EP3535190B1 - Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee - Google Patents

Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3535190B1
EP3535190B1 EP17811984.8A EP17811984A EP3535190B1 EP 3535190 B1 EP3535190 B1 EP 3535190B1 EP 17811984 A EP17811984 A EP 17811984A EP 3535190 B1 EP3535190 B1 EP 3535190B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
stopper
needle
fluid
container
pressure
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EP17811984.8A
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German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
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EP3535190A1 (fr
Inventor
Jean-guy DELAGE
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Jalca
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Jalca
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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/046—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzles co-operating, or being combined, with a device for opening or closing the container or wrapper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/006—Adding fluids for preventing deformation of filled and closed containers or wrappers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/04—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied
    • B65B31/08—Evacuating, pressurising or gasifying filled containers or wrappers by means of nozzles through which air or other gas, e.g. an inert gas, is withdrawn or supplied the nozzle being adapted to pierce the container or wrapper
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/226—Additional process steps or apparatuses related to filling with hot liquids, e.g. after-treatment

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to the field of bottling, and relates in particular to a device and a method for the pressure conditioning of a container to be treated at least partially filled with a content and sealed with a stopper placed above. a head space of the container, and on an associated pressure packaging machine.
  • content is meant a liquid or semi-liquid food product intended to be marketed outside the cold chain such as an acid fruit juice, in a container, a container within the meaning of the present invention being an envelope.
  • a liquid or semi-liquid food product intended to be marketed outside the cold chain such as an acid fruit juice
  • a container within the meaning of the present invention being an envelope.
  • made of polymer material such as a bottle, provided with a stopper of known type, intended to hermetically seal the bottle after filling, generally with a screw.
  • liquid or semi-liquid food contents are sensitive to microbial development and the organoleptic qualities are very quickly modified in the absence of a sterilization treatment of pathogenic organisms and / or the presence of oxygen.
  • the heat treatment at high temperature of the order of 90 ° C for a few seconds also called flash pasteurization, is also applied to liquids or semi-liquids for food having a pH less than 4.7, such as juices by example.
  • the liquid is treated in a specific unit, prior to filling, which must be carried out in a sterile manner. It is therefore necessary to ensure that the chain remains sterile.
  • This known filling process consists in cold filling in a sterile environment, the container and its stopper being cold sterilized by means of a sterilization liquid followed by rinsing and the contents then being introduced into this container in an aseptic atmosphere.
  • the advantage is to use packaging which requires little material because the necessary mechanical properties are limited. The process does not generate volume variations linked to temperature variations. In addition, the necessary mechanical properties being limited, the exterior aesthetic forms are more free. However, the oxygen contained in the head space can be consumed and a vacuum occurs in the cylinder. It is therefore necessary to provide either a bottle resistant to this depression, or compensation for this depression.
  • a final solution among the main solutions known from the prior art consists in hot filling a package, that is to say in introducing the content brought to a high temperature directly into the container without the latter having undergone a sterilization treatment.
  • it is the content itself which ensures the sterilization of the container because it is introduced at a temperature allowing the destruction of pathogenic organisms, therefore above 73 ° C, generally 85 ° C.
  • the package is closed and then immediately agitated, generally by inversion, in order to heat treat all internal surfaces of the container, including the interior face of the stopper.
  • the plug in the case of hot plugging is a plug of known type, single material, obtained by molding, checked before fitting in order to avoid any fitting of a defective plug.
  • Such plugs are extremely inexpensive.
  • the drawback of hot filling is that it requires packaging which is resistant to temperature on the one hand and to the phenomenon of collapsing linked to the shrinkage of the volume of the liquid during cooling, on the other hand. which places the interior of said container in depression.
  • the oxygen in the air trapped during filling is also "consumed" after cooling by the liquid or semi-liquid food composition, which causes a delayed depression which may also cause additional deformation of the container.
  • the packaging must therefore be mechanically resistant and / or deformable, requires a large quantity of material and often a specific architecture with panels to resist the deformations of this packaging and / or to compensate for the depression by appropriate deformations.
  • funds can take two positions, one of which deformation inward under the effect of the depression so as to compensate for said depression.
  • the deformation of the bottom being under the bottle, this does not cause a problem with the stability of the bottle when it is placed on said bottom, only the hollowing out of the bottom is more pronounced, which is invisible, except when looking from below. It is understood that such a fund must be sophisticated, complex to produce and induce an obvious additional cost.
  • the aim which is also that of the present invention is to be able to proceed in particular with hot filling using bottles having as little material excess weight as possible compared with the containers used for filling in a sterile environment, cold.
