Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/06—Mountings or arrangements of dispensing apparatus in or on shop or bar counters
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
  • A47G19/00—Table service
  • A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
  • A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/04—Apparatus utilising compressed air or other gas acting directly or indirectly on beverages in storage containers
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/12—Flow or pressure control devices or systems, e.g. valves, gas pressure control, level control in storage containers
  • B67D1/127—Froth control
  • B67D1/1272—Froth control preventing froth
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D2210/00—Indexing scheme relating to aspects and details of apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught or for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D2210/00028—Constructional details
  • B67D2210/00065—Constructional details related to the use of drinking cups or glasses

Definitions

• Cup for filling from below and connection device for the cup
• the present invention relates to a cup to be filled with a liquid injected from the bottom of the cup with a filling system.
• the present invention also relates to a connection device for connecting the cup with a filling system.
• the glasses are simple containers presenting no complexity. Their filling is carried out in principle by pouring the liquid from the top of the containers, or through the upper opening of the glass. This pouring from the top of the container is possible through various instruments such as decanters, spouts, faucets and in the presence of soft drinks distributors such as for soft drinks, such as beer, distributors or shooter. beer.
• soft drinks distributors such as for soft drinks, such as beer, distributors or shooter. beer.
• the flow of liquids traditionally from the top of the container generates a slow beverage dispensing rate.
• the beverage service requires the intervention of a person whose role will be to manually fill the glasses, and adapt the way to serve each variety of drinks.
• the service of specific drinks such as soft drinks, including alcoholic drinks, may take more time than the service of another type of drinks.
• the filling liquid is gaseous, for example in the case of beer or soda, the flow of liquid from the top to the bottom of the glass causes turbulence and therefore the
• the gaseous filling liquid is usually poured with a low flow rate and preferably by tilting the glass so that the liquid follows the wall of the glass.
• the flow of the liquid can be carried out in one step but is often carried out in several steps depending on the pouring conditions and the liquid, so as to rest the foam between each pouring step. For example, the draft of a beer typically takes more than one minute requiring the bartender's full-time attention.
• the filling of glasses of carbonated beverages such as beer thus has as a major drawback a certain loss of time, justified by the particular care to be devoted to the service of such a drink.
• the filling speed of the glass of a beer for example is limited, which represents a low productivity of the bartender, and therefore a very high production cost per drink.
• the bartender will only be able to fill one glass at a time using a beer printer.
• the server is obliged to hold the glass during filling, and can perform other tasks in parallel when the glass fills.
• the manual service of the soft drink may have other disadvantages. Indeed, the manual dosing of the foam causes a lack of precision in the volume of real beer served to a waste of part of the liquid.
• soft drink dispensers such as beer drawers for example that are often exposed on the counter of a bar occupy an important space that it would be particularly preferable to reserve other items.
• WO2009143164 proposes a liquid transfer system.
• This liquid transfer system consists of a fluid reservoir, and a container whose bottom comprises an opening.
• This liquid transfer system also comprises a coupled device which is attached to the opening of the container, and also a glass filling device.
• the device coupled to the glass is a magnetic material. When in the closed position, this magnetic material serves to seal the container containing the fluids, thanks to a magnetic attraction with the bottom of the glass.
• the glass filling device comprises a rigid member whose perimeter is less than the perimeter of the opening of the container. The passage of the seal at the opening is effected by pressing on the rigid part for sealing.
• Such a device makes it possible to fill a container at the bottom of its structure and to close it by means of a magnetic element.
• the magnetic element does not guarantee complete sealing, in particular because it can be shifted slightly randomly
• the patent application WO201 1091047 provides a liquid distribution assembly consisting of a valve, a container and a connector for circulating the fluid.
• the valve is composed of a sensor which makes it possible to detect the correct positioning of the container thanks to a magnetic material placed at the bottom of the container.
• a beverage dispensing system requires a magnetic element to close the bottom of the glass, this element does not guarantee a complete seal.
• the two previous documents relate to a beverage dispensing system whose container has an opening at its bottom, which can be plugged by a closure member made of magnetic material. Such an arrangement requires that the magnetic components appear both on the liquid distribution system, on the glass and on the element dedicated to closing the bottom opening.
• Such an architecture in addition to being complex, represents a significant cost due to the affixing of various magnetic elements on the entire beverage distribution system.
• the magnetic solution is expensive and is not suitable for disposable disposable glasses.
• the closure of the glass bottom by the magnetic material does not guarantee a completely reliable seal, the closure can be disengaged with a simple movement.
• a mixture of materials such as that composing the invention described above poses ecological problems.
• WO2007141719 proposes a liquid distribution system.
• This system includes liquid dispensing spouts that can be connected to containers. These containers respectively have valves inclined towards the same direction.
• a container can thus be positioned on the device through the dispensing nozzle which enters the container through an opening and a check valve.
