JP4064469B2 - A container that separates and stores fluid substances and allows mixing of substances as needed - Google Patents

Description

Technical field
The present invention relates to a fluid material container, and more particularly to a liquid container having a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. Carbonated beverages such as so-called soft drinks and brewed liquors such as beer and cider are stored at overpressure, but the present invention also contains or can be stored (including other liquids) at overpressure. It relates to substances. In particular, it is not uncommon for many “distilled” beverages to be packed into containers containing nitrogen gas bodies at overpressure. Examples of goods stuffed or packable in this way are juices and juice drinks, milk and milk-based drinks, alcohols, wines, iced teas and tea drinks, drugs and pharmaceuticals delivered in liquid form Even included.
Background art
In certain alcoholic beverages, it has long been thought that a particularly creamy foamy water head would be desirable. This water head is easily generated when foam is poured from a conventional beer dispensing device (as is often the case with many other alcoholic beverages). If the foam is contained in a can, the same liquid head is often not generated when the can is opened. While this is acting as an impediment to the sale of such beverage cans, Australian Patent No. 576486 provides a solution to this problem. The can disclosed in Australian Patent No. 577486 has an insert which is a gas filling chamber that communicates with the beverage of the can through a restricted orifice. Since the chamber is immersed in the beverage contained in the can, a small amount of beverage enters the chamber through the restricting orifice to balance the pressure in the chamber headspace and the pressure in the can headspace. At the opening of the can, the pressure in the can head space can be immediately reduced to atmospheric pressure, while the pressure in the second chamber head space is at least higher than atmospheric pressure for a while. It remains. For this purpose, chamber gases and / or beverages are released through the restriction orifice. Thereby, the gas of the solution is derived, and a foam like cream is formed on the beverage. However, this patent does not contemplate the introduction of the second liquid into the beverage when the can is opened, and any liquid contained in the beverage and the second chamber while the can remains sealed is free. This should not be possible with the disclosed apparatus.
There are a number of patents and patent applications filed following Australian Patent No. 5,577 regarding the introduction of frothed water heads into containers, all for the introduction into a second liquid-packed beverage. I am not thinking of a suitable container. However, the container is placed in a chamber separate from the main chamber of the pressurized container (such as a powder, suspension or liquid) so that the second flowable substance can subsequently be introduced into the beverage of the container. It would be desirable to be able to accommodate two fluid substances. Such a container can be introduced into a beverage packed with a second fluid substance, but it is also possible to introduce a pressurized beverage contained in a gas or separately contained so as to foam the beverage. is there.
Such a container is disclosed in International Patent Application No. PCT / GB95 / 01185, where two such partitions are separated by a thin film that can be greatly ruptured by the release of pressure when the container is opened. ing. In this case, whiskey is contained in one partition and soda water is contained in the other, so that whiskey and soda drink are generated when the thin film ruptures. Similarly, US Pat. No. 4,524,078 discloses a container having a capsule. The capsule has a separable cap or frangible wall, or one wall is made up of the container wall, and the capsule is removed from the container wall when the container is opened. In each case, the walls can break, the capsule components can separate from the capsule, or the entire capsule can explosively separate from its anchor and shred. Thus, in each case, a latent obstacle arises that can result in the formation of small pieces of capsules in the can beverage. Furthermore, in each case, the encapsulated liquid is released relatively slowly through the large opening into the beverage of the container and diffuses relatively slowly into the beverage. This leads to incomplete mixing and no brilliant visual effects.
International Patent Application No. PCT / EP94 / 02491 discloses an apparatus in which a capsule having an opening on the bottom is attached to the lower part of a can for pressurized beverages. The capsule contains a second liquid that is miscible with the first liquid contained in the can and a valve that seals the orifice at the bottom of the capsule to prevent mixing of the two liquids prior to opening the can -Has a stem. However, the bottom of the capsule is flexible, and when the pressure difference is caused by the opening of the can, the bottom of the capsule is displaced downward and the valve stem is removed. Thereby, the second liquid enters the can through the orifice and can be mixed with the first liquid. The capsule must be pressurized before insertion, but it should be difficult to insert the capsule because the open can into which the capsule is inserted is not pressurized until after it is sealed. Therefore, it should be difficult in practice to ensure that the second liquid does not leak through the opening during insertion. Furthermore, such devices are likely to be subject to pressure fluctuations in the headspace within the capsule, for example due to temperature changes. Since there is no means to equalize the pressure in the capsule headspace with that in the can, a pressure difference is created whenever the temperature of the can changes due to such small pressure fluctuations. Because it is critical that the opening is always stiff against the valve seat to prevent leakage, this pressure difference can cause small fluctuations in the position of the capsule bottom wall, which can lead to leakage. There is.
The present invention separates and accommodates the first fluid substance and the second fluid substance in a pressurized container, and when the pressurized container is opened, the second fluid substance is contained in the first fluid substance. An object of the present invention is to provide a device that discharges to the outside. Furthermore, it has been found that in the provision of such a device, it is applicable to release a gas or a pressurized second flowable substance contained separately, into the first flowable substance.
Disclosure of the invention
According to the present invention,
(I) a first chamber containing a first fluid substance and having a first head space formed by a gas having a pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure;
(Ii) a second chamber having a second headspace containing a second fluid substance containing a gas and additionally containing a gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure;
(Iii) means for reducing the pressure in the first chamber;
(Iv) means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers;
(V) when the pressure in the first chamber is reduced, the mixing of the first and second flowable materials comprising a second flowable material and means for transferring to the first flowable material; A container is provided for separating and containing the first flowable material and the second flowable material until desired.
Preferably, the means for reducing the pressure in the first chamber is in the form of means for opening the first chamber to the environment outside the chamber, and the external environment is the first chamber in the external environment. Prior to exposure, the pressure is lower than in the first chamber. A particularly preferred way to achieve this is to provide the container with means for opening the first chamber to the open air. For example, such means can be used in a container to form an opening in the container for communication between the cap, bottle or can lift lift-off tab, or first chamber and the external environment, which is removed by a screw attached to the bottle. It can be set as the structure located in the wall of the container which can be pushed in. Such means will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, when referring to “means for reducing the pressure in the first chamber” herein and in the claims, it should be understood that it refers to all means described in this paragraph.
Preferably, the second chamber has a second head space, and the means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers provides a pressure balance between the first head space and the second head space. Consists of forming means. “Equilibrium” at the point of equilibrium of pressure between the first and second headspaces does not mean that the pressures in the first and second headspaces are necessarily equal or nearly equal. Will be understood by those skilled in the art. In fact, as will be described in detail below, there is actually a pressure gradient between the first and second headspaces, but nevertheless there is a balance between the pressures in the two chambers. An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is an apparatus in which the pressure in the first chamber (before being opened to the external environment) is higher than atmospheric pressure. Prior to initiating mixing of the first flowable material and the second flowable material, the pressures in the first and second headspaces are preferably substantially equal. However, as explained above, according to other aspects of the invention, there may be a pressure differential between the first and second headspaces. In embodiments of the present invention where such a pressure difference exists, the pressure difference between the first and second headspaces is preferably in the range of about 0.1 to 10 atmospheres.
Preferably, the pressure in each of the first and second headspaces is at least 0.1 atmospheres at the gauge pressure prior to operating the container to mix the first and second flowable materials. Particularly preferably, the pressure is at least 0.5 atm, more preferably at least 1 atm. Accordingly, the pressure in each of the first and second head spaces is preferably at least 1 atmosphere higher than the atmospheric pressure before mixing the first and second flowable substances.
