ITRM20110454A1 - "RECYCLABLE CONTAINER TO STORE, TRANSPORT AND STAKE GEL DRINKS, BEHIND THE BEER" - Google Patents

Description

Description of the invention entitled:

â € œRECYCLABLE CONTAINER FOR STORING, TRANSPORTING AND DRAINING CARBONATED BEVERAGES, INCLUDING BEERâ €

DESCRIPTION

Technical sector

The present invention generally relates to beverage containers (including beer, non-alcoholic carbonated drinks, etc.), and more particularly to a container that is easier to manage in all its phases, compared to existing traditional containers.

Specifically, the invention refers to a container for storing, transporting and tapping carbonated beverages, including beer.

Known technique

Currently the most common solution for the storage, transport and tapping of drinking liquids, in particular beer, consists of a reusable monobloc container, which is subjected to long and expensive procedures in environmental and economic terms for its restoration and reuse. Furthermore, a disposable plastic containment system is being marketed (ref. Eurokeg Patent US2010089488A1) with food bag, valve and plastic plug.

Instead, the container of the present invention comprises four main elements, namely an external container, a disposable internal container, a disposable food bag containing the beverage to be dispensed, and a valve assembly for tapping.

Brief description of the drawings

The advantages and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the differences with respect to the known art, will result from the following detailed description which is purely illustrative and not limitative of the object of the present invention in some of its particular embodiments, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows in perspective, from left to right, the closure of the openable and reusable external container, as well as the detail of the closure and sealing system of the same external container;

FIGURE 2 shows:

- above, assembly of a disposable internal container equipped with a handle, and stacking of two such identical containers;

- below, assembly of a disposable internal container without handle, and stacking of two such identical containers;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the flat development and possible three-dimensional shapes of a disposable food bag to be heat-sealed or glued to the valve assembly; FIGURE 4a is the section and the relative side view of a disposable or replaceable valve assembly, fixed to the hole of the disposable inner container;

Figure 4b illustrates, according to various views, the disposable or replaceable valve assembly of Figure 4a, shown in isolation, with its tear tab of the element or system for fastening to the disposable container;

FIGURE 5a represents respectively the section and the side view of a disposable valve assembly, respectively fixed to the disposable inner container, or shown in isolation;

FIGURE 5b is respectively the perspective view from the upper side and the lower side of the disposable valve assembly already shown in Figure 5a, as well as a view of a detail of the anti-unscrewing means (tabs) which would only allow the forced and irreversible removal of the assembly. disposable valve after its screwing / tightening on the disposable inner container;

FIGURE 6 shows the use during the installation of the container of the present invention, and specifically the balancing phase of the pressure chambers and the pressurization of the reusable external container;

FIGURE 7 shows an alternative external container equipped with snap hook-like alternative tightening tools;

FIGURE 8 is similar to Figure 7 but shows the insertion of the internal container (4) highlighting the alternative clamping system (3â € ™).

Description of some preferred embodiments of the present invention In the present description of the invention details may have been omitted to be considered obvious to a person skilled in the art. In fact, the description of some embodiments of the invention, to be considered currently preferred, has the sole purpose of clarifying the basic inventive concept and of allowing a technician of the sector, of medium ability, to implement the invention without any inventive effort.

Furthermore, in the present description an attempt has been made to avoid unnecessary and / or excessive repetitions when some characteristics of an embodiment coincided with those of another embodiment, already described.

With reference to Figure 1, the external container is made of sheet steel, it can be disassembled, and consists of two main components, the body 1 of the barrel-shaped container and its top cap 2. The closure and the tightness between the two components 1, 2 is ensured through a system 3 with hook and zip to tighten, which facilitates the replacement of an internal disposable container (refill) 4 contained inside the external container (1, 2).

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, on the other hand, Figure 7 and Figure 8, the external container is made up of two main components, the body 1â € ™ and the top cap 2â € ™; in this embodiment, the closure of these elements 1â € ™ and 2â € ™ is guaranteed by tightening tools consisting of snap hooks 3â € ™ mounted on the body 1â € ™ which hook onto special sites located on the top cap 2â € ™.

In this embodiment of the invention the body 1 of the outer container has a cylindrical shape. The top cap 2â € ™, on the other hand, always has a cylindrical shape; said top cap 2â € ™ consists of an upper part where the hooks for the clamping system 3â € ™ are located; and a lower part that will join with the body 1â € ™. With reference to Figure 2, it shows the details of the disposable inner container, in the version with handle, 4, and respectively without handle, 4â € ™. The disposable internal container is a disposable drum made of tinplate sheet, iron, steel or aluminum alloy, in variable thickness depending on the component (from 0.4 to 1 mm), with a capacity in terms of volume between 20 and 30 liters. This system is fully recyclable, allows tapping with compressed gas and is compactable after use in order to reduce its size and facilitate transport operations to recycling sites. The disposable inner container can be used in the two versions, 4 and 4â € ™, both stackable, with handle 5 or without handle.

