Method and apparatus for beverage transfer from source to destination container
A system and method for transferring beverage such as wine from a source container to a destination container. First and second transfer heads can be configured to sealingly engage with an opening of source and destination containers, respectively. The container opening(s) can have a closure such as a cork or septum and the transfer heads can sealingly engage with the container opening without removing the closure, e.g., by passing one or more needles through the closure. The transfer heads and the source container can be held by a support, and the first transfer head can be mounted for pivotal movement relative to the support, e.g., about a horizontal axis, to accommodate differently sized and/or shaped containers. Pressurized gas, e.g., used to purge and/or pressurize the containers, and beverage flow can be routed from one of the transfer heads to the other.
1 . A system for transferring beverage from a source container to a destination container, comprising:
a first transfer head having a first body including a gas inlet to receive pressurized gas, first and second gas outlets fluidly coupled to the gas inlet, the first gas outlet fluidly coupled to an interior space of a first container when the first body is engaged with the first container to deliver gas to the interior space of the first container, and a first beverage pathway fluidly coupled to the interior space of the first container when the first body is engaged with the first container to transfer beverage with interior space of the first container;
a second transfer head having a second body including a gas inlet, a gas outlet fluidly coupled to the gas inlet and an interior space of a second container when the second body is engaged with the second container, and a second beverage pathway fluidly coupled to the interior space of the second container when the second body is engaged with the second container to transfer beverage with the interior space of the second container;
a gas line fluidly connecting the second gas outlet of the first transfer head to the gas inlet of the second transfer head to deliver gas from the gas inlet of the first transfer head to the gas inlet of the second transfer head; and
a beverage line fluidly connecting the first and second beverage pathways to transfer beverage between the interior space of the first container and the interior space of the second container.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first gas outlet and the first beverage pathway are connected to at least one needle to deliver gas into the interior space of the first container and transfer beverage with the interior space of the first container.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one needle includes a first needle connected to the first gas outlet and a second needle connected to the first beverage pathway, the first and second needles configured to penetrate through a closure of the first container to position distal ends of the first and second needles in the interior space of the first container.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the gas outlet of the second transfer head and the second beverage pathway are connected to at least one needle to deliver gas into the interior space of the second container and transfer beverage with the interior space of the second container.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one needle includes a first needle connected to the gas outlet of the second transfer head and a second needle connected to the second beverage pathway, the first and second needles configured to penetrate through a closure of the second container to position distal ends of the first and second needles in the interior space of the second container.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second transfer heads are physically connected to each other and engageable with the first and second container, respectively, with one of the first and second containers positioned above the other of the first and second containers.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the first and second transfer heads are pivotally connected together.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first container is the destination container and the second container is the source container, and the beverage line is connected to the second beverage pathway to deliver beverage from the source container to the destination container via the first beverage pathway.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gas valve to control gas flow from the gas inlet of the first transfer head to the first gas outlet to introduce gas into the first container;
a second gas valve to control gas flow from the gas inlet of the first transfer head to the second gas outlet to introduce gas into the second container via the gas outlet of the second transfer head; and
a beverage valve to control flow of beverage through the beverage line.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first container is the destination container and the second container is the source container,
wherein the first gas valve is controllable to open to deliver gas from the gas inlet to the destination container to replace air in the destination container with gas from the gas inlet,
wherein the second gas valve is controllable to open to deliver gas from the gas inlet to the source container to pressurize the source container and cause beverage flow from the source container to the destination container via the first beverage pathway, the beverage line and the second beverage pathway, and
wherein the beverage valve is controllable to open to permit beverage flow from the source container to the destination container and to close to stop beverage flow from the source container to the destination container.
11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the first transfer head includes structure to sealingly couple the first gas outlet and the first beverage pathway with the interior space of the first container suitable to prevent ambient atmosphere from entering the interior space of the first container; and
wherein the second transfer head to includes structure to sealingly couple the gas outlet of the second transfer head and the second beverage pathway with the interior space of the second container suitable to prevent ambient atmosphere from entering the interior space of the second container.