WO2007081208A1

WO2007081208A1 - Device for tapping a drink from a container such as a can

Info

Publication number: WO2007081208A1
Application number: PCT/NL2007/050009
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Giuseppe Perra
Original assignee: 4Sight Innovation B.V.
Priority date: 2006-01-10
Filing date: 2007-01-10
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: NL1030883C1; EP1976791A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for emptying a substantially cylindrical liquid-containing container, comprising fixation means (5) for fixing the container, piercing means (6) for arranging at least one tap opening in the container by means of piercing, and a conduit (6, 10) connecting to the piercing means and leading to a draw-off tap. Through use of said device the drink is guided from the container to the draw-off tap, whereby it can flow out of the draw-off tap and the sensation of the tapping process is obtained as takes place in a catering establishment. The invention also relates to a combination of such a device and a substantially cylindrical container (60) , wherein the container comprises a weakening (64) in at least one of the end walls and the piercing means of the device are adapted to arrange an opening at the position of the weakening.

Description

Device for tapping a drink from a container such as a can

Drinks such as soft drinks and particularly beer are usually sold in 330 ml or 500 ml cans. The drink can be consumed directly from the can but, particularly during home use, the drink is poured into a glass before the drink is served. Particularly in the case of beer there is a need for a method of pouring which resembles more closely the tapping method used in a catering establishment. The consumer generally associates a positive quality assessment with this manner of pouring. There is therefore a need for a device with which such a perception of the pouring is obtained. The object of the present invention is to provide such a device.

This object is achieved with a device for emptying a substantially cylindrical liquid- containing container such as a can, comprising fixation means for fixing the container, piercing means for arranging at least one tap opening in the container by means of piercing, and a conduit connecting to the piercing means and leading to a draw-off tap.

Through use of said device the drink is guided from the container to the draw-off tap, whereby it can flow out of the draw-off tap and the sensation of the tapping process is obtained as takes place in a catering establishment, even with containers such as cans with a limited volume, these containers usually being associated with drinks of a lesser quality.

It is pointed out here that, although tap installations for home use are known which are adapted to tap from larger cans or casks with a volume of several litres, they are less associated with a lower-quality product, partly due to their greater resemblance to tap installations in the catering sector.

In prior art tap installations for home use as referred to above, the cask is provided with specific closing members which are engaged by provisions arranged in the tap installations. Although cans are provided with tabs which can be pulled open, they are still less suitable for opening with a mechanical device. In order to nevertheless open such a can, a preferred embodiment provides the measure that the piercing means comprise at least one piercing pin which is connected for driving to a controllable drive element. The construction of the piercing means is simplified when the piercing pin is formed integrally with at least a part of the conduit connecting to the container. The piercing pin hereby fulfils its actual function of arranging an opening in the wall of the container but, when introduced into the container, also functions as discharge conduit for the drink from the container to the draw-off tap. In order to be able to fulfil this dual function properly the seal between the conduit and the pierced wall of the container must be as good as possible, not only to prevent leakage of the drink but also to prevent as far as possible entry of oxygen into the drink. The conduit is preferably provided with a seal extending all round.

In order to empty a container placed in the device according to the invention as much as possible, in accordance with a preferred embodiment the piercing means are adapted to arrange the tap opening in a lower part of the container placed in the fixation means.

Carbonated drinks, in particular beers, are under pressure in their container. The result hereof is that, after an opening has been made in the container wall, the drink will initially flow out until the pressure in the container is equal to that of the environment The drink will then only flow intermittently or in drops. This is otherwise also the case with non-carbonated drinks. In order to also have the drink flow out well at an equal pressure in the container, a preferred embodiment provides the measure that the device comprises auxiliary piercing means coupled for driving to the drive element for the purpose of arranging a venting opening in the upper part of the container placed in the fixation means. The thus formed venting opening then ensures the pressure increase in the container so that the liquid can flow out easily of the container.

