Dispensing appliance provided with a removable dispensing cartridge

Abstract

A dispensing appliance allowing the loading of a container together with a dispensing tube is disclosed. After loading the container into the holding portion of the appliance, a dispensing cartridge is engaged into a receiving system provided in the dispensing portion of the appliance, which is movable with respect to the holding portion from a first loading position to a second dispensing position. The cartridge partially encases a dispensing tube with both inlet and outlet ends protruding out of first and second sides of the cartridge, such that the outlet portion of the dispensing tube is flexible. Upon engaging the cartridge into the receiving system, the outlet portion is engaged into a pinch valve while the inlet points towards the dispensing opening of the container. The dispensing tube inlet is introduced into the dispensing opening upon moving the dispensing portion of the appliance to its second dispensing position.

Claims

1. A dispensing appliance suitable for dispensing a liquid out of a container held in position in a holding portion of the appliance, said container containing a liquid to be dispensed and comprising a mouth closed by an initially sealed closure comprising a seal and at least one dispensing opening upon breaking open the seal, said dispensing appliance comprising a dispensing portion provided with: (a) a valve system for controlling a flow out of the container and; (b) a receiving system receiving and removably fixing a dispensing cartridge, (c) said dispensing cartridge partially encasing a dispensing tube forming no sharp angle, wherein the sharp angle is defined as an angle forming a curvature, =1/R, greater than 1.0 mm.sup.1, measured at the central axis of the dispensing tube, and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end protruding out of a first and second sides, respectively of said cartridge, wherein at least a portion of said dispensing tube including the outlet end is made of a flexible, resilient material forming a flexible portion, said flexible portion being engaged in the valve system, for controlling the flow of said liquid through the dispensing tube, characterized in that, (d) neither the valve system nor the closure is part of the dispensing cartridge, and (e) the inlet end of the dispensing tube can be brought in fluid contact with an interior of the container through the dispensing opening of the closure upon moving the dispensing portion with respect to the holding portion from a loading position to a dispensing position.

2. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1, wherein longitudinal axes of an inlet and an outlet of the dispensing tube form an angle, , comprised between 80 and 145 deg.

3. The dispensing appliance according to claim 2, wherein the flexible portion of the dispensing tube is partially encased in the cartridge which comprises a secondary resilient pinch valve which is biased for compressing and obturating the flexible portion encased in the cartridge when the cartridge is not engaged in the receiving system and is opened upon introduction of the cartridge into the receiving system.

4. The dispensing appliance according to claim 3, wherein the cartridge comprises gripping means for engaging into the receiving system and/or the receiving system consists of a latch system.

5. The dispensing appliance according to claim 4, wherein the cartridge comprises snap fitting means for fixing the cartridge to the closure upon moving the dispensing portion into the dispensing position.

6. The dispensing appliance according to claim 5, wherein the dispensing tube comprises a pressure reduction section in the cartridge, said pressure reduction section comprising curves and/or variations in a cross-sectional area of the tube.

7. The dispensing appliance according to claim 6, wherein the valve system of the dispensing portion is a pinch valve.

8. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1, wherein the receiving system is mounted on at least one guiding rail for ensuring a rectilinear movement of the cartridge upon moving the dispensing portion into the dispensing position and introduction of the dispensing tube inlet into the dispensing opening of the closure.

9. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the dispensing tube is partially encased in the cartridge which comprises a secondary resilient pinch valve which is biased for compressing and obturating the flexible portion encased in the cartridge when the cartridge is not engaged in the receiving system and is opened upon introduction of the cartridge into the receiving system.

10. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge comprises gripping means for engaging into the receiving system and/or the receiving system consists of a latch system.

11. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1 wherein the cartridge comprises snap fitting means for fixing the cartridge to the closure upon moving the dispensing portion into the dispensing position.

12. The dispensing appliance according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing tube comprises a pressure reduction section in the cartridge, said pressure reduction section comprising curves and/or variations in a cross-sectional area of the tube.

