JP4275117B2 - Beverage dispenser dispense head - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dispensing head provided in a beverage dispensing device for taking out a beverage from a beverage container such as a beer barrel.

  As a beverage dispensing device for taking out beverages from beverage containers such as beer barrels, a dispense head is attached to the mouthpiece of the beverage container, and gas for dispensing (as an example, carbon dioxide) from the dispense head into the beverage container. There is known a device for feeding and taking out a beverage pushed out by the gas from a dispensing head and introducing it into a cooling dispenser.

  The dispense head includes a head main body mounted on the base portion so as to cover the main seal packing of the spear valve, and a plunger built in the head main body so as to push the main seal packing of the spear valve. When the main seal packing is pushed in by the plunger, the main seal packing is separated from the seal surface of the spear valve, and the gas flow path in the head body communicates with the gas flow path in the spear valve and is sent to the gas flow path. The discharged gas flows into the beverage container. A beverage flow path is provided inside the plunger, and the beverage flow path opens on the surface of the plunger facing the main seal packing. When the main seal packing is pushed in, the beverage dispensing pipe at the center of the spear valve protrudes from the main seal packing, and the protruding portion is connected to the opening of the beverage flow path of the plunger. Thereby, the drink extruded with introduction of gas is guide | induced to a drink flow path from a drink extraction pipe | tube, and also is sent to a dispenser from a drink flow path. When the plunger is pulled up, the main seal packing comes into contact with the seal surface of the spear valve and the connection between the gas flow path of the head body and the gas flow path in the spear valve is disconnected, thereby preventing the introduction of gas into the beverage container. The

  In the beverage dispensing apparatus described above, it is necessary to periodically clean the beverage dispensing path extending from the dispensing head to the dispenser dispensing outlet. Conventionally, this type of cleaning operation is performed by removing the dispensing head from the beverage container and replacing it with a tank for the cleaning liquid, feeding gas into the gas flow path in the dispensing head, and introducing the cleaning liquid into the beverage flow path. However, such a procedure requires time and labor for replacing the dispense head. Therefore, in the dispensing head, an open position where the gas flow path is connected to the beverage container, and a closed position where the communication between the gas flow path and the beverage container is blocked while the gas flow path and the beverage flow path are connected. Incorporating a solenoid valve that can be switched between the two, the cleaning liquid is introduced into the gas flow path in the head while the electromagnetic valve is switched to the closed position, and the cleaning liquid is fed from the beverage flow path to the dispenser to clean the beverage dispensing path. However, after that, there has been proposed a beverage dispensing apparatus having a function of introducing gas into a gas flow path in the head and discharging the cleaning liquid from the beverage dispensing path (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In addition, in order to reduce the effort of switching the plunger, a dispense head is also proposed in which a cylinder device that operates using the pressure of gas for dispensing is incorporated in the head body, and the plunger is switched by the cylinder device. (For example, refer to Patent Document 2).

JP-A-7-89594 Japanese Patent No. 3394196

  By the way, as seen in Patent Document 2, in a general dispensing head, the plunger is in contact with the main seal packing of the spear valve and the beverage flow path of the plunger is closed even in the closed position. For this reason, even if the cleaning liquid is fed into the gas flow path in the head, the cleaning liquid cannot be guided to the beverage flow path in the plunger. Patent Document 1 only discloses a configuration in which an electromagnetic valve is provided in the dispensing head, and a specific configuration for guiding the cleaning liquid from the gas channel to the beverage container by connecting the gas channel and the beverage channel in the head. Is not disclosed at all.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the dispensing head provided with the suitable structure for sending a washing | cleaning liquid from a gas flow path to a drink flow path in the state which closed the spear valve of the drink container.

