BEVERAGE DISPENSING ASSEMBLY PREVENTING MICRO-ORGANISM REFLUX

Abstract

Beverage dispensing assembly 200 comprising a beverage container 201 with a container body 202 defining a beverage chamber arranged for holding a beverage; a dispenser 230 with a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage; and a dispensing line extending between the beverage chamber and the dispensing opening to form a flow path enabling a flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the dispensing opening. The dispensing line comprises a first dispensing line part 211 attached to the container body 202 and a separate second dispensing line part 220 attached to the dispenser 230, the first and the second parts fluid tightly coupled to each other with detachable coupling means 210. The first dispensing line part defines an upstream flow path section arranged to at least reduce a microorganism migration rate from a downstream flow path section in the second dispensing line part into the beverage chamber.

Claims

1. A beverage dispensing assembly, comprising a beverage container with a container body defining a beverage chamber arranged for holding a beverage, particularly an alcohol free beverage such as alcohol free beer; a dispenser, particularly a faucet with a tapping handle, with a dispensing opening for dispensing the beverage; and a dispensing line extending between the beverage chamber and the dispensing opening to form a flow path enabling a flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the dispensing opening, the dispensing line comprising a first dispensing line part attached to the container body and a separate second dispensing line part attached to the dispenser, the first and the second parts fluid tightly coupled to each other with detachable coupling means, wherein the first dispensing line part defines an upstream flow path section for flow of beverage from the beverage chamber to the coupling means, and the second dispensing line part defines a downstream flow path section for flow of beverage from the coupling means to the dispensing opening of the dispenser, wherein the upstream flow path section in the first dispensing line part is arranged to at least reduce a microorganism migration rate from the downstream flow path section into the beverage chamber.

2. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upstream flow path section in the first dispensing line part comprises a beverage flow channel for flow of beverage through the first dispensing line part in a downward or horizontal flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means.

3. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first dispensing line part is sealingly attached to the container body such that entry of microorganisms into the beverage chamber through an attachment interface between the container body and first dispensing line part is prevented.

4. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upstream flow path section comprises a bend extending downwards in a flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means.

5. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 4, wherein the bend defines an at least almost 360° degrees turn in the upstream flow path section, and preferably is provided as a looping in the first dispensing line part.

6. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 5, wherein the first dispensing line part comprises a plurality of loops consecutively provided along the upstream flow path section.

7. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 6, wherein the loopings define a spiraling section of the flow path.

8. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the upstream flow path section comprises a yeast trap.

9. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, comprising cooling means arranged for cooling the beverage prior to dispensing thereof at the dispensing opening, wherein the cooling means are arranged for cooling at least the upstream flow path section in the first part of the dispensing line such that a migration rate of microorganisms through the flow path section into the beverage container is reduced.

10. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cooling means comprise a housing defining an inner cooling chamber, at least the upstream flow path section of the dispensing line provided in the inner cooling chamber for cooling thereof at a temperature of the inner cooling chamber.

11. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cooling means are arranged to cool the upstream flow path section of the dispensing line to a temperature of 6° C. or below, preferably to 4° C. or lower, more preferably to between 0° C.-3° C.

12. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the dispensing line comprises a flexible tube, the flexible tube arranged in a bend extending downwards in a flow direction from the beverage chamber to the coupling means, wherein the bend preferably defines an almost 360° degrees turn in the upstream flow path section, and preferably is provided as a looping in the flexible tube.

13. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 12, wherein the flexible tube is attached with one end to the container body and at an opposite end is arranged for coupling to the second part of the dispensing line.

14. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the first part of the dispensing line is preassembled to the container body with a coupling different from the coupling to the second part of the dispensing line.

15. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 14, wherein coupling means between the first part of the dispensing line and second part of the dispensing line prevent a direct coupling of the second part of the dispensing line to the container body.

16. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the beverage container contains a beverage having an alcohol by volume percentage of 2% or less, preferably 1.2% or less, and more preferably 0.5% or less.

17. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 16, wherein the beverage is essentially free of alcohol.

18. The beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 17 wherein the beverage is an alcohol-free malt beverage, for example, alcohol-free beer, or an alcohol-free fermented fruit beverage, for example, alcohol-free cider.

19. A beverage dispensing system comprising a beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1 and comprising one or more further beverage containers each further beverage container comprising a flexible tube attached to a container body, the flexible tube arranged to be coupled to the second part of the dispensing line of the beverage dispensing assembly, wherein the beverage container of the beverage dispensing assembly is interchangeably coupled with a flexible tube as the first part of the dispensing line to the second part of the dispensing line so as to allow an exchange of beverage containers with flexible tube in the system.

20. A beverage container for use in a beverage dispensing assembly in accordance with claim 1, comprising a container body defining a beverage chamber holding a beverage and comprising a flexible tube as the first part of a dispensing line, with one end sealingly attached to the container body such that beverage can flow from the beverage chamber into the flexible tube while entry of microorganisms into the beverage chamber through an attachment interface between the container body and the flexible tube is prevented, and an opposite end of the flexible tube arranged for coupling to the second part of the dispensing line.