The disposable inner container is made up of a truncated cone shaped body 6 (6 ') called ferrule, an upper closing element 7 (7', called dome), equipped with an interface for tapping and hooking the valve unit , a circular base 8 (8â € ™, called the bottom), and a handle 5 that facilitates transport, where the apexes refer to the version without handle 5.

The aforesaid container has inside it a disposable food bag 9, in which the transported liquid, in particular beer, is contained.

The disposable food bag 9 (see Figure 3) for liquids, heat-sealed, is made up of a multilayer film of polymeric films. The disposable food bag 9 has an expanded volume greater than the dimensions of the internal container so as to discharge the internal pressures on the walls of the latter. The bag is made by an octagonal heat-sealing or by heat-sealing the edges (Figure 3). The disposable food bag 9 is heat-sealed or glued to the valve assembly, as described below.

The reusable valve assembly is shown in Figures 4a and 4b. The element 10 of the valve assembly can be fixed to the hole 11 made in the disposable inner container by means of a system of creasing, rolling or stamping on the parts once they are brought into contact with each other. The pressure seal of the valve group is guaranteed by the gasket 15 interposed between a flange of the element 10 and a flange 16 made on the sheet of the disposable internal container. A special slot 17, for the insertion of the gasket 15 can be made in the lower part of the sealing flange of element 10. The system is designed to be reused as it can be fixed again by replacing the system 12 with a new one. The disposable food bag 9 is fixed to the element 10 by gluing or heat sealing to the flange 19 of the element 10. This flange 19 will have a smaller diameter than the diameter of the hole 11 and of the centering element 13 to allow the insertion of the element 10 and the bag 9 in the hole 11. The liquid contained in the bag 9 is prevented from escaping from the cap 14 which, reaching the stop with the step 18, cannot exit from the container and is therefore able to hold high pressures. A gasket 29 can be added on the plug 14 to improve the tightness of the system. The opening of the cap 14 is obtained by inserting the tool 21. The pressure on the upper surface of the cap 14 causes a lowering of the cap itself and a consequent bending of the arms 22 for the narrowing of the diameter of the mouth 23. The cap does not fall inside the bag since the bending of the arms 22 causes a narrowing of the diameter 24, in this way the hooks 20 grip the flange 25 provided in the tool 21. The tool 21 does not it must never be inserted more than the height of the arms 22 and by extracting it, instead of returning the cap 14 to its closed position, it is obtained. The tool 21 has an internal cavity 26 which serves to make the liquid flow during the phases of filling the bag of the disposable internal container. It is also possible to modify the liquid flow by adjusting the height of the cap 14. If you are not interested in ensuring the reclosability of the system, it is possible to push and drop the cap 14 into the bag 9 with a simple cylindrical instrument from the diameter less than diameter 24. The valve assembly (10, 14) including the bag for liquids 9 can be easily removed from the disposable inner container through (crf. Fig. 4b) a removal tab 27, arranged on the fastening element 12 which, if pulled, breaks the fixing ring 12 and allows the parts to be extracted. A membrane 28 is fixed to the valve assembly to protect the liquid leakage hole from external contaminants.

A second possible embodiment of the valve assembly, in a disposable version, will now be described with reference to Figures 5a and 5b. In these figures, to simplify and make a distinction (to avoid confusion) with respect to the other figures above, each reference number will be greater than thirty (30). Obviously, some numbers, although different from the previous ones, will indicate identical or similar / analogous components to those already described above, but this will certainly not give rise to confusion (e.g. hole 32 has its analog in hole 11 of Fig. 4a, 37 corresponds to 4 or 4â € ™, etc. etc.).

Therefore, the valve assembly can alternatively be a disposable component, composed of an element 31, fixed to the hole 32 made in the disposable inner container 37 by means of a threaded coupling system 33. The element 31 is then screwed onto the sheet 37 through the use of a key inserted in the recess 34. The system is bound not to unscrew thanks to the teeth 38, made under the sealing flange of the element 31, which couple with the raised tabs 50 and made on the edge of hole 32. The unit is designed so that it can be fixed only once, a forced removal of element 31 inevitably compromises the functionality of the anti-unscrewing tabs 50.

