Abstract:
The invention relates to a device for pumping a liquid from a packaging, for the distribution thereof in a heated, foamed or emulsified form, comprising a sub-assembly for aspiration by venturi effect which can be connected to the tubing of a pressurized liquid flow generator. Said sub-assembly comprises a body with a liquid flow inlet duct, opening out in an aspiration chamber and at least one aspiration duct for the liquid contained in the packaging. The invention is characterized in that the aspiration sub-assembly comprises a nozzle and fixing and opening means, connecting the nozzle to the packaging and connecting the aspiration duct with the liquid inside the packaging. The invention is of application to the production of cappuccinos or other foamed drinks.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     The most customary way of obtaining such a frothy emulsion is to pour the desired amount of milk into a container, to immerse the steam outlet pipe in said container, shaking it up and down to get in the air necessary to form the froth. The quality of the froth obtained depends on the skill of the user who, when not a professional, may also be subject to splashing. For hygiene reasons, it will be appreciated that the pipe and the container containing the milk need to be cleaned after each use.  
         [0002]     In order to try to obtain a more uniform quality of froth, various types of venturi-effect devices have been proposed in order to act somewhat as an interface between the steam outlet of an expresso coffee machine and a container containing milk.  
         [0003]     The simplest type of venturi-effect device, described for example in patent U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,805, consists in an air carrying tube secured to the steam outlet pipe and having its opening positioned below said outlet, the entity having to be immersed in a container containing the desired amount of milk. The improvement described in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,588 consists in securing the air line to a sleeve which can itself be fitted to the steam outlet pipe, the entity still having to be immersed in a container containing the milk.  
         [0004]     Patent EP 0 243 326 describes a venturi-effect accessory that can be fitted to an expresso coffee machine, comprising a great many parts making it possible, in an aspiration chamber, to have an arrival of pressurized steam which, through a venturi effect, entrains air along a first duct and entrains along a second duct milk arriving from a reservoir incorporated into the machine or aspirated from a standard packaging by means of an immersed connecting dip tube. This mixture is then injected into a mixing chamber before leaving in the form of a froth.  
         [0005]     An improvement proposed in patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,519 corresponds to an accessory of simpler design, with fewer parts to be assembled to form the venturi-effect nozzle, but still comprises an immersed connecting dip tube for carrying the milk. The device further comprises an anti-splash cap at the frothy preparation ejection orifice.  
         [0006]     Patents EP 0 803 219 and EP 0 803 220 B1 also describe a device for preparing a frothy milk or cappuccino by pumping by means of two tubes immersed in a container of the cardboard carton type and connected to a venturi-effect device. Such a device is designed to accept a large-capacity container and therefore needs a refrigeration system in order to preserve the milk.  
         [0007]     In all the cases, the immersed connecting dip tubes need to be cleaned after each “cappuccino”. It will also be seen that the accessory, which is not designed to be disposable, requires periodic upkeep if the production of cappuccinos are spaced-out, and that the amount of cappuccino produced from one occasion to the next is also dependent on the care taken by the operator.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0008]     The subject of the present invention is a device for pumping a liquid from a packaging using a venturi effect so as to dispense it in frothed or emulsified and possibly heated form. Although the invention preferably relates to the field of food for producing emulsified milk-based drinks, it is not in any way limited to this field and may be applied to any product that can be pumped from a packaging, such as cosmetic products in the form of pumpable creams or the like.  
         [0009]     The expression “venturi-effect device” is intended to mean an aspiration subassembly for aspirating at least one pumpable phase, typically a liquid, comprising a chamber in which there opens a canal for carrying a fluid pressurized by a constriction so as to create an aspiration effect as a result of the depression at the outlet from the constriction in at least one canal connecting said chamber and the packaging connecting the pumpable liquid, it being possible for the carrier fluid to be a gas or a liquid, for example steam, hot or cold water, air, or a mixture thereof. This aspiration subassembly makes it possible to modify the pumpable liquid and distribute it in the form of a frothed preparation, that is to say in a liquid-gas mixture, or in emulsified form, that is to say in a mixture of two non-miscible liquids and/or possibly heated by applying the heat of the carrier fluid to the pumpable liquid. The preparation thus obtained may, for example, be chilled milk, milk-based drinks, for example flavored, coffee, tea, chocolate, soup or preparations for cappuccinos or moccaccinos.  
