Beverage dispenser

• US 20050150549A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enomatic S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: Enomatic S.r.l.
• Inventors: Torri, Guido, Bencista, Lorenzo, Degl'Innocenti, Marco, Gosi, Riccardo
• Granted Patent: US 7,478,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/206
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/04 Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0098 using a gas
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3115 Gas pressure storage over or displacement of liquid

Abstract

An apparatus allowing the automatic drawing out of beverages from bottles (wherein the bottles are kept in their vertical position) comprising a drawing tap (12) which permits the entering of the gas in the bottle, the drawing of the liquid and the cleaning of the spout channel (19) and allows an easy and hygienic substitution of the empty bottles.

Claims

1. Apparatus for the automatic drawing out of liquids from bottles, by applying a pressure on the liquid by an inert gas to the liquid, wherein the bottles are kept in their normal vertical position, characterised in that it comprises a body (10), lifting means (11) placed on the interior part of the body (10) and a drawing tap (12).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drawing tap (12) consists of a body (13) an electric valve (14) and a tap (15) having a conical mouth (15′

).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein inside the body (13) of the drawing tap (12) are present:

a channel (16) permitting the entry into the bottle of the inert gas, connected with the pipe of the inert gas circuit;

a channel (17) connected on one side to the pipe (18) and to the opposite side to the spout (19) and entering a chamber (20) closed by the piston of the electric valve (14) and a branch (21) which is also connected with the inert gas circuit.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the tap (15) is solidly connected to the body (13) through a chamber (22).

5. Apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the tap (15) is free to move up and down in the chamber (22).

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein in the chamber (22) is present a spring (23) which pushes the tap (15) downwards.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the channel (16) at the end which enters into chamber (22) is closed by a needle valve (25).

8. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means regulating the hydraulic and electric functions are controlled by a software.

9. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the activation of the apparatus is performed by introducing a magnetic or chip card in the suitable inlet.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein on the body of the apparatus, by each bottle, a liquid crystal- or luminous led-display showing the amount due for each draught is present.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the body (10) houses more then one bottle.

12. Method for drawing liquids from a bottle through the action of an inert gas pushing on the liquid contained in the bottle, wherein an apparatus according to claim 1 is used.