EP4063110A1 - Press unit and method for controlling same - Google Patents

Abstract

Press (1) comprising a tank (2) provided with an orifice (4) for filling the tank (2), a pressurization orifice (5), a depressurization orifice (14), and a membrane sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank (2) into a treatment chamber (7) into which the tank (2) filling orifice (4) opens and a control chamber (8) in which opens the pressurization orifice (5) and the depressurization orifice (14), said treatment chamber (7) being equipped with at least one drainage zone (16) and said press (1) further comprising a device (9) for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the control chamber (8) and a control unit (10) for said device (9). The treatment chamber (7) is provided with at least one sensor ( 11) arranged inside the treatment chamber (7) and the control unit (10) is configured to acquire the data supplied by the pressure sensor (11) and to control the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the control chamber (8) as a function at least of the data supplied by the said pressure sensor (11).

Description

The present invention relates to a press and its control method.

It relates in particular to a press for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material such as harvest, said press comprising a tank provided with at least one orifice for filling the tank, at least a pressurization orifice, at least one depressurization orifice and at least one membrane for sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank into a treatment chamber into which the at least one filling orifice of the tank opens, and at least one control chamber into which the or at least one of the pressurization orifices and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices open, said treatment chamber being equipped with at least one drainage zone and said press further comprising a device for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber and a control unit for said device.

Such a device is known as illustrated in particular by the patent FR 2 873 617 . Such presses are intended to allow the pressing of manually harvested grapes or mechanically harvested grapes. In this case, the proportion of free juice can be between 20 and 60%. The operating principle of such a press is as follows: before filling the processing chamber with the harvest, the or each control chamber is placed under vacuum and the membrane is pressed against part of the internal wall of the tank. In a first phase called draining, the juices flow freely out of the tank through the drainage area. When the free juices are drained, the flow of juice becomes insufficient, the device is actuated to allow a pressurized fluid supply to the or each control chamber so that the material present in the treatment chamber is pressed against the area to facilitate the evacuation of juices through the drains of the drainage area. This phase of compression of the harvest by pressurizing the control chamber(s) is called the pressing phase. In general, several pressing phases are carried out and separates each pressing phase by a crumbling phase in which the cage is rotated to break up the cake of material that forms under the effect of pressure. The pressing phase is a sensitive stage. Indeed, the pressing must be perfectly controlled because it is known for example that the skins of grapes include components which can harm the quality of the wine if they are extracted with the juice. This pressing must therefore allow optimum extraction of the juices without harming the quality of the juices and the possibilities of automating the operation of the press. Other presses are known as illustrated by the patents FR-2.590.046 and FR-2.839.007 .

An object of the invention is to provide a press whose design allows controlled extraction of good quality juice.

Another object of the invention is to provide a press whose design makes it possible to precisely determine the necessary control pressure of the control chamber or chambers.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a press for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material such as grapes, said press comprising a tank provided with at least one orifice for filling the tank, at least one pressurization orifice, at least one depressurization orifice, and at least one membrane for sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank into a treatment chamber into which the at least one opens filling orifice of the tank, and at least one control chamber into which the or at least one of the pressurization orifices and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices open, said treatment chamber being equipped with at at least one drainage zone and said press further comprising a device for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber and a control unit of said device, characterized in that the treatment chamber t is provided with at least one pressure sensor arranged inside the treatment chamber and in that the control unit is configured to acquire the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors fitted the treatment chamber and to control the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the or each control chamber as a function at least of the data provided by said pressure sensor. Thanks to the presence of at least one pressure sensor capable of measuring the pressure inside the treatment chamber, it is possible to control the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber(s) and consequently the compression by the harvest membrane as a function of said pressure in the processing chamber. Thus, a large quantity of juice can be extracted at low pressure in the treatment chamber, which is a guarantee of the quality of the juices obtained. The design of the press indeed allows control of the pressure exerted on the harvest.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber is arranged in the drainage zone, the press comprises at least one memory for storing at least one pressure of setpoint and the control unit is configured to compare the or at least one of the setpoint pressures with the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber and placed in the drainage zone and to control the device to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber as a function at least of the result of the comparison. The fact that the pressure in the control chamber(s) is controlled from the pressure measured in the treatment chamber at the level of the drainage zone and from a setpoint pressure makes it possible to take account, at the level of the measurement of the pressure, the height of the harvest. Thus, thanks to this positioning of the pressure sensor, the control unit takes into account the height of the harvest, which corresponds to the filling level of the press. The control unit compares this measured pressure with the setpoint pressure and completes, via the control chamber(s) by pressurizing or depressurizing the control chamber(s), the pressure exerted on the harvest to reach the setpoint pressure. Thanks to this positioning of the pressure sensor, the risk of exerting on the grapes at the level of the drainage zone a pressure greater than the set pressure is avoided and the quality of the juices is improved. This arrangement of the pressure sensor allows extremely fine control of the pressure required in the control chamber(s) to comply with the desired setpoint pressure.