21. The beverage container according to claim 20, wherein the container body and the flexible tube are preassembled with the opposite end of the flexible tube being closed off by a removable seal prior to use.

22. A fluid conduit for use as a first dispensing line part in a beverage dispensing assembly according to claim 1, comprising a hollow conduit body, particularly a tube, defining a flow path for flow of beverage through the hollow conduit body between one end of the conduit body and an opposite end of the conduit body, wherein the flow path is provided with a plurality of loops consecutively provided along the flow path.

23. The fluid conduit according to claim 22, wherein the loops are provided as a spiraling section of the flow path.

24. The fluid conduit according to claim 22, wherein the flow path comprises a yeast trap.

25. The fluid conduit according to claim 22, wherein the flow path is provided with a filter and/or valve arranged to restrict passage of microorganisms through the flow path.

26. The fluid conduit according to claim 22, wherein the hollow conduit body is formed by a tube having a length of at least 5 cm.

27. The fluid conduit according to claim 22, wherein both ends of the conduit body are provided with a seal for sealing the flow path prior to use.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0044] These and other aspects of the present invention are hereinafter further elucidated by the appended drawing and the corresponding embodiments, which form part of the present application. The drawing is not in any way meant to reflect a limitation of the scope of the invention, unless this is clearly and explicitly indicated. In the drawing:

[0045] FIG. 1 shows part of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly;

[0046] FIG. 2A shows a detailed perspective view of an embodiment of a coupling interface between an end of a first dispensing line part coupled to a coupling end of a second dispensing line part of a beverage dispensing assembly in accordance with the invention;

[0047] FIG. 2B shows a detailed cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A.

[0048] FIGS. 3A-E show a schematic representation of other embodiments of a beverage dispensing assembly according to the invention.

[0049] In this application similar or corresponding features are denoted by similar or corresponding reference signs. The description of the embodiments is not limited to the examples shown in the figures and the reference numbers used in the detailed description and the claims are not intended to limit the description of the embodiments, but are included to elucidate the embodiments by referring to the examples shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0050] FIG. 1 shows part of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly 200. The beverage dispensing assembly 200 comprises a keg 201 as a beverage container, comprising keg body 202 as the container body for containing e.g. alcohol-free beer as a beverage. The keg 201 comprises an extractor tube 204, which provides the keg fluid outlet 206, and comprises head 208, which extends out of the keg body 202.

[0051] Fitted to the head 208 of the keg body 202 is a coupler 210 arranged to couple the keg 201 to a beer line 220 which constitutes a second dispensing line part arranged to be coupled to a dispenser 230 such as a faucet or tap, schematically represented. The coupler 210 comprises a coupler body 231 fitted to the head 208 of the keg when the assembly 200 is assembled.

[0052] The coupler 210 comprises a flexible tube 211 as a first dispensing line part, which tube extends from the coupler body 231 to the keg and is provided in fluid connection with the keg fluid outlet 206 when the coupler 210 is coupled to the keg 201. The coupler 210 enables coupling of the flexible tube 211 to the beer line to form a dispensing line for flow of beverage from the keg 201 to the dispenser 230. The coupler 210 further enables decoupling of the flexible tube 211 from the beer line, so that the keg may be exchanged, for example once emptied, for a new keg filled with a fresh amount of beverage. The flexible tube 211 provides an increased distance for microorganisms that possibly infiltrated the coupler 201 and/or beer line 220, for example as a result of an earlier exchange of kegs in the assembly, to travel to the beverage kept in the keg. As such an almost immediate contamination of the beverage in the keg upon coupling thereof to an infiltrated dispensing line, is prevented.

[0053] Further means to prevent contamination of the beverage in the keg by microorganisms are provided in the coupler 210 at a distal end of the beer tube 211, and as such provided in a flow path for beverage through the disposable coupler 210, in the form of a duckbill valve 104 as a flow restriction module, shown here in the closed state. The duckbill valve 104 is arranged to be opened upon flow of pressurised beverage from the flexible tube 211 to the beer line 220, for example by virtue of gas pressure on the beverage in the keg body 202 if the dispenser 230 is correspondingly activated, so that flow of beverage to the dispenser is not hindered. When the dispenser 230 is deactivated or closed again, the flow of beverage is halted, and the pressure on both sides of the duckbill valve 104 is substantially equalised. By virtue of the resilient material of the duckbill valve 104, the duckbill valve returns in a closed state, and in this closed state substantially or entirely blocks passage of microorganisms from downstream of the valve to upstream of the valve. Thus, even if the keg 201 is not used for a longer time and the keg 201 is not cooled, no path is provided for microorganisms to migrate into the keg 201.

