Container with outlet

Abstract

This invention relates to containers of the kind having an outlet through which product is to be dispensed, e.g. food product. There is provided a container for product to be dispensed. The container has an upper part intended to move or deform in order to reduce the volume within the container. The container has an outlet intended to open during movement or deformation of said upper part. The outlet comprises a plurality of movable parts. The outlet further comprises a plurality of fixed parts located between said movable parts. The movable and fixed parts are arranged for shaping product as it is dispensed from the container through the outlet. A method of dispensing and a vending machine for dispensing portions of ice cream or other frozen product from the container are also provided.

1 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container having an upper part intended to move or deform in order to reduce the volume within the container, the container having an outlet intended to open during movement or deformation of said upper part, wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of movable parts and a plurality of fixed parts located between said movable parts, wherein the movable and fixed parts serve to shape the product as it is dispensed through the outlet. 
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the outlet is defined by three movable parts and three fixed parts. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the movable parts have two free sides, one longer than the other, and an end surface, wherein a portion of the long free side of a first movable part is adjacent the end surface of a second movable part when the outlet is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the fixed parts have two free sides, one longer than the other, and the movable parts have two free sides, one longer than the other, wherein the short free side of the movable part is the substantially the same length and the long free side of the fixed parts. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 1  wherein the fixed parts have two free sides, one longer than the other, and the movable parts have two free sides, one longer than the other, wherein the short free side of the fixed parts is adjacent a portion of the long side of the movable parts when the outlet is in a closed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the movable parts are hingedly coupled with the container, and wherein the hinge comprises a groove with an internal radius. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the movable parts are hingedly coupled with the container, and wherein the hinge has a thickened area at or adjacent one or both longitudinal ends thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper part, intended to move or deform to reduce the internal volume of the container, for increasing pressure within the container and causing the movable parts to move to the open position. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the outlet has a moulded closed configuration. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 9  wherein a line of weakness is formed between the movable and fixed parts, and configured to break open during a dispensing operation, in order to allow the movable parts to move from a closed position to an open position relative to the fixed parts. 
     
     
         11 . A method of dispensing comprising the steps of producing the container of  claim 1 , moulding the container with the movable parts in an open position, displacing the movable parts to a closed position after moulding, and providing at least one locking mechanism to retain the movable parts in the closed position with a retaining force until a predetermined force is applied to the movable part. 
     
     
         12 . The method of dispensing of  claim 11  wherein the locking mechanism deforms in order to allow the movable parts to move to an open position when a predetermined pressure is reached within the container and applies the predetermined force to the movable parts. 
     
     
         13 . A vending machine for dispensing portions of ice cream or other frozen confection from the container of  claim 1 , the container including a membrane between the fixed and movable parts of the outlet, the vending machine comprising:
 a storage area for storing a plurality of said containers;   a dispensing location having a seating for receiving one of said stored containers from said storage area; and   a dispensing head for applying a load to the container in order to dispense product through the outlet of the container,   
       wherein the vending machine comprises a breaking mechanism for use in breaking a membrane at the outlet of the container prior to the application of load to the container via the dispensing head, 
       further wherein the vending machine comprises:
 a user interface for a user to select product to be dispensed, and 
 a processor configured for automating a dispensing operation according to a user selection via said user interface, e.g. by delivering a container of product from said storage location, using said breaking mechanism to break the outlet membrane and then using the dispensing head to apply a load to the container in order to dispense product from said outlet. 
 
     
     
         14 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container having an upper part intended to move or deform in order to reduce the volume within the container, the container having an outlet intended to open during movement or deformation of said upper part, wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of movable parts and a plurality of fixed parts located between said movable parts, wherein the movable and fixed parts serve to shape the product as it is dispensed through the outlet, and the container comprising at least one locking mechanism configured for retaining the movable parts in a closed position with a retaining force until a predetermined pressure is reached within the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to deform in order to permit the movable parts to move to an open position when a predetermined pressure is reached within the container. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the locking mechanism is a deformable tab, e.g. formed on the fixed parts and arranged to engage and retain the movable part when the outlet is in the closed condition. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 14 , further comprising an upper part, intended to move or deform to reduce the internal volume of the container, for increasing pressure within the container and causing the movable parts to move to the open position. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 14  wherein the outlet has a moulded closed configuration. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 18  wherein a line of weakness is formed between the movable and fixed parts, and configured to break open during a dispensing operation, in order to allow the movable parts to move from a closed position to an open position relative to the fixed parts. 
     
