Keg Connector

A beverage dispensing device comprising:

• (a) a keg, preferably a bag-in-container type of keg containing a beverage and comprising a closure provided with a dispense opening separate from a gas opening,
• (b) a source of pressurized gas in fluid communication with the keg by a gas tube,
• (c) a tapping column comprising a tapping valve in fluid communication with the keg by a dispense tube,
• wherein the dispense tube and gas tube are coupled to the keg by a keg connector for fluidly connecting the interior of a bag-in-container type of keg with a dispensing tube connected to a dispensing valve in a tapping column and with a pressure gas tube connected to a source of pressurized gas, said keg connector comprising a base body and further comprising the following elements:
• (a) a coupler for firmly and releasably coupling the keg connector to a neck of a keg or to a closure of said keg, for which the connector is designed;
• (b) a dispense connector comprising a substantially straight dispense tip extending along a longitudinal axis, Z, in fluid communication with a second end connected or connectable to a dispense tube in fluid communication with a tapping column and valve;
• (c) a gas connector comprising a substantially straight gas tip extending along said longitudinal axis, Z, and physically separate from the dispense tip, said gas tip being in fluid communication with a second end connected to a gas tube connectable to a source of pressurized gas;
• (d) a coupling actuator for reversibly bringing the coupling actuator from an uncoupled to a coupled position, in which the keg connector is firmly coupled to the keg neck or keg closure, with the dispense tip and gas tip facing corresponding dispense opening and gas opening provided on said keg closure,
• (e) a penetration actuator for simultaneously and reversibly moving by a given distance along the longitudinal axis, Z, the dispense tip and gas tip from a first retracted position, Z0, to a second connected position, Z2, wherein said distance is sufficient for the dispense tip and gas tip to penetrate into the corresponding dispense opening and gas opening provided on the keg closure,
• wherein coupling and a penetration actuator are a single actuator suitable for sequentially driving in a single movement:
• in a first step, firm coupling of the keg connector to the keg neck or keg closure followed,
• in a second step, by the penetration of the dispense tip and gas tip into the corresponding dispense and gas openings.