EP2358628B1 - Container, and method for filling a container - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a container, in particular a large-volume disposable container made of, for example, plastic, such as a keg for receiving liquids of all kinds, in particular for receiving drinks with a connection fitting with seal.

Such containers are known in practice and are used for example in the WO 2008/083782 A2 described. Comparable embodiments are the subject of DE 101 38 365 A1 or the DE 10 2006 034 638 A1 ,

An apparatus and method for filling and completing such containers has been provided by DE 10 2007 025 286 A1 known. This document proposes first to fill the container and then to connect the connection fitting with seal with the container.

Large-volume containers with a content of typically more than 10 liters, in particular 30 liters or 50 liters, generally serve to store liquids and in particular beverages, such as beer, and to dispense under pressure. So we know special large-volume containers, so-called kegs which are reusable drums, which were developed for industrial filling and germ-free storage of beverages, the term "keg" comes from the English language and stands for "small barrel". Kegs have largely prevailed in the hospitality industry and are increasingly being used in the private sector in conjunction with associated dispensers.

As a rule, kegs have a valve at their top, the so-called keg head. At this valve or the keg head, a suitable tap head can be attached, which supplies a propellant gas, for example carbon dioxide or nitrogen, from an external container and thus generates an overpressure in the interior of the container in question. This overpressure ensures that the liquid stored in the container or container can be removed via a riser pipe and a dispensing system. The dispensing head closes the container tightly so that the liquid stored in it remains germ-free.

Due to the overpressure generated in the keg by the propellant gas, the contents of the beverage are forced out through the riser inside the keg when a tap is opened. If the tap head removed, that closes Valve the keg airtight, so that further storage of the content is possible. The drying of any residues is prevented. The pressure inside the barrel remains intact.

The keg head or the valve realized at this point represent in the core a special design of the connection fitting specified in the preamble and the seal. In any case, the seal ensures that the container or the keg with removed tap head the previously established overpressure inside of the container. As a rule, an overpressure of approx. 3 bar or more is used at this point.

In kegs in general and plastic disposable kegs in particular, two problems are consistently encountered in practice. First of all, the filling of the container or keg takes place regularly when the connection fitting is already mounted in a container neck. In most cases, the connection fitting consists of a fitting body and a stop for the seal together or has such a stop. Characterized in that the fitting body of the connection fitting and thus the connection fitting is mounted in the container neck, inevitably the available for filling in the container neck opening is reduced. This may result in turbulence when flowing the desired liquid respectively the contents in the container. Such turbulences can lead to foaming depending on the nature of the contents, which ultimately reduces the filling speed.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the known connection fittings are delivered in the closed state and combined with the container, the so-called container bubble. As a result, there is a risk that the connection fitting has any contamination, in particular in the region of closed sealing surfaces. These can be removed, if at all, only with great difficulty. - This is where the invention starts.

The invention is based on the technical problem of further developing such a container so that the filling is facilitated and soiling the connection fitting can be excluded. In addition, an associated method for filling such a container is to be specified.

To solve this technical problem is provided in a generic container, in particular a large-volume disposable container made of plastic, for example, that the connection fitting and / or the seal in the delivery state have a passage opening which is closed in the delivery condition.

Thus, according to the invention, a distinction is made between a delivery state and a delivery state of the connection fitting or the seal. This was previously the case and in the prior art is not the case because the connection fitting including the seal has always been delivered closed and connected to the container bladder.

In the context of the invention, however, now have the connection fitting and / or the seal in the delivery state via a passage opening or define such. In this way it is ensured that the connection fitting in the delivery state can be cleaned at any time and easily. Because the passage opening allows easy disinfection or cleaning simply such that the connection fitting including seal in the state of delivery in the simplest case is simply flushed through.

In addition, there are other benefits. Thus, the container according to the invention can be filled without mounted connection fitting. D. h., The filling process can be realized directly on the container neck, so that the entire cross section of this container neck is available. This leads to an increase in the filling speed due to the enlarged filling cross section and, in addition, by the fact that previously observed turbulences do not occur or no longer occur so pronounced.

Only when the container has been completely filled, the connection fitting with the seal is inserted into the container neck. In this case, the connection fitting, including the seal, which is still in the delivery state, ensures that overpressure arising or existing in the container during this process can easily escape through the passage opening. Only when the connection fitting including seal in the filled container or its container neck has been used, the container is transferred in total to the delivery state in which the passage opening is closed, so that the liquid received in the container or the filling material can not escape.

For this purpose, the invention proposes that the connection fitting is connected only at the conclusion of the filling process or after the end of the filling with the container neck, and thereby the connection fitting and / or the seal is transferred to the delivery state. This is done by simultaneously closing the at least one or more passage openings. In this process, the connection fitting with the seal therein for connection to the container neck is generally subjected to a force. This may be, for example, a radially acting force, as exemplified for various embodiments in the WO 2008/083782 A2 is described.

