[0001] This invention relates to a container and dispenser for a liquid, particularly but
not exclusively a disposable container and dispenser for a carbonated beverage.
[0002] A carbonated beverage such as lemonade or beer is conventionally dispensed from a
semi-bulk container or keg by application of gas pressure directly to the surface
of the liquid in the container. Once some of the beverage has been dispensed, such
gas pressure also has to be maintained to prevent carbon dioxide dissolved in the
beverage coming out into the head space. Moreover, during filling of the container
the gas pressure also has to benaintained for the same reason to prevent excessive
frothing.
[0003] Pursuant thereto it has been usual to provide a device, known as a spear, inside
the bulk container, which device includes a long dip tube extending from an upper
inlet/outlet opening almost to the bottom of the container. To fill the container,
gas is firstly supplied via the dip tube of the spear until an appropriate pressure
is attained. Carbonated liquid is then supplied via a surrounding part of the spear
whilst the gas is gradually bled off via the dip tube. In this way carbon dioxide
is not lost from theliquid, that is to say the liquid does not go flat while it is
being filled into such a container. When the liquid is subsequently dispensed, gas
is supplied via the surrounding part of the spear and the liquid flows out of the
container under pressure via the dip tube of the spear. As the inlet/outlet opening
of the container is at the top, this asangement ensures that liquid is properly dispensed
even when it is at a low level.
[0004] Nowadays, there is a desire for a disposable or one-trip bulk container for a carbonated
beverage, such as beer. To this end, efforts are being made to reduce the cost of
the container and its various components and one drawback is the cost of the spear
which has hitherto been essential for satisfactory filling and dispensing of the carbonated
beverage.
[0005] It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a container having less expensive
alternative means which allow satisfactory filling and dispensing of a carbonated
beverage.
[0006] With this object in view, the present invention provides a container and dispenser
for a liquid comprising a collapsible multilayer bag located within an inextensible
outer casing, the bag being formed from a plurality of substantially impermeable plastics
sheets joined together around their peripheries and having first inlet/outlet means
leading to a first interlayer space for reception of liquid to be stored and dispensed
and second inlet/outlet means leading to a second interlayer space, the second inlet/outlet
means being connectable to a supply of gas or liquid pressure medium which acts to
inflate the second interlayer space and apply pressure to the first interlayer space.
[0007] At its simplest the bag may be formed from three sheets of material superimposed
and bonded together around all their edges so as to provide two adjacent interlayer
spaces separated by the middle layer of material. Alternatively, the bag may be formed
from two sheets of material, which are superimposed, folded in half and bonded together
around their free edges so as to provide four layers in the final bag and a second
interlayer space which extends at both sides and around one edge of the first centrally
located interlayer space.
[0008] Additional layers of material may be used, but only two interlayer spaces are essential
to put the invention into practice.
[0009] When the container and dispenser of the invention is used for a carbonated beverage
(or other pressurized liquid), an appropriate pressure medium will be fed into the
second interlayer space of the bag via the second inlet/outlet means to provide a
counterpressure against which the beverage canbe filled. As the beverage is filled
into the first interlayer space of the bag via the first inlet/outlet means, the pressure
medium will be gradually bled off so that a substantially constant pressure is maintained
within the second interlayer space. Once the filling is competed both inlet/outlet
means are sealed.
[0010] The bag may be placed into the outer casing either before or after filling, depending
on the circumstances and the materials used for the bag and the outer casing.
[0011] To dispense the beverage, the second inlet/outlet means is connected to a supply
of the pressure medium by way of a valve. Whenever the valve is opened, pressure medium
is introduced into the second interlayer space of the bag thus increasing pressure
on the first interlayer space so that carbonated beverage is dispensed therefrom via
the first inlet/outlet means.
[0012] One advantage of this proposal is that it allows the bag-in-box principle to be successfully
applied to a relatively large container for a carbonated beverage. As the multilayer
bag into which the beverage and pressure medium are filled is necessarily impermeable,
the outer casing need not be impermeable and it can therefore be made of a less expensive
and lighter material than the metal or wood which has usually been used hitherto.
For example, the outer casing in accordance with the invention may conveniently be
made of paperboard, cardboard or plastics.
[0013] A cylindrical shape is preferred for the outer casing as this has less tendency to
deformation than a box.
[0014] Another advantage, as already implied, is that a spear is nolonger required for successful
filling and dispensing of a carbonated beverage. Thus costs are reduced and it becomes
feasible to provide a disposable or one-trip container of inexpensive material.
[0015] A further advantage of the container and dispenser of the invention is that the pressure
medium is not applied directly to the liquid to be stored and dispensed, as a layer
of the bag is interposed therebetween. This increases the range of pressure media
which can be used. Where direct pressure was in the past applied to the surface of
a carbonated beverage only gaseous carbon dioxide or nitrogen could be used for obvious
reasons. With the present invention, these or other gases, for example air, could
be used as there is no contact between the gas and the beverage. Moreover a liquid
could be used to exert pressure on the beverage in the first interlayer space from
the second interlayer space. In this respect, mains water would probably be of sufficient
pressure.
