Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02913775 2015-12-01
LIQUID DISPENSER CADDY
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
100011 The present application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent
Application
No. 62/140,142, filed on March 30, 2015, the content of which is hereby
incorporated herein
by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of liquid dispensing.
More
particularly, the present disclosure relates to a caddy for the dispense of
liquid held in a bag.
[0003] Liquids dispensed in restaurant and/or food service settings are
often provided
from a supply contained in a sealed bag. Such liquids may include, but are not
limited to
milk, cream, premixed beverages such as tea and punch, fruit juices, or
flavored syrups.
Dispensers for these bulk bags of liquid are known. Typically, the bags are
held in a generally
vertical orientation to improve dispense of the liquid due to gravity. The
bags may either be
suspended from hooks or other fasteners in the top of a dispenser cabinet or
the bags may be
placed in a top loading supportive trough. The bags typically include a
fitment in one side
from which a flexible tube extends. The liquid is dispensed from the bag
through the flexible
tube. In supportive troughs, the flexible tube must be fed through a hole in
the bottom of the
trough to be properly fed into the dispenser. Loading of the system requires
the user to
suspend the bag of liquid with one hand from the top of the trough while
reaching into the
bottom of the trough in order to properly locate the flexible tube out of the
bottom.
[0004] Recently, liquid dispensers that use a load cell to assist in
portion and dispense
control have been developed. Therefore, solutions that can adapt bagged liquid
for easier
loading, dispensing, and repeatable engagement with such load cells are also
desired.
BRIEF DISCLOSURE
[0005] An exemplary embodiment of a caddy is used to support a flexible
bag of a
substance to dispense. The caddy includes a front wall. A back wall is
opposite the front wall.
The caddy includes a first side wall and a second side wall. A floor extends
between the front
wall and the back wall. The floor angles from the back wall in a direction
towards the front
wall. A cradle is connected to the floor, the cradle opens in a downward
direction and a
rearward direction.
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[0006] An exemplary embodiment of a system for dispensing substance
includes a
dispenser, a caddy, and a flexible bag. The dispenser includes at least a
cabinet, a load cell, a
valve, and a processor. The processor calculates a valve open time at least in
part based upon
a measurement of a load impressed upon the load cell and a requested dispense
volume. The
processor operates the valve to open for the valve open time. A caddy includes
a front wall, a
back wall opposite the front wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall.
A floor extends
between the front wall and the back wall. The floor angles from the back wall
in a direction
towards the front wall. A cradle is connected to the floor. The cradle opens
in a downward
direction and a rearward direction to engage the load cell. The flexible bag
is disposed within
the caddy and contains a substance to be dispensed, a flexible tube extends
from the flexible
bag and is connected to the valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
caddy for use
with a bag of liquid in a liquid dispenser.
[0008] Figure 2 is a bottom view of the caddy of Figure 1.
[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a
liquid
dispenser with the door removed.
[0010] Figure 4 is a close-up view of a caddy positioned within a
dispenser.
[0011] Figure 5 is a side sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a
caddy
being loaded into a dispenser.
[0012] Figure 6 is a side sectional view of a dispenser with a caddy
loaded therein.
[0013] Figure 7 depicts an exemplary side perspective view of an
embodiment of a
caddy with a bag of liquid positioned therein.
[0014] Figure 8 is a side sectional view of an additional exemplary
embodiment of a
caddy positioned within a cabinet of a dispenser.
[0015] Figure 9 is a perspective sectional view of the additional
exemplary
embodiment of a caddy positioned within a cabinet of a dispenser.
[0016] Figure 10 is a perspective view of a further exemplary embodiment
of a caddy.
[0017] Figure 11 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a bag of liquid and
support
plate.
[0018] Figure 12 is a bottom perspective view of the further exemplary
embodiment
of a caddy.
[0019] Figure 13 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a support plate.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] As disclosed herein, embodiments of a caddy provide a removable
support
system for liquids supplied in a bag to be dispensed from a dispensing
machine.
Embodiments disclosed herein are particularly suited to facilitate the use of
bagged liquids
for dispense in dispensers configured to use a load cell to control dispense
operations.
[0021] Some embodiments enable improved ease in loading and unloading of
bagged
liquids into a dispenser, particularly in relation to a load cell in a
dispenser used to assist in
the dispense of the liquid.
[0022] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a bag
caddy 10.