• the container is thus filled, and the liquid is maintained by sealing the specific opening at the bottom of the container.
• the system described in this document makes it possible to fill a glass by its bottom, while allowing the liquid to be maintained by means of a bottom-glass valve folded back after dispensing.
• the valve here in spiral form, is complex to achieve and causes a significant manufacturing cost. In addition the arrangement of the spiral valve does not allow complete hermeticity.
• the dispensing system controls the flow of liquid in the tank to allow rapid filling.
• the container mentioned in this application is a glass whose bottom has an architectural opening here again in spiral form.
• a container consisting of a base and at least one wall, and wherein the base and the wall define a space for receiving the drink.
• the container further includes a resealable opening adjacent to the base for filling the beverage container from below.
• the opening is provided in the bottom of the container and a "non-return" valve is deposited in said opening.
• This "non-return" valve allows the beverage to be dispensed into the container through the glass bottom opening and prevents spillage of the beverage.
• the glass described here has an opening at its bottom, which allows the pouring of liquid and which is made potentially sealed by a silicone valve system. The hermeticity of such an arrangement is not complete, however, since the silicone valve is the only closure in the glass bottom.
• the arrays aroused have the respective disadvantages of being of complex construction and / or not being effectively sealed.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a cup that can be filled in a single injection.
• Yet another object of the invention provides a system for dispensing beverages, especially beer, but also other drinks, to fill simultaneously several cups. Another object of the invention relates to a cup which can be manufactured easily and inexpensively. Yet another object of the invention provides a disposable cup and having a low ecological impact.
• the invention provides a cup comprising a wall defining a filling volume arranged between a first side, a bottom, and the opposite side, an opening; a filling valve provided in the bottom and operable between a filling position, allowing the introduction of the liquid into the filling volume when the cup cooperates with the filling system, and a sealed position for the storage without leakage of the liquid introduced into the filling volume; said valve comprising a deformable element mounted in compression in the sealed position and being deformable in the filling position when the pressure of the injected liquid is greater than a predetermined compression value of the deformable element.
• said valve comprises a connecting element adapted to cooperate with the deformable element so that the deformable element bears against the connection element in the sealed position, and spaced from the connection element in the filling position.
• the connecting element may have a substantially cylindrical or frustoconical shape and comprise a sealing ring; the deformable element being in abutment against the sealing ring in the sealed position, and is spaced from the ring
• the invention also provides a connection device for connecting the cup with a filling system, comprising a filling cannula connectable to the filling system and adapted to cooperate with the valve so as to inject the liquid from the system of filling. filling in the filling volume when the pressure injected liquid is greater than a predetermined value of
• the valve opens under the pressure generated by the liquid injection and closes when the pressure reaches a minimum pressure threshold.
• Bottom filling minimizes turbulence and foam formation when a foamy liquid such as beer is injected into the cup.
• the cup of the invention can be advantageously used for soft drinks, foamy and also for all kinds of drinks even non-gaseous or liquid.
• the cup contains a movable shutter cooperating with the connection element and held by a plurality of resilient arms attached to the wall and working in flexion and / or compression between the wall and the shutter , so that the shutter is kept under stress in the sealed position closed by the elastic arms and is moved, under the pressure of the injected liquid, into a filling position in which the shutter releases the connection element by creating an interstice between the connection element and the shutter.
• the cup consists of a substantially cylindrical wall, or frustoconical, and a bottom, which form a monomaterial element.
• the cup is made of a biobased material, easily recyclable such as polypropylene or polylactic acid.
• the cone of centering and filling of the cup is adaptable to a cup filling system by the bottom.
• the cup is obtained by injection molding of a single piece.
• the cup is obtained by injection molding two pieces produced in a single mold and connected by an injection tunnel.
• the invention also relates to the use of the cup in cooperation with the connection device for filling and serving beverages, including beer or other drinks or liquids.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cup comprising a wall and a bottom, according to one embodiment
• Figure 2A is a sectional view of the wall and the bottom of the cup before assembly, according to one embodiment
• Figure 2B shows a sectional view of the wall and the bottom of the cup of Figure 2A after assembly
• Figure 3A shows a sectional view of the wall and the bottom of the cup before assembly, according to another embodiment
• Figure 3B illustrates a sectional view of the wall and the bottom of the cup of Figure 3A after assembly
• FIG. 4A represents a sectional view of a cup valve in a sealed position when the cup is not actuated on a
• beverage dispenser according to one embodiment
• Figure 4B illustrates a sectional view of the valve of Figure 4A in the filling position when actuated on a beverage dispenser and subjected to a filling pressure
• Figure 5A is a sectional representation of a cup valve in the filling position, according to another embodiment
• FIG. 5B illustrates, according to the same embodiment as that of FIG. 5A, the valve in the sealed position
• Figure 6A is a sectional representation of a cup valve in the filling position, again according to another embodiment
• FIG. 6B illustrates, according to the same embodiment as that of FIG. 6A, the valve in the sealed position
• Figure 7 is a sectional representation of a cup valve, according to another embodiment.