In practice, generally, during the pressing phase, the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber(s) can operate until the set pressure is reached in the treatment chamber. Once the setpoint pressure has been reached, it is maintained for a predetermined period which corresponds to the duration of the pressing cycle. At the end of the pressing cycle, the control chamber(s) are placed under vacuum and rotation of the tank can be controlled. The vacuum is generally controlled by a pressure sensor placed in the or at least one of the control chambers. However, the pressing cycle can be shortened by comparing the difference in the pressures measured in the treatment chamber and the control chamber or chambers.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the press comprises at least one sensor of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers and the control unit is configured to acquire the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers and to control the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to said control chamber as a function at least of the data provided by said sensor. The device for allowing the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber(s) can thus be controlled as a function of the pressure in the control chamber(s) and as a function of the pressure in the treatment chamber. Indeed, the control unit is configured to compare the or at least one of the setpoint pressures on the one hand with the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers, on the other hand, with the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors arranged in the drainage zone of the treatment chamber and to control the device for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber depending at least on the result of the comparison. In practice, as soon as the setpoint pressure is reached in the treatment chamber or in the control chamber or chambers, the pressurized fluid supply to the or each control chamber is interrupted. Pressing is continued for a period which corresponds to the pressing cycle unless the difference between the pressures measured in the treatment chamber and the control chamber(s) is constant such that the control chamber(s) must be placed under vacuum.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device for allowing the pressurized fluid supply comprises at least one control member of the device mounted to move between at least two positions, at least one of the so-called active positions of the one of the control members is in a position in which the or at least one of the control chambers can be supplied with pressurized fluid and the control unit is configured to control the movement of the said control member between at least its two positions as a function of at least the data provided by the or at least one of the pressure sensors fitted to the treatment chamber.When the control unit is also configured to acquire the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers and for controlling the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the said control chamber as a function at least of the data provided by said sensor, the control unit is configured to control the movement of the or at least one of the control members of the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the said chamber of control between at least its two positions as a function of at least the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device for allowing the pressurized fluid supply comprises, in order to allow the connection of the or each pressurization orifice of the or at least one of the control chambers to a source of pressurized fluid, at least one fluid connection.

According to one embodiment of the invention, said fluid connection is equipped with at least one closure member mounted to move between an open position and a closed position of said fluid connection, said closure member forming the or at least one of the control members of the device to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the control chamber.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the device for enabling the supply of fluid under pressure comprising a source of fluid under pressure, said source of fluid under pressure is equipped with an on/off member and said on/off member forms the or at least one of the control members of said device. It should be noted that the pressurized fluid source can be attached to or integrated into the press. In the case of integration into the press, the device for allowing the supply of pressurized fluid may comprise several control members arranged one at the level of the fluidic connection, the other at the level of the source of fluid under pressure.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the press comprises a vacuum generating device, said vacuum generating device comprising at least one vacuum generator, a connecting link of the or at least one of the orifices of depressurization to said vacuum generator and at least one shutter member mounted movable between an open position and a closed position of said connection. This vacuum generation device allows the or each control chamber to be placed under vacuum, in particular at the end of a pressing cycle. The shutter member can be controlled.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the pressurization orifices and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices of the or at least one of the control chambers are common. This results in a simplification of the construction of the press.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tank is a cylindrical tank delimited at least by a peripheral side wall and two flanges, the drainage zone comprises a plurality of drains extending inside the tank along the peripheral side wall of the tank parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank and the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber is arranged between two of said drains. Generally, the or at least one of the pressure sensors is arranged in the central zone of the arc of a circle formed by the drainage zone.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the tank, which is a cylindrical tank with a horizontal axis delimited by a peripheral side wall and two flanges closing the tank respectively at one end and the other end of the peripheral side wall, is a rotating tank. rotatably mounted around the horizontal longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the deformable flexible membrane is fixed in a sealed manner on the one hand, to the peripheral side wall of the tank along two opposite longitudinal edges, on the other hand, to the flanges along two respective transverse edges .

