JP2000117216A - Cleaning device for beverage dispenser - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cleaning device for a beverage dispenser by which the cleaning work can be safely and easily done even by an unskilled operator. SOLUTION: This cleaning device for a beverage dispenser by which cleaning liquid is made to pass through a beverage path in the beverage dispenser for spouting out and distributing a beverage. This cleaning device is provided with a container body 2 in which washing liquid is stored, a cap 3 fitted to the container body 2, a container plug 4 to be fitted to the inner peripheral side of the cap 3, a gas valve 45 provided on the container plug 4 being energized in a closed state and opening or closing the pressurized gas feed to the container body 2, a pressure liquid valve 47 provided on the container plug 4 being energized in a closed state and opening or closing the washing liquid feed to outside the container body 2, and injection plugs 5, 6 provided on the container body 2 for performing the release of inner pressure of the container body 2 and injection of the washing liquid.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning device for a beverage dispenser for cleaning a beverage passage inside a dispenser connected to a beverage container such as a beer barrel and dispensing and dispensing a beverage into a glass or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A container stopper (fitting) is attached to a mouthpiece of a beverage container such as a beer barrel, and a dispense head is connected to the container stopper. A pressure gas such as carbon dioxide is supplied into a beverage container such as draft beer through the dispense head, and the beverage in the beverage container is discharged out of the container. The beverage is further supplied to the dispenser from the dispensing head, cooled in the dispenser, and poured into a glass or the like. The dispensing head and the passage of the beverage in the dispenser will cause
There is a possibility that the passage will be contaminated due to decay or the like. Therefore,
It is necessary to clean the internal passages after using the dispenser.

A conventional beverage dispenser washer is shown in FIG. The container body 12 of the cleaning device 11 includes:
It is configured as a pressure vessel that maintains airtightness even when a pressure gas is introduced inside. An attachment 14 is screwed and attached to a base 13 provided on an upper portion of the container body 12. Between the base 13 and the attachment 14,
It is sealed by a seal ring 19 to maintain airtightness. A dispense head attachment port 16 is provided in an upper portion of the attachment 14, and the dispense head 7 as shown in FIG. 4 can be attached.
The pressure release valve 15 is used to release the internal pressure caused by the pressure gas inside the container body 12 by turning it loosely by hand. A cleaning liquid such as tap water is injected and stored in the container body 12 from the dispense head mounting port 16.

In order to clean the dispenser, a cleaning device 1 is used.
The dispense head 7 is attached to the dispense head attachment port 16 of the dispense head 7, and the gas supply port 7 of the dispense head 7 is
4 supplies pressurized carbon dioxide gas. Then, the handle 73 of the dispense head 7 is rotated and pushed down together with the hollow shaft 71. Then, the pressurized carbon dioxide gas flows into the container body 12 from the passage 17 and pressurizes the cleaning liquid. The pressurized cleaning liquid passes through the hollow shaft 71 from the tube 18 and is supplied to the dispenser from the outlet 77. The dispensing head 7, the connecting pipe,
A beverage passage inside the dispenser or the like is cleaned.

When replenishing the cleaning liquid into the cleaning device 11, the gas supply is stopped by rotating the handle 73 of the dispense head 7 in the opposite direction to the gas supply, and then the pressure release valve 15 is turned to loosen. The pressure gas inside the cleaning device 11 is released to the atmosphere to release the internal pressure. Thereafter, the dispense head 7 is removed from the dispense head attachment port 16, and a cleaning liquid such as tap water is replenished from the dispense head attachment port 16.

[0006]

In the cleaning device 11 configured as described above, when replenishing the cleaning liquid, the pressure release valve 15 is operated to release the pressure inside the cleaning device 11, and then the dispense head 7 is removed. Although the procedure is determined as described above, it is very dangerous if the dispense head 7 is removed without releasing the internal pressure. If the pressurized gas remains inside the cleaning device 11, the dispense head 7 is blown off by the pressurized gas at the same time that the dispense head 7 is removed, and the dispense head 7 may hit the operator and injure the operator. Therefore, the cleaning operation must be performed by an operator who is familiar with this point, and the cleaning operation involves danger, which has been a factor that hinders frequent cleaning operations.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cleaning device for a beverage dispenser which can perform a cleaning operation safely and easily without being a skilled worker.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, a beverage dispenser cleaning device of the present invention provides a beverage to be cleaned by passing a cleaning liquid through a beverage passage inside a beverage dispenser for dispensing and dispensing a beverage. A cleaning device for a dispenser, a container main body capable of storing a cleaning liquid therein, a base provided in the container main body, a container stopper for attaching to an inner peripheral side of the base, and a closed state with the container stopper. A gas valve provided to be urged to open and close the supply of pressurized gas to the inside of the container body; A liquid valve for opening and closing the container, and an injection plug provided on the container main body for releasing the internal pressure of the container main body and for injecting the cleaning liquid.