• Figure 8 is an illustration of a cup valve, again according to another embodiment.
• the present invention proposes to produce a low cost cup, consisting of a single material and low ecological footprint, and including a self-sealing valve for filling from below.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cup 1 according to an embodiment in which the cup 1 comprises a substantially cylindrical or frustoconical wall 10 delimiting a filling volume 1 1 between, on one side, a opening 30, and on the other side, a bottom 20.
• the bottom 20 is provided with a disc 21 and bottom of a filling valve 2 arranged to allow a connection of the cup 1 to a filling system. drinks by the bottom.
• the filling valve 2 is operable in a filling position allowing the introduction of a liquid coming from the filling system into the filling volume 11 and in a sealed position allowing the storage without leakage of the liquid introduced into the filling volume. 1 1.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 are made of two separate parts.
• the wall 10 is also provided with an opening 15 at the base of the cup 1, the side of the bottom 20.
• a collar 22 on the periphery of the bottom 20 is pressed against a bottom holding wall 14 on the lower periphery of the wall 10.
• the bottom disc 21 obstructs the opening 15 at the base of the cup and the flange 22 of the bottom 20 allows a seal at level of the periphery of the bottom of the cup 1 while being pressed against the retaining wall 14 background.
• the plating is permitted by the elasticity of the flange 22 and the bottom holding wall 14.
• the cup 1 may be made of plastic material (for example polypropylene or any other material suitable for manufacturing by injection) by an injection method.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 may be made by injection separately, but preferably simultaneously, by the injection method.
• the substantially cylindrical or frustoconical wall 10 and the bottom 20 are placed in the same mold and connected by an injection core.
• the injection core is split into two pieces at the end of the injection process.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 are then placed against each other either manually or by an assembly machine which pushes a flange 22 of the bottom 20 against a bottom wall 14.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 are connected by a hinge 30.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 connected by the hinge 30 can be injected during a single injection molding operation.
• the hinge 30 is bent or cut during assembly of the flange 22 of the bottom 20 in the wall 14 of the bottom hold.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 may consist of a single piece.
• the bottom of the cup 20 constitutes a single piece monomaterial made in the extension of the wall 10 of the cup.
• the wall 10 and the bottom 20 are made with a thin thickness and preferably substantially constant.
• the thickness of the wall 10 and the bottom 20 may be between 0.1 mm and 1 mm, but is preferably about 0.4 mm.
• Such a thickness makes it possible to inject the cup 1 at low cost and at a high rate.
• These two parts can be manufactured in the same mold with several cavities. This approach makes it possible to manufacture all the parts in a single injection, namely the wall substantially 10 and the bottom 20.
• the design of the cup 1 leads in fact to low production costs and a low ecological footprint.
• the filling valve 2 is provided with a deformable element 12, 13 mounted in compression in the sealed position and can be deformed in the filling position when the pressure of the injected liquid is greater than one value
• the cup 1 comprises a connecting member 23 for connecting the cup 1 to the beverage filling system and the injection of the liquid from the filling system, in the filling volume 1 1.
• the connecting element 23 is arranged to cooperate with the deformable element 12, 13 so that the latter bears against the connection element 23 in the sealed position and is spaced from the element of connection 23 in the filling position. In the latter position, the liquid can flow to and out of the filling volume 1 1.
• the deformable element 12 comprises a shutter 16, adapted to cooperate with the connection element 23 and maintained by a plurality of resilient arms 13.
• the shutter 16 provides a seal of the central area of the bottom (where the filling is performed) by being pressed onto a sealing ring 24 of the connecting member 23.
• the plating is made by the elasticity of the elastic arms 13 fixed to the wall 10 and working in flexion / compression between the wall 10 and the shutter 16.
• the arms 13 flex when mounting the body 10 and the bottom 20.
• the arms 13 generate a constant force between the shutter 16 and the sealing ring 24 in the sealed position of the valve 2. This constant force blocks the passage of the liquid between the filling volume 1 1 and the connection element 23. In this configuration, the arms 13 provide the self-sealing function of the valve 2.
• Figures 4A and 4B show a partial view of the cup 1 and a filling system with which it is in cooperation, according to one embodiment.
• the cup 1 is placed on the filling system blocking it in translation.
• a connection device 40 can be used to connect
• This connection device 40 has a pouring element, represented by a filling cannula 44 in FIGS. 4A and 4B, which is housed in the connection element 23.
• the filling cannula 44 is connectable to the filling system so as to injecting the liquid coming from the filling system into the connection element 23.
• the connecting element 23 is of frustoconical shape and the sealing ring 24 is on the periphery. the truncated upper part of the cone.
