EP1915295B1 - Low-speed inerting means and device for using said inerting means for packaging a food product - Google Patents

Abstract

A packaging device for packaging a foodstuff within a receptacle includes an inerting unit having an empty zone, walls of the empty zone configured to receive an upper portion of the receptacle, and the walls being made of a porous material capable of passing an inert gas under pressure, and a closure means retractably disposed above the inerting unit, wherein the inerting unit is configured to pass the inert gas through the walls and into the receptacle, and the closure means is configured to retractably extend into the empty zone to seal the passed inert gas within a headspace volume of the upper portion of the receptacle disposed the foodstuff.

Description

The present invention relates to a low speed inerting means and a device using this inerting means for packaging a food product including a liquid such as wine or a similar beverage.

• un poste de remplissage du récipient par un gaz inerte,
• un poste de remplissage du récipient par du vin,
• un poste de dépôt de l'opercule sur le buvant du récipient,
• un poste de thermoscellage de l'opercule sur le récipient, et
• un poste de post-formage des bords de l'opercule pour les rabattre contre les parois du récipient.

The document EP 1235501 B1 describes a method for conditioning the wine in a container closed by a lid. During the implementation of this process, the container passes successively by:

• a filling station of the container with an inert gas,
• a filling station of the container with wine,
• a depositing station for the lid on the rim of the container,
• a heat sealing station of the lid on the container, and
• a post-forming station of the edges of the lid to fold against the walls of the container.

This method and the associated device are intended to extend the shelf life of the wine in the container by limiting the amount of air in contact with the wine.

According to a first variant of this method, the head volume of the container, namely the volume located between the lid and the surface of the liquid filling the container, is depleted of oxygen which is particularly useful when the liquid is wine. Indeed, oxygen causes an oxidation of the wine making it unfit for consumption in the short or medium term.

The document EP 1235 501 B1 specifies that it may be advantageous to fill the wine container in an inert environment, namely an environment composed of neutral gas. Although effective, the resulting device becomes particularly complicated since it is necessary to enclose the filling, sealing and heat sealing stations in a chamber that is saturated with inert gas in order to isolate the various stations. the ambient environment and therefore the ambient atmosphere. The cost of manufacturing the device and its cost of use, particularly because of the large quantities of inert gas to be used, then become important. In addition, there is the multiplicity of posts necessary to perform the packaging which is detrimental to their cost, maintenance and congestion. In addition, the enclosure must be completely filled with inert gas, the conditioning time becomes important which can generate a significant loss of profits.

DE-A-33 23 710 describes a device according to the preamble of claim 1.

The object of the present invention is to provide a low-speed inerting means associated with a device for conditioning a food product in an ambient environment under a locally inert atmosphere, as opposed to devices that perform packaging in an environment generally or even totally inert, minimizing the oxygen content of the head volume to preserve all risk of oxidation of this food product. In addition, given the phenomena described above, this device is particularly valuable for the packaging of wine in a container.

In addition, the present invention also aims to provide a packaging device having a reduced number of items for the sake of simplification and limitation of costs inherent in its manufacture and use.

According to the invention, the device and method for packaging a food product in a container is defined in claims 1 - 17.

This material then advantageously comprises between 15 and 100 pores per inch, the diameter of a pore being of the order of 5 to 100 micrometers.

In addition, the hollow duct is fed with an inert gas, heavier than air and may comprise a plurality of distinct gases, pressurized so that the inert gas can escape from the pores of the hollow duct at low speed under the form of micro-bubbles. Indeed, when under the action of pressure, the inert gas passes through the pores of the hollow conduit, the gas relaxes in arriving in the ambient atmosphere of the ambient environment and forms micro-bubbles. By definition, the speed of a micro-bubble of inert gas at this time is zero. Nevertheless, it will be animated with a very low speed being pushed by the micro-bubble next. The inert gas, being heavier than air, will fall to the bottom of the container to finally expel the oxygen initially found in the top of the container. In addition, its speed being extremely reduced, the inert gas is not likely to generate turbulent movements that could possibly imprison oxygen molecules in the container.

Moreover, to optimize the inerting the hollow conduit is endless, these walls having pores and being directed towards the container then delimiting a closed space capable of surrounding the container. According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the endless hollow duct has the shape of a ring. Thus, if the container is a glass, the inerting is carried out in a homogeneous manner which maximizes its effectiveness. However, depending on the shape of the container other configurations are possible, an endless duct square or two separate hollow ducts vis-à-vis for example. Similarly, according to a variant of the invention or the hollow conduit is not endless, this hollow conduit has for example a shape of U.