As long as there is a special need, “fluid substance” as used herein refers to liquids, solutions, suspensions, emulsions, gases, and all commonly referred to or known as “liquids” or “fluids”. It is a substance in the form, and further contains other fluid substances such as powder. The first and second flowable materials can be the same physical property or different types of materials. In one preferred form of the invention, the first and second flowable materials are each a true liquid. However, in other forms of the invention, the first flowable material may be a true liquid and the second flowable material may be in the form of a powder (for example). One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many other combinations of materials are possible and are within the scope of the present invention. A person skilled in the art also consists of a combination of two or more fluent materials (eg, a liquid containing gas) before the fluent material in any chamber is mixed with the fluent material in another chamber You will understand that easily.
Preferably, the means for transferring the second flowable substance comprises conduit means extending from the second flowable substance storage chamber in the second chamber to the first headspace. The conduit may also terminate in the first flowable material, and in this case preferably includes a siphoning prevention device such as a small diameter orifice in the conduit means in the first headspace. More preferably, the conduit means passes through the second headspace.
Preferably, the conduit means has a structure through which a flowable substance can flow. Suitable structures for this purpose are tubes and grooves (including closed grooves and open grooves). It is also possible for the structure to be one or more holes through the wall separating the two chambers of the device. Particularly suitable conduit means include (for example) a capillary structure such as a capillary. In this regard, in this specification, the term “capillary” refers to a person who includes not only a thin, capillary-shaped structure or device but also other structures or devices that can use capillary action. Must be understood.
In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for balancing the pressure comprises a small diameter orifice provided in the conduit means in the second headspace. The orifice can be a circular hole, but can also be a round, rectangular hole, slot or the like. If an orifice is present, the orifice causes the conduit means to communicate directly with the first headspace at the end of the orifice (or the orifice functions as an anti-siphoning device) so that it is progressive in the second headspace. Pressure and pressure reduction occur. However, when a sudden decompression occurs in the first chamber, the orifice is sufficiently small that a pressure difference occurs between the first chamber and the second chamber, which occurs when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere. Such a large pressure difference is not instantaneously balanced. Thus, an initial flow is generated through the second flowable material conduit means and this initial flow is immediately blocked by the orifice. Thus, the pressure differential caused by opening the first chamber to the atmosphere is not balanced and the flow of the second flowable material through the conduit means until the pressure differential is insufficient to produce a flow. Will continue.
Preferably, the transfer mechanism additionally comprises means for allowing the second flowable material to flow through the second headspace before entering the first chamber. This configuration allows the second fluid material to enter the first chamber due to gravity-induced leakage due to the pressure balance of the first and second chambers as described above, unless transferred from the second chamber. To prevent. In this way, the container effectively forms a “liquid lock” to prevent the transfer of the second flowable substance by the gas into the first flowable substance until the transfer according to the invention is activated. To do. Advantageously, the orifice is maintained above the level of the second flowable material even when the container is laid down. Thereby, the second flowable material does not always block the orifice unless a flow of the second flowable material through the conduit means is generated by opening the first chamber to the atmosphere. As a result, a small pressure difference caused by a temperature change or the like is immediately balanced regardless of the orientation of the container, so that the possibility of leakage when the container is laid down can be minimized.
Sometimes it may be desirable to provide a variable size orifice. For example, if the first chamber is sufficiently pressurized to ensure that the pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber is effectively eliminated, the orifice is fully open. When the first chamber is about to be opened to the atmosphere, the opening of the orifice is limited or closed. In the former case, this is effectively occluded by the second fluid substance during decompression of the first chamber, and in the latter case, the pressure balance is completely formed before the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere. It will be sure to be prevented. In any case, this configuration minimizes the possibility of leaks when the container is not open because the gas exchange between the first chamber and the second chamber is enhanced in this state. Therefore, the transfer of the second fluid substance is facilitated. This is especially true if the diameter can be limited prior to discharge, since larger orifices can be used than are necessary to ensure sufficient discharge of the second fluid material.
The orifice can consist of a slit or valve formed in the capillary. The slit or valve is closed when the pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber is less than a predetermined value. The predetermined value is preferably a pressure between 0.1 atm and 2 atm as a gauge pressure. When the pressure in the first chamber becomes higher than the pressure in the second chamber by a pressure exceeding this predetermined value, the slit or valve is opened, allowing the pressure in the two chambers to reach equilibrium. In the case of a general carbonated beverage container made according to the present invention, the pressure difference that rises when discharge occurs is about 0.5 atm. Of course, the small-diameter orifice is opened by this pressure difference. Too small to balance a large pressure difference. An advantage of using a slit that is closed when there is no pressure difference or only a small pressure difference below a predetermined value is that leakage of the second fluid material can be minimized.
Any other suitable means of balancing the pressure between the first headspace and the second headspace can be employed. For example, the second chamber may be formed or include a portion of a gas permeable plastic such as low density polyethylene / high impact polystyrene, polycarbonate, a copolymer of two or more of these materials. In this embodiment of the invention, the diffusion of gas through the gas permeable plastic dissolves into the second flowable material in the second chamber containing the flowable material. Although the entire capsule may be formed of a gas permeable plastic, in some applications of the present invention, the capsule is formed of a relatively gas impermeable plastic and the conduit means (first of the first A portion to be joined to the head space). In this case, the conduit means does not need to form an orifice, but the gas only diffuses through the plastic forming the conduit means. Also, a portion of the conduit means can be formed from a gas permeable plastic. Although suitable plastic permeable plastics are known, a particularly preferred gas permeable plastic is low concentration polyethylene. Also, part of the capsule (in addition to the conduit means) can be made of gas permeable plastic.
Advantageously, the second chamber floats on top of the first flowable material or is fixed at a level above or above the first flowable material. In the case of a container in the form of a bottle, the second chamber is fixed to the underside of the cap. In this last-mentioned embodiment, the second chamber is preferably located adjacent to or below the cap, but attached to the neck of the bin.
In any of these configurations, the second head space and the first head space are separated only by the wall of the second chamber. In this case, it is advantageous to configure the conduit means by a structure that defines capillaries or grooves. Examples of suitable structures include gooseneck capillaries or concentric pipe devices. In general, the structure defining the capillary or groove has a first vertical portion extending from the second flowable material reservoir in the second chamber to the second headspace and through the wall of the second chamber. A horizontal portion extending into the first head space and a second vertical portion provided in the first head space for directing the second flowable material when discharged from the second chamber into the first flowable material. Consists of. The orifice that allows the pressure balance of the first and second headspaces to be any part of the structure that defines the capillary or groove as long as it is provided at a level higher than the level of the second flowable material. I can do it.
In addition, the structure defining the capillary or the groove includes a first vertical portion extending from the second fluid material storage chamber in the second chamber to the second head space, and a horizontal portion in the second head space. A second vertical portion extending from the second headspace through the second liquid (without any means in communication therewith) and then through the bottom wall of the second chamber to the first headspace Consists of. An orifice or valve that allows for a balance of pressure in the first and second headspaces can be formed in the horizontal portion of the structure defining the capillaries or grooves, but above the level of the second flowable material. It can also be formed in either the first or second vertical portion of such a structure as long as it is at a high position.
Advantageously, means are provided to hold the orifice above the level of the second flowable material even when the container is laid down. Of course, the orifice is submerged primarily by completely inverting the container or some other improper handling, but this is because the second flowable material is filled only to a predetermined level, Regardless of the orientation, this is accomplished by ensuring that the orifice is positioned above that level. The container must also be packaged in such a way that it cannot be oriented.