Figure 2 is a bottom view of the bag caddy 10. Figure 3 is an exemplary
perspective view of
the dispenser 14 with a door (not depicted) removed. Fig. 4 is a close up view
of a bag caddy
positioned within a cabinet 12 of a dispenser 14. Figures 5 and 6 are
sectional side views
of an embodiment of a bag caddy 10 positioned within a cabinet 12 of a
dispenser 14.
Exemplary embodiments of dispensers and cabinets are described in further
detail in U.S.
Patent No. 8,534,497 entitled, "Dispensing Method and Apparatus Utilizing a
Senor to
Determine a Time That a Dispensing Valve is Open" and U.S. Patent No.
8,844,768 entitled,
"Liquid Dispenser with Storage Tank," both of which are incorporated herein by
reference in
their entireties.
[0023] Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the bag caddy 10 includes a front
wall 16, a back
wall 18, and a side wall 20. Each of front wall 16, back wall 18, and side
wall 20 extend
generally vertically and the front wall 16 is generally larger than the back
wall 18 in the
manner as described in further detail herein. A floor 22 is connected to the
front wall 16, back
wall 18, and side wall 20. The floor 22 generally slopes downwards in a
direction from the
back wall 18 to the front wall 16 as best shown in Figure 5. Another side wall
is located
opposite side wall 20 and is exemplarily embodied by side door 24. Side door
24 is pivotably
secured to the front wall 16 and the back wall 18, exemplarily by pivot pin
26, although it
will be recognized that the side door 24 may be pivotably secured in other
manners as well.
The side door 24 is pivotably moveable between a closed position as
exemplarily depicted in
Fig. 1, and an open position as exemplarily depicted in Figure 7. While not
depicted, further
embodiments that include the side door 24 may also include a ceiling to the
caddy, with
access to the interior of the caddy provided through the side door 24.
[0024] The side door 24 further includes a bottom lip 28 which may be
configured to
engage a bottom side of the floor 22 when the side door 24 is in the closed
position. In an
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exemplary embodiment, the bottom lip 28 may be configured such as to engage
the bottom
side of the floor 22 with a friction fit to hold the side door 24 in a closed
position. In
embodiments, the side door may further include a front lip 30 and a back lip
32. The front lip
30 may be configured to respectively engage the front wall 16 while the back
lip 32 is
configured to engage the back wall 18. The front lip 30 and the back lip 32
can facilitate
alignment of the side door 24 respectively with the front wall 16 and the back
wall 18 as the
side door 24 is moved between opened and closed positions.
[0025] The front lip 30 and the back lip 32 can further provide strength
and rigidity to
the bag caddy 10 when the side door 24 is in the closed position.
[0026] In an additional exemplary embodiment, the side door 24 may be
moveably
secured to the front wall 16 and back wall 18 by engagement of pins 26 or a
similar structure
with an exemplarily "L"-shaped track that facilitates vertical translation of
the side door 24,
followed by horizontal translation and/or pivoting about the pins 26 to open
the side door 24.
In such an embodiment, the side door 24 may further include tabs (not
depicted) that extend
downwardly from a lower end of the side door 24 that engage at least one slot
or ridge (not
depicted) on the floor 22 to retain the side door 24 in the closed position.
[0027] In embodiments, the side door 24 may further include a handle 34
disposed
thereon. The handle 34 facilitates gripping of the side door 24 to move the
side door 24
between the open and closed positions.
[0028] Embodiments of the bag caddy 10 may further include openings 36
located
through one or more of the front wall 16, back wall 18, side wall 20, and side
door 24. In
embodiments, the openings 36 can facilitate a user inspection of a remaining
amount of liquid
in a bag placed in the bag caddy 10. Embodiments of the openings 36 further
reduce weight
of the bag caddy 10 and can also promote air circulation about a bag of liquid
disposed within
the bag caddy 10.
[0029] The bag caddy 10 further includes at least one foot 38, and in
embodiments, at
least two feet 38 which extend from the front wall 16. In other embodiments,
the feet 38 may
extend from an area of the bag caddy 10 about the front wall 16 while not
necessarily integral
with or directly connected to the front wall 16. The feet 38 may be separated
by a cut-out 40
which facilitates use with a bag of liquid as described in further detail
herein. The feet 38
may each further include an end 42. The end 42 may exemplarily be rounded in
shape. In an
embodiment, the rounded end 42 is formed by bending the material of the feet
38. In other
embodiments, the end 42 may take other shapes as will be recognized by a
person of ordinary
skill in the art. As will be described in further detail herein, embodiments
of the bag caddy 10
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are configured to facilitate use of the bag caddy 10 with a dispenser
configured to control the
dispense of liquid from the bag based at least in part upon a load impressed
upon a load cell
by a portion of the bag caddy 10. In an embodiment, the rounded ends 42 of the
feet 38
engage a portion of the dispenser 14 as will be described in further detail
herein. Exemplarily,
the feet 38 engage a trough, which may also be a lip or a ledge, of the
dispenser to accurately
and repeatably locate the bag caddy 10 within the cabinet with respect to a
load cell.