[0054] FIGS. 2A and 2B show part of an embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly in which a coupling interface between an end of a first dispensing line part coupled to a coupling end of a second dispensing line part of a beverage dispensing assembly is shown in respectively a perspective view and a cross sectional view. Similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1, the coupling interface comprises a coupler 210 arranged to be fitted to a container body such as a beer keg and arranged to couple the container body to a beer line 220 which constitutes a second dispensing line part arranged to be coupled to a dispenser such as a faucet or tap. The coupler 210 is further arranged to couple the container body to a gas line 240 for supplying gas to the container for pressurizing a beverage in the container. The coupler 210 is provided with a fluid conduit 211 in accordance with the invention as a first dispensing line part, which conduit 211 extends from the coupler body to the beverage container. One end 212 of the fluid conduit 211 is arranged for assembly to a beverage container in fluid connection with a beverage container fluid outlet (not shown). As shown the fluid conduit 211, e.g. a flexible tube, is in this case provided with a spiraling section between the one end 212 and an opposite end 213 of the fluid conduit 211, which opposite end 213 is arranged to couple with the coupler 210. For example the opposite end 213 may be fitted releasable or reversible into a cavity provided at a coupling end of the coupler 210 as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0055] The coupler 210 enables coupling of the flexible tube 211 to the beer line 220 to form a dispensing line for flow of beverage from a beverage container to a dispenser. The coupler 210 further enables decoupling of the flexible tube 211 from the beer line, so that a beverage container to which it is coupled may be exchanged, for example once emptied, for a new beverage container filled with a fresh amount of beverage. A manually rotatable lever 300 is coupled to the coupler 210 as a convenient and intuitive means for opening or closing the dispensing line for flow of beverage from a beverage container to a dispenser in dependence of coupling of the fluid conduit 211 to the coupler 210. The lever may also secure a connection of the fluid conduit with the coupler.

[0056] The spiralling section effectively reduces a migration rate of microorganisms from migrating to the beverage container such that contamination of the beverage is practically prevented. Accordingly, undesired contaminants, particularly microorganisms, which may be present in the beer line 220 or coupler 210, will be prevented from migrating through the spiralling section of the fluid conduit to the beverage container, allowing for exchange of beverage containers, for example once a used beverage container is emptied, without risk of prematurely spoiling a fresh beverage in the newly coupled beverage container. The spiralling section further provides a relatively compact form of the fluid conduit to this end, needing only limited space near the beverage container and coupler.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 3A another embodiment of a dispensing assembly comprises a beverage container 201 defining a beverage chamber for holding a beverage, a second dispensing line part 220 arranged to be coupled to a dispenser such as a faucet or tap (not shown) and a first dispensing line part 211 extending between the beverage chamber of the beverage container 201 and the second dispensing line part 220, enabling a flow of beverage from the beverage container to the dispenser. The first dispensing line part 211 is in addition to an otherwise conventional dispensing assembly in which the dispensing line part 220 is coupled directly to the beverage container 201. The first dispensing line part 211 and second dispensing line part 220 are to this end fluid tightly coupled to each other with detachable coupling means 215 which may be at least almost identical or similar to the coupling means between the second dispensing line part 220 and the beverage container 201 in the conventional dispensing assembly. In this embodiment the first dispensing line part 211 is a transparent fluid tube allowing visual inspection of fluid flowing there through in use, which tube comprises a single loop 214 in a downstream flow path section defined by the first dispensing line part. The loop 214 may be preformed in the tube prior to use in the beverage dispensing assembly, e.g. during production of the tube. Alternatively the fluid tube may be a flexible tube such that the loop may be formed in the tube manually during instalment or replacement of a beverage container in the beverage dispensing assembly by simple and suitable bending of the flexible tube. The loop 214 effectively reduces a migration rate of possible microorganisms present in the second dispensing line part 220 and/or coupling means 215 into the beverage chamber. Further shown in this embodiment is that microorganisms may be inoculated in a beverage fluid flowing through the dispensing line via an inoculation point 216 in the second dispensing line part 220 near to or in the coupling means 215 for use as a test setup. It will be understood that such inoculation point may be absent in an embodiment for use of the dispensing assembly in practice. Visual inspection (indicated by arrow and eye symbol) of the first dispensing line allows a determination of the time needed by the microorganisms in static state, i.e. no pressurized flow of beverage fluid, to migrate past the single loop 214. The thus obtained visual data may be supported by sampling and analysis of beverage in the beverage container to detect whether microorganism have contaminated the beverage.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 3B-3E alternative embodiments of the first dispensing line part 211 useable in a dispensing assembly as for example shown in FIG. 3A have instead of the single loop in the downstream flow path section respectively a double loop, helical multiloop, spiral shape or wave shape in the downstream flow path section.

[0059] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Methods and materials are described herein for use in the present invention. However other suitable methods and materials known in the art can also be used. The materials and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting, unless so indicated. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description, features are described herein as part of the same or separate aspects and preferred embodiments thereof, however, it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention may include embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described.