         [0010]     The invention will, however, be illustrated in the context of the production of “cappuccinos”, that is to say when the device is associated with a pressurized steam generator, usually the pipe of an expresso coffee machine and when the pumpable liquid is milk allowing a frothy air/milk/steam emulsion to be obtained.  
         [0011]     The invention is therefore aimed at palliating the disadvantages of the aforementioned prior art by virtue of a novel type of device that can be manufactured economically and makes it possible to obtain a frothy, emulsified and/or heated preparation of the cappuccino type, or another frothed milk-based or other drink, exhibiting froth that is uniform in terms of quality and in terms of quantity, under improved hygiene conditions.  
         [0012]     To this end, the subject of the invention is a device for pumping a liquid from a packaging so as to dispense it in frothed or emulsified, and as appropriate, heated, form, comprising an aspiration subassembly of the venturi type, able to be connected to the pipe of a pressurized-carrier fluid, such as steam or hot water, generator, the subassembly comprising a body having a carrier fluid carrying duct opening into an aspiration chamber, and at least one aspiration canal for aspirating the liquid contained in the packaging, characterized in that the aspiration subassembly comprises a nozzle and fixing and opening means designed to connect the nozzle with the packaging and place the aspiration canal in contact with the liquid inside the packaging.  
         [0013]     The advantage is thus that of being able quickly and easily to combine the aspiration and mixing means so as to form a froth, or possibly an emulsion, with the packaging itself. Preparation is thus made more convenient and more hygienic.  
         [0014]     As a preference, the packaging is closed by a seal and the fixing and opening means are designed to be secured to the seal, the nozzle can move relative to the packaging between a position in which the packaging is closed and a position in which the packaging is opened by the fixing and opening means, the aspiration canal thus being placed in communication with the liquid contained in the packaging. Opening is thus easy and renders the device operational, without further handling operations being needed.  
         [0015]     The fixing and opening means are also preferably arranged in such a way as to place the aspiration canal in communication with the liquid contained in the packaging without the possibility of flow to the outside. The expression “without the possibility of flow to the outside” is to be understood as meaning that the liquid contained in the packaging is not likely to flow or spill out of the packaging without a forced aspiration effect of the by the venturi-effect aspiration subassembly. For example, the fixing and opening means collaborate with the packaging to place the canal in communication near to the bottom of the liquid. A differential hydrostatic pressure is thus created which keeps the liquid in the packaging without the risk of possible flow.  
         [0016]     In one embodiment of the invention, the fixing and opening means are means capable of undoing a portion of the weld between the seal and the packaging. The fixing and opening means may be means for trapping a portion of the seal which, when the nozzle is displaced by a relative movement with respect to the packaging, causes a portion of the weld between the seal and the packaging to rupture. Such a solution has the advantage of ensuring ease of opening, that is reliable without the risk of the liquid flowing or leaking out of the device. For example, a joining element is provided able to connect the nozzle to the seal by trapping and/or welding with a portion of the seal. The advantage of a joining element is that it allows the packaging and the nozzle to be separate, it being possible for the two elements to be assembled at the time of preparation or, by contrast, in advance, for example at the time of manufacture.  
         [0017]     A packaging of the aforementioned type is the subject of a more detailed description in an application filed this very day by the Applicant Company, entitled “Disposable packaging for the distribution of a liquid preparation pumped by a venturi-effect device”, incorporated hereinto by reference.  