According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the orifices (4) for filling the tank is an axial orifice coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling a press to separate the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material such as grapes, said press comprising a tank provided with at least one orifice of filling the tank, with at least one pressurization orifice, at least one depressurization orifice and at least one membrane for sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank into a treatment chamber into which the at least one at least one tank filling orifice, and at least one control chamber into which the or at least one of the pressurization orifices and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices open, said treatment chamber being equipped with at least one drainage zone and said press further comprising a device for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber and a control unit for said device, characterized in that the ch processing chamber being provided with at least one pressure sensor disposed inside the processing chamber, the method comprises at least the acquisition by the control unit of the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber and the control by the control unit of the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the or at least one of the control chambers as a function at least of the data provided by said pressure sensor.

According to one mode of implementation of the method, the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber being placed in the drainage zone, and the press comprising at least one memory for storing at least one pressure setpoint, the method comprises a step of comparison by the control unit of the or at least one of the setpoint pressures with the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment and disposed in the drainage zone and a step of controlling the device to allow the pressurized fluid supply to the or each control chamber depending at least on the result of the comparison.

According to one embodiment of the method, the press comprising at least one sensor of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers, said method comprises at least the acquisition by the control unit of the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers and the control by the control unit of the device to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or at least one of the control chambers based at least on the data provided by said sensor. Thus, the supply of the or at least one of the control chambers with pressurized fluid can be controlled from the pressure sensor equipping the treatment chamber and from the pressure sensor equipping the or at least the one of the control chambers.

According to one mode of implementation of the method, the press comprising at least one memory for storing at least one setpoint pressure, said method comprises the comparison by the control unit of the or at least one of the pressures of setpoint on the one hand, with the data provided by the or at least one of the pressure sensors equipping the treatment chamber, on the other hand, with the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers and the control by the control unit of the device to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the or at least one of the control chambers depending at least on the result of each comparison. The supply to the or at least one of the chambers of pressurized fluid control is interrupted as soon as the setpoint pressure is reached by the pressure measured by one or other of the sensors.

Brief description of the drawings

• [Fig. 1] représente une vue schématique d'un pressoir conforme à l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] représente une vue schématique partielle en coupe transversale de la cuve du pressoir ;
• [Fig. 3] représente une vue schématique partiellement en perspective de l'intérieur d'un pressoir ;
• [Fig. 4] représente un logigramme illustrant un cycle de pressurage ;
• [Fig. 5] représente une courbe de la pression en fonction du temps, la ligne en trait plein représentant l'évolution de la pression mesurée par le capteur de pression dans la chambre de traitement, la ligne en pointillé représentant l'évolution de la pression mesurée par le capteur de pression dans la chambre de commande, la pression de consigne étant atteinte dans la chambre de commande ;
• [Fig. 6] représente une courbe de la pression en fonction du temps, la ligne en trait plein représentant l'évolution de la pression mesurée par le capteur de pression dans la chambre de commande, la ligne en pointillé représentant l'évolution de la pression mesurée par le capteur de pression dans la chambre de traitement, la pression de consigne étant atteinte dans la chambre de traitement ;
• [Fig. 7] représente l'évolution de la pression dans la chambre de traitement en fonction du niveau de remplissage en vendange de la chambre de traitement.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] shows a schematic view of a press according to the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ] shows a partial cross-sectional schematic view of the press tank;
• [ Fig. 3 ] shows a partially perspective schematic view of the interior of a press;
• [ Fig. 4 ] represents a flowchart illustrating a pressing cycle;
• [ Fig. 5 ] represents a curve of the pressure as a function of time, the solid line representing the evolution of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the treatment chamber, the dotted line representing the evolution of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the control chamber, the setpoint pressure being reached in the control chamber;
• [ Fig. 6 ] represents a curve of the pressure as a function of time, the solid line representing the evolution of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the control chamber, the dotted line representing the evolution of the pressure measured by the pressure sensor in the treatment chamber, the setpoint pressure being reached in the treatment chamber;
• [ Fig. 7 ] represents the evolution of the pressure in the processing chamber as a function of the level of filling in the harvest of the processing chamber.