The present invention relates to a beverage injection device that is attached to a base part (101) of a beverage container (100) and opens and closes the base part by operating a main seal packing (105) of a spear valve (102) provided in the base part. Dispensing head (1) of a dispensing device, which can be attached to the base part so as to cover the main seal packing, and has an in-head gas flow path (12) opening toward the main seal packing, A head body (10) having a cleaning inlet (14, 14C) communicating with the gas flow path in the head, and the gas in the head extending through the gas flow path in the head to push the main seal packing. An open position (the position in FIG. 2 or FIG. 6) for communicating the flow path and the gas flow path (107) in the valve of the spear valve; It is movable between a closed position (the position shown in FIG. 1 or FIG. 5) that cuts off the communication between the internal gas flow path and the valve internal gas flow path. It is attached to the head main body so as to maintain a communication state with the mouth, and a beverage flow path (21) is provided therein, and the beverage flow path is located inside the main seal packing at the open position. A plunger (20) that communicates with a beverage dispensing pipe of the spear valve disposed at a position and opens to a surface (20a) facing the main seal packing so as to communicate with the gas flow path in the head in the closed position. , and a plunger operating means (30) for operating the plunger between the closed position and the open position, the end portion facing the main seal packing of the plunger, an inner diameter of the beverage A cylindrical operation part larger than the dispensing pipe and having an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the spear valve is provided, and the cleaning inlet is formed on the inner wall of the gas flow path in the head surrounding the outer periphery of the operation part The above-described problem is solved by the dispensing head that is opened and the axis (AX, AX2) of the cleaning inlet is eccentric with respect to the center line (CL) of the plunger .

According to the dispense head of the present invention, by moving the plunger to the open position and pushing in the main seal packing of the spear valve, the gas flow path in the head and the gas flow path in the valve of the spear valve communicate with each other and the beverage is dispensed. The pipe and the beverage flow path of the plunger communicate with each other, thereby feeding the gas guided to the gas flow path in the head into the beverage container, and the beverage pushed out by the gas from the drink dispensing pipe of the spear valve to the beverage flow path of the plunger Can be taken out. On the other hand, when the plunger is moved to the closed position, the plunger is separated from the main seal packing, so the main seal packing blocks the gas flow path in the head body and the gas flow path in the valve of the spear valve, In addition, the beverage dispensing pipe of the spear valve is closed with the main seal packing. In the closed position, when the plunger is separated from the main seal packing, the beverage flow channel opens into the gas flow channel in the head, and the communication between the gas flow channel in the head and the cleaning inlet is not blocked by the plunger. Accordingly, by feeding the cleaning liquid from the cleaning inlet, the cleaning liquid can be introduced from the gas flow path in the head into the beverage flow path, and the beverage dispensing path can be cleaned. Since the cleaning liquid is fed into the beverage flow path via the in-head gas flow path, the top surface of the spear valve (including the main seal packing) that faces the in-head gas flow path can be brought into contact with the cleaning liquid for cleaning. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid can be discharged from the in-head flow path, the top surface of the spear valve, the beverage flow path, etc. by sending the gas into the in-head gas flow path after the introduction of the cleaning liquid. Furthermore, the cleaning liquid can be efficiently introduced from the cleaning inlet to the vicinity of the top surface of the main seal packing to enhance the cleaning effect, and the center line of the plunger is added to the cleaning liquid fed from the cleaning inlet to the gas flow path in the head. Can give a flow around. Such a flow can be used to enhance the cleaning effect. When a gas is introduced from the cleaning inlet to the gas flow path in the head in order to discharge the cleaning liquid, the same flow is given to the gas and the beverage flow path for the cleaning liquid left in the gas flow path in the head It is also possible to increase the discharge efficiency of

  In one form of the present invention, as the plunger operating means, a cylinder body (31) having a cylinder chamber (32) through which the plunger passes and a connection port (35a, 35b) communicating with the cylinder chamber. And a cylinder device (30) including a piston (33) disposed between the outer periphery of the plunger and the inner wall of the cylinder chamber and movable integrally with the plunger.

  According to the embodiment in which the cylinder device is provided, it is not necessary for the operator to manually switch the plunger, and the burden on the operator can be reduced. The apparatus can be easily configured to automatically switch the position of the plunger between when the beverage is poured out and when the washing operation is performed. Since the piston is provided on the outer periphery of the plunger penetrating the cylinder chamber, the configuration for transmitting the operation of the piston to the plunger is simplified, and the operation of the piston can be efficiently transmitted to the plunger.

In the form in which the plunger is operated by the cylinder device, the cylinder device is further configured to operate with the pressure of the gas from the gas supply source for supplying the gas for extraction to the gas flow path in the head. And the said connection port of the said cylinder main body may be connected with the said cylinder chamber via the path | route independent from the path | route from the said introduction port for washing | cleaning to the said gas flow path in a head .