         [0018]     In the aforementioned embodiment, the joining element partially forms the ejection duct, and is provided with a through-passage and with a flange making it possible by screwing or clipping onto the end of the body of the nozzle, to trap a ring of the seal in a sealed manner between the base of the nozzle and said flange.  
         [0019]     In a possible alternative, the nozzle is welded directly to a portion of the seal by a weld which is more resistant to rupture than the means of welding between the seal and the packaging. In this case, the nozzle is assembled at the time of manufacture. The advantages are also ease of production, simplicity and lower cost.  
         [0020]     The device of the invention may constitute an assembly comprising the aspiration subassembly and the associated packaging, it being possible for the entire entity to be disposable and therefore to require no cleaning.  
         [0021]     As will be seen in the detailed description which follows, the nozzle may be produced economically in a single piece by injection molding and be associated either with a packaging in the form of a capsule, manufactured by thermoforming or injection molding, hermetically sealed before use, and containing one or more helpings of pumpable liquid, or with a container or a bowl of larger capacity. The nozzle may also be formed of several elements fitted together and/or assembled with one another.  
         [0022]     According to one feature of the aspiration subassembly, the aspiration chamber is situated downstream of a restriction and is connected upstream of a constriction to a mixing well itself in communication with the outside via an ejection duct. The restriction is typically configured to ensure a passage at high speed, generally at sonic speed, of the carrier fluid so as to create within the aspiration chamber the depression needed for aspirating the liquid.  
         [0023]     Homogenizing means are advantageously provided, either forming part of the aspiration subassembly or of the means of closing the packaging itself.  
         [0024]     Thus, in order to form the means of homogenizing the ejected product, the assembly element may be extended, in the mixing well, by a dome having a diameter slightly smaller than that of the mixing chamber.  
         [0025]     When the nozzle is welded directly onto a portion of the seal, the welded portion delimits an opening in the seal and the ejection duct is designed to communicate with this opening. A grating may be positioned across this opening to form means of homogenizing the ejected product.  
         [0026]     According to another aspect of the invention, the liquid aspiration canal preferably runs between the base of the nozzle and the aspiration chamber.  
         [0027]     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the nozzle is housed in a hollow shaft formed at right angles to the plane of the seal of packaging, one end of the hollow shaft being connected to the seal by a second welded portion. This hollow shaft may occupy any position, for example may be formed as an integral part of an edge of the container. However, according to a preferred embodiment, the hollow shaft occupies a central position.  
         [0028]     According to another aspect, another subject of the invention is a device for pumping a liquid from a container so as to dispense it in frothed or emulsified and, as appropriate, heated, form, comprising an aspiration subassembly formed by a nozzle of the venturi type able to be connected to the pipe of a pressurized-carrier fluid generator, said subassembly consisting of a body comprising a carrier fluid carrying duct opening into an aspiration chamber, and at least one aspiration canal for aspirating the liquid contained in the container and opening into said container, characterized in that the liquid supply canal is formed in the actual body of the nozzle between its base and the aspiration chamber, and in that the ejection duct passes through the end wall of the container, forming a seal against the liquid contained in said container.  
         [0029]     In another possible alternative, the fixing and opening means are means of perforating a portion of the seal. These may, for example, be at least a rigid puncturing portion comprising a liquid aspiration canal. Such an alternative is described in detail in the co-pending patent application entitled “Disposable packaging for the distribution of a liquid preparation pumped by a venturi-effect device” filed this very day in the name of the Applicant Company and incorporated hereinto by reference.  