It is possible to provide a plurality of orifices. Advantageously, in the first vertical part, the second vertical part or the horizontal part, the first such orifice is arranged at a position not far apart above the surface of the second flowable substance, Two such orifices are located farther from the surface of the second flowable material. Therefore, even when the surface tension of the second double copper material is large enough to rise in the capillary and shield the first orifice, gas exchange takes place through the second orifice. . A non-wetting agent may be added to the second flowable material or applied to the inside of the capillary to minimize the movement of the second flowable material into the capillary before ejection. I can do it.
A mechanical barrier can be provided at the end of the first vertical portion to prevent the second flowable material from entering the first vertical portion of the structure defining the capillary or groove. A suitable barrier can be constituted by a cap fixed on the bottom wall of the second chamber, capable of receiving the end of the first vertical portion of the capillary and having an orifice formed on its side. When housed in the cap, the first vertical portion of the structure defining the capillary or groove closes the side orifice to the cap, but displaces away from the bottom of the second chamber, for example, When the container cap is unscrewed (in the case of a bottle), the small diameter orifice is opened. Therefore. Inflow of the second liquid into the structure defining the capillary or groove is prevented while the bottle is closed, but by opening the bottle, the end of the first vertical portion of the capillary is reduced in diameter. The orifice is not sealed, and the discharge occurs.
According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the horizontal part of the capillary abuts the underside of the bottle cap, and the capillary is folded and displaced in the vicinity of the orifice. Primarily, this fold displacement occurs in response to pressure applied to the bottle cap, typically manually, causing the capillary to fold, restricting or closing the orifice. Thus, digital pressure is applied to the bottle cap just prior to opening or as part of the opening operation to restrict or close the orifice.
Advantageously, the capillary is provided with backflow prevention means to ensure that the first flowable material does not flow through the capillary into the second chamber, for example when the container is laid down. Such a backflow prevention means prevents flow of the flowable material from the first chamber to the second chamber, but allows flow of the second flowable material from the second chamber to the first chamber. It can be constituted by a simple flap of a suitable material fixed in a capillary. Primarily, the flap is located very close to the opening of the first chamber of the second vertical part of the capillary tube. If necessary, a one-way valve can be used instead of the flap.
It is also possible to use other means for transferring the second flowable substance. If the second chamber is mounted above the level of the first flowable material, for example by securing it to the underside of the container or cap, the second liquid is an orifice formed in the bottom wall of the second chamber. (For example, by injection). The orifice is sealed while there is no pressure difference between the first chamber and the second chamber. However, when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere and the pressure is rapidly reduced, the orifice is opened. This can be achieved, for example, by covering the orifice with a breakable seal piece that breaks when the container is opened, or by various valve devices. A suitable valve means for this purpose separates the opposing walls that structurally define or form part of the bottom wall of the second chamber.
It includes an orifice opened by relative displacement in the direction, a poppet valve provided on the bottom wall, and the like.
One particularly suitable device consists of a valve stem that is secured within the orifice prior to being screwed into the bottle cap, and when the cap is turned away, the valve stem is removed from the orifice. The valve stem is also secured to the cap during the closing operation, but the valve stem has a sharp end that pierces the bottom wall of the second chamber to form an orifice and seals the orifice in its formed state. is doing. As before, opening the cap pulls the valve stem out of the orifice and releases the second fluid material. In yet another configuration, the means for transporting the second flowable material is configured as a standpipe-shaped passage means, the conduit means being concentrically disposed in the second chamber to attach the cap to the bottle. Sometimes captured by a bottle cap and having associated valve means located at the upper or lower end of the standpipe, the transfer of the second fluid material to the first fluid material caps the cap Activated by opening. The opening of the cap is done by turning it off or by a lift-off mechanism or other means obvious to those skilled in the art.
In another device that can be used, the bottom or top wall of the container is flexible and the orifice is relative to the orifice when the pressure is balanced between the first and second chambers. The other side is closed by sealing against a valve stem attached to the upper wall of the second chamber. However, the bottom wall (or top wall in some cases) is displaced when the first chamber is balanced and moves away from the valve stem, thereby opening the orifice.
Alternatively, this device can be used particularly when using conduit means such as capillaries or channel defining structures as described above, where the top or bottom wall of the container is flexible, When the first and second chambers are balanced, they seal against the opening of the conduit means for the second flowable material, but are displaced away when the first chamber is depressurized.
In addition, another possible device has a bottom or top wall that is not particularly flexible but is sufficiently deformable to form a seal when held against the opening of the conduit means. ing. In this apparatus, the conduit means and the bottom or top wall are in sealing contact when the cap is hermetically placed in the bottle shape of the container, but are separated from the sealing contact when the cap moves upward at the crown of the bottle during the unsealing operation. It is arranged to move in the direction of In particular, in screw cap devices, the sealing contact is first made when the cap is attached with a screw after filling the bottle, maintained while the bottle remains covered, and released when the cap is removed with a screw. Is done.
Furthermore, according to the present invention,
(A) a first chamber containing a first fluid substance and having a first head space formed by a gas having a pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure;
(B) A second chamber containing a second fluid substance and containing a gas having a pressure equal to or higher than the atmospheric pressure, and is disposed toward the lower portion or the lower portion of the first chamber. A second chamber having a base and having conduit means extending from the base toward the surface of the first flowable material;
(C) Mixing of the first and second flowable materials with means for opening the first chamber to the atmosphere so as to transfer the second flowable material into the first flowable material is desired. Until then, a container for separating and containing the first fluid material and the second fluid material is provided.
The container also has means for balancing the pressure in the first and second chambers before opening the first chamber to the atmosphere. For example, a tube, conduit or other conduit means extending from the second headspace to the first headspace can be used for this purpose.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that when such pressure balancing means are not provided, the pressure in the first and second chambers should be substantially the same. Therefore, (i) the second chamber must be pressurized, and (ii) the second chamber must be introduced into the container at the time when the first chamber is further pressurized.
Also, according to the present invention, the configuration described at the end of the present invention,
(1) introducing a second fluid substance into the second chamber;
(2) pressurizing the second chamber,
(3) freeze at least a portion of the second flowable material so as to close the conduit means with the frozen second flowable material;
(4) Insert the second chamber into the first chamber, introduce the first fluid substance into the first chamber,
(5) Seal the first chamber,
(6) Heat the container
A method for filling a container comprising steps is provided.
For example, upon heating in the pasteurization process, the plug of the second fluid material that closes the conduit means melts. However, an airlock barrier is set in the conduit means to partition the second flowable material from the first flowable material, thereby preventing mixing.
Alternatively, a thermoplastic can be used to form a stopper that melts when the container is heated, or between the second and first chambers when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere. A breachable seal can be provided to partition the conduit means, provided that the seal ruptures when a pressure differential occurs.
It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that some embodiments according to the invention described above can be configured with multiple chambers that can accommodate a plurality of different flowable substances (rather than just a single second chamber). Will be understood. It will also be appreciated that different flowable materials can be transferred from different qualities of the same insert or from different inserts.
Usually, the second chamber is substantially smaller in volume than the first chamber. In general, it is only necessary to transfer a small volume of the second flowable material to the first flowable material. In the capacity of the beverage container, 1 to 90% of the second headspace is occupied by the second flowable substance.
Generally, the first flowable material is a beverage.
