Patent Application
20100243676
The invention relates to a tapping device. The invention relates, in particular, to a tapping device for tapping beverage, in particular carbonated beverage and/or beverage with natural ingredients, such as beer.
Tapping devices for tapping beverage such as beer are generally known and are used, for instance, in hotel, bar and restaurant establishments. In general, these tapping devices comprise a bar with a tapping column thereon, through which extends a tapping line which is coupled to a tapping cock on the tapping column. The opposite end of the tapping line extends, for instance, under the bar or at a distance from the bar, as in a cellar, refrigerator or outside. On the tapping line a connecting device is provided for coupling to a beverage container. Furthermore, to such a connecting device, often also a gas supply line is connected with which beverage in the beverage container can be pressurized. The connecting device can, for instance, be a handle tapping head when casks are used or a bayonet or screw connection when a cellar tank is used as beverage container.
During use, beverage is pressurized in the container such that upon opening of a beverage valve, the beverage is pressed, under pressure, via the connecting device into the tapping line and therethrough, to the tapping cock. Therefore, when the tapping cock is opened, the beverage will flow out. When the container has been emptied, the connecting device is uncoupled and a new container can be coupled, in practice also referred to as “broached”.
One of the problems occurring with such tapping devices is that the tapping line, the tapping cock and the connecting device come in direct contact and remain in direct contact with the beverage during the time a container is broached. As a result, these parts become contaminated and contamination of the beverage may occur. Therefore, in particular when broaching a new container, or when the beverage has been stagnant in the beverage line for some time, it is of great importance that these parts be cleaned. If especially the lines and connecting devices are not cleaned properly, for instance deposit and bacteria can be formed in the lines, connecting device and tapping cock, whereby the quality of the beverage is adversely affected and even health hazards could be entailed.
A known manner of cleaning is flushing the tapping line with water after uncoupling the connecting device from a container, whereby residual beverage in the tapping line is discharged, whereupon a flushing liquid, typically water with a cleaning agent, is fed through the line. This has as a result that relatively much beverage is lost, in particular with long tapping lines. Also, with the flushing liquid a small sponge may be carried along through the tapping line, in practice referred to as pig. With this, the inside of the tapping line can be cleaned. A drawback of such a method is further that it is time consuming to carry out such cleaning. Furthermore, this takes relatively much water and flushing liquid per cleaning operation, in particular because after the flushing liquid has been fed through, the lines are to be rinsed with clean water before beverage can be fed through again.
The invention has a number of objects which can be achieved both individually and in combination with at least one of a tapping device, method, coupling element and container, as well as other aspects of the invention.
One object of the invention is to provide a tapping device for beverage which allows simple cleaning.
Another object of the invention is to provide a tapping device with which, during normal use, loss of beverage can be minimized.
A further object of the invention is to provide a tapping device where cleaning takes relatively little time.
Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a method with which cleaning of a tapping device is possible in a relatively simple manner and/or takes relatively little time and/or is accompanied by relatively small loss of beverage and/or cleaning liquid and/or water.
At least one of these and other objects are achieved individually or together with other objects with a tapping device, method, container, coupling element and/or connecting device according to the invention.
In a first aspect, the invention can be characterized in that a tapping device is provided with a cleaning element on the container or connecting means for the container, which cleaning element, upon broaching of a container, is located near a first end of the tapping line proximal to the container, and is movable through the tapping line under pressure of beverage from the container. Here, the cleaning element abuts against an inside of the tapping line such that beverage cannot pass the cleaning element in the tapping line. The cleaning element is removable adjacent an opposite, second side of the tapping line.
With such a device, with a new container, automatically a cleaning element is fed through the tapping line in a manner such that the inside thereof is cleaned. The cleaning element can be taken directly from the line, in or near the tapping cock. As the beverage is used for propelling the cleaning element, virtually no beverage is lost.
Surprisingly, it has appeared that a tapping device can thus be utilized for a long period of time without intervening cleaning operations being required according to the state of the art described in the introduction. Furthermore, cleaning with a cleaning element according to the invention cannot be forgotten.
It will be clear that such a device can be used with any type of container, with an external supply of a pressure medium, such as gas, as well as with an internal source for pressurizing the beverage. The device can also be used with other beverage containers such as compressible containers, containers that are emptied through reduced pressure or through suction by a dispensing hose or the like.