[0016] Of course, the proposed container is not exclusively for carbonated or other pressurized
beverages and can be advantageously used for storage and dispensing of uncarbon- ated
liquids, such as post-mix syrup concentrates and wine. In the latter case, direct
contact of the liquid with Co is forbidden under U.K. customs and excise provisions
so the proposed method of dispensing from bulk containers is particularly favourable.
[0017] The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first embodiment of a container and dispenser
of the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional diagram illustraing the construction of one
type of multilayer bag which may be used in the invention;
Fig. 3 A is a schematic cross-sectional diagram showing the construction of a second
type of bag which may be used;
Fig. 3 B is another schematic diagram illustrating the construction of a third type
of bag which may be used;
Fig. 4 is a partial cross-section to an enlarged scale of a second embodiment of the
invention;
Fig. 5 is a similar partial cross-section of a third embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 6 is a similar partial cross-section of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
and
Fig. 7 is a similar partial cross-section of a fifth embodiment of the invention.
[0018] Referring firstly to Fig. 1, a first embodiment of the container and dispenser of
the invention comprises a collapsible bag 10 located within an inextensible outer
casing in the form of a cardboard or paperboard cylinder 11 having respective end
plates 12, 13.
[0019] As shown in Fig. 2, the bag 10 is formed of three layers of material, namely an inner
layer 14 of polyethylene and two outer layers 15, 16 of nylon/aluminium/ polyolefin
laminate. These materials are quite safe as regards contact with food-stuffs and are
substantially impermeable to gases as well as completely impermeable to liquids. The
respective inner and outer layers 14, 15, 16 are bonded together, e.g. by adhesive
or heat welding, around all their edges so as to define two side by side interlayer
spaces 27, 28 between the layers 14, 15 and 14, 16 respectively. A first inlet/outlet
sleeve 17 leads into the first interlayer space 27, while a second inlet/oulet sleeve
18 leads into the second interlayer space 28.
[0020] The cardboard or paperboard cylinder 11 is formed as a spiral wound tube and may
be coated on the outside and/or inside with plastics amterial. The bag 10 is located
inside the cylinder 11 which is closed by the upper and lower end plates 12, 13 made,
for example, of plywood with an external wax coating. The end plates 12, 13 are held
in position by adhesive and/or a friction fit and also by respective cardboard or
paperboard collars 19, 20 which are glued, rivetted or stitched just inside the ends
of the cylinder 11. The inlet/oulet sleeves 17, 18 project through respective holes
24, 25 provided in the upper end plate 12.
[0021] The container has a capacity of up to about 50 to 60 litres and can withstand whatever
pressure is necessary for a beer container, up to and including 8 atmospheres above
normal.
[0022] In use, beer is filled into the first interlayer space 27 between the inner layer
14 and the outer layer 15 by way of the sleeve 17, which may be internally screw-threaded
to facilitate attachment of a supply pipe or valve. In the case of keg beer, that
is to say beer which has had carbon dioxide added other than by natural fermentation,
such filling should preferably take place against a counter pressure of gas or liquid
in the second interlayer space 28 to avoid excessive frothing of the beer by carbon
dioxide coming out of solution. The counter pressure is obtained by firstly supplying
a pressure medium such as pressurized air, carbon dioxide, nitrogen or water to the
second interlayer space 28 by way of the second inlet/outlet sleeve 18 and bleeding
this off gradually as the beer is filled into the first interlayer space 27.
[0023] The filling of the first interlayer 27 may take place either before or after the
bag 10 is installed inside the outer casing 11, 12, 13. After filling, the sleeves
17 and 18 are sealed off.
[0024] To dispense the beer from the first interlayer space 27, the sleeve 17 is attached
to an outlet pipe (not shown) possibly via a valve contained within the sleeve 17
and the chosen pressure medium is supplied to the second interlayer space 28 by way
of the sleeve 18 thereby inflating the second interlayer space 28, compressing the
first interlayer space 27 and forcing beer to flow into the outlet pipe. Appropriate
valves will probably be located in the inlet/outlet sleeves 17/18 and/or the supply
and outlet pipes.
[0025] It should be appreiated that the container just described is suitable for storing
and dispensing other liquids as well as beer and is not confined to use with carbonated
beverages although it has been initially devised with such beverages in-nind.
[0026] The materials of the bag and the outer casing may differ from those described. In
particular, the casing may be made of plastics, wood, metal or carboard or paperboard
or any combination of these. The casing can also be of a different shape to that described
above. Also, instead of two completely separate inlet/outlet sleeves, a single device
with concentric or adjacent openings may be employed.
[0027] The bag material is envisaged as being substantially inelastic, but use of elastic
material for at least one of the layers is not ruled out. Furthermore, the bag may
be formed with more than three layers so long as the liquid to be stored and dispensed
is filled into one of the interlayer spaces and a pressure medium can be introduced
into another of the interlayer spaces.