  • WO 2009142510 A1 Another device also uses an even more specific plug, that described in the patent application.
  • This cap comes from manufacturing with an opening. After filling, the headspace is placed in a pressurized enclosure, a plugging pin is introduced into the hole made for this purpose, said plug being immobilized in the hole by means mechanical.
  • a plugging pin is introduced into the hole made for this purpose, said plug being immobilized in the hole by means mechanical.
  • the present invention aims to solve the drawbacks of the prior state of the art, by proposing a device and a method for pressure conditioning a container to be treated at least partially filled with a content and sealed with a stopper placed above a headspace of the container, said device comprising a cover with a needle and a heating cannula arranged therein such that their respective axes of movement intersect at a point in the material of the stopper or above the material of the stopper when the cover is docked on the stopper, the end of the heating cannula being convex, preferably hemispherical, which makes it possible in particular to be able to carry out a hot filling using bottles having a material excess weight as low as possible compared to the containers used for filling in a cold sterile environment, and which also makes it possible to compensate for the low pressure one in cold filled containers which can undergo deformation by depression, especially if the containers themselves have low mechanical strength.
  • the convex shape of the end of the heating cannula enables precise
  • the present invention therefore relates to a device for the pressure conditioning of a container to be treated at least partially filled with a content and sealed by a stopper placed above a head space of the container, said device comprising a cover which comprises therein a piercing needle, means for injecting fluid and a heating cannula for sealing by fusion, said cover being configured to be docked in a sealed manner on the outer surface of the stopper , said needle being adapted to move linearly to pierce a hole through the plug, said fluid injection means being configured to introduce a fluid into the head space through said hole, said heating cannula being adapted to move linearly to close said hole by melting the material of the stopper, characterized by the fact that the needle and the heating cannula are arranged in the cover so that q ue their respective axes of movement intersect at a point located in the material of the stopper or above the material of the stopper when the cover is docked on the stopper, and by the fact that the end of the heating cannul
  • the end of the heating cannula is preferably hemispherical.
  • said device for pressurizing a container to be treated makes it possible in particular to carry out hot filling using bottles having as little material excess weight as possible compared to the containers used for filling in a cold sterile environment, and allows also to compensate for the depression in cold filled containers which can undergo deformation by depression, especially if the containers themselves have low mechanical strength.
  • the needle and the heating cannula are inclined relative to each other so that their respective longitudinal axes of movement intersect at the same point in the material of the stopper or above the material of the stopper.
  • said point is located at the level of the center of the upper surface of the stopper.
  • the needle is movable, in the position of docking of the cover on the stopper, between a retracted position and a piercing position for piercing the stopper.
  • the heating cannula can be moved, in the position of the cover on the stopper, between a rest position and a closed position to close by fusion the hole formed in the stopper by the needle, the plastic material of the meltable stopper in contact with the heating cannula.
  • the needle is never in contact with the contents when piercing.
  • This device is preferably used for hot content filling, but can also be used for cold content filling.
  • the heating cannula makes it possible, by melting the plastic material of the stopper, to close the hole formed in the stopper by the needle, which makes it possible to guarantee the final sealing of the container while compensating for the vacuum in the container.
  • the container thus contains a content with a balanced pressure at least and preferably under a slight pressure so that the pressure difference internal with the external pressure of the container avoids generating any collapsing of the container.
  • the convex shape, preferably hemispherical, of the end of the heating cannula makes it possible to accurately verify the quality of the sealing by the heating cannula of a hole formed in the stopper by the needle.
  • the shape of the obturation formed by the convex heating cannula depends on the shape of the end of the heating cannula, on the temperature of the end of the heating cannula, on the contact time of the heating cannula with the stopper and the depth of penetration of the heating cannula into the stopper.
  • the temperature of the end of the heating cannula determined as a function of the material constituting the stopper, the contact time determined as a function of the desired treatment time, the a person skilled in the art will be able to adapt the depth of penetration into the plug by tests and measurements.
  • a characteristic mark of a certain diameter will be formed on the top surface of the stopper which, the shape, the temperature of the end of the cannula and the contact time being known, will ensure that the heating cannula has had sufficient penetration to guarantee a tight seal.
  • the device further comprises optical means configured to check the quality of the closure of the hole in the stopper by the heating cannula.
  • the optical means can be a camera or an optical fiber connected to an optical sensor.
  • the optical means can be arranged in the cover or on a downstream station on a production line having the device of the invention.
  • the device further comprises optical or inductive means arranged in the cover and configured to verify the integrity of the needle after drilling the hole.
