Patent Description:
Specifically but not exclusively, the invention can be applied in the context of an ingredient dosing apparatus for preparing cocktails, although it can be applied to dose other types of ingredient, both food and non-food ingredients.

As known, a bag-in-box container comprises a bag that contains a hermetically sealed liquid that is positioned inside a box made of stiff material. In general, the box is made of a suitable cap and/or tap.

Containers of the bag-in-box type are also known that are provided with a suitable connection intended for coupling with a connector that comprises a valve that is opened by a pin arranged on the connection, so that the valve, when fitted to the connection of the bag-in-box container, is opened by the pin.

The prior art, for example, patent application publication <CIT> shows a dispensing tap of the "bag-in-box" type with a connector provided with a check valve pushed by elastic means. A connector according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM> is known from <CIT>.

Prior-art connectors for bag-in-box containers nevertheless have some limits and drawbacks and are subject to improvements.

Firstly, the substances present in the bag-in-box container come into contact with the air present inside the valve, with resulting risk of damage to the liquid, through oxidation and/or contamination.

Further, prior-art connectors are hardly practical to clean, above all because of the presence of a spring that, in general, is arranged to maintain the shutter disc of the valve in the closed position.

One object of the invention is to provide a connector that is able to remedy one or more of the aforesaid limits and drawbacks.

One object of the invention is to make a connector for a fluid dispenser that is an alternative to those of the prior art.

One object of the invention is to provide a connector for a fluid dispenser suitable for being used in a dosing apparatus, in particular a dosing apparatus for preparing cocktails.

One advantage is to obtain a connector that is suitable for connecting a container, which contains the fluid to be dispensed, to a pump that is suitable for dispensing the fluid, in particular a connector that is suitable for a container of the bag-in-box.

One advantage is to ensure the integrity of the liquid present in the container, in particular by avoiding contact of the liquid with the air, thus reducing the risk of damage of the liquid through the effect of oxidation and/or contamination.

One advantage is to make available a connector that is easy and practical to clean, in particular a connector devoid of elastic means set up to close a shutter controlling the flowrate.

One advantage is to devise a connector that is constructionally simple and cheap for dispensing a fluid from a container.

Such objects and advantages, and still others, are achieved by a connector according to one or more of the claims set out below.

In one embodiment, a connector that is suitable for dispensing a fluid contained in a container, for example a bag-in-box container, comprises an assembly of several portions that includes a first portion connectable to the container and a second portion connectable to a dispensing tube that is in turn connectable to a peristaltic pump, said assembly comprising a first valve that, when the connector is assembled, is opened by a pin carried by a portion of the assembly, and a second valve that is opened during dispensing through the effect of a vacuum caused by the peristaltic pump, so that, owing to the second valve, the dispensing circuit can be maintained closed even when the first valve is open.

The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the attached drawings that illustrate a non-limiting embodiment thereof, in which:.

With reference to the aforesaid figures, overall with <NUM>, a connector for a fluid dispenser has been indicated, which is suitable in particular for dispensing a fluid contained in a bag-in-box container, for example that is usable in an automatic cocktail ingredient dosing apparatus.

The connector <NUM> comprises an assembly with a first end <NUM> and a second end <NUM>. The first end <NUM> may be, in particular, a tubular end. The second end <NUM> may be, in particular, a tubular end. The assembly defines a fluid passage whereby a flow from the first end <NUM> is directed to the second end <NUM>.

The first end <NUM> is, configured for connection to a fluid tank, like, for example, for connection to a container of the bag-in-box type (for example of known type and not shown), in particular for a connection of non-removable type (removable only by destroying the container, so as to devise a temper-proof device against the risk of tampering) with the flexible part (bag) of the bag-in-box container. In the attached figures, an embodiment is shown of the first end <NUM> that is particularly suitable for connection with a bag-in-box container or with a connection set up on the bag-in-box container.

The second tubular end <NUM> is configured for connection to a fluid dispensing tube (for example of known type and not shown). The connection between the second tubular end <NUM> and the fluid dispensing tube may comprise, in particular, a connection of stable and non-removable type (removable only by destroying the tube or the second end), so as to devise a tamperproof device against the risk of tampering.

