METHOD FOR COOLING A CONTAINER CONTAINING A BEVERAGE

Abstract

A method is provided for cooling a beverage in a container, wherein the container is in contact with a contact cooling body thermally conductively coupled to a cooling element. The method comprises operating the cooling element and obtaining an ambient temperature from the environment outside the container and the contact cooling body. Based on the ambient temperature, an activation temperature is defined, and a temperature value indicative of the beverage temperature is obtained. The cooling element operates if the temperature is higher than the activation temperature until a final criterion is met. A higher ambient temperature may require greater cooling of the beverage to ensure that the beverage temperature remains within acceptable limits. A higher ambient temperature, requiring more cooling, implies faster activation or deactivation.By setting the temperature based on the ambient temperature, more efficient cooling can be achieved.

Description

METHOD FOR COOLING A CONTAINER CONTAINING A BEVERAGE TECHNICAL FIELD The various aspects and embodiments of the invention relate to a cooling system for implementation in a liquid dispensing unit. The invention relates to a cooling system for contact cooling a liquid container, especially for contact cooling both the container and the liquid contained therein for dispensing. One aspect relates to a beverage dispensing system comprising said cooling system. Another aspect relates to a method for contact cooling a liquid container, especially a beverage container. A further aspect relates to a beverage dispensing unit for dispensing a carbonated beverage from a plastic container. BACKGROUND WO2018 / 009065 discloses a fluid dispensing system comprising a container holding a fluid to be dispensed and a device into which the container can be at least partially inserted. The device has a contact surface for cooling the container and the fluid contained therein by contact cooling. SUMMARY It is preferred to provide a beverage dispensing assembly that is an alternative to known assemblies. More specifically, it is preferred to provide a beverage dispensing assembly that is relatively easy to use. As such, a beverage dispensing assembly that is relatively easy to manufacture and maintain may be provided. It is also preferred to provide a suitable container for a dispensing assembly as claimed. One aspect and embodiments thereof aim to provide a dispensing assembly in which a container can be used, where the assembly, when in use, presents a pleasing appearance to users, such as the public purchasing beverages and staff, and is easy to operate and / or energy efficient, particularly in cooling and dispensing. A first aspect provides a method for cooling a container holding a beverage, wherein the container is in contact with a contact cooling body thermally conductively coupled to a cooling element. The method comprises operating the cooling element and obtaining an ambient temperature of the environment outside the container and the contact cooling body. Based on the ambient temperature, an activation temperature is defined, and a medium temperature indicative of the beverage temperature is obtained. The cooling element operates if the medium temperature is higher than the activation temperature until a predetermined final criterion is met. A higher ambient temperature may require more frequent cooling of the beverage to ensure its temperature remains within acceptable limits. Conventional cooling algorithms activate cooling if the detected temperature exceeds a certain threshold and deactivate it if the temperature falls below another threshold. A higher ambient temperature, requiring more frequent cooling, necessitates faster activation and deactivation. It is clear that by using an activation temperature based on the ambient temperature, more efficient cooling can be achieved while maintaining adequate temperature control of the beverage or other medium. In one embodiment of the first aspect, the activation temperature decreases if the ambient temperature increases. In this embodiment, the higher the ambient temperature, the lower the upper limit of the detected beverage temperature. In another embodiment of the first aspect, the relationship between the activation temperature and the ambient temperature is substantially linear. This allows for relatively simple control of the cooling element and, therefore, of the temperature. A further implementation of the first aspect involves also obtaining the volume of beverage stored in the container and defining the activation temperature based on this volume. Decreasing the container volume introduces other effects that impact the transfer of thermal energy from the beverage to the cooling element. These effects can negatively affect the effectiveness of the basic cooling algorithm. For example, a smaller volume may absorb thermal energy more quickly, as the surface area to volume ratio increases. Therefore, it can be advantageous to consider the amount of beverage in the container when defining the activation temperature. In another embodiment, the activation temperature increases if the beverage volume decreases. As noted earlier, a smaller volume can absorb thermal energy more quickly because the surface area to volume ratio increases. This embodiment ensures that temperature control is maintained even at lower volumes. In yet another embodiment, the predetermined endpoint criterion is at least one of two options: a final medium temperature value and a cooling time interval elapsed since the start of operation of the cooling element. The operated cooling may terminate if one or both criteria are met. In yet another embodiment, the predetermined final criterion is the cooling time interval elapsed since the cooling element began operating. This embodiment further comprises, if the cooling time interval