JPH0729659B2 - Fluid connector - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is used for connecting a container containing raw materials to a dispensing head or the like in an automatic vending machine or dispenser for beverages such as fruit juice and coffee. A preferred fluid connector.

[Conventional technology]

In conventional vending machines or dispensers, juice, coffee, etc. are stored in a tank open to the atmosphere and dispensed from the tank. This method is not suitable for hygiene and is not suitable for long-term sales because the contents come into contact with air. As an alternative method, there is known a method in which a beverage is stored in a cylinder-shaped container and then sent from this container to a dispensing head. However, in this case, the cylinder-shaped container is expensive, and since this container cannot be disposable, it needs to be recovered and the running cost becomes high.

As an alternative method to these methods, the present applicant fills a flexible container made of a flexible sheet or film with a beverage, puts the container in a box such as a dumbhole, and transports the bag-in-box (BIB). ) Is developing a method.
In this system, it is possible to use an inexpensive disposable container, and to connect this container to a dispensing head in a vending machine or a dispenser and suck it out with a pump so that it can be supplied without touching air, which is hygienic, etc. The advantages of

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned BIB method, since the container is made disposable, it is necessary to use an expensive connecting device with a valve for opening and closing the mouth of the container or connecting to the vending machine or the pipe on the dispenser side. I can't. Therefore, there has been a demand for the development of a fluid connector that is easy to connect and inexpensive.

The present invention has been made based on such a demand, and a female connector that is attached to the container side and has a structure that can reliably seal the container during the transportation of the container and has a simple and inexpensive structure, It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid connector including a male connector that can be connected.

[Means for solving problems]

The fluid connector of the present invention made to achieve the above object,
The female connector comprises a female connector attached to the container and a male connector detachable from the female connector, the female connector having a cylindrical inner surface, an annular first contact surface formed on the bottom thereof, and the first contact. A pierceable membrane having a closed area enclosed by a surface, wherein the male connector is a hollow cylindrical body having a cylindrical outer surface that fits into the cylindrical inner surface of the female connector and a valve seat inside the vicinity of the tip. A main body, a shaft that is movably held in the main body in the axial direction, and has a valve body that is seated on the valve seat; and a spring that biases the valve body in a direction to press the valve seat against the valve seat. And the shaft is located at a position projecting from the tip of the main body, and a tip of a pierced thin film of the female connector,
A second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface of the female connector, and the female connector and the male connector further include:
It is characterized in that it has a sealing means for preventing liquid leakage between the cylindrical inner surface and the main body and a fixing means for setting both of them at a predetermined position.

[Action]

In the fluid connector having the above structure, the female connector attached to the container completely seals the mouth of the container, so that the container is reliably sealed. To carry and open the container at a vending machine or dispenser, insert the male connector into the female connector. At the beginning of this inserting operation, the tip of the shaft tip of the male connector breaks through the thin film of the female connector and opens the container. At this time, since the return body of the male connector remains seated on the valve seat by the spring, the inside of the container does not yet communicate with the inside of the hollow body of the male connector. After that, when the male connector is pushed further into the female connector, the second contact surface near the tip of the shaft abuts the first contact surface of the female connector, and further progress is stopped.
Only the main body advances, whereby the valve seat separates from the valve body, and the inside of the container communicates with the passage in the main body of the male connector. The beverage in the container is sucked out through the passage in the body of the male connector by a vending machine or a pump provided on the dispenser side. After using the contents, when the male connector is pulled out from the female connector, the valve body automatically seats on the valve seat at the tip of the body and closes. As a result, the beverage in the passage in the main body does not flow out, and the outside air does not enter the main body and become contaminated.

〔Example〕

Examples of the present invention will be described below. FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing a BIB type dispenser system using the fluid connector of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is a bag-in-box, which is composed of an outer box such as cardboard and a flexible container inside thereof. This container is filled with a predetermined beverage at a filling factory, and the mouth thereof is sealed with a female connector described later and then sent. Aseptic filling is preferred for filling the beverage. 2 is a dispenser, pump 3, mixing tank 4,
Beverage from BIB1 has a mixing tank 4 that has a discharge nozzle 5 etc.
Is mixed with water or other liquid and dispensed from the discharge nozzle 5. Depending on the beverage, the dispenser 2 is not provided with a mixing tank and the beverage from the BIB1 is pumped by the pump 3
In some cases, it is sucked out with and then dispensed as it is or with heating or cooling. Reference numeral 6 is a pipe for sending the beverage of BIB1 to the dispenser 2, and the fluid connector 10 which is the object of the present invention is used at the tip of the pipe and the mouth of BIB1.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a fluid connector 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a view of a male connector 12 as seen from below.
The fluid connector 10 is roughly divided into a female connector 11 and a male connector 12. The female connector 11 is attached to the flexible container 13 housed in the BIB and fitted to the spout 14 that forms the mouth of the container. It also functions as a cap that seals the spout 14, which is a cylinder. Inner surface 15
And a first contact surface 16 formed on the bottom thereof, and a pierceable thin film 17 that closes the area surrounded by the first contact surface 16. An annular groove 18 is formed in the cylindrical inner surface 15. The female connector 11 can be manufactured at low cost by resin injection molding or the like. The thin film 17 may be integrally formed at the same time as the other portion, or may be formed by joining the film with a sheet seal or the like after forming the other portion. The female connector 11 is fitted into the spout 14 after filling the container 13 with the beverage, and seals the container.