In one embodiment according to the present invention (where the container contains a beverage), the second flowable material is from a colorant such as a 1% solution of tartrazine, sunset yellow, carmoisine or brilliant blue. Become. Advantageously, when the container containing the beverage and tartrazine is opened, the color change of the first liquid (ie the beverage) occurs and is only temporary for a few seconds after the bottle is opened or compared A dramatic visual effect that can be long lasting. An example of the latter is when a color twist or pattern is created in the liquid. Alternatively, a substantial amount of colored liquid can be transferred to create a two-layer effect in the container. Obviously, creating a two-layer effect relies on a second liquid having a very different density from the first liquid. In general, the second liquid should float on the top surface of the first liquid, but when injected from the bottom of the container, the second liquid can constitute the bottom layer of the liquid.
Also, the second liquid, which may be colorless or non-colorless, may be savory or contain flavor. Suitable aroma systems are essential oils in ethanol blended flavor chemicals, essential oils containing water blended flavor chemicals containing ethanol and propylene glycol, and essential oils wetted by wetting agents in aqueous surfactant solutions. Generally, the flavor is 0.01-0.2% v / v. Examples of essential oils are citrus oils such as lemon, lime, orange (distilled and cold pressed) and natural spice oils such as cinnamon, buco, mint. In general, suitable flavor chemicals are esters, aldehydes, fatty acids, lactones, terpene alcohols. Vanillin (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde) is one example, but other suitable flavors should be known to those skilled in the art.
If two or more liquids are transferred to the beverage, the two liquids can both be colored, for example, which should create a spectacular visual effect. A spectacular visual effect should be created, especially when the two liquids are injected into the beverage at different locations. Alternatively, both such liquids can be flavored, in which case thixotropic agents or thickeners are infused with the one or more flavoring agents or separately into the beverage. The degree of change in flavor can be created. Alternatively, each liquid can be a different type of liquid, for example, flavor and colorant can be injected simultaneously or at different times as desired. It is also possible to add a flavor to the colored twist as described above, in which case the flavor does not immediately penetrate the entire drink. Thus, it can be set as the structure which produces the variation degree of a flavor. A typical twist is a twist of juice or juice concentrate.
Moreover, it can be set as the structure which induces a color change with another method. For example, color formation by certain food dyes such as cochineal color and anthocyanins depends on the pH and forms different colors depending on whether it is an acidic or alkaline environment. For example, this property can be exploited by using a weakly basic solution dye as the second liquid containing a beverage having a pH of 7 or less. When the container is opened, the basic dye solution is poured into the acidic solution of the container, lowering the pH of the dye to about 7 or less and starting the color change of the dye. A similar effect can be produced by using a chelating agent, and whether or not there is a metal ion in the dye changes the color of the dye.
Also, the flavor activator can be injected into the second liquid, for example, the second liquid can be composed of an aqueous solution of sugar or an artificial sweetener such as a formulated flavor or phenylalanine. . This is not particularly effective for compounds that are stable in aqueous solution, but flavor agents that are unstable in aqueous solution or flavor enhancers that are unstable in aqueous solution can be added to the beverage. This allows these flavor activators to be used even if they had never been used before or had to be added in an amount sufficient to allow a significant proportion of the compound to disintegrate. Can be used. }
The second flowable material may be other liquids or other types of flowable materials that are desirable for introduction into a beverage. For example, it can be a tea concentrate introduced into a juice beverage, or vice versa. Another example is a mixture of alcohols and soft drinks. The second liquid can also be a chickentrope or thickener, pharmaceutical (eg, if the drug is unstable in an aqueous solution, but can be stored as a concentrate in ethanol or some other liquid, and a dilute aqueous solution). Quinine concentrate or similar for mixing with carbonated water to make tonic water, if it is desirable to give to the mouth as or if it is necessary to hide the undesired taste of the drug) It can be a mixture.
In some cases where two liquids are mixed, some people prefer a single liquid, and a few others even prefer to remove a single liquid from the mixture.
Accordingly, the present invention also provides a container capable of changing the concentration of the second liquid in the first liquid. In an embodiment according to the present invention that balances the pressure between the first and second headspaces, one means of doing this is to provide a bleed hole or valve device in the bottle cap. This allows some gas from the first head space or the second head space to flow out somewhat gradually. Regardless of which chamber exits, the slight pressure difference produced will quickly balance and there will be no discharge of the second liquid, but the pressure in both headspaces will be reduced. Thus, when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere, the pressure difference between the second headspace and the first headspace will be lower than would have occurred if no gas had flowed out. Therefore, the propulsive force with which the second liquid is discharged from the second chamber is smaller. If the pressure in the container is sufficiently reduced, the second liquid is not discharged from the second chamber at all, and the concentration of the second liquid in the first liquid is lowered.
Alternatively, if the orifice used to balance the pressure between the first headspace and the second headspace is relatively large, the second liquid will not be released sufficiently. In this case, when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere, there is a tendency for the pressure to be quickly balanced, to some extent before the orifice is regulated, and the pressure in the second headspace is reduced. The
If the second chamber is attached to the back of the bottle cap, there is no opportunity for further discharge of the second liquid if the cap is removed or processed. However, when the container is sealed by changing the cap, or when the second chamber is fixed inside the container, the second chamber is pressurized to some extent by placing a finger on the top of the bottle and shaking. The When the container is reopened to atmosphere, the second liquid will be released as before, and if particularly intense mixing is required, the instruction manual should be placed on the container to proceed as described above. Can be attached to.
In addition, one component of the mixture, such as iced tea concentrate, can be excluded from the juice drink, for example, by a device that removes mechanical obstructions from the capillaries by removing the tabs from the bottle cap before opening the bottle.
If it is effective to form bubbles in the first chamber when the second liquid is discharged into the first chamber, the second liquid shall have a foaming promoter. Can do. As another method, when there is a possibility that excessive bubbles are generated when the second liquid is injected into the first liquid, the second liquid should be configured to contain a foam reaction inhibitor. Can do. Suitable foam reaction inhibitors are lipids, fatty acids, for example oleic acid and fatty alcohols, for example octanol, suitable foam promoters are proteinaceous substances such as those obtained from ultrafine salt and powder and barley. And extracts from soapwood and hops.
Advantageously, the first chamber and / or the second chamber have an active surface that promotes nucleation. Generally, these active surfaces are surfaces of a polyolefin structure that is inserted into the chamber, but the entire interior of the chamber can be coated with polyolefin. In the case of the first chamber, the active surface is provided to promote foaming in the contained beverage. In the case of the second chamber, the active surface maximizes the decarboxylation of the second liquid and provides additional driving force for the discharge of the second liquid.
Also, a tamper proof cap allows the pressure to be relieved by partially opening the bottle, and then the cap is removed by another action, which tends to cause excessive foaming in the beverage You can overcome the problem.
The first fluid substance and the second fluid substance are effectively separated and accommodated in the pressurized container, and when the pressurized container is opened, the second fluid substance is contained in the first fluid substance. Although a device for transporting into a device has been provided, such a device also provides an aliquot of the first flowable material contained in the gas or separately as a major portion of the first flowable material. It has been found that it can be used for infusion.
Therefore, according to the fourth configuration of the present invention,
A first chamber containing a major portion of the first flowable material and having a first headspace formed by a gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
A second chamber containing a smaller portion of a second flowable material (in liquid or gas form) and containing a gas at a pressure above atmospheric pressure;
Means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers;
Means for opening the first chamber to the atmosphere;
Means for injecting a smaller portion of the second flowable material into the main portion of the first flowable material when the first chamber is opened to the atmosphere. A container is provided for separately containing a portion and a smaller portion of a second flowable material (in liquid or gas form).
