WO2005085076A1

WO2005085076A1 - Extractor tube

Info

Publication number: WO2005085076A1
Application number: PCT/NL2005/000150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Willem Terpstra
Original assignee: Dispense Systems International B.V.
Priority date: 2004-03-03
Filing date: 2005-03-01
Publication date: 2005-09-15
Also published as: NL1025629C2

Abstract

The invention relates to an extractor tube (3) intended for use in a container that contains a pressurised beverage, such as beer, which extractor tube is provided with a transponder (25, 30, 36). The transponder is fitted in a recess (27, 31, 35) that is formed in a solid disc-shaped part of the extractor tube. The solid disc-shaped element (15, 17) that closes an upper end of a tube that forms part of the extractor tube.

Description

Extractor tube.

DESCRIPTION The invention relates to an extractor tube intended for use in a container that contains a pressurised beverage, such as beer, which extractor tube is provided with a transponder. In the beverage industry it is desirable to be able to track and identify the product, such as beer, soft drinks, etc. from the producer to the consumer. So far a bar-coded barrel sticker has frequently been used for this purpose. Such a sticker must be replaced by a new one upon refilling the container, which takes a lot of time and results in a lot of waste. Recently it has been suggested to provide the container with a transponder, in which all the desired data, for example with regard to the kind of beverage, the filling date, the producer, the transporter, the delivery address and the like can be stored and by means of which it can also be checked where a particular container is located. Furthermore, information can be stored regarding preventive maintenance and the like. However, a drawback of a transponder fitted to a container is that it is clearly visible on the outside of the container and thus liable to intentional damage or otherwise. In addition to this, it is not easy to fit existing containers with a transponder. Consequently it is preferred to fit the transponder in the extractor tube. The transponder can thus be built in such a manner that it is not directly exposed to view and can be easily exchanged for a more modern type, if necessary. Furthermore, an important advantage of fitting a transponder in an extractor tube is that since the extractor tube is generally fitted in the centre of the container, the transponder is also located in the centre of the container, so that reading the transponder, because of the identical position of the transponder in all containers, can be performed faster and easier. From British Patent Application GB 2346604 an extractor tube fitted with a transponder is known. With this known construction the top end of a part of the extractor tube is closed by means of a cup-shaped element. The upper end of said cup-shaped element has an outwardly bent edge, which is clamped between an end of the tube that is folded round said bent edge. An elastomeric element is present in the cup-shaped body, in which the transponder is embedded. This known construction is quite complicated, whilst the elastomeric element fitted to the upper end of the tube is undesirably exposed to impacts or the like that may cause damage to the transponder. According to another proposal in British Patent Application No. 2346604, a transponder is present in a neck or branch piece attached to the container, which is intended for fastening the extractor tube to the container. Such a container neck is frequently exposed to heavy bumps and the like during use, which may lead to undesirable damage to the transponder. Furthermore, it is generally hard to find the exact position of the transponder again. The object of the invention is to obtain an extractor tube of the above kind which obviates the drawbacks of the embodiments that have been known so far. According to a first aspect of the invention, this object can be achieved in that the transponder is fitted in a recess that is formed in a solid disc-shaped part of the extractor tube. Usual extractor tubes generally comprise a solid dish-shaped member, for example a valve fitted in the extractor tube or a plate that closes a tube that forms part of the extractor tube. In such a solid dish-shaped member a recess can readily be formed for accommodating a transponder in a well -protected manner. According to a further aspect of the invention, the transponder is embedded in a ring-shaped elastomeric element that forms part of the extractor tube. The usual extractor tubes are generally also fitted with one or more ring-shaped elastomeric elements, which are used as sealing washers or the like, for example. Such ring-shaped elements are well suited for embedding a transponder in an economical and inexpensive manner therein upon manufacture. The invention will now be described in more detail by means of a number of possible embodiments of the construction according to the invention as shown in the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 schematically shows a usual container for storing a beverage, with an extractor tube fitted therein. Figs. 2 and 3 show usual and known embodiments of generally used extractor tubes. Figs. 4a, b, c are a top plan view, a side view and a cross- section, respectively, of a first embodiment of a dish-shaped member of an extractor tube. Fig. 5 similarly shows a second embodiment of a dish-shaped member. Figs. 6a, b, c are a top plan view, a first cross-sectional view and a second cross-sectional view, respectively, of another dish-shaped member according to the invention. Figs. 7 and 8 show further embodiments of dish-shaped members in a similar manner as Fig. 4. Figs. 9a and b are a top plan view, partially in sectional view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a ring-shaped elastomeric element of an extractor tube. Figs. 10 and 11 similarly show further embodiments of ring-shaped elastomeric elements. Figs. 12a and b are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a dish-shaped member of an extractor tube. Fig. 13 shows another embodiment of an extractor tube. Figs. 14a and b are a top plan view, partially in a sectional view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a ring-shaped elastomeric element as used with the extractor tube of Fig. 1. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of another embodiment of an extractor tube. Figs. 16a and b are a top plan view, partially in sectional view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a ring-shaped elastomeric element as used with the embodiment according to Fig. 15. Where possible, identical or similar parts are indicated by the same numerals in the figures. Fig. 1 schematically shows a sectional view of a container 1 that is intended for containing a pressurised beverage, such as beer, a soft drink and the like. At the upper end the container is provided with branch piece or neck 2, through which an extractor tube 3 can be inserted into the container and be fixed in position with its upper end with respect to the neck 2. Extractor tubes are known in various embodiments thereof. Thus Fig. 2 shows an extractor tube 3 comprising a housing 4 that can be fixed in position in the neck 2 of the container. Furthermore, the extractor tube is provided with an elongated tube 5. The widened upper end 6 of the tube is surrounded by a pressure spring 7. The pressure spring 7 is confined between a locking ring 8 in the lower part of the housing and an outwardly bent edge of the tube section 6. A ring-shaped sealing element 9 is fitted to the upper end of the tube section 6, which element is composed of an elastomeric ring-shaped element 10 and a jacket 11 made of a metal or the like, which partially covers