The assembly may comprise, in particular, a first assembly portion <NUM> that comprises the aforesaid (tubular) first end <NUM>. The first assembly portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a portion connected to the container (to a flexible part or bag, of the bag-in-box container, containing the fluid to be dispensed), stably and not removably, so that the set formed by the container and by the first portion attached to the container is substantially a set of the disposable type. The connection of the first assembly portion <NUM> to the container may comprise, in particular, a hermetic connection.

The assembly may comprise, in particular, a second assembly portion <NUM> that comprises the aforesaid (tubular) second end <NUM>.

The assembly comprises a first valve <NUM> arranged on the first portion <NUM>. The first valve <NUM> is a check valve. The first valve <NUM> is configured with an opening movement to the first end <NUM>.

The first valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a shutter <NUM>, for example an axially movable shutter. The shutter <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a disc portion and a stem portion. The first valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, an annular washer arranged on the disc portion of the shutter <NUM>. The first valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a base body that contains the shutter <NUM>. The base body of the first valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a liner portion and a guide portion.

The stem portion of the shutter <NUM> may be, in particular, slidingly coupled with the guide portion of the base body. In particular, the stem portion may be slidable within a hole obtained on the guide portion. The disc portion of the shutter <NUM> may be, in particular, slidingly coupled with an inner surface of the liner portion of the base body, with a hermetic coupling, for example owing to the annular washer.

The inner surface of the liner portion may comprise, in particular, a shutter seat against which the shutter <NUM> abuts in a closed position. The shutter <NUM> is configured so as to have an opening movement directed towards the first end <NUM>. The outer surface of the liner portion of the base body may comprise, in particular, a washer seat for housing an annular washer configured to make a seal in a housing seat of the valve obtained on the first portion <NUM>, as will be explained better below.

The base body may comprise, in particular, one or more passage openings of the fluid arranged between the liner portion and the guide portion.

The assembly comprises a second valve <NUM> arranged between the first valve <NUM> and the second end <NUM>. The second valve <NUM> is a check valve. The second valve <NUM> is so configured as to have an opening movement directed to the second end <NUM> and a closing movement in an opposite direction.

The second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a shutter <NUM>, for example an axially movable shutter. The shutter <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a disc portion and a stem portion. The second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, an annular washer arranged on the disc portion of the shutter <NUM>. The second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a base body that contains the shutter <NUM>. The base body of the second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a liner portion and a guide portion.

The inner surface of the liner portion may comprise, in particular, a shutter seat against which the shutter <NUM> abuts in a closed position. The shutter <NUM> is configured so as to have an opening movement directed towards the second end. The outer surface of the liner portion of the base body of the second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a washer seat for housing an annular washer configured to make a seal in a housing seat of the second valve <NUM> obtained on the second portion <NUM>, as will be explained better below. The base body of the second valve <NUM> may comprise, in particular, one or more passage openings of the fluid arranged between the liner portion and the guide portion.

The opening movement of the first valve <NUM> may be, in particular, in the opposite direction to the opening movement of the second valve <NUM>.

The assembly comprises a third portion <NUM> arranged between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> comprises a pin <NUM> protruding to the tubular first end <NUM>. In an assembled configuration of the aforesaid assembly (see <FIG> and <FIG>), the pin <NUM> interacts of with the first valve <NUM>, for example with a thrust action against the shutter <NUM>, to take the first valve <NUM> to an open position.

The second portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a hose holder <NUM> element. The second portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a tube locking device operationally associated with the hose holder <NUM> element.

The tube locking device may comprise, in particular, a cap <NUM> connected to the first portion <NUM> by a coupling. The cap-first portion coupling may comprise, in particular, a screw coupling. The tube locking device may comprise, in particular, a tube-locking spring M configured to cooperate with the cap <NUM> in order to lock an end of the dispensing tube on the second end <NUM> of the hose holder <NUM> element, so that the end of the dispensing tube remains gripped between the tube-locking spring M and the second end <NUM> so as to make a fluid hermetic coupling.