According to a structurally attractive preferred embodiment, the auxiliary piercing means comprise an auxiliary piercing pin. The above described embodiments all relate to configurations wherein the content of the container flows out of the container due to the force of gravity. Use can then be made of a substantially funnel-shaped receptacle which is placed under the fixation means and which is adapted to collect the drink flowing out of the tap opening and to guide the drink to the draw-off tap. Although this does not prevent the drink coming into contact with the air before it reaches the glass, the possible problems with sealing are however hereby avoided. The fixation means are preferably adapted to tiltably support the container. Due to the tiltability of the container the last remainder of liquid will collect on one side of the container, whereby this container is moved downward on the side in question and the last remainder of liquid will thus flow away more easily. This same effect can otherwise also be achieved with a resiliently suspended container.

It is however also possible for the piercing means to be adapted to arrange the tap opening in an upper part of the container placed in the fixation means, wherein the tapping conduit connected to the piercing means extends into the lower part of the container after the tap opening has been arranged. With this embodiment the drink will not flow out of the container as a result of gravity unless use is made of a siphoning action, which reduces the outflow speed, so that use is preferably made of means for urging the drink out of the container by gas pressure.

The piercing means are preferably adapted to make a venting opening in the upper part of the container. This does after all prevent the venting opening being arranged in the lower part of the container, whereby the danger could result of the drink leaving the container via the venting opening, which would lead to spilling and soiling. Here the piercing means thus make not only a tap opening but also a venting opening.

The construction is simplified when the piercing means are adapted to make a single opening which is adapted to function as tap opening and as venting opening. Only a single piercing pin is then after all necessary. This pin can take a thicker form at its end for the purpose of making the opening, wherein, once the pin has been moved further into the container, space is left clear around the pin which functions as venting opening.

The piercing means preferably comprise a pin in which are arranged a conduit connected to the tapping conduit and a conduit connected to the supply conduit. Not only are a tap opening and a venting opening hereby made in the container in a single movement, as in the above stated embodiment, but the container is moreover also connected simultaneously to the tapping conduit and to the supply conduit.

The drink can simply be moved out of the container by connecting the venting opening to the environment. The drink then comes into contact with air. Use can also be made of gas pressure to expel the drink. This gas pressure must then be applied at the venting opening. This can be achieved by making use of fixation means in the form of a pressure vessel which encloses the placed container and which is connected to means for generating a gas pressure, such as a pump or a container with pressurized gas. The gas pressure is herein transferred through the venting opening into the interior of the container, where the gas pressure drives the drink through the tap opening and the tapping conduit. The gas in question is preferably formed by a low-oxygen gas, but in particular by carbon dioxide which is normally already present in many types of beer and soft drink. Oxidation reducing the quality of the drink is hereby avoided, and the drink only comes into contact with gases already present naturally in the drink, In situations where the presence of a vessel with pressurized gas is less desirable, for instance due to cost considerations, it is recommended that the venting means are connected to an air pump.

In order to enable easy placing of the container into the pressure vessel, the pressure vessel is preferably formed from two parts which can be separated for placing and removal of a container. One of the parts can herein be displaced relative to the other part to allow placing or removal of a container. When the vessel is substantially cylindrical, the separation can herein extend transversely of the axis of the cylinder so that the parts can be mutually movable in the axial direction for placing of a container.

According to a preferred embodiment, the parts are separated along a plane extending at an angle to the axis differing from 90°. In that case one of the parts can be tilted relative to the other part to enable placing of the container.

As alternative to the pressure vessel in which the container is placed, it is possible to feed pressure from the pressure generating means directly to the venting opening. According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises a venting duct which is connected to means for generating a gas pressure and which is adapted to connect in gastight manner to the venting opening of a container placed in the fixation means. The pressure vessel can hereby be omitted. A good sealing between the container and the discharge conduit must also be present in order to prevent leakage of the drink. Piercing of the container, usually manufactured from thin steel or aluminium, must take place with the necessary force. In order to enable structurally simple generation of this force, it is recommended that the drive element is formed by an electric motor. It is noted here that it is also possible to make use of a pneumatically generated force. It is also possible to adapt the piercing pin so that it is forced by spring pressure to the position in which it pierces the container, wherein locking means are arranged for holding the pin in the position in which it is under spring pressure, and that the drive element is coupled to the locking element for unlocking the locking element. This mechanism results in a sudden generation of force, whereby the wall of the container is pierced more easily. The same consideration applies not only for the piercing pin for making the tap opening but also for the auxiliary piercing pin for making the venting opening.