         [0030]     Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0031]     FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention illustrating the two components that form a venturi-effect device, prior to assembly on a packaging having the form of a disposable capsule;  
         [0032]     FIG. 2 is a perspective of the capsule alone viewed from underneath;  
         [0033]     FIG. 3 is a view from above of a venturi-effect device according to a first variant of the invention able to be used with the first embodiment of the pumping device;  
         [0034]     FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 3;  
         [0035]     FIG. 5 is a section on V-V of FIG. 4;  
         [0036]     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the joining element used in the variant of the venturi-effect device illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4;  
         [0037]     FIG. 7 is a view from underneath of the joining element depicted in FIG. 6;  
         [0038]     FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional depiction of the joining element on VIII-VIII of FIG. 7;  
         [0039]     FIG. 9 is a view from above of the first embodiment of the pumping device depicted in FIG. 1 after assembly of the venturi-effect device illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5 with the packaging;  
         [0040]     FIG. 10 is a depiction in section on X-X of FIG. 9, prior to the opening of the capsule;  
         [0041]     FIG. 11 is a depiction in section on XI-XI of FIG. 9, prior to the opening of the capsule;  
         [0042]     FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 10, after the capsule has been opened;  
         [0043]     FIG. 13 corresponds to FIG. 11, after the capsule has been opened;  
         [0044]     FIG. 14 is a perspective depiction of a second embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention;  
         [0045]     FIG. 15 is a diametral section on XV-XV of FIG. 14, prior to opening;  
         [0046]     FIG. 16 corresponds to FIG. 15, after opening;  
         [0047]     FIGS. 17 and 18 correspond to a variant of the second embodiment, before and after opening, and  
         [0048]     FIG. 19 is a perspective depiction with partial cut away of a third embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0049]     FIG. 1 depicts, in exploded perspective, a first embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention comprising an aspiration subassembly comprising a venturi-effect nozzle denoted by the general reference  1 . The nozzle  1  is associated with a packaging  5  having the form of a capsule closed by a deformable seal  7  visible in FIG. 2. The packaging  5  comprises a hollow shaft  9  running from the end wall  11  as far as the seal  7  which is provided with an opening  8  concentric with the opening of the hollow shaft  9  and the dimensions of which are more or less equal to or smaller than the opening of the hollow shaft  9 . Typically, the capsule may be obtained in a single piece by thermoforming or molding a plastic. In the example illustrated, the packaging has a toric overall shape.  
         [0050]     The hollow shaft  9  is designed to accommodate, at the end wall  11  end, the nozzle  1  and, at the seal  7  end, a joining element  13  assembled with the base  14  of the nozzle  1  to form fixing and opening means. In this first embodiment, the joining element  13  is fixed by screwing to the nozzle  1 , but could be fixed to the latter in any other way, such as by clipping. FIG. 2 also depicts, in dotted line, a ring  15  for trapping the seal  7  between the nozzle  1  and the joining element  13 , and a welding ring  17  at the base of the hollow shaft  9  which rings will be described in greater detail hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 10 to 13.  
         [0051]     Referring also to FIGS. 3 and 4, it can be seen that the nozzle  1  has a body  4  which is cylindrical overall except for fins  19  the role of which will be explained later. At its upper part, the nozzle  1  comprises a steam inlet well  21  in which a sleeve  22  of an adapter  23  (visible in FIGS. 9, 10 and 11) for attaching to the pipe of a steam generator, for example that of an expresso coffee machine, will be housed. In the example depicted, the adapter  23  is of the “bayonet” type and collaborates with two cutouts  10  and two grooves  12  which are diametrically opposed and formed in the upper part of the nozzle  1 . The fins therefore allow the nozzle to be prevented from rotating relative to the capsule.  
         [0052]     Incorporating the steam inlet well  21  into the body of the nozzle makes it possible to avoid any suck back of the pumped liquid, which could occur because of turbulence in the aspiration chamber  25  and therefore keeps the steam inlet pipe out of contact with the liquid and therefore always perfectly clean.  
         [0053]     Referring more specifically to FIG. 4, it can be seen that the steam inlet well  21  communicates with an aspiration chamber  25  via a very small diameter restriction  27  allowing the carrier fluid to be made to pass at a sonic speed or at least at a speed close to the speed of sound. This restriction  27  is a reduction in cross section which thus generates a depression in the aspiration chamber  25  required for the desired venturi effect. In an equivalent manner, the steam carrying well  21  and the restriction  27  could be formed in a component independent of the rest of the nozzle, or be formed with the steam carrying pipe when the latter is pushed into the nozzle.  
