EP0747298B1 - Méthode d'insertion d'une capsule émettrice de gaz dans une cannette pour boisson ayant un col de diamètre réduit - Google Patents

Méthode d'insertion d'une capsule émettrice de gaz dans une cannette pour boisson ayant un col de diamètre réduit Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0747298B1
EP0747298B1 EP96112244A EP96112244A EP0747298B1 EP 0747298 B1 EP0747298 B1 EP 0747298B1 EP 96112244 A EP96112244 A EP 96112244A EP 96112244 A EP96112244 A EP 96112244A EP 0747298 B1 EP0747298 B1 EP 0747298B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
capsule
gas
beverage
ring
insert
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96112244A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0747298A1 (fr
Inventor
Andrew John Reynolds
John David Skingsley
John Poley
Stephen Michael Freshwater
John Kelshaw Conway
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Heineken UK Ltd
Original Assignee
Scottish and Newcastle Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB929226780A external-priority patent/GB9226780D0/en
Priority claimed from GB939305726A external-priority patent/GB9305726D0/en
Priority claimed from GB939321599A external-priority patent/GB9321599D0/en
Application filed by Scottish and Newcastle Ltd filed Critical Scottish and Newcastle Ltd
Priority claimed from EP94902945A external-priority patent/EP0675835B1/fr
Publication of EP0747298A1 publication Critical patent/EP0747298A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0747298B1 publication Critical patent/EP0747298B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D85/00—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials
    • B65D85/70—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for
    • B65D85/72—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials
    • B65D85/73—Containers, packaging elements or packages, specially adapted for particular articles or materials for materials not otherwise provided for for edible or potable liquids, semiliquids, or plastic or pasty materials with means specially adapted for effervescing the liquids, e.g. for forming bubbles or beer head

