Abstract:
The invention relates to a tapping device for at least one bag-in-carton package equipped with a tapping valve. The tapping device has a housing for receiving the bag-in-carton package and an actuating unit which corresponds with the tapping valve and which has a valve-receiving bearing and at least one actuating means for actuating the tapping valve. The actuating means is articulated on the valve-receiving bearing by means of a pivot pin, has an upwardly directed lever arm and is arranged completely within the housing. Upstream of a contact region which is situated above the pivot pin on the lever arm there is arranged an actuating element which engages through the housing and acts on the lever arm in the contact region in order to actuate the tapping valve by way of the actuating means and can be actuated manually from outside the housing. The invention further relates to the actuating unit and to a cassette for the tapping device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The invention relates to a tapping device for at least one bag-in-box package according to the preamble of claim  1  and an actuating apparatus and cartridge therefor. The bag-in-box package is used for accommodating a beverage, such as juice or wine and has a tapping valve for tapping the beverage located in the bag, which tapping valve can be actuated vertically. The bag is emptied during tapping, without air flowing back into the bag, which means that the beverage located in the bag does not come into contact with oxygen, even after the bag-in-box package is opened, and therefore has a long shelf life. 
         [0003]    2. Brief Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    A generic tapping device is known from WO 2012 041271 A2. This known tapping device has an actuating apparatus with a valve-mounting bearing and an actuating means for actuating the tapping valve. The actuating means is linked on the valve-mounting bearing by means of a horizontal pivot axis and has an upwardly directed lever arm. The lever arm is arranged outside of the housing and can therefore be actuated manually in the essentially horizontal direction for tapping. The horizontal actuation is converted via the pivot axis into a vertical actuation of the tapping valve from above. In this case, depending on the configuration of the tapping valve, either the tapping valve is pressed down, so that wings, which protrude laterally on the tapping valve and rest on the valve-mounting bearing, are moved upwards relatively to the tapping valve to actuate the tapping valve. In a different configuration of the tapping valve, the tapping valve fixedly bears on the valve-mounting bearing by way of laterally-protruding wings and actuation takes place by pressing from above on an actuating region on the tapping valve provided for that. 
         [0005]    The housing of this known tapping device is constructed to be thermally insulating. Within the housing, a cooling of the bag-in-box package, and therefore of the beverage located therein, takes place. However, the thermal insulation of the housing is adversely influenced here by the lever arm of the actuating means arranged in a door of the housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The invention is based on the object of providing a tapping apparatus, which is convenient to use and in particular additionally enables an advantageous thermal insulation of the housing. 
         [0007]    The invention achieves this object with a tapping device according to claim  1 . In the case of a tapping device for at least one bag-in-box package equipped with an in particular vertically actuatable tapping valve, having a housing for accommodating the bag-in-box package and having an actuating apparatus corresponding with the tapping valve, which actuating apparatus has at least one valve-mounting bearing and which actuating apparatus has at least one actuating means for actuating the tapping valve, wherein the actuating means is linked by means of an, in particular horizontal, pivot axis on the valve-mounting bearing and has an upwardly directed lever arm, it is provided that the actuating means is arranged completely inside the housing. It is furthermore provided that an actuating element, which can be actuated from outside the housing, is arranged upstream of a contact region, which is located above the pivot axis on the lever arm. The actuating element reaches through the housing and acts by means of the actuating means in the contact region, particularly horizontally, on the lever arm to actuate the tapping valve. Protection is further claimed for the actuating apparatus of the tapping device according to the invention and for a cartridge for accommodating the bag-in-box package. 
         [0008]    The actuating means can be operated conveniently from outside the housing by means of the actuating element, which for example has a push-button therefor. The contact element preferably reaches through the housing horizontally or perpendicularly to the outflow direction out of the tapping valve and acts on the lever arm horizontally or perpendicularly to the outflow direction out of the tapping valve. Due to the pivot axis, which is preferably orientated horizontally, the horizontal pressing movement is converted to a pressing movement from above onto the tapping valve. 