The pressure seal of the valve group is guaranteed by the gasket 35 interposed between the flange of the element 31 and the sheet metal 37. A special slot 36, for the insertion of the gasket 35 can be made in the lower part of the sealing flange of element 31 (Fig. 5b).

The liquid bag 39 is fixed to the element 31 by gluing or heat sealing to the flange 40 of the element 31. This flange will have a diameter smaller than the thread diameter 33 to allow the insertion of the element 31 and the bag 39 in hole 32.

The liquid contained in the bag 39 is prevented from escaping from the cap 41 which, coming into contact with the flange 43, cannot leave the container and is therefore able to hold even high pressures. A gasket 42 can be added on plug 41 to improve the tightness of the system. The opening of the cap 41 is obtained by simply pressing on the upper surface of the same. The cap 14 returns to its closed position, resting on the flange 43, thanks to the elastic return of the elements 44. The cap 41 is made separately from the element 31 and inserted into the latter through the hole 45. The elastic elements 44 they are then blocked in the element 31 by the edge 46 thus preventing the cap 41 from coming out of the containment cage. When the cap 41 is lowered with respect to the stop 43, the lateral holes 47 allow the liquid contained in the disposable food bag 39 to escape through the slots 47 which communicate with the outside of the container through the hole 48. It is also possible to modify the flow the liquid comes out by adjusting the height of the cap 41.

The valve assembly (31, 41) including the liquid bag 39 can be easily removed from the disposable inner container by means of a wrench which, inserted in the recess 34 and turned in the direction of loosening of the threaded coupling, forces the component in removal. The removal of the component will necessarily damage the serrated teeth 38 and therefore the element 31 will no longer be able to be locked a second time on the hole 32.

The part of the container, comprising the disposable internal container, food bag and valve unit is filled with the relative drink and is inserted into the external container of the removable steel invention, supplied to the dealer (Fig. 6 - Balancing and putting under pressure ): the insertion is followed by the removal of the tabs for balancing the pressure chambers and the subsequent closing of the external container, to maintain the correct pressure required for tapping.

Tapping can only take place after the lid 2 of Figure 1 has been secured to the central body 1 of the external container, by means of the clamping system 3 or 3â € ™. In order to ensure safe use under pressure, the tightening tools (hinge system 3 or locking hooks 3â € ™) must be locked in their closed position by means of safety pins in order to avoid any accidental opening of the external container (1 , 2; 1â € ™, 2â € ™).

The dispensing of the liquid is obtained by putting the external container under pressure which will push the liquid out through the tapping pin which, once the lid 2 is fitted, is connected directly to the disposable internal container 4 or 37.

The disposable container 4 (4â € ™ or 37) has a pressure preload of about 0.5 - 1 bar, which determines a stiffening of the walls, a better conservation of the liquid and a greater seal of the cap 14 or 41. The venting of the preload can be achieved by drilling the internal disposable container, which determines the balance between the internal pressure of the disposable internal container and the pressure applied to the external container. The venting causes a reduction in the tightness of the cap 14 or 41 and the system can be put under pressure by starting the standard tapping process.

The innovations introduced by the present invention mainly concern two areas: materials and product design.

The present invention presupposes the use of metal, in particular aluminum or steel, as regards the external part of the container. The choice of materials for the outside of the container and for the internal disposable unit allows to overcome the technical, commercial and marketing difficulties encountered in the already existing solutions, in particular those that involve the exclusive use of plastic and consequent elimination of the external metal shell.

Materials that are easily recyclable and at the same time suitable for the storage and transport of food and edible products are used, in particular:

â € ¢ The disposable food bag for liquids is made up of a multilayer of polymeric films;

â € ¢ The external container is made of steel;

â € ¢ The disposable inner container is made of tinplate, iron, steel or aluminum alloy, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8 mm thick, with a volume capacity of 20, 25 or 30 liters. The walls are stiffened through a preload of 0.5-1 bar.

The product is also made in such a way as to be stackable and transportable on pallets, as well as being of minimum encumbrance for the end user: it is estimated the possibility of loading a certain number of drums on a Europallet, each with a lower weight. to 25 kg to safeguard the health and safety conditions for the operators involved in the transport, loading and unloading of these. The design of the container is made in such a way as to prevent direct contact between the gas necessary for tapping and the drink to be served to customers, which degrades the quality of the drink itself.

The innovation introduced is compatible with current interfaces (filling and tapping) and guarantees high performance in terms of mechanical resistance to impacts and damage, which could take place during the various stages of logistics.

