DE102005053005B4 - Method and device for bottling beverages - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for continuously filling plastic bags with a drink, comprising - a device (4) for introducing predetermined amounts of the heated drink into plastic bags; - A conveyor belt (6) onto which the filled plastic bags (15) are applied and which transports the filled plastic bags (15) through the heat-holding device (7), the cooling device (8) and the blower chamber (9); - A heat holding device (7) to keep the temperature of the heated beverage after the introduction into the plastic bag for a predetermined first time at the filling temperature; - A cooling device (8), having a tunnel-shaped cooling section with an inlet opening, through which the filled plastic bags (15) are introduced into the cooling device (8) by means of the conveyor belt (6), an outlet opening, via which the filled plastic bags (15) of the conveyor belt (6) leave the cooling device (8), a flow (11), at least one discharge device (12), a collecting device (13) and a return (14) for a coolant, the discharge device (12) above the conveyor belt ( 6) are arranged on the ceiling of the tunnel-shaped cooling section and the collecting device (13) below the conveyor belt (6) on the bottom of the tunnel-shaped cooling section, so that the coolant that is supplied to the discharge device (12) by means of the flow (11) and from it emerges in drops, falls down onto the filled plastic bag (15), then into the collecting device (13) d from there into the return (14); - A coolant circuit, which in addition to the flow (11), the at least one discharge device (12), the collecting device (13) and the return (14), which are formed in the cooling device (8), has a heat exchanger (23), the the coolant, which leaves the cooling device (8) via the return line (14), is fed in for countercurrent cooling of the coolant and for heating the beverage flow; and - a blower chamber (9) which has at least one blower (19) which blows an air flow from above and below onto the filled plastic bags (15), whereby the filled plastic bags (15) are dried; wherein the holding device (7), the cooling device (8) and the blower chamber (9) are formed in a common device, the holding device (7) the holding zone, the cooling device (8) the cooling zone and the blower chamber (9) the drying zone of the form a common device and the individual zones form a continuous tunnel, so that the filled, hot plastic bags (15) enter the inlet opening of the common device, pass through the hot zone, the cooling zone and the drying zone and leave the common device via their outlet opening.

Description

The invention relates to a method for filling beverages in containers, in particular in plastic containers, as well as a device suitable for carrying out the method.

The sterile and gentle filling of beverages, in particular of fruit juices, is carried out according to the prior art by cold aseptic methods or by hot filling.

The cold aseptic filling requires the highest hygienic and therefore very cost-intensive production conditions (clean room technology). Although this type of bottling has been on the market for years, there are still problems with the sterility of the juices, so that 100% sterility is not guaranteed when using the cold aseptic method. In addition, the rapid change of product and format is complicated by complex conversion work and the respective "sterilization" of the systems, so that the system can not be effectively used in their capacity. On the one hand, considerable amounts of cleaning media are needed and, on the other, the machines are stressed by starting and stopping. The cleaning and changeover time with cold aseptic filling is approx. 25% higher than with hot filling.

In contrast, in the case of hot filling of the fruit juices, the killing of all germs in the juice is ensured by the heating (pasteurization). However, the use of this method presents difficulties in filling fruit juices in plastic bottles or bags, especially plastic bags made of polyethylene. Due to the lower heat resistance of the plastics compared to glass bottles, filling of high-temperature fruit juices, which are generally about 90 ° C., is associated with the risk of deformation or even leakage of the plastic bag. For example, in the use of plastic bags, at the bottom of a tap unit for removing the bottled fruit juice from the bag is attached, with a permanent heat load that exceeds 45 ° C, a tightness of the tap unit can not be guaranteed. In addition, too long a heat retention on the quality of the fruit juices, as valuable ingredients are destroyed and the taste and appearance of the fruit juice suffer.

Another problem with hot-filling is the increase in volume of the liquid by heating. This is particularly disadvantageous when filling fruit juices in plastic bags, which are placed hot in a carton. The outer carton for this plastic bag must meet very specific requirements. For example, if it is too small, the plastic bag will not fit inside. If it is too large, the plastic bag slides back and forth during transport and can cut and leak at the adhesive edges of the outer carton.