[0009] In the above-mentioned beverage dispenser washer, the injection plug is provided in the container body, and has an internal cylinder having an internal thread portion and a tapered portion on an inner peripheral surface; A pressure release for releasing the internal pressure of the container body when the internal plug is loosened, the internal cylinder including an internal thread provided with a male screw portion to be screwed and a seal member pressed against the tapered portion. It is preferable that a hole is provided.

In the above-described beverage dispenser cleaning device, the base has a female screw portion and a seal engaging portion on an inner peripheral surface, and the container stopper has a female screw portion in the female screw portion of the base. A mating male screw portion and a seal member pressed against the seal engagement portion.The base has a pressure release hole for releasing the internal pressure of the container body when the container stopper is loosened. Preferably, it is provided.

In the above-mentioned cleaning device for a beverage dispenser, the container body may be a beverage container. The injection stopper is attached to a peripheral portion of a hole formed in the container body.

Further, the beverage dispenser cleaning device of the present invention is a beverage dispenser cleaning device for cleaning by passing a cleaning liquid through a beverage passage inside a beverage dispenser for dispensing and dispensing a beverage. A container main body capable of being stored, a cap provided on the container main body, having a female screw part and a seal engagement part on an inner peripheral surface; a male screw part screwed into the female screw part of the base and the seal engagement part A seal member pressed against, and a container stopper attached to the inner peripheral side of the mouthpiece, provided to be urged to the container stopper in a closed state,
A gas valve for opening and closing supply of pressurized gas to the inside of the container body, and provided to be urged to the container stopper in a closed state,
A liquid valve for opening and closing the pressure supply of the cleaning liquid to the outside of the container body, and the base is provided with a pressure release hole for releasing the internal pressure of the container body when the container stopper is loosened. The container stopper is removed from the base, and the cleaning liquid is injected from the base.

In the above-mentioned cleaning device for a beverage dispenser, the container body may be a beverage container. The base is provided with the pressure release hole and used as a cleaning device.

In the above-mentioned cleaning device for a beverage dispenser, the gas valve and the liquid valve may be formed as an integral valve body. That is, the container stopper may be of a flat type.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a cleaning device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The container main body 2 of the cleaning device 1 constitutes a pressure container, and is made so as to maintain airtightness even when a pressurized gas is introduced therein. A base 3 is fixed to the upper end of the container body 2 by welding or the like. A female screw portion 31 is formed on the inner periphery of the base 3, and the female screw portion 31 of the container stopper (fitting) 4 is formed on the female screw portion 31.
1 is screwed in and fixed. The same container stopper 4 as that used for the draft beer stainless steel barrel can be used.

In order to seal gas leakage from between the base 3 and the container stopper 4, a seal engagement portion 32 on the inner surface of the lower part of the base 3 is provided.
The sealing member 42 of the container stopper 4 is pressed against the container stopper 4. Base 3
A pressure release hole 33 is provided on a side surface of the intermediate portion between the female screw portion 31 and the seal engagement portion 32. The container stopper 4 is rotated using a special tool and can be removed from the base 3. At that time, when the container stopper 4 is loosened to some extent,
The internal pressure of the pressure gas remaining inside the cleaning device 1 is released to the atmosphere from the pressure release hole 33. When the container stopper 4 is further loosened, it can be removed from the base 3. With this configuration, in the operation of removing the container stopper 4, it is possible to prevent the container stopper 4 from jumping out due to the residual pressure inside the cleaning device 1.

A down tube 44 is attached to the container stopper 4. A gas valve 45 is fixed to the upper end of the down tube 44 by press fitting or the like, and a liquid valve 47 is provided inside the upper end of the down tube 44 so as to be urged upward. Gas valve 45 is down tube 4
4 and is urged upward by a coil spring 46 and pressed against the valve seat of the container stopper 4. Liquid valve 47
Is pressed against the valve seat portion below the gas valve 45 by the urging force of the coil spring 48. The gas valve 45 and the liquid valve 47 are normally closed.

