by an outlet opening.

In restaurant business there are used large quantities of mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise and similar pasty type masses which aredispensedwhenevera need therefor arises. Especially in coffee shops and simi la r quick serving facilities, the available space frequently is limited and the handling of, for instance, ketchup and mustard which are stored in plastics containers placed on a table or shelf and which have to be turned around each time they are used, is very time wasting. In addition the containers as well as the surrounding are easily smeared.

There are several types of containers which at a neck portion thereof are provided with a dispenser having some kind of displaceable elementfor opening and closing an outlet opening for metering and/or discharging the contents ofthe container. U.S. patent No.3,141,580, for instance, discloses a tooth paste tube valve arrangement which is operated mechanically by utilizing the resilient characteristics of a valve element provided with pantograph arms and manufactured from resilient material, for instance, polypropylene.

Great advantages, in view of what has been mentioned, may be obtained ifthe containers are arranged hanging. However, ithas been found that the actual relatively high viscous type of mass which is to be handled is pressed back into the container more easilythan outthrough the outlet opening.

Accordingly it is an objectofthe invention to provide a dispenser device which counteracts this tendency and ensures a quick and accurately measurable dispensing action.

According to the invention there is provided a dispenser device for a pasty type of mass, comprising an outlet pipe offlexible material freely dependent from a container and atthe bottom thereof terminated by an outlet opening, and a checkvalve arranged at an upper end ofthe pipe, wherein the cross-sectional area of the outlet pipe approximately corresponds to the outlet opening area of the container, the check valvecomprises a ball-shaped valve body, means are arranged for preventing the valve bodyfrom sinking downwardsinthe pipe, the distance between the valve body and the lower end ofthe outlet pipe being sufficient for gripping the pipe and squeezing it without mechanically affecting the valve body, and a seat is arranged between the pipe and the container forbeingcontacted bythevalvebodyfrom below.

Moreover an important requirement isto prevent dripping from the dispenser, between the metering occasions, and desirably,therefore, a rod connected to the valve body and extending down th rough the pipe is provided at its lower end with an enlarged portion having a shape and size adapted to the shape of the outlet opening of the pipe.

The length of the rod is preferably such that it maintains the valve body floating just below the seat.

The valve body, which has a smailer diameterthan the pipe, is preferably provided with several radially extending pins.

The means which prevents sinking ofthe valve body may alternatively comprise a valve basket insertable between the neck of the container and the pipe.

The invention will now be described, byway of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 shows a cross-section of a dispenser device according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a detail of a modified embodiment.

The pasty type of mass, e.g. mustard or ketchup, which is isto be metered and discharged, is stored within a container 10 of suitable size, provided with a conical neck portion 11 terminated by an externally threaded socket 12 which may be engaged bya screw type closure acting as a transport closure. The container may be supported by a suitable vertical stand, schematically indicated at 13, so that a dispenser device 14 connectable to the containerwill be easily available at a suitable operative height.

The dispenser device comprises a cylindrical pipe body 15 of rubber orsimilarflexible and/or elastic material.Thediameterand length of the pipe is such that a hand, with the full length thereof, may grasp the pipe with a squeezing grip without affecting any valve element ofthe dispenser. The pipe body 15 is provided with an internallythreaded portion 16,which may be screwed directly into the container neck. At the lower end ofthe pipe body 1 5there is centrally disposed outlet opening 17.

Depending on the type of mass which is to be dispensed, and the field of use thereof, the shape of the outlet opening may vary. It may be round or, for instance, shaped as a narrow slot which is opened by the mass being pressed out.

A seat ring 18 is shown inserted into the container neck, but this may, of course, be formed integrally therewith.

At the upper end of the pipe there is a ball-shaped valve body 1 the diameter ofwhich is less than the internal diameter of the pipe 15. The body 19 is centered relativethe pipe bya numberof radially extending pins 20. In orderto ensurethatthe valve body does not sinktoo far down in the pipe, the valve body is mounted onto a rod 21, which at its lower end is terminated by an enlarged portion 22.

The operative length ofthe rod 21 is such thatthe portion 22 comes as close as possible to the opening 17. In addition to the sealing action around the opening provided by portion 22, it also reduces the amount of mass which may contact the surrounding air.

When, with one hand there is a full-hand squeezing grip around the pipe 15, the valve body is pressed upwardly to contact the seat 18 from below, so that flow of mass back into the container is prevented. The pipe body has such a volumethat after raising the valve body into contact with the valve seat 18, the pipe body contains a sufficient amount of mass for the desired metering. Such metering and discharge ofthe mass through the outlet opening 17 goes on as long as thefull-hand grip around the pipe exerts an over pressure within the pipe 15. As soon as the grip around the pipe is released, the valve arrangement comprising the ball 19, the rod 21 and portion 22 falls downwards due to its own weight sealing the opening 17, and new mass enters the pipe between the ball and the ball seat 18. It is perfectly possible to obtain large mass amounts buy a number of squeezing operations following one almost immediately after the other.

An extended part 23 ofthe rod 23 protrudes through the valve body and acts as a stirring memberforthe mass just above the seat 18.

Instead of having the valve body 19 supported by the rod 21, it is possible, as indicated in Figure 2, to arrange a valve basket 24 atthe upper end ofthe pipe.

An upperflange of the basket, as well as the seat formed in a plate 25 together with the upper end of the pipe, aretightlyscrewed onto the container neck by a nut26.

Claims

1. A dispenser device for a pasty type of mass, comprising an outlet pipe of flexible material freely dependent from a container and at the bottom thereof terminated by an outlet opening, and a check valve arranged at an upper end ofthe pipe, wherein the cross-sectional area of the outlet pipe approximately corresponds to the outlet opening area ofthe container, the checkva Ive comprises a ball-shaped valve body, means are arranged for preventing the valve bodyfrom sinking downwards in the pipe, the distance between the valve body and the lower end of the outlet pipe being sufficient for gripping the pipe and squeezing it without mechanically affecting the valve body, and a seat is arranged between the pipe and the containerfor being contacted bythe valve bodyfrom below.

2. A dispenser device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rod connected to the valve body and extending downthroughthe pipe is, at its lowerend, provided with an enlarged portion having a shape and size adapted to the shape ofthe outlet opening ofthe pipe.

3. A dispenser device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the length ofthe rod is such that it maintainsthe valve body floating just below the seat

4. A dispenser device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the valve body, which has a smaller diameter than the pipe, is provided with several radially extending pins.

5. A dispenser device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means preventing the valve body from sinking, comprises a valve basket inserted between the neck of the container and the pipe.

6. A dispenser device for a pasty type of mass, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 1 or Figure 2 ofthe accompanying drawings.