Replaceable component for a dispense head, a dispence head, and a method of using a dispense head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11939201-B2
Application number	US-202017762445-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 10, 2020
Priority date	Jan 20, 2020
Publication date	Mar 26, 2024
Grant date	Mar 26, 2024

Abstract

A replaceable component for a dispense head includes a first pipe disposed to pass through an inside of a dispense head, a pressing portion capable of pressing a valve body of a beverage supply valve in a beverage container, and a sealing member. The sealing member includes a first sealing portion capable of coming in contact with a beverage outlet of the beverage container, and a membrane connected to the first sealing portion and inhibiting a beverage from adhering to the dispense head.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member comprising:
a first pipe disposed to pass through an inside of the plunger member movable relative to the dispense head main body;
a pressing portion capable of pressing a valve body of a beverage supply valve in a beverage container; and
a sealing member,
wherein the sealing member includes:
a first sealing portion capable of coming in contact with a beverage outlet of the beverage container; and
a membrane connected to the first sealing portion and inhibiting a beverage from adhering to the dispense head.

2. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the pressing portion moves toward the valve body, the membrane deforms from a first state to a second state.

3. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein the sealing member includes a second sealing portion capable of coming in contact with a mouth portion of the beverage container, and
wherein the membrane is disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion.

4. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein a gas passage hole is formed in the sealing member to introduce a gas supplied from outside of the dispense head to the beverage container.

5. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 4 ,
wherein the gas passage hole is opened when the pressing portion moves toward the valve body, and
wherein the gas passage hole is closed when the pressing portion moves away from the valve body.

6. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 4 ,
wherein in a state in which the gas is not supplied to the dispense head, the gas passage hole is kept in a closed state even when the pressing portion moves toward the valve body, and
wherein the gas passage hole is opened when the gas is supplied to the dispense head.

7. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flange contacting an upper surface of the first sealing portion.

8. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pipe includes:
an end portion connectable to a second pipe; and
a cover portion disposed to cover the end portion, and preventing an operator's hand from touching the end portion.

9. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a protective cover capable of covering the sealing member,
wherein the protective cover is detachable from the sealing member after the first pipe is placed to pass through the inside of the dispense head.

10. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein when the pressing portion moves toward the valve body, the membrane deforms from a loosened state to a stretched state.

11. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a held portion to be held by a recess formed on a lower surface of the dispense head main body.

12. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 11 ,
wherein the sealing member includes a second sealing portion capable of coming in contact with a mouth portion of the beverage container,
wherein the membrane is disposed between the first sealing portion and the second sealing portion, and
wherein the second sealing portion engages with the held portion.

13. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a flange contacting an upper surface of the first sealing portion,
wherein the flange includes an upper surface to be pressed by the plunger member.

14. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein a reinforcing rib extending in a direction parallel to a longitudinal central axis of the first pipe is arranged on an outer surface of the first pipe.

15. The replaceable component for a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first pipe is insertable into the plunger member in a direction from a lower end of the plunger member toward an upper end of the plunger member.

16. A dispense head to which a replaceable component for a dispense head is attached, the replaceable component comprising:
a first pipe disposed to pass through an inside of the dispense head;
a pressing portion capable of pressing a valve body of a beverage supply valve in a beverage container; and
a sealing member including a first sealing portion capable of coming in contact with a beverage outlet of the beverage container, and a membrane connected to the first sealing portion to inhibit a beverage from adhering to the dispense head,
the dispense head comprising:
a dispense head main body;
a plunger member into which the first pipe is inserted and moving the first sealing portion and the pressing portion downward by pressing the first pipe downward; and
an operating member operating the plunger member such that the plunger member moves relative to the dispense head main body.

17. A method of using a dispense head having a dispense head main body and a plunger member, the method comprising:
attaching a replaceable component for a dispense head to the dispense head;
attaching the dispense head to a beverage container;
moving the plunger member relative to the dispense head main body downward;

and
moving the plunger member relative to the dispense head main body upward,
wherein the replaceable component for a dispense head comprises:
a first pipe;
a pressing portion capable of pressing a valve body of a beverage supply valve in the beverage container; and
a sealing member including a first sealing portion and a membrane inhibiting a beverage from adhering to the dispense head,
wherein the moving the plunger member relative to the dispense head main body downward includes deforming the membrane from a first state to a second state,
wherein the moving the plunger member relative to the dispense head main body upward includes restoring the membrane from the second state to the first state, and
wherein the attaching a replaceable component for a dispense head to the dispense head includes inserting the first pipe of the replaceable component for a dispense head into the plunger member.

Assignees

• Asahi Group Holdings Ltd
• Asahi Breweries Ltd

Inventors

• Miyatani Tomohisa
• Maeda Tsutomu
• Yamagishi Masanori
• Inagaki Motohiro

Classifications

• B67D1/0852 Primary

  composed of a membrane and ram assembly · CPC title

• B67D1/0832 Primary

  with two valves disposed concentrically · CPC title

• B67D2210/00062

  Pipe joints · CPC title

• B67D1/0839

  Automatically operating handles for locking or unlocking a connector to or from a keg · CPC title