has elapsed, obtaining the medium temperature and continuing the cooling element's operation if the medium temperature is greater than or equal to the activation temperature, until the cooling time interval has elapsed again. This embodiment ensures that the cooling operation ends only if the temperature falls below the activation temperature. This is particularly advantageous in the initial cooling operation of a newly received container filled with a beverage at a relatively high temperature. Another further embodiment includes, if a predetermined defrosting interval has elapsed, that the cooling element does not operate if the ambient temperature is higher than the activation temperature until a predetermined defrosting criterion is met. This embodiment prevents the container from freezing when it is attached to the device. A second aspect provides a cooling system for contact cooling a beverage container. The system comprises a cooling element, a contact cooling body thermally conductively connected to the cooling element and arranged to be in thermally conductive contact with the container, and a temperature sensor module arranged to detect the temperature of at least one of the contact cooling body, the container, and the beverage.The system further comprises a processing unit designed to obtain an ambient temperature of the environment outside the container and the contact cooling element, define an activation temperature based on the ambient temperature, obtain a medium temperature indicative of the beverage temperature, and operate the cooling element if the medium temperature exceeds the activation temperature until a predetermined final criterion is met. The various embodiments of the first aspect can also be implemented in the second aspect. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order to elucidate the present invention, its embodiments will be disclosed and discussed below, with reference to the drawings. These are shown here: Fig. 1, a beverage dispensing assembly in a rear view, i.e., from one side of the dispensing assembly's operating location, with a container bearing the brand visible through a lid; Fig. 1A, a representation of a side view of the assembly in Fig. 1; Fig. 2A and B, perspective views of an assembly from Fig. 1, in rear side view and front side view, respectively; Fig. 3A and B, a dispensing assembly according to the disclosure, in rear view and cross-sectional side view; Fig. 4, an exploded view of a dispensing unit of a beverage dispensing assembly; Fig. 5, a flowchart representing an implementation of the first aspect; and cnn / zznz / E / YiAi Fig. 6, a graph that represents a possible relationship between activation temperatures, ambient temperature and the volume of beverage remaining in a container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION This description shows and discloses embodiments of the invention only by way of example. These should not be interpreted or understood in any way as limiting the scope of the present invention. In this description, identical or similar elements are indicated by the same or similar reference symbols. In this description, embodiments of the present invention will be discussed with reference to carbonated beverages, especially beer. However, other beverages could also be used in the present invention. In this description, references to up and down, top and bottom, and the like shall be understood, unless specifically stated otherwise, to refer to the normal orientation of a dispensing unit. The back of the dispensing unit shall refer to the side on which a tap handle or similar device is provided for operating the system, particularly for dispensing the beverage contained in a container provided in and / or on the unit. The container may have a bottom and a neck region comprising an orifice for filling and / or dispensing. The neck region may be an integral part of the container or may be mounted on the container. In use in embodiments, the orifice within the assembly may be oriented substantially downward, upward, or sideways. A downward orientation is shown, for example, in the drawings, particularly in Fig.1, where upper and lower, up and down are indicated by arrows and appropriate descriptions, for illustrative purposes only. This does not necessarily reflect the orientation in which an extraction device of this disclosure or parts thereof should be used. In the case of the container, a normal position may be with the bottom facing down and the neck portion facing up. In an extraction assembly of this disclosure, the bottom of the container may be oriented upward, downward, and / or sideways. This disclosure will describe, by way of example, a bag-in-container (BIC), integrally blow-molded from a set of preforms comprising two overlapping plastic preforms, which is to be understood as one of the preforms being inserted into the other, after which they are blow-molded together in a known manner into a BIC.In these embodiments, prior to blow molding, a sealing ring is placed over the preforms, connecting them to each other and closing the space, which may also be called the interface or interspace, between the preforms, such that, at least after blow molding, this space is or can be in communication with the environment only through one or more openings provided in a neck region of the container, especially an outward-facing opening that extends through a wall of the neck region of the preform and / or outer container. This at least one opening may be provided during the manufacture of the preforms, especially during their injection molding, but it could also be provided subsequently, for example, by piercing, drilling, or machining the container, during or after blow molding. In this description, a dispensing assembly may comprise a housing containing a cooling device and a pressure device for supplying pressurized gas, such as air, to a