The male connector 12 is attached to the tip of the pipe 6 of the dispenser 2, and has a hollow main body 20 having a cylindrical outer surface 20A fitted to the inner cylindrical surface 15 of the female connector 11 and a valve seat 20B inside the vicinity of the front end. A shaft 22 that is movably held in the body in the axial direction and that has a valve body 21 that is seated on the valve seat 20B;
It has a spring 23 and the like for urging the valve body 21 in the direction of pressing it against the valve seat 20B. The shaft 22 is guided by a guide 24 that moves in the main body 20 together with the shaft 22 and a hole 25A of a cap 25 attached to the rear end of the main body 20 and moves in the axial direction. The guide 24 is provided with a groove on its outer periphery that allows passage of liquid. The tip of the shaft 22 has a tip 26 for piercing the thin film 17 of the female connector 11 at a position protruding from the tip of the main body 20.
And a second contact surface that contacts the first contact surface 16 of the female connector
Have 27. Further, a groove 28 extending in the lateral direction is formed at the tip 26 and the second contact surface 27.

The main body 20 has an annular groove near the tip of its cylindrical outer surface 20A, has a sealing material 29 such as an O-ring therein, and further has an annular protrusion 20C at a substantially intermediate position. This sealing material 29
Is a sealing means for preventing liquid leakage from a gap between the cylindrical inner surface 15 and the main body 20 when the main body 20 is fitted to the cylindrical inner surface 15 of the female connector 11. The sealing material 29 may be provided on the cylindrical inner surface side of the female connector 11 instead of being provided on the main body side. Also, the protrusion 20C on the outer surface of the main body 20
Engages with the groove 18 formed in the cylindrical inner surface 15 of the female connector 11 and constitutes a fixing means for fixing the main body 20 at a predetermined position with respect to the female connector 11. The fixing means is not limited to the annular groove 18 and the annular protrusion 20C, and can be variously modified. For example, as shown in FIG. L-shaped groove 18
A pin 20D that forms A and can move in the groove 18A may be provided on the outer surface of the main body 20 of the male connector 12, and the groove 18A and the pin 20D may be used as a fixing means.

A connecting portion 20E is formed on the body of the body 20 of the male connector 12, and the pipe 6 of the dispenser 2 is connected to the connecting portion 20E. The main body 20, the shaft 22, the guide 24, the cap 25, and the like that form the male connector 12 may be made of metal, but it is preferable to use a resin molded product because it is inexpensive. The valve body 21 is preferably made of an elastic material such as rubber so that it can be seated on the valve seat 20B and reliably stop the flow of liquid.

Next, a method of using the fluid connector 10 will be described. In a beverage filling factory, the flexible container 13 of the BIB 1 is filled with a predetermined beverage from the spout 14 and then the female connector 11 is fitted into the spout 14 and sealed. When such a female connector 11 is used, the female connector 11 is simply attached to the spout 14 of the container 13.
Since the mouth of the container can be surely sealed by simply fitting, the container can be easily sealed, and the aseptic filling method can be adopted for filling the container. The BIB 1 fitted with the female connector 11 and sealed is transported in this state. on the other hand,
A male connector 12 is attached to the tip of the pipe 6 of the dispenser 2 in each place.

When the BIB1 is transferred to the dispenser 2, the outer surface of the female connector 11 and the outer surface of the tip of the male connector 12 are wiped cleanly, and the male connector 12 is inserted into the female connector 11 as shown in FIG. Male connector 12 to female connector
When it is inserted into the connector 11, first, the tip 26 of the tip of the shaft 22 of the male connector 12 hits the thin film 17 of the female connector 11 and is further inserted, and as shown in FIG.
Until the tip contacts the first abutment surface 16, the tip 26 keeps the thin film 17 (first
(See the figure) and break the thin film 17. As a result, the sealing by the thin film 17 is released, and the inside of the spout 14 (container
13) and the space 30 in the female connector 11 communicate with each other. At this time, since the groove 28 formed in the tip 26 extends both in the spout 14 and in the space 30, communication between the two is further ensured.
At this time, since the sealing material 29 seals between the outer surface of the main body 20 of the male connector 12 and the cylindrical inner surface 15 of the female connector 11, the liquid in the space 30 does not leak to the outside. At this time, the valve body 21 in the male connector 12 is still in the valve seat 20B.
Since the seat 30 is seated in the space 30,
Is not in communication with.

