GB2257116A - Dispensing cooled drink from bag-in-box. - Google Patents

Abstract

A converter apparatus for dispensing drinks such as spring water comprises a support 10 having a shelf 13 for supporting a bag-in-box 2. A valve 15 operated by a float 16 delivers water from the bag-in-box 2 to a cooler dispenser. The connection from the bag-in-box 2 to the dispenser is via a flexible tube 19 connected to the body 17 of the valve 15 and quick release fittings 25, 26 which allow the bag-in-box to be fitted in a hygienic manner. <IMAGE>

Description

Converter ApParatus The invention relates to drink dispensers, and in particular to apparatus for use in dispensing chilled water.

It is known to supply water to refrigerated dispensers in large glass or plastic bottles, usually of five gallon capacity. The bottles are mounted in an inverted position with the neck of the bottle engaging a socket in the dispenser.

There are a number of problems with such dispensers. The bottles, by virtue of their capacity, are large and cumbersome and are generally difficult to handle. The handler must, of necessity finger the neck of the bottle when mounting it on the dispenser leading to potential contamination problems.

Further, in order to dispense water from the bottle nonsterile air is admitted into the bottle.

In an effort to overcome some of these difficulties it is known, for example from U.S. Patent Specification No.

3,060,703 to provide water dispensers with water contained in a so-called bag-in-box. In such arrangements the container is in the form of a bag of flexible material housed within an outer rigid container.

It is also known, for example from U.S. 3,688,950 to provide an adaptor to allow containers of the bag-in-box type to be used with conventional water cooler/dispensers which would normally be used with large glass or plastic bottle containers. There are, however, a number of problems with conventional adaptors. They are generally difficult to use, are of complex construction and, most importantly their use can lead to contamination problems.

This invention is directed towards providing an improved adaptor to overcome at least some of these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided converter apparatus for dispensing drinks from a bag-in-box through a cooler dispenser comprising: a support member having means for receiving and supporting a bag-in-box having a discharge outlet fitting, valve means for delivery of liquid from the bag-in-box to a cooler dispenser, and connection means between the bag-in-box discharge outlet fitting and the valve means, the connection means comprising a connection tube means extending between an inlet of the valve means and a dispenser fitting, the dispenser fitting being releasably engagable in a substantially hygienic manner with the outlet fitting of the bag-in-box.

In one embodiment of the invention the dispenser fitting is a push fit with the bag-in-box outlet fitting.

In a preferred arrangement the connector tube is flexible over at least part of its length and is engagable at one end with a spigot provided on the valve means and, at the other end, with a spigot of the dispenser fitting.

In one embodiment of the invention the support member is arranged for engagement with an open top of a cooler dispenser.

Preferably the support member includes shelf means for supporting a bag-in-box. Ideally the shelf means is provided between a pair of upstanding projections which are spacedapart to define therebetween a slot means for receiving the base of a bag-in-box. Preferably the projections are provided by upstanding side walls.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention one of the side walls is provided with a hole through which the connection tube means passes, for connection to the valve means.

In one embodiment of the invention the valve means comprises a valve body attached to the underside of the support member, the valve body having an inlet which extends generally sidewardly of the valve body.

Preferably a float operated valving member is provided in the valve body for flow of liquid from the inlet, through the valve body to a cooler dispenser.

In one preferred arrangement the valve body includes an inwardly projecting seat for engagement with the valving member, the valving member being displaced relative to the seat by a float from a float-raised closed position in which flow of liquid through the valve body is prevented to a floatlowered open position in which liquid flows through the valve body to a cooler dispenser.

Preferably the float comprises float body and a support arm extending at one end into the valve body, the support arm being attached to the valving member.

The invention also provides a cooler dispenser incorporating an apparatus according to the invention.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a converter apparatus according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of portion of the apparatus of Fig. 1 assembled; Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a cooler dispenser for use with the apparatus with an existing top cover in place; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of part of the cooler dispenser of Fig. 3 with the top cover removed to receive the apparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cooler dispenser with the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in place; Fig. 6 is an enlarged, partially cross sectional view of part of the converter apparatus; Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of part of the apparatus in one position;; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view of part of the apparatus in use; Fig. 9 is a view in the direction of the arrows IX in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 8 in a different position of use.

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 a converter apparatus 1 according to the invention for dispensing drinks, especially spring water, from a bag-in-box 2. The converter apparatus is in this case for use with a conventional cooler dispenser A illustrated in Fig. 3 which is normally fitted with a top cover plate B having an inlet aperture C to receive a bottle-type container as described above. As illustrated in Fig. 4 in this case the cover plate B is removed from the cooler dispenser A. A cooler dispenser with the apparatus of Figs. 1 and 2 in place is illustrated in Fig. 5.

