Patent ID: 9580289
Date: 2017-02-28
CPC Classifications: B67D

Claim:
1. A dispensing device for dispensing a beverage out of a pressurized container, comprising: (a) A first, at least partially flexible, beverage dispensing line, comprising an inlet end and an outlet end the inlet end being provided with connecting device for coupling said inlet end to a container containing a liquid to be dispensed, and the outlet end comprising a flexible portion, and (b) a tapping unit comprising: a support plate defining in use a substantially horizontal plane, comprising a top surface and a bottom surface and an opening connecting said top and bottom surfaces, a tapping column comprising an elongated portion fixed to, and extending substantially perpendicular to said top surface and forming an elbow at a top of the tapping column, and comprising an elongated inner channel bringing in fluid communication the opening of the support plate with a tapping pinch valve located in a tapping head positioned at or adjacent the elbow at the opposite top end of the tapping column and opening to ambient atmosphere facing towards the support plate, said tapping pinch valve comprising first and second jaws suitable for receiving in pinching relationship the flexible portion of the outlet end of said dispensing line and for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough by varying the distance between the first and second jaws from a first, closed position, d0, wherein the flexible portion of the dispensing line is squeezed and no liquid can flow therethrough to a second, open position, d1, wherein the dispensing line is not squeezed completely and liquid can flow through the line, wherein said column comprises a device for opening a portion of the channel spanning from some point of the elongated portion up to and including a portion of the elbow and the pinch valve, such that the first and second jaws can be separated from one another by a distance substantially larger than the one corresponding to the open position, d1.