  • a remote optical camera can monitor the filling level of the container at the end of the pressure conditioning process to detect a possible breakage of the needle. Indeed, during normal treatment, the content level must drop to a predetermined level, while in the event of no drilling and therefore no introduction of fluid, the content level will not drop.
  • a proximity detector system could also check for the presence of the complete and unbroken needle.
  • Such proximity detector systems could for example be a photoelectric or magnetic cell.
  • the needle has a pointed end in the shape of a cone.
  • said needle is more solid compared to a hypodermic needle with a bevelled end used in the prior state of the art, which makes it possible to prevent said needle from breaking during the piercing step.
  • Said needle provides a hole by penetrating the plastic material of the stopper, by deformation and pushing back of the material, without tearing of material. No waste of plastic plug material thus falls into the contents of the container.
  • the diameter of the drill hole must allow a combination of rapid inflation (largest possible diameter) and weld safety (smallest possible diameter).
  • a needle with a diameter of 0.7 mm seems to constitute a good compromise.
  • the diameter of the needle possibly being between 0.3 and 0.8 times the thickness of the stopper.
  • the thickness of the stopper is defined as the maximum thickness of the flat surface of the stopper from which the skirt of the stopper carrying the screw thread extends.
  • the needle is full, the fluid injection means comprising at least one fluid inlet capable of receiving a pressurized fluid and of injecting the latter at the inside of the cover docked in a sealed manner on the plug.
  • the full needle is withdrawn from the hole formed in the stopper in order to allow the introduction of the fluid into the head space of the container through said hole.
  • sterilization of the outer surface of the stopper before docking the cover on the stopper is mandatory so as not to pollute the contents during the introduction of the fluid into the head space.
  • the withdrawal of the needle during the injection of fluid also helps to avoid possible splashing of the contents on the needle during the introduction of fluid which creates turbulence of the surface of the contents, for an improved hygiene.
  • the pointed end of the needle is solid, and the remainder of the needle comprises a longitudinal central bore and at least two opposite side holes connecting said central bore with the outside of the needle.
  • the fluid injection means comprising at least one fluid inlet capable of receiving a pressurized fluid and of injecting the latter into the central bore of the needle at the end of the needle opposite the pointed end of the needle.
  • the needle is full at its tip but pierced at its center with two side openings, which allows fluid to be introduced into the head space of the container while the needle is still in its piercing position, the fluid being diffused laterally in the head space by the two lateral holes of the needle, thus making it possible to avoid in possible turbulence of the contents and splashing during the introduction of fluid.
  • This second embodiment makes it possible to avoid the prior sterilization of the outer surface of the stopper, which is an important point from an industrial point of view.
  • the needle is heated by a heating means.
  • heating the needle makes it possible both to sterilize the needle and to facilitate piercing of the plastic material of the stopper.
  • the needle is preferably heated to a temperature above 95 ° C for its sterilization and below 130 ° C to prevent possible melting of the plastic material of the stopper during piercing and sticking of plastic particles on the needle. needle which could then come off when piercing the stopper of another container in a subsequent cycle.
  • the temperature of the needle is preferably continuously maintained and controlled by a resistor / probe placed in the needle holder.
  • the present invention also relates to a method of pressure conditioning a container to be treated at least partially filled with a content and sealed with a stopper placed above a head space of the container, at the using a pressure conditioning device as described above, characterized in that it comprises the following steps: sealingly docking the cover of said device on the outer surface of the stopper; piercing a hole through the plug using the needle of said device; the introduction of a fluid into the headspace of the container via of said hole, made through the stopper, with the aid of the fluid injection means of said device, so as to obtain a residual pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure in the headspace of the container; sealing said hole by melting the material of the stopper using the heating cannula; and removing the cover.
  • said method of pressure conditioning a container to be treated makes it possible in particular to carry out a hot filling using bottles having as little material excess weight as possible compared to the containers used for filling in a cold sterile environment, and also makes it possible to compensate for the depression in cold-filled containers which can undergo deformation by depression, especially if the containers themselves have low mechanical strength.
  • the heating cannula temperature and contact time can be individually set to achieve the desired penetration / weld and are continuously monitored by the pressure conditioning device.
  • the temperature at the end of the heating cannula is of the order of 140 ° C - 220 ° C to ensure rapid melting of the plastic material of the stopper.
  • a minimum force for example using a cylinder controlled at 7 bars, is applied to the heating cannula to ensure significant compression of the plastic during the melting phase to fill the hole. Insufficient pressure from the heating cannula despite the correct temperature and contact time compromises the quality / tightness of the weld.