It is however also possible to make use of human muscle power to make the tap opening. A simple preferred embodiment therefore provides the measure that the drive element is formed by the draw-off tap.

In the above elucidated embodiments the outflow is enhanced when a pump is received in the tapping conduit. This is particularly the case for the embodiment where the drink is urged out of the container by the force of gravity and, albeit less emphatically, in the embodiments where the drink is urged out of the container by gas pressure.

It is possible in principle to position the generally cylindrical container with its axis both horizontally and vertically. It is however recommended in many situations that the fixation means are adapted to enclose a cylindrical container with its axis in vertical position. The container can after all then be easily gripped by hand and placed into the fixation means. Use can also be made of a funnel-shaped lower part.

Depending on the construction of the device, an attractive embodiment is obtained when the fixation means are adapted to fix the container with its axis in a substantially horizontal position. This is particularly, though not exclusively, the case when the device is provided with a series of containers stored in a storage tank, and it is attractive from considerations of space to adapt the storage tank for storage of the containers with their axis horizontal. The position of the container does not therefore need to be changed from this position before it is moved into the fixation means. To enable complete emptying of the container in simple manner, it is attractive when the fixation means are adapted to fix the container in a slightly tilted position relative to the horizontal position.

Most drinks obtainable in a container are preferably consumed in cooled state. A further embodiment therefore provides the measure that the device is provided with a thermally insulating wall at least partially enclosing the positions of the cylindrical containers. It is thus possible to place containers which have already been pre-cooled in a refrigerator in the device without the danger of the containers quickly reaching a higher temperature which is perceived by the user as less pleasing to the taste.

According to yet another embodiment, the device is provided with a cooling device for cooling the cylindrical containers. Pre-cooling of the containers is thus no longer necessary, although this is recommended in view of the limited cooling capacity of the preferably applied Peltier element It is however recommended to apply cooled containers so that the device according to the invention can suffice with a cooling device with a limited cooling capacity, such as a Peltier element.

Although it is by no means precluded that the tap opening is made in a jacket of the usually cylindrical container, it is recommended that the piercing means are adapted to arrange a tap opening in one of the end surfaces. This does after all result in a structurally attractive solution because use can then be made of a simple mechanism for the piercing means, both when these are driven directly by the operating means in the form of the draw-off tap and also when use is made of a piercing pin under spring pressure. The use of an end surface otherwise has the general advantage that the container can be emptied more easily as a result without the container possibly being positioned at an angle.

In order to further simplify the construction it is recommended that sealing means are arranged connecting to part of the wall of the container for the purpose of sealing a part of the wall of a container placed in the fixation means from the environment. These sealing means can be arranged directly on the piercing means, as already explained, but they can also be arranged separately of the piercing means, at a distance therefrom. What is essential is the sealing of the connection between the conduit and the content of the Container on the one hand and the environment on the other. This embodiment is particularly attractive in combination with the embodiment wherein the piercing means comprise a pin in which are arranged a conduit connected to the tapping conduit and a conduit connected to the supply conduit. In that case only the combination of the two conduits against the wall of the container need then be sealed because the two conduits extend further into the container.

How the container itself can be cooled has been elucidated above. In order to provide a cooled drink it is however also possible to make use of a non-cooled container and to cool the drink as it passes through the tapping conduit. Use is made here of a tapping conduit which is thermally coupled to a cooling device.

A more specific preferred embodiment provides the measure that the tapping conduit extends through a thermal reservoir coupled thermally to the cooling device. The advantage is hereby obtained of a relatively large thermal reservoir, so that directly after being opened a non-cooled container can produce a drink that is cooled. The cooling time for the container previously always required can hereby be dispensed with.

