Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus is disclosed for decorating cylindrical and non-cylindrical containers by a continuous process. The containers (1) are decollated and rotated on a transport path (5) as well as stopped and secured using a marking (30) on the container (1). The containers (1) are set in rotation at the transfer location (11) and brought into contact with a pressure head (6, 6′). A contact line is formed between the carrier conveyor (10) for the decors and the rotating container (1) which moves with the container (1) over a predetermined path. The apparatus provides a novel positioning device (13) for the containers (1) and to two embodiments of a pressure head (6, 6′).

Abstract: Valve assembly for a container for beverage, in particular carbonated beverage such as beer, comprising a housing and a beverage channel with a valve body, wherein operating means are provided for moving the valve body, said operating means comprising: first coupling means for coupling the beverage channel to beverage dispensing means for emptying a container through or along the valve body; and second coupling means for coupling the beverage channel to a filling device for filling a container through or along the valve body.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus is provided which includes a housing (1) having a chamber (3) in which a beverage container (5) can be placed, the container having at least one deformable wall (16) and an outlet (8) to which a beverage delivery line (7, 34) and a tapping device (6) can be connected, a locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) for closing a pressure space (17) in an airtight manner, which pressure space is situated between an outer wall (16) of the beverage container (5) and an inner wall (15) of the chamber (3), and a pressurizing device (16) for pressurizing the pressure space (17) to force beverage out of the container via the outlet. To improve the sealing and locking and to make the apparatus convenient to operate for the user the locking and sealing mechanism (10, 12, 13) is arranged between the outer wall (16) of the beverage container and a wall of the chamber.

Abstract: A container with pressure device for maintaining a substantially constant, pre-set pressure in the container, which is arranged for dispensing a fluid. The pressure control device comprises a first chamber for containing a pressure fluid, in particular a pressure gas, a second chamber in which, at least during use, a control pressure prevails, and a third chamber which is formed by or is in communication with, at any rate is at least partly included in an inner space of the container. A control means is movable by a displaceable or deformable part of the wall of the second chamber and is arranged for at least partly displacing the closing member when the pressure in the third chamber is lower than the control pressure, such that the pressure fluid can flow under pressure from the first chamber to the third chamber.

Abstract: Container with pressure control device for maintaining a substantially constant, preset pressure in the container, said container being arranged for dispensing a fluid, the pressure control device comprising a first chamber for containing a pressure fluid, a second chamber in which a control pressure prevails and a third chamber which is formed by or communicates with, or is at least partially accommodated in an inner space of the container, while between the first chamber and the third chamber there is provided a passage opening accommodating a closing member for closing, during normal use, the passage opening when the pressure in the third chamber is lower than the control pressure, a control means being movable by a displaceable or deformable part of the wall of the second chamber and arranged for displacing the closing member at least partially when the pressure in the third chamber is lower than the control pressure, to enable pressure fluid to flow under pressure from the first chamber to the third cham

Abstract: The Invention relates to a device for applying a decoration to containers such as for example, crates, bottles or cans. The decoration comprises an image transfer label supplied to the containers on a carrier strip. The carrier strip is pressed laterally, by means of a pressure roller, against the containers, which are fed past the pressure rollers. A heating device, such as, preferably, a hot air blower, heats the image transfer label on the application side of the carrier strip. Preferably, a flat stream of air is blown, by the hot air blower, against the line of contact between the image transfer label and the container. As a result of the use of highly local heating of the application side of the carrier strip according to the present invention, activation of the image transfer label is obtained without the carrier strip or the surface of the container being heated to a substantial extent.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a returnable plastic crate provided on at least one surface with an ink only label that is removable without destructive treatment of the said surface, said label being adhered to said at least one surface by an activated adhesive layer.

Abstract: The invention is directed to an ink-only label at least consisting of an adhesive layer, an ink-only image layer and optionally a protective layer, wherein the label, when applied to a substrate, has a water permeability coefficient, as defined herein, which is sufficient to enable fast removal of the label from the substrate with water or an aqueous alkaline solution, without destructive treatment of the said substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer label comprising a backing layer and a transfer layer which is releasably attached to the backing layer. From transfer to a container, the transfer layer is detached from the backing layer. After attachment to a container, the transfer layer can be removed in an aqueous liquid under turbulent soaking conditions at a temperature of not more than 100° C., preferably not more than 70° C. During these conditions, the transfer layer breaks up in at least four parts wherein each part is not smaller than 5 micrometers. The transfer layers is detached from the container with a soaking time of not more than 20 minutes, preferably not more than 10 seconds. The transfer label according to the present invention has a very high adherence during storage and use conditions, and can be rapidly removed from a container such as a reusable crate for bottles, in an economic manner.

Abstract: Wind turbine assembly consisting of a wind turbine mounted in a wing profile. The aim is to fix the wing profile to the ground surface with the aid of the cable and to allow such a wing profile to float through a combination of aerodynamic lift and lighter-than-air buoyancy at an appreciable height above the ground surface. As a result the maximum amount of wind can be caught. The wind turbine consists of a turbine having a horizontal shaft, the blades being constructed as flexible webs which change in shape depending on the rotational position thereof.

Abstract: A device for storing and dispensing carbonated beverages such as beer is provided. The device has a fluid compartment and a propellant compartment which are connected through a pressure control means. The pressure control means delivers propellant from the propellant compartment to the fluid compartment as the beverage is withdrawn therefrom to maintain a desired excess equilibrium pressure of the propellant in the headspace of the fluid compartment. For carbonated beverages, the propellant is preferably relatively pure CO2, and also ensures proper carbonation to the beverage. A method of dispensing a carbonated beverage is also provided.

Abstract: For the application of a removable printing to a container, such as a plastic crate, a layer of ink, which forms the printing and is provided on one side with a bonding agent for bonding the layer of ink to the container, is transferred to the container from a carrier film to which the layer of ink has been applied to the side not provided with bonding agent. The bonding agent has such properties that in normal conditions of use of the container the layer of ink adheres firmly to the container and in predetermined conditions which differ from the conditions of use the bonding agent and the layer of ink are easy to remove from the container. This produces a container with a high-quality printing, which printing is easy to replace with another printing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning apparatus used during the production of foodstuffs, in particular the filtration thereof, wherein this apparatus is contacted after use with a cleaning system based on the combination of a cyclic nitroxyl compound and a hypohalite.

Abstract: This invention provides a method and apparatus (100) for detecting small glass particles (12) in bottles (1) filled with beer (10). The beer (10) is caused to rotate with respect to the bottle (1), and successive images are obtained from the bottle by means of a CCD-camera (40) which is arranged such that its optical axis (41) makes an angle &agr; of about 135° with the axis (13) of the bottle (1), which is illuminated from below. The successive images are subtracted from each other to detect refracted light emanating from glass particles. These measurements are repeated a plurality of times. The invention thus offers an improvement in sensitivity and reliability of a detecting method. An apparatus (100) comprises a carousel (103) with a plurality of cameras dedicated to a single bottle. A system is described to reduce costs by having eight cameras share one image processing unit.

Abstract: The invention relates to a transfer label including a backing layer and a transfer layer which is releasably attached to the backing layer. The transfer layer includes an ink layer and on each side of the ink layer a top and bottom containment layer. The top and bottom containment layer contact one another outside the perimeter of the ink layer to form a closed envelop around the ink layer. The transfer label according to the present invention can be applied to a container such as a crate and can be easily removed therefrom in a washing process without the ink dissolving in the wash liquid.