     
         20 . A method of dispensing comprising the steps of producing the container of  claim 14 , moulding the container with the movable parts in an open position, displacing the movable parts to a closed position after moulding, and providing at least one locking mechanism to retain the movable parts in the closed position with a retaining force until a predetermined force is applied to the movable part. 
     
     
         21 . The method of dispensing of  claim 20  wherein the locking mechanism deforms in order to allow the movable parts to move to an open position when a predetermined pressure is reached within the container and applies the predetermined force to the movable parts. 
     
     
         22 . A vending machine for dispensing portions of ice cream or other frozen confection from the container of  claim 14 , the container including a membrane between the fixed and movable parts of the outlet, the vending machine comprising:
 a storage area for storing a plurality of said containers;   a dispensing location having a seating for receiving one of said stored containers from said storage area; and   a dispensing head for applying a load to the container in order to dispense product through the outlet of the container,   
       wherein the vending machine comprises a breaking mechanism for use in breaking a membrane at the outlet of the container prior to the application of load to the container via the dispensing head, 
       further wherein the vending machine comprises:
 a user interface for a user to select product to be dispensed, and 
 a processor configured for automating a dispensing operation according to a user selection via said user interface, e.g. by delivering a container of product from said storage location, using said breaking mechanism to break the outlet membrane and then using the dispensing head to apply a load to the container in order to dispense product from said outlet. 
 
     
     
         23 . A container for product to be dispensed, the container having an upper part intended to move or deform in order to reduce the volume within the container, the container having an outlet intended to open during movement or deformation of said upper part, wherein the outlet comprises a plurality of movable parts and a plurality of fixed parts located between said movable parts, wherein the movable and fixed parts serve to shape the product as it is dispensed through the outlet, wherein the movable parts include one of (1) a projection on an internal surface configured to help create the desired shape of product during dispensing, and (2) an inner surface arranged to project inwardly of the container in the closed position. 
     
     
         24 . The container of  claim 23  wherein inner surface of each movable part includes two angled surfaces which meet at an apex. 
     
     
         25 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising at least one locking mechanism configured for retaining the movable parts in a closed position with a retaining force until a predetermined pressure is reached within the container. 
     
     
         26 . The container of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism is configured to deform in order to permit the movable parts to move to an open position when a predetermined pressure is reached within the container. 
     
     
         27 . The container of  claim 25  wherein the locking mechanism is a deformable tab, e.g. formed on the fixed parts and arranged to engage and retain the movable part when the outlet is in the closed condition. 
     
     
         28 . The container of  claim 23 , further comprising an upper part, intended to move or deform to reduce the internal volume of the container, for increasing pressure within the container and causing the movable parts to move to the open position. 
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 23  wherein the outlet has a moulded closed configuration. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 29  wherein a line of weakness is formed between the movable and fixed parts, and configured to break open during a dispensing operation, in order to allow the movable parts to move from a closed position to an open position relative to the fixed parts. 
     
     
         31 . A method of dispensing comprising the steps of producing the container of  claim 23 , moulding the container with the movable parts in an open position, displacing the movable parts to a closed position after moulding, and providing at least one locking mechanism to retain the movable parts in the closed position with a retaining force until a predetermined force is applied to the movable part. 
     
     
         32 . The method of dispensing of  claim 31  wherein the locking mechanism deforms in order to allow the movable parts to move to an open position when a predetermined pressure is reached within the container and applies the predetermined force to the movable parts. 
     
     
         33 . A vending machine for dispensing portions of ice cream or other frozen confection from the container of  claim 23 , the container including a membrane between the fixed and movable parts of the outlet, the vending machine comprising:
 a storage area for storing a plurality of said containers;   a dispensing location having a seating for receiving one of said stored containers from said storage area; and   a dispensing head for applying a load to the container in order to dispense product through the outlet of the container,   
       wherein the vending machine comprises a breaking mechanism for use in breaking a membrane at the outlet of the container prior to the application of load to the container via the dispensing head, 
       further wherein the vending machine comprises:
 a user interface for a user to select product to be dispensed, and 
 a processor configured for automating a dispensing operation according to a user selection via said user interface, e.g. by delivering a container of product from said storage location, using said breaking mechanism to break the outlet membrane and then using the dispensing head to apply a load to the container in order to dispense product from said outlet.