[0030] Figure 4 depicts a close up view of a bag caddy 10 inserted within
the cabinet
12 of a dispenser 14. The feet 38 of the bag caddy 10 engage the dispenser 14
in a trough 46
which is dimensioned to receive the feet 38. In an embodiment, a surface 47 of
the trough 46
is shaped to matingly engage the ends 42 of the feet 38. The trough is
positioned at a level
below the floor 52 of the cabinet 12 and is configured to receive the rounded
end 42 of the
feet 38 of the bag caddy 10. The engagement of the feet 38 with the depression
46 help to
further position the bag caddy 10 relative to the dispenser 14 and the load
cell 44 in a manner
that is consistent between cycle to cycle of loading and unloading the bag
caddy 10 in the
dispenser 14.
[0031] Mating engagement between the trough 46 and the ends 42 of the
feet 38
define a single position and location for the feet 38 when the bag caddy 10 is
fully inserted
into the cabinet 12 as described in further detail herein. The dispenser 14
includes a pinch
valve 70 that generally includes a pinch bar 72 and a tube seat 74. The tube
seat 74 may
exemplarily be a heat sink and further includes a curved position to receive a
flexible tube
from a bag positioned within the bag caddy. The pinch bar 72 applies an
occluding force
against the tube and upon operation of the dispenser 14, the pinch valve 70
moves the pinch
bar 72 to release the occluding force on the flexible tube. Release of the
occluding force
resulting in a dispense of the liquid from the bag (not depicted) in operation
of the dispenser.
Exemplary embodiments of pinch valves are described in further detail in U.S.
Patent No.
8,636,180 entitled "Pinch Valve" and U.S. Patent No. 8,376,310 entitled "Pinch
Valve," both
of which are incorporated by reference in their entireties. The cut out 40, as
described in
further detail herein, facilitates positioning of the tube (not depicted)
relative to the bag and to
the pinch valve 70. In embodiments, the trough 46 extends in two or more
portions,
exemplarily on either side of the pinch valve 70 in order to accommodate the
cutout 40 and
the tube from the bag.
[0032] Figure 3 depicts an exemplary embodiment of dispenser 14, without
a door
connected thereto for the purposes of clarity. It is understood that
embodiments of the
dispenser 14 include a door to close the cabinet that the door may take any of
a variety of
CA 02913775 2015-12-01
, .
forms as would be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art. The
dispenser 14 is
exemplary arranged to receive two bag caddies (not depicted) within the
cabinet 12 with each
bag caddy engaging the troughs 46 with the respective feet of the bag caddies.
In an
exemplary embodiment, the troughs 46 are further dimensioned to match a width
of a
respective bag caddy, exemplarily by a divider 45 positioned between troughs
46 and/or end
walls 49 at the ends of trough 46. The incorporation of the divider 45 and/or
end wall 49 with
the troughs 46 further to define a proper position or location of the bag
caddy in a respective
lateral dimension. As will be explained in further detail herein, in addition
to defining a
desired position and location of the bag caddy 10 within the cabinet 12, the
ends 42 of the
feet 38 pivotably engage the at least one trough 46 to facilitate measurement
by a load cell of
weight impressed upon the load cell by the bag caddy 10 as will be de sin
further detail
herein.
[0033] Referring back to Fig. 2, which is a bottom view of the bag caddy
10, the bag
caddy 10 includes cradle 48 which extends downwardly from the floor 22 in an
area about the
back wall 18. The cradle 48 is exemplarily arranged to engage at least a
portion of the load
cell 44 which may be positioned on a sensor arm 43 (Figs. 5 and 6). In an
exemplary
embodiment, the cradle 48 may be designed to have a keyed or mating
relationship with at
least a portion of the load cell 44 or sensor arm 43. In the embodiment
depicted, the cradle 48
opens downwardly in a generally triangular shape, such triangular shape may
generally
corresponds to a triangular or trapezoidal portion of the sensor arm 43 about
which the load
cell 44 is located. Such an exemplary shape, while being recognized that other
shapes may be
used, not only facilitates engagement between the cradle 48 and the load cell
44, but also
defines a lateral position and relationship between the cradle 48 and/or the
bag caddy 10 as a
whole with the load cell 44 and the bag caddy 10 within the cabinet 12. As
will be described
herein, other embodiments may use alternative arrangements of the cradle 48.
