Importance

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Abstract

A piston is movable to reciprocate in a chamber. The piston has a transfer check valve which permits condiment flow only in a direction from an inlet side of the chamber to an outlet side of the chamber. The inlet side of the chamber includes an inlet coupled to a condiment source. The outlet side of the chamber includes an outlet with an outlet check valve. When the piston is moved from the outlet side to the inlet side of the chamber, the transfer check valve is open to permit condiment flow from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber, and the outlet check valve is closed to accumulate condiment therein. Upon accumulation of a desired amount of condiment in the outlet side of the chamber, the piston is moved from the inlet side to the outlet side of the chamber. During that time, the transfer check valve is closed and the outlet check valve is open to dispense the accumulated condiment in the outlet side of the chamber. At the same time, condiment is flowed into inlet side of the chamber. The amount of condiment transferred to the outlet side of the chamber is determined by the piston stroke, and can be controlled to produce a consistent amount for each cycle of accumulating and dispensing condiment. The cycle is repeated to provide dispensing action with simple portion control. The outlet check valve and transfer check valve may be elastomeric check valves.

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First Claim