said elastomeric element 10. Moreover, a solid dish-shaped member 12 is present in the widened part 6 of the tube 5, which part forms a valve disc that, for sealing the passage through the tube 5, co-operates with the elastomeric element 10. It should be noted that in the right-hand half of Fig. 2 the valve disc is shown in a position in which it abuts against the elastomeric element 10 and in the left-hand half it is shown in a position in which the valve disc and the elastomeric element are spaced apart, so that a passage is cleared through the ring-shaped seal 9. Fig. 3 shows an extractor tube 3 that comprises a housing 13 to be accommodated in a neck of the vessel. An elongated tube 14 of the extractor tube is closed at the upper end by a solid dish-shaped member 15. Below the dish-shaped member 15 some passages 16 are present in the tube wall 14. The extractor tube is further provided with a sealing element 16 that surrounds the upper end of the tube 14, which sealing element comprises a ring-shaped elastomeric element 17 and a ring-shaped jacket 18 supporting elastomeric element 17. A compression spring 19 surrounding the tube 14 is confined between a locking ring 20 in the housing 13 and the bottom side of the jacket-like body 18. Since the construction and operation of such extractor tubes are generally known and usual it will not be necessary to discuss them in further detail herein. First some possibilities for fitting a transponder in an extractor tube of the type depicted in Fig. 2 will be described with reference to Figs. 4-11. Then a few possibilities for accommodating a transponder in an extractor tube of the type shown in Fig. 3 will be described with reference to Figs. 12-16. Figs. 4a, b and c are a top plan view, a side view and a cross- sectional view, respectively, of a valve body 12 forming a solid dish- shaped member forming as used with an extractor tube according to Fig. 2. As will be apparent from the figures, this valve disc 12 comprises a central solid body in the shape of a round disc 21 and four legs 22 extending outwardly from the outer circumference of said disc. A recess has been formed in the disc shaped body 21, which is filled with a resinous material 24 in which a bar-shaped transponder 25 is embedded. Such a transponder consists of a glass tube, for example, which accommodates a copper wire coil connected to a chip, which coil is generally wound on a ferrite core. The tube has been sealed up after insertion of the coil with the ferrite core and the chip. The synthetic resin 24 surrounding the transponder 25 ensures an adequate protection of the transponder, whilst undesirable damage from outside will be practically excluded, as in this model of the extractor tube the valve disc 12, in which the transponder is accommodated, is positioned at a relatively large distance from the upper end of the housing 4 of the extractor tube. Figs. 5a, b and c are a top plan view, a side view and a cross- sectional view, respectively, of another embodiment of a solid dish- shaped member forming a valve body 12. The central disc-shaped part 21 of the valve body has a stepped configuration, and a recess in the form of a bore 26 extending perpendicularly to the central axis of the dish-shaped member is formed in the smaller diameter portion of said disc-shaped part 21. In said bore, the transponder 25 embedded in synthetic resin 24 is accommodated. Figs. 6a, b and c show another embodiment of a solid dish-shaped member 21 forming a valve body 12, seen in bottom view and in two sectional views perpendicular to each other. The valve body depicted here is made from a ceramic material, said valve body being provided with a recess 27 that is located at the bottom side of the disc shaped body 21, i.e. on the side that faces away from the sealing element 9 with which co-operates for providing a seal. In a similar way as with the preceding embodiments, a transponder embedded in synthetic resin 24 is accommodated in the recess 27. Figs. 7a, b and c are a top plan view, a side view and a cross- sectional view, respectively, of another embodiment of the valve body 12. In this embodiment, too, a circular recess is formed in the stepped discshaped member 21, which recess accommodates a disc-shaped transponder 30 embedded in synthetic resin 29. Such a disc-shaped transponder is generally built up of a synthetic laminate, in which a copper wire coil connected to a chip is embedded. Figs. 8a, b and c are a top plan view, a side view and a cross- sectional view, respectively, of another embodiment of a valve 12. A stepped bore 31 is formed in the body 21 of the valve 12. A disc-shaped transponder 30 is accommodated in the part of drill hole 31 with the smallest diameter. A covering disc 32 is mounted in the part of the stepped bore 31 that has the larger diameter, which disc is welded to the disc-shaped member 21 along its ci cumference, with the seam between the disc 32 and the disc 21 being welded shut. Figs. 9a and b are a top plan view, partially in sectional view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of an elastomeric element 10 as used with the extractor tube that is shown in Fig. 2. In said elastomeric element 10, a transponder 25 as already described above has been embedded during the production process of the elastomeric ring. Figs. 10a, b are a top plan view and a sectional view, respectively, of a similar elastomeric ring 10, in which a ring-shaped support body 33 has been embedded during the production of the elastomeric element 10. Said support body 33 has a rectilinear part 34, which bounds a chamber 35 in which a transponder 25 is accommodated. The use of such a support ring simplifies the positioning of the transponder in a mould in which the elastomeric ring-shaped body 10 is formed. Figs. 11a and b are a top plan view, partially in sectional view, and a cross-sectional view of the ring-shaped elastomeric element 10. As will be apparent from this figure, a ring-shaped transponder 36 is embedded in said elastomeric element. Such a ring-shaped transponder is generally also built up of a copper wire coil connected to a chip, which is accommodated in a synthetic laminate. Figs. 12a, b are a top plan view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, of a solid dish-shaped member 15 that closes the upper end of the tube 14 of the extractor tube, as shown in Fig. 3. As will be apparent particularly from Fig. 12, the upper end of the solid disc shaped part 15 is provided with a stepped recess, the lower part of which accommodates a disc-shaped transponder 30, while the upper end of the recess accommodates a covering disc 32 that is welded to the disc-shaped part 15 in a similar manner as described above with reference to Fig. 8. Fig. 13 shows an embodiment of an extractor tube that is similar to the embodiment that is shown in Fig. 3. However, in the embodiment that is shown in in Fig. 13 a further ring-shaped elastomeric element 37 is fitted between the metal jacket 18 and the elastomeric element 17 that is shown in top plan view, partially in sectional view, and in cross- sectional view in Figs. 14a and b. During the production of said elastomeric element 37 a bar-shaped transponder 25 has been embedded in the elastomeric element 37. Figs. 15 and 16 show an embodiment corresponding to the embodiment of Figs. 13 and 14, in which a ring-shaped transponder 36 as described above with reference to Fig. 11 is embedded in the elastomeric element 37, however. It will be apparent from the above that according to the invention there are more possibilities for accommodating a transponder in a suitable part of an extractor tube in an effective and well -protected manner without having to change the construction of the usual extractor tubes to any significant extent.