container. The container may be a plastic beverage container, preferably a BIC-type container. The system further comprises a lid, preferably at least partially transparent, which fits over the container when properly placed in the housing. The lid provides visibility of the container within the dispensing device comprising the housing and lid, so that, for example, the fill level can be checked and the container's brand is visible from the outside. In the present description, a dispensing assembly, which may also be called an extraction assembly, may be designed such that a container can be placed in an inverted position in and / or within a housing of a dispensing unit, such that at least a portion of the container, particularly at least a portion of the shoulder portion of the container, is inserted into a receptacle of the housing, a neck portion comprising a downward-facing outlet opening. Preferably, a portion of the container extending into said receptacle is near or at least partially in contact with a wall of the receptacle, wherein the receptacle wall is cooled, particularly actively cooled. In said inverted position, this wall may be, for example, a portion of the shoulder portion of the container.In an upright position, the shoulder portion may, for example, face upwards, allowing a lower portion to be received in the receptacle, especially for cooling. In a horizontal or tilted position, a side portion of the container may be received in the receptacle for cooling. In this description, the relatively short distance between the container wall and the corresponding part of the container should be understood as a distance small enough to allow effective cooling of that part of the container and its contents. Preferably, the beverage is dispensed from an area of ​​the container close to that cooled portion of the wall. Preferably, a portion of the container wall to be cooled is, in these embodiments, a lower part of the container. In these embodiments, the advantage is obtained that the contents of the container will be at least in the area cooled by the container wall, even if the container is partially empty, where said cooled contents are close to, and especially directly adjacent to, the dispensing opening or, at least, in a portion from which the beverage is dispensed.In this way, it is quite possible to control the temperature of the dispensed beverage, even if a part of the container that extends outside the receptacle bz t cnn / zznz / B / γΐΛΐ is not cold or is less cold. When placing the container in the receptacle, at least linear contact is preferably achieved between the container and the receptacle wall for contact cooling. This linear contact may be formed, for example, by a circular or elliptical line, or by any line, depending, for example, on the shape of the container and the receptacle, and the orientation of the container. Preferably, contact, or at least close proximity, of the container wall to the receptacle wall is established over a relatively large portion of the container, such as the shoulder portion, the bottom portion, or the portion of the container wall that extends into the receptacle.The distance between the relevant part of the container and the receptacle is preferably between 0 and 1 mm, measured as the shortest distance between adjacent surfaces, more preferably between 0 and 0.5 mm, and even more preferably between 0 and 0.25 mm on average over at least part of a circumferential surface of the receptacle having a height measurement along a vertical axis of the receptacle that can be, for example, at least 1 / 4 of the height or diameter of the part of the container extending into the receptacle. For example, in an inverted orientation, at least one-quarter of the axial height of a shoulder portion of a container can extend into the receptacle, measured directly adjacent to the neck portion. For example, between one-quarter and the entire height of the shoulder portion. Figures 1 and 1A show an exemplary embodiment of a beverage dispensing assembly 1 of the disclosure, comprising a dispenser 2 and a beverage container 3. The dispenser 2 may also be referred to, for example, as a unit, dispensing unit, extraction device, or a similar term. The dispenser 2 comprises a housing 4. The housing 4 is provided with a receptacle 5 for receiving at least a portion 6 of the container 3. The beverage container 3 has a neck portion 7 and a shoulder portion 8 adjacent to the neck portion 7. The neck portion 7 is provided with at least one outlet opening 8A and at least one gas inlet opening 9 (see, for example, Figure 3). In the disclosed embodiments, the container may be a blow-molded plastic container 3, preferably a bag-in-a-can (BIC) type container.Container 3 is placed in dispenser 2 with neck portion 7 and shoulder portion 8 facing downwards, so that neck portion 7 and at least part of shoulder portion 8 are received in receptacle 5. This is called inverted orientation. A portion 10 of shoulder portion 8 extends close to and / or is in contact with a wall 11 of receptacle 5. An orientation of container 3 in the dispensing device can be defined at least in terms of the orientation of a longitudinal axis X - X of the container, wherein in an inverted and upward position said axis extends substantially vertically, in a horizontal position substantially horizontally, and in an inclined position it includes an angle with both the horizontal and vertical directions. In an upward position, the bottom of the container may be oriented downwards, in an inverted position the bottom of the container may be oriented upwards, and in a horizontal position it may be oriented sideways. In a different orientation of the container, the receptacle may have a different shape. With the container lying flat, as specified above, the receptacle may be provided as a container. In another embodiment where the container is in a horizontal