Definitions

  • This invention concerns a method of inserting a gas-jetting capsule into a beverage can having a reduced diameter neck.
  • beer is intended to include any alcoholic beverage such as ale, beer, porter, stout and the like.
  • the can pressurisation has enabled thinner walled cans to be used and the use of non-oxidising gas for the pressurisation (after purging the can and contents of all oxygen), has ensured that oxygen will be absent from the interior of the can. If nitrogen is used, it will be taken up by, and become dissolved in the beverage, so that if the latter can be stimulated to give up the nitrogen on dispensing, a rich creamy head of nitrogen bubbles will be formed on the beverage.
  • the quantity of beverage in the secondary compartment is clearly minimised by inverting the can as has been commonplace between filling and pasteurisation since the introduction of the two-piece can following the published recommendation of the UK can manufacturer concerned as early as 1981.
  • This inversion causes the orifice in the secondary compartment to communicate with the gaseous headspace, as described in GB 2211813A Price.
  • Price design allows all the beverage to drain from the secondary chamber, this is only achieved if the can is not only inverted during processing but is then left inverted until just before being opened. Price suggested that to this end the can should be printed 'upside down' so that there would be a chance that the purchaser would place the cans in their inverted state whilst awaiting use. However, there was no guarantee that the cans would be so stored, in which event the lower compartment would be filled with beverage.
  • EP 360375A1 describes a further development which combines the advantage of the capsule of EP 227213A (in the gas can be trapped by the device when the can is upright) with the Price proposal for a diaphragm (so as to avoid the capsule fitting and retention problems). Clearly there will always be a charge of gas trapped below the domed diaphragm of EP 360375A1 which can be maximised (and the volume of beverage minimised) if the can is inverted and left so inverted as taught by Price.
  • EP 360375A1 described an alternative method of constructing a domed diaphragm and an alternative filling process in which the can is filled upside down, to ensure the compartment will be filled with gas before the can is turned over to stand on its base with the domed compartment at the bottom. Since the Specification envisages dosing with liquid nitrogen the pressure of the gas in the section of the can between the lid and the domed diaphragm will be greater than atmospheric very shortly after the can is sealed and this will ensure that a good charge of high pressure gas is available below the domed diaphragm when the can is subsequently inverted.
  • the trapped beverage represents lost revenue which can be significant in the case of alcoholic beverages, particularly ii tax is levied on the volume of beverage poured into the can rather than on the volume which can be poured out.
  • the loss of revenue can be mitigated in two ways:
  • PCT/GB90/01806 addresses the second option by proposing a sealed gas containing device into which beverage cannot ingress and which only opens to communicate with the beverage after the can has been opened and depressurised, so that there should be no reverse transfer of beverage into the capsule as gas leaves it.
  • the cost of production of such devices is not inconsiderable and the complexity of the pressure sensitive mechanism of the device to release the gas only when the can is opened, means that in practice there has been a relatively high failure rate, resulting in poor or even no head formation on beer dispensed from faulty cans.
  • EP 520646A1 describes a modified construction of the type of capsule described in EP 227213 which is also charged with gas from the headspace following headspace transfer by means of can inversion, as described in UK 2211813 Price.
  • the design of the capsule allows any beverage which has entered the capsule to be collected below the level of the aperture, so there is little tendency for it to be ejected ahead of or instead of the gas, provided the can is opened whilst upright.
  • the device has the same advantage as the Price design, in that as with the Price device, no energy is wasted in ejecting beverage into the contents of the can, and it is gas only which is ejected.
  • the design of the capsule in EP 520646A1 is in many ways also similar to that shown in GB 1266351 in that the orifice by which the secondary chamber communicates with the rest of the can points downwardly towards the base of the can, so that an air/liquid lock is formed and there will be little tendency for beverage to displace any of the trapped gas, unless the can is tilted.
  • the side tube design of GB 1266351 may of course include a small volume of beverage if there is a liquid exchange as during pasteurisation, or thermal cycling of the can during storage, and in this respect the capsule of EP 529646A1 is better than that of GB 1266351 in that there is no slug of beverage to force out ahead of the gas charge.
  • EP 520646A1 capsule suffers from a further problem in that, if as is likely to occur, some beverage does enter the capsule, since if the can is tilted with the orifice is on the underside of the capsule, any beverage trapped in the capsule will tend to occupy the position such as shown in Figure 2 of EP 520646A1, except that in this case the beverage will now overlie the orifice 12, which in Figure 2 is conveniently shown remote from the pool of liquid.
  • EP 520646A1 does not therefore solve the problems identified above regarding variability in the volume of retained beverage in the capsule and variability introduced into the gas jetting characteristic if a significant quantity of beverage occupies the interior of the capsule and can cover the exit orifice during pouring.
  • a method of inserting a gas-jetting capsule into a generally cylindrical beverage can having a reduced diameter neck wherein the capsule comprises a central chamber for containing gas and having an orifice through which gas is emittable as a fine jet, characterised by the steps of providing a resiliently deformable bounding ring which is connected by spokes to the central chamber and which when inserted into the can is a close fit within the larger internal diameter of the can, temporarily deforming the ring inwardly towards the chamber by squeezing opposite regions of the ring so as to define a generally oval shape, to permit the capsule to pass through the reduced diameter neck of the can, introducing the capsule into the can whilst so squeezed, and causing relative twisting between the can and the capsule so that the latter becomes co-axial with the can in the desired position within the can.
  • each spoke may be at least two spokes each longer than the radial distance between the capsule and the ring, so that each spoke extends non-radially therebetween and allows the ring to be deformed.
  • the method according to the invention may be applied to preformed (typically moulded plastics) capsules such as have been fitted to certain canned beers and stouts which conventionally are supplied in two piece spun aluminium cans in which the lid is seamed to the top of the can after filling.
  • preformed typically moulded plastics
  • canned beers and stouts which conventionally are supplied in two piece spun aluminium cans in which the lid is seamed to the top of the can after filling.
  • a spun aluminium can 20 having a domed base 22 and a cover 24 seamed thereto by a seam weld 26 is filled with beer or stout or other carbonated alcoholic beverages 28 to a level 30 leaving a head space 32 thereabove which contains gas.
