DOSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING BEVERAGES

DISPOSITIF DOSEUR POUR DEBITEUSE DE BOISSONS

English Abstract

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A B S T R A C T
The present invention concerns a dosing device for
simply hygienically dispensing the so-called premixed
beverages.
The dosing device of the present invention comprises
a housing provided with a discharge opening, a plunger within
said housing for stopping the outflow of the beverage from
the discharge opening when in rest position. The plunger
being at least partially composed of magnetizable material,
and a movably positioned magnet, the magnet being
magnetically coupled to the plunger in such a way that by
an appropriate mechanical displacement of the magnet, the
plunger is displaced thereby enabling the outflow of the
beverage from the discharge opening by gravity.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an
exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined
as follows:
1. A dosing device for dispensing a
momentarily desired volume of premixed beverage when
cooperatingly attached to a container containing said
premixed beverage, said dosing device comprising:
- a housing provided with a discharge
opening;
- a plunger within said housing for
stopping the outflow of said beverage from said
discharge opening when in rest position, said plunger
being at least partially composed of magnetizable
material; and
- a movably positioned magnetic ring,
said ring magnetically coupled to said plunger in such
a way that by an appropriate mechanical displacement of
said magnetic ring, said plunger is displaced thereby
enabling the outflow of said beverage from said
discharge opening by gravity, the magnetic coupling
being sufficiently strong to keep the magnetic ring
freely floating in the air when the plunger is in the
rest position.
2. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1, in
which the magnetic ring is a permanent magnet.

3. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1, in
which the magnetic ring has the shape of a symmetrical
cylindrical closed ring, an opening of which is adapted
to receive the lower part of the housing containing the
plunger
4 A dosing device as claimed in claim 3, in
which the magnetic ring is encased in a collar tightly
enclosing the lower part of the housing containing the
plunger, said collar being provided with wings adapted
to be mechanically engaged and moved vertically by a
receptacle for said beverage.
5. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1, in
which said housing comprises an upper cylindrical
portion and a lower truncated conical portion ending in
said discharge opening, said discharge opening having a
rim, said plunger comprising an upper portion, tightly
but slidably fitting in said upper cylindrical portion
of said housing, and a lower truncated conical portion
provided with a flexible collar engaging the inner wall
of said lower conical portion of said housing when said
plunger is in the rest position, and discharge of said
beverage from said discharge opening is impeded, said
plunger being shaped in such a way as to enable the
through flow of said beverage by gravity, when said
plunger is moved away from said discharge opening.

Description

~2~g~
Title: Dosing device for dispensing beverages.
The present invention relates to the dispensing of
beverages. More particularly, the present invention relates
to a dosing device for dispensing so-called premixed
beverages, for example, fruit juices, lemonades, iced tea
or cold chocolate.
By practice of the present invention there may be
provided a simple and hygienic dosing device for dispensing
such li~uid premixed beverages.
According to the present invention there is provided
a dosing device for dispensing a momentarily desired volume
of premixed beverages when cooperatingly attached to a
container containing said premixed beverage, said dosing
device comprising:
a housing provided with a discharge opening;
a plunger within said housing for stopping the
outflow of said beverage from said discharge opening
when in rest position, said plunger being at least
partially composed of magnetizable material; and
a movably positioned magnet, said magnet being
magnetically coupled to said plunger in such a way
that, by an appropriate mechanical di.splacement of
said magnet, said plunger is displaced thereby
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enabling the outflow of said beverage from said
discharge opening by gravity.
The movably positioned magnet may, for example, be
an electromagnet. However, in a preferred embodiment of the
present invention the movably positioned magnet is a
; permanent magnet. Very conveniently the movably positioned
magnet, e.g. the permanent magnet if used, may have the
~` shape of a symmetrical cylindrical closed ring, the opening
of which is adapted to receive the lower part of the housing
- 10 containing the plunger.
A practical and preferred manner of positioning the
~ magnet is to encase it in a collar tightly enclosing the
`~ lower part of the housing containing the plunger, the
collar being provided with wings adapted to be mechanically
engaged and~moved vertically by the rim of a receptable for
the beverage.
When the dosing device of the present invention is
in position in a beverage dispenser and is attached to a
container in which is located the beverage to be dispensed,
the magnet plus collar may, for example, rest on a part
of the body of the dispenser, separate from the part of
the body carrying the container with attached closing
device. However, a very much preferred and practical
~ embodiment is that whereby the magnetic coupling between
i; 25 the magnet and the plunger is of sufficient strength such
that, when the plunger lS in the rest position, the
collar encasing the magnet is kept floating in the air.
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A judicious choice of the dimensions of the magnet, of the
housing and of the plunger, as well as of the strength
of the magnet, is of course necessary to ensure that the
magnet plus collar are indeed kept floating in the air when
the plunger is in its rest position. Such a choice will,
however, not be difficult for those versed in the art.
The present invention will now be further described
with reference to the accompanying drawing which is an
exploded side view of an example of a dosing device
~ 10 according to the present invention.
Referring to the dr~wing there is illustrated a
plunger (1) which is in the form of a hollow cylinder of
ferritic stainless steel with radial outlets (2). The
plunger (1) is seated in a housing (3) which is provided
with a groove (4) receiving a silicone O-ring (5). A
container (6) for the beverage is provided with a short
cylindrical outlet (7). After installing the silicone
O-ring (5) in the groove (4) and the plunger (1) in the
housing (3), the cylindrical outlet (7) of the container (6)
is pushed into the housing (3), whereby the O-ring (5)
- functions as a seal.
The housing (3) has a conical portion (9) which has
an opening (10) therein. When the plunger (1) is seated
in the housing (3) in the rest position, a silicone ring (B)
engages the inner walls of the conical portion (9) of the
housing (3), thereby impeding the flow of liquid from the
opening (10).
The opening (10), which has a diameter of 8 mm, has
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4192
a rim (11) which is 1 mm thick.
- A magnet (12) is received by a collar (13) having
a channel (14). After inserting the magnet (12) into the
channel (14~ of the collar (13), a closing lid (15) is
~: 5 applied.
: The collar (13) is provided with two flat wings
~ (16) which have abutments (17) to allow easy positioning
`~ of a receptable such as a glass.
In order to actuate the dosing device, the rim of
the receptable is moved in a vertical direction against
. the wings (16). The upward movement of the collar (13)
is restricted by abutments (18) engaging the outer wall
of the conical part (9) of the housing (3).
~ The upward movement of the magnet (12) and collar
-~,
(13) causes the plunger (1) to move upwards, thereby allowing
:~ the flow of liquid from the opening (10).~In order to stop
the.flow:of iiquid from the opening (10) th-e magnet (12.) and ..
collar (13) are allowed.to move downwardly suc.h- that the
plunger (1) moves back to its rest position.
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