According to this aspect, since the cylinder device can be driven using the pressure from the supply source of the gas for extraction, it is not necessary to provide a new pressure supply source for the cylinder device. In addition, since the connection port of the cylinder device communicates with the cylinder chamber through a path that is independent of the path from the cleaning inlet of the head body to the gas flow path in the head , cleaning liquid is supplied to the cleaning inlet. On the other hand, it is possible to selectively use gas such as introducing gas into the cylinder chamber.

  In one form of the present invention, the head body is provided with a discharge port (17) communicating with the gas flow path in the head when the plunger is in the closed position, and the gas flow in the head is provided in the discharge port. A relief valve (18) may be connected that limits the maximum pressure in the path. According to this embodiment, by setting the pressure of the relief valve to be larger than the gas pressure introduced into the gas flow path in the head at the time of dispensing the beverage and smaller than the gas pressure necessary to push down the spear valve, While the beverage outlet is closed, the outlet is closed with a relief valve to prevent gas leakage. On the other hand, in the cleaning operation, following the cleaning with the introduction of the cleaning liquid, the beverage outlet route is closed by, for example, closing the extraction port of the beverage outlet. By introducing a gas that is closed and higher than the set pressure of the relief valve into the gas flow path in the head, the remaining cleaning liquid or droplets remaining in the gas flow path in the head are discharged from the discharge port through the relief valve. It can be discharged out of the head. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the gas introduced for discharging the cleaning liquid and the droplets of the cleaning liquid from blowing out from the spout.

  In one form of the present invention, the gas introduction port (14) for sending the gas for pouring into the beverage container via the gas flow path in the head and the introduction port for cleaning may be combined. In this case, the path from the gas inlet to the gas flow path in the head can also be cleaned with the cleaning liquid. Alternatively, the gas inlet (14B) for sending the gas for pouring into the beverage container through the gas flow path in the head and the inlet for cleaning (14C) may be provided separately from each other. . In this case, there is no need to send the cleaning liquid to the gas inlet, so that the pipe connected to the gas inlet can be clearly separated from the cleaning liquid introduction path. Further, in the case of separating the gas introduction port and the cleaning introduction port, when the plunger is in the closed position, the gas flow passage in the head is between the gas flow passage in the head and the gas introduction port. A gas inlet closing valve (15b) for preventing the flow of fluid in the direction toward the gas inlet may be further provided. According to this configuration, it is possible to eliminate the possibility that the cleaning liquid sent from the cleaning inlet to the gas flow path in the head flows back to the gas inlet or the gas supply pipe connected to the gas inlet. .

  In addition, in the above description, in order to make an understanding of this invention easy, the reference sign of the accompanying drawing was attached in parenthesis, but this invention is not limited to the form of illustration by it.

  As described above, according to the present invention, when the plunger in the head body is in the closed position, the plunger is separated from the main seal packing, and the internal beverage flow path is communicated with the gas flow path in the head. Moreover, since the communication state between the cleaning inlet and the gas flow path in the head is not blocked by the plunger in the closed position, both the gas flow path in the valve of the spear valve and the beverage dispensing pipe are closed. The cleaning liquid can be fed from the cleaning inlet to the beverage flow path to clean the gas flow path in the head, the top surface of the spear valve facing the gas flow path in the head, and the beverage dispensing path.

  FIG. 1 shows an internal configuration of a dispense head according to one embodiment of the present invention when a beverage is dispensed, and FIG. 2 shows an internal configuration of the dispense head when it is washed. For some of the components, the appearance is shown on the right side of the center line CL, and the cross section is shown on the left side. The dispensing head 1 is attached to a base 101 of a beer barrel 100 as a beverage container. The base part 101 is provided with a spear valve 102. First, the configuration of the spear valve 102 will be described below.