According to the invention, the device implementing said inerting means for conditioning in a surrounding environment a food product, such as a liquid or a paste or a solid for example, in a container under a locally inert atmosphere comprises at least one conditioning unit provided with a sealing station which is provided in the lower part with an inerting unit, the inerting unit being vertically displaceable and comprising the inerting means described above. As a result, the packaging comprises a closing phase carried out by the sealing station during which the inerting means impoverishes, or even eliminates, the oxygen content of the head volume of the container.

In addition, the inerting unit comprises a flange which carries the inerting means, this flange having an empty central zone and being secured to at least two vertically displaceable columns.

In addition, the sealing station also has upper and intermediate parts. The upper part of the closure station is provided with a lid reservoir for closing the partially filled container with a food product while the intermediate portion is provided with a tilting and vertically movable closing means. The closure means, the lid reservoir and the inerting unit are further arranged along the same axis.

In a variant, the closure means comprises means for removably shaping the covers.

In addition, the device is advantageously provided with a U-shaped conveyor having first and second lines, at least one conditioning unit being arranged between the first and second lines. Depending on the production rates desired, a larger number of packaging units will be provided.

The conveyor has the function of taking containers into the packaging unit or units. For safety, at least one control sensor, arranged at the inlet of a conditioning unit or before the first conditioning unit in case of plurality of the latter, verifies that an already inerted and closed container is not ready to enter a packing unit. Thus, an operator may replace the sealed container with a container to be packaged, for example.

In addition, the device comprises a control means whose particular purpose is to determine, depending on the type of container and the need, the duration of use of the inerting means during the closing phase.

Furthermore, the food product contained in the container may in particular be a liquid, a paste or even a solid, that is to say for example truffles or a salmon tartare. Indeed, in order to protect and preserve the aforementioned foods, it is strongly recommended to isolate them from oxygen. Thus, the present invention is particularly useful and effective.

Under these conditions, before proceeding to the sealing phase, it is necessary to perform a preliminary step during which the container will be partially filled with said food product, namely a liquid, a paste or a solid. It is of course conceivable to have the sealing station according to the invention at the end of an existing filling line. Similarly, if the operator uses the variant of the invention provided with the aforementioned U-shaped conveyor, this operator can install on the conveyor containers that would have been previously filled with a food product on another chain for example.

However, if the food product is a liquid and especially wine, according to a variant of the invention the packaging unit comprises a filling station which will be used during a preliminary phase. Thus, during this preliminary phase, the filling station produces an inert gas flow and a liquid flow, the flow of inert gas surrounding the liquid flow to isolate the latter from the ambient atmosphere of the ambient environment. The filling station then comprises first and second ports respectively for producing the liquid and inert gas streams, the second port surrounding the first port. In this way, the flow of liquid is not in contact with the ambient atmosphere during a filling phase, which is particularly advantageous if the liquid is sensitive to oxidation phenomena, as is the case for some wine.

In this configuration, the control means also has the function of determining the liquid filling rate and its duration.

• la figure 1, une vue schématique du dispositif selon l'invention,
• la figure 2, une coupe schématique d'un poste de remplissage,
• les figure 3 et 4, des vues selon deux axes différents d'un poste d'obturation, et
• les figures 5 à 9, des vues explicitant le fonctionnement du poste de remplissage.

The invention and its advantages will appear in more detail in the context of the following description, which illustrates a preferred embodiment, given without any limiting character, with reference to the appended figures which represent:

• the figure 1 , a schematic view of the device according to the invention,
• the figure 2 , a schematic section of a filling station,
• the figure 3 and 4 , views along two different axes of a shutter station, and
• the Figures 5 to 9 , views explaining the operation of the filling station.

The elements present in several separate figures are assigned a single reference.

In addition, Figures 1 to 9 describe a packaging unit provided with a filling station and a sealing station comprising an inerting means. This unit is well suited especially for conditioning a liquid. However, if the food product to be packaged is inserted into the container by means other than the filling station, it is understood that this item can be removed from the packaging unit. However, if the operator wishes to keep this pose for future use, for example, he may simply deactivate it temporarily using the control means of the device.