  • the Applicant has observed good weld marks for a contact time of 0.4-0.5 seconds, under 7 bars, with a temperature of 180 ° C at the end of the cannula, for high density polyethylene (HDPE) caps.
  • HDPE high density polyethylene
  • the cannula is heated by a resistance / temperature sensor connected to the device.
  • a water cooling circuit placed in the cover preferably ensures that the cover is maintained at a “reasonable” temperature.
  • the needle is withdrawn from the hole before the fluid introduction step.
  • the needle can be raised, before the fluid injection step, while maintaining the pressure between the cover and the stopper, the drilling is therefore "clean "without chips or waste by pushing back the plastic material of the stopper only, the withdrawal of the needle during the injection of fluid also making it possible to avoid possible splashing of the contents on the needle during the introduction of fluid that creates turbulence on the surface of the contents, for improved hygiene.
  • the needle is held in the hole during the fluid introduction step, the introduction of fluid taking place through the central bore and the at least two side needle holes.
  • the fluid is diffused laterally in the head space by the two lateral holes of the needle, thus making it possible to avoid the possible setting in turbulence of the contents and of splashing during the introduction of fluid, and also making it possible to avoid the prior sterilization of the outer surface of the stopper.
  • the method further comprises, after the blocking step, a step of verifying the quality of blocking of the hole in the plug using optical means.
  • Leak test systems are currently available to test the quality of the weld. However, for a hole of about one micron (which allows the return of the atmospheric pressure of the container in a week), the control time is about thirty seconds, so it would take a number of control covers fifteen times greater than the number of treatment covers, which is prohibitive.
  • the optical means therefore make it possible to check the quality of the shutter immediately after the shutter step when the cover is still docked on the plug, or on a downstream station on a production line in which the device is placed according to the 'invention.
  • the verification step comprises the following sub-steps: capturing, by optical means, an image of the plug at the level of the circular obturation formed by the convex heating cannula; measuring the diameter of the captured circular obturation; and comparing the measured diameter to a threshold value to determine whether or not the seal quality is acceptable.
  • the optical means allows visual control of the fusion obturation to measure the penetration of the cannula and guarantee the quality of the weld.
  • the step of introducing fluid into the head space comprises an introduction of fluid in an initial phase at a first pressure value, then an introduction of fluid in a final phase at a second pressure value less than the first pressure value for an acceleration of the method according to the invention.
  • the fluid in the case of hot filling at a temperature above 73 ° C, the fluid is introduced into the head space after cooling the contents to a temperature below 45 ° C. .
  • the fluid introduction pressure is configured to generate a residual pressure in the container, between 1.01 bars and 2.5 bars, and preferably between 1.01 bars and 1, 4 bars.
  • the fluid is an inert and sterile gas such as nitrogen, in particular in gaseous form.
  • the inert and sterile gas makes it possible to avoid causing subsequent oxidation of the content, after bottling. This prevents over-collapsing due to the subsequent consumption of oxygen since there is no or very little oxygen, the inert gas having largely replaced the air initially confined.
  • the method further comprises, before, during and / or after the step of docking the cover on the stopper, a step of circulating sterile fluid between the cover and the stopper, preferably an inert gas, more preferably nitrogen.
  • this circulation of sterile fluid makes it possible to prevent bacteria from entering the space between the cover and the stopper from the outside, in order to ensure the sterility of the container.
  • An overpressure is created between the stopper and the cap to maintain a positive pressure greater than or equal to the internal pressure of the container until sealing by fusion.
  • the method further comprises, before the step of docking the cap on the stopper, a step of sterilizing the outer surface of the stopper by one or more of point heating, chemical sterilization. , vapor, pulsed light emission or the like.
  • spot heating or chemical sterilization using a sterilizing liquid ensures the destruction of pathogenic organisms present on the outer surface of the cap.
  • a further subject of the present invention is a pressure conditioning machine comprising at least one pressure conditioning device as described above, said pressure conditioning machine further comprising means for holding the container in position relative to which the cover of the at least one pressure conditioning device is movable between a rest position remote from the holding means in the container position and in a docking position in which the cover is docked in a sealed manner on the stopper of the container to be treated.
  • the container to be treated 2 is at least partially filled with a content and sealed with a stopper 3 placed above a head space of the container 2.
  • the container 2 undergoes hot filling, and is a bottle, in particular made of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), of low weight, with a content, such as a fruit juice, brought to a temperature capable of destroying pathogenic organisms, namely a temperature above 73 ° C, in this case 85 ° C.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • a content such as a fruit juice
  • the container 2 is filled with the hot contents, it is stoppered by the stopper 3 of known type, namely an injection or compression molded screw cap, monolithic and single-material free of any additional sealing element.