The thermal reservoir is preferably formed by a bath coupled to the cooling device. As a result of the temperature gradient caused by the drink in the bath, flow is created inside the bath and the relatively cool liquid comes into contact with the tapping conduit.

As a result of the large storage capacity of the vessel, it is possible to suffice with a simple cooling device with a small capacity, such as a Peltier element.

In order to facilitate piercing of the container, a preferred embodiment of the present invention also relates to a combination of a device as according to any of the foregoing claims and a substantially cylindrical container, wherein the container comprises a weakening in at least one of the end walls and the piercing means of the device are adapted to arrange an opening at the position of the weakening.

In order to allow the piercing means to pierce the weakening without positioning problems, it is recommended that the weakening is arranged centrally in the end wall of the container and that the piercing means are adapted to make an opening in the centre of an end wall of the container.

In accordance with this preferred embodiment, the invention also relates to a substantially cylindrical container for a drink manufactured from metal, wherein there is arranged in at least one of the end walls of the container a weakening which is adapted to be pierced.

So as to be able to make use of per se known techniques when arranging the weakening, it is recommended that the weakening comprises a thinned portion extending as a closed structure.

The present invention will now be further elucidated with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a variant of the first embodiment, wherein the fixation means are adapted to fix the container in vertical direction;

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of a variant of the embodiment shown in figure

2;

Figure 5 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in figure 4;

Figure 6 is a schematic view of a third embodiment; Figures 7A-7D are perspective views of the third embodiment;

Figure B is a perspective detail view of the cooling device of the third embodiment;

Figures 9 A and 9B are schematic cross-sectional views of a pressure vessel according to a fourth embodiment; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a can for use in the device according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows a device according to the invention designated as a whole with 1. The device comprises a foot 2 and a column 3, which is dimensioned in order to hold cans of drink 4 with their axis in horizontal position and having a volume of for instance 330 ml, 440 ml or 500 ml, i.e. cans which are suitable for being drunk from directly or which can be tilted for pouring out.

Arranged in the column at some distance from foot 2 are fixation means 5 in the form of a curved wall, which is adapted to fix a can 4. Although this is not shown in the drawings, column 2 is preferably, though not necessarily, provided in its side walls with a closable opening for disposal of cans 4 emptied by means to be described hereinbelow. A mechanism is preferably applied here which automatically discharges to the outside the can situated in the fixation means when a relevant closing element such as a door is opened, whereby a subsequent can is automatically carried from the column into the fixation means.

In order to empty the can placed in the fixation means an opening must initially be made in the wall of can 4. For this purpose the device comprises piercing means in the form of a hollow pin 6 which in the present exemplary embodiment is bent. This pin 6 is mounted on a spindle 7 which is placed rotatably in a holder 8. Spindle 7 is coupled to a lever 9 in the form of a draw-off tap. By operating lever 9 the spindle 7 will rotate and the hollow pin 6 is tilted so that, on its side directed toward fixation means 5, it moves upward into the vicinity of can 4. With iurther operation of lever 9 the end of hollow pin 6 will pierce the can on its jacket. The content of the can can then flow out via hollow pin 6. For this purpose hollow pin 6 is provided at its other end with a curved part 10 which takes the form of the outlet of a draw-off tap. The user has placed a glass under this outlet 10 beforehand so that the drink leaving the outlet can flow into the glass. In order to prevent leakage a seal is arranged on the outer side of the hollow pin.

In the above described device use is made of the pressure normally present in such cans for the purpose of emptying the can. This is however usually only effective until the pressure inside the can is equal to that outside. In order to fiirther advance emptying of the can, use is preferably made of a second pin, not shown in the drawing, which makes a venting opening in the wall of the can. In order to prevent drink flowing out through this venting opening, this venting opening will have to be made on the top side of the can. This opening can of course be made once again in the jacket wall of the can, but it is equally possible for this venting opening to be made in an end surface. The end surface is attractive for this purpose because the jacket is usually covered on its top side by the can lying above it in the column. The jacket is on the other hand easier in respect of the mechanism necessary for the drive; when an opening is arranged at two mutually opposite locations in the jacket wall, use can after all be made of a relatively simple lever mechanism. It will be apparent that this venting opening must be made simultaneously with forming of the tap opening in the can, which simplifies the construction of the relevant means.