The figure 1 has a schematic view along the Z axis of the device D according to the invention.

It comprises a U-shaped conveyor 1 for moving the containers 31, glass or plastic for example, using conventional means, a conveyor belt 2 for example. So that the containers 31 are correctly positioned and to counteract any unevenness of the treadmill 2, the containers 31 are placed in buckets 30.

The conveyor 1 comprises a first 3 and a second 4 lines. Under these conditions, an operator 10 is placed at the level of the concavity of the conveyor 1. He retrieves the containers 31 which have been packaged by the conditioning unit 20, and which are therefore provided with a lid 32, and then replace them with empty containers 31. The empty containers 31 are thus conveyed by the first line 3 of the conveyor 1 to a conditioning unit 20 and come out of it, filled with liquid and sealed, by the second line 4 of the conveyor 1. It is of course understood that the unit 20 is itself provided with means for locomotion of the bucket assembly 30 / container 31.

Furthermore, to fulfill its function, the packaging unit comprises only two stations, a filling station 210 and a sealing station 220 respectively for carrying out a preliminary phase of filling and a shutter phase. The stations 210, 220 are directly in contact with the ambient environment, and therefore the ambient atmosphere, and not in contact with an inert environment.

During the preliminary filling stage, the filling station 210 injects a liquid into the receptacle 31, this liquid being isolated from the ambient atmosphere by an inert gas jet.

1. a) un moyen d'obturation saisit un opercule 32,
2. b) un moyen d'inertage appauvrit la teneur en oxygène du volume de tête du récipient 31 à savoir le volume se trouvant entre la surface du liquide et le buvant du récipient 31,
3. c) le moyen d'obturation scelle thermiquement l'opercule 32 sur le buvant du récipient, et
4. d) le moyen d'obturation post-forme les bords de l'opercule 32 pour les rabattre contre les parois du buvant.

At the end of this phase, the filling station 220 starts the closing phase, during which:

1. a) a closure means grasps a cap 32,
2. b) an inerting means depletes the oxygen content of the head volume of the container 31, namely the volume located between the surface of the liquid and the rim of the container 31,
3. c) the sealing means thermally seals the lid 32 on the rim of the container, and
4. d) the closure means post-form the edges of the lid 32 to fold against the walls of the rim.

• le débit et la durée de remplissage du liquide dans le récipient 31, et
• la durée d'inertage au cours de l'étape b) de la phase d'obturation.

In addition, the conditioning unit 20 comprises a control means 230. The latter controls the filling stations 210 and closure 220. It takes into consideration in particular the shape of the container 31, the nature and the volume of the liquid to be poured. in the container 31 to determine:

• the flow rate and the duration of filling of the liquid in the container 31, and
• the duration of inerting during step b) of the shutter phase.

A plurality of sensors (not shown) are connected to the control means 230, for example to indicate that a bucket assembly 30 / container 31 is ready to be filled by the filling station 210. Similarly, it is useful to position a sensor control unit at the entrance of the conditioning unit to verify that a conditioned container 31 having been for example forgotten by the operator 10, is not about to enter the packaging unit. If this is the case, the control sensor sends a signal to the control means which stops the device D so that the operator 10 can remove the container 31 which is the subject of the alarm.

The figure 2 shows a schematic section of the filling station 210. The latter is provided with a filling means 211 and an isolation means 212 respectively comprising a first O1 and a second 02 outlet ports. In addition, the filling means 211 and insulation 212 are respectively supplied with liquid by a pipe 214 and inert gas, nitrogen for example, by a pipe 213.

Thus, the filling means 211 is able to expel a flow of liquid F1 via its first orifice 01, the isolation means expelling on its side a flow of inert gas F2 via its second orifice O2.

When the bucket assembly 30 / container 31 is under the filling station 210, the isolation means expels a flow of inert gas F2. Then, the flow of inert gas F2 is not stopped, the filling means expels a flow of liquid F1, the liquid may be for example wine or an alcoholic liquid.

In addition, the flow of inert gas F2 surrounds the flow of liquid F1, these flows being concentric for example if the orifice O 2 is a ring. Nevertheless, according to the need it is conceivable to consider other geometrical forms. Similarly, the flow of inert gas F2 may have at least one angulation at its outlet from the orifice O2 to be directed towards the flow of liquid forming for example a cone.