  The spear valve 102 is fitted to the valve case 103 screwed into the opening 100 a of the beer barrel 100, the beverage pouring pipe 104 whose upper end is inserted into the center of the valve case 103, and the outer periphery of the upper end of the beverage pouring pipe 104. Main seal packing 105 and a coil spring 106 that presses the main seal packing 105 against the inner valve seat 103b of the flange 103a of the valve case 103. As shown in FIG. 1, in a state where the main seal packing 105 is pressed against the valve seat 103b, the gas flow path (gas flow path in the valve) 107 in the valve case 103 is closed with respect to the outside of the beer barrel 100, and The upper opening 104 a of the beverage dispensing pipe 104 is also closed by the main seal packing 105. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, when the main seal packing 105 is pushed down against the coil spring 106, the main seal packing 105 is separated from the valve seat 103b, and the gas flow path 107 is opened to the outside of the beer barrel 100. The opening 104 a of the beverage dispensing pipe 104 is also exposed above the main seal packing 105. The gas flow path 107 communicates with the internal space of the beer barrel 100 through the opening 103 c at the lower end of the valve case 103.

  Next, the configuration of the dispensing head 1 will be described. The dispensing head 1 includes a head main body 10 formed in a housing shape that covers the main seal packing 105, a plunger 20 attached to the head main body 10, and a cylinder device (plunger operating means) 30 that operates the plunger 20. I have. A fitting portion 11 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower end of the head body 10. The head body 10 is mounted on the base 101 by engaging the fitting portion 11 with the outer periphery of the flange 103 a of the spear valve 102. A chamber-like gas flow path (in-head gas flow path) 12 that opens toward the main seal packing 105 is provided inside the head main body 10. A seal ring 13 is attached to the gas flow path 12.

  With the head main body 10 attached to the spear valve 102, the seal ring 13 is in close contact with the flange 103a of the spear valve 102 over the entire circumference, thereby sealing the outer periphery of the gas flow path 12. A gas introduction port 14 communicating with the gas flow path 12 is provided on the outer periphery of the head body 10. The gas inlet 14 is for feeding a gas for extraction (for example, carbon dioxide) into the gas flow path 12, but is also used as a cleaning inlet for feeding a cleaning liquid into the dispense head 1. A hose connector 15 having a check valve 15 a for preventing discharge of gas or cleaning liquid from the gas inlet 14 is attached inside the gas inlet 14. As shown in FIG. 3, the axis AX of the gas inlet 14 is eccentric by a predetermined amount δ with respect to the center line CL of the plunger 20. The center line CL of the plunger 20 matches the center line of the beverage dispensing pipe 104 of the spear valve 102.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the plunger 20 penetrates the upper partition wall 10a of the head body 10 in the direction of the center line CL, and the closed position shown in FIG. The head body 10 is mounted so as to be movable between the open positions. Note that an O-ring 16 for sealing a penetrating portion of the plunger 20 is provided in the upper partition wall 10a of the head body 10.

  The plunger 20 is configured as a hollow member in which a beverage channel 21 that penetrates the center line CL is provided. A lower end portion of the plunger 20 projects into the gas flow path 12, and a cylindrical operation portion 22 for operating the main seal packing 105 is formed at the lower end portion. The outer diameter of the operation unit 22 is set larger than the inner diameter of the main seal packing 105 and smaller than the outer diameter of the main seal packing 105. The inner diameter of the operation portion 22 is larger than the outer diameter of the upper end portion of the beverage dispensing pipe 104, and the inner space of the operation portion 22 constitutes a part of the beverage flow path 21. In other words, in the inner periphery of the operation part 22, the beverage flow path 21 has a connection part 21 a having a diameter larger than that of the upper end part of the beverage pouring pipe 104, and the connection part 21 a is a lower end surface (main seal) of the operation part 22. It opens to a surface 20a facing the packing 105). The gas introduction port 14 of the head main body 10 opens in the inner wall of the in-head gas flow path 12 surrounding the outer periphery of the operation unit 22.

  In the closed position of FIG. 1, the lower end surface 20 a of the plunger 20 is separated from the main seal packing 105, whereby the beverage channel 21 communicates with the gas channel 12. A flange 23 is provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the operation unit 22. As shown in FIG. 2, the flange 23 has an outer diameter that can come into contact with the inner periphery of the seal ring 13. The flange 23 has a plurality of small holes 23a for allowing gas to pass therethrough. A gap is provided between the seal ring 13 and the operation portion 22, and the flange 23 is separated above the seal ring 13 in the closed position. Accordingly, the communication state between the gas inlet 14 and the gas flow path 12 is maintained even when the plunger 20 is in the closed position. In other words, the plunger 20 is provided so as not to block between the gas inlet 14 and the gas flow path 12. On the other hand, in the open position of FIG. 2, the plunger 20 extends through the gas flow path 12 so as to push in the main seal packing 105. In this state, the operation part 22 of the plunger 20 communicates with the main seal packing 105 over the entire circumference, and the gas flow path 12 communicates with the gas flow path 107 of the spear valve 102 on the outer peripheral side of the operation part 22. On the other hand, on the inner peripheral side of the operation unit 22, the beverage extraction pipe 104 enters the connection portion 21 a of the beverage flow path 21, and the beverage flow path 21 and the beverage extraction pipe 104 are connected through the opening 104 a of the beverage extraction pipe 104. Communication with the inside.