It is pointed out here that diverse variations can be made to the embodiment in question; it is for instance possible that for piercing the walls of the cans use is made of the mechanisms increasing the forces generated by the lever. In the first instance this is possible by adding a transmission or an extension of the lever, whereby the path to be covered by lever 9 is increased and whereby it is possible to suffice with a smaller force on the lever. It is however also possible to make use of a storage element for mechanical energy, for instance in the form of a mechanical spring. This is because a spring has the advantage that it develops its energy in very short time, which facilitates the piercing process, all the more so as the spring can be coupled to a mass. Mechanisms for this purpose are known from the prior art. The spring can be tensioned by a manually operated lever mechanism, though likewise by for instance an electrical drive. Such a mechanism can be provided for making the tap opening, but also for making the venting opening.

Attention is finally drawn to the thermally insulating wall 12, wherein the device preferably comprises a cooling device in the form of a Peltier element.

Figure 2 shows an embodiment which differs from the first embodiment through the presence of means for expelling the drink from the container by the presence of a vessel 15 with pressurized gas, for instance carbon dioxide. For the purpose of feeding carbon dioxide or another gas, for instance nitrogen, to the interior of the container use is made of a second hollow tube 16, which is connected to hollow tube 5. The second hollow tube 15 is therefore carried into the interior of the container through the action of a feed mechanism. There the drink present in the container will be forced out by the pressure of the gas. Only a single opening need here be made in the wall of the container, because the means for feeding gas to the container are combined with the means for discharging the drink out of the container. Because the gas is supplied under pressure, the drink will after all not be able to flow into the gas feed conduit. This moreover provides the option of joining the two conduits together to form a single element. The connection between this joint element and holder for the gas can herein also take a flexible form to enable placing of the container at a fixed position.

Although in the above stated embodiment the opening is made in the jacket wall of the container, it can be attractive in some cases to make the opening in the bottom of the container. The fixation means can herein be adapted to place the container with its axis horizontal, as is shown in figure 2, though it is likewise possible to place the container with its axis vertical, whereby emptying is facilitated but for which purpose a tilting mechanism must however be provided to tilt the container from the horizontal position of the column to the vertical position.

It is finally pointed out that it is possible to provide the whole device with an electronic control for controlling the various functions; it is however also possible to omit a control and operate the device wholly by hand.

The embodiment shown in figure 3 corresponds largely with the embodiment shown in figure 1, with the understanding that the can is placed vertically so that the piercing means can make an opening in the bottom of the can. These piercing means can be combined with auxiliary piercing means engaging elsewhere in the can for making a venting opening.

This embodiment further differs due to the presence of differently formed sealing means, which are particularly suitable for engaging on the bottom of cans. These sealing means comprise a kind of receptacle 20 which is manufactured at least on its edges coming into contact with the edge of the bottom of the can from flexible material for the purpose of providing a good seal. This receptacle is urged against the relevant edge by means of a coil spring 21.

Figure 4 shows however an embodiment which again greatly resembles the embodiment of figure 2 in respect of the presence of carbon dioxide vessel 15. This figure shows how the hollow pin 6, which is used to pierce the bottom of the can, is formed integrally with an angle piece 25 which carries a hollow tube 26, which is adapted to pierce the bottom for the purpose of making a venting opening in the bottom. This hollow tube is connected to the vessel 15 filled with pressurized carbon dioxide. Use is here also made of a receptacle-like element for making a seal with the bottom of the can. The two hollow tubes extend through this receptacle and a coil spring 21 is arranged around the two tubes 6, 25 for pressing on the receptacle 20. This latter embodiment is shown in detail cross-section in figure 5.