Further, deformation of the outer carton occurs when the filled plastic bag in the heated state is discharged into a carton adapted to the dimensions of the plastic bag. Due to the good insulation of the carton, the fruit juice takes about 24 hours to finally cool down in a single carton.

When palletizing the outer cartons, the cooling of the fruit juice would even take several days. This slow cooling process is associated with a further loss of the quality of the fruit juice.

Alternatively, the plastic bags could be cooled in air and dispensed only after complete cooling in the cartons. However, this solution has the disadvantage that the filling process must be separated from the packaging process, so that a storage of the very sensitive in hot condition plastic bag is necessary. It is also conceivable to place the plastic bags in a cold water bath immediately after being filled with the hot fruit juice. However, this is associated with significant costs for the water. In addition, the plastic bags must first be dried before packaging, otherwise the carton would soften immediately.

DE 32 10 341 A1 discloses a pasteurization plant for liquids in which the liquids are heated by means of heat exchangers, filled into vessels in a filling device and cooled there. A heat retention of the liquids after filling is not provided.

The object of the invention is to eliminate the disadvantages of the prior art. In particular, a method is to be specified with which drinks can be filled into a plastic bag in a sterile and gentle manner.

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 3. Advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the features of subclaim 2.

• (a) kontinuierliches Befüllen von Kunststoffbeuteln mit einer auf eine vorgegebene Befüllungstemperatur erhitzten Menge des Getränkes;
• (b) Halten der befüllten Kunststoffbeutel in der Heißhalteeinrichtung bei der Befüllungstemperatur jeweils für einen vorgegebenen ersten Zeitraum, um eine Sterilisation des Getränkes zu bewirken, wobei die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel mit der Befüllungstemperatur in die Kühleinrichtung eintreten; und
• (c) Abkühlen der befüllten Kunststoffbeutel in der Kühleinrichtung auf eine vorgegebene Temperatur jeweils in einem vorgegebenen zweiten Zeitraum, indem die Kunststoffbeutel einen Kühlmittelstrom passieren; und
• (d) Trocknung der befüllten Kunststoffbeutel der Vorrichtung mit einem Luftstrom von oben und von unten mittels Gebläse in der Gebläsekammer;

wobei der Kühlmittelstrom im Kreislauf geführt wird und das Kühlmittel nach dem Passieren der befüllten Kunststoffbeutel in einen Wärmetauscher eintritt, dort die von den befüllten Kunststoffbeuteln aufgenommene Wärme an zu erhitzendes Getränk abgibt und anschließend erneut zur Abkühlung weiterer Kunststoffbeutel rückgeführt wird; und
wobei die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel auf einem Transportband durch eine gemeinsame Einrichtung, aufweisend die Heißhalteeinrichtung, die Kühleinrichtung und die Gebläsekammer, transportiert werden.According to the invention, there is provided a method for the continuous filling of a beverage in plastic bags by means of a device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising the steps

• (a) continuously filling plastic bags with a quantity of the beverage heated to a predetermined filling temperature;
• (b) holding the filled plastic bags in the hot holding means at the filling temperature for a predetermined first time period, respectively, to effect sterilization of the beverage, the filled plastic bags entering the cooling means at the filling temperature; and
• (C) cooling the filled plastic bag in the cooling device to a predetermined temperature in each case in a predetermined second period of time in which the plastic bags pass through a coolant stream; and
• (D) drying the filled plastic bag of the device with a flow of air from above and from below by means of blowers in the fan chamber;

wherein the coolant flow is circulated and the coolant after passing through the filled plastic bag enters a heat exchanger, there emits the heat absorbed by the filled plastic bags to drink to be heated and then returned again to cool other plastic bag; and
wherein the filled plastic bags are transported on a conveyor belt by a common means comprising the hot holding means, the cooling means and the blower chamber.