[0034] The cradle 48 exemplarily includes two arms 51, which as mentioned
above,
may exemplarily angle away from one another to form a generally triangular
shape. It will be
recognized that in other embodiments, the arms may be arranged in other
manners. Flanges
53 exemplarily further extend outwardly from the arms 51. The flanges 53
extend in at least
one of a direction away from the front of the bag caddy and/or towards the
side walls of the
bag caddy. It will be recognized that in the embodiment depicted in Figure 2,
the flanges 53
extend away from the arms 51 in both of these directions. The flanges 53
further facilitate
centering of the cradle 48 upon the load cell 44, for example by an initial
engagement with a
sensor arm 43 during positioning of the bag caddy 10.
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[0035] Figures 5 and 6 are exemplary cross sectional views of the bag
caddy 10
within the cabinet 12 of the dispenser 14. These further depict the cradle 48
as well as an
extension 55 that exemplarily connects the arms 51 of the cradle 48 to the
underside of the
floor 22 of the bag caddy 10. In such an exemplary embodiment, the cradle 48
may define a
position in the vertical dimension from the floor 22 of the bag caddy 10
relative to the sensor
arm 43 and load cell 44 different from the position of the floor 22 itself. In
such
embodiments, an extension 55 can facilitate different locations in the
vertical dimension of
the sensor arm 43 and load cell 44 as well as different arrangements of the
floor 22,
exemplarily with greater or lesser pitch relative to the floor 22 at the front
wall 6 of the bag
caddy 10.
[0036] As best seen in Figures 5 and 6, the dispenser 14 includes a
sensor arm 43
which holds a load cell 44. As described in further detail herein, the cradle
48 facilitates
engagement and positioning between the bag caddy 10 and the load cell 44 on
the sensor arm
43. The arms 51 exemplarily align the cradle 48 (and bag caddy 10) in a
lateral dimension,
while the flanges 53 facilitate sliding engagement of the cradle 48 and rough
alignment
thereof on the sensor arm 43. The sectional view of Fig. 6 further depicts the
compressor 39
and evaporator 41 of the dispenser 14. It will be recognized that in
refrigerated embodiments
of the dispenser 14, the refrigeration may exemplarily by provided by such a
compressor 39
and evaporator 41 as depicted herein or in other manners as would be
recognized by a person
of ordinary skill in the art. In further embodiments, the dispenser 14 may
alternatively include
a heated cabinet or a cabinet 12 with no or limited environmental control.
[0037] It will be recognized that in use, a bag filled with liquid to be
dispensed is
placed within the bag caddy 10 and the bag caddy 10 is positioned within the
cabinet 12 in a
generally sliding manner. However, for the load cell 44 to properly measure a
load impressed
upon the load cell by a portion of the combined weight of the bag of liquid
and the bag caddy,
the bag caddy 10 must be supported on the load cell 44 free from support at
other locations
about the load cell 44. Therefore, the bag caddy must rest on the load cell
with the back end
of the bag caddy supported by the load cell. The front end of the bag caddy is
pivotably
supported by engagement of the ends 42 of the feet 38 with the trough 46.
Consistently
repeatable positioning of the feet 38 within the trough 46 facilitates
consistent and repeatable
calculations of valve open time for dispense of requested portions of liquid.
However, as a
bag caddy containing a bag of liquid is slid within the cabinet 12, elevating
the back end of
the bag caddy 10 above the load cell 44 on the sensor arm 43 for positioning
can be a
challenge.