Finally, the container of the present invention has a design that can be reproduced at different scales, in order to create customized solutions (for example from 5 liters) of â € œcustomâ € dimensions and with a design suitable for private events.

DEFINITIONS

The overall structure of the container is made up of 4 main elements:

â— Removable steel OUTER CONTAINER, equipped with locking levers for applying the pressure required for use; â— DISPOSABLE INTERNAL CONTAINER in light steel or aluminum, equipped with carrying handle;

â— DISPOSABLE FOOD BAG for liquids with integrated system for inserting the spinon;

â— VALVE GROUP for tapping.

This layout allows to obtain a partially reusable and partially disposable product, resistant to pollutants and easily disassembled, disposable and recyclable, being made up exclusively of recyclable metals and plastics.

Impact and advantages of the invention

The product referred to in the present invention will have the following technological and environmental impacts:

1. the weight of the drum is reduced by breaking it down into different components: the lighter components, made up of metal and plastic, are those subject to transport; the heavier element is, on the other hand, supplied to the end user and does not need to be transported except for the first useful transport;

2. the re-entry, sterilization and washing phases of the keg at the company producing the carbonated beverage (for example brewery) are eliminated through the new design, eliminating the costs of re-entering the keg, with relative economic and hygienic advantages (elimination of the risk of bacterial nesting) and environmental ones linked to less use of different means of transport;

3. the internal disposable container can be optimized by dimensioning its thicknesses to a lower pressure limit than that required for the standard tapping process. The reduction of the environmental impact is further obtained through weight reduction and raw material reduction;

4. the quality of the carbonated drink remains constant and is preserved, as there is no longer direct contact between beer and tapping gas, now mediated by the food bag;

5. the new solution guarantees, with equal mechanical resistance, a better handling of the container;

6. the new concept of the product also facilitates stackability and, consequently, the transportability of the system;

7. possibility of preparing tailor-made solutions for particular needs related to marketing events, private events, ceremonies and parties;

8. It is also possible to tap the liquid with the use of other gases (for example compressed air, nitrogen) thus reducing the impact associated with the transport of CO2 cylinders.

Since the disposable inner container is made by means of a seaming process, it is possible to send the separate parts to the person who takes care of the drum. In this way, a further reduction of the overall dimensions and environmental impacts associated with transport is obtained.

List of terms of reference

(internal and external containers)

1 external container body

1â € ™ external container body

2 external container top cap

2â € ™ top cap external container

3 closing and sealing system (zipper to tighten)

3â € ™ closing and sealing system (clamping hooks)

4 disposable inner container

4â € ™ disposable inner container

5 internal container handle

6 disposable internal container body

6â € ™ disposable internal container body

7 upper closing element

7â € ™ upper closing element

8 circular base

8â € ™ circular base

9 disposable food bag

(reusable valve assembly: Figs 4a and 4b)

10 element / body of the reusable valve assembly

11 hole disposable container

12 element / fastening system (wrinkle, rolling or stamping) 13 centering element

14 valve cap

15 gasket (main)

16 disposable container sheet flange

17 cavity for gasket 15

18 stop / step of element 10

19 flange for gluing / welding element 10 20 hooks

21 tool

22 arms

23 mouth of the valve element 10

24 diameter

25 lower flange of the tool

26 internal cavity of the tool

27 tab

28 membrane

29 cap gasket 14

30 - (disposable valve group: Figs. 5a and 5b)

31 element / body of disposable valve assembly 32 hole disposable container

33 thread

34 recessed

35 gasket (main)

36 cavity for gasket 35

37 disposable inner container

38 teeth (unscrewing system)

39 disposable food bag

40 flange for bonding / welding of element 31 41 valve cap

42 cap gasket 41

43 stop / step of element 31

44 elastic elements

45 hole (lower) disposable valve body

bottom edge of hole 45

side holes / slots of disposable valve body (upper) hole disposable valve body

-linguettes (anti-unscrewing system)

Claims (15)