Preferably, the coolant is a liquid, more preferably water. Conveniently, the coolant is led to a discharge device, which causes an enlargement of the surface of the coolant (sputtering). Suitable discharge devices are, for example, nozzles which discharge in a planar manner, flat or round spraying cone-forming nozzles or devices which form a drop curtain. The coolant falls from the discharge down and meets the filled plastic bag, runs from this, is collected in a collecting line and guided to a heat exchanger. There, the heat is absorbed by the drink located in the plastic bag, transferred to a beverage stream, which is to be heated and then filled in plastic bag.

Coolant which has remained on the surface of the filled plastic bag after passing the coolant flow is blown off by means of an air flow. Subsequently, the dry plastic bag can be placed in a carton.

The inventive method allows the continuous sterile and gentle filling of plastic bags with drinks, preferably fruit juices. Due to the cooling of the hot plastic bags by means of the circulated coolant, a rapid reduction in the temperature of the plastic bag is achieved to a temperature at which the filled plastic bag can be packaged in a carton, without fear of deformation or damage to the carton or the plastic bag got to. As a result of the circulation of the cooling medium, the heat emitted by the filled plastic bags heat can be used to heat the beverage to be filled; Further, the coolant is not consumed.

• – eine Einrichtung zum Einbringen vorgegebener Mengen des erhitzten Getränkes in Kunststoffbeutel (Abfüllanlage);
• – ein Transportband, auf das die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel aufgebracht werden;
• – eine Heißhalteeinrichtung, um die Temperatur des erhitzten Getränkes nach dem Einbringen in den Kunststoffbeutel für einen vorgegebenen ersten Zeitraum aufrechtzuerhalten;
• – eine Kühleinrichtung, aufweisend eine tunnelförmige Kühlstrecke mit einer Eintrittsöffnung, über die die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel mittels des Transportbandes in die Kühleinrichtung eingeführt werden, einer Austrittsöffnung, über die die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel mittels des Transportbandes die Kühleinrichtung verlassen, einen Vorlauf, zumindest eine Austragungseinrichtung, eine Sammeleinrichtung und einen Rücklauf für ein Kühlmittel, wobei die Austragseinrichtung oberhalb des Transportbandes an der Decke der tunnelförmigen Kühlstrecke und die Sammeleinrichtung unterhalb des Transportbandes am Boden der tunnelförmigen Kühlstrecke angeordnet sind, so dass das Kühlmittel, das der Austragungseinrichtung mittels des Vorlaufs zugeführt wird und aus dieser tropfenförmig austritt, nach unten auf die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel fällt, anschließend in die Sammeleinrichtung und von dort in den Rücklauf gelangt;
• – einen Kühlmittelkreislauf, der neben dem Vorlauf, der zumindest einen Austragungseinrichtung, der Sammeleinrichtung und dem Rücklauf, die in der Kühleinrichtung ausgebildet sind, einen Wärmetauscher umfasst, dem das Kühlmittel, das über den Rücklauf die Kühleinrichtung verlässt, zum Abkühlen des Kühlmittels und zum Erhitzen des Getränkestromes im Gegenstromverfahren zugeführt wird;
• – eine Gebläsekammer, die zumindest ein Gebläse aufweist, das einen Luftstrom von oben und von unten auf die befüllten Kunststoffbeutel bläst, wodurch eine Trocknung der befüllten Kunststoffbeutel erreicht wird;

wobei die Heißhalteeinrichtung, die Kühleinrichtung und die Gebläsekammer in einer gemeinsamen Einrichtung ausgebildet sind, wobei die Heißhalteeinrichtung die Heißhaltezone, die Kühleinrichtung die Kühlzone und die Gebläsekammer die Trocknungszone der gemeinsamen Einrichtung bilden und wobei die einzelnen Zonen einen durchgehenden Tunnel bilden, so dass die befüllten, heißen Kunststoffbeutel in die Eintrittsöffnung der gemeinsamen Einrichtung eintreten, die Heißhaltezone, die Kühlzone und die Trocknungszone passieren und die gemeinsame Einrichtung über deren Austrittsöffnung verlassen.A device suitable for carrying out the method has a device for continuously filling plastic bags with a beverage