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[0038] Embodiments of the bag caddy 10 further include a leg 50 that
projects
generally downwardly from a bottom surface of the floor 22. In an embodiment,
the leg 50 is
exemplarily configured to facilitate loading of the bag caddy when filled with
a bag of liquid
into the cabinet 12 of the dispenser 14 by slidingly engaging a floor 52 of
the cabinet 12. This
sliding engagement of the floor 52 with the leg 50 enables a user to keep the
back end of the
bag caddy 10 and the cradle 48 elevated to a height such that the cradle 48
can properly
engage the load cell 44. In an embodiment, the leg 50 may be dimensioned such
that once the
bag caddy 10 is in place with the cradle 48 properly engaging the load cell 44
and the feet 38
properly positioned within the dispenser 14, that the leg 50 does not engage
the floor 52 of
the cabinet 12. Rather, a sufficient space is provided such that even under an
operable weight
of the bag caddy 10 (and bag of liquid), the leg 50 does not engage the floor
52 to prevent
any impact on the reading of the load cell 44. In another exemplary
embodiment, the floor 52
of the cabinet 12 may be configured with at least one projection 54 to further
facilitate the
positioning of the cradle 48 relative to the load cell 44 as the bag caddy 10
is moved into
place within the cabinet 12. In such an exemplary embodiment, as the leg 50
progresses into
the cabinet 12 and over the projection 54, the cradle 48 is lifted up over the
load cell 44 and
as the leg 50 descends a back side of the projection 54, the cradle 48 engages
the load cell 44
in a desired position which may be facilitated by the arms 51 and/or flanges
53. With the
back end of the bag caddy 10 supported by the load cell 44 in the cradle 48,
the leg 50 is
positioned free from engagement with the floor 52 or the projection 54.
[0039] The cooperation of the bag caddy 10 with the dispenser 14
facilitates a user's
placement of the filled bag caddy 10 into the dispenser 14. As stated above,
accurate
operation of the valve of the dispenser to dispense the liquid from the bag in
the bag caddy
requires consistent and accurate placement of the bag caddy within the
dispenser so that the
measurements of a portion of the weight of the bag of liquid and bag caddy as
measured by
the load cell 44 is accurate and repeatable. The leg and projection interact
to lift the back end
bag caddy to a height above the load cell for proper positioning the cradle 48
thereon. The
legs engage the trough for repeatable positioning therein. The cradle 48
centers the caddy
relative to the load cell. Thus the bag caddy is accurately and repeatably
positioned in three
dimensions relative to the load cell.
[0040] As best depicted in Figure 2, embodiments of the bag caddy 10
further include
a support plate 57 located generally at the front and bottom of the bag caddy
10. The support
plate 57 as described in further detail herein supports a fitment 62 of a bag
64 of liquid
(depicted e.g. Figure 7). The flexible tube 68 of the bag 64 exemplarily
extends from the
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fitment. Embodiments of the support plate 57 are connected to the floor 22
and/or front wall
16 exemplarily in the area about the cut-out 4.
[0041] The support plate 57 includes an opening 56 defined at least
partially by a lip
58 and a slot 60. In an exemplary embodiment, the lip 58 defines an at least
partially circular
shape of the opening 56. By way of reference to Figs. 2 and 7, the opening 56
is arranged to
receive, through the slot 60 a fitment 62 of a bag of liquid 64. In an
embodiment, the lip 58 is
configured to engage the fitment 62 in a manner such as to secure the fitment
52 within the
opening 56. In an embodiment, the lip 58 includes projections 66 which are
configured to
retain the fitment 62 within the opening 56. In an embodiment, a flexible tube
68 extends
from the fitment 62. The flexible tube 68 is configured to be engaged by the
pinch valve 70
(e.g. Fig. 4) and the liquid in the bag 64 dispensed therethrough by the
dispenser 14.
[0042] Figure 7 depicts an exemplary embodiment of a bag caddy 10 being
loaded
with a bag of liquid to be dispensed. In an exemplary embodiment, if a bag of
liquid is to be
loaded or replaced in a dispenser, the bag caddy 10 is removed from the
dispenser and
exemplarily laid on the side wall 20. The side door 24 is then operable to be
moved (e.g. by
pivoting and/or translation) into an open position as depicted in Figure 5. If
an empty bag
(not depicted) is located within the bag caddy 10, this can then be removed
through the open
side door 24. The open side door 24 enables a user to place a bag 64 of liquid
into the bag
caddy 10 in a manner that requires less physical strength due to the larger
opening and lower
dimension of the front wall 16 and rear wall 18 when the bag caddy is resting
on the side wall
20. Opening of the side door 24 further exposes the opening 56 in the support
plate to receive
and engage the fitment 62 of the bag 64. As depicted, embodiments of the bag
caddy 10 with
a side door 24 enable the bag 64 to be laid into the bag caddy 10 at which
time the fitment 62
can be securely positioned within the opening 56.