Press 1, as illustrated in figure 1 and 3 , is a pneumatic press intended to separate the solid parts from the liquids, also called juice, from a material such as grapes. This press 1 comprises a tank 2. This tank 2 is here a cylindrical tank with a horizontal axis delimited by a cylindrical peripheral side wall 18 and two flanges closing the tank 2 respectively at one end and at the other end of the peripheral side wall 18 . This tank 2 is a rotary tank mounted to rotate about the axis horizontal longitudinal of the cylinder formed by the tank 2. For this purpose, the press 1 comprises a frame 3 on which the tank 2 rests. This frame 3 comprises posts resting on the ground and on which the tank 2 is rotatably mounted. The posts of the frame thus each support, for example, a bearing cooperating with a pin of the tank arranged in the center of each flange of the tank.

The press 1 further comprises a device 19 for driving the tank 2 in rotation. This device 19 for driving the tank 2 in rotation may comprise an electric motor carried by one of the posts. The rotating motor shaft of this electric motor carries a pinion which meshes directly or indirectly with a toothing of the tank 2. The tank 2 is provided with an orifice 4 for filling in the material to be pressed formed for example by a axial orifice provided on one of the flanges. The opposite flange is equipped with an axial orifice 5 for pressurization. This pressurization orifice 5 is common with a depressurization orifice 14 . Inside the tank 2 is arranged a deformable flexible membrane 6 fixed in a sealed manner on the one hand, to the peripheral side wall 18 of the tank 2 along two opposite longitudinal edges, on the other hand, to the flanges along two edges respective transversals. These transverse edges for connecting the membrane to the flanges extend, at the level of one of the flanges, on one side of a median or diametral longitudinal plane of the tank passing through the axial orifice 4 for filling the tank. 2 and the pressurization orifice 5, and at the level of the opposite flange, on the other side of said longitudinal median plane. The membrane 6 thus separates the interior volume of the tank 2 into two chambers, namely, one, called chamber 7 of treatment in which opens the orifice 4 for filling the tank 2 and the other, called chamber 8 of control, into which open the pressurization orifice 5 and the depressurization orifice 14 which are made here in common. Of course, these holes could have been made separately. Similarly, in the example shown, the tank has only two chambers but could, in a similar way, have a processing chamber and for example two control chambers arranged on either side of the processing chamber. .

The treatment chamber 7 is further equipped, at the level of the peripheral side wall of the tank, with doors to aid in the filling and/or emptying of the tank 2. This treatment chamber 7 further comprises a zone 16 of drainage of the juices contained in the tank 2. This drainage zone 16 comprises a plurality of drains 17 in the form of longitudinal drainage channels or perforated gutters. These drains 17 extend inside the tank 2 along the peripheral side wall 18 of the tank 2, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank 2. These drains 17 are in fluid communication with juice outlet means not shown, positionable above a collection tank 20 for transferring the juices leaving the tank through said drains 17 to said collection tank 20. As a variant or in addition, openings made on the peripheral side wall or a drain covering the periphery of the tank could have been envisaged.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the longitudinal drainage channels are formed by means of perforated profiled elements on the internal face of the wall of the tank, extending along the generatrices of said tank. These profiled elements form a filter screen due to the presence of orifices, such as holes or slots made in their wall. The collection tank 20 can itself be arranged at least partially under the tank 2.

