Anheuser-busch Inbev S.a.

The Coca-cola Company

Ab Inbev Nv

Other

Anheuser-busch Inbev Nv

Stijn Vandekerckhove

Daniel Peirsman

George Plester

Vanessa Valles

Jerome Pellaud

Nathaniel Davis

Lieven Dirx

Johan Van Rompaey

Aaron Penn

Tap for beer dispenser

Beer dispenser

A dispensing apparatus is described having a beverage source, containing a carbonated beverage liquid, and a dispensing tap. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispense tube disposing the beverage source in fluid communication with the dispensing tap and an infusion chamber arranged in connection with the dispense tube and configured to infuse an infusing ingredient with the carbonated beverage liquid. The dispensing apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to determine a level of carbon-dioxide in the liquid downstream of the infusion chamber. The dispensing apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide source coupled to the dispense tube via a valve. The dispensing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to operate the valve to allow flow of carbon-dioxide gas based on the determined level of carbon-dioxide in the carbonated beverage liquid, so as to bring the level of carbon-dioxide to a pre-defined level.

Dispensing apparatus for infusing carbonated beverage liquid with ingredients and method thereof

The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.

Pressurized beverage concentrates and appliances and methods for producing beverages therefrom

A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.

Beverage tap installation

A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X, different from X, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Dispensing apparatus provided with a cooling unit

A beverage dispensing apparatus having a container containing a beverage and a dispensing tube having three sections. The first section is a cartridge formed by a frame defining a perimeter of an inner area and supporting in the inner area a channel forming a serpentine. An upstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects the interior of the container to an inlet of the channel. A downstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects an outlet of the channel to a tapping valve. The appliance is provided with a cooling unit having a first and second cooling plates separated from one another by a distance defining an insertion slot. The distance separating the cooling plates can be varied, from a loading distance, d, allowing the introduction of the cartridge into the slot, to a cooling distance, dc&#x3c;d, where the cooling plates contact the channel and apply pressure thereon deforming the channel.

Dispensing appliance provided with a disposable cooling cartridge

A beverage dispensing device dispenses different types of beverages or beverage components. At least one type of beverage is a malt based beverage or beverage component. The dispensing device has multiple supply lines each extending from a corresponding supply source and having a controllable supply line valve as well as a controlling device for sequentially setting the controllable supply line valves. A beverage dispensing device contains multiple beverages or beverage components to be dispensed into a receptacle after every sequence step has been executed and during a single tapping cycle.

Beverage dispensing device for dispensing different types of beverages or beverage components

A device for dispensing liquid from a container includes a dispensing tube to dispense the liquid through a dispensing valve. A gas tube feeds pressurized gas into the container. The upstream end of the gas tube connects to a source of pressurized gas. A three way valve is coupled to the downstream end of the gas tube. The three way valve includes a keg duct in communication with the interior of the container, a gas duct connected to the downstream end of the gas tube, and a vent duct. The three way valve can switch from a dispensing position in which the keg duct is in communication with the gas duct, and out of communication with the vent duct, to a venting position in which the keg duct is in fluid communication with the vent duct and out of fluid communication with the gas duct.

Pressurised liquid dispenser with three way valve for venting a container

A polymeric keg connector for fluidly connecting the interior of a container has an opening with a fluid tube. The keg connector has a connector, a coupler, a support movable in a longitudinal direction Z with respect to the base body, a tube, and a penetration actuator. The distance the support is moved is sufficient for the tube penetration end to penetrate into the opening provided on a closure of the container. The sliding surfaces of the connector and the support are manufactured with a particulate-reinforced polymeric material and the polymeric material of the connector is reinforced by a particulate material that can be different from the particulate material reinforcing the support element.

Polymeric keg connector

A method of dispensing a malt-based beverage dispenses into a receptacle ready for consumption and for use in an on-trade or off-trade environment. The method has the following steps. The step of composing a first component of the dispensed beverage is performed during dispensing by mixing a liquid with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen. The step of adding the first component to at least a second beverage component so as to form the dispensed beverage is performed. The carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen is scented.

Method of dispensing a malt-based beverage, as well as device for dispensing a malt-based beverage

A stopcock controls the flow of a liquid under pressure through a dispensing tube with an upstream portion separated by the stopcock from a downstream portion. The stopcock includes a housing portion with a chamber defined by a housing peripheral wall surrounding a longitudinal z-axis. The housing peripheral wall has an inner surface of revolution with a housing inlet opening connectable to the upstream portion of the dispensing tube. The stopcock includes an outlet connector connectable to the downstream portion of the dispensing tube and comprising an outlet opening. A plug defined by a plug outer peripheral wall snugly fitting the inner surface of revolution of the housing peripheral wall. The plug can rotate within the chamber about the longitudinal z-axis. The plug has a through-channel extending from an upstream opening located on the plug outer peripheral wall, to a downstream opening, such that the plug can be rotated about the longitudinal z-axis from a flow position to a sealed position, wherein, the plug outer peripheral wall comprises a seal protrusion topped by a ridge and forming a closed loop defining a blank area of the plug outer peripheral wall, such that, in the sealed position, the housing inlet opening of the housing peripheral wall faces the blank area and is circumscribed within the seal protrusion. The plug outer peripheral wall has a flow protrusion topped by a ridge circumscribing the upstream opening such that, in the flow position, the inlet opening of the cylindrical chamber peripheral wall is circumscribed by the flow protrusion, wherein said flow protrusion preferably shares a common portion of protrusion with the seal protrusion.

Stopcock for beverage dispenser

A beverage dispensing device includes a container for a liquid beverage to be dispensed, a beverage dispensing line, and a gas line. A keg connector connects the keg interior with the dispensing and gas lines by coupling the keg connector to a container closure. A storing compartment receives at least two containers. An elongated tapping column is fixed to the top plate and provided with a tapping valve element. The receiving device has at least two containers permits container storage in a dispensing position with its longitudinal axis forming a storing angle of &#xb1;30&#xb0; with respect to the top plane. The keg connector has a height measured along the longitudinal axis between the container's bottom end, and the furthest point of the keg connector coupled to the closure of the connector is not more than 5% greater than the height of the container without keg connector.

Beverage dispensing appliance for multiple containers

An appliance for dispensing a beverage is disclosed. The appliance has a housing that defines an inner space for a beverage keg. The keg extends along a gravitational direction, X1, parallel to the gravity field, from a top position to a bottom position, wherein the top position is higher in the gravity field than the bottom position when the appliance is in use. A pressure unit pressurizes the interior of the keg. A tap unit dispenses beverages from the keg driven by pressure. A cooling unit cools the beverage in the keg. The cooling unit is suitable for cooling a specific cold area of the keg's outer wall to a temperature lower than any other point of the keg. The cold area of the keg is located in the top third portion of the keg according to the X1 direction.

Beverage dispensing appliance comprising a cooling unit

A dispensing assembly having a container containing a liquid to be dispensed and a dispensing tube bringing in fluid communication with ambient the volume inside the container containing the liquid. The dispensing tube has a flexible, resilient portion ending in an outlet of diameter, D, and is engaged in a pinch valve system. The pinch valve system has a squeezing member suitable for squeezing and obturating a section of the flexible portion located at a distance, h, from the outlet. The ratio, h/D, of the distance, h, to the outlet diameter, D, is not more than 2, preferably, not more than 1.5, more preferably, not more than 1.0.

Growing community of inventors

Leuven, Belgium

Stijn Vandekerckhove