[0043] After the bag 64 is loaded into the bag caddy 10, the side door 24
is moved
into the closed position exemplarily depicted in Fig. I. In an exemplary
embodiment, when
the side door 24 is in the closed position, the bottom lip 28 of the side door
24 may further
extend across the opening 56 to engage the fitment of the bag further securing
the fitment into
placement within the opening. After the full bag has been loaded into the bag
caddy 10, the
bag caddy 10 may be placed into the cabinet 12 of a dispenser 14.
[0044] Figures 8 and 9 depict an additional exemplary embodiment of a bag
caddy
10. It will be recognized that like reference numerals are used to refer to
like structures
between the Figures for conciseness and clarity. Both Figures 8 and 9 are
cross sectional
views of the bag caddy 10 positioned within a cabinet 12 of a dispenser 14. As
previously
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described, the bag caddy 10, when filled with a bag of liquid to be dispensed
needs to be
positioned within the cabinet 12 in a manner that engages the load cell 44 on
the sensor arm
43 with the cradle 48 of the bag caddy 10. This must be done in a manner which
supports the
bag caddy so that the cradle 48, floor 22, back wall 18, or some other portion
of the bag
caddy 10 does not damage the load cell 44 or sensor arm 43, while enabling the
consistent
and repeatable positioning of the bag caddy 10 relative to the load cell 44.
[0045] The bag caddy 10 includes a caddy guide 76 which further includes
the leg 50.
The caddy guide 76 also includes an elongated support 78 that extends toward
the front of the
bag caddy from the leg 50. The elongated support 78 further defines a channel
80 in a lower
or bottom side thereof, open towards the floor 52 of the dispenser 14. In an
exemplary
embodiment, the channel 80 may be semi-circular or U-shaped, while it will be
recognized
that in alternative embodiments, other cross-sectional shapes of the channel
80 may be used.
The elongated support 78 is angled relative to the floor 22 of the bag caddy
10. The elongated
support 78 is connected to an underside of the floor 22 and the angle quality
of the elongated
support 78 arranges the caddy guide 76 on the bag caddy 10 in a manner such
that a guide
bottom 82 of the caddy guide 76 is held generally parallel to a floor 52 of
the cabinet 12.
[0046] The cabinet 12 further includes projection 54, as well as, in
certain
embodiments, support projection 84. As depicted in Figures 8 and 9, the
projection 54 and
support projection 84 may exemplarily be spherical in shape, although it will
be recognized
that other shapes of projections may be used. In embodiments, the rounded
profile or
spherical shaped projections match the semi-circular or U-shaped cross section
of the channel
80, while the rounded profile helps to promote alignment between the support
projections and
the caddy guide 76.
[0047] In use, the bag caddy 10 is filled with a bag of liquid to be
dispensed (not
depicted) and the bag caddy 10 is inserted into the cabinet 12, leading with
the back wall 18.
In order to support the weight of the bag caddy 10 containing the bag of
liquid to be
dispensed, the caddy guide 76 engages the support projection 84. Exemplarily,
the leg 50 of
the caddy guide 76 engages the support projection 84 and the leg 50 translates
over the
support projection 84, or in other words, the support projection 84 passes
through a portion of
the channel 80 that extends below the leg 50. In an exemplary embodiment, a
user may tilt
the bag caddy 10 so as to angle the bag caddy 10 and caddy guide 76 to make it
easier for the
leg 50 to pass over the support projection 84. Upon doing so, the support
projection 84
engages the channel 80 of the caddy guide 76 which generally aligns the bag
caddy 10 within
the cabinet 12 relative to the sensor arm 43 with the load cell 44. Further
insertion of the bag
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caddy 10 into the cabinet 12 is facilitated by a sliding engagement of the
support projection
84 within the channel 80. In an exemplary embodiment, materials for the
support projection
84 and/or caddy guide 76 may be selected to minimize or reduce friction
between these
components which may further facilitate translation of the bag caddy 10 within
the cabinet
12. Engagement between the support projection 84 and the channel 80 helps to
maintain the
guide bottom 82 generally parallel to the cabinet 12, although it will be
recognized that in use
the bag caddy 10 may pivot about the engagement with the support projection
84. To this
end, it will be recognized that upon further insertion of the bag caddy 10
into the cabinet 12 a
front end of the leg 50 of the caddy guide 76 will engage the projection 54 at
which point, a
user can pivot the bag caddy 10 about the fulcrum provided by the support
projection 84 to
facilitate lifting the leg 50 of the caddy guide 76 over the projection 54. As
the leg 50 and
caddy guide 76 lift over the projection 54 the back end of the bag caddy 10,
particularly the
cradle 48 is also lifted to a position above the load cell 44 and sensor arm
43. Further
insertion of the bag caddy 10 into the cabinet 12 can permit the user to place
the foot 38 of
the bag caddy 10 in the trough 46 of the dispenser 14 and further insertion of
the bag caddy
moves the leg beyond the projection 54 and the projection 54 moves into the
channel 80
while the bag caddy 10 pivots about the engagement of the foot 38 with the
trough 46 to
place the cradle 48 on the load cell 44 of the sensor arm 43. Upon this
engagement, the bag
caddy 10 is supported at the rounded end 42 of the cradle 38 within the trough
46 and at the
engagement of the cradle 48 with the load cell 44. The support projection 84
and projection
54 are free from contact with the bag caddy 10 by being positioned at least
partially within
the channel 80, but free from contact with the caddy guide 76.
