Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67D—DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B67D1/00—Apparatus or devices for dispensing beverages on draught
  • B67D1/08—Details
  • B67D1/0829—Keg connection means

Definitions

• Container closure cap adapted for storing carbonates liquids, and container provided with such a cap
• the invention relates to the field of packaging liquids, and in particular that of carbonates liquids, for their withdrawal.
• the invention more particularly relates to a closure cap capable of being combined with draw-off elements, as well as a container provided with such a cap.
• the closure caps are fixed by screwing on the containers filled with liquid. They are provided with a dip tube for diving into the liquid.
• the cap further comprises a shutter member adapted to close the passage of the liquid in the plunger tube, and therefore the container. In order to proceed with the withdrawal of the liquid, the shutter element is removed from the cap, a flow head, connected to a withdrawal device, being then positioned on said cap.
• the document FR-A-2232491 describes a extractor tube suitable for use in an apparatus comprising a closed reservoir which distributes a liquid under the action of pressurized gas supplied to the reservoir, the latter comprising a closure lid provided with a liquid outlet fitting, wherein the tube is removable and is shaped at its upper end to be easily attached and detached by hand to and from the outlet fitting. It follows from the document WO 2006/029625 A1 that there is known a closure cap for a container which has a body comprising withdrawal elements comprising a dip tube and a flexible flow pipe, the dip tube and the drain pipe.
• said closure cap further comprising means for retaining said flow pipe on the tubular extension of the connecting element
• the invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a closure cap to proceed, easily and quickly, the withdrawal of the liquid contained in a container.
• the invention relates to a closure cap for a container adapted for storing carbonate liquids, characterized in that it has a body comprising withdrawal elements comprising a dip tube and a pipe of flexible flow, the dip tube and the flow pipe extending on either side of said cap, and a connecting member of the flow pipe with the dip tube, the connecting element having a passage for the liquid, from the dip tube to the flow pipe, said passage having a tubular extension on which is fixed one end of the flow pipe, said closure cap further comprising means for retaining said pipe flow over the tubular extension of the connecting element, characterized in that the retaining means comprise a clamping ring ensuring the maintenance of the flow pipe on the element junction clamping the end of the pipe against the extension of the connecting element.
• the cap carries directly the elements necessary for the withdrawal of the liquid, namely a dip tube intended to be disposed in the container, and a flexible flow pipe intended to extend outside the container.
• the cap thus allows, in addition to closing the container, even withdrawal of the liquid contained in the container.
• the flow pipe is fixed by fitting on the extension (male part) of the closure cap. Retaining means ensure its maintenance on said extension.
• the pipe under the action of its pressurization during the withdrawal of the liquid, and because of its flexibility, tends to tear off the closure cap.
• the retaining means comprise a clamping ring ensuring the maintenance of the flow pipe on the connecting element by clamping the end of the pipe against the extension of the connecting element.
• the retaining means comprises a pressure tab of the flow pipe against the extension of the joining element. The pipe is then bent by the tongue towards the end of the extension.
• the tongue constitutes means for closing the fluid passage, said tongue being mounted articulated on the body so as to pass from an open position to a closed position of the fluid passage by pivoting on the extension of the fluid. junction element.
• the closure cap further comprises sealing means comprising a tab formed at the end of the tongue and irreversibly clipping into a retaining loop formed on the body.
• the closure cap may include a complementary channel for the passage of liquid, opening and extending to the passage. In this channel, there will be housed a ball, movable between an open position of the channel and a closed position of the channel. As will be understood from the description of the figures, the ball is in the open position of the channel, when the container is placed upside down, and in the closed position of the channel, when the container is placed at the place, place and upside down in relation to the normal position.
• the body of the cap is elastically deformable.
• the invention relates to a container adapted for the storage of carbonates liquids, and in particular beer keg, provided with a closure cap as just described, said cap being fixed irreversibly on a filler neck of said container.
