(19)
(11) EP 0 101 130 A2

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
22.02.1984 Bulletin 1984/08

(21) Application number: 83201160.5

(22) Date of filing: 04.08.1983
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)3B67D 3/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE DE FR IT LU NL SE

(30) Priority: 06.08.1982 GB 8222680

(71) Applicant: Douwe Egberts Koninklijke Tabaksfabriek- Koffiebranderijen-Theehandel N.V.
NL-3532 AA Utrecht (NL)

(72) Inventor:
  • Rusche, Emil Herman
    NL-3431 GW Nieuwegein (NL)

(74) Representative: Urbanus, Henricus Maria, Ir. et al
c/o Vereenigde Octrooibureaux Nieuwe Parklaan 107
2587 BP 's-Gravenhage
2587 BP 's-Gravenhage (NL)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Dosing device for dispensing beverages


    (57) 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.




    Description


    [0001] 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.

    [0002] By practice of the present invention there may be provided a simple and hygienic dosing device for dispensing such liquid premixed beverages.

    [0003] 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 displacement of said magnet, said plunger is displaced thereby

    enabling the outflow of said beverage from said discharge opening by gravity.



    [0004] 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 containing the plunger.

    [0005] 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.

    [0006] 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 the magnet and the plunger is of sufficient strength such that, when the plunger is in the rest position, the collar encasing the magnet is kept floating in the air.

    [0007] 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.

    [0008] 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 according to the present invention.

    [0009] Referring to the drawing 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 0-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 0-ring (5) functions as a seal.

    [0010] 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 (8) engages the inner walls of the conical portion (9) of the housing (3), thereby impeding the flow of liquid from the opening (10).

    [0011] The opening (10), which has a diameter of 8 mm, has a rim (11) which is 1 mm thick.

    [0012] 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 applied.

    [0013] 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.

    [0014] 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) .

    [0015] 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 liquid from the opening (10) the magnet (12) and collar (13) are allowed to move downwardly such that the plunger (1) moves back to its rest position.


    Claims

    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 posit.ion, 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 displacement of said magnet, said plunger is displaced thereby enabling the outflow of said beverage from said discharge opening by gravity.


     
    2. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1, in which the magnet is a permanent magnet.
     
    3. A dosing device as claimed in claim 1 of claim 2, in which the magnet has the shape of a symmetrical cylindrical closed ring, the 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 magnet 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 the rim of a receptacle for said beverage.
     
    5. A dosing device as claimed in claim 4, in which the magnetic coupling between the magnet and the plunger is sufficiently strong such that, said plunger being in the rest position, said collar in which is located the magnet is kept floating in the air.
     
    6. A dosing device as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, in which said housing comprises an upper cylindrical portion and a lower truncated conical portion ending in said discharge opening having a rim, said plunger comprises an upper portion, tightly but glidably filling 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, whereby, when said plunger is in the rest position, and discharge of said beverage from said discharge opening is impeded and, when said plunger is moved away from said discharge opening, said plunger is shaped in such a way as to enable the through flow of said beverage by gravity.
     
    7. A dosing device substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawing.
     




    Drawing