[0048] Figures 10-13 depict an additional exemplary embodiment of a bag
caddy 100.
The bag caddy 100 includes a caddy body 102 with an open interior 104 in which
a bag 106
filled with a liquid to be dispensed is positioned as described in further
detail herein. A
flexible tube 108 extends from a fitment 110 at an end of the bag 106. The
caddy body 102
further includes a handle 112 which may be created with a through hole through
a front wall
114 of the caddy body 102. The caddy body 102 further includes a cut out 116
that extends
through the front wall 114, and exemplarily further extends through at least a
portion of a
floor 118 of the caddy body 102. A support plate 120 which will be described
in further detail
herein exemplarily secures about the fitment 110 and to the caddy body 102.
[0049] The bag caddy 100 further includes front legs 122 and rear legs
124. Feet 126
extend from the front legs 122. The feet 126 exemplarily engage a trough of a
dispenser as
described above with regards to other embodiments. It will be understood that
in additional
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examples of the bag caddy 100, the size of front legs 122 may be reduced to
the more
commensurate in size with the feet 126. In still further embodiments, the feet
126 may be
dimensioned so as to fit within a trough as described above, including, but
not limited to
various dimensions of troughs and, apart from those merely exemplary
embodiments as
disclosed and depicted herein. It will be recognized that rear legs 124 may
alternatively be
another number of legs, including a single leg as depicted and described
previously.
Additionally, the legs 124, as depicted in Figs. 10 and 12 are located at
positions about the
cradle 128. In embodiments, the legs 124 may be located even with or
rearwardly of the
cradle 128.
[0050] The bag caddy 100 further includes a cradle 128 that extends from
the bottom
of the floor 118. The cradle 128 is exemplarily defined by arms 130 and
flanges 132. The
arms 130 and flanges 132 of the cradle 128 open in a direction towards the
back wall 134 of
the caddy body 102. The cradle 128 with the arms 130 and flanges 132
facilitate alignment of
the bag caddy 100 with a sensor arm (not depicted) which includes a load cell
(not depicted)
in use to position the bag caddy 100 and engagement with the load cell as
described above
with respect to other exemplary embodiments.
[0051] Exemplary embodiments of the bag caddy 100 further include drain
holes 136
through the floor 118. In an embodiment, the drain holes 136 may facilitate
cleaning and/or
direct any spilled liquid away from the flexible tube 108 from which the
liquid is dispensed,
which may facilitate improved cleanliness of the flexible tube 108 and/or
dispensing valve
(not depicted) of the dispenser as described above.
100521 Figures 11 and 13 further depict the support plate 120, although
the support
plates120 is also depicted in Figures 10 and 12 as well. The support plate 120
includes a front
plate 148 and a floor plate 150. The front plate 148 and the floor plate 150
may further be
connected by braces 154 which provide strength and rigidity to the support
plate 120. The
front plate 148 includes a tab 152 that extends outwardly from the front plate
148. The tab
152 is arranged to engage the front wall 114 by extending through the cutout
116. The tab
152 engages the front wall 114 exemplarily by a friction fit or a deformation
of the tab 152
caused by engagement with the front wall 114. In embodiments, the tab 152 may
include a
projection or a lip which further facilitates such engagement with the front
wall 114.