Thereafter, the male connector 12 is further inserted into the female connector 11, and the annular projection 20C on the outer surface of the main body of the male connector 12 is engaged with the annular groove 18 of the female connector 11, as shown in FIG. In this state, the male connector 12 is at a predetermined position with respect to the female connector 11 and is set at this position. At this time, by inserting the main body 20, the valve seat 20B is separated from the valve body 21,
Therefore, the inside of the container 13 communicates with the passage 31 in the main body of the male connector 12. In this state, as described with reference to FIG. 5, the pump 3 sucks the beverage in the container and sends it to the dispenser 2. Since air does not enter the container while sucking the drink in the container 13, the drink in the container is not contaminated by the outside air, which is extremely hygienic.

After taking out the beverage in the container, when the male connector 12 is pulled out from the female connector 11, the male connector 12 returns to the state shown in FIG. 1 and the valve body 21 is automatically seated on the valve seat 20B. As a result, the passage 31 inside the main body 20 is automatically closed,
The liquid in the passage 31 does not leak to the outside, and air does not enter the passage 31 from the outside to contaminate this portion. In this state, prepare for the next BIB.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, the female connector 11 is formed as a separate part from the spout 14 forming the mouth of the container and is configured to be fitted into this spout. However, instead of this, the female connector 11 is integrated with the spout 14. It may be a structure. However,
In that case, in order to fill the container with the beverage, it is necessary to provide an opening at the thin film 17 and, after filling the beverage, bond the thin film to the opening and seal it.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the female connector having a simple structure is attached to the container side and the container is hermetically sealed. Therefore, the contents are not contaminated by various bacteria during the transportation or storage of the container, and the sanitary condition is maintained. Also, since the female connector can be manufactured inexpensively, it can be disposable together with the container. In addition, by simply inserting the male connector into the female connector, the thin film of the female connector is broken to release the seal, and the inside of the container is communicated with the male connector, and the pipe connected to it is communicated. Furthermore, when this male connector is pulled out from the female connector, the tip of the male connector is automatically closed and the inside beverage is prevented from leaking to the outside or the outside air entering and contaminating the inside. . Thus, the present invention provides a fluid connector which is easy to operate, hygienic and inexpensive.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a fluid connector according to an embodiment of the present invention in a state before coupling, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of a male connector of the fluid connector, and FIG. 3 is a fluid connector of FIG. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the tool in a connecting state, Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the fluid connecting tool of Fig. 1 in the connected state, and Fig. 5 is a schematic view showing a BIB system using the fluid connecting tool. FIG. 6 shows a modification of the fixing means used in the fluid connector of FIG. 1, and is an enlarged plan view of a part of the cylindrical inner surface 15. 1 ... Bag-in-box, 2 ... Dispenser 3 ... Pump, 6 ... Piping, 10 ... Fluid connector 11 ... Female connector, 12 ... Male connector 15 ... Cylindrical inner surface, 16 ... First Contact surface 17 ... Thin film, 20 ... Main body, 20A ... Cylindrical outer surface 20B ... Valve seat, 21 ... Valve body, 22 ... Shaft, 23 ... Spring 26 ... Tip, 27 ... Second Abutment surface, 28 ... groove

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Internal reference number FI technical display location F16L 37/28

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A fluid connector comprising a female connector attached to a container and a male connector detachable from the female connector, wherein the female connector has a cylindrical inner surface and an annular first member formed at the bottom thereof. A male connector having a contact surface and a pierceable thin film that closes an area surrounded by the first contact surface, wherein the male connector has a cylindrical outer surface and a tip end that are fitted to the cylindrical inner surface of the female connector. A hollow main body having a valve seat inside the vicinity thereof, a shaft having a valve body axially movable inside the main body and seated on the valve seat, and pressing the valve body against the valve seat A spring for biasing in a direction, the shaft is in a position protruding from the tip of the main body, a tip for piercing the thin film of the female connector, and a first contact surface for contacting the first contact surface of the female connector. Two contact surfaces, and the female connector Male connector, the fluid connector, characterized in that it comprises a sealing means for preventing leakage of liquid between the cylindrical inner surface and the body, the fixing means for setting both in position.