Unless the gas is injected into the first flowable substance (if the substance is a liquid), the conduit means for introducing the gas must extend below the surface of the first flowable substance, Other configurations according to the invention described above with respect to the introduction of the second flowable substance (primarily liquid) into the first flowable substance (primarily liquid) are equally applicable to this embodiment according to the invention. Such conduit means preferably extend almost to the bottom of the container (mainly a bottle). Other adaptations are described in connection with FIGS. 15a-c, FIGS. 16a-c, and FIGS. 17a-c.
Further, some of the devices described above may transfer the second liquid into the first liquid, transfer a smaller portion of the first liquid into the main portion of the first liquid, or It is suitable for the transfer of gas into the first liquid in an apparatus that does not have a means for balancing the pressure between the one and the second chamber. That is, a pre-pressurized second chamber can be inserted into a bottle or other shape suitable for use in the present invention, and its contents can be transferred through the apparatus described above, such as The apparatus also forms part of the present invention.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the upper part of a (bottle-shaped) container according to the invention.
FIGS. 2a-c show the release of the insert shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a bottle according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a bottle according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a bottle according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the upper portion of a bottle according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 7a to 7c are views showing a method for discharging the insert shown in FIG.
FIGS. 8a-c illustrate a method for releasing an insert according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 9a-c illustrate a method for releasing an insert according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 10a-c illustrate a method for releasing an insert according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a bottle according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the lower portion of a bottle according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 13a to 13c are views showing a method for discharging the insert shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG.
FIGS. 14a to 14d are diagrams showing a method of pressurizing and discharging the modified insert shown in FIG.
FIGS. 15a-c are views similar to FIGS. 8a-c, but showing an embodiment of the invention in which gas is injected into the liquid contained in the bottle.
FIGS. 16a-c show another embodiment of the present invention in which gas is injected into the liquid contained in the bottle.
FIGS. 17a-c are diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 9a-c, in which gas can be injected into the liquid contained in the bottle.
FIGS. 18a-c are views showing the operation of still another embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 shows a bottle 10 constituting a first chamber, and a screw thread for accommodating a screw lid (not shown) formed on a flange 13 so as to seal an opening 12 with respect to the bottle. 11. The bottle is filled with a first flowable material (in the form of liquid 15) close to the underside of the flange, but contains a gas at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure when the bottle is sealed. The headspace 14 is left on the first liquid 15. In general, the first liquid is a carbonated beverage, and the headspace 14 is pressurized to release gas from the first liquid 15 when the bottle is sealed, but the first liquid is a “distilled” beverage. In general, it is a common method to pressurize the bottle with nitrogen or the like.
In an embodiment of the invention, the insert 16 floats in the first liquid 15. In general, the insert 16 constituting the second chamber has a thermoplastic wall 19 surrounding a space consisting of a second flowable substance (in the form of a liquid 17) and a second headspace 18. The insert 16 in the present case has conduit means in the form of a gooseneck capillary 20 extending from the first headspace 14 through the wall 19 to the inside of the wall. The gooseneck capillary has a first vertical portion 23, a horizontal portion 22 extending through the wall 19 of the insert 16, and a second vertical portion 21.
Furthermore, the gooseneck 20 has a small orifice 24 and the ratio of the diameter of the gooseneck capillary 20 to the diameter of the orifice 24 is about 15: 1. In this embodiment, the orifice 24 is in the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20, and this portion of the gooseneck capillary 20 also has an orifice 26 that opens into the second liquid 17.
The method of discharging the insert 16 shown in FIG. 1 is illustrated in FIGS. 2a-c. In FIG. 2a, the bottle is shown covered with a cap 27, so that the bottle 10 is pressurized. The pressure inside the bottle 10 may be 5 atmospheres or more in normal use due to the beverage contained therein. In the sealed bottle 10, as shown in FIG. 2 a, the pressure in the headspace 14 of the bottle 10 passes through the inlet 25 to the gooseneck capillary 20, the gooseneck capillary 20, and a small orifice formed in the gooseneck capillary 20. Thus, the second head space 18 of the insert 16 is in a distribution relationship. This small orifice does not immediately balance any pressure difference between the first and second headspaces, but is small enough to slowly balance over time. However, if a small variation in the pressure in the first headspace 14 occurs, possibly as a result of a small temperature change when the freezer or refrigerator is closed or opened, such a change will be the second liquid 17. It is quickly balanced without releasing
As shown in FIG. 2b, when the cap 27 is removed, the pressure in the first headspace 14 immediately drops to atmospheric pressure. The small orifice 24 cannot immediately balance such a large pressure difference. Thus, the pressure difference with respect to the atmosphere generated by opening the bottle 10 causes the second liquid 17 to flow into the gooseneck capillary 20. The second liquid 17 immediately reaches a small orifice 24 to regulate further exchange of gas through this orifice. There remains no means for balancing the pressure difference between the first headspace 14 and the second headspace 18 other than the discharge of the second liquid 17. Thus, the release of the second liquid 12 continues until the pressure difference no longer exists.
As best shown in FIG. 2 c, the second liquid 17 flows immediately from the gooseneck capillary 29 through the outlet 25 and appears to be a liquid jet due to the substantial propulsive force generated by the large pressure difference that occurs. Flowing into. In this way, the second liquid 17 strikes all over the first liquid 15 and is relatively miscible with it and rapidly mixed. On the other hand, if the second liquid is not significantly miscible (perhaps because it has minimal solubility in the first liquid or is substantially more viscous than the first liquid), A visual effect can be created when the second liquid is colored, and a change in flavor can be created when the second liquid is a flavor. Primarily (can create a twist of colored flavors such as juices or tonic drinks). Alternatively, a beverage that was previously transparent can be colored when a miscible colorant is added, or the color of the beverage can be changed when a color-changing additive is injected as described above. Can be changed and colored.
A modification of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. In view of the similarities between the two embodiments, like reference numerals are used for like features. In fact, the two embodiments are that the second vertical portion 21 of the gooseneck capillary terminates under the surface of the first liquid 15, and the second vertical portion 21 defines the second orifice 24b. The only difference is that it has. The second orifice 24 b communicates with the first head space 14, so that pressure equalization between the two head spaces 14 and 18 is possible. The method of discharging the insert 16 is as described above in connection with FIGS. 2a-c, except that the second liquid 17 is discharged directly into the first liquid 15 rather than into the first headspace 14. is there. 4, 5, 6, and 7 a-c show an embodiment of the invention similar to that described above in connection with FIGS. 1, 2 a-c, and 3. The insert is attached to the back of the bottle cap. Accordingly, like reference numerals are used for like features in these drawings.