Therefore, at the beginning of the process, the flow of inert gas F2 discharges the oxygen outside the container to the extent that the inert gas is a so-called heavy gas unlike the ambient air.

Then, at the actual filling stage, the inert gas flow F2 constitutes a sort of curtain which isolates the flow of liquid F1 from the ambient atmosphere. As a result, the liquid can not be oxidized during the filling phase, which is of great importance if it involves the conditioning of wine.

The figures 3 and 4 respectively show views of the shutter station 220 along the Y and X axes.

The sealing station comprises in the upper part a reservoir 221 of caps 32 having a very low permeability being for example composed of a laminated material comprising a layer of pure aluminum coated with a plastic layer. The reservoir 221 is fixed while being secured to the frame 225.

In addition, the sealing station comprises a sealing means 222 in the intermediate portion and an inerting unit 223 in the lower part.

The inerting unit 223 is movable vertically along the Z axis. It is arranged on two columns C1, C2. The latter are connected to a first and a second jack, arranged in series under the conditioning unit 20 and therefore under the conveyor 1, controlled by the control means 230 to be moved vertically from a low position to a high position. passing through a rest position, and vice versa.

In addition, the inerting unit 223 is provided with a flange 2231 slidable along the columns C1, C2. This flange 2231 carries an inerting means 2232. The inerting means 2232 and the flange 2231 have a central zone 2230 empty in order to be traversed at least partially by the sealing means 222 and the rim of the container 31.

During step b) of the closing phase, the inerting means 2232 makes it possible to deplete the oxygen content of the head volume V1 of the container 31. In order for this depletion to be effective, it is realized at the same time. using a heavy gas, nitrogen for example.

The inerting means 2232 is an endless hollow conduit, a hollow ring in this embodiment although another form is obviously conceivable as needed. One can thus have a hollow duct which is not endless and which then describes a U for example. However, when the hollow duct is endless, the walls 2233 of the duct which are directed towards the receptacle 31 delimit a closed space which surrounds this receptacle 31.

In addition, these walls 2233 comprise pores, being made for example of ceramic, the number of pores being between 15 and 100 pores per inch. The inert gas is then injected into the inerting unit at a pressure of the order of 0.1 bar to 3 bar. Under the effect of this pressure, micro-bubbles of inert gas leave the inerting unit 2232 by the pores of the walls 2233. In this way, the inert gas is deposited in the head volume V1 at a very low speed which guarantees the perfect success of the operation. The duration of the inerting operation is determined by the control means 230 as a function of the geometry of the volume V1.

Furthermore, the sealing means 222 is arranged on the columns C1, C2, the arrangement of the closure means 222 on the columns C1, C2 being produced using an axis AX1 whose ends EX1, EX2 cross two turntables 2221.

In addition to the possibility of vertical displacement, the closure means is free to switch 180 ° so as to face either the rim of the container 31 or the reservoir 221 of the caps 32. To do this, the end EX1 of the AX1 shaft is provided with a conventional rotary means, a rotary jack for example, and the end EX2 is free to perform a rotary movement about its axis of rotation while being fixed on the plate 2221.

Furthermore, the closure means comprises a heating means 2222 of its heating surface 2223 and a suction cup capable of grasping a lid.

The Figures 5 to 9 explain the closing phase of a container 31 which enters a sealing station 220.

During step a) of the shutter phase, represented by the figure 5 , the control means 230 instructs the rotary means to tilt the closure means 222 to bring it into line with the lid reservoir 221. The first ram then pushes the columns C1, C2 in order to put the sealing means 222 into position. high position. Under the pressure exerted by this translational movement, the suction cup 2224 seizes a cap 32. In addition, the columns C1, C2 are respectively provided with stop rings C1 ', C2' of the usual type, these rings stop C1 ', C2' also translate the inerting unit 223 when the first jack pushes the columns C1, C2.

At the end of this step, with reference to figure 6 , the control means moves the shutter means 222 via the first jack. Due to its weight, the inerting unit 223 slides along the columns C1, C2 to the stop rings C1 ', C2'. Then, according to the figure 7 , the control means sum the rotating means of tilting the closure means 222 so as to bring it into line with the rim of the container. The inerting unit unit 223 / closure means 222 is then in the rest position.

With reference to the figure 8 , step b) of the shutter phase can begin. The control means 230 instructs the second jack to move the columns C1, C2 downwards which induces downward translation of the inerting unit 223 and the sealing means 222.

