DELIVERING TAP FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGES EQUIPPED WITH FORGERY-PREVENTING SYSTEM AND WARRANTY SEAL WITH INTEGRATED DEGASSING KEY, AND VESSEL FOR CARBONATED BEVERAGES EQUIPPED WITH SUCH TAP
20180072554 ยท 2018-03-15
Inventors
Cpc classification
B67D1/0004
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B67D1/0851
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B67D1/04
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A vessel for liquids is described, made of plastic material, comprising: a delivering tap composed of a main body; a covering device equipped with two turrets for entering gas and exiting liquid into/from the body; two pistons operatively coupled to the turrets for controlling their opening and closing; two bottoms operatively coupled with the pistons for controlling their operation; and a tampering-preventing seal placed on the covering device in order to prevent an undesired external access to the turrets with an integrated degassing device for degassing the vessel at the end of its life favouring its correct recycling; and a neck of the vessel connected to the delivering tap and equipped with internal and external forgery-preventing means to cooperate with the tampering-preventing seal.
Claims
1. A delivering tap made of plastic for a vessel for liquids, the vessel having a neck, wherein the delivering tap comprises: a) a main body connected to the neck; b) at least one covering device placed at a first end of the main body and equipped with at least two turrets, one turret for entering gas into the vessel and one turret for exiting liquid from the vessel; c) at least two pistons, one piston located inside each of the turrets, each piston operatively coupled to its respective turret by means of a first set of sealing O-rings, each piston utilizing one of the first set of sealing O-rings, to control an opening of one of the turrets simultaneously with a closing of the other turret; each turret comprising a turret body and a turret bottom, each turret bottom operatively coupled, to its respective turret body, through threading with a threading present on the turret body and the turret bottom, each turret being insulated from an adjacent turret by means of a second and a third set of sealing O-rings wherein each turret bottom has a seat with one of the second set of sealing O-rings disposed therein, and the each turret body has a seat with one of the third set of sealing O-rings disposed therein, in order to be guaranteed that a passage of liquid will be accurately divided from a passage of gas, wherein when each turret bottom is screwed onto its corresponding turret body, a spring is placed on a rib of each turret bottom, which will operatively push a corresponding piston against a chute of the corresponding turret, which in turn will push the pistons in an operative coupling with the corresponding turret body and will control its operation, a stem of each piston sliding in a tapered duct of the corresponding turret bottom; e) at least one tampering-preventing seal placed above and around the coveting device in order to prevent an undesired external access to the turrets; and f) at least one degassing key integrated into the seal, for degassing the vessel at the end of its life.
2. A vessel for liquids made of plastic the vessel having a neck and comprising: a) at least one delivering tap with at least two turrets, the delivering tap comprising: i) a main body connected to the neck; ii) at least one covering device placed at a first end of the main body and equipped with at least two turrets, one turret for entering gas into the vessel and one turret for exiting liquid from the vessel; iii) at least two pistons, one piston located inside each of the turrets, each piston operatively coupled to its respective turret to control an opening of a turret simultaneously with a closing of the other turret; iv) each turret comprising a turret body and a turret bottom each turret bottom operatively coupled to its respective turret body through threading with a threading present on the turret body and the turret bottom, each turret being insulated from an adjacent turret by means of a first and a second set of sealing O-rings, wherein each turret bottom has a seat with one of the first set of sealing O-rings disposed therein, and the each turret body has a seat with one of the second set of sealing O-rings disposed therein in order to be guaranteed that a passage of liquid will be accurately divided from a passage of gas, wherein when each turret bottom is screwed onto its corresponding turret body, a spring is placed on a rib, of each turret bottom which will operatively push a corresponding piston against a chute of the corresponding turret, which in turn will push the pistons in an operative coupling with the corresponding turret body and will control its operation, a stem of each piston sliding in a tapered duct of the corresponding turret bottom; v) at least one tampering-preventing seal placed above and around the covering device in order to prevent an undesired external access to the turrets; and vi) at least one degassing key integrated into the seal, for degassing the vessel at the end of its life; and b) at least one neck of the vessel adapted to be operatively, connected to the delivering tap and equipped with internal and external forgery-preventing means adapted to cooperate with said tampering-preventing seal of the tap.
3. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the main body is adapted to block the covering device on the neck to provide the right pull to a third O-ring as gasket in order to have a perfect seal, the main body having connecting means, preferably a fastening threading, to the vessel; fastening means for the tamper-preventing warranty seal; fastening means to the covering device, preferably made as flexible teeth; and forgery-preventing means which are adapted to be fastened onto elements present on the neck of the vessel.
4. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the main body is further equipped with a zone having indicator means in evidence, preferably the GAS writing, and the letter N, thereby pointing out which of the two turrets dedicated to a gas connection, and which to a liquid connection.