         [0054]     Downstream of the aspiration chamber  25  there is a constriction  26  of a larger diameter than restriction  27  and which allows the passage flow rate of the aspirated liquid to be regulated according to the speed. The aspiration chamber  25  is itself in communication with a mixing well  29  via the constriction  26 . Also opening into the aspiration chamber  25  are an air carrying canal  31  and a canal  33  carrying or pumping the liquid contained in the packaging.  
         [0055]     As is known, the final quality of the froth depends on numerous factors, particularly on the air flow rate that can be controlled with very precise calibration of the air carrying canal  31 . Knowing that the diameter of this canal is of the order of a few tenths of a millimeter, it will be understood that such calibration is a relatively tricky matter, especially since this nozzle is designed for mass production, for example by injection-molding a plastic such as polypropylene (PP), polystyrene or any other appropriate plastic materials. This is why it is preferable to provide, at the air intake, a larger-diameter orifice  32  allowing the fitting of means allowing better control over the air flow rate. These are, for example, a permeable membrane, for example a controlled-porosity membrane  32   a  which is fixed over the orifice  32 . A membrane of this type is available for example in the range of products offered by Atofina (Paris) under the trade name Pebax® or the company Gore (USA) under the trade name Goretex®. This membrane  27   a  may also, without modifying the body of the nozzle, make it possible to choose the porosity best suited to the pressure of a given steam generator. It will also be noted that the larger diameter of the orifice  32  allows it to be blocked off very easily if the nozzle is to be used, not for producing an emulsion, but simply for heating a liquid.  
         [0056]     FIG. 5 also shows that the liquid carrying canal  33  is formed inside the body  4  of the nozzle  1 , the feed orifices  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  being situated in the example illustrated at the base  14  of the nozzle  1  and intended to be placed in communication with the inside of the packaging containing the liquid when the device is in the pumping configuration.  
         [0057]     In the case of a nozzle designed to be fitted to a closed packaging (see FIGS. 1 and  2 ), the vertical exterior part of the nozzle  1  further comprises a groove  35  allowing the pressure inside the capsule to be equalized when the liquid contained in the packaging is pumped. The lower part  36  of this groove  35  is therefore designed to be in communication with the inside of the packaging containing the liquid when the device is in the pumping configuration.  
         [0058]     It can also be seen that the end of the mixing well  29  comprises an internal screw thread  30  allowing the joining element  13  to be fitted, an example of which joining element is described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8.  
         [0059]     The joining element  13  comprises a body  40  having, at its base, a flange  42  and, at its other end, a dome  44 . The dome  44  is connected to the body  40  by a constriction  46 . A duct  48  for ejecting the heated and/or emulsified liquid is formed through the body  40  under the constriction  46  (FIG. 8). The body  40  comprises, near its base, an external screw thread  41  allowing the joining element  13  to be screwed onto the corresponding screw thread  30  of the nozzle  1 . To make this screwing easier, the flange  42  comprises two operating holes  43 , but it is obviously possible to conceive of other screwing means, including means of a tamperproof type. It may indeed be desirable, for hygiene reasons, for it not to be possible for the nozzle  1  to be removed and re-used after first use. The tamperproof nature may incidentally be obtained by providing other means allowing the assembly of the nozzle  1  and the joining element  13 , for example by clipping. Finally, it will be seen that the diameter of the base of the dome  44  is very slightly smaller than the inside diameter of the mixing well  29  so that the emulsion has a forced passage between the wall of the mixing well  29  and the base of the dome  44  to improve the frothy nature and in particular to homogenize the preparation, and to limit the risk of splashes.  