In any case, the change from the delivery state to the delivery state by the said application of force to the connection fitting including the seal, preferably in the radial direction, accomplished. For in this process, the previously an open position relative to the connection fitting at least partially engaging seal is closed. In this case, the seal is generally locked in the delivery state relative to the connection fitting in a contrast raised position.

In other words, the seal in the delivery state has a raised or spaced position relative to an associated sealing surface in or on the connection fitting. This spaced or lifted position of the seal relative to said sealing surface in Delivery state is canceled in the transition to the delivery state, so that the seal rests against the or at the sealing surfaces and the connection fitting learns the desired and required closure in the delivery condition.

For this purpose, the invention proposes in detail a snap-in holder for the seal. This snap-in holder may be realized in such a way that the seal engages in the delivery condition in a recess in the connection fitting or in the riser. In general, this recess is in a riser so that the seal surrounding the riser generally annularly engages with its inner annular surface wholly or partially in the likewise annular recess in the riser. The seal is acted upon by a spring, the so-called closing spring. - Basically, but the seal can also be held by a protruding nose on the riser or generally in the interior of the connection fitting in the raised position.

The fact that the seal engages in the example with your inner annular surface in the annular recess respectively annular groove in the riser, it is held in the delivered state in the off-hook position described relative to the sealing surfaces against the force of the closing spring. In this way, the addressed passage opening, in the form of at least one annular gap, which is formed between the inner annular surface of the seal and / or its outer annular surface and the associated riser pipe respectively fitting body forms. Through this passage opening or the annular gap can escape after filling of the container and inserting the connection fitting including seal in the delivery state any overpressure. Now the connection fitting including the seal is transferred to the delivery condition.

For this purpose, the connection fitting regularly undergoes a radial application of force, for example such that the connection fitting or its fitting body is slightly reduced or enlarged in its diameter. In both cases, this radial application of force ensures that the seal with its inner annular surface in the example no longer in the annular groove is held in the riser and is applied by the force of the closing spring to the sealing surfaces. In principle, the riser pipe could also experience axial loading, so that, as a result, the inner annular surface of the seal is released from the annular groove and the seal subsequently assumes its closed position. This then applies to the connection fitting as a whole.

Of course, the change from the delivery state to the delivery state can also be realized in other ways. The only thing that matters is the fact that the connection fitting and / or the seal in the delivery state occupy a locking position or an otherwise kind of temporary position with defined passage opening. This temporary position or detent position is mechanically canceled when the delivery state changes to the delivery state. This usually happens at the same time with the determination of the connection fitting including seal on the container neck of the container. Undoubtedly, this can also be done in chronological succession. Ie. that the delivery state is set first and then a connection between the container neck and the connection fitting including seal takes place or vice versa.

As a result, a container and an associated method for filling such a container are described with the aid of which the filling speed can be increased significantly and, moreover, the risk of permanent contamination of the connection fitting is significantly reduced. Here are the main benefits.

In the following the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing showing only one exemplary embodiment. The single FIGURE shows a container according to the invention in the region of its container neck.

In the figure, a container is shown, which in the exemplary embodiment is a keg 1 made of plastic, in particular of PET (polyethylene terephthalate). Such kegs 1 are used as disposable containers for holding drinks, for example beer. After emptying the keg leaves 1 this generally shrink in volume or compress and then recycle.

The keg 1 or generally the large-volume disposable container made of, for example, plastic is equipped with a connection fitting 2 with seal 3. The connection fitting 2 including seal 3 is also referred to as a valve or keg head 2, 3. The basic structure still includes an illustrated riser 4, through which the located in the interior of the container 1 and there bottled liquid is pressed out under pressure.

The connection fitting 2 is composed in detail of a fitting body 2a and a merely indicated and optional stop 2b. In the fitting body 2a is an annular and in cross-section L-shaped flange, which is inserted into a neck 5 of the keg 1. After insertion, the connection fitting 2 as a whole or the fitting body or flange 2a may be non-positively and / or positively connected to the neck 5 of the keg 1, as described in the introduction already WO 2008/083782 A2 will be explained in detail. In addition, the fitting body or flange 2a serves as a support and stop element for a spring respectively closing spring 6, which is supported with its foot on the fitting body 2a and applied with its head, the seal 3, which against a stop 7 on the head side of the riser 4 and there formed sealing surfaces. The riser 4 is arranged in the example stationary in the keg 1, but in principle can also be moved in the axial direction, as has already been described in the introduction.

In fact, the invention distinguishes namely between a delivery state of the connection fitting 2 and the seal 3, as shown in solid lines in the figure and a delivery state in dashed lines. In the delivery state, the connection fitting 2 or the seal 3 define at least one passage opening 8 in the form of one or more annular gaps, through which, for example, overpressure located in the keg 1 can escape. On the other hand take the connection fitting 2 respectively the seal 3 their delivery state (shown in phantom), so the passage opening 8 is closed.

