JP4294136B2 - Beverage container with dispensing function - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a container that stores beverages such as beer and soft drinks and is provided to a user, and more particularly to a container having a function of pouring an internal beverage out of the container using gas pressure.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, beverages such as beer, which are consumed in a large amount to some extent, are stored in barrel-shaped containers, and are poured out of the containers by a pouring device connected from the outside. For example, in the case of a restaurant, a large 20-liter barrel, a gas device including a gas cylinder injected into the barrel, and a series of pouring devices for pouring beer are prepared.
[0003]
By the way, recently, small barrels storing about 10 liters of beer have been sold for small parties and home parties. There are also opportunities to pour out beer.
Generally, this type of pouring device feeds high-pressure carbon dioxide into a barrel and uses the pressing force to pour out beverages such as beer in the barrel. Therefore, it is necessary to attach a gas cylinder to the pouring device. As what is conventionally known, for example, a barrel and a pouring device attached to the barrel are separated, and the pouring device is designed to be set on the upper portion of the barrel. The gas cylinder of the dispensing device is installed by the user during use or built in beforehand. Furthermore, the pouring device is additionally provided with a series of devices for pouring beer and a pouring lever. And if the pouring device is set in the barrel according to a predetermined procedure, the gas from the gas cylinder of the pouring device is designed to be introduced into the barrel. Therefore, after setting the pouring device in the barrel according to the determined procedure, the beer can be received by a device such as a mug by operating the pouring lever.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the barrel and the pouring device are separate from the conventional one, the connection of the gas flow path to be formed between the gas cylinder and the barrel used in the pouring device can be performed by the user as described above. It is supposed to be done by setting work of the pouring device. For this reason, inexperienced users may spend time to install the pouring device in the barrel, or neglect the setting to the complete set position, causing gas leakage and pouring out of gas even though there is beer in the barrel. There is a problem that can not be.
[0005]
In addition, there is no gas cylinder installed in the dispensing device. In the case of a type that requires the user to install a gas cylinder in the extraction device during use, there is a problem such as gas blowing out when the gas cylinder is set, so the extraction device is used because it is unfamiliar There was also a problem that it was not possible.
Furthermore, if you forget the pouring device that should be prepared in advance, beer is not poured out from the barrel, and there are many inconveniences that arise because the container and the pouring container are separate. Yes.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The present invention solves the above-described problem, and even when a user who is unfamiliar with the operation purchases and uses it, the setting operation is substantially completed with the first dispensing operation. Provide a container with a simple and reliable dispensing function.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, a beverage container storing beverages therein and a beverage container that is not connected and in a standby state are connected to the beverage container previously held therein. In the container and the gas cylinder in order to dispense the beverage in the beverage container to the outside using the gas in the gas cylinder. A gas flow passage for connecting the liquid and a liquid flow passage for connecting the beverage in the container to the outside, and a lever for opening and closing the gas flow passage and the liquid flow passage when dispensing the beverage A beverage container with a dispensing function is provided, which has a setting mechanism for connecting the gas cylinder to the gas flow passage and setting the gas cylinder from the standby state to the usable state when the lever is initially operated. In such a container, since the container and the dispensing device are integrated, it is convenient and the gas cylinder and the gas flow path of the container are connected by the initial operation of the lever, so the user should be aware of the setting operation. Instead, it is possible to pour out the beverage in the container simply by performing an injection operation from the beginning.
[0007]
As a specific configuration, the lever has a rotation shaft and can be rotated from the stop position to the beverage dispensing position, and the setting mechanism is operated between the stop position and the beverage dispensing position. The setting of the gas cylinder to the usable state position is completed by the setting mechanism during the initial operation of the lever.
[0008]
Further, the setting mechanism has a position where the gas cylinder is in a standby state and a usable state position where the gas cylinder is connected to the gas flow path, and after being set to the usable state position, If fixed, the gas flow passage is continuously secured after the gas cylinder and the gas flow passage of the container are connected at the first operation, and the subsequent lever operation is used only for dispensing. It will be.
[0009]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Next, an embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail. Here, beer is taken as an example of a beverage, and for example, a description will be given of a barrel-shaped container with a flat surface storing 2 liters of beer.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a beverage container with a dispensing function of the present invention as viewed from above. The pouring device 1 is integrally installed on the barrel 100. The pouring device 1 is connected to a base that is a mouth of the barrel 100. This barrel 100 will be described later.