         [0009]    The actuating element is arranged above a beverage outlet of the tapping valve, so that, unhindered by the actuating element, a cup can be positioned under the tapping valve and the button located thereabove can intuitively be pressed for tapping. During tapping, the beverage flows through an outlet arranged at the bottom on the tapping valve and through an opening in the housing. Preferably, neither the outlet nor the beverage stream emerging from the outlet touches the rim of the opening. The beverage can therefore flow directly out of the tapping valve into a cup or into a different container. A cleaning requirement for otherwise interposed lines is therefore dispensed with. 
         [0010]    Due to the arrangement of the actuating means completely inside the housing, only a comparatively small opening has to be provided in the housing for the actuating means for actuating the tapping valve. A better insulation effect is therefore achieved for the housing, which is preferably constructed in a thermally insulating manner. 
         [0011]    In the present case, the arrangement of the actuating element upstream of the contact region is to be understood to mean an arrangement, in which the actuating element is displaced with respect to the contact region on the side of the tapping valve, at least in the horizontal direction of the bag-in-box package in the direction of the housing. In this case, the tapping device is observed in a tapping-ready, particularly horizontal, orientation and from a front side, at which the tapping valve can be actuated by means of the actuating element. All further details, which relate to an arrangement of a part upstream or downstream of a different part, are based on a corresponding observation. 
         [0012]    Preferably, the valve-mounting bearing has bearing faces for laterally projecting wings of the tapping valve. In a first type of the tapping valve, the wings are used to trigger the tapping procedure by lifting the wings with respect to a valve body of the tapping valve. A known tapping valve of the first type is known under the name “Vitop” tapping valve. According to a first embodiment of the actuating means, the invention is adapted to the tapping valve of the first type, that is to say to the “Vitop” tapping valve or tapping valves of similar construction. According to a second embodiment of the actuating means, the actuating means is adapted to a tapping valve of a second type, in which the wings are fixedly connected to the housing body of the tapping valve and are only used for support. A tapping valve of the second type is known as a “Rapak” tapping valve. Any tapping valves of similar construction can also be actuated by the tapping device according to the invention, however. 
         [0013]    The actuating means is preferably constructed for actuating the tapping valve by pressing from above onto certain regions of the tapping valve. In the case of a tapping valve of the first type, the entire housing body is pressed downwards, so that the wings supported on the valve-mounting bearing perform a relative movement upwards and open the tapping valve as a result. In this case, the tapping valve is preferably guided in guide channels of the valve-mounting bearing. By contrast, in the case of the second type of tapping valve, the tapping valve is opened by pressing on an upper central region, wherein the valve body, which is fixedly connected to the wings, retains its position unchanged. 
         [0014]    Preferably, the pivot axis is arranged in the horizontal direction or in a direction perpendicular to the outflow direction out of the tapping valve upstream of a projection of the tapping valve onto a projection plane which is horizontal or arranged perpendicularly to the outflow direction, when the actuating means is in contact with the tapping valve. As a result, horizontal pressing against the lever arm is converted into a pressing from above onto the certain regions of the tapping valve. 
         [0015]    According to a preferred embodiment, the pivot axis is arranged in the horizontal direction or in a direction perpendicular to the outflow direction out of the tapping valve upstream of a projection of the contact region onto a projection plane which is horizontal or arranged perpendicularly to the outflow direction, when the actuating means is in contact with the tapping valve. As a result, an advantageous lever action is achieved and a stabilisation of the actuating means is becomes possible if the actuating means is guided in the rear region. 
         [0016]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the contact element is displaceably held on the lever arm, particularly by means of at least one retaining groove. Preferably, the actuating means has an actuating section, which is linked at its front end on the valve-mounting bearing by means of the pivot axis and, starting from the rear end thereof, the lever arm extends upwards when the actuating means is in contact with the tapping valve by means of the actuating section. The actuating means is therefore constructed in the manner of an angled body with the essentially arranged actuating section and the essentially vertically or upwardly arranged lever arm. 