• - a device for introducing predetermined quantities of the heated beverage into plastic bags (bottling plant);
• A conveyor belt to which the filled plastic bags are applied;
• A holding means for maintaining the temperature of the heated beverage after being introduced into the plastic bag for a predetermined first period of time;
• - A cooling device, comprising a tunnel-shaped cooling section with an inlet opening through which the filled plastic bags are inserted by means of the conveyor belt in the cooling device, an outlet opening through which the filled plastic bags leave the cooling device by means of the conveyor belt, a flow, at least one discharge device, a collecting device and a return for a coolant, wherein the discharge means are arranged above the conveyor belt on the ceiling of the tunnel-shaped cooling section and the collecting means below the conveyor belt at the bottom of the tunnel-shaped cooling section, so that the coolant which is supplied to the discharge device by means of the flow and from this drop-shaped exit, falls down on the filled plastic bag, then into the collection device and from there into the return;
• - A coolant circuit, which comprises, in addition to the flow, the at least one discharge device, the collector and the return, which are formed in the cooling device, a heat exchanger, the coolant leaving the cooling means via the return, for cooling the coolant and for heating the beverage stream is supplied in countercurrent process;
• A blower chamber having at least one fan that blows airflow from above and below onto the filled plastic bags, thereby achieving drying of the filled plastic bags;

wherein the heat retention device, the cooling device and the blower chamber are formed in a common device, wherein the heat retention device, the heat retention zone, the cooling device, the cooling zone and the blower chamber form the drying zone of the common device and wherein the individual zones form a continuous tunnel, so that the filled, hot plastic bag entering the inlet opening of the common device, pass the hot zone, the cooling zone and the drying zone and leave the common device through the outlet opening.

The cooling device should be arranged at the outlet of the heat retention device.

The fan may be disposed at the exit opening of the cooling device, so that the air flow can blow off coolant from the surface of the filled plastic bag. Conveniently, a packaging device for introducing the filled plastic bag is also provided in cartons, which is arranged at the end of the conveyor belt.

For the proposed method particularly suitable plastic bags are plastic bags made of polyethylene. Preferred plastic bags have a capacity of three, five, ten or twenty liters of the beverage. The method and the device are suitable for bottling drinks in plastic bags and their packaging in cartons. For example, 300 to 500 plastic bags can easily be filled, cooled, dried and packed in one hour. The inventive method and apparatus according to the invention are particularly suitable for the production of so-called bag-in-box products, wherein the beverage bag containing the beverage (bag) is contained in a generally cuboid box (box).

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show

1 a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention and the process flow; and

2 a schematic representation of in 1 shown embodiment of the device according to the invention.

To 1 and 2 is the fruit juice by means of a fruit juice pump 21 via a line for the supply of fruit juice 1 with a temperature between 15 and 20 ° C, a heat exchanger 23 in a boiler station 2 fed. In the heat exchanger 23 the fruit juice is passed in countercurrent to the heated coolant, whereby the coolant is cooled and the fruit juice is preheated (for example, 38 ° C). The preheated fruit juice leaves the heat exchanger 23 and is over a connection line 5 a heater 24 in a boiler station 2 fed, in which the fruit juice by heat exchange with a medium for heating, the heater 24 via a separate line intended exclusively for the medium 25 is fed to a temperature of 90 ° C is heated. The heated fruit juice is then transferred via a supply line 3 to two parallel operated filling plants 4 guided and filled there in plastic bag. The closed, filled plastic bag 15 are transported by conveyor belts to a conveyor belt 6 transferred to the filled plastic bag 15 through the heat retention device 7 , the cooling device 8th and the blower chamber 9 to a conveyor belt 10 (Discharge belt) leads. The direction of the conveyor belt 6 is indicated by arrow A.

The filled plastic bag 15 be by means of the conveyor belt 6 through the heat retention device 7 in which they maintain the filling temperature (90 ° C). The length of the hot holding device 7 and the speed of the conveyor belt 6 determine the first period, d. h the time to sterilize the bottled fruit juice. The first period should be between 3 and 8 minutes, depending on the required holding time, and may be over the speed of the conveyor belt 6 be regulated.