[0028] In this respect, Fig. 3 A shows a bag 30 comprising four layers of material 31 to
34.. These layers are formed by four separate sheets of material superimposed and
bonded together around all their edges so as to provide three interlayer spaces, only
two of which 47, 48 are used. Alternatively, as shown in Fig. 3 B these layers may
be formed by two elongate sheets of material which are folded in half after they are
superimposed and joined together around their remaining edges. In this way only two
interlayer spaces are provided, namely a central interlayer space 49 with a further
space 50 extending therearound on both sides and around one edge.
[0029] As regards the various possible outer casings within the scope of the invention,
a cardboard or paper board cylinder 11 with plywood end plates 12, 13 held in place
by cardboard or paperboard collars 19, 20 has already been described with reference
to Fig. 1. Figs. 4 to 7 illustrate modified embodiments in which the cardboard or
paperboard cylinder 11 is closed in a different manner at one end at least. In each
case the same reference numerals are used for the cylinder 11, the bag 10 and the
sleeves 17, 18 as in Fig. 1.
[0030] In Fig. 4, in place of a plywood end plate and a collar, a metal end plate 26 is
used. This has an upturned rim 21 which is of inverted U-shaped in cross-section,.
This rim 21 is fitted over the end of the cylinder 11 and rivetted thereto. Elongate
slots 23 are provided in the rim 21 as hand holds. Also upwardly directly projections
or teeth 22 are provided around that part of the rim which engages the inside of the
cylinder 11 to dig into the cylinder 11 and prevent the removal of the end plate 26.
There are two holes through the plate 26 to accommodate the sleeves 17, 18. A similar
lower end plate without holes could also be provided, possibly with a shallower overturned
rim.
[0031] Fig. 5 illustrates use of a special plastics end plate 40 which fits into the end
of the cylinder 11 and also engages over the cylinder edge. A plastics ring 39 having
external upwardly directed teeth which themselves have spikes is located around the
end plate 40 such that the teeth dig into the inner face of the cylinder 11 and prevent
removal of the end plate 40.
[0032] The aforesaid metal and plastics end plates 26, 40 may be less prone to damage and
more tamper-proof than the plywood end plates 12, 13. They also have the advantages
of easier assembly of the casing and protection of the ends of the cylinder 11 from
dampness. However, they are more expensive to produce than the plywood end plates
12, 13.
[0033] Another method of securing end plates in the cylinder 11 is shown in Fig. 6. In this
case, an end plate 38 of wood,plastics or cardbaord is held in place by an annular
indentation 37 in the material of the cylinder 11, the indentation being maintained
by a steel band 36.
[0034] Finally, Fig. 7 shows an advantageous method of securing an end plate 43 to a plastics
cylinder 41. The cylinder 41 has external screw threads 42 fashioned in its end region
and an annular member 44 is provided with internal screw threads to engage therewith
and with an internal cikular flange 45 to clamp the end plate 43 against the end of
the cylinder 41.
1. A container and dispenser for a liquid comprising a coallapsible multilayer bag
(10) located within an inextensible outer casing (11,12,13) characterised in that
the bag (10) is formed from a plurality of substantially impermeable plastics sheets
(14,16;31 to 34) joined together around their peripheries and having first inlet/outlet
means (17) leading to a first interlayer space (27;47;49) for reception of liquid
to be stored and dispensed and second inlet/outlet means (18) leading to a second
interlayer space (28;48;50), the second means (18) being connectable to a supply of
gas or liquid pressure medium which acts to inflate the second interlayer space (28;48;50)
and apply pressure to the first interlayer space (27;47;49).
2. A container and dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag (10) is formed
from three sheets of material (14,15,16) superimposed and bonded together around all
their edges so as to provide two adjacent interlayer spaces (27,28) separated by the
middle layer (14) of material.
3. A container and dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the bag (10) is formed
from two sheets of material which are superimposed, folded in half and bonded together
around their free edges so as to provide four layers (31 to 34) with the second interlayer
space (50) extending at both sides and around one edge of the first centrally located
interlayer space (49).
4. A container and dispenser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the outer casing
(11) is of cylindrical shape.
5. A container and dispenser as c _imed in any preceding claim wherein the outer casing
(11) is of cardboard or paperboard.
6. A container and dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and
second inlet/outlet means (17,18) include valves.
7. A container and dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and
second inlet/outlet means (17.18) are incorporated in a single device.
8. A method of dispensing liquid from a container comprising a collapsible multilayer
bag (10) located within an inextensible outer casing (11,12,13) wherein the bag (10)
is formed from a plurality of substantially impermeable plastics sheets (14 to 16;
31 to 34) joined together around their peripheries and having first inlet/outlet means
(17) leading to a first interlayer space (27;47;49) containing the liquid to be dispensed
and second inlet/outlet means (18) leading to a second interlayer space (28;48;50),
said method comprising supplying a gas or liquid pressure medium to the second interlayer
space (28;48;58) via the second inlet/outlet means. (18) so as to exert pressure on
the liquid in the first interlayer space (27;47;49) and cause it to be dispensed via
the first inlet/outlet means (17).