Figure 6 shows a diagram of a third embodiment of the invention. Apart from structural details, this embodiment is distinguished by the fact that the cooling device does not act on the container but on the tapping conduit, and by the fact that the container is placed in a vessel.

The device according to this third embodiment comprises a vessel 30 in which a container 4 is placed. In accordance with the most usual form of container 4, vessel 30 has a substantially cylindrical form. Vessel 30 comprises a lower part 31 and a upper part 32 which can be moved upward for placing of container 4 relative to lower part 31. The seal between the two parts 31 and 32 is preferably a rubber ring and is gastight up to at least the maximum pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel. A locking is also present for locking the elements against each other. This locking is also suitable for withstanding the maximum pressure prevailing inside the vessel. As in the foregoing embodiments, a pin 33 is arranged for the purpose of making a tap opening in container 4. In the present embodiment this pin is however solid, since the drink is not discharged via the pin but the liquid enters the vessel. In this embodiment the pin 33 can also take a hollow form with a tapping conduit 6 connecting thereto, so that the drink enters tapping conduit 6 via the channel in the hollow pin. Pin 33 can be driven by a drive mechanism 34. This drive mechanism 34 can take a form driven electrically, pneumatically or by means of spring force.

Arranged in the upper part 32 is a pin 35 which is adapted to arrange a venting opening in container 4. This pin is also coupled to a drive mechanism 36, which also takes a form driven electrically, pneumatically or by means of spring force. A solid pin is here preferably also applied; it is the intention to form a connection between the interior of vessel 30 and container 4 without connection to the environment. The drive of the piercing pins can however also be coupled to the movement of the two parts of the vessel, so that the pins pierce the container when the vessel is closed by moving the vessel halves toward each other. It is also possible for the pins to be driven by bellows which are connected in controllable manner to pump 36 or a container for pressurized gas, so that the end walls of container 4 are pierced using gas pressure after the halves of the vessel are closed, and the same gas pressure is then used to expel the drink out of container 4.

As already stated in the preamble, it is otherwise also possible to pierce only the upper end wall of the container. The drink is here preferably expelled from the container through a conduit extending to the bottom of the container.

In order to bring about a flow of drink from the container to a draw-off tap 38, use is made of a pressure system. This pressure system comprises a pump 36 which is connected to the interior of vessel 30 by means of a conduit 37. The pump generates a pressure which urges the drink which has flowed into the interior of the vessel through tapping conduit 6 to draw-off tap 38. The pump is connected on its suction side to the environment. When containers are used which are not emptied immediately, it can be attractive to make use of a preserving, low-oxygen gas such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen. These gases must then be available under pressure in a supply tank. Pump 36 is then omitted. The pump can however also be arranged in the tapping conduit.

Tapping conduit 6 extends through a cooling device designated as a whole by 40. Cooling of tapping conduit 6 has the advantage that, even when a container 4 has not been cooled beforehand, a cooled drink can still be tapped because the drink is cooled during passage through the tapping conduit. This does however require a cooling device with a relatively large capacity or with a certain thermal storage capacity. In this case a cooling device is chosen with a large storage capacity in the form of a receptacle 41 which has a thermally insulating wall and in which is situated a liquid 42. Tapping conduit 6 extends through liquid 42. The liquid is cooled by means of a cooling element in the form of a Peltier element 43. The Peltier element is thermally coupled to the vessel by a metal plate 47. The Peltier element is further coupled to a cooling plate 48 which is cooled by an airflow generated by a fan 49. The liquid is preferably formed by water or a water-containing gel. Water does after all have a large heat capacity and is not associated with any environmental problems. From a hygienic viewpoint the water is preferably provided with an agent which kills microorganisms. Although it is possible in principle for the user to add the water him/herself, it is recommended that the water is already added in controlled manner during production of the device. The low power of Peltier element 43 is compensated by the storage capacity of liquid 42. In order to make the surface area between the tapping conduit and the liquid as large as possible, tapping conduit 6 is provided with a helically embodied part 44 of relatively great length and a small diameter. The dimensioning of the thermal capacity of the cooling device can herein be adapted to the number of non- cooled containers which must be tapped in cooled state. The construction of the cooling device is shown in more detail in figure 8. This shows that the parts of the device through which the drink runs are joined together to form a structural unit 46 which can easily be separated from cooling device 40.

