EP4056357B1

EP4056357B1 - Perfume making apparatus and perfume making method

Info

Publication number: EP4056357B1
Application number: EP22160845.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierantonio Melandri
Original assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Current assignee: Sacmi Imola SC
Priority date: 2021-03-09
Filing date: 2022-03-08
Publication date: 2024-04-24
Anticipated expiration: 2042-03-08
Also published as: EP4056357A1

Description

The present invention relates to a perfume making apparatus and to a perfume making method.
The systems used industrially for making perfumes are typically constituted by a containment and maceration tank in which raw materials (essences) of natural origin and in some cases synthetic ones are brought to maceration.
Normally the essences are macerated for a variable time, on the order of days or weeks, so that the finished product is balanced optimally, so as to reach the levels of diffusivity and pleasantness that are expected from the perfume.
Maceration provides for the use of ethyl alcohol and is performed inside stainless steel containers.
Once maceration has ended, the mixture is refrigerated, typically between 0° and 4°, and subsequently filtered on adapted cartridge filters or pressed.
Although currently known solutions are widely used, they are not free from drawbacks.
In particular, it is necessary to use at least two different devices, a maceration tank and a press or filtration device.
This entails, in addition to the need for spaces for the placement of the various devices, also greater complexity in the management of said material, which must be taken from one device and sent to the next.
Document EP 3 530 447 A1 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.
The aim of the present invention is to provide a perfume making apparatus and a perfume making method that are capable of improving the background art in one or more of the aspects indicated above.
Within the scope of this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a perfume making apparatus that allows to simplify the maceration and extraction steps.
Not least object of the invention is to provide a perfume making apparatus that is highly reliable and safe, despite operating in the presence of ethyl alcohol.
This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a perfume making apparatus and a perfume making method, according to the independent claims, optionally provided with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the perfume making apparatus according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a lateral elevation view of the perfume making apparatus according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a top view of the apparatus of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the apparatus, taken along the plane of arrangement defined by the line III-III of Figure 2;
Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the apparatus, taken along the plane of arrangement defined by the line IV-IV of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the pressing membrane;
Figure 6 is an enlarged-scale sectional view of the edge of the pressing membrane.