  • the upper head space is pressurised during the filling process for example by liquid nitrogen dosing so that when sealed, a pressure in excess of atmospheric pressure exists within the can typically of the order of 4 bar.
  • a hollow insert 34 Situated and secured in position at the base of the can is a hollow insert 34 surrounded by a bounding ring 36 which is an interference fit within the can.
  • the hollow insert is partly cylindrical and tapers in a conical form on its underside.
  • a shoulder is formed within the conical surface at 38 within which is formed a very small orifice 40 which communicates with the interior of the insert in accordance with the invention in a manner which will be described later.
  • the can After sealing and before pasteurisation the can is inverted so that the seam 26 can be checked for leaks as is commonplace on conventional canning lines.
  • the pressure in the can becomes greater due to the rise in temperature, and because the headspace 32 has now transferred to the other end of the can due to inversion, it is the headspace which is in communication with the interior of the insert 34 through the orifice 40 and not the liquid contents 28.
  • the overpressure produced drives gas into the insert 34 to maintain a pressure balance and provided the can is left inverted for a reasonable period of time whilst the product cools (as is normal on conventional canning lines), the consequent reduction in pressure merely causes transfer of gas out of the insert which will otherwise remain largely filled with gas and not liquid.
  • Figure 3 merely shows in more detail how the insert can be supported within the can at the lower end thereof and the same reference numerals have been used to denote the same parts as shown in the various drawings.
  • the additional element shown in Figure 3 is the lid 42 shown fitted to the upper end of the cylindrical section of the insert 34 and the non-radial spokes 44, 46 and 48 which support the insert within the bounding ring 36.
  • Figure 4(a) and 4(b) illustrate an alternatively shaped insert in which the lower section is more hemispherical than conical, and a shoulder is formed by cutting away part of the surface of the domed wall 50 to define a shoulder 52 in which is located the orifice 54 (denoted as 40 in Figure 1)
  • the other feature shown in Figure 4(a) and (b) is the flexible nature of the bounding ring which is shown collapsed inwardly (as by squeezing) at two diametrically opposite regions to form a generally ovaloid shape to permit the structure to be inserted edgewise into the narrow neck of a can such as is shown in Figure 1.
  • rotation of the can relative to the insert will enable the bounding ring to interferingly engage the interior surface of the can and wedge the insert in position, and/or allows the structure to be pushed axially down the can to its desired position therein.
  • Figure 5 is a cross-section which shows one position for the orifice 40 and the provision of an upstanding standpipe 56 which communicates between the interior of the insert and the orifice 40.
  • an upstanding standpipe 56 which communicates between the interior of the insert and the orifice 40.
  • the gas trapped in the head space 60 is thus free to exit through the pipe and orifice 40 when the can is depressurised as when broached before dispensing its contents, and a good foaming froth head is produced by the emission of a stream of bubbles from the orifice in known manner.
  • FIG. 6 An alternative position for the standpipe is shown at Figure 6 in which a radially inwardly directed protrusion 62 accommodates the fluid passage.
  • the upper end of the standpipe or passage can be extended laterally so as to communicate with the centre line of the insert if desired.
  • the advantage of doing this is that the upper end of the passage 56, 62 is thereby located approximately on the centreline of the can 20, and thus renders the device substantially insensitive to can orientation when pouring.
  • a disadvantage is that this increases the volume of the standpipe and in the event the liquid is trapped in the standpipe an increased volume of liquid has to be ejected from the standpipe before the gas can escape.
  • Figures 7 to 11 show a method in accordance with the invention by which such an insert can in fact be located within a can.
  • the insert is located on an upstanding pedestal 68 with the conical or domed section of the insert pointing upwards.
  • the can 70 is then lowered at an angle over the insert and because the bounding ring 26 is presented to the can at a relatively sharp angle, the reduced diameter neck region of the can 70 will tend to squeeze the ring inwardly and deform the ring to enable it to enter through the reduced diameter section of the can.
  • the can can be titled into alignment with the axis of the support 68.
  • the insert will now be in the correct position and alignment within the can.
  • the insert By providing a releasable gripping device 76 at the upper end of the support 68, the insert can be released by operation of the release mechanism enabling the can together with the insert positioned therein to be withdrawn off the support 68 in an upward direction as shown in Figure 11.
  • the support is now ready for another insert to be positioned thereon and a further can lowered thereover in a similar manner to that illustrated in Figures 7 to 10.
  • the head 76 of the support prefferably has a diameter which is a clearance fit or better within the reduced diameter neck region 72 of the can 70.
  • a further advantage of a can fitted with an insert as described herein is that should beverage ingress, the insert can be in fact substantially emptied of unwanted beverage by subjecting the pressurised and filled can or bottle to temperature cycles whilst in an inverted position, so that the insert communicates with the gaseous head space.
  • Such temperature and pressure cycling does not have to be carried out at the same time as pasteurisation or immediately after filling and seaming but can be performed at any time provided the can is intact.
  • the capsule is denoted by reference numeral 78, the standpipe by 80, the lid by 82, the downwardly projecting protrusion 84 and the orifice at 86.
  • the capsule is shown fitted in a can 88 by fingers or spokes 90 and a bounding ring 92 which engages the interior of the can and holds the device in position at the bottom of the can with the spigot 84 touching the domed base of the can.
  • the spokes may be as shown in Figures 3 to 6.
  • the capsule operates substantially as described in relation to Figures 1 to 6 except that the gas jetting from the device now leaves substantially horizontally and thus creates a good swirling action in the can.
  • the domed lid 84 is optional, but if provided enables a larger volume of gas to be trapped above the standpipe 80 even if the capsule becomes filled with beer to the level of the latter, as may happen if the can is not turned over for a long time after the can has been pressurised during the canning process. This makes the position and therefore timing of the twist to invert the cans as is provided on conventional canning lines, less critical, and may allow lines to be used without modification since although some canning lines have the post filling twist positioned so that the cans are inverted within 3 seconds of filling, others do not do so until some 10 seconds or more after filling.
  • the sealed can is thermally cycled as between normal house temperature and the temperature of a domestic refrigerator, with the can in its normal upright position, there may be a further liquid-gas exchange such that more liquid is left in the capsule.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Devices For Dispensing Beverages (AREA)
  • Details Of Rigid Or Semi-Rigid Containers (AREA)