[0053] The floor plate 150 further includes and opening 138 that is
dimensioned to
receive and hold the fitment 110 of the bag 116. The floor plate 150 further
includes a slot
142 extending to the opening 138 from one end of the floor plate 150. In use,
the fitment is
slidingly received into the opening 138 through the slot 142. A lip 140
defined by the edge of
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the opening 138 through the floor plate 150 engages between corresponding
structures (e.g.
rings or lips on the fitment 110). In an exemplary embodiment, the floor plate
150 includes a
ridge 146 about the opening 138 and slot 142 which is keyed or otherwise
dimensioned to fit
a single alignment or engagement with the fitment 110 of the bag 106.
Projections 144 extend
inwardly into the slot 142, exemplarily continuing the circumference of the
opening 138. In
an exemplary embodiment, the projections 144 extend the circumference of the
opening 138
to an amount greater than 180 degrees of the circumference. The projections
144 help to
secure the fitment 110 in the position defined by the opening 138.
[0054] The floor plate 150 further includes prongs 156 which extend from
a bottom
of the floor plate 150. The prongs 156 exemplarily fit within aperture 158 in
the floor 118 of
the caddy body 102. The engagement of the prongs 156 within the apertures 158
cooperate
with engagement of the tab 152 with the front wall 114 to secure the support
plate 120 across
the cut out 116 to hold the fitment and flexible tube 108 in a predefined
position.
[0055] In use, as exemplarily depicted in Figure 11, a person seeking to
load a bag
106 within the bag caddy 100 first positions the support plate 120 about the
fitment 110 to
locate the fitment 110 within the opening 138, and secured therein by the
projections 114 and
ridge 146. The combined bag 106 and support plate 120 are inserted into the
bag caddy 100
from the top and the flexible tube 108 is easily extended through the cutout
116 in the caddy
body 102. The prongs 156 and tab 152 of the support plate 120 are then engaged
respectively
with the front wall 114 and apertures 158 of the caddy body 102. This secures
the support
plate 120 to the caddy body 102 and orients the fitment 110 with the flexible
tube 108 in a
predetermined position relative between the apertures 158, prongs156, opening
138 and tab
152.
[0056] To load the bag caddy 100 into a dispenser (not depicted) the bag
caddy 100
may be placed into the cabinet of the dispenser and translated within the
cabinet while
supported by the rear legs 124. This may occur until the bag caddy can be
elevated or at least
the back wall 134 of the bag caddy 100 elevated in order to position the feet
162 of the front
legs 122 within the trough of the dispenser as described in embodiments above.
After the feet
126 are located in the trough of the dispenser, the bag caddy 100 may be
rotated about the
feet 126 in the trough to position the cradle 128 on the load cell of the
sensor arm of the
dispenser. The handle 112 may facilitate user gripping and pivoting of the bag
caddy as
described above. Once the bag caddy 100 is loaded in the dispenser, the bag
caddy 100
creates a mechanical system whereby the weight of the bag caddy with the bag
of liquid to be
dispensed is supported at one end by the load cell within the cradle and at
the front end at
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fulcrum defined by the engagement of the feet 126 with the trough of the
dispenser. The
fitment 110 and flexible tube 108 are also located at a predetermined position
which is
exemplarily directly in alignment with the pinch valve 70 and exemplarily the
tube seat 74 as
depicted in Fig. 3. The known positions and orientations of these components
facilitate
accurate and repeatable calculations of valve open times for accurate dispense
of requested
volumes from the bag of liquid.
[0057] In a further exemplary embodiment, to replace a used bag 106,
after the pinch
valve is disengaged from the tube 108, the user may press inward on the front
plate 148, and
disengage the tab 152 from the front wall 114 to push the front plate 148
inward into the open
interior 104 of the bag caddy 100. An upward force on the floor plates 150
disengages the
prongs 156 from the apertures 158 to release the support plate 120 from
engagement with e
caddy body 102. In embodiments, the support plate 120 may then be rotated
exemplarily 90
degrees or another angular rotation as may be recognized by a person of
ordinary skill in the
art and the support plate 120 withdrawn from the bag caddy 100 through the
cutout 116. The
rest of the bag 106 may also be withdrawn through the cutout 116 and disposed
of, leaving
the caddy body 102 to be removed from the cabinet of the dispenser.
[0058] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,
including the
best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use
the invention. The
patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples
that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be
within the scope
of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the
literal language of
the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences
from the literal languages of the claims.
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