  • the seal is obtained by contact under mechanical pressure of the material of the stopper 3, in this case its inner face on the material of the peripheral edge of the neck 2a of the container 2, the screwing making it possible to exert said necessary mechanical pressure.
  • the plug 3 is free from any mechanism or any other pressure compensation accessory.
  • the air trapped in the headspace is hot but at atmospheric pressure.
  • caps commonly used, in particular in the United States which are of the bi-material type with an internal membrane used to ensure only the seal between the surface of the neck of the container 2. and the cap 3 by compression during screwing, unlike the inner lip for single-material type caps.
  • this inner membrane for such a bi-material stopper does not have the characteristics necessary to ensure self-sealing of the stopper in the case of piercing using a needle and then removing the needle. out of the cap.
  • the container 2 is suitable for receiving a content at the sterilization temperature retained without degradation but is free of negative pressure compensation means.
  • the container 2 is set in motion immediately after filling with the contents, in order to bring all the internal surfaces of the container 2 into contact with the contents brought to the sterilizing temperature.
  • the container 2 and its contents are then cooled in a cooling tunnel by spraying water, for example, to bring the assembly close to ambient temperature.
  • container 2 When container 2 reaches a temperature below 75 ° C, due to the material which constitutes it, said container 2 collapses because the volume of gas and liquid is reduced by up to 3 to 5% inside container 2 This reduction increases as the cooling.
  • the collapsing phenomenon is close to its maximum at a temperature less than or equal to 45 ° C.
  • the pressure conditioning device 1 comprises a cover 4, also called the docking head, which comprises inside the latter drilling means 5, fluid injection means 6 and sealing means by merger 7.
  • the pressure conditioning device 1 further comprises a horizontal lower support 8 on which the container 2 is positioned, an upper horizontal support 9 comprising a notch 9a in which the neck 2a of the container 2 is inserted, and a vertical support 10 in which are connected the lower support 8 and the upper support 9.
  • the cover 4 is vertically movable, by means of a vertical displacement motor 11, between a rest position remote from the upper support 9 and a docking position in which the cover 4 is docked in a sealed manner on the plug 3 of the container to be treated 2. It is understood that the invention is not limited in this regard: either the cover is movable, docked on the container brought under the cover, or the cover is fixed, the container being brought into the hood.
  • the pressure conditioning device 1 is configured to implement a pressure conditioning method of the container to be treated 2 which comprises the following steps: sealingly docking the cover 4 on the outer surface of the stopper 3; drilling a hole through the stopper 3 by lowering the drilling means 5 towards the stopper 3; the introduction of a fluid into the head space of the container 2 via said hole, made through the stopper 3, using the fluid injection means 6, so as to obtain a residual pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure in the headspace of container 2; closing said hole in the plug 3 by melting the material of the plug 3 by lowering the fusion closure means 7 towards the plug 3; and the removal of the cover 4.
  • the different steps of the process will be described in more detail in Figures 2 to 6 .
  • the drilling means 5 can be reassembled, before the fluid injection step, while maintaining the pressure between the cover 4 and the stopper 3, the drilling is therefore "clean" without chips or waste by pushing back the plastic material of the stopper 3 only, the withdrawal of the drilling means 5 during the injection of fluid also making it possible to 'avoid possible splashing of the contents on the piercing means 5 for improved hygiene.
  • the stopper 3 used in this process is a conventional one-piece stopper, without an internal membrane and therefore inexpensive.
  • the container 2 thus contains a content with a balanced pressure at least and preferably under a slight pressure so that the internal pressure difference with the external pressure of the container 2 avoids generating any collapsing of the container 2.
  • the container 2 is partially filled with a content 12 such that a headspace 13 without content remains at the level of the neck 2a of the container 2, the container 2 being sealed by the stopper 3 placed above the head space 13 of the container 2.
  • the drilling means 5 comprise a piston 14 at the end of which is fixed a needle 15, said piston 14 being able to move linearly in a cylinder 16 formed on the cover 4, the stroke of the piston 14 being limited by a chamber of piston 17 formed in the upper end of cylinder 16.
  • the needle 15 is configured to pierce the stopper 3 when the cover 4 is docked on the stopper 3 and the piston 14 is in its deployed position.
  • the fusion closure means 7 comprise a piston 18 at the end of which is fixed a heating cannula 19, said piston 18 being able to move linearly in a cylinder 20 formed on the cover 4, the stroke of the piston 18 being limited. by a piston chamber 21 formed in the upper end of the cylinder 20.