With reference to the figures, the apparatus for making perfumes or food aromas, designated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprises a supporting framework 2 which rotatably supports a cylindrical enclosure 3 which forms internally a maceration chamber 4.
The term "perfumes", in the present patent application, refers to odorous products or mixtures based on liquid extracts, such as alcohol-based solutions, designed to obtain products or mixtures in the form of alcohol-based solutions, hydroalcoholic solutions, aerosols or used to prepare perfumed powders or mixtures, for the various uses, including use in the food sector.
Preferably, the cylindrical enclosure 3 is connected, at its longitudinal ends, to a first hub and a second hub 5 which are supported by the supporting framework 2.
One of the two hubs 5 is kinematically connected to a gearmotor 60 which is adapted to allow the rotation on command of the cylindrical enclosure 3 about its own axis of longitudinal extension 100, which in use is arranged on a substantially horizontal plane.
The cylindrical enclosure 3 forms, at the maceration chamber 4, at least one access port 6 for loading the essences in order to obtain the perfume and at least one duct 8 for feeding an alcohol-based liquid solution.
The essences, if the perfume making apparatus is used to obtain food aromas, can comprise for example fruit, fruit alcohol, vanilla, etc.
Conveniently, the access port 6 is designed to be used to perform the loading of essences and also the discharge of the residual pressed essences.
The access port 6 can be closed by means of a closure body 6a, which is supported by the cylindrical enclosure 3, and can be opened in order to allow the loading of the essences and for the discharge of the residual pressed essences.
The cylindrical enclosure 3 forms, at the maceration chamber 4, a plurality of liquid discharge openings 7.
The discharge openings 7 are connected to at least one liquid draining channel which leads into at least one discharge valve body 9.
The discharge valve bodies 9 are configured to pass from a closed condition, in which they ensure the seal of the cylindrical enclosure, to an open condition in order to discharge the liquid that exits through the discharge openings and allow the entry of air into the maceration chamber 4.
At least one pressure chamber 10 is furthermore formed inside the cylindrical enclosure 3 and is separated from the maceration chamber 4 by means of the interposition of at least one pressing membrane 11.
The apparatus 1 furthermore comprises a pneumatic device 50, which is adapted to introduce air or compressed gas in the pressure chamber 10 in order to deform the respective pressing membrane 11, so as to produce the compression of the alcohol-based solution and essences against the walls of the cylindrical enclosure 3 and the consequent outflow of the liquid from the maceration chamber 4 through the liquid discharge openings 7.
The apparatus 1 is provided with safety means adapted to reduce the risks of explosion.
In particular, according to the present invention, the apparatus 1 provides that the maceration chamber 4 also forms the pressing chamber.
In this manner there is no need to transfer the liquid of the end of the maceration into a different apparatus for pressing or filtering.
Advantageously, the apparatus 1 is provided with a control and actuation device, not shown in the figures, which is configured to control the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber 4.
Specifically, the control and actuation device is adapted to control means for inertizing the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber 4.
In particular, the safety means comprise the control and actuation device, which is adapted to control means for inertizing the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber 4, so as to reduce or eliminate the percentage of oxygen.
The control and actuation device is furthermore appropriately suitable to adjust the temperature inside the maceration chamber 4.
Specifically, the control and actuation device is adapted to control means for inertizing the atmosphere inside the pressure chamber 10 as well.
The control and actuation device is configured to actuate the transition of the maceration chamber 4 from the condition for maceration of the alcohol-based solution and of the essences contained therein to a pressing condition, in which it actuates the pneumatic device 50 in order to introduce compressed air into the pressure chamber 10, so as to produce the compression of the alcohol-based solution and of the essences against the walls of the cylindrical enclosure 3 and the consequent outflow of the liquid from the maceration chamber 4 through the liquid discharge openings 7.
The pneumatic device 50 furthermore comprises a motor-compressor assembly, which is connected to the pneumatic distribution assembly by virtue of means for conveying the compressed air produced by the motor-compressor assembly.
Preferably, the pressing membrane 11 comprises a plate-like structure which is covered by a film made of polyurethane material.
The cylindrical enclosure 3 is thus configured to ensure an internal pressure at least equal to 2.5 bars.
Advantageously, the motor-compressor assembly is adapted to provide said pneumatic distribution assembly with compressed air in order to obtain a pressure at least equal to 2.5 bars inside the pressure chamber 10.
According to one preferred practical embodiment, the pneumatic circuit 50 can be configured to introduce inert gas, for example nitrogen, into the pressure chamber 10.
In this manner, since there is no trace of oxidizer (oxygen) inside the cylindrical enclosure 3 during the operation of the apparatus 1, safety is ensured absolutely.
According to the invention, the pressing membrane 11 is fully antistatic.
Specifically, the pressing membrane 11 forms the safety means.
With reference to the embodiment shown in the figures, the cylindrical enclosure 3 is provided with a cylindrical side wall 3a which is closed at the longitudinal ends by a respective end wall 3b.
In particular, the cylindrical side wall 3a and the end walls 3b are made of stainless steel.
According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for making perfumes which comprises:

a step of loading an alcohol-based solution and essences into a maceration chamber 4 formed inside a cylindrical enclosure 3 which is supported rotatably by a supporting framework 2 and forms a plurality of discharge openings 7,
a maceration step, which comprises a step of keeping said alcohol-based solution and said essences inside said maceration chamber 4 for a set time;
a step of pressing the alcohol-based solution and the essences, which comprises a step of sending inert gas to at least one pressure chamber 10 formed within the cylindrical enclosure 3 and separated from the maceration chamber 4 by means of the interposition of at least one pressing membrane 11.

Safety means are furthermore provided which are adapted to reduce the risks of explosions within the cylindrical enclosure 3. Conveniently, the maceration step comprises the inertizing of the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber 4.
Inertization in practice provides the safety means.
Specifically, the inertization of the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber 4 provides for introducing inert gas, for example nitrogen, in the maceration chamber 4.
Preferably, the introduction of inert gas in the maceration chamber occurs through an intake port 20, which preferably leads into the feed duct 8.
Advantageously, the maceration step comprises a step of controlling the temperature inside the maceration chamber 4.
According to the invention, the step of sending inert gas is provided by a device adapted to inject inert gas such as nitrogen into the pressure chamber 10, through the intake port 20, in order to deform the respective pressing membrane 11 so as to produce the compression of the essences against the walls of the cylindrical enclosure 3 and the consequent outflow of the liquid from the maceration chamber 4 through the liquid discharge openings 7.
According to a preferred practical embodiment, it is possible to introduce, inside the maceration chamber 4, inert gas, for example nitrogen, in order to inertize said maceration chamber 4.
In this manner, since there is no trace of oxidizer (oxygen) inside the cylindrical enclosure 3, during the operation of the apparatus 1, safety is absolutely ensured.
In order to reduce the risks of explosion, it is also possible to provide, even if there is oxygen inside the cylindrical enclosure 3, for the use of a fully antistatic pressing membrane 11.
The pneumatic device 50 is functionally associated in particular with a pneumatic distribution assembly which is supported by the supporting framework 2 and comprises an intake duct which leads into the pressure chamber 10 and valve means for the control of the flow of compressed air or inert gas towards the pressure chamber 10.
The pneumatic distribution assembly can furthermore be connected functionally to the intake port 20.
In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects, providing a pneumatic press that is extremely efficient and capable of extracting all the liquid from the pomace.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept defined by the claims; all the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to the requirements and the state of the art.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