The flange 2231 is then pressed against the rim 300 of the bucket 30. Inert gas, injected into the inerting medium 2232, comes out of the latter at low speed in the form of microbubbles. Due to its weight, it finally fills the head space V1 of the container, thereby expelling the oxygen possibly found there.

In parallel, the control means instructs the heating means 2222 of the sealing means 222 to heat its heating surface 2223. A temperature sensor not shown advantageously indicates to the control means whether the desired temperature is reached.

In accordance with the figure 9 , the shutter means then comes into action to seal the seal 32 previously entered. The control means 230 instructs the second cylinder to completely lower the sealing means 222 so that it can squeeze the lid 32 against the rim of the container. The inerting unit 223 being locked against the rim 300 of the bucket 30 does not move.

The flexibility of the suction pad 2224 has the consequence that the latter does not prevent the heating surface 2223 from pressing the cover 32 against the rim of the receptacle.

Under the effect of the heating surface, but also of the bearing force of the lid on the container, the temperature of the metal layer of the lid increases, thus causing a rise in the temperature of the plastic film of the lid. operculum in contact with the drinking glass and thereby its adhesion to the container.

As required, the temperature of the heating surface is between 80 ° C and 350 ° C. Likewise, the bearing force is preferably in the range of from 10 to 255 decaNewtons. To do this, the second cylinder is controlled by pressure which allows to precisely adjust said support force.

Finally, the heating surface may be provided with a not shown shaping means for post-forming the lid by folding these edges on the outer walls of the container rim. This shaping means is adapted to the shape of the container. As a result, it is removable by being attached to the heating surface by conventional means.

Naturally, the present invention is subject to many variations as to its implementation. Although an embodiment has been described, it is well understood that it is not conceivable to exhaustively identify all the possible modes. It is of course conceivable to replace a means described by equivalent means without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (17)

1. A device for acting in a surrounding environment to package a foodstuff in a receptacle under an atmosphere that is locally inert, the device comprising at least one packaging unit (20) provided with an inerting unit (223) including inerting means comprising at least one hollow duct (2232), the walls (2233) of said hollow duct (2232) that are directed towards said receptacle (31) being made of a material including pores, said hollow duct (2232) being fed with an inert gas under pressure, the device being characterized in that:

   . the packaging unit (20) is provided with a closure station (220) having in its lower portion, said inerting unit (223); and

   . the inerting means have an empty central zone (2230) so as to enable closure means and the rim of the receptacle to pass therethrough, at least in part.
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said material has pores at a density lying in the range 15 pores per inch to 100 pores per inch.
3. A device according to either preceding claim, characterized in that said material is a ceramic.
4. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said pressure enables said inert gas to escape from said pores at low speed.
5. A device according to any preceding claim, characterized in that said hollow duct is looped, said walls (2233) defining a closed space capable of surrounding said receptacle (31).
6. A device according to claim 5, characterized in that said looped hollow duct is in the form of a ring.
7. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said inerting unit (223) is displaceable vertically.
8. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said inerting unit includes an end plate (2231) carrying said inerting means, said end plate (2231) having an empty central zone.
9. A device according to claim 8, characterized in that said end plate (2231) is secured to at least two vertically-displaceable columns (C1, C2).
10. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that a top portion of said closure station (220) is provided with a supply (221) of capsules (32).
11. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that an intermediate portion of said closure station (220) is provided with closure means (222) that are tiltable and vertically displaceable.
12. A device according to claim 11, characterized in that said closure means (222) include removable shaper means.
13. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it includes at least one monitoring sensor to verify that an already-closed receptacle (31) is not penetrating into a packaging unit (20).
14. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that it includes control means (230).
15. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it includes a filler station (221) that produces a stream (F2) of inert gas and a stream (F1) of liquid, said inert gas stream (F2) surrounding said liquid stream (F1) to isolate it from said surrounding atmosphere.
16. A device according to claim 15, characterized in that said filler station (210) includes first and second orifices (O1 O2) for producing said liquid and inert gas streams (F1, F2) respectively, said second orifice (02) surrounding said first orifice (O1).
17. A method for acting in a surrounding environment to package a foodstuff in a receptacle under an atmosphere that is locally inert, wherein a device according to any one of claims 1 to 16 is used, and wherein the pressure of the inert gas lies in the range 0.1 bars to 3 bars.

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