         [0017]    According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the actuating means has a contact element, which is held adjustably on the lever arm, for providing the contact region. The contact element can assume an operating position, in which the actuating apparatus can be actuated by means of the actuating element, and can assume a locked position, in which the actuating apparatus is locked against actuation by means of the actuating means. As a result, it is possible to set whether tapping is possible or not by means of the actuating element. The provision of a beverage can therefore be temporally limited, in that the contact element is brought from the operating position into the locked position. Because the actuating means is arranged completely inside the housing, the contact element cannot be brought from the locked position into the operating position in an authorised manner. Unauthorised access to the interior of the housing is preferably prevented by means of a lock, by means of which an access door of the housing can be locked against opening. 
         [0018]    According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the lever arm has an opening, through which the actuating element engages when the actuating means is in contact with the tapping valve and the contact element is in the locked position and the actuating element is actuated. The actuating element therefore reaches into empty space when actuated, so that the actuating means cannot be actuated. 
         [0019]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the contact element is displaceably held on the lever arm, particularly by means of at least one retaining groove. Preferably, the lever arm has at least one retaining groove, in which the contact element is displaceably held. In particular, two retaining grooves are provided on the lever arm. The displaceability of the contact element constitutes an advantageous option to release or to lock the opening of the lever arm in a simple manner and to hold the contact element securely at the same time. 
         [0020]    According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating means has at least one guide element on the lever arm. According to this embodiment, the valve-mounting bearing has at least one guide groove, which provides a lateral guide for the guide element when actuating the tapping valve by means of the actuating apparatus. Preferably, two guide elements and two guide grooves are provided. Due to the guide element guided in the guide groove, the actuating means is securely guided during actuation by means of the actuating element, so that bending or tilting of the actuating means is counteracted. 
         [0021]    Particularly preferably, the actuating apparatus has a clip connection, holding the guide element in the guide groove and preferably engaging in an audible manner, for arresting the tapping valve on the actuating apparatus. The tapping valve can in this manner be clamped into the actuating apparatus in a tool-less and secure manner. The guide element audibly engages into the guide groove and cannot subsequently automatically leave its guide. To release the clip connection, it is sufficient to press the guide element or the guide elements with a little force outlay in the direction of the axis of rotation, in order to be able to bend down the actuating means with respect to the valve-mounting bearing. 
         [0022]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating element has a tappet mounted displaceably in the housing along the longitudinal axis thereof. This gives a robust transmission of an actuation, by pressing against the actuating element, from outside the housing into the housing interior. Furthermore, there is therefore no or at most a slight gap present, through which a heat exchange between the housing interior and the surroundings of the housing could take place. 
         [0023]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the actuating element has, at its end which can be contacted in the contact region by way of the actuating means, a setting screw for setting the length of the actuating element. In particular, the tip of the tappet is formed by the setting screw, the axis of rotation of which runs in the longitudinal direction of the tappet. Due to the setting screw, it is possible in a simple manner and precisely to set how far the actuating element has to be actuated to trigger a tapping procedure. 
         [0024]    Preferably, the actuating element has a return spring, so that after an actuating procedure of the actuating element, the tapping valve can close without having to actively push the actuating element back to its initial position. 
         [0025]    The actuating apparatus is preferably fastened on a holder. The holder is preferably a separate component with respect to the actuating apparatus. Alternatively, the holder is constructed in one piece with the actuating apparatus. 