13. A method for loading a container into a dispensing appliance comprising the following steps: (a) providing a dispensing appliance comprising a holding portion and a dispensing portion movable with respect to the holding portion from a loading position to a dispensing position and bringing the dispensing portion in the loading position, (b) loading into the holding portion the container comprising a mouth closed by an initially sealed closure comprising a seal and at least one dispensing opening upon breaking open the seal, (c) engaging into a receiving system a dispensing cartridge encasing a central section of a dispensing tube, such that a flexible portion of said dispensing tube protruding out of a first side of said cartridge is engaged into a valve system provided in the dispensing portion, wherein said central section of a dispensing tube forms no sharp angle, wherein the sharp angle is defined as an angle forming a curvature, =1/R, greater than 1.0 mm.sup.1, measured at the central axis of the dispensing tube, and (d) by moving the dispensing portion from the loading position to the dispensing position, introducing an inlet end of the dispensing tube protruding out of a second side of the cartridge into the dispensing opening of the closure of the container.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the dispensing appliance comprises a dispensing portion provided with: (a) the valve system for controlling a flow out of the container and; (b) the receiving system receiving and removably fixing the dispensing cartridge, (c) said dispensing cartridge partially encasing the dispensing tube comprising the inlet end and the outlet end protruding out of the first and second sides, respectively of said cartridge, wherein at least a portion of said dispensing tube including the outlet end is made of a flexible, resilient material forming a flexible portion, said flexible portion being engaged in the valve system for controlling the flow of said liquid through the dispensing tube, wherein, (d) the inlet end of the dispensing tube can be brought in fluid contact with an interior of the container through the dispensing opening of the closure upon moving the dispensing portion with respect to the holding position from the loading position to the dispensing position.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein by moving the dispensing portion from the loading position to the dispensing position, a gas tube is introduced into a gas aperture provided in the closure of the container to bring in fluid communication a source of pressurized gas with the interior of the container.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the container is a bag-in-container.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the gas tube is brought in fluid communication with an interfacial space between an inner layer and an outer layer forming the bag-in-container.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein by moving the dispensing portion from the loading position to the dispensing position, a gas tube is introduced into a gas aperture provided in the closure of the container to bring in fluid communication a source of pressurized gas with an interior of the container.

19. The method according to claim 13, wherein the container is a bag-in-container.

20. A method of using a container for dispensing a liquid with an appliance suitable for dispensing said liquid out of the container held in position in a holding portion of the appliance, said container containing said liquid to be dispensed and comprising a mouth closed by an initially sealed closure comprising a seal and at least one dispensing opening upon breaking open the seal said dispensing appliance comprising a dispensing portion provided with: (a) controlling a flow out of the container by a valve system; (b) receiving and removably fixing a dispensing cartridge; and (c) dispensing from a dispensing cartridge partially encasing a dispensing tube forming no sharp angle, wherein the sharp angle is defined as an angle forming a curvature, =1/R, greater than 1.0 mm.sup.1, measured at the central axis of the dispensing tube, and comprising an inlet end and an outlet end protruding out of a first and second sides, respectively of said cartridge, wherein at least a portion of said dispensing tube including the outlet end is made of a flexible, resilient material forming a flexible portion, said flexible portion being engaged in the valve system, for controlling the flow of said liquid through the dispensing tube, wherein the inlet end of the dispensing tube can be brought in fluid contact with an interior of the container through the dispensing opening of the closure upon moving the dispensing portion with respect to the holding position from a loading position to a dispensing position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

(2) FIG. 1: shows three steps for mounting a container into a dispensing appliance according to the present invention.

(3) FIG. 2: shows an embodiment of a dispensing cartridge according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 3: shows a closure suitable for use in the present invention.

(5) FIG. 4: shows (a) a bag-in-container before use, and (b) the same bag-in-container coupled to a source of pressurized gas and to a dispensing cartridge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) As can be seen in FIG. 1, an appliance according to the present invention is suitable for receiving a container (1) and for dispensing a liquid contained in said container through a dispensing tube (10A) which fluidly communicates the volume of the container comprising the liquid with ambient. A container (1) suitable for being mounted onto said appliance shall comprise a body, a mouth, and a closure (8) provided with at least an initially sealed first, dispensing opening (10B) suitable for receiving said dispensing tube (10A). The dispensing appliance (2) of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises: (a) a holding portion (201) comprising means for holding the container, wherein the container is firmly held in position within the appliance, and (b) a dispensing portion (202) provided with a pinch valve (not shown) for controlling the flow out of the container, and said dispensing portion can be moved with respect to the holding position (201) from a first loading position (cf. FIG. 1(a)) for loading the container, to a second, dispensing position (cf. FIG. 1(c)) for dispensing the liquid.

(7) The dispensing portion (202) further comprises a receiving system (100A) for receiving and removably fixing a cartridge of the type represented in FIG. 2. Preferably, the receiving system (100A) consists of a latch system, clicking the cartridge (100) into position. The cartridge (100) according to the present invention, partially encases a dispensing tube (10A) forming no sharp angle and comprising an inlet end (10IN) and an outlet end (10OUT) protruding out of a first and second sides, respectively of said cartridge. At least a portion (10D) of said dispensing tube (10A) including the outlet (10OUT) is made of a flexible resilient material. When the cartridge (100) is engaged into the receiving system; the flexible portion (10D) of the dispensing tube is engaged between the pinching members of the pinch valve system; and the inlet (10IN) points towards the dispensing opening (10B) of the closure (8) of the container, when a container is in place. The latch system (100A) represented in FIG. 1, thus provided with a dispensing cartridge (100) is movingly mounted on rails (33) such that it can travel along said rails. Since the dispensing tube inlet (10IN) points towards the dispensing opening (10B) of the closure of the container, translating the latch system and cartridge along the rails in direction of said closure drives said inlet (10IN) into said dispensing opening (10B). According to the present invention, the translation of the latch system towards the dispensing opening (10B) is driven by moving the dispensing portion (202) from its first, loading position to its second, dispensing position. In particular, in its movement, a contact surface (34) of the dispensing portion (202) literally pushes the latch system and cartridge along the rails (33).