In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the cap 27 has a screw engaging portion 29 and a sealing portion 28 on the back surface thereof. The insert 16 is secured to the back surface of the seal 28 in any convenient manner, for example, using adhesive or thermally bonded, or screwed, or by the forming feature of the cap. In this case, the gooseneck capillary 20 has a first vertical portion 23 including an orifice 24 extending from a reservoir of the second liquid 17 into the second headspace 18 as shown in FIG. ing. However, the horizontal portion 22 of the gooseneck capillary 20 does not penetrate the wall 19 of the insert 16; rather, the second vertical portion 21 of the gooseneck capillary 20 starts inside the second headspace 18 and is second. The second liquid 17 is penetrated without communicating with the second liquid 17, and then extends through the wall 19 to the first head space 14. A flap 30 of suitable material prevents the flow of the first liquid 15 into the gooseneck capillary but allows the flow of the second liquid 17 through the outlet 25. It arrange | positions toward an edge part, Thus, the flap 30 acts as a backflow prevention means. Further, it is desirable that the horizontal surface of the second liquid 17 does not cover the orifice 24 when the bottle is laid on either side. The broken line A shows the horizontal surface of the second liquid 17 when the bottle 10 is laid on the left side as shown in FIG. 4, and the broken line B laid the bottle 10 on the right side as shown in FIG. The horizontal plane of the second liquid 17 in the case is shown. It will be apparent that the cross-hatched area under each of these lines represents the inner area of the insert 16 that should be covered, and the orifice 24 is not covered when the bottle is laid on either side. This is because the insert 16 of this embodiment is filled with only about 40% of the volume, and the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20 is located slightly to the left of the center line C, but the orifice. Orifice 24 is not covered because 24 is on the right (effectively in the center). This is advantageous because a small pressure difference between the first headspace 14 and the second headspace 18 can be balanced regardless of the bottle orientation.
The first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20 of the present embodiment has a fold line (not shown) on either side of the orifice 24. Further, the horizontal portion 22 of the gooseneck capillary 20 is in contact with the back surface of the cap 27. Thus, the pressure applied in the direction of the arrow C to the point just above the horizontal portion 22 of the gooseneck capillary tube is transmitted to the first vertical portion 23 and acts on the broken line on either side of the orifice 24, and the capillary tube , Thereby closing or limiting the orifice 24. Note that if the orifice 24 is completely closed before opening the bottle, the first headspace before the second liquid 17 rushes into the first liquid 15 via the gooseneck capillary 20. There is no opportunity to balance the pressure of 14 and the pressure of the second headspace 18. On the other hand, if the orifice is simply restricted, there is less opportunity for any substantial pressure equalization and the second liquid 17 has rushed into the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20. Sometimes gas exchange through the orifice 24 is more easily prevented.
5 and 6 each show an insert 16 similar to that shown in the previous drawing, but the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20 is in close proximity to the wall 19 of the insert 16 instead of the center. Has been placed. As a result, the length of the horizontal portion 22 of the gooseneck capillary 20 is reduced. In FIG. 5, the second vertical portion 21 of the gooseneck capillary 20 terminates in the first head space 14, but in FIG. 6, the second vertical portion 21 is below the surface of the first liquid 15. It is the end. Accordingly, the gooseneck capillary 20 of FIG. 6 has a second orifice 24b, the first orifice being designated 24a. The function of the second orifice 24b is as described in connection with FIG.
The release of the insert 16 of FIG. 6 is illustrated in FIGS. 7a-c and occurs in a manner substantially similar to the release of the insert illustrated in FIG. 3 and described with respect to FIGS. 2a-c. The main difference in the release method is that the cap 27, shown sealed in FIG. 7a, is loosened in FIG. 7b, but not completely removed at this stage. In general, the tamper evident cap is removed in two stages, in the first stage the seal is broken to release the bottle pressure and in the second stage the cap is removed by turning the lid. As can be seen in FIG. 7 c, the first stage pressure release is sufficient to initiate the release of the second liquid 17 into the first liquid 15. Release is fast enough to complete before the cap is completely unscrewed. The insert shown in FIG. 5 discharges in a similar manner, but injects a second liquid 17 into the first headspace 14.
The embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8a-c is similar to that shown in FIGS. 2a-c as before. The insert 16 of this embodiment has a gooseneck capillary 20 that does not have a small orifice 24 formed therein, and a portion of the top surface 31 of the insert 16 is a gas permeable plastic material such as nylon, polyethylene or PET. The second liquid is gradually saturated with the gas penetrating from the first head space 14 to the upper surface. In this case, since the gas diffuses through the gas permeable plastic until the second liquid is saturated, the gas dissolves in the second liquid. When the cap 27 is removed, the second liquid tends to liberate the gas dissolved therein, but does not rapidly pass through the gas permeable membrane, so the second liquid does not gooseneck capillary 20. In contrast, the gooseneck capillary 20 is rushed as the driving force. In other example inserts, including inserts (such as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) where the insert is attached to a bottle cap, a gas permeable plastic patch can be used.
The embodiment according to the present invention shown in FIGS. 9 a-c consists of a bottle 40 constituting a first chamber on the inside and is covered with a cap 41 having a screw engaging part 42 and a sealing part 43. The sealing part 43 is formed of an elastic material such as a thermoplastic substance. The screw engaging portion 42 of the cap engages with the thread of the bottle 40. The bottle 40 has a flange 44 on which the cap 41 is located when in the fully sealed position.
The sealing part 43 of the cap 41 has an insert 45 that is attached to the back surface thereof and constitutes a second chamber of the container. Further, a part of the sealing portion 43 of the cap 41 constitutes the upper wall 46 of the insert 45. The side wall 47 of the insert 45 is formed there (valves or gas permeable patches can be used to prevent the second liquid 53 from flowing out of the insert 45 when the bottle 40 is laid on one side. (If any) it has a small orifice 48 and the bottom wall 49 is generally conical. The top wall 46 has a barrel 50 formed thereon and a valve stem 51 that is fixed to the inside of the barrel but abutted inside the barrel 50 at a location spaced from the base of the barrel. . The valve stem 51 is secured to the orifice 52 in the bottom wall 49 of the insert 45 to seal the orifice.
When the cap 41 is mounted on the bottle 40 with screws, the sealing portion 43 of the cap 41 is deformed, and thus the upper wall 46 of the insert 45 is also deformed. The deformation of the upper wall 46 tends to push the valve stem 51 downward, but because the valve stem 51 is secured to the orifice 52, the resulting movement causes the valve stem to be secured inside the barrel 50. The end of 51 moves to a position where it abuts the base of the barrel 50. As can be seen in FIG. 9c, the valve stem 51 is fixed in this position and is held in this position when the cap is removed again with screws. However, since the upper wall 46 is deformed once more and the valve stem is firmly held by the base portion of the barrel 50, the valve stem 51 moves together with the upper wall at this time. Thereby, the orifice 52 is opened and the second liquid 53 is injected into the first liquid 54. As in the previous embodiment according to the invention, in this embodiment according to the invention, the pressure is balanced between the first headspace 55 and the second headspace 56 by gas exchange through the orifice 48. . The orifice 48 is never regulated in this embodiment of the invention, but the orifice is either small enough or in the form of a pressure sensitive orifice or valve that cannot quickly balance large pressure differences.
In FIGS. 10a-c, inserts similar to those shown in FIGS. 9a-c are shown, and like reference numerals are used for like features. However, in this embodiment, when the valve stem 51 is moved in the direction of contact with the bottom wall 49 by attaching the cap 41 to the bottle 40 with a screw (as shown in FIG. 10b), the orifice 52 is later used. The valve stem 51 has a tip that can open a hole in the bottom wall 49 at a point 52. The valve stem 51 is firmly fixed inside the barrel 50 against its base in FIG. 10a and remains in this position during the illustrated sealing and opening operation. This is because the second liquid 53 is released by withdrawing the valve stem 51 from the newly formed orifice 52 (see FIG. 10b). This release is illustrated in FIG. 10 c where the second liquid is discharged through orifice 52.
