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
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/04—Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer
  • B67D3/043—Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat
  • B67D3/044—Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat and venting means operated automatically with the tap
• • 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
  • B67D3/00—Apparatus or devices for controlling flow of liquids under gravity from storage containers for dispensing purposes
  • B67D3/04—Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer
  • B67D3/043—Liquid-dispensing taps or cocks adapted to seal and open tapping holes of casks, e.g. for beer with a closing element having a linear movement, in a direction perpendicular to the seat

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of manufacture of valves for dispensing liquids contained in small rigid, semi-rigid or flexible containers, in particular of food liquids, and has for its object such a valve.
• taps are known which consist of a mounting body in the bung of a container and by a piston for releasing the liquid charged by a spring and guided in the body, the piston acting on an elastic sealing membrane integral from the body.
• the mounting body in the drain is provided with a fastening fitting cooperating by snap-fastening with the drain.
• Such taps allow correct distribution of the liquid and are perfectly suited either to a bottling operation or to a succession of rackings, whether these are carried out in a sterile environment, such as a sterile chamber on an aseptic filler, or no, for example for filling glasses or small containers, that is to say for private use or in catering for small outlets of a single drink or a single vintage.
• taps for dispensing liquids in particular aseptic food liquids or not, with automatic closure, which are constituted by a mounting body in the bung of a container and by a liquid release piston acting on a membrane. elastic sealing integral with the body, these valves being provided with means for holding the piston in the open position.
• valves of the plug type in which the passage of the liquid is achieved by matching the passage openings by means of a lever or an operating handle.
• EP-A-0 213 783 also discloses a tap for gaseous liquids comprising a diaphragm operated by means of two levers.
• This valve is provided with an interface acting as a diaphragm and acting on a piston which is secured to said diaphragm, this diaphragm being actuated by means of two levers extending above it.
• it is necessary to develop a large opening force by means of the levers, in order to deform the diaphragm in the direction of opening of the valve of the tap.
• This difficulty in opening the diaphragm is due to the fact that it is made of the same material as the valve body, in a single molding operation.
• the diaphragm or dome, secured to the piston is not elastic by nature but by constitution during manufacture, the elasticity or the semi-rigidity necessary for its deformation for actuation of the piston being obtained only by the provision of circular weakening lines in the form of grooves.
• such a valve cannot be monostable, that is to say have an elasticity allowing a reliable spring effect without back pressure.
• the flexibility of the diaphragm or dome alone is not sufficient to ensure correct alternating openings and closings of the valve and only a pressure of the product contained in the container provided of this valve is likely to guarantee closing by action on the piston and to guarantee sealing.
• the object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of existing taps and to propose a tap with a very high oxygen barrier, easily maneuverable, guaranteeing an automatic closing without any additional action of the contents and the manufacture of the constituent parts and their assembly can be carried out in a simple and rapid manner, so that their cost price can be significantly reduced.
• the liquid distribution valve which is essentially constituted by a body for mounting in the bung of a container and distribution of the liquid, by a valve or a sealing membrane for sealing a orifice.
• liquid distribution provided with a control member and housed in the part of the body opposite to that for mounting in the drain and by means of actuation of said control member, is characterized in that the mounting body in the drain of a container and of distribution of the liquid is made of bi-material by bi-injection or co-molding in a single molded part integrating the means of actuation of the control member of the valve or of the sealing membrane orifice for distributing the liquid by spring effect, by means of a deformable elastic membrane made of a flexible material with a residual spring effect, the rest of the body being made of a rigid material.
• FIG. 1 is a side elevation view in section of the valve according to the invention
• Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view in section of the valve according to Figure 1
• Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of the valve in the service position, before first use
• Figure 4 is a sectional view similar to that of Figures 3, showing the valve in the open position
• Figures 5 to 7 are sectional views similar to those of Figures 4, alternative embodiments of the invention
• Figure 8 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 of another alternative embodiment of the invention
• Figure 9 is a perspective view of the valve according to Figure 8, without the actuating means of the control member
• Figure 10 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of an embodiment of 'A valve or membrane control member.