In a second aspect, the invention can be characterized in that a container is coupled to a tapping line by means of a connecting device, whereby upon coupling of the connecting device to the container, a coupling element with a beverage passage is included between the inside space of the container and the tapping line. A cleaning element which, during coupling, extends in or at the coupling element will, after opening of a beverage valve of the container, be forced by beverage from the container into and through the tapping line and be removed at an end of the tapping line.
With such a method, cleaning is possible in a simple manner.
The invention can further be characterized by a coupling element for use in a tapping device, which coupling element comprises a beverage passage, in or at which beverage passage a cleaning element is provided which can be pressed, during use, from the coupling element into a beverage line coupled thereto by liquid introduced into the beverage passage, in particular beverage from a container connected thereto.
The invention can further be characterized by a container, wherein the container is provided with a valve assembly for dispensing beverage, adjacent which valve assembly a cleaning element is provided in a beverage passage, such that upon opening of the valve assembly, beverage is introduced from the container into the beverage passage, thereby moving the cleaning element away from the valve assembly.
The invention can further be characterized in that a beverage container with a valve assembly is provided, or at least a valve assembly for a beverage container, wherein adjacent, in or on the valve assembly, a cleaning element is provided in a beverage passage, in a manner such that upon feed-through of beverage through the valve assembly, the cleaning element is moved away from the valve assembly. In an alternative embodiment, a beverage valve of the valve assembly is formed, at least partly, by the cleaning element.
In clarification of the invention, embodiments of different aspects of the invention will be further elucidated with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:
The embodiments shown in the drawing and described in the following are shown merely by way of illustration and should not be construed to be limitative in any manner. Combinations of embodiments and parts thereof are understood to have been incorporated and represented herein.
In
In the embodiment shown in
In each of the embodiments shown, the coupling element 11 can be disposable, suitable and/or intended for once-only use. Also, it may already be disposed on a valve assembly of a beverage container 2 at delivery thereof, and later be removed again along with the beverage container 2, or separately therefrom.
In the embodiment shown in
It will be clear that in a comparable manner, use can also be made of a beverage container 2 of the Bag-in-container type, wherein the beverage is included in, for instance, a flexible bag and a pressure medium, such as gas or liquid, is introduced between the bag and the wall of the container 2 for compressing the bag.
The cleaning element 21 is preferably somewhat flexibly compressible and has, in non-compressed form, dimensions that are such that it cannot be fed through a tapping line 12 without at least some compression, so that close contact can be obtained between the cleaning element and the tapping line. The cleaning element can be, for instance, substantially spherical, manufactured from, for instance, plastic or rubber, metal sponge, metal foam or other suitable materials, with a diameter that is slightly greater than the inside cross-section of the tapping line 12. The cleaning element can be completely non-moisture transmissive. The surface of the cleaning element can be smooth, but can also be provided with a profiling, for instance ridges, bumps, indentations or the like, for, for instance enhancing friction and/or increasing the contact surface, while then, furthermore, for instance cleaning agent, such as liquid, can be provided in for instance the profiling mentioned, for further improvement of the cleaning. Also, for instance a groove, for instance spiral-shaped, can be provided so that, owing to the liquid and/or the friction with the wall, the cleaning element is brought into, for instance, a rotating movement during feed-through through the tapping line.
In each of the embodiments shown, naturally, it can be provided that the container 2 and/or the tapping line 12 and/or the tapping column 13 are cooled. It has appeared that in particular if each of these parts is cooled, cleaning of the tapping device other than with the cleaning element 21, is necessary only sporadically, inter alia because growth of bacteria is virtually prevented. Also if no, or only one or two of the group of the container 2 and/or the tapping column 13 and/or the tapping line 12 is cooled, a large improvement is already obtained with respect to existing tapping devices.
A tapping device according to
A beverage container 2, filled with beverage 18, is delivered. A coupling element 11 can be delivered separately but is preferably provided on the valve assembly 8 in advance, for instance in the brewery or bottling plant. At the location of the tapping device 1, any previously used beverage container is uncoupled by a user through detachment of the connecting device 6 and detachment of the old coupling element 11 from the tapping line 12. Then the beverage container 2 is put in place and the new coupling element 11 is connected to the tapping line 12 with the aid of the coupling means 23, 24. Then the connecting device 6 is placed over the coupling element 11 onto the beverage container 2 and energized in a manner such that the beverage valve 9 and the gas valve 10 are opened. As a result, gas will flow into the inside space 16 and pressurize the beverage 18, so that beverage 8 will flow into the second passage 17, into the part 20 with the cleaning element 21. When the tapping cock 4 is opened, as a result of the pressure applied by the beverage from the beverage container 2 to the cleaning element, beverage in the tapping line together with the cleaning element 21 will be propelled through the tapping line 12 towards an outlet of the tapping cock. Here, the cleaning element 21 remains in constant, close contact with the inside of the tapping line 12. Preferably, the cleaning element has a somewhat rough or otherwise cleaning surface and can optionally be provided with a suitable coating. Cleaning coatings are generally known and a choice will be simple for the skilled person. After some time, the cleaning element 21 will be dispensed via the tapping cock and beverage 18 will be dispensed from the new beverage container 2.