  A throttle portion 21 b is provided in the middle of the beverage flow path 21 of the plunger 20, and a connection tool 24 for connecting a beer hose (not shown) is provided at the upper end of the beverage flow path 21. A spherical valve body 25 is provided between the throttle portion 21 b and the connection tool 24. The valve body 25 is movable in the beverage flow path 21 according to the pressure difference between the upper and lower sides thereof, thereby allowing a flow of beer or the like in the direction in which the beverage flow path 21 is raised, and in the direction in which the beverage flow path 21 is lowered. Stop the flow of beer. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the valve body 25 blocks the throttle portion 21b, and FIG. 2 shows a state in which the valve body 25 moves away from the throttle portion 21b and rises to the connector 24. In the state of FIG. 2, the beer in the beverage flow path 21 is guided to the beer hose via the connection tool 24.

  The cylinder device 30 includes a cylinder main body 31 and a piston 33 accommodated in a cylinder chamber 32 inside the cylinder main body 31. The cylinder body 31 is configured by combining a cylindrical housing 31a and an end cap 31b. The plunger 20 extends through the cylinder body 31. Note that at least a part of the cylinder body 31 may be formed integrally with the head body 10.

  The piston 33 is a sleeve 33a that is coaxially fitted to the outer periphery of the plunger 20, and a disk-like shape that is provided on the outer periphery of the sleeve 33a and divides the cylinder chamber 32 into two working chambers 32a and 32b in the direction of the center line CL. Piston main body 33b. The sleeve 33 a is provided so as to be movable integrally with the plunger 20 using a fixing method such as press-fitting and shrink fitting with respect to the plunger 20. The housing 31a of the cylinder body 31 is provided with connection ports 35a and 35b for introducing pressure into the working chambers 32a and 32b of the cylinder chamber 32 or discharging pressure from the working chambers 32a and 32b. These connection ports 35a and 35b communicate with the working chambers 32a and 32b through paths independent of the path from the gas introduction port 14 of the head body 10 to the gas flow path 12, respectively.

  In the cylinder device 30, the pressure is introduced into the lower working chamber 32a while the pressure is discharged from the upper working chamber 32b, so that the piston 33 moves to the top dead center shown in FIG. Retained. On the other hand, while the pressure is introduced into the upper working chamber 32b and the pressure is discharged from the lower working chamber 32a, the piston 33 moves to the bottom dead center shown in FIG. 2, thereby moving the plunger 20 to the open position. To do. The connection ports 35a and 35b are operated by the gas pressure from the gas supply source by being connected to a gas supply source (gas cylinder) (not shown) to be connected to the gas introduction port 14. The inner diameter of the cylinder chamber 32 is determined such that a force necessary to push the main seal packing 105 is applied to the plunger 20 by the gas pressure guided to the upper working chamber 32b. The connection path between the connection ports 35a and 35b and the gas supply source is provided separately from the connection path between the gas supply source and the gas introduction port 14. In order to seal the cylinder chamber 32 appropriately, the cylinder body 31 and the piston 33 are provided with O-rings 36a to 36d. The gas pressure led to the cylinder device 30 may coincide with the gas pressure led to the gas inlet 14 of the head main body 10, but may be reduced or increased as necessary.