FIG. 11 shows an embodiment according to the present invention in which the bottom surface of the first chamber, which is a bottle 60 in this embodiment, has an insert 61 constituting the second chamber. The insert 61 has a wall 62 that allows the second liquid 63 to be contained inside the base portion 64. In addition, the insert 61 has a conduit means which is a capillary 65 extending upward from the base portion in this embodiment. The capillary 65 is straight and communicates with the second liquid 63 via the orifice 66. The capillary 65 has an orifice 67 in communication with the first liquid at the upper end, but also has a backflow preventing means which is a flap of the material 68 in this embodiment. The backflow preventing means acts to prevent the first liquid from flowing into the capillary at the end of the capillary. Although the pressure in the second headspace 69 and the first headspace (not shown) on the first liquid 64 is substantially the same, there is no means to allow these pressures to be balanced.
The placement of the insert 61 in the bottle 60 allows the insert to suck up the second liquid 63 via capillary action, which is applied at a pressure that would be expected with a substantially sealed bottle. It is performed at a pressurized pressure. While the insert 61 is pressurized and inserted into the bottle 60, the second liquid 63 is frozen. Next, the bottle 60 is filled and sealed. During the pasteurization process, the bottle 60 is heated and the frozen second liquid stopper melts. The pressure inside the insert 61 is chosen to be substantially the same as the pressure inside the bottle 60 so that the second liquid is in the first liquid 64 even after the stopper has dissolved. There is no substantial driving force injected. Instead, an airlock is created in the capillary 65, thereby preventing mixing with the first and second liquids. The flap of material 68 functions as a backup device and prevents the first liquid 64 from flowing into the insert 61 if temperature fluctuations cause a relatively large increase in the pressure of the first headspace. .
The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIG. 12 is similar to that shown in FIG. 11 except that the flap of material 68 has been removed.
As illustrated in FIGS. 13a-c, the release of the contents of bottle 60 occurs when the cap (not shown) is removed. The pressure in the bottle headspace is quickly reduced to the atmosphere so that the air lock of the capillary 65 no longer acts as a resistance to the second liquid 63 and the second liquid is drawn from the base of the bottle 60 to the first liquid. 64 is injected.
The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 14 a-d is the same as that shown in FIG. 4 except that it has a cap 80 which is attached to the bottom wall of the insert 16. The cap 80 has a small orifice 81 on one side above approximately half of the cap. The cap has an open top and has a substantially cylindrical cross section. Thus, the lower end of the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20 can be accommodated (the first vertical portion 23 relative to the container cap 80, the bottom wall of the insert 16 and the small orifice 81 shown in FIG. 14a. See FIG. 14d showing an exploded view of the physical location and sequence of
As can be seen in FIG. 14 b, the orifice 26 for the first vertical portion 23 is positioned substantially against the bottom of the cap 80, indicating that the orifice 26 does not tightly seal against the bottom wall of the insert 16. In contrast to FIG. Accordingly, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a small amount of the second liquid 17 can enter the gooseneck capillary 20. In the event of temperature fluctuations, the liquid can move along the gooseneck capillary 20 and some leakage of the liquid can occur.
In FIG. 14a, when the cap 27 is attached to the bottle with a screw, the sealing portion 28 on the back surface of the cap acts on the horizontal portion 22 of the gooseneck capillary 20 and presses the horizontal portion downward. The orifice 26 of the first vertical portion 23 enters the cap 80 but is not parallel to the small orifice 81 at this point. Therefore, the small orifice 81 remains open and flows between the inside of the second chamber and the inside of the first vertical portion 23 via the orifice 26 with respect to the small orifice 81 and the first vertical portion 23.
Next, in FIG. 14 b, the cap 27 is tightly sealed to the bottle, and the first vertical portion 23 is far enough in the cap 80 so that the side wall of the first vertical portion is firmly positioned against the small orifice 81. It is pressed against. Thus, the small orifice 81 is closed and in any event, the orifice 26 for the first vertical portion 23 is pressed firmly against the lower portion of the cap 80.
As can be seen in FIG. 14c, when the bottle is opened, the downward pressure on the first vertical portion 23 (see FIG. 14d) of the gooseneck capillary 20 is released, and the first vertical portion moves upward again, resulting in a small orifice. 81, allowing the second liquid to flow into the cap 80 through the small orifice 81 and then into the first vertical portion 23 of the gooseneck capillary 20 through the orifice 26. Since decompression occurs simultaneously in the first chamber 14, the second liquid 17 is discharged.
The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 15a-c is identical to that shown in FIGS. 8a-c except that the insert 16 is free of liquid. Thus, when discharge occurs, gas from the insert 16 passes through the gooseneck capillary 20 to a point near the bottom of the bottle 10 and forms a bubble 83 from the gooseneck capillary to the outlet. The small bubbles that form act as nucleation sites for the formation of the next bubble and produce a substantial water head of bubbles in the bottle within a few seconds of opening the bottle.
It should be noted that a portion of the upper surface 31 formed of a gas permeable material can be replaced with a small orifice as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2a-c.
The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 16a-c is conceptually similar to that shown in FIGS. 14a-c, but is similar to the embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 9a-c. The same reference numerals are used for the embodiments disclosed herein. In this case, the cap 84 is replaced with the barrel 50 and the capillary 86 is replaced with the valve stem 51. Capillaries 86 are not housed in cap 84 such that valve stem 51 is in barrel 50 in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9a-c. Instead, the cap 84 has a small orifice 85, and when the cap 84 is pressed downward by the sealing portion 46 of the cap 41 when the cap is attached by a screw, the orifice 85 is closed by the side of the capillary 86. The This is evident in FIG. 16b. Once the cap is reopened, the capillary tube 86 can once again slide out of the cap 84, thereby opening a small orifice 85 and bringing the inside of the insert 45 into a flow relationship with the inside of the bottle 40. Accordingly, the gas is released from the insert 45 through the capillary 86. As before, gas release occurs at a point near the bottom of the bottle 40 and bubbles 83 are generated in the beverage contained in the bottle 40.
Figures 17a-c are similar to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 9a-c and use the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the valve stem 51 has one end 52 attached to the inside of the capillary 87, and the other end can be accommodated in the barrel 50. The capillary 87 extends from the insert 45 to almost the bottom of the bottle 40 and begins at the apex of the back surface 49 of the insert 45. Therefore, before the valve stem 51 is accommodated in the barrel 50, the end 52 of the valve stem 51 is present inside the capillary tube 87 as shown in FIG. When the bottle cap 41 is screwed on, the valve stem 51 is received by the barrel 50, but the end 52 of the valve stem 51 remains located inside the capillary 87. However, when the cap is detached by the screw, the accommodated valve stem 51 slides from the capillary tube 87, and the gas contained in the insert 45 rushes into the beverage below the capillary tube 87. As before, bubbles 83 are produced in the beverage, resulting in the formation of a foam head.
The embodiment according to the invention shown in FIGS. 18a-c is conceptually similar to that shown in FIGS. 4 and 14a-d, and in the disclosure of another embodiment, Reference numerals similar to those used in the disclosure are used in the following description. As shown in FIGS. 18a-c, in this alternative embodiment according to the present invention, the gooseneck capillary structure forming a conduit between the two chambers in FIGS. 4 and 14a-d is concentrically arranged. Replaced with capillaries formed from the structure. The concentrically arranged structure may take some desirable shape when viewed in cross-section and often has a generally arcuate cross-sectional shape conveniently.