position, the receptacle may be provided as a cylinder surrounding the container. If visibility of the container is preferred, the receptacle may be implemented by means of one or more rings arranged to surround the container once it is placed in the receptacle, thus supporting it. A portion of the container may be visible between the rings. Regardless of the shape of the receptacle, sufficient thermally conductive contact between the receptacle and the container is preferred. The dispensing assembly 1 is placed, for example, on the top 75 of a bar 74, so that the portion 13 of the container 3 that extends above the housing 4 and, if present, a lid 12, is at eye level for an average adult, symbolically represented by an eye 76 in Fig. 1. The top 75 of the bar may be, for example, but not limited to, approximately 100 to 130 cm in front of the bar, accessible to customers. By placing the dispensing assembly 1 on a bar 74, visible at least to customers standing or seated at the bar, and preferably to both customers standing or seated at the bar and staff standing behind the bar, the visibility of the system, and especially of the corresponding portion 13 of the container, is increased.In particular, when the marking 22 is provided on said part 13 of container 3, the appeal of system 1, and especially of the beverage contained in said container 3, is increased. This appeal has been found to increase sales of the beverage and, furthermore, may increase the appeal of the bar. Preferably, a lid is provided over part 13 of the container, which is sufficiently transparent to provide a view of part 13 of the container from at least the front and rear of the bar 74, i.e., for customers and bar staff, and preferably provides a view of part 13 of the container of approximately 360 degrees. The top of the lid 12 may be less transparent, for example, opaque. The container 3 is preferably substantially barrel- or bottle-shaped, with a neck portion 7 and a shoulder portion 8, and further has a body portion 23 and a bottom portion 24. The bottom portion can have any suitable shape and in the embodiment shown is substantially spherical, more specifically substantially a hemisphere. Alternatively, it can, for example, have a shape such that the container can stand upright on the bottom portion 24, for example, in the shape of a petal. In the embodiments shown, a lid 12 is provided over the container 3, enclosing a portion 13 of the container 3 that extends outside the receptacle 5. However, in the embodiments, the assembly can also function without the lid 12. The lid 12 may be substantially dome-shaped, at least to the extent that it has an inner surface 14 that extends along the outer surface of the portion 13 of the container 3 that extends outside the housing 4, preferably at a substantially regular and equal distance. This may provide a space 15 between said inner surface 14 of the lid 12 and the portion of the outer surface of the container. In the embodiments, the lid may have a substantially spherical top portion 16 and a preferably substantially cylindrical body portion 17.The lid 12 may be made of plastic, preferably transparent plastic, so that the container 3 can be observed through at least part of the lid 12. In embodiments, the lid 12 may be double-walled, with an inner and outer wall 18A, B, and a space 19 enclosed between them, preferably isolated from the surroundings, such as the area 20 where the assembly is placed and the space 15. In embodiments, the space 19 may be at a lower pressure than the internal pressure of area 20 and / or space 15 and may, for example, be evacuated, in order to reduce the heat transmissibility of the lid 12. In embodiments, the lid 12 may rest on a gasket 21 of the housing 4 and / or may be provided with a gasket 21 for resting on the housing 4, so that the space 15 is isolated from area 20 once the lid 12 has been correctly placed. and / or within and / or on the casing.In one embodiment, this may provide a substantially stagnant layer of air in said space 15. In other embodiments, a fan or similar means may be provided to provide a preferably cooled airflow through said space 15 to cool the container and the beverage contained therein. The lid may also be partially or entirely made of glass. In preferred embodiments, the container 3 is provided with a mark 22, at least on the portion 13 of the container 3 that extends outside the housing 4. This mark 22 is preferably provided such that at least a part of it is in an inverted orientation when the container 3 is placed on its bottom 24. Thus, when the container 3 is placed in an inverted position in the dispenser 2, with the neck portion 7 facing downwards, the mark is in the orientation suitable for reading and visibility. Obviously, when the container 3 is intended to be used in an upward orientation, i.e., with the bottom facing downwards in a dispensing device 1, the mark can be in a normal position for reading and visibility. Similarly, this mark could be fitted to a container for use in another orientation, for example, lying flat. In the embodiments shown, for example, in Figs. 1 and 1A, 3 and 3A, the housing 4 comprises a cooling device 26 for cooling at least a portion 27 of the wall 11 of the container 5. Similarly, the other embodiments can be provided with the same or a similar cooling device. The receptacle 5 and the cooling device 26 are preferably designed for contact cooling of a portion 6 of the container 3, for example, at least the shoulder portion 8 of the container 3 in the inverted orientation, or a lower portion, for example, in an upward orientation. As is evident from the exemplary embodiments, this will lead to the cooling of at least the beverage in an area near the receptacle, such as near the neck portion 7, from which the beverage will be dispensed, thus cooling it to a desired temperature. Preferably, this portion is located at a lower end of