  • the heating cannula 19 is configured to close by fusion the hole formed in the stopper 3 by the needle 15 when the cover 4 is docked on the stopper 3 and the piston 18 is in its deployed position, the plastic material of the stopper 3 melts on contact with the heating cannula 19.
  • the needle 15 and the heating cannula 19 are located in an internal cavity 22 of the cover 4.
  • the pistons 14 and 18 can be actuated electrically or hydraulically.
  • the wires for the electrical power supply or for hydraulic actuation of the pistons 14 and 18 have not been shown in the figures.
  • the heating elements making it possible to heat the needle 15 or the heating cannula 19, as well as their power supplies respective electrics, have not been shown so as not to overload the figures.
  • the fluid injection means 6 comprise several fluid inlets capable of receiving a pressurized fluid and of injecting the latter inside the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4, the cover 4 being able to contain up to five inlets of fluid 6.
  • the pressure conditioning method also comprises, before the step of docking the cover 4 on the plug 3, a step of sterilizing the outer surface of the plug 3 by spot heating, by chemical sterilization using a sterilizing liquid, by steam, by emission of pulsed light or by another similar process, in order to ensure the destruction of the pathogenic organisms present on the outer surface of the cap 3.
  • the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4 is always in excess pressure of sterile gas by a first fluid inlet 6, even before docking to maintain the sterility of the stopper 3 carried out previously.
  • the last two fluid inlets 6 could be used for the injection of a sterilizing fluid after docking and piercing and a rapid evacuation by suction of the sterilizing fluid before piercing.
  • the device 1 further comprises an optical camera C arranged in the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4 and configured to check the quality of the closure of the hole in the plug 3 by the heating cannula 19. This step sealing quality check will be described in more detail with reference to the Figure 6 .
  • the pistons 14 and 18 respectively of the needle 15 and of the heating cannula 19 are in their retracted positions, also called rest positions.
  • the cover 4 is docked in a sealed manner on the outer surface of the plug 3 such that at least part of the plug 3 is inserted into at least part of the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4.
  • the pistons 14 and 18 are arranged in the cover 4 so that their respective axes of movement intersect at a point situated in the material of the plug 3 or slightly above it when the cover 4 is docked on the stopper 3, said point preferably being at the level of the center of the upper surface of stopper 3 or slightly above, eccentric, depending on the shape of the heating cannula 19.
  • the pressure conditioning method can also comprise, after the step of docking the cover 4 on the stopper 3, a step of circulating sterile fluid, preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen, in the internal cavity. 22 of the cover 4 via some of the fluid inlets 6. An overpressure is thus created between the plug 3 and the cover 4 to maintain a positive pressure greater than or equal to the internal pressure of the container 2 until it is closed. by merger.
  • a step of circulating sterile fluid preferably an inert gas such as nitrogen
  • the piston 14 of the needle 15 is in its deployed position, so that the needle 15 is lowered to the stopper 3 and pierces a hole 23 through the material of the stopper 3.
  • the needle 15 is never in contact with the content 12 during the piercing.
  • the needle 15 produces the hole 23 by penetrating the plastic material of the stopper 3, by deformation and pushing back of the material, without tearing of material.
  • this piercing step is immediately followed by a step of raising the needle 15 into the rest position of the piston 14.
  • the pressure conditioning process can also include a verification step, using an optical camera or optical fiber connected to an additional sensor (not shown in Figure 4 ) disposed in the cover 4, the integrity of the needle 15 after the step of raising the needle 15, thus making it possible to optically verify whether the needle 15 is broken or not after the piercing step.
  • An additional optical camera remote from the cover can monitor the filling level of the container 2 at the end of the pressure conditioning process to detect a possible breakage of the needle 15. In fact, during normal processing, the level of the contents 12 must drop to a predetermined level, whereas in the event of no drilling and therefore no introduction of fluid, the level of the content 12 will not drop.
  • a proximity detector system could also monitor for the presence of the complete and unbroken needle, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the needle 15 is cylindrical and solid and has a pointed end in the shape of a cone.
  • the needle 15 is preferably heated by heating means (not shown in Figure 5 ), the heating of the needle 15 making it possible both to sterilize the needle 15 and to facilitate the piercing of the plastic material of the stopper 3.
  • the needle 15 is preferably heated to a temperature above 95 ° C. for sterilization and below 130 ° C to avoid possible melting of the plastic material of the stopper 3 during piercing and a sticking of plastic particles on the needle 15 which could then come off during the piercing of the stopper 3 of a other container 2.
