TAPPING ASSEMBLY AND CONNECTING DEVICE; CONTAINER AND METHOD FOR BEVERAGE DISPENSING

• US 20150203342A1
• Filed: 07/26/2013
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2012
• 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: Witte, Pieter Gerard, Paauwe, Arie Maarten, Bax, Bart Jan
• Granted Patent: US 10,071,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29B 11/14 characterised by structure or composition
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0715 the preform having one end closed
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/077 characterised by the neck
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0772 Closure retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/078 characterised by the bottom
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/079 Auxiliary parts or inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/0792 Closure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/08 Preforms made of several individual parts, e.g. by welding or gluing parts together
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/20 Preforms or parisons whereby a specific part is made of only one component, e.g. only one layer
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3008 at neck portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3012 at flange portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3016 at body portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/302 at bottom portion
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3026 having two or more components
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3032 having components being injected
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3086 Interaction between two or more components, e.g. type of or lack of bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2949/3094 preform having at least partially loose components, e.g. at least partially loose layers
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06 Injection blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/071 Preforms or parisons characterised by their configuration, e.g. geometry, dimensions or physical properties
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/0672 Spin welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12449 : being asymmetric B29C66/12445 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/12469 : being asymmetric
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/232 : said joint lines being multiple and parallel, i.e. the joint being formed by several parallel joint lines
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/322 : Providing cavities in the joined article to collect the burr
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/5344 : said single elements being substantially annular, i.e. of finite length, e.g. joining flanges to tube ends B29C66/5346 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/543 : joining more than two hollow-preforms to form said hollow articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/545 : one hollow-preform being placed inside the other
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/258 : Tubular
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2009/001 : the layers being loose
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7156 : Pressure vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7158 : Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 3/02 : Machines characterised by the incorporation of means for making the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/0215 : multilayered B65D81/3837 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 1/023 : Neck construction
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2501/0063 : Additional discharging means B65D1/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 33/16 : End- or aperture-closing arrangements or devices valves of valve bags B65D31/14 ; removable stoppers or caps B65D39/00, B65D41/00; closures of filled bags B65D77/10; closing filled bags in association with packaging B65B7/00, B65B51/00
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0462 : Squeezing collapsible or flexible beverage containers, e.g. bag-in-box containers
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0801 : of beverage containers, e.g. casks, kegs
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0831 : combined with valves
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0832 : with two valves disposed concentrically
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 1/0835 : with one valve

Abstract

Tapping assembly (1) for a beverage, comprising a first (20) and second (21) container, wherein the first container has a neck portion and the second container is suspended in the first container, from the neck portion thereof, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening (22) in a side wall thereof, preferably in a neck region of the first container, opening into a space between the first and second containers, wherein the assembly further comprises a connecting device (5), connected or connectable to the neck portion, wherein the connecting device comprises at least one connecting element for connecting to the at least one opening, wherein the connecting element is connected to a source of pressurised gas.

Claims

1. Tapping assembly for a beverage, comprising container comprising a first and second container, wherein the first container has a neck portion and the second container is suspended in the first container, from the neck portion thereof, wherein a neck region of the container is provided with at least one opening in a side wall thereof, preferably in a neck region of the first container, opening into a space between the first and second containers, wherein the assembly further comprises a connecting device, connected or connectable to the neck portion, wherein the connecting device comprises at least one connecting element for connecting to the at least one opening, wherein the connecting element is connected to a source of pressurised gas.

2. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first and second container have a body portion, wherein the first and second body are gas tightly connected to each other at the neck region, at a side of the at least one opening opposite the body portions.

3. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first container is more rigid than the second container, at least with respect to body forming portions thereof, whereas the at least one opening opens into said space in a substantially radial direction, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the neck region, and wherein the connecting element connects to said at least one opening in substantially the same radial direction, and wherein preferably the connecting element is movable relative to the opening, preferably in said substantially radial direction, between a release position spaced apart from the opening and a connecting position gastight connecting to said opening.

4. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the neck region of the first container is provided with at least one first coupling element and the connecting device is provided with at least one complementary second coupling element, such that the connecting device is or can be coupled to the neck region, such that the said at least one connecting element is or becomes connected to the at least one opening.

5. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises a first and second part, moveable relative to each other, such that in a first relative position of the parts the connecting element is in a retracted position and in a second relative position of the parts the connecting element is in an extended position, wherein the connecting device comprises a mechanism configured such that the movement of the connecting element between the retracted and the extended positions and vice versa is enforced by the relative movement of the parts through said mechanism, preferably an at least partly rotating mechanism.

6. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device comprises an overpressure release connector, in a connecting line for the source of pressurised gas or for connecting to the first opening or to a second opening provided in said neck region of the container, wherein preferably the first and such second opening are positioned radially opposite each other.

7. Tapping assembly according to claim 1, wherein the containers are closed off at the neck region to each other and/or by a closure, comprising a valve, wherein the connecting device comprises a connector in an opening positioned over the valve when the connecting device is connected to the neck region, such that when the connector is placed in said opening the connector opens the valve.

8. Tapping assembly according to claim 7, wherein the connector is provided with an opening in and/or through which a dispense line extends, which at one end is connected to a dispense adaptor for connecting to and opening the valve, wherein the opposite end of the dispense line can be provided with a valve, especially an in-line valve, wherein the dispense line and the dispense adapter are disposable.