• the liquid flows through the gap 31 and fills the filling volume 1 1 from below.
• the forms of the shutter 16 are advantageously defined to create no turbulence, or at least to minimize turbulence, during the flow of liquid, and thus prevent it from foaming.
• the liquid flow rate can therefore be substantially high, even using foamy liquids such as than beer.
• the filling rate is thus substantially higher than when the cup is filled in a conventional manner from above.
• connection element 23 may also be of cylindrical shape or any other shape allowing the passage of the liquid from the filling system in the volume of
• the connecting member 23 may be of other than circular section.
• the connection element 23 may have a constant or variable lateral dimension (diameter).
• the sealing ring 24 is on the periphery, or circumference, of the end of the connecting element 23 which opens on the side of the opening 30, so as to cooperate with the deformable element 12.
• the shutter 16 may comprise a disk-shaped plate (as illustrated in Figure 1).
• the shutter 16 can also take any other form able to come to bear against the sealing ring 24 and obstruct the connection element 23 when the deformable element 12 is in the sealed position and to be spaced from the sealing ring 24 in the filling position of the valve 2.
• the cannula 44 comprises a seal 41 allowing the liquid injected by the connection element 23 to flow only on the side of the gap 31 (of the side of the truncated upper part of the cone and not towards the filling system).
• the canula 44 can also make it possible to block the cup 1 in translation.
• the connection device 40 also comprises a holding disk 42 configured to receive the cup 1 and block in translation.
• the retaining disk 42 may comprise clipping means 43 so as to provide a rigid attachment of the cup 1 on the retaining disk 42.
• the cannula 44 housed in the connecting element 23 can also fulfill the function of translational locking of the cup 1.
• the bottom disc 21 and the sealing provided by the flange 22 of the bottom 20 and the filling valve 2 in the sealed position allow the storage without leakage of liquid in the filling volume 1 January.
• the cup 1 of the invention can be made of a single material and comprises a self-sealing valve.
• the cup can be manufactured by injection at low cost and high speed.
• the cup can be used for single use and is recyclable without disassembly.
• FIGS. 5A to 8 are representations of alternative embodiments of the filling valve 2 allowing coupling to a beverage dispensing system.
• the manufacture of the cup 1 can be carried out in a single time and result from the same molding operation. Whichever alternative is taken into consideration, the cup bottom constitutes a watertight valve at rest and allowing the beverage to pass when a filling cannula is inserted into the bottom of the cup.
• FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a first example of a variant embodiment in which the bottom 20 of the cup 1 comprises a valve 2 consisting of a deformable element 12 that can be deformed between a sealed position (FIG. 5B) and a position of FIG. filling ( Figure 5A) under the pressure of the liquid. More particularly, a first portion 12 'of the deformable element comprises orifices 32 allow the flow of the liquid when the deformable element 12 is in the position of
• FIGS. 6A and 6B are the representation of another alternative embodiment of the bottom 20 of a cup 1.
• the valve 2 comprises a deformable element 12 spirally between a sealed position (FIG. 6B) and a position filling ( Figure 6A).
• the deformable element 12 functions as a tension spring.
• the filling position the deformable element 12 is stretched and the liquid can flow between the turns 12 'of the deformable element 12 spiral.
• the turns 12 ' close in a sealed manner by the constant of return of the deformable element 12.
• Figure 7 is an illustration of alternative embodiment in which the cup valve 2 comprises a deformable element consisting of a plurality of teeth 12 elastically deformable.
• the teeth 12 deform under the pressure of the liquid so as to create an orifice 32.
• the teeth 12 fold back closing the orifice 32 sealingly.
• FIG. 8 is a representation of still another variant embodiment of the valve 2 comprising a deformable element 12 comprising a valve 12 'which is deformable between a sealed position (solid lines) and a filling position (scored) in which the valve 12 'is open creating an orifice 32.
• the single injection of polymer resulting in the realization of the cup 1 consisting of a wall 10 and a bottom 20 with the filling valve 2 reduces production costs.
• the small thickness of the parts of the cup allows in addition to the economic production, a high-speed manufacture, the elements being assembled by a machine and then stacked.
• the cup 1 may still be affixed to the beverage dispensing system.
• Such an architecture has the effect of allowing rapid filling of the cup and immediate service. The service is thus multiplied by the number of cups 1 that can be filled simultaneously by the dedicated dispensing system for this purpose.
• cup filling system 1 described above can be advantageously used in the context of a beverage service, in particular beer or any other drinks or liquids.

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• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

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• 2014
  • 2014-11-07 CH CH01726/14A patent/CH710343A1/fr unknown
• 2015
  • 2015-11-06 WO PCT/IB2015/058589 patent/WO2016071880A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2015-11-06 EP EP15798236.4A patent/EP3215454A1/de active Pending

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