TAPPING DEVICE, BEVERAGE CONTAINER, COUPLING DEVICE AND METHOD WITH CLEANING ELEMENT

• US 20100243676A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V. (L'Arche Holding SA)
• Original Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V. (L'Arche Holding SA)
• Inventors: Paulitsch, Helmut, Van Der Wal, Ernst Jan Folkert, Bax, Bart Jan, Willemen, Antonius Maurits
• Granted Patent: US 8,887,961 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 222/148
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 9/0552 Spherically shaped pigs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/07 Cleaning beverage-dispensing apparatus B67D1/0834, B67D1/0837 take precedence

Abstract

Tapping device for beverage, comprising at least one beverage container, a tapping line and a tapping cock, wherein the tapping line extends at least to adjacent the tapping cock and connecting means for connection of the tapping line to the at least one beverage container, wherein a cleaning element is provided in the beverage container or the connecting means, which cleaning element upon broaching of a beverage container is situated near an end of the tapping line proximal to the beverage container and is movable through the tapping line under pressure of beverage from the beverage container, while abutting against an inner side of the tapping line, such that beverage will propel the cleaning element in the tapping line, at least to near the tapping cock.

Claims

1. A tapping device for beverage, comprising at least one beverage container, a tapping line and a tapping cock, wherein the tapping line extends at least to adjacent the tapping cock and connecting means for connection of the tapping line to the at least one beverage container, wherein a cleaning element is provided in the beverage container or the connecting means, which cleaning element at broaching of a beverage container is situated near an end of the tapping line proximal to the beverage container and is movable through the tapping line under pressure of beverage from the beverage container, while abutting against an inside of the tapping line, such that beverage will propel the cleaning element in the tapping line, at least to near the tapping cock.

2. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element prior to broaching of a beverage container is included in the connecting means.

3. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container comprises at least one valve assembly for dispensing beverage, wherein the connecting means comprise a coupling element which at least during use of the beverage container extends between the valve assembly and the tapping line, which coupling element comprises the cleaning element prior to broaching of the beverage container.

4. A tapping device according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element is coupled with the beverage container, such that it can be supplied and/or discarded along with the beverage container and upon detachment of the connecting means remains connected with the beverage container.

5. A tapping device according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element is arranged for operating at least a part of the valve assembly.

6. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element is provided in or at a valve assembly of the beverage container.

7. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element prior to broaching of a beverage container is provided in or at the tapping line.

8. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the tapping line is provided with closing means which prevent flow of beverage through the tapping line in the direction of the beverage container, at least with connecting means and/or tapping line detached from the beverage container.

9. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element is at least partly flexible and preferably non-moisture transmissive.

10. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein a coupling element is provided which prior to connection of a beverage container is positioned at a valve assembly thereof and comprises a beverage passage, in or at which beverage passage the cleaning element is provided, such that upon coupling of the beverage container with the tapping line said beverage passage is included between a beverage valve of said valve assembly and the tapping line and upon opening of the valve assembly beverage flows from the beverage container into the beverage passage and thereby presses the cleaning element into and through the tapping line.

11. A tapping device according to claim 10, wherein the coupling element comprises a collar which in coupled condition of the coupling element and the tapping line extends partly in or against the tapping line and preferably abuts against an inner side thereof.

12. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the cleaning element is provided with retaining means which get jammed in or near the second end and are connected with the cleaning element, such that it can be pressed out of the tapping line, through the opposite second end, and is retained by said retaining means.

13. A tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the tapping cock is arranged for catching and/or allowing removal of the cleaning element from the tapping line.

14. A coupling element, in particular for use in a tapping device according to claim 1, which coupling element comprises a beverage passage, in or at which beverage passage a cleaning element is provided which during use can be pressed from said coupling element into a beverage line coupled therewith by fluid introduced into the beverage passage, in particular beverage from a beverage container connected therewith.

15. A beverage container, in particular for use in a tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container is provided with a valve assembly for dispensing beverage, near 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 beverage container into the beverage passage, thereby moving the cleaning element away from the valve assembly.

16. A beverage container according to claim 15, wherein a coupling element is provided which has been positioned prior to broaching of the beverage container and comprises the beverage passage, such that upon coupling of the beverage container with a tapping line of a tapping device, said beverage passage is included between a beverage valve of said valve assembly and the tapping line and upon opening of the valve assembly beverage flows from the beverage container into the beverage passage and thereby presses the cleaning element into and through the tapping line.

22. A cleaning element for use in a tapping device according to claim 1.

23. A cleaning element for use in a coupling element according to claim 14.

24. A cleaning element for use in a beverage container according to claim 15.

17. A method for the use of a tapping device, wherein a beverage container, using a connecting device, is coupled with a tapping line, wherein upon coupling of the connecting device with the beverage container a coupling element with a beverage passage is included between the inner space of the beverage container and the tapping line, wherein a cleaning element which during coupling extends in or adjacent said coupling element, after opening of a beverage valve of the beverage container is pressed by beverage from the beverage container into and through said tapping line and is taken away at an end of the tapping line.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said coupling element is included between said beverage valve and the tapping line.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein the coupling element is detachably connected with the beverage container, for coupling with the connecting device and upon detachment of the connecting device from the beverage container remains behind on and/or in the beverage container.

20. A method according to claim 17, wherein the coupling element is supplied with the beverage container for said coupling and preferably is discarded with the beverage container.

25. A cleaning element for use in a method according to claim 17.

21. A method for the use of a tapping device with which beverage containers are emptied, wherein upon broaching of a beverage container a cleaning element is introduced into a tapping line on a side proximal to the beverage container, which cleaning element is thereupon pressed through the tapping line by beverage from said beverage container.