The hose holder <NUM> element may comprise, in particular, on a first side of the hose holder element, the second end <NUM>. The second (for example tubular) end <NUM> arranged on the hose holder <NUM> element may be, in particular, a male end. The hose holder <NUM> element may comprise, in particular, on a second side of the hose holder element opposite the first side, a tubular wall <NUM> that defines inside a valve seat arranged to house the second valve <NUM>.

The tubular wall <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a tapered lateral surface, in particular an external lateral surface, coupled with a tapered lateral surface, in particular an internal lateral surface, of the third portion <NUM>. In particular, the third portion <NUM> may comprise a cup body that contains, wholly or partially, the tubular wall <NUM>. The aforesaid tapered lateral surface of the third portion <NUM> may be arranged, in particular, on an inner side of the aforesaid cup body.

The second portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a fastening ring <NUM>, or lock ring, arranged in axial contact, on a first side of the fastening ring, with the cap <NUM>, in which axial refers to an axis of the cap-first portion coupling.

The fastening ring <NUM> may be, in particular, arranged in axial contact, on a second side of the fastening ring opposite the first side, with a flanged portion <NUM> that protrudes radially to the outside of the hose holder <NUM> element, in which radially refers to an axis of the aforesaid cap-first portion coupling.

The second portion <NUM> may be configured, in particular, such that the dispensing tube is fixed to the second end <NUM> stably and not removably, without breaking or cutting the tube itself, so as to devise a tamperproof device against the risk of tampering.

The first portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, on a first side of the first portion, a tubular wall <NUM> that defines inside a valve seat arranged to house the first valve <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, on a second side of the first portion opposite the first side, a tubular body <NUM>. The cap-first portion coupling (which in this specific embodiment is a screw coupling) may be, in particular, arranged between an external lateral surface of the tubular body <NUM> and an internal lateral surface of the cap <NUM>. The tubular body <NUM> may be formed and arranged, in particular, to contain, totally or partially, the cup body of the third portion <NUM>.

The first portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, on the second side of the first portion, an annular protrusion <NUM> that comprises a tapered lateral surface, in particular an internal lateral surface, coupled with a tapered lateral surface, in particular an external lateral surface, of the third portion <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a flange <NUM> protruding radially outwards, in which radially refers to the axis of the cap-first portion coupling.

The flange <NUM> may be, in particular, arranged in an axial contact, on one side of the flange <NUM>, with an end of the tubular body <NUM> and, on the opposite side of the flange <NUM>, with the second portion <NUM>. The flange <NUM> may be, in particular, arranged in an axial contact con the fastening ring <NUM> of the second portion <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, an annular projection <NUM> protruding axially to the second end <NUM> of the connector <NUM>, in which axially refers to the axis of the cap-first portion coupling.

The annular projection <NUM> may be, in particular, at least partially inserted with a coupling lodged inside an annular groove obtained on the hose holder <NUM> element. The annular groove may be, in particular, open to the first end <NUM> of the connector and may be, in particular, obtained between the tubular wall <NUM> of the hose holder element and an annular edge <NUM> of the hose holder element arranged radially outwards with respect to the tubular wall <NUM>.

The third portion <NUM> may comprise, in particular, a plurality of ribs <NUM>, for example protruding radially externally and extending axially. The ribs <NUM>, for example three in number, are arranged spaced angularly apart from one another. The ribs <NUM> may, in particular, protrude from an external lateral surface of the cup body of the third portion <NUM>. The ribs <NUM> may be formed and arranged, in particular, to facilitate centring of the cup body of the third portion <NUM> inside the tubular body <NUM> of the first portion <NUM>.

In use, in the assembled configuration of the assembly, the first valve <NUM> is kept open by the pin <NUM>, through the effect of the thrust of the pin <NUM> on the shutter <NUM> of the first valve <NUM>. The second valve <NUM> is normally closed and will be opened through the effect of a vacuum generated by the dispensing pump connected to the dispensing tube applied to the second end <NUM> of the connector.

The first valve <NUM> (check valve) is a valve arranged in the connector <NUM> on the side facing the tank of the fluid to be dispensed, i.e., according to the specific non-limiting embodiment illustrated here, to the side of the bag-in-box container. The first valve <NUM> substantially enables the container (bag-in-box) to be opened when the assembled connector <NUM> is applied to the container.