Immediately to the hot keeping device 7 closes the inlet opening of the tunnel (cooling section) of the cooling device 8th at. The filled plastic bag 15 leave the holding device 7 with the filling temperature (90 ° C) and enter with this temperature in the cooling device 8th via its inlet opening. In the cooling device 8th be the filled plastic bag 15 cooled to a predetermined temperature (here: 35 to 40 ° C), leaving the filled plastic bag 15 at the outlet opening of the tunnel of the cooling device 8th have the predetermined temperature. The length of the tunnel (cooling tunnel) of the cooling device 8th , the speed of the conveyor belt 6 and the temperature and flow rate of the coolant determine the length of the second predetermined time period, ie, the time required to fill the filled plastic bags 15 containing the heated fruit juice to cool from the filling temperature to the predetermined temperature. The length of the cooling section is in a preferred embodiment 6 m.

The cooling device 8th has a lead 11 , a discharge facility 12 , a collection device 13 and a return 14 for the coolant, preferably water, on. leader 11 , Discharge facility 12 , Collecting device 13 and return 14 are components of the coolant circuit.

The coolant passes over the flow 11 in the cooling device 8th and is about the host institution 12 on the filled plastic bag 15 sprayed. From there, the coolant runs into the collector 13 For example, a stainless steel tub in which it is collected and over the return 14 from the cooling device 8th to be led. In one embodiment, the flow temperature of the coolant is between 25 and 30 ° C or in the case of in 1 shown embodiment at 35.6 ° C, the return temperature of the coolant is between 30 and 50 ° C. The filled plastic bag 15 are cooled by the contact with the coolant to the predetermined temperature (35 to 40 ° C) and leave the tunnel via the outlet opening of the cooling device 8th ,

The coolant is by means of a coolant pump 22 from the return 14 via the return line 16 to the heat exchanger 23 in the heating station 2 recycled. The heater station 2 has a heat exchanger 23 in which the heated coolant is fed countercurrently to the scented juice passing through the line for supplying fruit juice 1 in the heater station 2 entry. The coolant is brought to the flow temperature (25 to 30 ° C or in the case of the 1 embodiment shown 35.6 ° C) is cooled while the fruit juice is heated. By means of the heat exchanger 23 Preferably, 30 to 50% of the heat of the cooling water can be used to heat the cold fruit juice. In the heat exchanger 23 it is for example a plate heat exchanger.

The cooled coolant is released after leaving the heat exchanger 23 and the heater station 2 via the supply line 17 the forerun 11 supplied, whereby a closed circulation of the coolant is achieved. The closed coolant circuit is thus from the flow 11 , the delivery facility 12 , the collecting device 13 , the return 14 , the return line 16 , the heat exchanger 23 and the supply line 17 educated.

The cooled, filled plastic bag 15 that the exit opening of the cooling device 8th leave, enter the tunnel of the blast chamber 9 one. The blower chamber 9 has one or more fans 19 put on a stream of air from above and from below onto the filled plastic bag 15 blows, causing a drying of the filled plastic bag 15 is reached.

After leaving the blower chamber 9 are the dry, cooled and filled plastic bags 15 on a conveyor belt 10 transferred, a packaging device 20 fed there, packed in outer cartons and then a device 18 to mark the packed filled plastic bags 15 , For example, by printing on the cartons fed.

The hot holding device 7 , the cooling device 8th and the blower chamber 9 are formed in a common device (so-called tunnel system), wherein the hot holding device 7 then the holding zone, the cooling device 8th the cooling zone and the blower chamber 9 form the drying zone of the common device. In this case, the individual zones form a continuous tunnel, so that the filled, hot bags enter the inlet opening of the common device, pass through the holding zone, the cooling zone and the drying zone and leave the common device via its outlet opening.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Line for feeding fruit juice