The diverse parts of the device according to this embodiment are connected to a control element in the form of a microprocessor 45 which is adapted to control the various parts of the device.

Figure TA is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in figure 6; the various components of the device are here accommodated in a housing 46. Vessel 30 is arranged on the front side of housing 46. The upper part 31 of vessel 30 can be moved upward along a guide 47 mounted on housing 46, as can be seen in figure 7B. When upper part 31 is moved upward, the container 4 for emptying can be placed below the upper part and into the lower part. Upper part 31 can then be moved downward, as shown in figure 7C. After completion of this movement container 4 is enclosed gastightly inside vessel 30 and the situation is obtained as shown in figure 7D.

The closing of vessel 30 by moving parts 31 and 32 together activates the control element for operating drive elements 34 and 36 to pierce the end surfaces of container 4 with piercing pins 35 and 37. The drink present in container 4 will hereby flow into container 30. Pump 36 will then be switched on and pressure is built up inside vessel 4. When draw-off tap 38 is operated, liquid will now flow out of the draw-off tap, this liquid being cooled by cooling device 40 as it passes through tapping conduit 6. The above described device can be cleaned by placing a container with cleaning liquid in the vessel and emptying it in the usual manner.

In the above described third embodiment the pressure vessel 30 is divided into two parts 31 and 32 which are separated by a separating surface extending perpendicularly of the axis of the cylindrical vessel. In the embodiment described in figures 9 A and 9B however, there is a separating surface which does not extend perpendicularly but at an angle to the axis of vessel 50 differing from 90°. This measure provides the option of moving apart the parts 51 and 52 separated by the oblique surface by tilting the lower part 51 about a horizontal axis, as is shown in figure 9B. A good seal can also be obtained with the oblique separating surface between lower part 51 and upper part 52 of vessel 50. The mechanism is also simpler, and it is easier to place the container in the obliquely placed lower part 51.

As the third embodiment, this fourth embodiment further comprises a pin 53 which serves to make a tap opening in container 4 and which extends into the lowermost part of container 4 for the purpose of discharging the drink present in container 4. This pin 53 is connected to the tapping conduit belonging to the device and leading to the draw- off tap. Pin 53 is adapted, for instance by means of a thicker bottom end, to make an opening which is larger than a narrower part of pin 53, so that the opening made by the pin is larger than the pin when pin 53 is in its position shown in figure 9A. This additional space of the opening serves as a venting opening so that the pressure prevailing in the pressure vessel is transferred to the interior of container 4. It is pointed out here that a feed conduit 55 is adapted to feed gas coming from a supply tank to pressure vessel 50, this gas being used to urge the drink out of the container.

In this embodiment it is also possible in principle for pin 53 to be provided not only with a connection for the conduit connecting to the tapping conduit, but also with a conduit which is connected to the pressure feed conduit and which ends at a higher level in the container. Because the pressure of the supply tank can be fed directly to the interior of the container using the conduit connected to the pressure feed conduit, the pressure vessel can be omitted. These conduits can be placed mutually adjacently or concentrically in the pin. Finally, figure 10 shows a can 60 as container for use in the present invention. Can 60 is substantially cylindrical. In addition to jacket 61 it comprises two end surfaces, of which only one, 62, can be seen in the figure. Formed in this end surface is a recess 63 in which a weakening line 64 extending in a circle is arranged by making use of techniques used for arranging weakened portions to be opened by a person. The part enclosed by weakening line 64 can hereby be pierced easily.

The weakened portion can in principle also be arranged elsewhere in end surface 62 or even in jacket 61 , but the above elucidated positioning has the advantage that the weakened portion is positioned directly, without further measures, for piercing by the piercing means of the device according to the invention.

It will be apparent that measures shown in the diverse embodiments can be combined with each other.