Dispensing head 7 (FIG. 4)
Can be attached. The dispense head 7 and the container stopper 4 can be connected with one touch by a connection mechanism such as a bayonet mechanism using the engagement projection 43.
The gas valve 45 and the liquid valve 47 are operated by the dispense head 7 to remove a pressure gas such as carbon dioxide gas from the cleaning device 1.
The cleaning liquid supplied to the inside of the container body 2 and stored therein by increasing the internal pressure of the container body 2 can be pumped out of the container through the down tube 44 and the liquid valve 47. As a cleaning solution,
Tap water is used.

At the bottom of the container body 2 is provided a water tap comprising an outer tube 5 and an inner plug 6. This water tap is an inner tap 6
To release the internal pressure of the container body 2 by loosening, and further loosening the inner plug 6 to remove it from the outer cylinder 5,
It is provided to inject the cleaning liquid from the outer cylinder 5. The stand 8 is for placing the washer 1 on a floor or the like. The stand 8 is attached to the container body 2 by welding or the like.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the inner plug 6. A grip 63 is provided above the inner plug 6 in FIG. The grip 63 has a large diameter so that the inner plug 6 can be easily rotated, and a non-slip uneven surface is formed on the outer periphery of the grip 63. The external thread 5 is
The female screw portion 51 is screwed. O-ring 62
Is for pressing the tapered portion 52 of the outer cylinder 5 to seal the inside of the container body 2.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the outer cylinder 5. The male screw portion 61 of the inner plug 6 is screwed and attached to the female screw portion 51. The O-ring 62 is pressed against the tapered portion 52 by screwing and tightening the inner plug 6. With the inner plug 6 closed, the container body 2 is sealed. The pressure release hole 53 is for releasing the internal pressure by releasing the pressurized gas inside the container body 2 to the atmosphere when the inner plug 6 is loosened. Even when the inner plug 6 is removed and the cleaning liquid is replenished, the internal pressure of the container body 2 is released when the inner plug 6 is loosened, so that the inner plug 6 does not jump out due to the internal pressure. The outer cylinder 5 is attached to the container body 2 by welding with a welding flange 54 overlapped on a peripheral portion of a hole formed in the container body 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the structure of the dispense head 7. Attachment part 78 of dispense head 7
Is attached to the container stopper 4 by the engagement projection 43. With the dispense head 7 attached to the container stopper 4, when the handle 73 is rotated to push down the hollow shaft 71, the liquid valve pressing portion 7 at the lower end of the hollow shaft 71 is pressed.
5 pushes down the liquid valve 47 to make it open, and the gas valve pressing section 76 pushes down the gas valve 45 to make it open. At the same time, the pressurized carbon dioxide gas supplied from the gas supply port 74 flows into the container body 2. The cleaning liquid in the container body 2 pressurized by the pressurized gas flows from the down tube 44 through the liquid valve 47 and the hollow shaft 71 and flows out from the outlet 77.

To clean the dispenser, the cleaning device 1
The dispensing head 7 is attached to the container stopper 4 of the dispense head 7, and pressurized carbon dioxide gas is supplied from the gas supply port 74 of the dispense head 7, and a dispenser is connected to the outlet 77 of the dispense head 7 via a connection pipe. Then, the handle 73 of the dispense head 7 is rotated to push down the hollow shaft 71 downward. Then, the pressurized carbon dioxide gas flows into the container body 2 and pressurizes the cleaning liquid. The pressurized cleaning solution is transferred to the down tube 4
4, the liquid passes through the liquid valve 47 and the hollow shaft 71, and is supplied to the dispenser from the outlet 77. As the cleaning liquid pressurized in this way passes, the inside of the beverage passage such as the dispense head 7, the connection pipe, and the dispenser is cleaned.

When replenishing the cleaning solution inside the cleaning device 1,
First, the supply of the pressurized gas is stopped by rotating the handle 73 of the dispense head 7 in the opposite direction to the supply of the pressurized gas, and the dispense head 7 is removed from the container stopper 4. At this time, the gas valve 45 and the liquid valve 47 are in a closed state, and there is no possibility that the dispense head 7 will pop out due to the internal pressure in the container body 2. Next, the cleaning device 1 is inverted and the inner plug 6 is turned to loosen, thereby releasing the pressure gas inside the cleaning device 1 to the atmosphere to release the internal pressure. Then, the inner stopper 6 is further turned to remove the inner stopper 6 from the outer cylinder 5 and replenish the washing liquid such as tap water. As described above, when the inner plug 6 is removed and the cleaning liquid is replenished, the internal pressure is automatically released, so that the cleaning operation can be performed safely without the operator having to memorize the operation procedure for releasing the internal pressure. Can be.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing the structure of the cleaning device 10 according to the second embodiment. The container main body 20 has a horizontally long shape, and a water injection cock including an outer cylinder 5 and an inner plug 6 is attached to an upper surface of the container main body 20. A handle 9 for lifting the washing machine 10 is attached to the upper surface of the container. The configurations and functions of the base 3, the container stopper 4, and the water tap are the same as those of the cleaning device 1 of FIG.

