Tapping device for at least one bag-in-box packaging

Abstract

A tapping device for at least one bag-in-box packaging equipped with a tap valve, comprising at least one accommodating area for the bag-in-box packaging, wherein the accommodating area has at least one loading opening, at least one device door that closes the loading opening of the accommodating area, wherein the device door has at least one trigger of an operating apparatus that corresponds to the tap valve, and at least one beverage outlet associated with the tap valve, the operating apparatus has at least one operating element that acts from above on certain parts of the tap valve in order to operate the tap valve and at least one valve accommodating bearing is provided in the area of the loading opening, the at least one valve accommodating bearing having bearing surfaces for wings of the tap valve protruding at least on both sides of the valve housing.

Claims

1. A tapping device for at least one bag-in-box packaging, which is equipped with a tap valve having a tap valve housing and wings protruding at least on both sides of the tap valve housing at a predetermined height, comprising at least one accommodating area for the bag-in-box packaging, wherein the accommodating area encompasses at least one loading opening, comprising at least one device door, which closes the loading opening of the accommodating area and which encompasses at least one trigger of an operating apparatus, which corresponds to the tap valve, and comprising at least one beverage outlet, which is associated with the tap valve, wherein provision is made in the area of the loading opening for at least one valve accommodating bearing, which has bearing surfaces for locking a position of the wings of the tap valve, wherein the valve accommodating bearing is embodied as an insert, which is accommodated in a holder on the device housing so as to be capable of being replaced, wherein the operating apparatus encompasses at least one operating element, which is embodied so as to be movable to stationary parts of the valve accommodating bearing and acts from above on the tap valve, wherein the operating element, which acts on the tap valve, is arranged on the valve accommodating bearing, which is embodied as a replaceable insert, and wherein the valve accommodating bearing encompasses at least guide surfaces, which run vertically, the guide surfaces allowing the tap valve housing to move in a downward direction as a result of the tapping by the operating element while vertical movement of the wings is restricted by the bearing surface.

2. The tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the operating apparatus encompasses at least one valve operating mechanism, which leads through the device door.

3. The tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the beverage outlet is arranged in the device door.

4. The tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the beverage outlet is embodied as a housing opening, which surrounds the beverage stream in a contact-free manner.

5. The tapping device according to claim 4, wherein the housing opening is equipped with an insert, which extends the outlet opening into the interior of the device housing.

6. The tapping device according to claim 1, wherein the device door encompasses at least one tap inlet, in which the beverage outlet is arranged.

7. The tapping device according to claim 2, wherein when the device door is closed, the operating element of the valve operating mechanism is a lever arm, which corresponds to the valve piston or to the housing head of the tap valve.

8. The tapping device according to claim 1, wherein a cooling aggregate is assigned to the accommodating area for the bag-in-box packaging.

Description

(1) Exemplary embodiments of the invention, from which further inventive feature result, are illustrated in the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first tapping device according to invention in sectional view;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a detailed view of the tapping area of a second tapping device according to the invention when the tap button is not operated, and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a detailed view of the tapping device according to FIG. 2 when the tap button is operated.

(5) 1 identifies a first embodiment of a tapping device according to the invention for at least one bag-in-box packaging 2, which encompasses a device housing 3, which completely surrounds the bag-in-box packaging 2. The device housing 3 encompasses a loading opening 4, via which an access to the accommodating area 5 for the bag-in-box packaging 2 is provided. The loading opening 4 is closed via a device door 6 of the device housing 3, whereby the device door 6 is accommodated in a pivotable manner on the stationary part of the device housing 3 via a hinge. The accommodating area 5 encompasses an accommodating surface, which is inclined downwards in the direction of the loading opening 4. The tapping device 1 is furthermore equipped with a valve accommodating bearing 7 for a tap valve 8 of the bag-in-box packaging 2, in which the tap valve 8 is accommodated in a predetermined position relative to a beverage outlet 9, which is assigned to the tap valve. The valve accommodating bearing 7 encompasses at least one bearing surface 10 for wings 18 of the tap valve 8 protruding on both sides of the valve housing 11. An operating apparatus 12 comprising a tap button 13 and comprising an operating element 14, which acts on the tap valve 8 from above, is furthermore arranged in the device door 6. The operating apparatus 12 encompasses a valve operating mechanism 15. To operate the tap valve, the tap button 13, which is embodied as lever arm, is to be pressed or moved, respectively, in the direction of the device door surface such that the operating means 14, which is also embodied as lever arm and which is rigidly connected to the tap button, moves downwards, for example in vertical direction with its free lever arm end and thus acts on the tap valve 8. Depending on the valve type, such as Vitop or Rapak dispenser valves, for example, the operating element acts on different areas of the tap valve. In response to the operation of the tap valve 8, the beverage stored in the bag-in-box packaging 2 flows from the valve outlet 16 through the beverage outlet 9 of the device housing 3 located therebelow, wherein the beverage outlet is embodied as a housing opening, which surrounds the beverage stream in a contact-free manner. The beverage outlet 9 is arranged on the upper side of a tap inlet 17, which is provided on the device door. The tapping device 1 furthermore encompasses a cooling aggregate, by means of which the beverage stored in the bag-in-box packaging can be cooled down to a desired drinking temperature.

(6) FIGS. 2 and 3 show a further exemplary embodiment of a tapping device 20, the device door 21 of which is equipped with a further possible embodiment of an operating apparatus 22. The tap button 23 thereof is integrated completely into the front 24 of the device door 21. FIG. 2 shows the tap button, which is not operated and which is embodied as lever arm, and which assumes a vertical orientation when not being operated. By operating the tap button 23 (FIG. 3) vertically to the front 24 of the device door 21, the tap button 23 pivots about its pivot point, whereby the valve operating mechanism 25, which leads through the device door 21, simultaneously acts on the housing head 27 of the valve housing 28 by means of its operating element 26. In the case of the Vitop dispensing valve illustrated herein, the valve housing 28 thereof is moved downwards in vertical direction, whereby the valve outlet 29 thereof is displaced in the direction of the beverage outlet 30. The valve piston 31 with its protruding wings 35 is thereby locked on a predetermined height via the bearing surface 10 (FIG. 1) of the valve accommodating bearing 32. The displacement movement is possible by means of the guide surfaces 33 for the tap valve 8, which run vertically and which are embodied on the valve accommodating bearing 32. In addition, the beverage outlet 30 is equipped with a replaceable insert 34, which protrudes inwardly, by means of which contaminations caused by possible beverage splatters are avoided on the inside of the device door 21. The same components are identified with the same reference numerals.