         [0060]     With reference now to FIGS. 10 to 13, which are part sections on X-X and XI-XI of FIG. 9, the working of the nozzle  1  according to the first embodiment which has just been described, when fitted to the capsule  5 , closed by the seal  7 , as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 will be described hereinafter. These figures show that that the capsule  5  comprises a certain number of ribs, some ribs  6   a  essentially serving to reinforce the capsule  5 , and other ribs  6   b  being designed to guide the fins  19  of the nozzle  1 .  
         [0061]     FIG. 10 shows the nozzle-capsule assembly prior to opening, that is to say when the contents of the capsule  5  are not in communication with the liquid carrying canal  39 . In this figure, the nozzle-capsule assembly is provided with the adapter  23  comprising a bayonet device allowing the attachment via the opening  24  of the connecting sleeve  22  to the well  21  via which the steam arrives in the nozzle  1 .  
         [0062]     The ring  15  of the seal  7  is trapped hermetically between the nozzle  1  and the joining element  13 , and the end wall of the hollow shaft  9  is bonded or welded hermetically by the sealing ring  17  of the seal  7  surrounding the ring  15 .  
         [0063]     It is also possible to anticipate for the ring  15  to be welded to the base  14  of the nozzle  1  or alternatively to the flange  42  of the joining element  13 . In this position, the liquid is completely isolated from the external surroundings, the liquid supply orifices  34   a, b, c  (FIG. 5) and air supply orifice  36  for equalizing the pressure all lying above the ring  17  hermetically welded to the seal  7 . In the preferred embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, it can be seen that the length of the hollow shaft  9  is such that the seal  7  has a convex shape prior to opening.  
         [0064]     By displacing the capsule  5  axially relative to the nozzle  1  as indicated by the arrow F in FIG. 12, the ring  17  is made to come undone. The seal  7  then adopts a concave shape. This then on the one hand places the feed orifices  34   a  ( 34   b  and  34   c  not visible in the section) in communication with the liquid contained in the capsule and on the other hand places the bottom part  36  of the groove  35  in communication with the external air A to equalize the pressure inside the capsule  5 . As can be seen in FIG. 13, in the open position, the travel of the nozzle  1  is limited by a shoulder  20  situated at the base of the nozzle coming into contact with a lower edge  9   a  of the hollow shaft  9 , thus preventing the seal  7  from being torn by an excessively sharp movement. In this configuration, the liquid contained in the packaging  5  is not liable to flow freely in the liquid carrying canal  33  because of the pressure differential there is between the aspiration chamber  25  and the surface of the liquid in the packaging  5 , the pressure in the packaging  5  naturally being lower than the pressure in the packaging  5  at the time of opening. The liquid cannot therefore flow freely out of the packaging  5  through the canal  33 . The system is therefore clean.  
         [0065]     In this open position, the arrival of a pressurized carrier fluid, for example steam, in the aspiration chamber  25  creates a depression in the carrying canal  33 , which is in communication with the inside of the packaging  5 , and in the air carrying canal  31 , so that the liquid contained in the packaging  5  is pumped by a venturi effect, the pressure in the aspiration chamber thus dropping below the pressure above the liquid in the packaging  5 . The liquid is therefore ejected into the mixing well  29  via the constriction  26  and is distributed after homogenization through the ejection duct  48  in the form of a hot emulsion in the present example. The groove  35  and the orifice  36  allow the packaging  5  to fill with air as it empties of the liquid thus pumped and ensure that the pressure within the packaging remains at a pressure higher than the depression created in order to ensure the continuity of the pumping and prevent the packaging  5  from collapsing inward. When the carrier fluid ceases to arrive, the aspiration chamber  25  then returns to a pressure slightly higher than the pressure of the liquid in the packaging  5 , which ensures that the liquid in the canal  33  is retained without the possibility of it flowing to the outside. The small amount of vacuum produced in the head space of the packaging  5  is enough to retain the liquid at a controlled level in the canal  33 .  
         [0066]     FIGS. 14 to 16 depict a second embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention, in which elements identical to those described in conjunction with the previous figures have the same numerical references.  
