Drainage connector unit and assembly for the drainage of liquid waste of beverage dispensing devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12285131-B2
Application number	US-201716470307-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2017
Priority date	Dec 20, 2016
Publication date	Apr 29, 2025
Grant date	Apr 29, 2025

Abstract

Drainage connector unit and assembly for the drainage of liquid waste of beverage dispensing devices A dispensing and drainage assembly ( 1 ) and a drainage connector unit ( 13 ) for drainage of liquid waste of beverage dispensing devices. The assembly ( 1 ) comprises a beverage dispensing device ( 3 ) with a leak receptacle ( 5 ), a drain container ( 17 ), and the drain connector unit ( 13 ). The drain connector unit ( 13 ) comprises a housing ( 23 ) for cooperating with an opening to the drain container ( 17 ) for collecting liquid waste from a dispensing device. Additionally the drain connector unit ( 13 ) comprises a drain channel ( 15 ). The drain channel ( 15 ) extends through the housing ( 23 ) for guiding liquid waste there through from a leak receptacle ( 5 ) of the dispensing device ( 3 ), to the drain container ( 17 ). The drain connector unit ( 13 ) further also comprises at least a first aroma barrier ( 29 ) interposed between a first opening ( 25 ) and a second opening ( 27 ) in the housing ( 23 ). The first opening ( 25 ) is arranged for interacting with a headspace of the drain container ( 17 ) and the second opening ( 27 ) is arranged for interacting with a gas atmosphere outside of the drain container ( 17 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A drain connector unit for drainage of liquid waste of a beverage dispensing device with a leak receptacle, the drain connector unit comprising:
a housing coupled to a drain container via an opening of the drain container for collecting liquid waste from the dispensing device;
a drain channel extending from the leak receptacle of the dispensing device, to the drain container, the drain channel passing through an interior of the housing; and
at least a first aroma barrier placed around a part of the drain channel and interposed between a first opening and a second opening on the housing, which first aroma barrier is provided as an adsorption filter, and wherein the first opening is arranged for interacting with a headspace of the drain container and the second opening is arranged for interacting with a gas atmosphere outside of the drain container, the first aroma barrier being located exteriorly relative to and around the drain channel and interiorly relative to the housing.

2. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drain channel comprises a flexible tube.

3. The drain connector according to claim 2 , wherein the fluid level sensor comprises at least a first and second conduction element, wherein the predefined level in the drain container is detected by means of conduction of electricity between the at least first and second conduction element via a conductive medium.

4. The drain connector unit according to claim 3 , wherein the at least first and second conduction element are at least partially recessed in the housing.

5. The drain connector according to claim 3 , wherein the at least first and second conduction element are metal rods.

6. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid level sensor arranged for providing a signal when collected liquid waste reaches a predefined level in the drain container.

7. The drain connector unit according to claim 6 , wherein the fluid level sensor comprises a conductive extension, wherein the conductive extension is connectable to an electrical detection circuit, wherein the electrical detection circuit is formed by a conductive level controller to the leak receptacle.

8. The drain connector unit according to claim 7 , wherein the conductive level controller comprises at least a first and second probe electrode, wherein the fluid level sensor comprises at least a first and second electrode, and wherein the conductive extension comprises at least a first and second conductive cable arranged to connect the first probe electrode to the first electrode and the second probe electrode to the second electrode.

9. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first aroma barrier comprises of a plurality of filter parts, wherein each of the plurality of filter parts are of a same composition.

10. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first aroma barrier is provided as a path of least resistance for relieving pressure differences between a headspace of the drain container and the gas atmosphere outside of the drain container.

11. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drain channel is arranged for being in fluid connection with a second aroma barrier.

12. The drain connector unit according to claim 11 , wherein a part of the drain channel is as associated with a syphon, configured to form the second aroma barrier the syphon by a volume of retained liquid.

13. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first aroma barrier is a carbon filter.

14. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , comprising a union nut arranged for providing an air tight seal between the housing and the opening to the drain container.

15. The drain connector unit according to claim 14 , wherein the union nut is a screwcap-type union nut provided as a skirt along a circumference of the housing arranged to engage a screw threaded opening to the drain container.

16. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , comprising a retaining element arranged to cooperate with the opening to the drain container to hold the housing in place.

17. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drain channel has an inner diameter of 5-10 mm.

18. The drain connector unit according to claim 17 , wherein the drain channel has an inner diameter of 7.5-8.5 mm.

19. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid level sensor arranged for providing a signal when collected liquid waste reaches a predefined level in the drain container, wherein the first aroma barrier is provided with a central bore through which the drain channel and a part of the fluid level sensor extend.

20. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first aroma barrier forms a disk with a volume of 5-20 cm 3 .

21. The drain connector unit according to claim 20 , wherein the first aroma barrier forms a disk with a volume of 14-15 cm 3 .

22. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first aroma barrier is provided with a recess to guide or accommodate a part of the drain channel.

23. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a first and a second mutually connectable injection molded housing part.

24. The drain connector unit according to claim 23 , wherein the first and second housing part are symmetrical along a longitudinal central axis of the housing.

25. The drain connector unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a protection sleeve arranged for protecting at least a part of the drain channel stretching between the housing and the leak receptacle.

26. A dispensing and drainage assembly for drainage of liquid waste of beverage dispensing devices, the dispensing and drainage assembly comprising
a beverage dispensing device with a leak receptacle;
a drain container; and
a drain connector unit according claim 1 .

Assignees

• Douwe Egberts Bv

Inventors

• Zandvliet Nicolaas Wilhelmus
• Standaar Koen
• Dees Hendrik Johan

Classifications

• B01D2253/102

  Carbon · CPC title

• B01D53/02

  by adsorption, e.g. preparative gas chromatography {(solid sorbent compositions B01J20/00, preparation of inorganic compounds or elements C01)} · CPC title

• A47J31/46 Primary

  Dispensing spouts, pumps, drain valves or like liquid transporting devices · CPC title

• A47J31/4457

  Water-level indicators · CPC title

• A47J31/60 Primary

  Cleaning devices · CPC title