• FIGS. 1 to 8 of the accompanying drawings show a liquid distribution valve, which is essentially constituted by a body 1 for mounting in the bung of a container (not shown) and for distributing the liquid, by a valve or a membrane 2 sealing a liquid distribution orifice 3, provided with a control member 4 and housed in the part of the body 1 opposite to that for mounting in the drain and by means 5 for actuating said control member 4.
• a liquid distribution valve which is essentially constituted by a body 1 for mounting in the bung of a container (not shown) and for distributing the liquid, by a valve or a membrane 2 sealing a liquid distribution orifice 3, provided with a control member 4 and housed in the part of the body 1 opposite to that for mounting in the drain and by means 5 for actuating said control member 4.
• the body 1 for mounting in the bung of a container and for dispensing the liquid is produced in bi -material by bi-injection or co-molding in a single molded part integrating the means 5 for actuating the valve control member 4 or the membrane 2 for sealing the orifice 3 of the liquid distribution orifice 3 by spring effect , through ire of a deformable elastic membrane made of a flexible material with a residual spring effect, the rest of the body 1 being made of rigid material.
• Such a constitution of the rest of the body 1 ensures good grip of the latter.
• the body 1 and the means 5 for actuating the valve control member 4 or the membrane 2 for closing the orifice 3 for dispensing liquid can be produced in a simple and inexpensive manner in a single molding operation, by bi-injection or co-molding of two materials having different mechanical characteristics. Furthermore, the seal between the means 5 and the body 1 is perfectly ensured.
• valve or the membrane 2 for closing the orifice 3 for dispensing liquid is preferably formed under shape of a piston, the head 2 'of which cooperates in shape with the liquid distribution orifice 3 and which is loaded by a compression spring 2 ", said piston being provided with a piston rod forming the control member 4 and being guided in a bracket 2 '"for mounting in the body 1, above the dispensing orifice 3.
• the compression spring 2 "is supported directly on the rear face of the piston constituting the valve or the shutter membrane 2 of the liquid distribution orifice 3, surrounds the piston rod forming the control member 4 or extends on either side of said rod ( Figure 10) and is connected at its other end to the caliper 2 '"for mounting in the body 1, above the dispensing orifice 3.
• all of the constituent elements of the valve or of the membrane 2 for closing the orifice 3 of liquid dispensing can advantageously be made by molding in one piece.
• Such an embodiment of the valve or of the membrane 2 allows, on the one hand, a simple and inexpensive manufacture and, on the other hand, a limitation of the parts of the valve, so that the assembly operations are reduced and the corresponding cost can be reduced accordingly.
• the compression spring 2 is constituted by a pair of elastic blades each connected by one end to the end of the piston rod forming the control member 4 and by its other end to the stirrup 2 '"for mounting in the body 1, the control member 4 - valve or membrane 2 - stirrup 2'" assembly being produced in a single molding, the elastic blades forming the spring 2 "compensation bar guiding the piston rod.
• the stirrup 2 '"for mounting the valve or the membrane 2 for closing the orifice 3 for dispensing liquid in the body 1, above the dispensing orifice 3, cooperates, in the service position, by means of flanges of the free ends of its wings, with parallel guide rails 6 provided in the body 1, on either side of the dispensing orifice 3.
• the head 2' of the valve or of the membrane 2 is automatically positioned on the orifice 3 of liquid distribution and instantly closes the latter in a sealed manner.
• the control member 4 forming the piston rod constituting the valve or the membrane 2 has a free end part housed in the stirrup 2 '", passing through the end of the latter opposite to the distribution orifice 3 of the body 1 and provided with a device 7 for connection with the corresponding end of the actuating means 5 penetrating into the body 1.
• connection device 7 may be in the form of a hole through which the correspondingly shaped end of the actuating means 5 ( Figures 1, 3 to 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10.)
• the device 7 can also be constituted by two parallel grooves, inclined relative to the axis of the control member 4, close of its free end, and cooperating with the corresponding fork-shaped end of the actuating means 5.