• the seal between the filler neck and the closure cap is provided by means of one or more annular bead (s) formed (s) on the body of said cap.
• the liquid stored in the container is a carbonated beverage, such as a beer or a quiet drink.
• the invention relates to a container as just described and its contents: a liquid carbonate such as a beer or a quiet drink.
• FIG. 1 is a side view of a liquid container according to the invention, consisting of a container provided with a lid;
• FIG. 2 is a perspective top view of the container of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of containers according to the invention, the containers being stacked;
• FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic view of containers and lids nested
• FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of an unsealed lid closure cap
• FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of the closure cap of FIG. 5 in a pinch position of a liquid flow pipe (the flow pipe not being shown);
• FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the closure cap of FIG. 5 sealed;
• FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional view of another embodiment of an unsealed closing cap
• FIG. 9 illustrates a view from above of the closure cap of FIG. 8.
• Figure 10 illustrates the cap of Figure 8 sealed.
• a container 1 of liquid and more particularly a beer keg.
• Said container 1 comprises a plastic bag for containing the liquid placed in a rigid container 2 provided with a rigid lid 3, liquid withdrawal elements and a closure cap 4.
• the bag (not shown) comprises two sheets of rectangular shape of the same dimensions. Said sheets are superimposed and welded together at or near their lateral edges.
• One of the sheets has a filling opening formed near two adjacent side edges.
• the choice of material in which the bag is made depends on the liquid to be contained therein.
• the bag must withstand the pressure to which the container is subjected when the liquid to be stored is a carbonated drink, such as beer. It must also be sealed from the inside out to the carbon dioxide, and to some extent permeable from the outside to the inside to the oxygen.
• the container of slightly conical shape, has a side wall defining a loading opening through which the body of the bag is introduced, and a bottom wall 20 provided, in the embodiment described, four feet 21 arranged equidistantly or substantially equidistant to tolerances close to each other.
• the feet 21 are of rounded shape.
• the rounded shape of the feet contributes to the resistance of the container to the pressure of the stored liquid.
• the slightly conical shape of the container has the advantage of allowing its interlocking with other containers.
• the container 2 preferably has an interior volume (or capacity) of the order of 5, 10 or 15 liters. Moreover, it advantageously has a capacity slightly less than that of the plastic bag, in order to avoid any possible bursting of the bag during its filling or caused by an overpressure related to an increase in the temperature to which the container 2 is subjected. Thus, for a container having a capacity of about 7 liters, it is advantageous to provide a bag having a capacity of the order of 8 liters.
• the lid 3 has a convex shape so as to offer a greater resistance to the pressure to which the container 2 is subjected when the latter is closed.
• the cover 3 is extended, on its lower part, by a gripping flange 31 for handling the container 2 when it is provided with said lid 3.
• a gripping flange 31 for handling the container 2 when it is provided with said lid 3.
• the lid 3 further includes an orifice 32 centrally disposed therein.
• the orifice 32 is provided with a shaped filler neck cylindrical provided, at or towards its free end, an outer collar.
• the filler neck appears in Figure 1 (reference 5).
• the bag is fixed on the lid, the filling opening of said bag being placed opposite the filling neck 5 of the lid 3.
• the cover also has, on its outer face 33, four cavities 34, of a shape complementary to that of the legs 21 of the receptacle 2.
• the four cavities distributed around the orifice equidistantly or substantially equidistant to the tolerances close to each other , are arranged to respectively receive one of the feet of a container resting on said lid 3.
• the fingerprints 34 also serve to reinforce the resistance of the container to the pressure of the liquid.
• Figure 3 illustrates the stack of two containers 1.
• the containers once filled with liquid, can be stacked on top of each other.
• the outer face 33 of the lid 3 is provided with reinforcing projections 37, as illustrated in FIG. 2.
• Said protrusions of reinforcement 37 are arranged concentrically and connect the impressions between them.
• the indentations also comprise a crossing of two reinforcing projections 38.
• the indentations 34 have an elevation 35 with respect to the outer face 33 of the cover 3.