The press 1 further comprises a device 9 for allowing a supply of fluid, in particular pressurized gas, to the control chamber 8 and a control unit 10 of said device 9. The device 9 allows the admission, into the chamber 8 control, compressed gas which can be compressed air, during the pressing phases. The device 9, to allow the pressurized fluid supply, comprises, to allow the connection of said pressurization orifice 5 of the control chamber 8 to a source 92 of pressurized fluid, a fluidic connection 91 . At least part of this fluid connection 91 can be formed by the hollow trunnion fitted to the pressurization orifice 5 of the tank 2, this trunnion resting in a bearing of the post of the support frame of the tank 2. The source 92 of fluid under pressure can be a compressor, a compressed air network or other. This source 92 of fluid under pressure can be integrated into the press 1 or attached to the press 1.

The press 1 further comprises a device 15 for generating vacuum. The device 15 for generating vacuum comprises a generator 151 of vacuum, such as a vacuum pump, a link 152 for connecting the orifice 14 of depressurization to the vacuum generator 151, a member 153, such as a solenoid valve, for closing said connecting link 152 mounted movable between an open position and a closed position of said link 152. The passage of the member 153 of Closing from one position to another can be controlled using the control unit 10 mentioned above.

The device 15 for generating vacuum allows the suction of gas, such as compressed air, in the control chamber 8, in particular during the phases of filling, crumbling and emptying of the tank 2. It is understood that, when the control chamber 8 is depressed, the membrane tends to be pressed against the walls of the tank serving to delimit said control chamber 8, which allows, during the filling of the treatment chamber 7 , to optimize the available volume of the treatment chamber 7 . In the pressurized state of the control chamber 8, the membrane tends to be pressed in the direction of the drains 17 so as to press the material to extract the juice which then flows out of the tank through the drains 17. The possibility to pressurize and depressurize the control chamber 8 also makes it possible to apply to the membrane back and forth movements of the membrane against the material to be treated in order to press it effectively to extract the juices therefrom.

The control unit 10 is in the form of an electronic and computer system which comprises for example a microprocessor and a working memory. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the control unit 10 can take the form of a programmable automaton. In other words, the functions and steps described can be implemented in the form of a computer program or via hardware components, for example programmable gate networks. In particular, the functions and steps performed by the control unit or these modules can be performed by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller, or be performed by dedicated electronic components or FPGA-type components. or ASICs. It is also possible to combine computer parts and electronic parts. When it is specified that the unit or means or modules of said unit are configured to carry out a given operation, this means that the unit includes instructions computers and the corresponding means of execution which make it possible to carry out said operation and/or that the unit comprises corresponding electronic components.

Characteristically to the invention, the processing chamber 7 is provided with at least one pressure sensor 11 disposed inside the processing chamber 7 and the control unit 10 is configured to acquire the data provided by the or at least one of the pressure sensors 11 equipping the treatment chamber 7 and to control the device 9 to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the or each control chamber 8 as a function at least of the data provided by said pressure sensor 11.

The press 1 comprises at least one memory 12 for storing at least one setpoint pressure which can be entered using a man/machine interface by the operator into said memory 12 for storing. The control unit 10 is configured to compare the or at least one of the setpoint pressures with the data provided by the or at least one of the pressure sensors 11 equipping the treatment chamber 7 and to control the device 9 to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber 8 depending at least on the result of the comparison.

In particular, the control unit 10 is configured to control the stopping of the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8 when the pressure of the pressure sensor 11 is equal to the setpoint pressure.

In the examples shown, the press 1 further comprises at least one sensor 13 of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers 8 . This pressure sensor 13 is arranged on a fluid connection of the device 9 to allow the supply of pressurized fluid which will be described in detail below. The control unit 10 is configured to acquire the data supplied by the or at least one of the sensors 13 of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers 8 and to control the device 9 to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to said control chamber 8 as a function of at least the data provided by said sensor 13. In particular, the control unit 10 is configured to compare the or at least one of the setpoint pressures with the data provided by the or at least one of the sensors 13 of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers 8 and to control the device 9 to allow the fluid supply under pressure to the control chamber 8 as a function at least of the result of the comparison. Again, the control unit 10 is configured to stop the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8 when the pressure measured by the sensor 13 of a parameter representative of the pressure of the control chamber 8 measures a pressure at least equal to the setpoint pressure. The control of the device 9 to allow the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8, makes it possible to authorize or prohibit such a supply of pressurized fluid to the control chamber 8.