  In the dispensing head 1 having the above-described configuration, the main seal packing 105 is pushed by the operation portion 22 of the plunger 20 by introducing the gas pressure to the connection port 35b of the cylinder device 30 and moving the plunger 20 to the open position. Accordingly, the gas flow path 12 of the head body 10 and the gas flow path 107 of the spear valve 102 can be communicated with each other, and the beverage flow path 21 of the plunger 20 can be communicated with the beverage dispensing pipe 104 of the spear valve 102. In this state, by feeding gas from the gas inlet 14, the beer contained in the beer barrel 100 is pushed out from the beverage pouring pipe 104 to the beverage channel 21, and the beer is dispensed from the beverage channel 21 via the beer hose into the dispenser. Can be sent. On the other hand, by introducing the gas pressure to the connection port 35a of the cylinder device 30 and moving the plunger 20 to the closed position, the pushing of the main seal packing 105 can be released and the spear valve 102 can be closed.

  In the closed position, the lower end surface 20a of the plunger 20 is separated from the main seal packing 105, the beverage channel 21 communicates with the gas channel 12, and the communication state between the gas inlet 14 and the gas channel 12 is maintained. Yes. Therefore, by feeding water or a chemical solution as a cleaning liquid from the gas inlet 14, the cleaning liquid is introduced into the beverage channel 21, and further from the beverage channel 21 to the dispenser outlet through the beer hose and the internal channel of the dispenser. Can send. Moreover, the cleaning liquid in a drink extraction path | route can be extruded by sending in gas from the gas inlet 14 after introduction | transducing of a cleaning liquid. Therefore, it is possible to clean the beverage pouring path and the top surface of the spear valve 102 without replacing the dispensing head 1.

  According to the dispensing head 1 described above, since the axis AX of the gas inlet 14 is eccentric with respect to the center line CL of the plunger 20, the operation unit 22 of the plunger 20 is added to the cleaning liquid or gas introduced from the gas inlet 14. It is possible to give a flow that goes around. Thereby, the cleaning effect of the top surface of the gas flow path 12 or the spear valve 102 by the cleaning liquid is enhanced, and the cleaning liquid remaining in the gas flow path 12 is efficiently discharged to the beverage flow path 21 by the gas introduced thereafter. Can do. In addition, since the gas introduction port 14 is opened on the inner wall of the in-head gas flow path 12 surrounding the outer periphery of the operation unit 22 of the plunger 20, the gas introduction port 14 is opened above the operation unit 22. In comparison, the cleaning liquid introduction path from the gas inlet 14 to the top surface of the spear valve 102 is shortened, and the cleaning liquid can be efficiently guided to the vicinity of the top surface of the spear valve 102 to enhance the cleaning effect. A similar effect can be obtained with respect to the gas for discharging the cleaning liquid. Further, according to the dispensing head 1 described above, the plunger 20 is driven by the cylinder device 30, so that it is not necessary for the operator to manually switch the plunger 20, thereby reducing the burden on the operator. Moreover, since the plunger 20 and the piston 33 are directly connected, the number of parts is reduced, the configuration is simplified, and the operation of the piston 33 can be efficiently transmitted to the plunger 20. It is also easy to configure the beverage dispensing device to automatically switch the plunger 20 between the open position and the closed position. Furthermore, since the path from the gas inlet 14 to the gas flow path 12 and the path from the connection ports 35a and 35b of the cylinder device 30 to the cylinder chamber 32 are independent of each other, the cleaning liquid is introduced from the gas inlet 14. Thus, gas can be fed into the cylinder chamber 32 to hold the plunger 20 in the closed position.

  FIG. 4 shows a modification of the dispensing head 1. In this example, a discharge port 17 communicating with the gas flow path 12 is provided in the head body 10, and a relief valve 18 and a silencer 19 are connected to the discharge port 17. The discharge port 17 is provided at a position communicating with the gas flow path 12 even when the plunger 20 is in the closed position. The relief valve 18 opens the discharge port 17 to release the pressure of the gas passage 12 to the outside when the pressure of the gas passage 12 exceeds a predetermined set pressure. The set pressure of the relief valve 18 is set to be higher than the gas pressure introduced into the in-head gas flow path 12 when the beverage is poured out and lower than the gas pressure required to push down the main seal packing 105. Therefore, there is no possibility that the gas introduced into the gas flow path 12 in the head when the beverage is poured out leaks from the discharge port 17. On the other hand, when the gas introduced into the gas flow path 12 in the head is discharged, the beverage is poured out from the beverage flow path 21 of the plunger 20 to the outside by means such as closing the spout of the dispenser. The passage is closed, and in this state, a higher-pressure gas is introduced into the gas flow path 12 in the head than when the beverage is poured out from the gas introduction port 14, whereby residual liquid or droplets of the cleaning liquid is discharged from the discharge port 17 to the relief valve 18. Can be discharged out of the head. If such an operation is performed, there is no possibility that the gas and the droplet of the cleaning liquid are mixed and blown out from the spout of the dispenser. In addition, there is no fear that the spear valve 102 opens due to the pressure of the gas flow path 12 during the cleaning operation, and it is possible to reliably prevent the cleaning liquid or the cleaning liquid discharge gas from entering the beer barrel 100.