An apparatus (1) for making perfumes or food aromas, the apparatus (1) comprising a supporting framework (2) which rotatably supports a cylindrical enclosure (3) which forms internally a maceration chamber (4) which forms at least one access port (6) for loading essences in order to obtain the perfume or food aroma and at least one duct (8) for feeding an alcohol-based liquid solution, said cylindrical enclosure (3) forming, at said maceration chamber (4), a plurality of openings (7) for discharging liquid which are connected to at least one liquid draining channel which leads into at least one discharge valve body (9), at least one pressure chamber (10) being formed within said cylindrical enclosure (3) and being separated from said maceration chamber (4) by means of the interposition of at least one pressing membrane (11), said apparatus (1) comprising a pneumatic device (50) adapted to introduce compressed air or compressed gas into said pressure chamber (10) in order to deform the respective pressing membrane (11), so as to cause a compression of said alcohol-based solution and of essences against the walls of the cylindrical enclosure (3) and the consequent outflow of the liquid from said maceration chamber (4) through the liquid discharge openings (7) characterized in that said pressing membrane (11) is fully antistatic.
The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an actuation and control device configured to actuate the transition of said maceration chamber (4) from the condition for maceration of the alcohol solution and of the essences contained therein to a pressing condition, in which it actuates the pneumatic device (50) in order to introduce air or compressed gas into said pressure chamber (10).
The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuation and control device is configured to control the atmosphere inside the maceration chamber (4).
The apparatus (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said actuation and control device is adapted to actuate means for inertizing the atmosphere inside said maceration chamber (4) in order to reduce or eliminate the percentage of oxygen.
The apparatus (1) according to claim 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that said actuation and control device is adapted to adjust the temperature inside said maceration chamber (4).
The apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5, characterized in that said actuation and control device is adapted to actuate means for inertizing the atmosphere within said pressure chamber (10) in order to reduce the risks of explosions.
The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said pressing membrane (11) comprises a plate-like structure covered by a film made of polyurethane material.
The apparatus (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said perfumes comprise odorous products or mixtures based on liquid extracts and intended to obtain products or mixtures in the form of alcohol-based solutions, of hydroalcoholic solutions, of aerosols or used to prepare perfumed powders or mixtures, comprising use in the food sector.
A method for making perfumes, comprising:
- a step of loading an alcohol-based solution and essences into a maceration chamber (4) formed inside a cylindrical enclosure (3) which is supported rotatably by a supporting framework (2) which forms a plurality of discharge openings (7),

- a maceration step, which comprises a step of keeping said alcohol-based solution and said essences inside said maceration chamber (4) for a set time;

- a step of pressing the alcohol-based solution and the essences, which comprises a step of sending inert gas by a pneumatic circuit (50) to at least one pressure chamber (10) formed within the cylindrical enclosure (3) and separated from the maceration chamber (4) by means of the interposition of at least one pressing membrane (11), safety means being provided for reducing the risks of explosions inside said cylindrical enclosure (3).
The method according to claim 9, characterized in that said maceration step comprises the inertization of the atmosphere inside said maceration chamber (4), said inertization constituting said safety means.
The method according to one or more of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that said maceration step comprises a step of controlling the temperature inside said maceration chamber (4).
The method according to one or more of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that said perfumes comprise odorous products or mixtures based on liquid extracts and intended to obtain products or mixtures in the form of alcohol-based solutions, of hydroalcoholic solutions, of aerosols or used to prepare perfumed powders or mixtures, comprising use in the food sector.