Claims

1. Device for emptying a substantially cylindrical liquid-containing container, comprising: 5 - fixation means for fixing the container;

- piercing means for arranging at least one tap opening in the container by means of piercing; and

- a tapping conduit connecting to the piercing means and leading to a draw-off tap.

0 2. Device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the piercing means comprise at least one piercing pin which is connected for driving to a controllable drive element.

3. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the piercing pin is S formed integrally with at least a part of the tapping conduit connecting to the container.

4. Device as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, characterized in that the piercing means are adapted to arrange the tap opening in a lower part of the container placed in the fixation means. 0

5. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the device comprises auxiliary piercing means coupled for driving to the drive element for the purpose of arranging a venting opening in the upper part of the container placed in the fixation means. 5

6. Device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the auxiliary piercing means comprise an auxiliary piercing pin.

7. Device as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the piercing means 0 are adapted to arrange the tap opening in an upper part of the container placed in the fixation means, wherein the tapping conduit connected to the piercing means extends into the lower part of Ae container after the tap opening has been arranged.

8. Device as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the piercing means are adapted to also make a venting opening in the upper part of the container.

9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the piercing means are adapted to make a single opening which is adapted to function as tap opening and as venting opening.

10. Device as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the piercing means comprise a pin in which are arranged a conduit connected to the tapping conduit and a conduit connected to the supply conduit.

11. Device as claimed in claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the fixation means comprise a pressure vessel which is connected to means for generating a gas pressure and which is adapted to enclose the container placed in the fixation means.

12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the pressure vessel comprises two parts which can be separated for placing and removal of a container.

13. Device as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the separable parts are mutually separated by a plane extending at an angle to the axis of the container differing from 90°.

14. Device as claimed in claim 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that the device comprises a venting duct which is connected to means for generating a gas pressure and which is adapted to connect in gastight manner to the venting opening of a container placed in the fixation means.

15. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the drive element is formed by an electric motor.

16. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-13, characterized in that the drive element is formed by the draw-off tap.

17. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that a pump is received in the tapping conduit.

18. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the fixation means are adapted to enclose a cylindrical container with its axis in vertical position.

19. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-17, characterized in that the fixation means are adapted to fix the container with its axis in a substantially horizontal position.

20. Device as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the fixation means are adapted to fix the container in a slightly tilted position relative to the horizontal position.

21. Device as claimed in claim 19 or 20, characterized in that the device is provided with a supply holder for substantially cylindrical containers, wherein the supply holder is adapted to hold the cylindrical containers with their axis in horizontal position.

22. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the device is provided with a thermally insulating wall at least partially enclosing the positions of the cylindrical containers.

23. Device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that the device is provided with a cooling device for cooling the cylindrical containers.

24. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the piercing means are adapted to arrange a tap opening in one of the end surfaces of the container.

25. Device as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the piercing means are adapted to make an opening in the centre of an end wall of a substantially cylindrical container.

26. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the tapping conduit is thermally coupled to a cooling device.

27. Device as claimed in claim 26, characterized in that the tapping conduit extends through a thermal reservoir coupled thermally to the cooling device.

28. Device as claimed in claim 27, characterized in that the thermal reservoir comprises a liquid bath through which the tapping conduit extends.

29. Device as claimed in any of the claims 26-28, characterized in that the cooling device comprises a Peltier element

30. Combination of a device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims and a substantially cylindrical container, characterized in that the container comprises a weakening in at least one of the end walls and that the piercing means of the device are adapted to arrange an opening at the position of the weakening.

31. Combination as claimed in claim 30, characterized in that the weakening is arranged centrally in the end wall of the container and that the piercing means are adapted to make an opening in the centre of an end wall of the container.

32. Substantially cylindrical container for a drink manufactured from metal, characterized in that there is arranged in at least one of the end walls of the container a weakening which is adapted to be pierced.

33. Container as claimed in claim 32, characterized in that the weakening is arranged centrally in the end surface of the container.

34. Container as claimed in claim 32 or 33, characterized in that the weakening comprises a thinned portion extending as a closed structure.