  • the temperature of the needle 15 is preferably maintained and continuously monitored by a resistor / probe placed in the piston 14.
  • the pistons 14 and 18 respectively of the needle 15 and of the heating cannula 19 are in their rest positions, the needle 15 full being thus withdrawn from the hole 23 formed in the plug 3.
  • the sterilization of the outer surface of the plug 3 before docking the cover 4 on the plug 3 is mandatory so as not to pollute the content 12 during the introduction of fluid into the head space 13.
  • a fluid 24 is introduced into the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4 then into the head space 13 of the container 2 through the hole 23, made through the stopper 3, using one of the inlets of fluid 6, so as to obtain a residual pressure at least equal to atmospheric pressure in the head space 13 of the container 2.
  • the fluid 24 is an inert and sterile gas such as nitrogen, in particular in gaseous form, which makes it possible not to cause subsequent oxidation of the content 12, after bottling. This prevents over-collapsing due to the subsequent consumption of oxygen since there is no or very little oxygen, the inert gas having largely replaced the air initially confined.
  • an inert and sterile gas such as nitrogen, in particular in gaseous form, which makes it possible not to cause subsequent oxidation of the content 12, after bottling. This prevents over-collapsing due to the subsequent consumption of oxygen since there is no or very little oxygen, the inert gas having largely replaced the air initially confined.
  • the fluid 24 is introduced into the head space 13 after cooling the contents 12 to a temperature below 45 ° C.
  • the pressure for introducing the fluid 24 is configured to generate a residual pressure in the container 2, between 1.01 bars and 2.5 bars, and preferably between 1.01 bars and 1.4 bars.
  • the step of introducing the fluid 24 into the headspace 13 preferably comprises an introduction of fluid 24 in an initial phase at a first pressure value, then an introduction of fluid 24 in a final phase at a second. pressure value lower than the first pressure value. It is thus possible to greatly increase the pressure in the initial phase of pressurization immediately after drilling, and to have less pressure in the final phase. in order to adjust the final pressure just before fusion obturation.
  • the piston 18 of the heating cannula 19 is in its deployed position, so that the heating cannula 19 is lowered to the hole 23 formed in the stopper 3 by the needle 15.
  • the heating cannula 19 makes it possible to recap, by melting the plastic material of the stopper 3, the hole 23 formed in the stopper 3, which makes it possible to guarantee the final sealing of the container 2 while compensating for the depression in the container 2.
  • the shutter step is carried out within a period of between 0 and 5 seconds.
  • the pressure conditioning method can also include a step of verifying, using the optical camera C arranged in the internal cavity 22 of the cover 4, the quality of the closure of the hole 23 by the heating cannula 19, which thus makes it possible to optically verify whether the quality of the sealing of the hole 23 by the heating cannula 19 is good or bad.
  • the obturation leaves on the upper surface of the stopper a mark characteristic of the quality of the obturation by the heating cannula 19.
  • Said verification step comprises the following sub-steps: the capture, by the optical camera C, of an image of the plug 3 at the level of the circular obturation formed by the hemispherical heating cannula 19; measuring the diameter of the captured circular obturation; and comparing the measured diameter to a threshold value to determine whether or not the shutter quality is acceptable.
  • the optical camera C thus makes it possible to visually check the obturation to measure the penetration of the heating cannula 19 and to guarantee the quality of the weld.
  • the closing step is followed by a step of raising the heating cannula 19 to the rest position of the piston 18, then by a step of removing the cover 4 from the stopper 3.
  • the method according to the present invention allows hot filling in containers 2, for example made of PET, with reduced grammages of the order of 15% compared to the hot filling process with deformation of the container, which is a reduction of considerable material in view of the multiplying coefficient of the number of containers 2 products.
  • the container shapes 2 are in fact much more free and sober, and recycling is less expensive since the quantity of material used is less.
  • the method according to the present invention applies to all the filling methods and even to pressurizing containers 2 cold filled in a sterile environment, which one would not only want to compensate for a possible decrease in the volume of the head space 13 by consumption of oxygen but also to slightly overpressure to strengthen the mechanical strength, or even inject a neutral gas to replace the confined air in the head space 13 in order to preserve all the organoleptic qualities of the products that oxidation can alter.
  • the heating cannula 19 includes a cannula end 25 (which will be described in more detail at Figure 8 ) and a hollow cylindrical cannula holder 26 in which a part of the cannula end 25 is force-fitted, a part of the cannula holder 26 being force-fitted in the lower part of the piston 18 which is hollow.