the container during use, so that the cooler beverage naturally flows into that area. The cooling of the container can be achieved by any suitable means, such as a compressor-based cooling device, a piezoelectric-based cooling device, ice cube cooling, liquid cooling, or similar systems known in the art. By way of example, a compressor-based cooling device 26 will be described as an advantageous embodiment. The container 3, in the embodiments shown, is provided with a dispensing unit 34 that includes at least one dispensing line 35 for dispensing the beverage. The housing 4 comprises a tap 29 for connecting to and / or cooperating with the dispensing line 35, for opening and / or closing the dispensing line 35. The dispensing line is preferably a disposable line, which is understood to mean that it is designed and intended for limited use, for example, with a single container 3 or a limited number of containers. Preferably, the dispensing unit 34 is designed such that the container 3 is anchored to it, after which the dispensing unit 34 and / or the dispensing line 35 cannot be removed again without damaging the unit 34 and / or the container 3. In preferred embodiments, the tap 29 comprises an operating mechanism 30 for opening and / or closing a valve 31 provided in the dispensing unit 2, especially a valve provided within or at one end of the dispensing line 35. The dispensing line 35 may be made of plastic and may be flexible so that it can be bent as shown. The valve 31 is permanently connected to the dispensing line 35 so that it is inserted and removed, i.e., interchanged with the dispensing line 35. The valve 31 may have a nozzle 32 extending outside the housing 4, such that the nozzle 32 is the last point of contact for the beverage to be dispensed. By providing such a disposable valve 31, contact between the beverage and the dispensing assembly 1 can be avoided. In this way, the dispensing assembly can be cleaned less frequently. Alternatively, other means may be provided for opening and / or closing the dispensing line 35, such as, but not limited to, means for closing the dispensing line. A permanent valve may be used as part of the extraction device 2, to which the dispensing line 35 can be connected when the container is placed. Alternatively or additionally, the dispensing line may be permanent or semi-permanent, wherein the container, especially an adapter 38 as noted, can be connected to said dispensing line. As can be seen, for example, in Fig. 3A and B, the vessel 5 may be substantially, for example, bowl-shaped, for example, hemispherical, so that the vessel 3 may rest against the wall 11 of said vessel 5 on at least a portion of the shoulder portion 8 in an inverted position, or a lower portion in an upward position. Preferably in close contact for contact cooling. At a lower end of the receptacle 5, a groove 36 may be provided to receive the neck portion 7 of the vessel, with the dispensing unit 34, or at least a portion thereof, provided in the neck 7 when a vessel is used in an inverted position, or, for example, said unit 34 connected or to be connected to a lower portion 24, especially an inlet opening 9, of a vessel 3 in an upward position for connecting a gas line.In embodiments, the slot 36 may be such that the neck 7 and / or the dispensing unit 34 do not rest on the lower part 37 of the slot 36. In embodiments using an upward position, for example, a gas line connector may be placed in said slot. As noted, a cooling system 26 is provided in the housing 4, shown here as a cooling system based on a compressor and an evaporator, which has cooling lines 95 or similar extending near or within the wall 11 of the receptacle 5, and possibly the slot 36, to cool the wall 11 or at least a corresponding portion thereof. The cooling device 26 is preferably designed to maintain the wall 11 at a predefined temperature, or at least to cool the wall so that at least the beverage near the outlet opening, i.e., at the neck 7 and possibly the shoulder portion 8, is at a desired temperature or as close as possible to it. Depending on the beverage and the user's preferences, this temperature may preferably be set, for example, but not limited to, between about 4 and 9 degrees Celsius, for example, about 6 degrees Celsius.Other temperatures or temperature ranges may be set. Another preferred range is between 0 and 2 degrees Celsius. It is possible to define another interval, starting at any value from zero, one, two, three, or four degrees Celsius, or any value between those values, up to two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, or ten degrees Celsius, or any value between those values, with at least one degree between the lower and upper values ​​of the control interval. As can be seen, for example, in Fig. 3B, the shoulder portion 8 of the vessel can fit tightly into the wall 11 of the vessel, while the inner vessel 3B in the shoulder portion can fit perfectly along the inner surface of the outer vessel. Thus, contact cooling between the wall 11 and the shoulder portion of vessel 3 has proven to be surprisingly effective. It should be noted that receptacle 5 may have a different shape to fit other types of containers than those shown in Fig. 3B. If the temperature sensor 42 is arranged to detect the temperature of the container 3, the temperature sensor 42 is preferably insulated from the wall 11 and protrudes from the wall 11 to ensure contact with the wall of the container 11. Optionally, the temperature sensor 42 can be elastically suspended so as not to block the wall of the container 3 so that it fits as well as possible in the receptacle 5 and ensures good contact with the wall 11. If the temperature sensor 42 is arranged to detect the temperature of wall 11, the temperature sensor 42 is provided so that it cannot come into contact with the container 3 if the container 3 is provided in the receptacle 5. In another