Method of reducing the volume of a non-returnable blow-molded brewery-specific beer keg and other non-returnable containers

1. A method of reducing the volume of non-returnable beer kegs, said method comprising the steps of:

using an interchangeable adapter to connect a vacuum arrangement to an opening of a non-returnable beer keg; and

evacuating air from said non-returnable beer keg with said vacuum arrangement and thereby reducing the volume of said non-returnable beer keg and producing a volume-reduced non-returnable beer keg.

2. A method of reducing the volume of non-returnable beverage kegs, said method comprising the steps of:

using an interchangeable adapter to connect a vacuum arrangement to an opening of a non-returnable beverage keg;

evacuating air from said non-returnable beverage keg with said vacuum arrangement and thereby reducing the volume of said non-returnable beverage keg and producing a volume-reduced non-returnable beverage keg; and

said vacuum arrangement comprises a vacuum device and a connector to connect said vacuum device and said interchangeable adapter, and said method further comprises using said connector and said interchangeable adapter to connect said vacuum device to said non-returnable beverage keg, and opening a valve in said non-returnable beverage keg with said connector to permit said step of evacuating air from said non-returnable beverage keg.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said method further comprises the step of closing an opening of a volume-reduced non-returnable beverage keg using a closure structure comprising one of: a sealing film, a membrane, a screw cap, and a bayonet closure.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein said method further comprises the step of controlling said vacuum device by sensing the pressure in the non-returnable keg during evacuation of air therefrom.

5. An arrangement for performing the method of reducing the volume of non-returnable beverage kegs according to claim 2 , said arrangement comprising:

an interchangeable adapter being configured to connect a vacuum arrangement to an opening of a non-returnable beverage keg;

a vacuum arrangement being configured to evacuate air from said non-returnable beverage keg with said vacuum arrangement to thereby reduce the volume of said non-returnable beverage keg and produce a volume-reduced non-returnable beverage keg;

said vacuum arrangement comprising a vacuum device and a connector being configured to connect said vacuum device and said interchangeable adapter; and

said vacuum device being connected to said connector by lines or connections on said connector and/or at least one additional connector bushing.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said connector comprises a keg tap configured to open valves of non-returnable kegs.

7. The arrangement according to claim 6 , wherein said interchangeable adapter is connectable to a flange around the opening of a non-returnable keg.

8. The arrangement according to claim 7 , wherein said interchangeable adapter is connectable by a coupling to at least one of said connector and a flange around the opening of a non-returnable keg.

9. The arrangement according to claim 8 , wherein said arrangement comprises a sensor configured to be disposed adjacent the opening of a non-returnable keg to measure the pressure or vacuum in a non-returnable keg, and said arrangement comprises a control unit connected to said sensor and configured to actuate said vacuum device on the basis of sensor signals.

10. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said method comprises reducing the volume of commercial, restaurant or food service, non-returnable, plastic kegs.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said method further comprises using a kit comprising at least two different interchangeable adapters, and wherein said step of using said kit comprises:

using a first type of interchangeable adapter for a first keg; and

using a second type of interchangeable adapter for a second keg, wherein an opening of said first keg is different than an opening of said second keg.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein said connector comprises a keg tap, and said step of using said connector comprises using a keg tap to connect said vacuum device and any one of said interchangeable adapters, and said keg tap is configured to permit the emptying of liquid present in a keg, and said method further comprises emptying liquid present in a keg through said keg tap.

13. The arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein said connector comprises a keg tap for commercial, restaurant or food service, non-returnable, plastic kegs.

14. The arrangement according to claim 13 , wherein said arrangement further comprises a kit comprising at least two different interchangeable adapters, and wherein said kit comprises:

a first type of interchangeable adapter configured to fit a flange around the opening of a first keg; and

a second type of interchangeable adapter configured to fit a flange around the opening of a second keg, wherein the flange of the first keg is different than the flange of the second keg.

15. The arrangement according to claim 14 , wherein said keg tap is configured to permit the emptying of liquid present in a keg.

16. The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein:

said keg tap comprises:

a connector bushing configured to be connected to at least one of: said vacuum device and a gas source configured to pressurize the interior of a keg;

a lever-actuated valve configured to be opened and closed to release liquid from a keg through said keg tap; and

a tube configured to conduct liquid out of said keg tap;

said kit comprises a plurality of closure structures configured to close an opening of a volume-reduced keg; and

said closure structures comprise one of: a sealing film, a membrane, a screw cap, and a bayonet closure.

17. The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein:

said keg tap comprises:

a connector bushing configured to be connected to a gas source configured to pressurize the interior of a keg;

an additional connector bushing configured to be connected to said vacuum device;

a lever-actuated valve configured to be opened and closed to release liquid from a keg through said keg tap; and

a tube configured to conduct liquid out of said keg tap;

said kit comprises a plurality of closure structures configured to close an opening of a volume-reduced keg; and

said closure structures comprise one of: a sealing film, a membrane, a screw cap, and a bayonet closure.

18. The arrangement according to claim 15 , wherein:

said keg tap comprises:

a connector bushing configured to be connected to a gas source configured to pressurize the interior of a keg;

a lever-actuated valve configured to be opened and closed to release liquid from a keg through said keg tap;

a tube configured to conduct liquid out of said keg tap; and

a branch connection configured to connect said tube to said vacuum device;

said kit comprises a plurality of closure structures configured to close an opening of a volume-reduced keg; and

said closure structures comprise one of: a sealing film, a membrane, a screw cap, and a bayonet closure.

19. A method of reducing the volume of non-returnable plastic beverage kegs, said method comprising the steps of:

using an interchangeable adapter to connect a vacuum arrangement to an opening of a non-returnable plastic beverage keg; and

evacuating air from said non-returnable plastic beverage keg with said vacuum arrangement and thereby reducing the volume of said non-returnable plastic beverage keg and producing a volume-reduced non-returnable plastic beverage keg.

20. The method of according to claim 19 , wherein said non-returnable plastic beverage kegs comprise non-returnable plastic beer kegs.