• the means 5 for actuating the valve control member 4 or the diaphragm 2 for sealing off the orifice 3 for distributing the liquid is advantageously constituted by an operating rod 5 ′ extending in the body 1 , parallel to the longitudinal axis of the latter, made of a rigid material, cooperating at one end, inside said body 1, with the connection device 7 of the corresponding end of the control member 4, and by a control button 5 "forming the deformable elastic membrane, which is advantageously made of a flexible material with a residual spring effect, bi-injected or co-molded with the body 1 and with the operating rod 5 'and connected, on the one hand , in a sealed manner with the end of the body 1 opposite to that of mounting in the bung of a container and, on the other hand, with the end of the operating rod 5 'opposite the valve or the membrane 2 d sealing of orifice 3 of distributio n of the liquid.
• the shape of the control button 5 "in a flexible material with a residual spring effect allows easy operation of the rod 5
• the free end of the operating rod 5 ′ is advantageously wedge-shaped and cooperates with a wall of corresponding slope of the connection device 7 of the corresponding end of the control member 4.
• the operating rod 5 ' enters the housing forming the connection device 7 and, by cooperation of its wedge-shaped end with the corresponding sloping wall of said housing, the rod 5' pushes on the 'corresponding end of the valve control member 4 or membrane 2 for sealing the orifice 3 of the liquid distribution, so that said valve or membrane 2 is lifted from its seat on the dispensing orifice 3 and frees the passage of the liquid.
• FIG. 5 of the accompanying drawings shows an alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the control button 5 "of the means 5 for actuating the valve control member 4 or the membrane 2 for sealing the shutter orifice 3 for distributing the liquid is loaded by a return spring 5 '"advantageously mounted on the operating rod 5' and secured, on the side opposite to the control button 5", to the bracket 2 "for mounting the valve or of the diaphragm 2 for closing the orifice 3 for distributing liquid in the body 1.
• Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings shows another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the compression spring 2 "is formed in the form of a curved blade, connected by one end to the upper end of the bracket 2 ' “, elastically deformable and supported by its free end on the end of the piston rod forming the control member 4 of the valve or of the membrane 2.
• the end of the blade s' pressing on the end of the piston rod forming the control member 4 can also be integral with this end, so that all of the constituent elements of the valve or of the membrane 2 can be produced by molding in one holding.
• FIG. 7 of the accompanying drawings shows another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the valve or diaphragm 2 for sealing off the liquid distribution orifice 3 is doubled by a second valve or diaphragm 12 for sealing sealed from an air inlet orifice 13, this valve or membrane 12 being operated by means 5 of actuation of the member 4 for controlling said valve or said membrane 2 for sealing the air orifice 3 for dispensing the liquid.
• the constitution of this second valve or membrane 12 for sealing off an air inlet orifice 13 may be identical to that of the valve or membrane 2 for sealing off the orifice 3 for distributing the liquid, the section of the opening of the orifice 13 preferably being lower than that of the liquid distribution orifice 3.
• a valve thus produced is particularly suitable for mounting on a rigid container, the valve of which requires an air intake.
• This tap allows correct emptying of the packaging, smoothly, the flowing liquid being replaced by a siphoning effect by the air entering through the orifice 13, this following the unique operation of the means 5 .
• valves or membranes 2 and 12 respectively for sealing the orifice 3 for distributing the liquid and for sealing the orifice 13 for the air inlet can advantageously be produced in the form of a molding part. unique. Thus, these valves or membranes 2 and 12 can be mounted in a single, quick and simple operation, in the body 1.
• FIGS 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings show another alternative embodiment of the invention, in which the operating rod 5 'constituting the means 5 for actuating the valve control member 4 or the membrane 2 of tight sealing of the liquid distribution orifice 3 is advantageously connected to the corresponding end of the body 1 by means of flexible bridges 18 made of the same material as said rod 5 'and as the body 1 and overmolded by the material flexible component of the membrane forming the control button 5 ", during co-molding or bi-injection of the assembly.