5. The vessel of claim 3, wherein the main body is further equipped with a rib-type geometry useful to have a catching area necessary for screwing the tap assembled on the neck, of reinforcing means and implementing means of the catching area, and of transmitting means of the circular screwing motion, adapted to transmit the screwing motion to the tap assembled onto the covering device to the geometry.
6. The vessel of claim 2, covering device is adapted to press a third O-ring gasket which in turn will press onto the neck of the vessel, the covering device being equipped, between the two turret, with a geometry on which two undercuts, or fastening teeth, have been obtained, which will operate in order to be stably fastened to the body by means of a flexible teeth, the lower elongated part of the covering device having numerous geometries obtained on the elongated cylinder; sealing means adapted to keep the O-ring in place; a disk adapted to transmit pressure given to the body to the covering device once screwed; connecting slits or holes adapted to be coupled with securing means obtained on the bottom; and at least two flexible wings, which, when screwing, will be adapted to the internal diameter of the neck of the vessel and, once having reached the right position, will snap on the two internal geometries of the neck of the vessel; blocking from inside the possible attempt of tamper/removal of the closure once screwed.
7. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the turret bottoms are adapted to pre-load and block springs which are below the pistons, the two turrets being further adapted to guide the pistons when opening and before assembling, the ribs connected to the guiding cylinder of a stem of the piston, cooperating with the geometry of the piston, when opening the tap, and operating as descent stopper of the piston, which will thereby be able to vertically move only by few millimetres, and will thereby be blocked, making each piston, present inside each turret, open and allow the flow of gas or liquid, according to the affected connection.
8. The vessel of claim 7, wherein the seats of the turret bottoms are adapted to be connected to a dip tube, which will be put under a connection to a turret where liquid will pass, below the ribs present on every single turret bottom being a sealed engagement area, adapted to seal onto the geometry of the covering device, and in this way to generate separate ducts for air and for liquid.
9. The vessel of claim 7, wherein the turret bottoms are screwed by means of threading obtained on the same bottom, with connecting threading present on the covering device.
10. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the piston (8.1) is an elongated element on which a third set of sealing O-rings are placed, which, due to the thrust of the corresponding spring below, are adapted to generate the airtight closure and/or opening of the turrets, each piston having a seat for the corresponding third sealing O-ring, a chamfered head which is adapted to an internal outline of the turrets, an upper abutment area of the metallic spring, wherein a lower abutment area is on the turret bottom, a mechanical stopper geometry adapted to limit an excursion of the piston when opening, by abutting against the geometry of the turret bottom, and a vertical, cross-type guide.
11. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the tampering-preventing seal is a body adapted to protect the turrets of the covering device after a filling, and adapted to possibly support weight when put on pallets, the tampering-preventing seal being adapted to determine the integrity of packaging by means of a tamper-evident ring-type system and of breakable jumpers, the tampering-preventing seal being further equipped with a removable cover.
12. The vessel of claim 2, wherein at least the neck is an elongated body equipped with a thread with a safety device for discharging gas in case of forced and accidental opening, which allows, in case of a forced unscrewing, discharging pressure inside the vessel before the unscrewing is completed and therefore the tap moves.
13. The vessel of claim 12, wherein the neck is equipped with; an external ring possibly adapted to support a handle; external blocking or anti-forgery means; internal forgery-preventing means, adapted to operate, once having screwed the tap onto the neck, with the flexible wings of the covering device.
14. The delivering tap of claim 1, wherein the tap is made from polyethylene terephthalate.
15. The vessel of claim 2, wherein the vessel is made from polyethylene terephthalate.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0054] The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, provided as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0071] With reference to the Figures, a preferred embodiment of the tap 1 of the present invention is shown and described. It will be immediately obvious that numerous variations (for example related to shape, sizes and parts with equivalent functionalities) could be made to the described tap 1, without departing from the scope of the invention as appears from the enclosed claims.
[0072] According to the Figures, the improved delivering tap/connector 1 of the invention, in particular for a vessel for liquids of the keg type made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) (not shown) substantially comprises: [0073] a main body 7.1 (shown in detail in
[0079] With the above described arrangement, according to the invention, a tap 1 is obtained, for beverages vessels preferably made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which is recyclable and disposable, has two connections (turrets) and is specific for carbonated beverages, and with dedicated and specific connections for the manufacturers of beverages currently on the market.
[0080] The tap 1 of the invention has a low cost, two separate, preferably parallel ways (one for gas and one for liquid) (two turrets) and with specific geometries which can be adapted to the two systems on the market (pin ball and pin lock), which allow a connection to existing systems for dispensing beer, wine and in general all carbonated, draft beverages.
[0081] The solution associated with new unidirectional plastic vessels, preferably made of PET, offers environmental and economic benefits.
[0082] The tap 1 of the invention provides economic and ecologic advantages with respect to existing systems on metal kegs and to other plastic variations currently on the market (less pieces which are easier to assemble and less costly, being made of plastic and obtained from injection moulding).