2

Erhitzerstation

3

feed

4

bottling plant

5

connecting line

6

conveyor belt

7

Hot holding device

8th

cooling device

9

fan chamber

10

conveyor belt

11

leader

12

discharge device

13

collecting device

14

returns

15

filled plastic bag

16

Return line

17

supply line

18

Device for labeling

19

fan

20

packaging device

21

fruit juice pump

22

Coolant pump

23

heat exchangers

24

heaters

25

separate line

Claims (3)

Apparatus for continuously filling plastic bags with a beverage, comprising - a device ( 4 ) for introducing predetermined quantities of the heated beverage into plastic bags; - a conveyor belt ( 6 ) on which the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) and that the filled plastic bag ( 15 ) through the Hot holding device ( 7 ), the cooling device ( 8th ) and the blower chamber ( 9 ) transported; A holding device ( 7 ) to maintain the temperature of the heated beverage at the filling temperature for a predetermined first period of time after insertion into the plastic bag; A cooling device ( 8th ), comprising a tunnel-shaped cooling section with an inlet opening, over which the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) by means of the conveyor belt ( 6 ) in the cooling device ( 8th ), an exit opening over which the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) by means of the conveyor belt ( 6 ) the cooling device ( 8th ) leave a lead ( 11 ), at least one delivery device ( 12 ), a collection facility ( 13 ) and a return ( 14 ) for a coolant, wherein the discharge device ( 12 ) above the conveyor belt ( 6 ) on the ceiling of the tunnel-shaped cooling section and the collecting device ( 13 ) below the conveyor belt ( 6 ) are arranged at the bottom of the tunnel-shaped cooling section, so that the coolant, that of the discharge device ( 12 ) by means of the flow ( 11 ) is supplied and emerges from this drop-shaped, down on the filled plastic bag ( 15 ), then to the collecting facility ( 13 ) and from there into the return ( 14 ); - a coolant circuit, in addition to the flow ( 11 ), the at least one discharge device ( 12 ), the collection facility ( 13 ) and the return ( 14 ) stored in the cooling device ( 8th ) are formed, a heat exchanger ( 23 ), to which the coolant, via the return ( 14 ) the cooling device ( 8th ) leaves, is supplied to cool the coolant and to heat the beverage stream in countercurrent process; and - a blower chamber ( 9 ), which at least one blower ( 19 ), which directs a flow of air from above and from below onto the filled plastic bags ( 15 ), causing drying of the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) is reached; wherein the heat retention device ( 7 ), the cooling device ( 8th ) and the blower chamber ( 9 ) are formed in a common device, wherein the heat retention device ( 7 ) the heat retention zone, the cooling device ( 8th ) the cooling zone and the blower chamber ( 9 ) form the drying zone of the common device and wherein the individual zones form a continuous tunnel, so that the filled, hot plastic bags ( 15 ) enter the inlet opening of the common device, pass through the hot-holding zone, the cooling zone and the drying zone and leave the common device via its outlet opening. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that further comprises a packaging device for introducing the filled plastic bag ( 15 ) is provided in boxes, the device at the end of the conveyor belt ( 6 ) is arranged. A process for the continuous filling of a beverage into plastic bags by means of a device according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising the steps of: (a) continuously filling plastic bags with a quantity of beverage heated to a predetermined filling temperature; (b) holding the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) in the heat retention device ( 7 ) at the filling temperature each for a predetermined first period of time to effect sterilization of the beverage, the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) with the filling temperature in the cooling device ( 8th ) enter; and (c) cooling the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) in the cooling device ( 8th ) to a predetermined temperature in each case in a predetermined second period of time by the filled plastic bag ( 15 ) pass a coolant flow, wherein the coolant flow is recirculated and the coolant after passing through the filled plastic bag ( 15 ) in a heat exchanger ( 23 ), there from the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) dissipates absorbed heat to be heated drink and then again to cool other filled plastic bag ( 15 ) is returned; and (d) drying the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) with an air flow from above and from below by means of blower ( 19 ) in the blower chamber ( 9 ); the filled plastic bags ( 15 ) on a conveyor belt ( 6 ) by a common device, comprising the heat retention device ( 7 ), the cooling device ( 8th ) and the blower chamber ( 9 ), be transported.

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