FIG. 6 shows a cleaning device 100 according to the third embodiment.
It is sectional drawing which shows a structure of. The container main body 200, the water injection faucet comprising the outer cylinder 5 and the inner faucet 6, and the stand 8 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment. The cleaning device 100 according to the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in the configuration of the base 300 and the container stopper 400, and uses a known flat-type container stopper (fitting). .
A base 300 is fixed to the upper end of the container body 200 by welding or the like. A female screw portion 301 is formed on the inner periphery of the base 300, and the male screw portion 401 of the flat type container stopper 400 is screwed into the female screw portion 301 and fixed.

In order to seal gas leakage from between the base 300 and the container stopper 400, the seal member 402 of the container stopper 400 is pressed against the seal engagement portion 302 on the lower inner surface of the base 300. Also, the upper end surface of the base 300 and the container stopper 400
A seal member 403 is also provided between them. Base 30
A pressure release hole 303 is provided on the side surface of 0 at an intermediate position between the female screw portion 301 and the seal engagement portion 302. For this reason, similarly to the first embodiment, when the container stopper 400 is removed from the base 300, the internal pressure of the cleaning device 100 is released to the atmosphere from the pressure release hole 303 when the container stopper 400 is loosened to some extent, The container stopper 400 does not pop out.

The container stopper 400 has a down tube 4
04 is fixed. At the upper ends of the container stopper 400 and the down tube 404, a valve body 405 is provided with a coil spring 40.
6 urged upward. Valve element 40
5 is a gas valve 45 and a liquid valve 47 according to the first embodiment.
And a valve that opens and closes the flow of pressurized gas into the container and the flow of cleaning liquid out of the container. The normal state of the valve body 405 is a closed state. Dispense head for flat type container stopper
When the valve body 405 is pressed down, the pressurized gas is supplied into the container main body, and the pressurized cleaning liquid flows out of the container main body 200 to perform cleaning.

The container bodies 2, 20, and 200 shown in FIGS. 1, 5, and 6 may be those used as beverage containers such as beer barrels. The beer barrel is provided with a base and a container stopper in advance. The mounting hole of the outer cylinder 5 may be formed in the beer barrel, the outer cylinder 5 may be mounted by welding, and the pressure release holes 33 and 303 may be formed in the base 3 and 300. Further, a water tap for replenishing the cleaning liquid is not always necessary. The container stopper 4,400 may be removed by a special tool, and the cleaning solution may be replenished from the base 3,300. Even in this case, the internal pressure in the container body is released to the atmosphere from the pressure release hole 33 before the container stopper 4,400 comes off the base from the base 3,300. It does not jump out.

In the above embodiments, draft beer is used as a beverage and beer barrels are used as a beverage container. However, the invention can be applied to any other beverages and beverage containers. Also, as the cleaning liquid, an appropriate one other than tap water can be used. The pressurized gas is not limited to carbon dioxide, and any pressurized gas such as air can be used.

[0031]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, it has the following effects.

Since a container stopper having a gas valve and a liquid valve is provided on a base for attaching a dispense head,
When the dispense head is removed from the cleaning device, the gas pressure inside the cleaning device is shut off, and there is no possibility that the dispense head jumps out. Therefore, the cleaning operation can be performed safely and easily even by a non-skilled worker, and the cleaning operation can be performed easily and frequently. Further, since the water tap having the internal pressure releasing function is provided, the operation of removing the water tap and replenishing the cleaning liquid is safe and easy.

Since the water tap is constituted by the outer cylinder having the pressure release hole and the inner plug, a water tap with a simple structure and also capable of releasing the internal pressure can be realized. That is, a safe water tap can be realized at low cost.

Since the base is also provided with a pressure release hole for releasing the internal pressure of the container body, the internal pressure of the container body is released first, and then the inner plug is removed even when the container stopper is loosened and removed. However, there is no possibility that the base will come out of the base.