embodiment, an additional temperature sensor is provided, such that the temperature sensor 42 detects the temperature of a first wall 11 and of the container 3 and the additional temperature sensor detects the temperature of a second wall 11 and of the container 3. In yet another embodiment, the beverage temperature in container 3 is measured at a specific location within the container: the top, the bottom, the center, another location, or a combination thereof. This can be achieved using a temperature sensor in container 3 that communicates with a controller via wired or wireless means. As the beverage cools, the temperature sensor 42, which detects the container's temperature, will detect a decrease in the rate of temperature rise over time. The rate of temperature rise can be defined as the time interval between the activation of the cooling system, or the decrease in the operating level, and the reaching of a maximum permissible temperature detected by the temperature sensor 42. Alternatively, the rate of temperature rise can be defined as the temperature increase detected per unit of time. In this case, the rate of temperature rise can be defined momentarily, calculated over a very small, optionally almost infinitesimal, amount of time, or over a longer period on the order of seconds, minutes, or hours.In another embodiment, the derivative of a temperature versus time function is defined as the rate of increase of the temperature, calculated analytically, numerically, or a combination of both. The temperature sensor 42, which in this embodiment detects the temperature of the container, is located on the wall of container 3, near the wall 11 of container 5, which is cooled by the cooling system 26. Therefore, the detected temperature of the beverage located near the wall of container 5 will be lower than the temperature of the beverage in higher areas of container 3. When the cooling system 26 is switched off, no more thermal energy is extracted from wall 11, and less or no thermal energy is extracted from the beverage in container 3, causing the temperature distribution in the beverage to move toward equilibrium. As a result, the temperature of the beverage near the temperature sensor 42 will increase. Due to basic principles of thermodynamics, the rate at which the temperature rises after the cooling system 26 is switched off depends on the temperature gradient in the beverage. If the momentary average temperature of the beverage in container 3 is relatively low, the temperature increase, as detected by the temperature sensor 42, will be at a lower rate than if the momentary average temperature of the beverage in container 3 is relatively high. The reason is that if the momentary average temperature of the beverage is relatively high, thermal energy will flow more rapidly toward the cooled wall 11 by virtue of the well-known laws of diffusion that govern diffusion-induced thermal energy flow. The operation of the cooling system will be explained later, along with a flowchart 500 that represents an implementation of the first aspect. The procedure can be controlled by a processing unit comprising the beverage dispensing assembly 1. This processing unit can be a microprocessor, a microcontroller, a PLD, an FPGA, or another electronic or electrical computing module designed to perform this task. The various parts of flowchart 500 can be summarized as follows: 502 Start the procedure 504 receive the container 506 Determine the volume of beverage in the container 508 Determine the ambient temperature 510 define the activation temperature 512 operate the cooling element 514 Has the operating time elapsed? 516 Is the temperature below the cutoff temperature? 518 decrease or stop the operation of the cooling element 522 Is the temperature equal to or higher than the activation temperature? 524 Has the defrosting time limit been exceeded? 526 Has the defrosting temperature been reached? 528 Decrease or stop the operation of the cooling element The procedure begins at terminator 502 and continues with step 504, where container 3 is received into receptacle 5 so that it is in contact with the receptacle wall 11. This contact may be substantially over the entire surface of wall 11. Alternatively, it may be on one or more parts of the wall. In step 506, the volume of the beverage in container 3 is determined. The beverage volume is preferably based on an initial beverage volume that container 3 is prepared to hold: 2 liters, 3 liters, 4 liters, 5 liters, 6 liters, 8 liters, 10 liters, or another. If no beverage is removed from container 3, the amount of beverage is determined to be equal to the initial amount. If beverage has been extracted from container 3, the amount of beverage that has left container 3 can be determined. To do this, the amount of beverage dispensed from container 3 can be determined. This can be done by applying a flow meter to the dispensing line 35 or to another conduit in the dispensing flow path between container 3 and nozzle 32. The flow meter can be configured to measure a flow rate and / or a volume of beverage that has passed through it. Based on this data and the initial amount of beverage in container 3, the current amount of beverage in the container can be determined. In another embodiment, the flow rate of the beverage through the flow path between container 3 is constant or assumed to be constant. In this embodiment, the time that valve 31 is open is determined, and this time is multiplied by the flow rate to obtain a volume of beverage that has left container 3. With this information, in addition to an initial volume, the amount of beverage remaining in container 3 can be determined. In yet another additional or alternative embodiment, the weight of container 3 is measured by means of a weighing module included in the beverage dispenser assembly 1. By obtaining the weight of container 3 and the beverage stored therein and