[0083] The tap 1 of the invention, associated with plastic vessels, preferably made of PET, provides major advantages for beer and wine shops and all distributors of carbonated beverages and other users of kegsabove all when compared with metal kegs.
[0084] They are: lower total property costs, reduction of environmental impacts, new market opportunities and quicker response to variations of the short-term demand.
[0085] The passage from metal kegs to plastic kegs, preferably made of PET, equipped with the inventive tap 1, allows saving in terms of capital and operating costs.
[0086] These are potentially important savings in terms of used capital, removing the need of keeping a wide series of kegs. Removing the excessive number of kegs allows freeing important sums invested in such assets and does without the need of further constant expenses for replacing damaged, lost or stolen kegs.
[0087] Moreover, it is not necessary to use costly tracing systems.
[0088] Further savings are possible regarding further savings in terms of capital with the removal of costly and complex cleaning systems for kegs.
[0089] The use of spaces is more efficiently improved, as consequence of the elimination of the need of storing a high number of kegs when the demand is low, to have them available during demand peaks.
[0090] By removing the return of used metal kegs, cleaning and re-use costs are reduced. With the plastic keg, preferably made of PET, not only the vessel but also the valve and the taps 1 are disposable total absence of return and cleaning costs.
[0091] Strong savings in terms of logistics are also guaranteed, not only by removing the return costs in case of metal kegs, but also reducing the delivery costs outside for filled kegs. Kegs made of PET are lighter than metal kegs containing the same volume of liquid. Consequently, a higher number of kegs can be loaded on every vehicle going out of the factory.
[0092] The main components of the taps 1 are wholly recyclable with dry wastes or following the normal plastic recovering cycle, as provided for single manufacturing systems and plants.
[0093] The tap 1 of the invention is designed to allow the owners of bars and restaurants to use the kegs exactly in the same way of the metal kegs.
[0094] Without proceeding to any replacement of fixtures available in bars or canteens, they will immediately be able to benefit from the advantages of the plastic keg on which the tap 1 of the invention will be placed; reduced weight, easy storage and recyclability.
[0095] The availability of a two-way tap 1 produced under hygienic conditions means that the keg users will have less to worry about health and safety, and less work to keep the taps 1 and equipment clean. All components of the keg and of the taps 1 will be approved for foodstuff use.
[0096] Other features of the inventive tap 1 are: [0097] since the covering device 9.1 is uncoupled from the main body 7.1, there is the chance of moulding with highly technical materials only the major part of the tap 1, and not the whole piece, actually doing away with the waste of technical material for geometries for which certain features are not useful, and therefore actually saving the use of these highly costly materials, for example increasing the oxygen barrier; [0098] at the end of filling the keg with a liquid, it will be possible to place a tamper-evident element or warranty seal, which will protect it hygienically and will help locating the kegs which have already been used (forgery prevention); [0099] moreover, the warranty seal will have such a geometry as to allow stacking the barrels; [0100] another important innovation is that the warranty seal has integrated geometries 11.8, which will allow the part to also operate as degassing key, thereby avoiding to have a very costly dedicated and additional tool; [0101] the tap 1, as previously stated, will be unidirectional like the associated vessel, and this will allow having strong advantages at economic and ecologic level. The tap 1 for such purpose will be composed of the various components made of recyclable plastic (only the two internal springs will be made of stainless steel); [0102] the system will allow moulding the main piece (the one with the two turrets) in PET (for example), thereby with an analogue product to the vessel on which it will be assembled. There will be above all the chance of moulding the piece with the two parallel turrets in a material with high oxygen barrier; [0103] the tap 1 of the invention will have forgery-preventing systems which are internal (two sealing areas) and possibly external (four sealing areas not shown in these drawings) to the product, in order to protect integrity and quality of the internal beverage (this feature is not guaranteed in current kegs, because they have no forgery-preventing geometries of this type). In this way, it is guaranteed that the keg cannot be re-filled again (after its first use), unless the tap 1 is destroyed, but then it will be very easy for a user to locate the forged kegs.
[0104] The assembly of the inventive tap 1 on the plastic vessel (preferably PET) occurs as follows:
[0105] 1) the tap 1 will be supplied to the distributing company divided from seal/degassing key, which will then be placed as guarantee of the product integrity and originality, after having filled the plastic keg barrel;
[0106] 2) the tap 1 will be placed for its screwing (or a snap, solution non shown, but which, being wholly equivalent to the above described one, falls within the scope of the present invention) before filling on the vessel, also as warranty of internal hygiene;
[0107] 3) when screwing, the different types of external forgery-prevention (not shown) will be activated, together with the internal flexible teeth 9.10 present on the covering device 9.1 and on the main body 7.1 (not shown in this version), due to the elements 12.1 and 12.3 present on the carafe neck 12.2;
[0108] 4) once screwed, unless the tap 1 is destroyed, the closure will remain fastened to the carafe neck 12.2;
[0109] 5) the filling step will then start, and then the warranty seal with integrated degassing key 11.8 will be positioned.