[0010]
Now, the pouring device 1 is provided with a lever 10 for performing the pouring operation, and this lever 10 can be rotated about 180 degrees above the barrel 100 around the interlocking shaft 60 which is a rotating shaft. Yes. Here, the lever 10 shown on the lower side with a solid line in the figure is in a stop position corresponding to the standby after the sales standby and after the dispensing operation, and the lever 10 shown with the upper two-dot chain line is a beverage for dispensing beer. In the pouring position.
[0011]
As the lever 10 rotates, the interlocking shaft 60 also rotates. Cams 41A and B and a cam 42 for setting a gas cylinder 20 to be described later are fixed to one end of the interlocking shaft 60, and a nozzle holder 50 for supporting a nozzle 51 to be described later is connected to a connecting rod 62 at the other end. An arm plate 61 for sliding through is fixed. In the figure, details of the gas cylinder 20 and its surroundings are omitted, and the details are shown in FIG.
[0012]
Next, a setting mechanism around the gas cylinder 20 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, other parts are omitted in order to explain the gas cylinder and its setting mechanism. As shown in the figure, the gas cylinder 20 has a bottle shape and is filled with, for example, 50 ml of high-pressure liquefied carbon dioxide gas. This gas cylinder 20 is sealed in a disconnected state before the dispensing operation, that is, at the time of sales standby, and is in a standby state. Specifically, the head of the gas cylinder 20 is in the state of entering the gas connection device 21, but immediately before being opened by a plug member (not shown) in the gas connection device 21, that is, the bottom portion 20b is pushed forward. It is held in such a state that it is opened when it is opened. Note that after the gas cylinder 20 is connected to the gas connection device 21, a gas flow passage is formed from the gas connection device 21 to the inside of the barrel 100 described later.
[0013]
The setting mechanism of the gas cylinder 20 is performed as the cams 41A and B and the cam 42 fixed to the interlocking shaft 60 rotate. The cam 42 is sandwiched between cams 41A and 41B, and the three cams are rotated together. The cam 42 has a locking claw 42t, and is in a state immediately before contact with the head 44t of the second link plate 44 that forms a part of the culturing mechanism as described here at the time of standby described above. Yes. The other cams 41A and 41B are sliding surface cams, which are in contact with the first link plate 43 that also forms part of the culturing mechanism.
[0014]
The culturing mechanism has a well-known configuration including a long toggle body 47, a crank lever 46, a first link plate 43, and a second link plate 44. As is apparent from FIG. 2, one end of the first link plate 43 is pivotally connected to one end of the toggle body 47, and the crank lever 46 is substantially centered on the other end of the toggle body 47. It is connected so that it can rotate freely. Also, a bottom support member 46b for pushing the cylinder bottom 20b of the gas cylinder 20 is attached to one end of the crank lever 46. One end of the second link plate 44 is rotatably connected to the other end of the crank lever 46. On the other end side of the second link plate 44, as described above, there is a head portion 44t that comes into contact with the locking claw 42t of the cam 42. The other end of the first link plate 43 is connected to a substantially central portion of the second link plate 44.
[0015]
In FIG. 2, the locking claw 42t and the head 44t indicated by a two-dot chain line indicate the positional relationship when the lever 10 is in the stop position. A solid line indicates a state in which the lever 10 is rotated in the direction of an arrow of approximately 90 degrees. The state of this solid line is a state in which the lever 10 rises almost vertically. At this time, the contact relationship between the locking claw 42t of the cam 42 and the head portion 44t of the second link plate 44 is terminated, so that the sliding surfaces of the cams 41A and 41B begin to push down the middle of the first link plate 43. It has become.
[0016]
From the viewpoint of setting the gas cylinder 20, this state is that when the lever 10 is in the stop position, that is, when the locking claw 42t and the head 44t indicated by a two-dot chain line, the cylinder bottom 20b The pushing force from the bottom support member 46b of the lever 46 is not acting. The bottom support member 46b pushes the cylinder bottom 20b toward the gas connecting device 21 until the lever 10 is rotated as shown by the arrow and reaches the position of the locking claw 42t and the head 44t indicated by solid lines. It has become. Then, the lever 10 is rotated approximately 90 degrees, and the communication of the gas flow passage is almost completed at a position where the lever 10 stands vertically. However, in this state, the connecting fulcrums X, Y, Z of the toggle main body 47, the crank lever 46, the first link plate 43, and the second link plate 44 are linear and unstable. Therefore, as described above, from the state where the contact state between the locking claw 42t of the cam 42 and the head portion 44t of the second link plate 44 is completed (the state shown in FIG. 2), the rotation of the lever 10 is further increased. The sliding surfaces of the cams 41A and 41B push down the middle of the first link plate 43 to lower the connection fulcrum Y, thereby fixing the setting state of the gas cylinder 20.