• the elevation of the indentations 34 thus makes it possible to form an space 36 between the outer face 33 of the cover 3 and the bottom wall of another container disposed on said cover 3.
• the space 36 thus formed makes it possible to house the closure cap fixed on the filling neck 5 of the bag provided with the withdrawal elements, as will be seen.
• the containers and the lids are able to be nested (FIG. 4).
• the container 2 and the lid 3 are assembled in force by crimping. It can be provided that the container 2 and the lid 3 are then sealed by means of a complementary ring.
• the closing cap 4 comprises a hollow cylindrical body 40. As will be seen, the body 40 is intended to be held against the inner wall of the filler neck 5.
• the body 40 is provided, in the described embodiment, with three annular beads 42 extending on the outer wall thereof. Said beads 41 are arranged to exert on the inner wall of the filling neck 5 a sufficient pressure to seal the junction between the body 40 of the closure cap 4 and the filling neck 5 of the container 2.
• the body 40 is made of an elastically deformable material to facilitate its placement in the filler neck 5, while maintaining a sufficient pressure to seal between said body 40 and the filler neck 5.
• the body 40 is provided at its lower end with a lip 45 extending radially outwardly. This lip has the function, as explained below, of maintaining the body 40 irreversibly locked on the lid 3.
• a junction disk 41 is formed inside the body 40, delimiting with the inner wall of the body 40, an upper cavity 47.
• the disk 41 has a communication port between a rigid dip tube to be disposed in the plastic bag and a flexible shape memory flow pipe (not shown), the liquid passing from the dip tube to the flow pipe.
• the dip tube and the flow pipe are arranged on either side of the joining disk 41.
• the dip tube and the flexible pipe constitute the withdrawal elements. The length of the dip tube depends on the dimensions of the container.
• the communication orifice comprises a nozzle on which the flow pipe is intended to be placed.
• the closure cap 4 comprises a clamping ring 43.
• the clamping ring 43 is hingedly mounted on the upper end of the body 40 so that it can be folded onto the disc 41 in the upper cavity of the body 40.
• a lumen 44 is formed in the clamping ring 43 to allow passage of the flow pipe.
• Said light 44 is arranged to receive the tip when said clamping ring 43 is folded down on the joining disc 41. It is further dimensioned, with said tip, to ensure a firm hold of the flow pipe on said tip.
• the clamping ring 43 is held in the folded position on the connecting disc 41 by means of a lug 44 formed on the inner wall of the body 40.
• the closure cap 4 further comprises a tab 46 for closing the container. Said tongue 46 is articulated on the upper body end 40 so as to be able to fall back on the junction disc 41 covered by the clamping ring 43, pinching the flow pipe.
• the tongue 46 is fixed at 90 degrees to the clamping ring 43, on the upper end of the body 40 of the closure cap 4.
• the closure cap 4 further comprises sealing means.
• the sealing means comprise a tab 47 formed at the end of the tongue 46 snapping into a retaining loop 48.
• Said retaining loop 48 is formed on the upper end of the body 40, diametrically opposite the end by which the tongue 46 is articulated on the body 40. Said retaining loop 48 extends outwardly.
• FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate a particular embodiment of the closure cap 4.
• the body 40 of the closure cap 4 comprises in the lower part (lower part of the cap, delimited by the joining disc 41) a through cavity 49 adapted to receive one end of the plunger tube 56. Said cavity 49 is dimensioned so that the plunger tube 56 can be fixed in force in the cap 4.
• the cavity 49 is connected to the communication orifice of the joining disc 41 by a connecting duct 51.
• the body 40 further comprises a channel 50 extending from the lower part of the body 40 into the junction conduit 51.
• the channel 50 is opening on the outside. It is intended to receive a movable sealing ball 52 (FIG. 10). The function of the channel will be described later.
• the lower periphery of the body 40 of the closure cap 4 is provided with a tongue 53, mounted articulated, adapted to fall back on the lower part of the body 40, and more particularly on the inlet ports of the cavity 49 and the channel 50.
• the tongue 53 has a shape complementary to that of the lower part of the body 40.
• Two lights 54 and 55 are formed in said tongue 53. These lights are arranged to be located, when the tongue 53 is folded over the body 40 of the closure cap 4, vis-à-vis respectively of the orifice of inlet 55 of the cavity 49 and the inlet of the channel 50.
• the light 55 has a diameter at least slightly less than that of the ball 52 housed in the channel 50 so as to retain the latter in said channel 50, the ball ensuring the sealing of the channel 50 as will be seen later.