(8) The dispensing portion (202) of the appliance illustrated in FIG. 1 is pivotally connected to the holding portion (201) by at least one hinge (30) to rotationally move from its first, loading position to its second, dispensing position, The advantage of defining a rotational movement upon closing the dispensing portion (202) is that with the torque thus obtained, a higher penetration force of the dispensing tube inlet (10IN) can be obtained. Alternatively, the dispensing unit (202) may be mounted on rails and translated rectilinearly from its first, loading position to its second, dispensing position. In this embodiment, it is clear that guiding rails (33) for guiding the latch system are not required anymore.

(9) The appliance of the present invention is particularly suitable for use with pressure dispensing containers, requiring the pressure inside the container to be raised to drive the flow of liquid out of the container. In some cases, the container comprises means for storing pressurized gas inside the container, such as in a pressure cartridge or adsorbed on a solid support. In such cases, no additional tubing is required. If the source of pressurized gas (15S) is outside the container, however, then a second, gas tube (15T) is needed to bring said source of pressurized gas into fluid communication with the interior of the container through a second opening (15B) in the closure. Unlike the appliance disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,454,131 where the second, gas tube is separately engaged into an opening located near the bottom of the body of the keg whilst the dispensing tube is engaged into an opening in the closure, it is preferred herein to have the gas and dispensing openings (15B, 10B) all provided in the closure, in order to simultaneously engage all tubing into the container with a single move (cf. FIG. 3).

(10) Consequently in a preferred embodiment the dispensing portion (202) further comprises a second, gas tube suitable for engaging into a second opening (15B) of the closure (8) along a rectilinear translation path upon moving the dispensing portion (202) into its second, dispensing position to smoothly engage into said second, gas opening (15B), to bring in fluid communication the interior of the container with a source of pressurized gas.

(11) The dispensing tube inlet (10IN) is preferably oriented coaxially with the longitudinal axis, X1, of the dispensing opening (10A) of the closure (8) when the cartridge (100) and the container are mounted in the appliance. The dispensing tube outlet, on the other hand, shall be oriented downward to pour the liquid such that it can be collected in a vessel, in case of a beverage in a glass. If the container is lying horizontally when held in the dispensing unit, as illustrated in FIG. 1, then the longitudinal axes of the inlet and outlet should form an angle, a, comprised between 85 and 145 deg., preferably between 90 and 135 deg. If, on the other hand, the container is standing upright when held in the dispensing appliance, the dispensing tube (10A) should form an inverted U and the longitudinal axes of the inlet and outlet should form an angle comprised between 0 and 45 deg.

(12) In a preferred embodiment, the flexible portion (10D) penetrates at least partially in the cartridge (100). In one embodiment, the whole length of the dispensing tube (10A) is flexible and follows a walled track within the cartridge. In this embodiment, the inlet (10IN) may comprise a ring inserted at the end of the flexible tube (10A, 10D) and held in place with a flange engaged in the casing of the cartridge (100). Said ring should be sufficiently hard and sharp to unseal the dispensing opening (10A) upon introduction of the dispensing tube therein. In another embodiment, the inlet portion (10IN) jutting out of the cartridge is made of rigid plastic, the dispensing bore continuing in the cartridge partially as a moulded channel. At some point in the cartridge, it is preferred that the flexible portion (10D) connects with the rigid channel and protrudes out of the cartridge. In this embodiment, the rigid channel may comprise a pressure reduction section (10C) in the cartridge, said pressure reduction section (10C) comprising curves and/or variations in the cross-sectional area of the tube, but any sharp angle is to be avoided to prevent excessive formation of froth in carbonated beverages such as sodas and beer. A curved C, ?, or S shaped channel contributes to a smooth pressure reduction of the liquid pressurized in the container at a pressure of the order of 1-1.5 bar over atmospheric before it reaches ambient in a rather short distance (=length of the dispensing tube) imposed by the size of compact home beverage appliances. A dispensing tube (10A) is considered to have a sharp angle if said angle is greater than 45 deg and if it has a curvature, =1/R, greater than 1.0 mm.sup.1, both angle and curvature being measured at the central axis of a tube. Preferably, the dispensing tube (10A) comprises no portion of curvature greater than 0.5 mm.sup.1, more preferably none greater than 0.3 mm.sup.1, most preferably none greater than 0.2 mm.sup.1.