The second valve <NUM> (check valve) is a valve arranged in the connector <NUM> on the side facing the fluid dispensing zone (in practice, facing the dispensing tube coupled with the dispensing pump), so that the second valve <NUM> is arranged downstream of the first valve <NUM>, in which "downstream" refers to the direction of the flow of the dispensed liquid. The second valve <NUM> is in substance, connected to the side of the dispensing pump (peristaltic pump) and is configured so as to open when the pump is driven, through the effect of the vacuum generated by the pump.

The presence of two valves arranged serially in the liquid dispensing circuit enables the contact of the liquid with the air to be reduced considerably. It is noted, in particular, that the dispensing circuit remains closed, at least when the dispensing pump is not active, even when the first valve <NUM> is opened.

It is observed that the first valve <NUM> is normally closed when the first portion <NUM> of the connector <NUM> is fitted to the bag-in-box container. The first valve <NUM> is opened through the effect of the action of the thrust pin <NUM> arranged on the third portion <NUM> of the connector, when, during the assembly step, the second portion <NUM> is coupled with the first portion <NUM> with the third portion <NUM> interposed between the first portion <NUM> and the second portion <NUM>, in particular when the cap <NUM> of the second portion <NUM> is screwed to the thread set up on the first portion <NUM>.

It is also observed that it is not è necessary to use any valve provided with a spring or other elastic means that operates on the shutter. It is in fact possible, as in the illustrated embodiment, to use two check valves without springs, for example of the type with a disc shutter or other type of shutter (easily washable and reusable). It is anyway possible to use check valves provided with a spring.

The connector <NUM> may be used, in particular, in a dosing apparatus (that is not illustrated) of ingredients, for example for cocktails. The dosing apparatus comprises two or more containers each of which contains at least one ingredient (for example of the cocktail). It is possible to provide, for example, for the dosing apparatus to comprise two or more containers (for example bottles) to contain a first type of ingredient (for example alcoholic ingredients for cocktails), and two or more hermetic airtight vacuum containers are empty (for example of the bag-in-box type) to contain a second type of ingredient (for example non-alcoholic).

The dosing apparatus comprises at least one dispensing unit (for example comprising a single tap) connected to the aforesaid containers to display ingredients (for example that form the cocktail). The dosing apparatus is used for preparing dosed mixtures (cocktails) by dispensing, at the same time as the dispensing unit connected to all the containers, the various ingredients (for example alcoholic and/or non alcoholic) that give rise to the selected mixture (cocktail).

The dosing apparatus comprises for each of the aforesaid containers, at least one dispensing pump for generating a flow of ingredient from the respective container to the dispensing unit. The dispensing pump may comprise, in particular a pump of peristaltic type.

At least one of the aforesaid containers of the dosing apparatus (in particular a bag-in-box container) is provided with the connector disclosed above to connect the container to the respective dispensing pump.

It is possible to so set up the first portion <NUM> that it is attached (hermetically) to a flexible part (bag) of the bag-in-box container. The remaining portions of the assembly (in particular the second portion <NUM> and the third portion <NUM>) may be assembled on the first portion <NUM> already attached to the container.

Claim 1:
Connector (<NUM>) for fluid dispenser, comprising an assembly with a first end (<NUM>) configured for connection to a fluid reservoir, in particular configured for connection to a bag-in-box container, and a second end (<NUM>) configured for connection to a fluid dispensing tube, said assembly defining a fluid passage from said first end (<NUM>) to said second end (<NUM>), said assembly comprising:
- a first portion (<NUM>) which comprises said first end (<NUM>) and a second portion (<NUM>) which comprises said second end (<NUM>);
- a first check valve (<NUM>) configured with an opening movement towards said first end (<NUM>);
- a second check valve (<NUM>) arranged between said first valve (<NUM>) and said second end (<NUM>) and configured with an opening movement towards said second end (<NUM>);
characterised by
- a third portion (<NUM>) arranged between said first portion (<NUM>) and said second portion (<NUM>), said third portion (<NUM>) comprising a pin (<NUM>) projecting towards said first end (<NUM>), whereby, in an assembled configuration of said assembly, said pin (<NUM>) interacts with said first valve (<NUM>) to take said first valve (<NUM>) into an open position.