Method for dispensing a beverage and devices therefor

• US 20060283879A1
• Filed: 05/06/2004
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carlsberg Breweries A/S (Carlsberg A/S)
• Original Assignee: Carlsberg Breweries A/S (Carlsberg A/S)
• Inventors: Rasmussen, Jan Norager
• Granted Patent: US 8,028,857 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/81
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0001 by squeezing collapsible or flexible storage containers B67D1/0462 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0082 entirely mechanical
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0462 Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/14 Reducing valves or control taps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 2001/0828 in pressurised housing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3112 Main line flow displaces additive from shunt reservoir

Abstract

A method for dispensing a beverage from a collapsible container, in which a collapsible container provided with a base unit is mounted on a substantially flat base part of a dispensing assembly with the outlet of the container facing downwards. A free end of a dispensing tube is arranged at a closed dispensing tap located outside the dispensing assembly, and a hollow piercer connected to the dispensing tube is aligned with the outlet of the collapsible container. A cover is mounted on the base part in a hermetically sealed manner to form a pressure chamber between the collapsible container, the base unit, the base part and the cover. An increased pressure is provided in the pressure chamber, and the beverage is dispensed after the piercer has pierced the outlet of the container by opening the dispensing tap. A beverage dispensing assembly and a container unit with a downwardly facing outlet adapted to such a dispensing assembly is also described.

Claims

1. A method for dispensing a beverage from a collapsible container, which method comprises the steps of:

mounting the collapsible container provided with a base unit sealing an outlet of the collapsible container on a substantially flat base part of a dispensing assembly with the outlet of the container facing downwards, said base unit and said base part being provided with sealing means for hermetically sealing the base unit to the base part;

arranging a free end of a dispensing tube at a closed dispensing tap located outside the dispensing assembly, said dispensing tube being connected to a hollow piercer that is aligned with the sealed outlet of the collapsible container;

mounting a cover on the base part in a hermetically sealed manner to form a pressure chamber between the collapsible container, the base unit, the base part and the cover;

piercing the sealed outlet of the collapsible container by the hollow piercer arranged between the sealed outlet and the base part, thereby bringing the beverage in the collapsible container in communication with the dispensing tube;

providing an increased pressure in the pressure chamber;

opening the dispensing tap to dispense at least a part of the beverage through the dispensing tube to the environment by pressurizing the collapsible container and thereby reducing the volume thereof.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the container provided with the base unit is temporarily held separated from the base part by means of resilient means until an increased downwards force is applied to the container whereby the container moves downwards causing the piercer to pierce the sealed outlet.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the increased downwards force is applied manually.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the increased downwards force is applied by the increased pressure in the pressure chamber.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the free end of the dispensing tube is maneuvered to the dispensing tap outside the dispensing assembly through an opening in the base part before the piercer pierces the sealed outlet.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein a seal that aseptically seals the sealed outlet is removed before the container provided with the base unit is mounted on the base part.

9. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means for hermetically sealing the collapsible container to the base part is provided between the outer wall of the base unit and the base part 5.

7. A beverage dispensing assembly comprising:

a collapsible beverage container comprising

a generally cylindrical collapsible wall part,

an outlet end,

a neck part at the outlet end;

a pressurizing unit comprising

means for connecting the pressurizing unit to a pressure media source,

a substantially flat base part,

a cover, said base part and cover being sealingly interconnectable;

a base unit comprising

a housing,

a piercable closure for sealing the collapsible container,

locking means for inseparably and hermetically connecting the base unit to the neck part of the collapsible container,

sealing means for hermetically sealing the collapsible container to the base part;

a hollow piercer adapted for piercing the piercable closure;

a closable dispensing tube connected to the hollow piercer;

wherein the base unit and the neck part are provided at a lower end of the container, and that said housing of the base unit has an outer wall extending axially beyond said neck part in a downwards direction substantially in extension of the wall of the collapsible container, and said base part has a surface adapted for supporting said outer wall extension.

8. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means for hermetically sealing the collapsible container to the base part is provided between a collar on the base unit and the base part 5, said collar extending downwards from, and substantially in axial extension of, the neck part of the container.

10. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein resilient support means are provided for temporarily spacing the container and base unit from the base part.

11. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 10, wherein the resilient support means are provided in the base unit extending axially downward therefrom.

12. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the hollow piercer aligned with the sealed outlet of the collapsible container is provided in the base unit.

13. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the hollow piercer has means for abutment on the base part, the base part having corresponding abutment means.

14. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 13, wherein resilient means are provided between the hollow piercer and the base unit, said resilient means providing means for closing the container if the container has to be removed from the base part.

15. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the hollow piercer aligned with the sealed outlet of the collapsible container is provided on the base part.

16. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base unit 3 comprises

a resilient cup-shaped part said cup-shaped part comprising a side wall;

a bottom adopted for cooperating with a central elevation on the base part; and

a hollow piercer; and

a closure formed on an upper rim of said cup-shaped part.

17. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the piercer 11 is arranged asymmetrically with respect to a central axis through the base unit 3.

18. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein the base unit has an annular space for accommodating the dispensing tube.

19. A beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 7, wherein a free end of the dispensing tube is provided with a dispensing valve.

20. A container unit adapted to a dispensing assembly according to claim 7 which container unit comprises a collapsible container and a base unit, wherein said base unit seals a downwardly facing neck part comprising an outlet of the collapsible container, the base unit comprising an outer wall extending axially beyond said neck part in a downwards direction substantially in extension of the wall of the collapsible container, and that a removable aseptic seal covering the outlet is provided.

21. A container unit according to claim 20, wherein the removable aseptic seal is connected to the outer wall at the bottom of the base unit.