CLAIMS 1. Container for storing, transporting and tapping beverages, preferably carbonated, including beer, comprising - a reusable metal outer container (1, 2; 1 ', 2'), having a main body (1; 1 ') and a top cap (2; 2'), - a disposable internal metal container (4; 4 '; 37), compactable and recyclable, with coupling interface (11, 12; 32, 33) to a valve group (10, 14; 31, 41), - a disposable food bag (9, 39) containing the drink, this bag being made of plastic material and formed by a multilayer film with at least one barrier layer to avoid the diffusion of gas, for example of the tapping gas, through it, and - a valve assembly (10, 14; 31, 41) comprising a stationary valve body (10; 31), fixed to the disposable inner container (4, 4 '; 37) at said coupling interface (11, 12 ; 32, 33), and a cap (14; 41) movable between a raised closing position and a lowered opening position, said cap (14; 41) movable having lateral openings for the passage of the drink, and in which - said disposable food bag (9; 39) is fixed, for example glued or welded, to a part (19; 40) of the valve body (10; 31) which is inside the disposable container (4; 4 ' ; 37) when the valve assembly (10, 14; 31, 41) is mounted or fixed to the disposable internal container (4; 4 '; 37), characterized by the fact that the external container (1, 2; 1', 2 ') can be easily closed and opened by means of said cap (2, 2') to a locking system (3; 3â € ™). 2. Container according to claim 1, characterized in that said disposable internal container (4; 4â € ™; 37) has a pressure preload equal to about 0.5 to 1 bar for the stiffening of its parts, which is vented by drilling the internal disposable container (4; 4 '; 37) with consequent balancing between the internal pressure and a pressure applied in the external metal container (1, 2); the venting causing the reduction of the tightness of said movable cap (14; 41) and the container being able to be pressurized by starting a standard tapping process. Container according to claim 2, characterized in that the closing system with hinges to tighten and clamping hooks (3, 3 '), comprises a safety system with safety pin which prevents accidental opening. 4. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said disposable internal container (4; 4 '; 37) is made of tinplate sheet, iron alloy, steel, or aluminum, preferably 0 , 5 - 0.8 mm, and has a handle (5) to facilitate its transport. 5. Container according to any one of the preceding claims, in which said disposable food bag (9; 39) is made of a polymeric multilayer film, it has a cylindrical shape and is made by heat sealing the maximum circumference, or alternatively by heat sealing along the edges, it being also predisposed for gluing and heat sealing on said valve assembly (10, 14; 31, 41). 6. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5 equipped with valve assembly (10, 14), characterized in that the valve assembly (10, 14) is of the reusable type, i.e. separable from the disposable inner container (4 ; 4 ') to be reused. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-6 equipped with valve assembly (10, 14) according to claim 6, characterized in that it is connected to the disposable inner container (4; 4 ') by means of an element (12 for wrinkle or rolled or molded fixing, formed on said coupling interface between the disposable container and the valve body. 8. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-7 equipped with a valve assembly (10, 14) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said movable valve cap (14) can be coupled, for its opening, to an internally hollow tapping tool (21) (26), and by the fact that a membrane (28) covers the stationary valve body (10) at the top and the element (12) to prevent the ingress of external contaminants before the first use of the container. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-8 equipped with a valve assembly (10, 14) according to claim 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that a tear-off element, for example a tensile tab (27), forms a single piece with said element (12) and serves to remove or separate the reusable valve assembly (10, 14) and the disposable food bag (9), from the disposable internal container (4). 10. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9 equipped with a valve assembly (10, 14) according to claim 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that said movable cap (14) abuts against a flange (19), in said raised closed position, so as to be able to withstand high internal pressures, while it can reach its open lowered position by exerting pressure on an upper surface. 11. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-10 equipped with a valve assembly (10, 14) according to claim 10, characterized in that it is possible to modify the flow of the beverage outflow from the food bag (9) by adjusting the position and / or the height of the cap. Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-6 equipped with a valve assembly (31, 41) characterized in that the valve assembly (31, 41) is of the disposable type, i.e. it comprises a coupling system (38, 50) between the disposable inner container (37) and the valve assembly (31, 41), designed to prevent the detachment between the latter if not intervening with a forced removal, such as to irreversibly destroy the coupling system itself (38, 50) . Container according to any one of the preceding claims 1-5, with valve assembly (31, 41) of the disposable type, i.e. comprising an irreversible coupling system (38, 50) between the disposable inner container (37) and the valve (31, 41), said coupling system (38, 50) constituting a threaded coupling system (33) and constrained not to unscrew to a unidirectional anti-unscrewing toothing (38) on the body (31) cooperating with the tabs (50 ) raised and made on the edge of an upper hole (32) of the disposable container, used to introduce and fix the valve body. 14. Container according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a valve assembly of the disposable or reusable type, according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 12, having elastic return elements which allow the return of the movable cap of the valve assembly, abutment against the closing flange (19) or against a step (43) of the stationary valve body. Container according to any one of the preceding claims comprising a valve assembly of the disposable or reusable type, according to any one of the preceding claims 6 to 12 and 14, bearing gaskets (29; 42) on its movable cap, which guarantee a seal to the liquid consisting of the drink contained in the disposable food bag, when this cap (14; 41) is in the closed condition.