[0017]
Here, as is clear from the description, the user who purchased the container of the present invention only performs the dispensing operation from the beginning. In other words, a gas flow passage forming operation in which the gas in the gas cylinder 20 is substantially connected to the barrel 100 unconsciously by simply performing the pouring operation of rotating the lever 10 at the stop position from the time of sale, the conventional setting. The work is done reliably.
[0018]
Next, the vicinity of the nozzle 51 that is the spout will be described with reference to FIGS. However, these drawings are viewed from the nozzle 51 side, and FIG. 2 described above is a diagram viewed from the gas cylinder 20, so that the rotation direction of the lever 10 is opposite. Further, portions other than the periphery of the nozzle 51 are not shown.
Now, the arm plate 61 fixed to the interlocking shaft 60 is connected to the nozzle holder 50 via the connecting rod 62. Therefore, the nozzle holder 50, which is a slider, reciprocates on a horizontal plane by the turning operation of the lever 10. The nozzle 51 is supported by the nozzle holder 50 and can be projected and retracted from the inside of the pouring device 1 to the outside at the upper part of the barrel 100 as the lever 10 is operated. 3 shows a state in which the lever 10 is in the stop position and the nozzle 51 is housed inside the pouring device 1, and FIG. 4 shows the lever 10 in the beer pouring position and the nozzle 51 is in the pouring device 1. A state of protruding outward is shown. In the figure attached here, a cover C 1 covering the dispensing device 1 is provided for the explanation of the dispensing device 1. When the nozzle 51 is housed in the dispensing device 1, as shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle 51 is in contact with a horizontal plane Ca formed as a part of the cover C, and the opening 51a is blocked by the horizontal plane Ca. Has stopped at. With such a shutter structure, it is possible to prevent intrusion of dust and insects from the opening 51a when the container is not used.
[0019]
Here, a description will be given of the relationship between the operation of the lever 10 and the rise and fall of the nozzle 51. Between the time when the lever 10 is at the stop position and the time at which the beer is discharged from FIG. There is a change in the amount of movement protruding. Considering the XY axis here, if the movement angle of the lever 10 is taken on the X axis and the movement amount of the nozzle 51 is taken on the Y axis, a sine curve will be drawn. That is, the movement amount of the nozzle 51 is small at the stop position of the lever 10 or the beer pouring position, and the movement amount is large around 90 degrees when the lever 10 is raised.
[0020]
The reason for this configuration is that the bead to be poured out can be easily received by a vessel such as a mug because the nozzle 51 moves in the container of the present invention. That is, if the movement of the lever 10 is made small before and after the beer pouring position shown in FIG. 4, the position for receiving the beer hardly moves, and if the mug is placed at the approximate position before the pouring starts, This is because after that, it is possible to concentrate on the dispensing operation by the lever 10.
[0021]
Furthermore, the flow path of beer around the nozzle 51 and the nozzle holder 50 will be described with reference to FIG. A pipe line 57 that forms a liquid flow path for letting beer out from the barrel 100 extends from the barrel base described later to the terminal end of the nozzle holder 50 and is connected to the nozzle holder 50. As described above, the pipe 57 is constituted by a tube or the like having a degree of freedom to cope with the movement of the nozzle holder 50 as a slider.
[0022]
On the other hand, the nozzle holder 50 has a liquid flow passage 55 formed therein from one end to which the pipe 57 is connected to the other end (front end side) to which the nozzle 51 is connected. A rising portion 52 is formed on the liquid flow passage 55 on the nozzle 51 connection side. The rising portion 52 has a space that can accommodate the ball B 1. The ball B floats at the pressure when the beer passes through the liquid flow path 55 and passes the beer to the nozzle 51 side. However, when there is no beer circulation, the ball B is placed on the rising portion 52 and placed on the liquid flow path 55. Is supposed to be closed. By adopting such a configuration, the beer pouring operation is completed, and after the beer after the lever 10 is returned to the stop position as shown in FIG. 3, it remains in the liquid flow passage 55 after pouring. Liquid dripping from beer can be minimized. Incidentally, 53 shown above the rising portion 52 in the figure is a cap, and the ball B can be taken in and out by opening the cap 53.