Claims

1. An extractor tube intended for use in a container that contains a pressurised beverage, such as beer, which extractor tube is provided with a transponder, characterized in that the transponder is fitted in a recess that is formed in a solid disc-shaped part of the extractor tube.

2. An extractor tube according to claim 1, characterized in that said solid disc-shaped element is formed by a valve disc mounted in the extractor tube.

3. An extractor tube according to claim 1, characterized in that said solid disc-shaped element is formed by an element that closes an upper end of a tube that forms part of the extractor tube.

4. An extractor tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a recess is present in a surface of the disc-shaped part, in which recess a bar-shaped transponder is embedded in resin.

5. An extractor tube according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that a bore is present in the disc-shaped part, in which bore a bar-shaped transponder is embedded in resin.

6. An extractor tube according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, characterized in that a circular recess is present in a surface of the disc-shaped part, which recess accommodates a ring-shaped transponder embedded in resin.

7. An extractor tube according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a disc-shaped part made of a ceramic material the recess accommodating a transponder is present on the side of the disc-shaped part that faces away from the outflow opening of the extractor tube.

8. An extractor tube intended for use in a container that contains a pressurised beverage, such as beer, which extractor tube is provided with a- transponder, characterized in that the transponder is embedded in a ring-shaped elastomeric element that forms part of the extractor tube.

9. An extractor tube according to claim 8, characterized in that said elastomeric element forms a sealing washer.