In the former case, the seal 3 with respect to the connection fitting 2 an at least partially open position. In fact, the seal 3 is locked in the delivery state relative to the connection fitting 2 in contrast raised position. For this purpose, the seal 3 has a detent holder 9 in detail.

In the case of this example, this detent holder 9 is a recess or annular groove 9 into which the gasket 3 engages with its inner annular surface 3a. In contrast, the outer annular surface 3b of the seal 3 abuts against the fitting body 2a. The connection fitting 2, the seal 3, the riser pipe 4, the keg 1 and also the container neck 5 are overall rotationally symmetrical in comparison to a common axis A. For this reason, the seal 3 has a circular ring-like character with the already mentioned inner annular surface 3a and the outer annular surface 3b.

As already stated, engages the seal 3 with its inner annular surface 3 a in the annular groove 9 in the riser 4, in the delivery state of the connection fitting 2 and the seal 3. Thus, the seal 3 a distance B against the stop 7 on the riser 4 and consequently the sealing surface formed at this point. In this delivery state, the connection fitting 2 with the seal 3 therein is inserted into the container neck 5 after filling of the keg 1 or generally of the container. In this way, any pressure which may be established over the filled liquid or the filling material can be reduced without difficulty, because this pressure leaves the container or the keg 1 due to the passage opening 8 defined in the delivery condition.

After the connection fitting 2 has been used with the seal 3 in the container neck 5 of the filled container 1 in the delivery state and any excess pressure could escape from the container interior, the connection fitting 2 including the seal 3 in the Delivered condition. At the same time the connection fitting 2 including seal 3 is connected to the container neck 5. In most cases, the connection of the connection fitting 2 with the container neck 5 at the same time and practically at the same time ensures that the connection fitting 2 or the seal 3 are transferred to the delivery state by closing the passage opening 8.

To achieve this in detail, in the exemplary embodiment, the fitting body 2a is acted upon by a force F acting in the radial direction R, so that the seal 3 undergoes a slight deformation and its inner annular surface 3a leaves the annular groove 9 or the detent holder 9 formed in this way , As a result, the seal 3 is at least partially open position relative to the connection fitting 2 in the delivery state, because the closing spring 6 ensures that the now released from the riser pipe 4 seal 3 is pressed against the stopper 7. As a result, the keg 1 is closed and the liquid inside can not (more) .austritt. The container is thus in the delivery condition and can be equipped, for example, with the tap head described in the introduction in order to squeeze out the liquid or the contents present in the interior.

Claims (11)

1. Container, in particular a large-volume disposable container, for example a keg (1), for accommodating liquids, in particular for accommodating drinks, with a connection fitting (2) with a seal (3), wherein the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3) exhibit a delivery condition and a dispatch condition, wherein the delivery condition pertains at least until the connection of the connection fitting (2) to the container neck (5), and the dispatch condition pertains at the latest after the connection of the connection fitting (2) to the container neck of the filled container, wherein the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3) in the delivery condition are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that these form an open passage opening (8), which in the dispatch condition is closed,
   characterised in that
   the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3) in the delivery condition adopt a latch position or another form of temporary position with a passage opening defined thereby, wherein this temporary position is raised mechanically when the delivery condition transposes into the dispatch condition.
2. Container according to claim 1, characterised in that in the delivery condition the seal (3) adopts an at least partially opened position in relation to the connection fitting (2).
3. Container according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the seal (3) is latch engaged in relation to the connection fitting (2) in a raised position.
4. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the connection fitting (2), with the seal (3) located in it, in the delivery condition after filling is inserted into a container neck (5).
5. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the connection fitting (2), with the seal (3) located in it in the delivery condition, is transferred into the dispatch condition by being pressed to the container neck (5).
6. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the change from the dispatch condition to the delivery condition is put into effect by the imposition of force on the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3).
7. Container according to claim 6, characterised in that the imposition of force is applied in the radial direction.
8. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that in the delivery condition the seal (3) engages into a cut-out opening (9) in the riser tube (4).
9. Container according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the seal (3) is made of plastic.
10. Method for filling a container according to claim 1, in particular a large-volume disposable container, for example a keg (1), for accommodating liquids, in particular for accommodating drinks, with the following method steps:

    10.1) first, the container is filled via a container neck (5) with the desired liquid;

    10.2) next, a connection fitting (2) with a seal (3) is inserted into the container neck (5), wherein the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3) in the delivery condition are arranged in relation to one another in such a way that these form an open passage opening (8);

    10.3) finally, the connection fitting (2) is connected to the container head (5), and, as a result, the connection fitting (2) and/or the seal (3) are transferred into the dispatch condition by the closing of the passage opening (8).
11. Method according to claim 10, characterised in that the connection fitting (2), with the seal (3) located in it, is subjected to a radial force (F) for the connection to the container neck (5).

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