[0035] Since a beverage container can be used as the container body, an old beverage container can be recycled and made into a washing machine, so that effective use of resources can be achieved. Further, the washing machine can be manufactured at low cost.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a configuration of a cleaning device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of an inner plug.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of an outer cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a dispense head.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a second embodiment of the cleaning device.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a third embodiment of the cleaning device.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a configuration of a conventional cleaning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Washer 2 ... Container main body 3 ... Base 4 ... Container stopper 5 ... Outer cylinder 6 ... Inner plug 7 ... Dispense head 8 ... Stand 9 ... Handle 10 ... Washer 20 ... Container main body 31 ... Female thread part 32 ... Seal engagement Part 33: Pressure release hole 41: Male thread part 42: Seal member 43: Engagement projection 44: Down tube 45 ... Gas valve 46, 48 ... Coil spring 47 ... Liquid valve 51 ... Female thread part 52 ... Tapered part 53 ... Pressure release hole 54 ... welding flange 61 ... male screw part 62 ... O-ring 63 ... gripping part 71 ... hollow shaft 73 ... handle 74 ... gas supply port 75 ... liquid valve pressing part 76 ... gas valve pressing part 77 ... outlet 78 ... mounting part

Claims (7)

[Claims] A cleaning device for a beverage dispenser for cleaning by passing a cleaning liquid through a beverage passage inside a beverage dispenser for discharging and dispensing a beverage, wherein a container body (2, 20) capable of storing a cleaning liquid therein. A base (3) provided in the container body (2, 20); a container stopper (4) for attaching to an inner peripheral side of the base (3); and a closed state in the container stopper (4). A gas valve (45) for opening and closing supply of pressurized gas to the inside of the container body (2, 20); and a gas valve (45) provided to be urged in a closed state to the container stopper (4). A liquid valve (47) for opening and closing the pressure of the cleaning liquid to the outside of the container body (2, 20); and an internal pressure of the container body (2, 20) provided in the container body (2, 20). Having an infusion stopper (5, 6) for releasing a liquid and injecting a cleaning liquid Washer for Isupensa. 2. The cleaning device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the injection plug is provided on the container body, and has an internal thread portion (51) and a tapered portion (52) on an inner peripheral surface. An inner cylinder including an outer cylinder (5), a male screw part (61) screwed into the female screw part (51) of the outer cylinder (5), and a seal member (62) pressed against the tapered part (52). The outer cylinder (5) is further provided with a pressure release hole (53) for releasing the internal pressure of the container body (2, 20) when the inner plug (6) is loosened. Cleaning device for beverage dispensers. 3. A cleaning device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said base (3) has a female screw part (31) and a seal engagement part (32) on an inner peripheral surface. The container stopper (4) is pressed into contact with the male screw part (41) screwed into the female screw part (31) of the mouthpiece (3) and the seal engagement part (32). And a pressure releasing hole for releasing the internal pressure of the container body (2, 20) when the container plug (4) is loosened. A washing machine for a beverage dispenser provided with (33). 4. The cleaning device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein said container body (2, 20) is made as a beverage container, (5, 6) is a cleaning device for a beverage dispenser attached to a peripheral portion of a hole formed in the container body (2, 20). 5. A cleaning device for a beverage dispenser for cleaning by passing a cleaning liquid through a beverage passage inside a beverage dispenser for discharging and dispensing a beverage, wherein a container body capable of storing the cleaning liquid therein. A base (3) provided on the container body (2, 20) and having a female screw part (31) and a seal engaging part (32) on an inner peripheral surface; and the female screw part of the base (3). A container stopper (41) which is provided with a male screw part (41) screwed to the (31) and a seal member (42) pressed against the seal engagement part (32), and which is attached to the inner peripheral side of the mouthpiece (3) 4) a gas valve (45) provided in the container stopper (4) to be urged in a closed state, for opening and closing supply of pressurized gas into the container body (2, 20); A container stopper (4) is provided to be urged in a closed state, and the container main body (2, 2) for washing liquid is provided. 0) a liquid valve (47) for opening and closing the pressure feed to the outside; and the base (3) has an internal pressure of the container body (2, 20) when the container stopper (4) is loosened. And a pressure release hole (33) for releasing the container, the container stopper (4) is removed from the base (3), and a cleaning liquid is injected from the base (3). . 6. The cleaning device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 5, wherein said container body (2, 20) is made as a beverage container, and said pressure release hole is provided in said mouthpiece (3). A cleaning device for a beverage dispenser, wherein the cleaning device is provided with (33). 7. The cleaning device for a beverage dispenser according to claim 1, wherein the gas valve and the liquid valve are formed as an integral valve body (405). Is a dispenser for beverage dispensers.