         [0026]    According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating apparatus is constructed as a replaceable insert, which is adapted to the respective tapping valve. In particular, the actuating apparatus is releasably fastened on the separate holder. The respective insert is specifically adapted to the first type or the second type of the tapping valve or a different type of the tapping valve. The tapping device is suitable for tapping liquids out of bag-in-box packages with differently constructed tapping valves, due to the option of changing the actuating apparatus. To change to a bag-in-box package with a tapping valve of a different type, it is only necessary to replace the actuating apparatus. The actuating apparatus preferably consists of the valve-mounting bearing, the actuating means and the pivot axis. The pivot axis is either constructed concretely as a separate component or results due to a special configuration of the valve-mounting bearing and/or the actuating means. 
         [0027]    The holder preferably has a front contact area, against which the replaceable actuating apparatus, particularly the valve-mounting bearing can be supported. The contact area is orientated vertically in particular. Due to the contact area, the valve-mounting bearing is secured against an, in particular horizontal, displacement relatively to the holder, even in the case of actuation by means of the actuating means. 
         [0028]    According to an advantageous embodiment, the holder is linked on a fixed part such that it can be folded down, particularly for changing the bag-in-box package. Preferably, the holder is arrested in its folded-up position on the fixed part by means of a hook. For folding down, the holder is lifted and then folded down forwards. 
         [0029]    The fixed part is preferably fixedly positioned in the housing, for example by means of a screw connection. In particular, the fixed part is fastened on a shelf, on which the bag-in-box package rests in a state ready for tapping. 
         [0030]    According to an alternative embodiment to the design which can be folded down, the holder is fastened on a cartridge for accommodating the bag-in-box package. The cartridge is preferably suitable for accommodating different, particularly differently sized, bag-in-box packages. The respective bag-in-box package can be inserted into the cartridge outside of the housing. Even the actuating apparatus can already be positioned ready for tapping at the tapping valve. A door in the housing therefore only needs to be opened for a short time again for inserting the cartridge, so that insertion of the cartridge or changing cartridges is possible in a short time. Preferably, the holder is in this case constructed for hanging in the fixed part. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0031]    Further embodiments result from the claims and also from the exemplary embodiments, which are explained on the basis of the attached drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0032]      FIG. 1 : shows a cutaway section of a tapping device according to the invention according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention in a perspective illustration; 
           [0033]      FIG. 2 : shows the actuating apparatus of the tapping device of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a perspective illustration; 
           [0034]      FIG. 3 : shows a holder with the actuating apparatus of  FIG. 2  fastened thereon in a perspective illustration; 
           [0035]      FIG. 4 : shows the tapping device of the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1  in a perspective illustration; and 
           [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a cartridge with the holder fastened thereon according to a further exemplary embodiment of the invention and the actuating apparatus of  FIG. 2  held in the holder in a perspective illustration. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0037]      FIG. 1  shows a tapping device  1  for a bag-in-box package  2 , which has a box  3 , a bag  4  held in the box  3  and a tapping valve  5 , connected to the bag  4 , for tapping liquid  6  out of the bag  4  or out of the bag-in-box package  2 . The tapping valve  5  has a base body  7  and laterally projecting wings  8 , which must be moved upwards relatively to the base body  7  in the exemplary embodiment shown, in order to allow a part of the liquid  6  to flow out through an outlet  9  of the tapping valve  5 . Here, the tapping valve  5  is what is known as a “Vitop” tapping valve or a tapping valve of similar construction. Alternatively to the exemplary embodiment shown, the bag-in-box package  2  can however also have what is known as a “Rapak” tapping valve or a tapping valve of similar construction, in which the wings  8  are fixedly connected to the base body  7  and in which a certain region must be pressed down with respect to the base body  7 , in order to actuate the tapping valve. 
         [0038]    Even the tapping valve  5  illustrated is actuated according to the invention by means of pressing on a certain region of the tapping valve  5 . In this case, however, the entire base body  7  of the tapping valve  5  is pressed down with respect to the wings  8 . 
         [0039]    To actuate the tapping valve  5 , the tapping device  1  has an actuating apparatus  10 , which is arranged completely inside a housing  11 , particularly behind a door of the housing  11 . The housing  11  is constructed in a thermally insulating manner and likewise surrounds the bag-in-box packaging  2 , which is cooled together with the liquid  6  located therein by means of a cooling device, which is not illustrated. 