[0023]
In this example, dripping prevention is performed using the ball B. Instead, a lid member biased by a spring material is provided on the rising portion 52 to have the same function. May be. Furthermore, providing the rising portion 52 in the liquid flow passage 55 shown here is not the only configuration for preventing liquid dripping, and various opening / closing members such as cocks and valves may be employed without providing the rising portion.
[0024]
Next, based on FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, a description will be given of the distribution of carbon dioxide gas and the distribution of beer and the barrel 100 in accordance with the operation of the lever 10. 5 and 6 are views again seen from the side of the gas cylinder 20 (not shown). Here, the connection portion between the pouring head 80 of the pouring device 1 and the base 105 of the barrel 100, particularly the gas from the gas cylinder 20 is shown. Is introduced into the barrel 100 through the gas flow passage, and the point where the beer in the barrel 100 is led to the pipe 57 constituting the liquid flow passage on the contrary.
[0025]
In FIG. 5, the lever 10 is in a standby state immediately before dispensing after passing through 90 degrees upright from the stop position. A cylinder 81 extending in the vertical direction is formed inside the dispensing head 80, and a spool 70 movable up and down is disposed in the cylinder 81. The spool 70 normally has an urging means (not shown) and is pushed upward.
The peripheral wall of the cylinder 81 is provided with an opening at the start end of the pipe 57 that forms a liquid flow path and an opening at the end of the gas flow path 22 that is formed starting from the gas connecting device 21 described above. Three O-rings 71, 72, and 73 are fitted into the spool 70 in order from the top. The pipe 57 and the outside are sealed by the O-ring 71, and the pipe 57 and the gas are sealed by the O-ring 72. The space between the gas flow path 22 and the inside of the barrel 100 is maintained by the O-ring 73.
[0026]
A beer passage 75 is formed in the spool 70 from the intermediate position downward. The upper end of the beer passage 75 communicates with an opening 75a formed on the peripheral surface of the spool 70 between the O-rings 71 and 72. When the spool 70 is pushed down, the beer is guided to the pipe 57 through the beer passage 75 and the opening 75a.
[0027]
FIG. 6 shows a state where the lever 10 is pushed down from the state of FIG. 5 to the beer pouring position. In this state, the spool 70 is lowered, so that the seal of the O-ring 73 that seals the gas flow path 22 and the inside of the barrel 100 is released, and the carbon dioxide gas that has been damped is shown in the barrel in the same figure. 100 cap parts 105 are to be introduced into the barrel.
[0028]
Here, referring to FIG. 7, the figure shows an enlarged view of the mouth portion of the barrel 100, that is, the periphery of the base portion 105. A fitting 107 is fixed to the base part 105 by screwing, and the fitting 107 and the inner peripheral surface of the base part 105 are sealed by a seal ring 109. Further, a gas circulation chamber 108 having a large number of openings through which carbon dioxide gas entering as indicated by an arrow can pass is formed below the fitting 107. The carbon dioxide gas that has entered from the base part 105 enters the barrel 100 through the opening of the gas circulation chamber 108.
[0029]
Further, a tube 110 extending in a spiral shape from the lower part of the gas circulation chamber 108 toward the bottom of the barrel 100 is disposed. As described above, when carbon dioxide gas enters the barrel 100 and the internal pressure in the barrel rises, the beer rises through the tube 110 and further rises through the upper end tube 111 thereon. If the barrel 100 and the pouring device 1 are connected as shown in FIG. 6, the beer further rises from the upper end tube 111 from the lower end of the beer passage 75, and the leading end of the pipe 57 that forms the liquid flow passage described above. The beer is poured out from the nozzle 51 finally.
[0030]
Here, if the tube in the barrel 100 is spiral as described above, the beer naturally rises while rotating spirally. The pressure is to be reduced.
Conventionally, since a down tube that falls straight into the barrel has been adopted, the flow path for reducing the beer pressure is formed in a complicated manner in the peripheral portion of the cylinder 81. However, in this container, the peripheral portion of the cylinder 81 can be made quite simple as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 simply by adopting such a simple tube.
[0031]
Here, based on FIG. 6, a description will be given of the locking mechanism of the dispensing device 1 integrally connected to the barrel 100 as the beverage container. The container of the present invention is intended to be quickly put into a beer or other beverage dispensing operation without being conscious of the setting of a gas valve or the like after being purchased by a user. Therefore, the dispensing function that sells the container (barrel) and the dispensing device together, then collects the empty container, replenishes the beverage, fills it with gas, and conducts a predetermined inspection to store the beverage again. It can be said that it is a desirable form to sell as an attached container.
