초록

A method of providing liquid-filled kegs and a manufacturing apparatus for performing the method of providing liquid-filled kegs, which method includes filling open plastic keg bodies with liquid, applying a disposable keg fitting, and releasing the neck of the filled, closed keg.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method of providing liquid-filled kegs, said method comprising the steps of: filling an open plastic keg body with a liquid product while holding said keg body by its neck;applying a disposable keg fitting to said filled keg body while holding said keg body solely by its neck, which said keg fi

1. A method of providing liquid-filled kegs, said method comprising the steps of: filling an open plastic keg body with a liquid product while holding said keg body by its neck;applying a disposable keg fitting to said filled keg body while holding said keg body solely by its neck, which said keg fitting comprises a valve insert that projects into said keg body and into said liquid product, and which valve insert is configured to dispense said liquid product therethrough; andreleasing said neck of said filled, closed keg. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said keg body is configured to hold a large volume of a liquid product of at least 10 liters. 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said neck comprises an outwardly projecting flange, and said step of holding said keg body solely by its neck comprises holding said keg body solely by said flange. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the plastic that forms said keg body is thickest at said neck, such that said neck and said flange are sufficiently strong to support said keg body upon being filled and also during application of said keg fitting after filling. 5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said valve insert comprises: an elongated tube configured to extend a substantial distance into said keg body, and a one-way valve configured to be opened solely to permit dispensing of liquid product. 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein: said method further comprises moving at least one of: said plastic keg body and a filling device of a filling machine, to bring said plastic keg body into alignment with said filling device;said method further comprises forming said plastic keg body by blow molding said plastic keg body to have a volume between 10 liters and about 20 liters; andsaid step of applying a keg fitting to said filled keg body comprises placing a cover portion of said keg fitting into an airtight connection with said neck, and then screwing, locking, or snap-fitting said cover portion to said neck. 7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: said step of placing a cover portion of said keg fitting into an airtight connection with said neck is performed after filling in one of: said filling machine, and a closing machine downstream of said filling machine; andsaid step of screwing, locking, or snap-fitting said cover portion to said neck is performed in one of: said filling machine and said closing machine. 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said liquid product is beer, said keg is a beer keg, and said method comprises filling said beer keg with beer. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said neck comprises an outwardly projecting flange, and said step of holding said keg body solely by its neck comprises holding said keg body solely by said flange. 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the plastic that forms said keg body is thickest at said neck, such that said neck and said flange are sufficiently strong to support said keg body upon being filled and also during application of said keg fitting after filling. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said valve insert comprises: an elongated tube configured to extend a substantial distance into said keg body, and a one-way valve configured to be opened solely to permit dispensing of liquid product. 12. The method according to claim 3, wherein said step of applying a keg fitting to said filled keg body comprises placing a cover portion of said keg fitting into an airtight connection with said neck, and then snap-fitting said cover portion to said neck by pressing and forcing a locking portion of said cover portion past a second outwardly-projecting flange of said neck, wherein the outer diameter of said second flange is greater than the inner diameter of said locking portion. 13. A manufacturing apparatus for performing the method according to claim 1 of providing liquid-filled kegs, said manufacturing apparatus comprising: a support arrangement configured to hold solely a neck of a keg body;a filling device configured to fill a keg body with a liquid product while the keg body is held by said support arrangement; anda fitting device configured to apply a keg fitting to a filled keg body while the filled keg body is held by said support arrangement, which keg fitting comprises a valve insert that projects into the keg body and into the liquid product, and which valve insert is configured to dispense liquid product therethrough. 14. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said support arrangement is configured to support a keg body configured to hold a large volume of a liquid product of at least 10 liters. 15. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said support arrangement is configured to hold solely an outwardly projecting flange of a neck of a keg body. 16. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said fitting device is configured to insert an elongated tube of a valve insert a substantial distance into a keg body. 17. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said fitting device is configured to press a keg fitting into an airtight snap-fit connection with a keg body. 18. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said fitting device is configured to screw a keg fitting into an airtight screw connection with a keg body. 19. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said manufacturing apparatus further comprises a filling machine, which filling machine comprises said filling device and said fitting device, such that both filling of a keg body and application of a keg fitting are performable in said filling machine. 20. The manufacturing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said manufacturing apparatus further comprises a filling machine and a closing machine disposed downstream of said filling machine; and one of (A) and (B): (A) said filling machine comprises said filling device, and said closing machine comprises said fitting device, such that filling of a keg body is performable in said filling machine, and application of a keg fitting is performable in said closing machine; and(B) said filling machine comprises said filling device and a placement device configured to place a cover portion of a keg fitting into an airtight connection with a neck of a keg body, such that filling of a keg body and then placement of a keg fitting is performable in said filling machine; andsaid closing machine comprises said fitting device, such that application of the placed keg fitting is performable in said closing machine.