  5 to 7 show other forms of the dispensing head 1. In this embodiment, a gas inlet 14B for introducing a gas for pouring into the beer barrel 100 via the gas flow path 12 and a cleaning inlet 14C for introducing a cleaning liquid into the gas flow path 12 are mutually connected. The head body 10 is provided separately. The gas inlet 14B and the cleaning inlet 14C are in the same position with respect to the axial direction of the plunger 20. As shown in FIG. 7, the gas inlet 14B is provided such that its axis AX1 is eccentric to one side with respect to the center line CL of the plunger 20, and the cleaning inlet 14C has its axis AX2 of the plunger 20. It is provided so as to be eccentric to the other side with respect to the center line CL. Similarly to the hose connector 15 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, hose connectors 15B and 15C each equipped with check valves 15b and 15c are connected to the gas inlet 14B and the cleaning inlet 14C, respectively. The The check valve 15b of the hose connector 15B connected to the gas inlet 14B functions as a gas inlet closing valve that blocks the flow of fluid in the direction from the gas flow path 12 toward the gas inlet 14B.

  Further, a sensor 37 for detecting the movement of the plunger 20 to the closed position (position in FIG. 5) is attached to the cylinder device 30 via a bracket 38. As the sensor 37, for example, a proximity switch can be used. The seal ring 13 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is attached to the lower end of the gas flow path 12, and the valve body 25 is attached to the inside of the plunger 20, but these are not shown. The rest of the configuration is the same as that of the dispensing head 1 shown in FIG. The lower end surface 20a of the plunger 20 is separated from the main seal packing 105 in the closed position shown in FIG. 5, and the lower end surface 20a of the plunger 20 is in contact with the main seal packing 105 in the open position shown in FIG. It is the same as that of the form of FIG.

  In the dispensing head 1 of FIGS. 5 to 7, the gas is fed into the beer barrel 100 by pouring out the beverage by moving the plunger 20 to the open position while introducing the gas for pouring from the gas inlet 14 </ b> B. be able to. On the other hand, by switching the plunger 20 to the closed position and feeding the cleaning liquid from the cleaning inlet 14C to the gas flow path 12, the cleaning liquid can be introduced into the beverage flow path 21 and the beverage dispensing path can be cleaned. After the cleaning is completed, the cleaning liquid can be discharged from the beverage dispensing path by sending gas into the gas flow path 12 from the cleaning inlet 14C or the gas inlet 14B. According to this embodiment, since it is not necessary to connect a pipe such as a hose for feeding the cleaning liquid to the gas inlet 14B, the pipe connected to the gas inlet 14B is clearly defined from the pipe connected to the cleaning inlet 14C. Can be separated. In addition, since the check valve 15b is provided, there is no possibility that the cleaning liquid introduced into the gas flow path 12 in the head flows backward from the gas introduction port 14B into the gas introduction pipe.

  The present invention may be implemented in various forms without being limited to the form described above. For example, the cylinder device 30 is not limited to the configuration in which the gas pressure is selectively introduced into the working chambers 32a and 32b on both sides of the piston 33, and the gas pressure is introduced only into one of the working chambers 32a or 32b. The working chamber 32b or 32a may be provided with an elastic body such as a spring for biasing the piston 33. The plunger operating means is not limited to a cylinder device that operates by gas pressure, but may be a cylinder device that operates by hydraulic pressure or other hydraulic pressure. Furthermore, the plunger operating means may be configured to drive the plunger using the electromagnetic force generated by the solenoid coil, and various other actuators may be used as the plunger operating means. In addition, when a manual operation of the plunger by the operator is allowed, a drive mechanism using a handle or other operation member may be provided as the plunger operation means.

