US 12,419,323 B2
Machine for making and dispensing food products
Roberto Lazzarini, Reggio Emilia (IT); and Federico Tassi, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to ALI GROUP S.R.L.—CARPIGIANI, Cernusco sul Naviglio (IT)
Filed by ALI GROUP S.R.L.—CARPIGIANI, Cernusco sul Naviglio (IT)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/680,136.
Claims priority of application No. 202021000001463 (IT), filed on Mar. 22, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0295822 A1, Sep. 22, 2022
Int. Cl. A23G 9/28 (2006.01); A23G 9/12 (2006.01)
CPC A23G 9/281 (2013.01) [A23G 9/12 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A machine for making and dispensing food products, comprising:
a container for containing a product to be processed and dispensed, the container having a discharge outlet for the product to be dispensed;
a stirrer positioned inside the container;
a thermal treatment system operatively connected with the container to treat the product thermally;
a dispensing tap mounted on the discharge outlet of the container and comprising a supporting body including a cavity in fluid connection with the discharge outlet, and a shutter that is slidably mounted in the cavity of the supporting body to be movable between an open position, where the shutter allows the product to come out through the discharge outlet, and a closed position, where the shutter prevents the product from coming out through the discharge outlet, and a lever that is movably connected to the shutter, the lever being hinged to the supporting body to rotate relative thereto to allow the shutter to be moved between the open position and the closed position;
wherein the shutter has an oval cross section;
wherein the shutter has a concave surface which, in use, is disposed to face the discharge outlet;
wherein the supporting body includes an external protrusion, the external protrusion being positioned external to the cavity of the supporting body, the external protrusion including a first pivot bore;
wherein the lever includes a second pivot bore;
a pin inserted through the first pivot bore and the second pivot bore to rotatably couple the lever to the supporting body about a longitudinal axis of the pin, the longitudinal axis also being positioned external to the cavity of the supporting body;
wherein the lever includes a first, straight elongated portion, a second, arcuate portion and a third, straight elongated portion; the second, arcuate portion being located between the first, straight elongated portion and the third, straight elongated portion; the second pivot bore being positioned in the second, arcuate portion; the first, straight elongated portion adapted for manipulation by a user to cause a corresponding movement of the third, straight elongated portion; a free end of the third, straight elongated portion, distal from the second, arcuate portion, being connected to the shutter for moving the shutter between the open position and the closed position upon manipulation of the first, straight elongated portion by the user.