In the example shown, the device 9 for allowing the pressurized fluid supply comprises at least one control member 93 of the device 9 mounted to move between at least two positions. At least one of the so-called active positions of the or of one of the control members 93 is a position in which the control chamber 8 can be supplied with pressurized fluid and the control unit 10 is configured to control the movement of said control member 93 between at least its two positions depending at least on the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors 11 fitted to the treatment chamber 7 .

In the case where the source 92 of pressurized fluid is integrated into the press 1, the source 92 of pressurized fluid can be equipped with a start/stop member 920 and said start/stop member 920 forms the or at least one control members 93 of said device 9 to allow the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8.

In the case where the source 92 of pressurized fluid is independent of the press, the fluid connection 91 of the control chamber 8 to the source 92 of pressurized fluid can be a closable connection equipped with at least one closure member 910 movably mounted between an open position and a closed position of said fluid connection 91. Indeed, the device 9, to allow the pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8, comprises, to allow the connection of the pressurization orifice 5 of the chamber 8 control at the source 92 of pressurized fluid, a fluid connection 91 in the form of a conduit. The shutter member 910 can be formed by a simple solenoid valve. Thus, in the example shown in picture 3 , the fluid connection 91 of the source 92 of pressurized fluid to the pressurization orifice 5 and the fluid connection 152 connecting the depressurization orifice 14 to the vacuum generator 151 are at least partially common. On their non-common parts, are arranged each time a closure member of said connection. The sensor 13 of a parameter representative of the pressure of the control chamber 8 is arranged on the common part of said connections. This sensor 13 can be a pressure sensor.

Note that in the examples shown, the pressure sensor 11 fitted to the treatment chamber 7 is placed in the drainage zone 16 . In particular, the pressure sensor 11 fitted to the treatment chamber 7 is arranged between two of said drains 17, for example in the central zone of the arc of a circle formed by the drainage zone, as illustrated in figure 7 . Obviously, a location of the pressure sensor 11 between two drains 17 in a part of the drainage zone other than the part of the central zone can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention. This positioning of the pressure sensor 11 in the treatment chamber 7 at the level of the drainage zone 16 is particularly important and allows the height of the harvest to be taken into consideration to adjust the pressure at the level of the control chamber(s). This height of the harvest can be essential when filling can take place continuously, as is the case when the tank is provided with an axial filling orifice. The figure 7 illustrates by zones A, B, C the variation of the pressure as the filling progresses. This positioning also makes it possible to take into consideration the difference between the pressures measured in the treatment chamber and the control chamber(s) and to act as quickly as possible to interrupt the pressing and control the vacuuming of the ordered.

Thanks to such a press, the pressing operation takes place as follows. Before filling the processing chamber 7 with material, such as grapes, the air or any other officer of equivalent pressure outside the control chamber 8 of the tank 2 so that the vacuum is produced there and that the membrane 6 presses against the parts of the cylinder body and the flanges of the tank serving to limit said chamber 8 control. The vacuum generation device 15 is controlled by the control unit 10 using the pressure sensor 13 fitted to at least the or one of the control chambers 8 . The filling of the tank of the press with the material to be pressed can take place when the tank is stopped by the door or doors with which the treatment chamber 7 is equipped and/or at any time by the axial filling orifice 4 advantageously equipped with a rotating connection to allow filling including during the rotation of the tank 2. Once the filling has been carried out, the doors are closed and the tank 2 is made, by rotation, to pass from the filling position to the position pressing in which the drains 17 are arranged at the low point of the tank facing the reservoir 20 for collecting the liquid contained in the material arranged at least partially under the tank.