Sectional drawing which shows the state which mounted | wore the nozzle | cap | die part of the beer barrel with the dispensing head which concerns on one form of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows a mode that the spear valve was opened with the plunger of the dispensing head of FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the dispense head of FIG. 1. The figure which shows the modification which added the relief valve to the dispense head of FIG. Sectional drawing which shows a state when the plunger exists in a closed position in the dispensing head which concerns on the other form of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows a state when the plunger is switched to the open position in the dispensing head of FIG. Sectional drawing along the VII-VII line of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Dispense head 10 Head main body 12 Gas flow path (gas flow path in a head)
13 Seal ring 14 Gas inlet (cleaning inlet)
14B Gas inlet 14C Cleaning inlet 15b Check valve (Gas inlet closing valve)
17 Discharge port 18 Relief valve 20 Plunger 20a Plunger lower end surface 21 Beverage flow path 21a Connection portion 22 Operation portion 30 Cylinder device (plunger operation means)
31 Cylinder body 32 Cylinder chamber 32a, 32b Working chamber 33 Piston 35a, 35b Connection port 100 Beer barrel (beverage container)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Base part 102 Spear valve 103 Valve case 104 Beverage extraction pipe 105 Main seal packing 106 Coil spring 107 Gas flow path (gas flow path in valve)

Claims (7)

A dispenser head for a beverage dispensing device that is attached to a base part of a beverage container and operates a main seal packing of a spear valve provided in the base part to open and close the base part,
The head seal portion can be attached to the base portion so as to cover the main seal packing, and has a gas flow path in the head that opens toward the main seal packing, and an introduction port for cleaning that communicates with the gas flow path in the head. The head body,
An open position that extends through the gas flow path in the head and pushes the main seal packing to communicate the gas flow path in the head and the gas flow path in the valve of the spear valve; and away from the main seal packing The gas flow path in the head and the gas flow path in the valve are movable between a closed position where communication between the gas flow path in the valve and the gas flow path in the valve is blocked, and the communication state between the gas flow path in the head and the cleaning inlet is maintained in the closed position. In this manner, the beverage body is attached to the head main body, and a beverage flow path is provided therein, and the beverage flow path is disposed in the main seal packing at the open position and the beverage injection of the spear valve. A plunger that communicates with the outlet pipe, and that opens at a surface facing the main seal packing so as to communicate with the gas flow path in the head at the closed position;
A plunger operating means for operating the plunger between the open position and the closed position;
The end of the plunger facing the main seal packing is provided with a cylindrical operation portion having an inner diameter larger than the beverage dispensing pipe and an outer diameter smaller than the outer diameter of the spear valve. The introduction port opens in the inner wall of the gas flow path in the head surrounding the outer periphery of the operation unit,
A dispensing head of a beverage dispensing device, wherein an axis of the cleaning inlet is eccentric with respect to a center line of the plunger.   The plunger operating means has a cylinder chamber through which the plunger penetrates and a cylinder body having a connection port communicating with the cylinder chamber, and is disposed between the outer periphery of the plunger and the inner wall of the cylinder chamber. The dispensing head according to claim 1, further comprising a cylinder device including a piston and a piston movable integrally with the plunger. The cylinder device is configured to operate with a gas pressure from a gas supply source for supplying a gas for extraction to the gas flow path in the head, and the connection port of the cylinder body has the cleaning 3. The dispense head according to claim 2, wherein the dispense chamber communicates with the cylinder chamber via a path that is independent of a path from the inlet to the gas flow path in the head.   The head body is provided with a discharge port that communicates with the gas flow path in the head when the plunger is in the closed position, and a relief valve that limits the maximum pressure in the gas flow path in the head is provided in the discharge port. The dispense head according to claim 1, wherein the dispense head is connected.   The gas introduction port for sending the gas for pouring into the beverage container through the gas flow path in the head and the introduction port for washing are used in combination. The dispensing head according to claim 1.   The gas introduction port for sending the gas for pouring into the beverage container via the gas flow channel in the head and the introduction port for washing are provided separately from each other. 5. The dispensing head according to any one of 4 above.   Between the gas flow path in the head and the gas introduction port, a gas introduction for preventing a flow of fluid in a direction from the gas flow path in the head toward the gas introduction port when the plunger is in the closed position. The dispensing head according to claim 6, wherein a mouth closing valve is provided.

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