Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
72
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juice etc.
This invention relates to a method of pouring out beverages, such
as milk, juice etc. from relatively large packages positioned beneath
a pouring counter, the beverages being conveyed frcm the package to
an outlet above the pouring counter. The invention also relates to
a device for carrying out said method.
To schools, military quarterings, bars, canteens and othsr dining
halls where bevsrages such as milk, juice etc. are consumed in large
quantities~ the respective beverage is delivered in a large parallel-
epiped package, which preferably consists of rigid cardboard with an
internal ba¢ of plastic material holding 20 litres and which i8 pro-
v~ded with an outlet hose projecting from the internal bag and clo~ed
at its outer end.
HeretoEore, the larKe package concerned has been suspended above a
pouring counter, with its outlet ho6e directed downward. The closed
outer end of the hose i6 opened by cutting off an end portion and
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thereafter closed by means of a clamp about the hose or by connection
to a valve means. This arrangement shows particularly the inGOnVenienCe
that hard work is required to lift the heavy package up from the
floor or possibly from a carriage to a height of above 105 m. This
subjects especially the back of the lifting person to stresses, which
due to their frequent recurrence give rise to annoying back injuries.
In order to avoid said inconvenience, in some cases a pump with a
pump room, for example a plunger pump or the liket i6 mounted beneath
the pouring countar. The pump outlet is connected by a duct to the
outlet above the pourin~ counter, and the pump inlet is connected to
the outlet hose of the package. The package, thus, must not be lifted
to some appreciable height~ This arrangement, however, shows the
inconvenience that it is very difficult to dismourlt and reliably clean
the pump and its connections preferably after each period of use.
The present invention has the object to eliminate the aforesaid incon-
veniencies by such a method and devire for pouring out beverages from
bulk packages that, for example, no lifting of the packages above the
pouring counter is required, and the cleaning operation is dispensable
or easy to carry out.
This object is achieved according to the present invention by the
method and device characterized by the features defined in the attached
claims.
The method according to the invention is explained in the following,
with reference to the description of ~,ome embodiments shown in the
accompanying drawings.
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Fig. 1 is a schematic laterA3 view and vertical section of a pouring
device according to the invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective lateral view of a modified device according
to the invention~ `
Fig. 3 is a lateral view of a further modified devics according to
the in~ention.
According to the e~bodiment of the pouring device shown in Fig. 1,
a pouring place 2 is provided in known manner above a pouring counter 1
for attaching a drinking-ves~el9 for ex~mple a glass 3, to a pivotal
arm 4, which rests on a contact means 5 supported on the counter 1,
In the counter part located beneath the pouring place 2 a drop drain 6
covered by a strainer plate 7 is provided.
According to the present invention9 an integral hose 8 is laid so that
one end is located at the pouring place 2 and the other end is connected
via a hose connection 9 to an outlet hose 10 at a package 11 loc~ted
beneath the counter 1 and holding, for example, 20 litres of millc. The
hofie 8 is passed through a sleeve 1Z attached to the counter 1, and
from there the hose i~ curved and detachably mounted in clamps 13 under
a carrying cover 14, which may be foldable vertically upward~ so that
the end portion of the hose 8 is directed downward to the glass 3.
~he portion of the hose 8 located beneath the counter is laid so as to
form a coll through R pump means 16 provided with a rotary pump memb~r
15, which pump mean6 can be dri~en by an electric motor 17~ which has
it~ operation control mean~ connected to the contact means 5 by a
conductor 18~
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When the device described i9 to be operated; the hose 8 i8 paSBed
through the clam~ 13, the sleeve 12 and the pump means 15,16 as
shown in Fig. 1, A package 11 is put into positi~n, and its outlet
hose 10 is opened by a cut-off and connected to the ho~e 8 by means
of the coupli~g 9. When a glass or the like i6 being pressed against
the lever 4, the contact means 5 i6 closed, the motor 17 starts and
actuates the pump member 15 to rotate, so that milk is advanced, i.e.
upward in the hose 8 to the outlet thereof as long as the glas8 is
held against the lever~ whereafter the motor stops and the milk flow
i8 interrupted~
The device especially offers the advantage, that the milk passing
from the package to the outlet ~ill be in contact only with the irterior
of the outlet hose 10 and of the hose 8, but not with any valve and
pump roorn as is the case when, for example, plunger pumps are used.
When the package is emptied, the connection 9 is detached, and the
next package can be connected~ The hose 8 easily Gan be removed in its
entirety and possibly be cleaned. The hose, however, is intended to
be discarded and be replaced by a nsw hose after having been in operation
one day or a shorter period. As the package must not be li~ted above
the counter, the device according to the invention renders it possible
to use larger packages holding, for example, 40-50 litres, which is
mo~t desirable.
The pouring device ~hown in Fig. 2 is provided with two pouring plzces,
which sub~tantially comprise the same details as the device according
to Fig. 1. The details have the same reference numerals as in Fig. 1,
thou~h there are differences w~th respect to the outer design1 Fig. 2,
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thus, shows a counter 1, hoses 8 laid each through a pump means 15,16
with motor 17, and packages 11 for milk and juice, for example~ The
packages are placed on a shelf 19 with inclined shelving which is
movable in guides 20 attached in the counter. Control means 4,5,18
for the respective n~otor 17 are provided, but not shown~ Also this
embodiment offers the advantages described above with reference to
Fig. 1~ and in addition the advantage that two different beverages
can be poured out simultaneously.
The ~evice shown in Fig. 3 also shows substantially the same details
as the device according to Fi~. 1, viz~ a counter 1 with pouring
place 2 and a hose 8, which is laid through a motor-operated pump
means 15i16 and via the connection 9 is coupled to the outlet hose
10 from the package 11, which has been supplied on a carriage 21, from
which the package can be tilted down on the shelf 19' to the position
indicated by dash-dotted lines. Also in this case, thus, the package
is positioned easily and simply into serving position for its empty-
ing. No cleaning is required, because the entire hose 8 is exchange-
able.
~he invention is not to be regarded restricted only to the embodiments
described above and shown in the drawings 9 because it can be modified
particularly with respect to its details. The package, for example,
may stand upright with the outlet hose directed downward, or the hose
can be abandoned and the hose from the pump be inserted into the
packa~e down to the bottom thereor.
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