The capillary means employed in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 18a-c has a stand pipe 91 connected to the insert 16 at the upper end (in the illustrated embodiment, the upper portion of the insert 16 is the bottle cap 27 And an outlet 93 that is immersed in the second fluid substance 17 at the other end of the stand pipe 91. Arranged concentrically inside the stand pipe 91 is another stand pipe 96 that circulates between the head space 18 of the second chamber and the first head pace 14 via the bottom wall of the insert 16. is doing. The second standpipe has an opening 96 at the lower end and is disposed in the head space 14 of the first chamber as shown in FIGS. 18a-c, and the opening 97 at the other end is the second. The head space 18 of this chamber is disposed in the vicinity of the stand pipe 91. Located on one wall of the standpipe 95 above the liquid 17 is an insert 16 and below the opening 97 is a small function that functions in a manner similar to that of the orifice 24 described in FIG. There is an orifice or slit 24. In particular, as shown in FIG. 18a, the insert 16 is joined to the protrusion 92 at the lower surface. As shown in FIGS. 18a and b, the protrusion 92 is arranged to engage the upper end of the stand pipe 95 and seal the stand pipe in use of the illustrated apparatus. At the bottom of the insert 16 is a concentrically arranged collar 94 that is connected to the bottom wall of the insert and is shaped to accommodate the outlet 93 of the standpipe 91 in the manner described below in the use of the device.
When the bottle is opened by detaching the cap 27 with a screw, the outlet 93 moves away from the collar 94, whereby the second fluid substance 17 is brought into capillary action by the inner wall of the stand pipe 91 and the stand pipe 95. It moves upwards in the space 100 between the outer walls. With sufficient movement of the cap, the protrusion 92 moves upward, releasing the sealing of the opening 97 of the standpipe 95 that has been sealed in advance, so that the second fluid substance is moved inside the space 100. It is possible to move upward beyond the height of the opening 97 of the stand pipe 95. As a result, the second fluid substance can flow out from the opening 96 of the stand pipe into the head space 14 of the bottle. In a suitable application of the present invention, the second material is then transferred into the first flowable material 15. In yet another application of the invention, the second flowable material can be configured to simply transfer into the first headspace of the container, or contacted with the first flowable material, or It can be set as the structure which is not contacted.
Variations and modifications of the invention that are apparent to those skilled in the art are also included within the scope of the invention.
Also, in any case used herein, the form “consisting of” is equivalent in meaning to the form “having” the term and excludes the presence of other elements or requirements. It should not be interpreted as a thing.

Claims (31)

(I) a first chamber containing a first flowable substance and having a first headspace containing a gas at a pressure equal to or higher than atmospheric pressure;
(Ii) a second chamber having a second head space containing a second flowable material containing gas, to accommodate the above atmospheric gas pressure,
(Iii) means for reducing the pressure in the first chamber to open the first chamber to an external environment of the chamber ;
(Iv) means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers;
(V) when the pressure in the first chamber is reduced, the second fluid substance is mixed with the first fluid substance in order to mix the second fluid substance and the first fluid substance . A means for transporting to the chamber ,
A container for separating and containing the first flowable material and the second flowable material until mixing of the first and second flowable materials is desired ,
The means for transferring the second flowable material to the first chamber is a conduit that communicates at one end with the second chamber in the second flowable material under the second headspace. Including means,
The conduit means from the second chamber to the second chamber for mixing the second fluid material and the first fluid material when the pressure in the first chamber is reduced. A container configured to transfer the fluid material of the first material upward and further into the first chamber downward . 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein the means for opening the first chamber to the outside environment of the chamber includes means for opening the first chamber to the atmosphere. It means for transferring the gas between said first and second chambers, according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a means for performing the pressure equilibrium between the first head space and the second headspace Container as described in. Before transferring the second flowable material to the first chamber for mixing the second flowable material with the first flowable material, between the first and second headspaces. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pressure difference is from about 0.1 to about 10 atmospheres. The container according to claim 4 , wherein the pressures of the first and second head spaces are substantially equal. 2. The container according to claim 1 , wherein a pressure of each of the first and second head spaces is greater than atmospheric pressure and between 0.1 atmosphere and 10 atmospheres. The means for transferring the second fluid substance to the first fluid substance has a structure that communicates between the second and first chambers and through which the second fluid substance can move. The container according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein It said conduit means, the container according to any one of claims 1, characterized in that it comprises a tube 6. The first and second flowable materials are each
(I) a true liquid,
(Ii) solution,
(Iii) suspension,
(Iv) milky liquid,
(V) gas,
(Vi) powder,
Or a container according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of two or more combinations of (i) to (vi). 10. A container according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second flowable materials are materials having the same physical characteristics. 10. A container according to claim 9 , wherein the first and second flowable materials are materials having different physical properties. (A) the first fluid substance is a true liquid additionally containing a gas;
(B) The second fluid substance is:
(I) a true liquid,
(Ii) solution,
(Iii) suspension,
(Iv) milky liquid,
(V) gas,
The container according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein the container is selected from the group consisting of two or more combinations of (i) to (vi). The second fluid substance is
(I) change color, or (ii) color the first flowable material when the second flowable material is transported and mixed with the first flowable material. 13. A container according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or more substances. The second fluid substance is
(I) changing the flavor, or (ii) providing a flavor to the first flowable material when the second flowable material is transferred and mixed with the first flowable material. The container according to claim 1, wherein: (A) the first fluid material or (b) the second of said first fluid material in combination with a flowable material, is one of claims 1, characterized in that the beverage 14 The container according to crab. The container is
The container according to any one of claims 1 to 15 , wherein the container comprises (a) a bottle or (b) a can. The container is a bottle, and the means for opening the first chamber to the outside environment of the chamber is openable or detachable joined to the bottle that exposes the first chamber to the atmosphere when opened or removed. The container according to claim 1, comprising a possible structure. 18. A container according to claim 17 , wherein the openable or removable structure comprises a cap. 19. A container according to claim 18 , wherein the cap is opened or removed by detaching from the bottle with a screw. The means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers comprises a flow passage between the first and second chambers, and the means for opening the first chamber to the external environment of the chambers is activated. 18. A container according to claim 17 , wherein a gas flow occurs through the passage when done. The container according to claim 18 , wherein the second chamber has a structure forming a part of the cap. The means for transferring the second flowable material to the first flowable material has a structure that circulates between the second and first chambers, and opens the first chamber to the external environment of the chamber. A container according to any of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that it causes a gas flow through the structure when the means for actuating is activated. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the second flowable material moves through the second headspace before entering the first chamber. The means for transferring gas between the first and second chambers comprises a longitudinal portion of the conduit means and an orifice for communicating the conduit means with the second chamber;
2. The second flowable material transferred along the conduit means seals the conduit means against the transfer of gas from the first to the second chamber. Container. The conduit means communicates at one other end into the first flowable material under the first headspace, and the means for transporting the gas is configured to place the conduit means into the first chamber. 25. A container according to claim 24, comprising a further orifice in communication. 26. A container according to claim 25, wherein the conduit means comprises a gooseneck capillary. 25. A container according to claim 24, wherein the conduit means comprises a gooseneck capillary. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the conduit means comprises a gooseneck capillary. 2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the means for transferring gas comprises a gas permeable wall portion between the first and second headspaces. Valve means for adjusting the transport of the second flowable material along the conduit means;
The second chamber is provided adjacent to a closure that can be opened to the first chamber,
2. The first chamber according to claim 1, further comprising means for opening the first chamber, which is provided so that the valve means is closed when the closing portion is closed, to an external environment of the chamber. Container as described. 31. The conduit means is provided to close the valve means by being engaged with the closure, and the conduit means opens the valve means when the closure is opened. Container as described in.

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