(13) If the flexible portion (10D) extends at least partially in the cartridge, it is possible to provide the cartridge with a secondary pinch valve (110) formed by a squeezing means (113) which is naturally biased so as to squeeze the flexible portion (10D) of the dispensing tube encased in the cartridge (100). Upon insertion of the cartridge (100) into the receiving system (100A), a pin (112) is activated which releases the pressure of the squeezing member (113) from the flexible tube (10D). This embodiment is very advantageous in case the dispensing opening (10B) is permanently unsealed upon introduction therethrough of the dispensing tube inlet (10IN). When removing the container from the appliance, even if the container is not empty, the cartridge remains fixed to the closure, and the opening is sealed by the secondary pinch valve (110). The removed container can thus be stored and mounted again into the appliance when desired. The secondary pinch valve (110) cannot, once engaged in the receiving system, be actuated from the outside of the appliance. In this embodiment, it is preferred if the cartridge comprises snap fitting means (14) for fixing the cartridge to the closure. The cartridge also preferably comprises gripping means (16) for releasably fixing the cartridge to mating gripping means of the receiving system (100A). If, on the other hand, the opening (10A) can be sealed back after removal of the dispensing tube inlet (10IN), if e.g., it comprises a resilient valve as illustrated in FIG. 3, then a secondary pinch valve (110) and snap fitting means (14) are not necessary anymore.

(14) As mentioned supra, the dispensing valve system provided in the dispensing portion (202) is preferably a pinch valve suitable for squeezing a section of the flexural portion (10D) of the dispensing tube. The squeezing member is preferably mechanical, such as one moving member compressing a tube section against a fixed surface, or two opposing moving surfaces. Alternatively, the squeezing member may be hydraulic, but this embodiment is more difficult to implement in a system where a new dispensing tube is to be inserted through the valve at regular intervals. Many examples of pinch valves associated with a beverage dispensing appliance have been disclosed in the art, such as in WO2005/110912. DE3920348, WO2004/050535, WO2009/142662, U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,848, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,565, US2005072806, and the like; all of which may be applied to the appliance of the present invention. It has been found that dripping after closure of the valve following a pouring session can be greatly decreased by bringing the squeezing members of the pinch valve sufficiently close to the outlet (10OUT).

(15) As illustrated in FIG. 1, the loading of a container (1) into a dispensing appliance can be carried out with the following steps:

(16) (a) providing a dispensing appliance (2) comprising a holding portion (201) and a dispensing portion (202) movable with respect to the holding portion from a first, loading position to a second, dispensing position and bringing the dispensing portion (202) in its first, loading position,

(17) (b) loading into the holding portion (201) a container (1) comprising a mouth (5) closed by a closure (8) comprising at least one dispensing opening (10B)

(18) (c) engaging into a receiving system (100A) a dispensing cartridge (100) encasing a central section of a dispensing tube (10A), such that a flexible portion (10D) of said dispensing tube protruding out of a first side (101) of said cartridge is engaged into a valve system (300) provided in the dispensing portion (202),

(19) (d) by moving the dispensing portion (202) from its first, loading position to its second, dispensing position, introducing an inlet end (10IN) of the dispensing tube (10A) protruding out of a second side (102) of the cartridge into the dispensing opening (10B) of the container's closure (8).

(20) A dispensing appliance (2) as discussed above is particularly suitable for the above defined method. It is particularly preferred to apply the present method in pressure dispensing systems. In particular, if the pressure source is located out of the container, it is preferred that upon moving the dispensing portion (202) from its first, loading position to its second, dispensing position, a second, gas tube (not shown in the Figures) is introduced into a second, gas aperture (15B) provided in the closure of the container (cf. FIG. 3) to bring in fluid communication a source of pressurized gas with the interior of the container. Bag-in-containers (1B) are particularly suitable for the present method, wherein the second, gas tube is brought in fluid communication through the second gas opening (15B) of the closure with the interfacial space (1F) between the inner and outer layers forming the bag-in-container.

(21) The dispensing assembly obtained as described above comprises a dispensing appliance (2) according to the present invention with a dispensing cartridge (100) and with a container (1) mounted in the holding portion (201) of the dispensing appliance. It is advantageous in that it is very easy to load a new container (1), to change the dispensing tube (10A), and to set the dispensing assembly ready for use in a very few and simple to apply moves. Furthermore, the cost of disposable elements thereof is maintained low. Particularly preferred dispensing assemblies are home appliances for carbonated beverages, such as sodas and beer.