25. Air connecting unit for use in a tapping assembly of claim 1.

9. Connecting device for connecting a dispense line and a gas line to a bag-in-container type of container, comprising a first part and a second part, movably connected to said first part, wherein at least one of the first and/or second part is provided with a coupling opening with coupling elements for connecting the device to a part of a bag-in-container type container extending inside said coupling opening, wherein the connecting device is further provided with at least one connecting element, movable between an extended position in which the connecting element extends at least partly inside said coupling opening and a retracted position in which the connecting element extends less or not into said coupling opening, the connecting device further comprising a mechanism for moving the at least one connecting element between the extended position and the retracted position by relative movement of the first and second parts.

10. Connecting device according to claim 9, wherein the coupling opening extends through the connecting device, wherein a connector is releasable provided in one end of the coupling opening, wherein:

the connector comprises a coupler for opening a valve of a container to which the connecting device is connected and a tapping line extending from said connector;

or

the connector comprises an opening in and/or through which a dispense line extends, which at one end is connected to a dispense adaptor for connecting to and opening the valve of a container to which the connecting device is connected;

wherein the opposite end of the dispense line can be provided with a valve, especially an in-line valve, wherein the dispense line and the dispense adapter are disposable.

11. Connecting device according to claim 9, wherein a gas inlet line is coupled to the at least one connecting element, for introducing gas under pressure into the space between inner and outer containers of a bag-in-container type container to which the connecting device is connected.

12. Connecting device according to claim 9, wherein the connecting device further comprises an overpressure release device, for coupling to at least a second opening in a neck region of a bag-in-container type container to which the connecting device is connected.

13. Connecting device according to claim 9, wherein the first and second part are rotatable relative to each other around an axis of the coupling opening, wherein the said relative rotation of the parts closes off said coupling elements of the coupling device, such that complementary coupling elements of a container to which the connecting device is coupled are locked within said coupling elements of the connecting device and simultaneously forces the at least one connecting element to the extended position.

14. Container of a bag-in-container type, wherein a neck region of the container, preferably of an outer container thereof is provided with at least one opening extending substantially radially there through, into a space between the outer container and an inner container adjacent thereto, wherein the neck region is provided with coupling elements, preferably at opposite sides of said at least one opening, seen in circumferential direction, for coupling of a connecting device thereto.

15. Container according to claim 14, manufactured by blow moulding from at least an inner and an outer plastic preform, wherein the inner and outer preform are preferably integrally blow moulded to form a bag-in-container type container, such that the outer preform forms at least part of the outer container and the inner preform forms at least part of the bag or inner container, and wherein a closure ring is mounted on the inner and outer container, at least closing off a space between said inner and outer container into which space said at least one opening opens.

16. Container according to claim 15, wherein the outer container and inner container have first and second neck regions, wherein the ring is mounted to the free ends of the first and second neck regions, preferably by welding.

17. Container according to claim 14, wherein the bag is suspended by a neck region of the bag in the neck region of the outer container, wherein the neck regions both have a free end opposite a body portion of the container, wherein a closure ring is connected to the free edges of the neck regions of the inner and outer container, preferably by welding, wherein the free edge of the neck region of the inner container lies at a level closer to the body portion than the free edge of the neck region of the outer container, such that the ring extends at least partly into the neck region of the outer container, and wherein the at least one opening in the neck region is preferably positioned at a level between the free edges of the neck regions of the inner and outer containers.

18. Container according to claim 14, wherein:

the inner container has a free edge opposite a body portion of the container, which free edge is provided with an annular groove open to the side opposite the body portion, and wherein a ring is mounted to the free edge, having a skirt extending into said groove and/or

the inner container is provided at the neck region with an outward facing flange, which has an edge positioned close to or in abutment with an inner surface of the outer container above the at least one opening, substantially closing off the space between the neck regions of the inner and outer container, for preventing debris from entering the space between the inner and outer container, especially during mounting of a closure ring to the inner and/or outer container.

19. Container according to claim 15, wherein the ring is mounted to the inner and outer containers by spin welding.

20. Container according to claim 15, wherein the ring is provided with an opening, opening into the bag or inner container, which opening is closed by a valve, preferably an aerosol type valve, and/or a valve mounted to the ring by clinching.

21. Container according to claim 15, wherein the ring is provided with at least one wall circumferential wall part, preferably extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the container or at least of the neck regions thereof, wherein teeth are provided on said wall part for engaging a spin welding tool.

22. Set of preforms for forming a container according to claim 14.

23. Method for forming a container, especially according to claim 14, wherein a bag in container is blow moulded integrally from at least two super positioned preforms or an integral, multilayer preform, such that an outer container and an inner container or bag are formed, wherein prior to or after blow moulding the container a closure ring is connected to, preferably welded to, more preferably spin welded, onto the inner and/or outer container, closing off a space between the inner and outer containers, and wherein at least one opening is provided in a peripheral wall of a neck region of the outer container, opening into said space, for introducing gas under pressure into said space and compressing the inner container within the outer container, wherein the inner container is filled with beverage and a valve is mounted in or on an opening in said ring, opening into said inner container.

24. Method according to claim 23, wherein the ring is welded, preferably spin welded onto the container prior to filling the container and the valve is mounted to the ring after filling the container with beverage.