         [0040]    The tapping device  1  has a holder  12 , on which the actuating apparatus  10  is fastened in a replaceable manner. In particular, the actuating apparatus  10  can therefore quickly be replaced with an actuating apparatus which is adapted to accommodate a “Rapak” tapping valve, for example. The holder  12  is a metal sheet for example. 
         [0041]    The actuating apparatus  10  has a valve-mounting bearing  13 , which is used as a support for the wings  8  and provides guide channels  13   a  for guiding the tapping valve. Furthermore, the actuating apparatus  10  has an actuating apparatus  14  constructed in an angled manner and also a pivot axis  15 , by means of which the actuating means  14  is pivotably linked upstream of the tapping valve  5 . The pivot axis  15  preferably consists of metal, whereas the valve-mounting bearing  13 , which is of one-piece construction and the actuating means  14  each consist of plastic. 
         [0042]    The actuating means  14  has an actuating section  16  and a lever arm  17  arranged opposite the pivot axis  15  and directly upwards, and also a contact element  18  held displaceably on the lever arm  17 . The contact element  18  is held displaceably in the retaining grooves  19  and illustrated in an operating position  20  in  FIG. 1 , in which the contact element  18  provides a contact region  21  for actuation by means of an actuating element  22 . The actuating element  22  is arranged upstream of the contact region  21  in the region of the housing  11  and reaches through the housing  11  by way of a tappet  23 . On the outer front side of the front side of the housing  11 , the actuating element  22  has a push-button  24  with an internal return spring, which cannot be seen in the illustration according to  FIG. 1 . On the side opposite the push-button  24 , the actuating element  22  has an adjusting screw  25  screwed into the tappet  23 , by means of which adjusting screw  25  the length of the actuating element  22  and therefore the path, through which the push-button  24  must be pressed for actuating the tapping valve  5 , can be set. 
         [0043]    The actuating means  14  has guide elements  26 , which are preferably constructed from plastic in one piece with the actuating section  16  and the lever arm  17 . The valve-mounting bearing  13  has guide grooves  27  for guiding the guide elements  26 . Furthermore, the guide elements  26  and the guide grooves  27  are constructed and arranged with respect to one another in such a manner that a clip connection  28  results, by means of which the guide elements  26  can engage in the guide grooves  27 . In the illustration according to  FIG. 1 , the guide elements  26  are engaged in the guide grooves  27  so that the tapping valve  5  is securely held between the valve-mounting bearing  13  and the actuating means  14 . 
         [0044]    The push-button  24  is actuated for tapping liquid out of the bag-in-box package  2 , so that the actuating element  22  is pressed against the contact element  18  using the setting screw  25 . The horizontal movement of the actuating element is converted into an essentially vertical movement by tipping the actuating means  16 , by means of which vertical movement the actuating section  16  presses on certain regions of the tapping valve  5  and therefore actuates the tapping valve  5 . 
         [0045]    The tapping device  1  can be locked against actuation by means of the actuating element  22  and therefore against an undesired tapping, in that the contact element  18  is displaced in the retaining grooves  19  into a locked position  29  illustrated in  FIG. 2 , in which locked position the lever arm  17  has an opening  30  in the contact region  21  and a contact of the actuating element  22  using the actuating means  14  is therefore not possible. When the actuating element  22  is actuated, the tappet  23  engages through the opening  30 . 
         [0046]    In  FIG. 2 , the actuating apparatus  10  is illustrated isolated from further parts of the tapping device  1 . Identical reference numbers in the figures designate identical parts. The actuating apparatus  10  has projections  31 , which are arranged in two rows above one another, in order to be able to engage around the holder  12  above and below for fastening the actuating apparatus  10  on the holder  12  and therefore to fix the fastening apparatus  10  in the vertical direction on the holder  12 . 