subtracting the weight of the container (empty) and, optionally, of any other element unrelated to the beverage, the amount of beverage in container 3 can be determined. Next, in step 508, the ambient temperature of beverage dispenser assembly 1 can be determined. This is the temperature outside of beverage dispenser assembly 1, in the immediate vicinity of beverage dispenser assembly 1. In step 510, an activation temperature is determined at which the cooling device 26 must be switched on or its operation increased. The activation temperature is preferably determined based on at least one, and preferably both, of the amount of beverage remaining in container 3 and the ambient temperature of the beverage dispensing unit 1. Figure 6 shows a possible relationship between the amount of beverage remaining in container 3 and the ambient temperature of the beverage dispensing unit 1. Figure 6 shows a linear relationship between the activation temperature, on the one hand, and the ambient temperature and the amount of beverage in the container, on the other. Alternatively, at least one or both relationships may be nonlinear or include a nonlinear component. The relationship between the activation temperature, on the one hand, and the ambient temperature and the amount of beverage in the container, on the other, can be stored in a memory coupled to the processing unit, as noted earlier. The values ​​and relationship curves shown in Figure 6 are provided simply as one implementation, and other relationships may also be implemented. In step 512, the cooling device 26 is operated to cool the wall 11 of the cnn / zznz / E / γΐΛΐ receptacle 5. The cooling device 26 is operated while at least one of the operating time periods and the detected temperature of at least one of the following are monitored: the beverage, the container 3, and the wall 11. In step 514, the operating time period of the cooling device 26 is compared to a predetermined operating time period for the cooling device 26. In step 516, the monitored temperature of at least one of the following is compared to a predetermined cutoff temperature. Steps 516 and 514 can be executed in parallel or in series. Alternatively, only steps 516 and 514 are executed. In the implementation of Fig. 5, if at least one of the tested criteria is met, the procedure continues with step 518. In step 518, the operation of the cooling device 26 slows down and preferably stops. Step 518 may include a waiting loop before proceeding to the next step. In step 522, the detected temperature is compared to the activation temperature defined as described above. If the detected temperature is below the activation temperature, the procedure returns to step 518. If the detected temperature is above the activation temperature, the procedure continues to step 524, in which a defrost time period is checked from a previous defrost action up to a defrost time limit. If it has been longer than the defrost time limit, for example, two, three, four, five hours or more, the operation of the cooling device 26 remains stopped until a defrost temperature is reached. This defrost temperature is then checked in step 526. If the defrost time limit has not been reached, the procedure proceeds from step 524 to step 506 if the activation temperature has been reached or exceeded. Alternatively, the procedure can return to step 512. If the defrost time limit has elapsed, the detected temperature is checked. If the defrost temperature has not yet been reached, the procedure continues to step 528, where the operation of the cooling device 26 is stopped. Step 528 may include a wait loop. After step 528, the detected temperature is compared again to the defrost temperature. If the defrost temperature is reached, the procedure returns to step 506. Alternatively, the procedure may return to step 512. The defrost subroutine can prevent any beverage in the dispensing line 35 from freezing or solidifying. It can also prevent container 3 from freezing to wall 11 in such a way that container 3 becomes fixed to wall 11 and is therefore very difficult for a person to remove. The various steps of the method represented by flowchart 500 can be executed in the order indicated by flowchart 500. Additionally or alternatively, at least some steps, including, but not limited to, steps numbered 506, 508, and 510, can be executed continuously or periodically at points in time independently of a flowchart 500 step executed at any particular time. The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments specifically disclosed and described above. Many variations thereof are possible, including but not limited to combinations of parts of the embodiments shown and described. For example, the at least one opening 9 may be provided in a different position, for example, extending through the closing ring 47, preferably in a substantially outward radial direction, for example, through the inner surface or wall of the ring, into the space between the containers, where the adapter 38 may extend into the ring to communicate appropriately with said at least one opening 9. The container may be provided with a single opening in the neck or with several such openings. In some embodiments, the container may be a single-walled container, where the gas, for example, CO2 or nitrogen gas, may be introduced directly into the beverage.In some embodiments, the container can be compressed by pressurizing the space inside the lid. In some embodiments, the sealing ring 47 and adapter 38 can be integrated. They can be connected directly to the container 3 as a closure and can also be used as an adapter. In some embodiments, the dispensing adapter and the adapter can be integrated with each other and / or with the sealing ring. Instead of a valve in the container, a different closure can be used, for example, a pierceable closure, pierced by the adapter and / or the dispensing adapter, or a removable