         [0067]     According to this second embodiment, the nozzle  2  may be produced in two parts  50 ,  52  that can be fitted inside one another, for example by clipping (not depicted). It comprises a first, hollow, outer, body  50 , the end wall  51  of which has, passing through it, the pressurized carrier fluid carrying duct  21  and the air carrying duct  31  when froth is to be produced. The outer wall  49  further comprises, as before, an air carrying canal  35  for equalizing the pressure in the packaging when the liquid is being pumped.  
         [0068]     The second, inner, body  52  comprises, at its center, a recess delimited by a side wall  54  and an end wall  56  which form the mixing well  29 . The end wall  56  has a constriction canal  26  passing through it. When the second body  52  is fitted inside the first body  50 , the constriction canal  26  communicates with the aspiration chamber  25  which is formed between the end wall  5  of the outer body  50  and the end wall  56  of the inner body  52 . The outer wall of the second body  52  comprises a groove connecting its base  53  and the aspiration chamber  25  to form, against the wall of the outer body  50 , the canal  33  carrying the liquid that is to be pumped. As in the second embodiment, the base  53  of the inner body  52 , and possibly that of the outer body  50 , is firmly welded to a ring  15  of the seal, and the base of the hollow shaft  9  is welded, with a lesser tear-off force on a ring  17  surrounding the ring  15 . In this second embodiment, it will be seen that the nozzle no longer has fins, just a guide flange  58 .  
         [0069]     This embodiment has the advantage of allowing for simpler manufacture of the nozzle which can easily be produced as two molded components of relatively simple shape.  
         [0070]     This second embodiment also differs from the first one in that the ejection duct  48  is closed off by a grating  59  allowing the ejected preparation to be homogenized and its quality therefore improved. The grating may, depending on the embodiment, be formed of a separate component or as an integral part of the seal.  
         [0071]     FIGS. 17 and 18 depict a variant of the previous embodiment which differs from the previous one in that the homogenizing means are formed of a dome  44  arranged in the mixing well  29  and formed as an integral part of the interior wall  54  of the inner body  52 . This dome  44  is structured more or less in the same way as the joining element  13  described in FIGS. 6 to 8. In this case, the grating  59  may also be present.  
         [0072]     FIG. 17 depicts the device in a closed position in a diametral cross section passing through the liquid carrying or pumping passage  33 , and FIG. 18 depicts the same device in the open position, in a cross section taken at right angles to the first.  
         [0073]     FIG. 19 depicts, in perspective with cut away, a third embodiment of a pumping device according to the invention in which in which the nozzle  3  passes through the end wall of an open rigid container  60 , in the form of a bowl, possibly comprising a graduated scale  61  so that the amount of liquid poured out can be measured or, conversely, so that the amount of liquid consumed can be determined. As before, the nozzle  3  may be fixed by a joining element  13 . It may also more simply be countersunk and bonded into a hole made in the end wall of the bowl  60 . This embodiment differs from the embodiments described previously in that the aspiration orifices of the nozzle  3  are constantly in communication with the liquid contained inside the container and in that the container is open which means that the pressure equalizing duct is omitted.  
         [0074]     For economic reasons, the body of the nozzle, or the elements of which it is made, is preferably manufactured by injection molding a plastic.  
         [0075]     The term “welded” in this description is intended to cover any means of direct or indirect connection between two components such as, for example, thermal conduction, induction, photon or ultrasound welding or alternatively adhesive bonding, or a combination of these means.  
         [0076]     The term “liquid” in this description is intended in the broadest sense to mean any phase or combination of phases of incompressible or almost-incompressible fluids comprising solid inclusions or not and having the capability of being pumped through ducts.  
         [0077]     Without departing from the scope of the present invention, the person skilled in the art may make various modifications, for example to adapt the exterior shape of the nozzle to suit the particular shape of a container containing the food liquid.  
         [0078]     The device is particularly well suited to the pumping of a food liquid such as milk or a milk-based concentrate, from said packaging.  
         [0079]     It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present subject matter and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.