Therefore, a lock mechanism is incorporated in the container so that the container and the dispensing device are not easily separated. Referring to FIG. 6, a protruding portion 80 a that protrudes outward is provided at the lower right end portion of the dispensing head 80. The projecting portion 80a is provided with a circular opening 80k. A key member 91 that is fitted in the opening 80k and is rotatable in the opening 80k is disposed. The key member 91 has a foot portion 91a that falls from a position eccentric from the rotation axis J of the main body of the key member 91 on the lower side thereof. An engagement piece 90 is fitted to the foot portion 91a. When the key member 91 is rotated in the opening 80k, the engaging piece 90 swings by the amount of eccentricity.
[0032]
Here, the engagement piece 90 has a notch 90 b that is locked to the flange 105 a of the cap portion 105 of the barrel 100. Then, by rotating the key member 91, the notch 90b can be locked to the collar 105a of the base part 105 and can be released.
Therefore, after the nail 82 provided at the lower left end of the dispensing head 80 is hooked on the flange 105a of the base part 105, the key member 91 is rotated so that the notch 90b is connected to the flange 105a of the base part 105. So that the pouring device 1 can be integrally attached to the barrel 100.
[0033]
Furthermore, if only a predetermined shaped member can be inserted into the head of the key member 91, a lock mechanism can be obtained. Although FIG. 6 omits the cover C for the sake of explanation, the pouring device 1 of an actual product is covered with the cover C that is continuous with the peripheral portion of the barrel 100. Therefore, the lock mechanism cannot be easily confirmed from the outside, and the barrel can be separated from the pouring device by rotating the key member 91 only with a specially shaped member.
[0034]
【The invention's effect】
As described above in detail, in the case of a beverage container with a dispensing function according to the present invention, the dispensing device is integrally connected, and the gas cylinder is also arranged in a standby state. It is possible to save troublesome processes for the user such as troublesome preparation of the apparatus and troublesome setting of the gas cylinder.
[0035]
In addition, the user can dispense the beverage while substantially forming the gas flow path only by operating the lever, considering only that the beverage is dispensed from the initial operation.
In addition, it is possible to provide a beverage container with a dispensing function that has not been available so far that gas can be reliably used after the initial operation.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a beverage container with a dispensing function according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from above.
2 is a view showing a gas cylinder setting mechanism of the beverage container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view showing the vicinity of the spout in the standby state of the beverage container shown in FIG. 1;
4 is a view showing the vicinity of the spout of the beverage container shown in FIG.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a relationship between a lever and a dispensing head before the beverage container shown in FIG. 1 is dispensed.
6 is a diagram showing a relationship between a lever and a dispensing head during the dispensing of the beverage container shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a view showing a spiral tube disposed in a container.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Dispensing device
10 Lever
20 Gas cylinder
41, 42, 43, 44, 46, 47 setting mechanism (41, 42 cam, 43 1st link plate, 44 2nd link plate, 46 crank lever, 47 toggle body)
60 Rotating shaft (Linked shaft)
100 beverage containers (barrels)

Claims (3)

It consists of a beverage container that stores beverages therein, and a dispensing device that is integrally connected to the beverage container that holds a gas cylinder that is unconnected and in a standby state in advance.
In the dispensing device, in order to dispense the beverage in the beverage container to the outside using the gas in the gas cylinder, a gas flow path connecting the inside of the container and the gas cylinder and the container A liquid flow passage that connects to the beverage inside and the outside is formed, and a lever that opens and closes the gas flow passage and the liquid flow passage when dispensing the beverage is provided,
A beverage container with a dispensing function, comprising a setting mechanism for connecting the gas cylinder to the gas flow passage and setting the standby state to the usable state when the lever is initially operated to dispense the beverage. The lever has a pivot shaft, and is pivotable from the beverage pouring position to a stop position rotated 180 degrees around the pivot shaft. Between the stop position and the beverage pouring position, the lever is pivotable. The pouring according to claim 1, wherein the setting mechanism is set to be operated, and the setting of the gas cylinder to the usable state is completed by the setting mechanism when the lever is initially operated. Beverage container with function.   The setting mechanism has a position where the gas cylinder is in a standby state and a usable state position where the gas cylinder is connected to the gas flow passage and is set in the usable state, and is set in the usable state. 3. The beverage container with a dispensing function according to claim 2, wherein the beverage container is fixed at the usable state afterward.

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