With a tapping device 1 according to the invention, each time when a new coupling element 11 is used, a cleaning element 21 will be forced through the tapping line, thereby cleaning the inside of the tapping line so that deposit on the inside of the tapping line 12 is prevented. It is precisely such deposit which appears of great influence on the purity of the tapping line and hence the beverage. It has appeared that when using a tapping device according to the invention, a thorough cleaning of the tapping device 1, with the beverage supply shut down and the tapping device cleaned with flushing liquid and rinsed with water before it can be used again, is required much less frequently, which results in smaller sales losses and, furthermore, reduces the costs of such thorough cleaning operations.
With a tapping device 1 according to the invention, for cleaning the tapping line 12, the beverage 18 still present in the tapping line does not need to be discarded when connecting a new beverage container. The fact is that it is propelled by the beverage from the new beverage container 2 and can simply be consumed, at least for the larger part, and is separated from the new beverage 18 by the cleaning element, so that no mixing will occur. In order to prevent the beverage from flowing back from the tapping line 12 when a previously used coupling element 11 is uncoupled, preferably, a shutoff 60 is provided in or near the second coupling means 24 in the tapping line. This may be a cock or like shutoff and closes preferably automatically when the communication between the first and second coupling means 23, 24 is broken. Such couplings are generally known. Naturally, the communication can also be realized by for instance pressing part 8 onto the container 2.
It can be advantageous to design the collar 36 such that it projects slightly into the tapping line and abuts against its inside. As a result, contamination of the transition is prevented even further.
It will be clear that the tapping rod 34 can be omitted, for instance if the neck of the container 2 is directed downwards.
Instead of the operating means 32, naturally, a manual operation of the piston 31 can be chosen as well, for instance by means of a conventional handle tapping head or like mechanism.
Optionally, the cleaning element 21 instead of the valve 9 can provide the sealing of the passage for beverage, so that, in effect, the cleaning element 21 forms the beverage valve 9. This can then be fed through the tapping line 12 and it is directly clear that the container is already open. Refilling the container is then impossible without a new cleaning element being provided.
In
Upon pivoting of the handle 62 from the position of use to the connecting position, the passage 66 is pivoted from a position in which it forms a fluid communication between the connecting element 11 and the tapping line 12, to a condition in which this fluid communication is broken. Beverage then cannot flow back from the tapping line 12. After a new connecting element 11 has been placed in the manner as indicated and described, the handle 62 is pivoted back and thereby, in principle, the fluid communication is restored, at least the passage 66 is brought in a position where beverage can flow from the tapping line 12 into the passage or vice versa, while the coupling means 23 is retained in the connecting opening and/or against the housing. In the position of use, the connection between the coupling means 23, 24 is covered by the handle 62, so that unintended detachment is prevent still better.
In FIGS. 10 and 11A-D, a possible embodiment of a coupling means 23 is shown. Attached to the hose 19 is a portion 20 such as a housing part, while the hose 19 can be connected directly or indirectly with a beverage container 2 such as a keg or container, BIC or the like. The housing part has a central passage 72 having therein a ball or like closing body 73. The passage 72 is bounded on two opposite sides by a valve seat 74, 75, which can each be closed off by the closing body 73, while the space between the seats 74, 75 is shaped such that the closing body 73 can in principle move freely and at least allows beverage to flow around it when it does not rest against either of the seats 74, 75. To that end, for instance, grooves 76 and/or ribs 77 may be provided on the inner side of the housing part 20. On the side remote from the hose 19, a cage 78 is provided which is movable relative to the housing part 20, into the insertion part 67, while in the cage 78 the cleaning element 21 is provided. The cage 78 has an end 84 partly closed in the direction of the hose 19 and the passage 72, such that the cleaning element 21 cannot escape in that direction, while the closing body 73 cannot enter into the cage and be forced or held off the valve seat 74 by the cage 78. Openings 79 are provided for allowing beverage to pass into and through the cage 78. At the free end, the cage is provided with a flange 80, for instance of a diameter approximately equal to that of the insertion part 67, and is provided with for instance two circumferential grooves 81, 82. On the inner side of the insertion part 67, an annular corrugation 83 is provided, which can snap into one of the grooves 81, 82, depending on the relative position of the cage 78 with respect to the housing part 20. In
Incidentally, it will be clear that also a variety of other types of cocks can be used as shutoff, such as, for instance, a hose cock, pinch cock or other suitable types. Also, automatic valves and/or electrically operable valves can be used.