The converter apparatus 1 comprises a support member 10 having a pair of upstanding side wall portions 11, 12 which are spaced-apart to define a shelf 13 for supporting a bag-inbox 2. A valve 15 operated by a float 16 delivers water from the bag-in-box 2 to the cooler dispenser A. The valve 15 comprises a valve body 17 attached to the underside of the support member 10, the body 17 having a sidewardly extending spigot 18 to which a connection means in the form of a flexible tube 19 is attached. The tube 19 extends through a hole 20 in the sidewall 12 of the support member 10 and the free end thereof is attached to a spigot 24 of a dispenser fitting 25. The bag-in-box 2 has an outlet provided with an outlet fitting 26 which is releasably engagable with the dispenser fitting 25 in a hygienic manner. The fittings 25, 26 are preferably of the type referred to as "post mix" fittings.

Referring particularly to Figs. 6 to 10 the underside of the support member 10 is provided with a seat 30 in which n O- ring seal 31 is mounted. The valve body 17 is fitted to the seat 30 as illustrated. A valving member 35 is housed within the valve body 17 and includes a sidewardly extending projection 36 which is engagable with a seat 37 which extends inwardly from the side wall of the valve body 17. An extension arm 40 for the float 16 is attached to the valving member 35 and an O-ring seal 41 is provided between the valving member 35 and the underside of the seat 37. In the float lowered position illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 the seal 41 is released from the seat 37 and, by virtue of the oblong shape of the top 36 of the valving member 35 water is free to flow through the gap between the valving member 35 and the seat 37.The water then flows along the extension arm 40 of the float 16 and over the edge of the float. As will be particularly apparent from Fig. 10, when the float 16 is raised, the seal 41 engages with the underside of the seat 37, cutting off the flow of water.

In use, the support member 10, valve body 17 and float 16 are assembled and the connecting tube 19, with the fitting 25 attached, is semi-permanently attached to the spigot 18 of the valve body 17. The conventional cover plate B of the cooler dispenser A is removed and the support plate 10 is mounted on the cooler dispenser A. A bag-in-box 2, which in this case contains spring water, is factory fitted with an outlet fitting 26 and mounted directly on the shelf 13 of the support member 10. The fittings 25, 26 are then push-fitted together without the operator having to contact any parts through which water from the bag-in-box 2 flows. The position of the float 16 depends on the level of water in a reservoir in the cooler dispenser A.If the reservoir is full the float is in the fully raised position illustrated in Fig. 10 and the flow of water through the valve body 17 is prevented by the seal 41 which, together with the float extension arm 40 closes off the gap in the valve body 17 defined by the seat 37. When the level of water in the cooler dispenser reservoir falls the float travels downwardly in the direction of the arrow X in Fig. 10, releasing the pressure on the seal 41 and allowing water to flow between the float extension arm 40 and the valve body 17 and over the outside of the float body 16 into the cooler dispenser A.

To change to a new bag-in-box, the user simply disconnects the dispenser fitting 25 from the bag-in-box fitting 26, places a new bag-in-box on the shelf 13 and engages the dispenser fitting 25 with the fitting 26 of the new bag-in-box. In this way the user does not contact any part of the apparatus which is in contact with water and hygienic conditions are assured.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention may be used with any suitable cooler dispenser. Further, the invention provides a cooler dispenser incorporating such an apparatus.

It will also be appreciated that the apparatus may be used for dispensing liquids other than water. For example, the apparatus may be used for dispensing wine or soft drinks.

Many variations on the apparatus illustrated and described will be apparent and accordingly the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Claims (14)

CLINKS

1. Converter apparatus for dispensing drinks from a bag-in box through a cooler dispenser comprising: a support member having means for receiving and supporting a bag-in-box having a discharge outlet fitting, valve means for delivery of liquid from the bag-in box to a cooler dispenser, and connection means between the bag-in-box discharge outlet fitting and the valve means, the connection means comprising a connection tube means extending between an inlet of the valve means and a dispenser fitting, the dispenser fitting being releasably engagable in a substantially hygienic manner with the outlet fitting of the bag-in-box.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the dispenser fitting is a- push fit with the bag-in-box outlet fitting.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the connector tube is flexible over at least part of its length and is engagable at one end with a spigot provided on the valve means and, at the other end, with a spigot of the dispenser fitting.

4. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the support member is arranged for engagement with an open top of a cooler dispenser.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the support member includes shelf means for supporting a bag in-box.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein shelf means is provided between a pair of upstanding projections which are spaced-apart to define therebetween a slot means for receiving the base of a bag-in-box.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the projections are provided by upstanding side walls.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein one of the side walls is provided with a hole through which the connection tube means passes, for connection to the valve means.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve means comprises a valve body attached to the underside of the support member, the valve body having an inlet which extends generally sidewardly of the valve body.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the valve means comprises a valve body and a float operated valving member is provided in the valve body for flow of liquid from the inlet, through the valve body to a cooler dispenser.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the valve body includes an inwardly projecting seat for engagement with the valving member, the valving member being displaced relative to the seat by the float from a float-raised closed position in which flow of liquid through the valve body is prevented to a float-lowered open position in which liquid flows through the valve body to a cooler dispenser.

12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the float comprises a float body and a support arm extending at one end into the valve body, the support arm being attached to the valving member.

13. Converter apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

14. A cooler dispenser incorporating an apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim.