Drink tapping device for a keg and dispensing device comprising the tapping device and a keg

Abstract

A device for tapping a drink from a container ( 100 ) comprises: —a tapping head ( 10 ) comprising a body ( 12 ) and a piston ( 11 ) that is mobile relative to the body ( 12 ) along guide means ( 5 ); —a tapping duct ( 60 ) comprising a tube ( 13 ) to one end of which a pusher ( 14 ) actuated by the piston ( 11 ) is connected. Characteristically, the tapping device ( 1 ) comprises means ( 6 ) for irremovably connecting the tapping duct ( 60 ) to the container ( 100 ).

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A device for tapping a drink from a container ( 100 ) of the type comprising:
 a tapping head ( 10 ) comprising a body ( 12 ) and a piston ( 11 ) that is mobile relative to the body ( 12 ) along guide means ( 5 );   a tapping duct ( 60 ) comprising a tube ( 13 ) to one end of which a pusher ( 14 ) actuated by the piston ( 11 ) is connected;   
       the tapping device ( 1 ) being characterised in that it comprises means ( 6 ) for irremovably connecting the tapping duct ( 60 ) to the container ( 100 ). 
     
     
         48 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is rigid. 
     
     
         49 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is designed to have the drink passing through it and extends in a direction of drink outflow, between a first and a second end of it ( 51 ,  52 ). 
     
     
         50 . The tapping device according to  claim 49 , characterised in that the first end ( 51 ) of the pusher ( 14 ) is irremovably connected to the tube ( 13 ). 
     
     
         51 . The tapping device according to  claim 49 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) comprises an internal central hole ( 140 ) extending from the first end ( 51 ). 
     
     
         52 . The tapping device according to  claim 51 , characterised in that the second end ( 52 ) of the pusher ( 14 ) comprises at least one lateral through opening ( 54 ) that places the outside of the pusher ( 14 ) in fluid communication with the central hole ( 140 ). 
     
     
         53 . The tapping device according to  claim 51 , characterised in that the central hole ( 140 ) extends between the first and the second end ( 51 ,  52 ) of the pusher ( 14 ) passing right through the latter. 
     
     
         54 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is physically separate from the piston ( 11 ). 
     
     
         55 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is made as a single part with the tube ( 13 ). 
     
     
         56 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) at least partly comprises the irremovable connecting means ( 6 ). 
     
     
         57 . The tapping device according to  claim 56 , characterised in that the irremovable connecting means ( 6 ) comprise elastically deformable means ( 225 ) that can be slotted into suitable seats in the container ( 100 ). 
     
     
         58 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the tube ( 13 ) passes through a housing ( 113 ) inside the piston ( 11 ). 
     
     
         59 . The tapping device according to  claim 58 , characterised in that the internal housing ( 113 ) runs right through the piston ( 11 ) in the direction in which the piston ( 11 ) is moved relative to the body ( 12 ). 
     
     
         60 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that a side portion of the piston ( 11 ) comprises a first slot ( 111 ). 
     
     
         61 . The tapping device according to  claim 60 , characterised in that a side portion of the body ( 12 ) comprises a second slot ( 112 ). 
     
     
         62 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that:
 the tube ( 13 ) passes through a housing ( 113 ) inside the piston ( 11 );   a side portion of the piston ( 11 ) comprises a first slot ( 111 );   a side portion of the body ( 12 ) comprises a second slot ( 112 );   the first and the second slots ( 111 ,  112 ) are aligned and in contact with each other to enable the tube ( 13 ) to be inserted and removed from the side, between the internal housing ( 113 ) of the piston ( 11 ) and the outside of the body ( 12 ).   
     
     
         63 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that inside the body ( 12 ) there is a conduit ( 15 ) for feeding an operating fluid under pressure, said feed conduit ( 15 ) comprising a first end ( 151 ) that can be operatively connected to a source of operating fluid under pressure, and a second end ( 152 ) that can be operatively connected to the drink container ( 100 ). 
     
     
         64 . The tapping device according to  claim 63 , characterised in that it comprises a flow shutoff switch ( 16 ) for the conduit ( 15 ) that feeds the operating fluid under pressure. 
     
     
         65 . The tapping device according to  claim 64 , characterised in that the piston ( 11 ) and the flow shutoff switch ( 16 ) are operated simultaneously by the user with a single lever ( 101 ) on the tapping head ( 10 ). 
     
     
         66 . The tapping device according to  claim 64 , characterised in that the switch ( 16 ) can move inside the feed conduit ( 15 ) and comprises an inlet section ( 162 ), an outlet section ( 163 ) and an internal cavity ( 161 ) extending between the inlet section ( 162 ) and the outlet section ( 163 ) of the switch ( 16 ). 
     
     
         67 . The tapping device according to  claim 66 , characterised in that the switch ( 16 ) can move between an open configuration where it enables the operating fluid to pass and where the first end ( 151 ) of the feed conduit ( 15 ) is in fluid communication with the inlet section ( 162 ) of the switch ( 16 ), and a shutoff configuration where it prevents the pressurized operating fluid from passing and where a side wall ( 164 ) of the switch ( 16 ) occludes the first end ( 151 ) of the feed conduit ( 15 ). 
     
     
         68 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that it comprises means ( 4 ) for hooking the body ( 12 ) to the container ( 100 ). 
     
     
         69 . The tapping device according to  claim 68 , characterised in that the hooking means ( 4 ) comprise means ( 40 ) for placing the body ( 12 ) in a fixed position relative to the container ( 100 ). 
     
     
         70 . The tapping device according to  claim 47 , characterised in that the tapping duct ( 60 ) comprises at least one portion ( 63 ) whose cross section is totally deformable. 
     
     
         71 . The tapping device according to  claim 70 , characterised in that it comprises a dispensing tap ( 7 ) connected to the outlet end ( 62 ) of the tapping duct ( 60 ). 
     
     
         72 . The tapping device according to  claim 71 , characterised in that the dispensing tap ( 7 ) comprises at least the following:
 an uninterrupted internal passage that runs through it from the upstream end to the downstream end, allowing the tapping duct ( 60 ) to slide through it freely and easily, the tapping duct ( 60 ) occupying and passing right through the uninterrupted internal passage;   actuating means ( 70 ) for opening and closing the tapping duct ( 60 ) portion ( 63 ) with the totally deformable cross section by simply pressing it at a certain section of it along the uninterrupted internal passage.   
     
     
         73 . A drink dispensing device characterised in that it comprises:
 a tapping device ( 1 ) according to  claim 47 ;   a container ( 100 ) comprising an outer containment structure ( 2 ) which in turn comprises an inner compartment ( 200 ) for containing the drink and means ( 22 ) for putting the inside and the outside of the container ( 100 ) in fluid communication with each other; said fluid communication means ( 22 ) between the inside and the outside comprising a first opening ( 221 ) for the passage of the drink and a second outlet opening ( 222 ) for a pressurized operating fluid, a shutter ( 20 ) being provided for occluding the first opening ( 221 ).   
     
     
         74 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the irremovable connecting means ( 6 ) connect the pusher ( 14 ) and the shutter ( 20 ), said irremovable connecting means ( 6 ) being actuated when the pusher ( 14 ) and the shutter ( 20 ) enter into contact; the shutter ( 20 ) being reversibly mobile between a first configuration in which it occludes the first opening ( 221 ) and a second configuration in which it enables the drink to flow through the first opening ( 221 ). 
     
     
         75 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is removably coupled to the piston ( 11 ) in such a way as to move as one with the piston ( 11 ). 
     
     
         76 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the container ( 100 ) comprises shutter ( 20 ) anti-extraction means ( 407 ) which prevent the shutter ( 20 ) from coming free of the outer containment structure ( 2 ). 
     
     
         77 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the shutter ( 20 ) is mobile between a first configuration in which it occludes the first opening ( 221 ) and a second configuration in which it enables the drink to flow freely through the first opening ( 221 ), the shutter ( 20 ), in the second configuration, being totally free of the first opening ( 221 ) and being irreversibly inside the inner compartment ( 200 ). 
     
     
         78 . The dispensing device according to  claim 77 , characterised in that the pusher ( 14 ) is mobile from the first configuration in which it is away from the first opening ( 221 ) to a second configuration in which, after having pushed the shutter ( 20 ) into the container ( 100 ), it irremovably engages the container ( 100 ) at the first opening ( 221 ). 
     
     
         79 . The dispensing device according to  claim 77 , characterised in that the shutter ( 20 ) comprises a weight so that in the second configuration the shutter ( 20 ) does not float in the inner compartment ( 200 ) at the first opening ( 221 ). 
     
     
         80 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the first and the second opening ( 221 ,  222 ) are separate. 
     
     
         81 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the inner compartment ( 200 ) containing a drink comprises a flexible bag ( 21 ). 
     
     
         82 . The dispensing device according to  claim 81 , characterised in that the flexible bag ( 21 ) is in fluid communication with the first opening ( 221 ), the second opening ( 222 ) being outside the bag ( 21 ). 
     
     
         83 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the outer containment structure ( 2 ) itself defines the inner compartment ( 200 ) for the drink. 
     
     
         84 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the container ( 100 ) comprises means ( 3 ) for extracting the drink. 
     
     
         85 . The dispensing device according to  claim 84 , characterised in that the drink extracting means ( 3 ) comprise a channelling element ( 30 ) which extends from the first opening ( 221 ) into the inner compartment ( 200 ) to facilitate the outflow of the drink. 
     
     
         86 . The dispensing device according to  claim 85 , characterised in that the cross section of the channelling element ( 30 ) transversal to its main direction of extension has a comb-like shape. 
     
     
         87 . The dispensing device according to  claim 85 , characterised in that the channelling element ( 30 ) comprises a tubular element. 
     
     
         88 . The dispensing device according to  claim 85 , characterised in that a lateral surface ( 31 ) of the channelling element ( 30 ) comprises at least one hole ( 32 ) located at the first opening ( 221 ). 
     
     
         89 . The dispensing device according to  claim 85 , characterised in that:
 the shutter ( 20 ) is mobile between a first configuration in which it occludes the first opening ( 221 ) and a second configuration in which it enables the drink to flow freely through the first opening ( 221 ), the shutter ( 20 ), in the second configuration, being totally free of the first opening ( 221 ) and being irreversibly inside the inner compartment ( 200 );   the channelling element ( 30 ) comprises means for locking the shutter ( 20 ) in the second configuration.   
     
     
         90 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the outer containment structure ( 2 ) is rigid. 
     
     
         91 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that it comprises a protective cap which can be removed before use and which covers the first opening ( 221 ) in order to guarantee maximum hygiene an to prevent the shutter ( 20 ) from being contaminated by extraneous elements. 
     
     
         92 . The dispensing device according to  claim 73 , characterised in that the outer containment structure ( 2 ) comprises:
 a neck  408  extending outwards to an end ( 409 ) of the neck ( 408 ), the end ( 409 ) defining an inlet surface ( 410 ) of the outer containment structure ( 2 );   a plug ( 411 ) for the inlet surface ( 410 ), said plug ( 411 ) being applied to the neck ( 408 ) and comprising the first and second openings ( 221 ,  222 );   means ( 412 ) for irremovably joining the plug ( 411 ) to the neck ( 408 ), said irremovable joining means ( 412 ) being located outside the neck ( 408 ).