  • a heating resistor / temperature probe 27 is disposed within the hollow cannula holder 26, the lower part of the heating resistor / temperature probe 27 being in contact with the cannula end 25, and the upper part of the tube.
  • heating resistor / temperature sensor 27 being connected to two electric wires 28 configured to bring an electric power supply to the heating resistor / temperature sensor 27.
  • the temperature of the cannula end 25 and the contact time can be individually set to achieve the desired penetration / weld and are continuously monitored by the pressure conditioning device 1.
  • the temperature of the cannula end 25 is of the order of 140 ° C - 220 ° C, preferably of the order of 180 ° C - 200 ° C, depending on the material constituting the plug 3, to ensure the rapid melting of the plastic material of the plug 3.
  • a minimum force for example by means of a jack controlled at 7 bars, is applied to the heating cannula 19 to ensure significant compression of the plastic during the melting phase to fill the hole 23. Insufficient pressure of the tube. heating cannula 19, despite the good temperature and good contact time, would indeed compromise the quality / tightness of the weld.
  • a water cooling circuit (not shown in Figure 7 ) placed in the cover 4 preferably ensures that the cover 4 is maintained at a “reasonable” temperature.
  • the cannula end 25 comprises a plate 25a, one side of which comprises a projection 25b configured to force-fit into the cannula holder 26, and the other opposite side of which comprises a hemispherical shaped stud 25c. It should be noted that the hemispherical shape shown is not limiting, and that any convex shape of the end of the heating cannula comes within the scope of the present invention.
  • the hemispherical shape of the stud 25c makes it possible to accurately check the quality of the sealing by the heating cannula 19 of the hole 23 formed in the stopper 3 by the needle 15.
  • the sealing formed by the shaped stud hemispherical 25c is circular, which makes it possible to measure, using the optical camera C, the diameter of the circular obturation produced to determine whether or not the quality of the obturation is acceptable.
  • the pointed end 29a of the needle 29 is solid, and the remainder of the needle comprises a longitudinal central bore 30 and two opposed lateral holes 31 connecting said central bore 30 with the 'outside of needle 29 near the pointed end 29a of needle 29.
  • the needle 29 could also include at least three lateral holes 31, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
  • the fluid injection means 6 comprise at least one fluid inlet capable of receiving the fluid 24 and of injecting it into the central bore 30 of the needle 29 at the level of the end. needle 29 opposite the pointed end 29a. The needle 29 is maintained in the hole 23 during the fluid introduction step, the introduction of fluid taking place through the central bore 30 then the two side holes 31.
  • the device, the method and the machine according to the invention can be implemented in a line of production, with one or more stations upstream or downstream, in which case a conveying device will transport the container to the station of the production line implementing the invention.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Non-Alcoholic Beverages (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
EP17811984.8A 2016-11-04 2017-11-02 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee Active EP3535190B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR1660720A FR3058396B1 (fr) 2016-11-04 2016-11-04 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee
PCT/FR2017/053004 WO2018083419A1 (fr) 2016-11-04 2017-11-02 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3535190A1 EP3535190A1 (fr) 2019-09-11
EP3535190B1 true EP3535190B1 (fr) 2021-01-06

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EP17811984.8A Active EP3535190B1 (fr) 2016-11-04 2017-11-02 Dispositif et procede de conditionnement en pression d'un contenant a traiter et machine de conditionnement en pression associee

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Country Link
US (1) US11034475B2 (ja)
EP (1) EP3535190B1 (ja)
JP (1) JP2019536701A (ja)
CN (1) CN109890705B (ja)
BR (1) BR112019008996A2 (ja)
FR (1) FR3058396B1 (ja)
WO (1) WO2018083419A1 (ja)

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CN111132923B (zh) 2017-05-30 2022-11-04 大卫梅尔罗斯设计有限公司 用于处理容器的混合方法和系统
DE102019104373A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104387A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104379A1 (de) 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen
DE102019104390A1 (de) * 2019-02-21 2020-08-27 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Herstellen von befüllten Behältnissen

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US20190329920A1 (en) 2019-10-31
JP2019536701A (ja) 2019-12-19
EP3535190A1 (fr) 2019-09-11
BR112019008996A2 (pt) 2019-07-16
CN109890705B (zh) 2021-06-22
CN109890705A (zh) 2019-06-14
FR3058396B1 (fr) 2018-11-09
FR3058396A1 (fr) 2018-05-11
WO2018083419A1 (fr) 2018-05-11
US11034475B2 (en) 2021-06-15

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