• the valve can be provided, in addition, with a destructible tamper-evident device 14, secured to the body 1 and having in the form of a removable collar surrounding the part of the actuating means 5 and, optionally, the stop 11 projecting from the body 1.
• a destructible tamper-evident device 14 secured to the body 1 and having in the form of a removable collar surrounding the part of the actuating means 5 and, optionally, the stop 11 projecting from the body 1.
• the inviolability thus obtained can be supplemented by the provision on the destructible inviolability device 14 of a tearable and heat-sealable cover 15 closing said inviolability device 14 above the means d actuation 5 and, optionally, of the stop 8, this cover 15 which can advantageously be provided with a tax stamp and which can cover, in addition, the orifice (s) 3 and 13.
• this cover 15 which can advantageously be provided with a tax stamp and which can cover, in addition, the orifice (s) 3 and 13.
• the tearable lid 15 can be made in one piece with the destructible tamper-evident device 14, in an identical material or in a different material, and may simply have a thickness less than that of said destructible tamper-evident device 14. It follows from this embodiment that the tap is inviolable during transport and storage. Thus, the essential security, in particular for the packaging of aseptic food liquids, is ensured and criminal use is instantly detected.
• the body 1 for mounting in the bung of a container and for dispensing the liquid is advantageously connected to a base part 16, forming a neck and intended for the connection with a container, by an initial connection by means of a destructible physical means 17, the part of the body 1 connected to the base part 16 forming the neck being nestable and lockable in position d definitive fitting into said base part 16 forming a neck after destruction of the physical means 17.
• the body 1 - base part 16 assembly can be fixed definitively and aseptically, by welding of said base part 16 on or in a corresponding opening of a container, the body 1 being torn from the base part 16 for filling said container, then fitted and locked in said part 16 after filling age.
• the destructible physical means 17 is preferably in the form of a weakened strip made of the same material as that constituting the base part 16 and of the body 1. This constitution results in the possibility of making the body 1 and the base part 16, forming a neck, in a single molding operation in a single mold, so that the single piece obtained can be of a cost significantly lower than that of the two pieces used to date.
• valve for dispensing liquids contained in small rigid, semi-rigid or flexible containers, in particular of food liquids comprising only two subset of parts each obtained in a single operation molding, by co-molding or bi-injection of different material, and which can be connected together in a simple and rapid manner.
• valves on opening can be carried out with the development of a weak force and the return to the closed position of the valve or of the diaphragm 2 for sealing off the orifice 3 for dispensing the liquid s 'automatically performs when the pressure is released on the 5 "control button, the valve being monostable without back pressure due to the flexibility of said button in the form of a deformable elastic membrane.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Closures For Containers (AREA)
• Containers And Packaging Bodies Having A Special Means To Remove Contents (AREA)
• Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=9540799

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (14)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (27)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 1999
  • 1999-01-11 FR FR9900254A patent/FR2788326B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 1999-12-09 NZ NZ513012A patent/NZ513012A/xx not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-12-09 EP EP99958288A patent/EP1150917B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-09 BR BR9917158-9A patent/BR9917158A/pt not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-12-09 DE DE69901517T patent/DE69901517T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-09 ES ES99958288T patent/ES2176037T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-09 DK DK99958288T patent/DK1150917T3/da active
  • 1999-12-09 AU AU15688/00A patent/AU750100B2/en not_active Expired
  • 1999-12-09 WO PCT/FR1999/003076 patent/WO2000041964A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 1999-12-09 AT AT99958288T patent/ATE217604T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1999-12-09 CA CA002360273A patent/CA2360273C/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1999-12-09 PT PT99958288T patent/PT1150917E/pt unknown
  • 1999-12-16 US US09/461,739 patent/US6296157B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2000
  • 2000-01-04 AR ARP000100016A patent/AR022193A1/es active IP Right Grant
• 2001
  • 2001-08-20 US US09/931,925 patent/US6360925B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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