The inlay part 46, here shown as a used inlay part which has just been or is being removed from the tapping cock 4, comprising a connecting collar 106 and a straight and/or bent and/or flexible tube part 107, for instance manufactured from plastic. A run-out end 108 of the tube part 107 may be stiffer than the rest and can for instance be formed by a tube 107A which has been attached to the tube part 107. The connecting collar 106 has an insertion part 109, for instance comparable to that of the first coupling means 23, and a flange 110. In the flange 110, the tube part is secured. Incidentally, the inlay part may also be injection molded in one piece or be composed in a different manner. The inner diameter d1 of the tube part 107 adjacent the flange 110 is less than the inner diameter d2 of the insertion part 109 and has been chosen such that the cleaning element 21 can be pressed into the insertion part 109 by beverage, but not as far as into the tube part 107. The transition of the insertion part 109 to the tube part 107 preferably forms a seat, such that if the cleaning element 21 is pressed against that seat, beverage cannot flow into the tube part 107 anymore.
After the inlay part 46 with the cleaning element 21 has been taken out of the tapping cock 4 by pulling the insertion part 109 out of the insertion opening 99, another inlay part 46 can be placed. To that end, the insertion part 109 thereof is pressed into the insertion opening 99, after which, as shown in
Next, the cover 92 can be pushed further, such that the tapping cock is closed entirely, as shown in
From the position shown in
After beer dispensing is stopped, a new or other beverage container can be connected. This can for instance be done as follows. The handle 62 is pivoted so that the passage is closed and the first coupling means 23 can be pulled from the second coupling means 24. Another beverage container with a new connecting element 11 is placed, of which the first coupling means 11 is coupled with the second coupling means 24 in the manner described earlier. Next, for instance by opening a valve 9, 10 of the beverage container, beverage under pressure can be introduced into the first coupling means 23. The cleaning element 21 will thereby sustain the pressure of the beverage. If thereupon the tapping cock 4 is opened, the cleaning element 21 is forced through the tapping line 12, thereby pushing the residual beverage in the tapping line ahead of it. When the cleaning element 21 has been pushed through the tapping cock 4 or at least through the passage 96, it will become jammed against the seat in the insertion part 109. As a result, despite the tapping cock 4 being open, the delivery of beverage is stopped. This is a sign for the user that all beverage from the previous beverage container 2 has been dispensed and that the inlay part 46 can be replaced. To that end, the tapping cock is brought in the position shown in
It will be clear that by the use of coupling means as described by way of example though not exclusively with reference to
In an alternative embodiment, the coupling element 11 may also be designed such that it can be arranged between two parts of an existing tapping line, for instance between a handle dispense head and a tapping line connected thereto, such as a python, while in the coupling element 11 a cleaning element is included which can be shot through the tapping line. In that way, too, a proper cleaning is obtained.
The embodiments of the invention shown are shown only by way of examples and should not be construed as limiting in any way. Many variations thereon, especially also combinations of parts of the embodiments shown, are possible within the framework of the invention outlined by the claims. Further, the coupling element 11 and the connecting device 6 may be integrated. Moreover, multiple cleaning elements may be used, and a coupling element may be replaced more often or less often than per beverage container. The tapping line may be wholly or partly flexible or stiff and may be wholly or partly replaceable. Naturally, a tapping device can also comprise multiple beverage containers and multiple tapping cocks. The invention is particularly suitable for use for carbonated beverage, more particularly beverage with natural ingredients, but can also be used for other beverages. The cleaning element may also be passed into the tapping line by hand, prior to broaching of a beverage container.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1032098 | Jun 2006 | NL | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2007/050322 | 6/29/2007 | WO | 00 | 6/9/2010 |