Claims (3)

  1. Une méthode d'insertion d'une capsule émettrice de gaz dans une canette pour boissons généralement de forme cylindrique (20) ayant un col de diamètre réduit, où la capsule comprend une chambre centrale contenant le gaz et possédant un orifice (62) à travers lequel le gaz est émis sous la forme d'un jet fin, caractérisée par les étapes qui consistent à fournir une bague de retenue déformable élastique (46, 92) qui est connectée par des rayons (44, 90) à la chambre centrale et qui, lors de son insertion dans la canette, tient juste dans le diamètre interne plus large de la canette, à déformer temporairement la bague vers l'intérieur et vers la chambre en pinçant les sections opposées de la bague dans le but d'obtenir une forme pratiquement ovale, afin que la capsule puisse passer à travers le col à diamètre réduit de la canette, introduisant la capsule dans la canette alors qu'elle est ainsi pincée, et à provoquer une torsion relative entre la canette et la capsule pour que cette dernière devienne co-axiale par rapport à la canette dans la position désirée à l'intérieur de la canette.
  2. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 dans laquelle la capsule est poussée le long de la canette vers la base de celle-ci après que la force de pincement ait été appliquée.
  3. Une méthode selon la revendication 1 ou la revendication 2 dans laquelle il y a au moins deux rayons (44; 90), chacun d'une longueur plus élevée que la distance radiale entre la capsule et la bague, afin que chaque rayon s'étende dans un plan non-radial et permette la déformation de la bague.
EP96112244A 1992-12-23 1993-12-23 Méthode d'insertion d'une capsule émettrice de gaz dans une cannette pour boisson ayant un col de diamètre réduit Expired - Lifetime EP0747298B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9226780 1992-12-23
GB929226780A GB9226780D0 (en) 1992-12-23 1992-12-23 Packaged alcoholic beverages
GB9305726 1993-03-19
GB939305726A GB9305726D0 (en) 1993-03-19 1993-03-19 Packaged beverages
GB939318696A GB9318696D0 (en) 1993-03-19 1993-09-09 Gas cannister for drinks can
GB9318696 1993-09-09
GB939321599A GB9321599D0 (en) 1993-10-20 1993-10-20 Head producting device for packaged beverages
GB9321599 1993-10-20
EP94902945A EP0675835B1 (fr) 1992-12-23 1993-12-23 Récipient pour boisson avec un dispositif pour la faire mousser

Related Parent Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP94902945A Division EP0675835B1 (fr) 1992-12-23 1993-12-23 Récipient pour boisson avec un dispositif pour la faire mousser
EP94902945.8 Division 1993-12-23

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0747298A1 EP0747298A1 (fr) 1996-12-11
EP0747298B1 true EP0747298B1 (fr) 1999-06-02

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ID=27514190

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96112244A Expired - Lifetime EP0747298B1 (fr) 1992-12-23 1993-12-23 Méthode d'insertion d'une capsule émettrice de gaz dans une cannette pour boisson ayant un col de diamètre réduit

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EP (1) EP0747298B1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
HUP0101495A2 (hu) * 1998-04-22 2001-08-28 Schmalbach-Lubeca Ag. Kétrekeszes tárolóeszköz, italtároló tartály, valamint eljárás ízesítő anyagnak italba való belekeverésére
CN102442484A (zh) * 2010-10-13 2012-05-09 王智毅 浓度/口味调整方法

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2183592B (en) * 1985-11-29 1989-10-04 Guinness Son & Co Ltd A A beverage package and a method of packaging a beverage containing gas in solution
GB2240960A (en) * 1990-02-15 1991-08-21 Guinness Brewing Worldwide Carbonated beverage container
AU8194791A (en) * 1990-07-11 1992-02-04 Ernest James Cameron-Price Carbonated beverage package
GB9202600D0 (en) * 1992-02-07 1992-03-25 Whitbread & Co Ltd Carbonated beverage container

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0747298A1 (fr) 1996-12-11

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