closure that can be replaced by the adapter and / or the dispensing adapter for use with the dispensing device. These and many other amendments are also considered disclosed in this document, including but not limited to all combinations of elements of the invention as disclosed, within the scope of the invention as presented. In summary, a method is provided for cooling a beverage in a container, where the container is in contact with a contact cooling body thermally conductively coupled to a cooling element. The method comprises operating the cooling element and obtaining an ambient temperature from the environment outside the container and the contact cooling body. Based on the ambient temperature, an activation temperature is defined, and a temperature value indicative of the beverage temperature is obtained. The cooling element operates if the temperature is higher than the activation temperature until a final criterion is met. A higher ambient temperature may require greater cooling of the beverage to ensure that the beverage temperature remains within acceptable limits. A higher ambient temperature, requiring more cooling, implies faster activation or deactivation.By setting the temperature based on the ambient temperature, more efficient cooling can be achieved.

Claims

1. A method for cooling a container comprising a beverage, wherein the container is in contact with a contact cooling body thermally conductively coupled to a cooling element, wherein the method comprises: operating the cooling element; obtaining an ambient temperature of the environment outside the container and the contact cooling body; defining, based on the ambient temperature, an activation temperature; obtaining a temperature of the medium indicative of the beverage temperature; operating the cooling element if the temperature of the medium is higher than the activation temperature until a predetermined final criterion is met.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activation temperature decreases if the ambient temperature increases.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the relationship between the activation temperature and the ambient temperature is substantially linear.

4. The method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, further comprising: obtaining a volume of beverage stored in the container; and defining the activation temperature also as a function of the volume of beverage.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the activation temperature increases if the volume of the beverage decreases.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the relationship between the activation temperature and the beverage volume is substantially linear.

7. The method according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein determining the volume of the beverage stored in the container comprises: receiving an initial value of an initial volume of beverage stored in the container; tracking a extracted volume of beverage removed from the container; and subtracting the extracted volume from the initial volume.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein obtaining a volume of beverage stored in the container comprises at least one of the following: determining a quantity of beverage dispensed; determining a weight of the container including the volume of beverage stored therein.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined final criterion is at least one of the following: frz t cnn / zznz / E / γΐΛΐ a final medium temperature value; and a cooling time interval elapsed from the moment of the start of operation of the cooling element.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the values ​​of the medium temperature and the cooling time interval is based on at least one of the following: the medium temperature; the ambient temperature; the beverage volume.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein the predetermined final criterion is the cooling time interval elapsed since the start of operation of the cooling element, further comprising: obtaining the temperature of the medium if the cooling time interval has elapsed; continuing the operation of the cooling element if the temperature of the medium is greater than or equal to the activation temperature, until the cooling time interval has elapsed again.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 11, further comprising, in the event that a predetermined defrosting interval has elapsed, that the cooling element does not operate if the temperature of the medium is higher than the activation temperature until a predetermined defrosting criterion is met.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined defrosting criterion is at least one of the following: a defrosting value of the medium temperature; and a cooling time interval elapsed from the moment the cooling element starts operating.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the temperature of the medium is at least one of the following: a container temperature; a beverage temperature; a contact cooling body temperature. 15.A cooling system for contact cooling of a beverage container, wherein the system comprises: a cooling element; a contact cooling body thermally conductively connected to the cooling element and arranged to be in thermally conductive contact with the container; a temperature sensing module arranged to detect the temperature of at least one of the contact cooling body, the container, and the beverage; and a processing unit arranged to: obtain an ambient temperature of the environment outside the container and the contact cooling body; define, based on the ambient temperature, an activation temperature; obtain a medium temperature indicative of the beverage temperature; and operate the cooling element if the medium temperature is higher than the activation temperature until a predetermined final criterion is met.

Images