Initially, the juices flow freely at atmospheric pressure. Once this free flow of juices is complete, the pressing phase can begin. It is assumed that one or more setpoint pressures have been stored as well as periods of time corresponding to the maintenance inside the control chamber(s) of the setpoint pressure corresponding to the pressure. The pressurized fluid supply device 9 is then actuated by actuating the On/Off member 920 of the pressurized air source 92 and/or by controlling the member 920 for closing the fluid connection 91 in the direction of an opening of said connection 91. Under the effect of this pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8, the membrane 6 is pressed against the material present in the treatment chamber 7 which is itself pressurization against the drains 17. As a result, the liquid part of this material flows through the drains 17 while the solid part remains in the tank outside of the said drains 17. This step corresponds to step S1 of the picture 3 . During this pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 8, the pressure of the pressure sensor 11 disposed in the drainage zone of the treatment chamber 7 and the pressure of the sensor 13 of the control chamber 8, when present, with the stored setpoint pressure. When the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 11 placed in the drainage zone of the treatment chamber and/or the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 13 of the control chamber is equal to the setpoint pressure, the operation ceases at step S3 the pressure supply to the control chamber 8 and, depending on the result of the comparison, it is possible to maintain it in the state, for a predetermined period of time, corresponding to the stored period of time. A test corresponding to step S4 makes it possible to determine whether the predetermined period of time has elapsed and to analyze the difference between the pressure values measured by the pressure sensor 11 of the treatment chamber and the pressure sensor 13 of the the control room. When the period of time is completed and/or the pressure difference is constant, one proceeds, to step S5 of the picture 3 , when the control chamber 8 is placed under vacuum during which the membrane 6 is moved away from the drains 17 and then during a crumbling phase during which the tank 2 is rotated around its axis to dislocate the cake of material that forms under the effect of pressure. The figure 5 illustrates the case where the set pressure PC1 or PC2 is first reached in the control chamber. It is noted that at PC2, the difference between the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 11 of the treatment chamber and the pressure measured by the pressure sensor 13 of the control chamber is substantially constant so that we pass to step S5 without waiting for the elapse of the entire time. This is not the case for PC1. The figure 6 illustrates the case where the setpoint pressure PC1 or PC2 is first reached by the pressure sensor 11 in the treatment chamber. Again at PC2, the pressing cycle can be shortened due to a constant difference between the measured pressures. A new pressing phase can then be initiated. The inventors have found that, thanks to this control of the admission of pressurized fluid to the control chamber 8 at least as a function of the pressure prevailing in the treatment chamber and possibly as a function of the pressure prevailing in the control chamber , on the one hand a large quantity of juice can be extracted at a so-called low pressure compared to controlling the pressing using the pressure prevailing in the control chamber, on the other hand, a very fine adjustment of the duration of the pressing cycle can be achieved. This results in improved juice quality. A Once the pressing phase is complete, the control chamber is again placed under vacuum to allow an operator to remove the solid material remaining in the tank. To empty the tank, once the pressing has been carried out, the door fitted to the side wall of the tank is opened and the tank is rotated so that the solid part remaining in the treatment chamber is gradually evacuated through the opening. unmasked by the door. The operator can then clean the membrane by passing a jet of water through the lateral opening formed in the cylinder body on the treatment chamber side to clean the membrane pressed against the wall of the control chamber.

Claims (14)