         [0047]      FIG. 3  shows the actuating apparatus  10  correspondingly fixed on the holder  12 , with actuating means  14  folded down with respect to the valve-mounting bearing  13 , which actuating means is therefore not arrested on the valve-mounting bearing  13  by means of the clip connection  28 . The holder  12  is linked on a fixed part  32  such that it can be folded down and secured against inadvertent folding down by means of a hook  34 . To fold down the holder  12 , the holder  12  must initially be lifted slightly, so that the hook  34  is released from the fixed part  32 . 
         [0048]    At the front end of the holder  12 , the holder  12  has an upwardly directed or vertical contact area  34   a  for the valve-mounting bearing  13 , which contact area  34   a  can absorb forces from the actuating apparatus  10 . A front section of the valve-mounting bearing  13  leading to the pivot axis  15  bears against the contact area  34   a  in front of the contact area  34   a . A laterally downwardly angled support surface  34   b  on each side of the holder  12  contributes to the torsional rigidity of the holder  12  in a tapping procedure or in the case of pressing from above onto the tapping valve  5 . The tappet  23  can therefore be guided through the housing  11  with small tolerances, so that coldness losses are minimised by any holes in the housing  11 . 
         [0049]      FIG. 4  shows the tapping device  1  with two fixed parts  32  mounted next to one another in the housing  11 . The holder is linked on the left fixed part  32 , but not hung by means of the hook  34 , rather it is folded down. The bag-in-box package  2  is likewise arranged on the left side with a slight slope forwards in the housing  11 . On the right next to the bag-in-box package  2 , there is space for a further bag-in-box package, so that the tapping device  1  can provide two tapping points arranged next to one another. The tapping device  1  is furthermore equipped for a central arrangement of the bag-in-box package  2  and the associated tapping point. In particular, three corresponding openings for tappets of actuating elements are provided, for the three possible arrangements of the bag-in-box package  2 , in the door of the housing  11 . Thus, either a bag-in-box package with, in particular 20 litres filling volume, or up to two bag-in-box packages  2  with, in particular 10 litres filling volume, or up to three bag-in-box packages with, in particular 3 or 5 litres filling volume, can be arranged inside the housing  11  and assigned to a tapping point. 
         [0050]    To change the bag-in-box package  2 , the tapping device  1  is brought into the arrangement illustrated in  FIG. 4 . Subsequently, the holder  12  is folded up to the tapping valve  5  and possibly lifted slightly, in order to allow the hook  34  to engage on the fixed part  32  and therefore to fix the holder  12 . Subsequently, the actuating means  14  is pivoted or folded down until the clip connection  27  engages. When the door is open, operating elements are furthermore accessible for setting the desired temperature inside the housing  11 . A lock  35  is provided on the housing  11  to lock the closed door of the housing  11 . 
         [0051]      FIG. 5  shows a cartridge  36 , which is suitable for accommodating differently sized bag-in-box packages, particularly for up to 3 or 5 or 10 or 20 litre filling volumes. A holder  12 ′ is fixedly connected to the cartridge  36 , which holder, in contrast with the holder  12  of  FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , cannot be folded down, but otherwise resembles the holder  12 . The actuating apparatus  10  is identically fastened on the holder  12 ′, as described previously for the holder  12 . In particular, the actuating apparatus  10  can be pulled off the holder  12 ′ in a tool-less manner and replaced by a different actuating apparatus. The bag-in-box package  2  can be inserted into the cartridge  36  outside of the tapping device  1 , wherein the tapping valve  5  is introduced from above into the guide channels  13   a  of the valve-mounting bearing  13 . The final fixing of takes place by folding down the actuating means  14  until the clip connection  28  engages. 
         [0052]    All of the features mentioned in the preceding description and in the claims can be combined in any desired selection with the features of the independent claim. The disclosure of the invention is therefore not limited to the described or claimed feature combinations, rather all sensible feature combinations in the context of the invention are to be considered as disclosed.