• the light 54 has a section allowing insertion of the end of the plunger tube 56 in the cavity 49. In order to improve the retention of the plunger tube 56, the lumen 54 is provided with a retaining collar 57 extending towards the outside of the body 40.
• the tongue 53 is fixed on the body 40 of the closure cap 4 by clipping.
• the tongue 53 has an edge provided with an internal projection 57 adapted to be housed in a groove 58, of complementary shape, formed on the outer wall of the body 40.
• the closure cap 4 is dimensioned so that when the cap is fixed on the filler neck 5 of the container 2, the inlet openings of the cavity 49 and the channel 50 open into the plastic bag.
• the closure cap 4 thus configured offers the possibility of withdrawing all of the liquid contained in the plastic bag, whether the container is disposed upside down or in place.
• the ball 52 When the container is placed upside down, the ball 52 is placed at the place or at the high end of the channel 50. Said high end is arranged to allow the passage of the liquid to the flow pipe while retaining the ball 52 in said channel.
• high end By the term “high end” is meant the upper end of the channel 50 when the container is disposed at the place.
• the passage of the fluid is allowed, in the embodiment described, because of an oval shape of the channel, or at least given at the high end of the channel.
• the ball when the container is placed upside down, the ball is positioned at the upper end of the channel 50 allowing the liquid contained in the bag to pass through the channel 50, from the bag to the flow pipe. Said channel 50 thus replaces the plunger tube 56. It thus makes it possible to withdraw the liquid, even when the level of the latter is lower than the free end of the plunger tube 56.
• the ball 52 When the container is disposed at the location, the ball 52 is positioned, by gravity, at the lower end of the channel 50, thereby closing the light 55.
• low end By the term “low end”, is meant the lower end of the channel 50 when the container is disposed at the place.
• the function of the ball 52 associated with the channel 50 is therefore twofold: firstly to allow the passage of the liquid in the direction of the flow pipe when the container is arranged upside down, and secondly ensure gas tightness when the container is arranged at the place.
• the transport of the containers from their point of manufacture (factories) to their filling point in liquid, and more particularly in beer, the filling point being also liquid production units, is carried out in the following manner.
• the containers leave the factory in detached pieces, these being: i) the containers, ii) the lids respectively provided with a plastic bag, and iii) the closure caps provided with the elements of withdrawal.
• each lid is crimped on a container, the bag adapted to receive the liquid being disposed therein.
• the beer bag filling step is then carried out according to the usual methods used in the field of liquid packaging.
• the withdrawal neck is sealed by means of the closure cap which has been previously placed in a "sealed” state, that is to say the clamping ring folded into the body the closure cap and the tab snapped into the retaining loop, thus closing the flow pipe, and therefore the container.
• the body of the closure cap is forced into the filler neck due to the presence of the beads on the outer wall of said body.
• the body is depressed until the lower lip reaches the end of the filler neck opening inside the bag ("inner end").
• the body which has undergone an elastic deformation inwardly during its insertion into the filler neck, then makes an outward movement due to its elasticity.
• the flow pipe is loosened by breaking the handle holding the closure tongue. The liquid can then be withdrawn.
• the container disposed at the place or arranged upside down.
• a compression air supply channel or carbon dioxide in the first case, there is provided an air supply channel to allow the rebalancing of the liquid in the bag , and thus avoid the phenomenon of suction cups.
• the two air supply channels form a single channel.
• it is provided with a non-return valve.

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• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=38611062

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (1)

Citations (2)

• 2007
  • 2007-03-13 FR FR0753782A patent/FR2913673B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-03-11 ES ES08787772T patent/ES2366802T3/es active Active
  • 2008-03-11 PT PT08787772T patent/PT2146923E/pt unknown
  • 2008-03-11 DK DK08787772.6T patent/DK2146923T3/da active
  • 2008-03-11 PL PL08787772T patent/PL2146923T3/pl unknown
  • 2008-03-11 WO PCT/FR2008/000311 patent/WO2008132328A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-03-11 EP EP08787772A patent/EP2146923B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2008-03-11 AT AT08787772T patent/ATE509885T1/de active
• 2011
  • 2011-08-16 HR HR20110606T patent/HRP20110606T1/hr unknown

Patent Citations (2)

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