Press (1) for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, from a material such as grapes, said press (1) comprising a tank (2) provided with at least one orifice (4) for filling the tank (2), at least one pressurization orifice (5), at least one depressurization orifice (14), and at least one membrane for sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank (2 ) into a treatment chamber (7) into which the at least one filling orifice (4) of the tank (2) opens, and at least one control chamber (8) into which the or at least one of the pressurization orifices (5) and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices (14), said treatment chamber (7) being equipped with at least one drainage zone (16) and said press (1) comprising in addition to a device (9) for allowing pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber (8) and a control unit (10) for said device (9) , characterized in that the treatment chamber (7) is provided with at least one pressure sensor (11) arranged inside the treatment chamber (7) and in that the control unit (10) is configured to acquire the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) fitted to the treatment chamber (7) and to control the device (9) to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the of each control chamber (8) as a function at least of the data provided by said pressure sensor (11). Press (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) equipping the treatment chamber (7) is arranged in the drainage zone (16), in that the press (1) comprises at least one memory (12) for storing at least one setpoint pressure and in that the control unit (10) is configured to compare the or at least one of the setpoint pressures with the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) fitted to the treatment chamber (7) and arranged in the drainage zone (16) and to control the device (9) to enable the supply of pressurized fluid of the or each control chamber (8) depending at least on the result of the comparison. Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the press (1) comprises at least one sensor (13) of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers (8) and in that the control unit (10) is configured to acquire the data supplied by the or at least one of the sensors (13) of a parameter representative of the pressure of the or at least one of the control chambers (8) and for controlling the device (9) to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to said control chamber (8) as a function at least of the data provided by said sensor (13 ). Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the device (9) for allowing the supply of pressurized fluid comprises at least one member (93) for controlling the device (9) movably mounted between at least two positions, in that at least one of the so-called active positions of the or one of the control members (93) is a position in which the or at least one of the control chambers (8) can be supplied with pressurized fluid and in that the control unit (10) is configured to control the movement of said control member (93) between at least its two positions as a function at least of the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) fitted to the treatment chamber (7). Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the device (9) for allowing the supply of fluid under pressure comprises, in order to allow the connection of the or each orifice (5) for pressurizing the or from at least one of the control chambers (8) to a source (92) of pressurized fluid, at least one fluid connection (91). Press (1) according to Claim 5 taken in combination with Claim 4, characterized in that the said fluid connection (91) is equipped with at least one shutter member (910) mounted to move between an open position and a closed position. of said fluid connection (91), said closure member (91) forming the or at least one of the control members (93) of the device (9) to allow the supply of pressurized fluid to the chamber (8 ) control. Press (1) according to Claim 4, characterized in that the device (9) for allowing the supply of fluid under pressure comprising a source (92) of fluid under pressure, the said source (92) of fluid under pressure is equipped with an on/off member (920) and said on/off member (920) forms the or at least one of the control members (93) of said device (9). Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the press (1) comprises a device (15) for generating vacuum, the said device (15) for generating vacuum comprising at least one generator (151 ) of vacuum, a link (152) for connecting the or at least one of the orifices (14) for depressurization to said vacuum generator (151) and at least one shutter member (153) mounted movable between a position open and a closed position of said link (152). Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the or at least one of the pressurization orifices (5) and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices (14) of the at least one of the control chambers (8) are common. Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the tank (2) is a cylindrical tank delimited at least by a peripheral side wall (18) and two flanges, in that the zone (16 ) drainage comprises a plurality of drains (17) extending inside the tank (2) along the peripheral side wall (18) of the tank (2) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank (2) and in that the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) fitted to the treatment chamber (7) is placed between two of the said drains (17). Press (1) according to one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the tank (2), which is a cylindrical tank with a horizontal axis delimited by a peripheral side wall (18) and two flanges closing the tank (2) respectively at one end and the other end of the peripheral side wall (18) is a rotary tank mounted for rotation about the horizontal longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank (2). Press (1) according to one of Claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the flexible deformable membrane (6) is fixed in a sealed manner, on the one hand, to the peripheral side wall (18) of the tank (2) along two opposite longitudinal edges, on the other hand, to the flanges along two respective transverse edges. Press (1) according to one of Claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the or at least one of the orifices (4) for filling the tank is an axial orifice coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank. Method of controlling a press (1) for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material such as grapes, said press (1) comprising a tank (2) provided with at least one orifice (4) for filling the tank (2), with at least one pressurization orifice (5), at least one depressurization orifice and at least one membrane (6) for sealingly separating the interior volume of the tank (2) into a treatment chamber (7) into which the at least one filling orifice (4) of the tank (2) opens, and at least one control chamber (8) into which the at least one of the pressurization orifices (5) and the or at least one of the depressurization orifices, said treatment chamber being equipped with at least one drainage zone and said press (1) further comprising a device ( 9) to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or each control chamber (8) and a control unit (10) for said device. device (9), characterized in that the treatment chamber (7) being provided with at least one pressure sensor (11) arranged inside the treatment chamber (7), the method comprises at least acquisition by the control unit (10) of the data supplied by the or at least one of the pressure sensors (11) equipping the treatment chamber (7) and control by the control unit (10) of the device (9) to allow pressurized fluid to be supplied to the or at least one of the control chambers (8) based at least on the data provided by said pressure sensor (11).

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