EP4077151A1

EP4077151A1 - Dispensing device

Info

Publication number: EP4077151A1
Application number: EP20848711.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Adrien GATTI; Yves Gosselin
Original assignee: Lesaffre et Cie SA
Current assignee: Lesaffre et Cie SA
Priority date: 2019-12-19
Filing date: 2020-12-17
Publication date: 2022-10-26
Also published as: KR20220111684A; FR3105058A1; US20230028996A1; US20240286881A1; CN114829263A; TW202138148A; CN114829263B; AU2020408256A1; FR3105058B1; BR112022012043A2; JP2023507290A; US12110222B2; ZA202207968B; MX2022007641A; WO2021123646A1; CA3162135A1; AR120796A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a dispensing device (1), which is hand-held or integral, suitable for perforating and emptying a granular material contained in a vacuum package (P) comprising: - a tubular body (2) having a pipe (20) for the flow of the material, extending from an inlet opening (21), positioned at a first end of the tubular body, up to an outlet opening (22) for the granular material, positioned at a second end of the tubular body (2); - a hollow perforating tool (3) having a distal end terminated at a tip (30) and a broad base (31) at its proximal end secured to the body. The device also comprises a shoulder (4) acting as a stop configured to come into contact with the wall of the package to ensure that the dispensing device stops when said wall is perforated by the perforating tool (3).

Description

Title: Discharge device

The present disclosure relates to a dispenser device, which will find particular application for piercing a package containing a granular material, and emptying it, essentially by the phenomenon of gravity, or even aided by the movements of the user when said device overflow valve is hand-held. Alternatively, the discharge device can be provided attached to a production unit.

The present disclosure also relates to a package specially configured to cooperate with such a dispensing device, avoiding handling errors, but also equipment comprising a dispensing device and a package according to the present disclosures.

The invention is more particularly interested in emptying vacuum packaging for which the granular material is compacted due to the vacuum inside the packaging and the pressure difference between the internal pressure in the packaging , lower than atmospheric pressure, and the atmospheric pressure prevailing outside the packaging.

The invention finds a particular application, and not limiting, to ensure the aseptic transfer of a granular material such as yeast from packaging, in particular under vacuum, to equipment such as a tank. fermentation, and in particular in the field of beer making.

Technical area

[0005] The present disclosure relates to the field of vacuum packaging for dry granular material, such as dry powdered yeast, and of the technical solutions proposed for aseptically transferring the granular material contained in the packaging to a donated equipment.

[0006] In the field of beer manufacturing, very often at several stages during manufacture, it is necessary to add dry yeast. For example, such an addition is made for the implementation of fermentation in a tank, very often after cooling a must obtained by filtration of a mixture of crushed cereal grains and water.

[0007] Dry, active yeast is conventionally contained in a vacuum package to protect it during storage from oxygen and moisture. This package is opened in order to manually pour its contents into a manhole in the fermentation tank. As far as possible, this operation must be carried out aseptically, otherwise germs, bacteria or fungi will be transferred into the tank, which would then develop during fermentation, degrading the organoleptic qualities of the drink. In order to avoid the transfer of germs inside the tank, prior to piercing the vacuum packaging, the tools (such as a pair of scissors) used to open the packaging are disinfected, or even the disinfection of the outer surfaces of the packaging.

[0008] Once the vacuum package is opened, the latter is simply returned by the operator to the right of the manhole, and for the yeast to flow into the fermentation tank on the wort.

[0009] According to the findings of the inventors, such a practice is not satisfactory, and for several reasons:

- The disinfection of tools (such as pairs of scissors) typically carried out with a flame, or even by the use of disinfectant solutions is tedious and the success of the operation depends mainly on the rigor of the operator during this operation,

- Manual dumping of the packaging over the manhole is very often a tedious operation, with a significant risk of a detrimental fall, for example of a fall of the packaging itself within the the tank, and above all,

- The opening of the manhole necessary for the discharge of the yeast is in itself a risk of aseptic rupture of the tank, in that it allows a large quantity of unsterilized air to enter the tank, with potential risk of bacteria and fungi suspended in the air entering the tank, liable to contaminate the must. Prior art

It is known from the state of the art of devices suitable for piercing and then emptying a package with a view to a hygienized transfer of product, such as for example disclosed by document EP 1 201 598. The device disclosed by EP 1 201 598 is intended for emptying bags of liquids such as sauce or drink, and implicitly requires the implementation of a suction. This technical solution is ineffective and non-functional for emptying granular material from a vacuum package. Also known, for example from document GB 719054, a device specially intended for emptying a granular material (such as fine powder ..) in a given quantity. This device comprises a piercing tool, in the form of an ogive which allows the wall of a container to be pierced, and until a shoulder provided at the base of the cone contacts the wall of the container. This drilling tool is hollow and has a side opening intended to be positioned entirely inside the container when the shoulder contacts the wall. This side opening allows material to be transferred inside the body of the piercing tool which flows down to the base of the bullet to an outlet opening. This device is designed to deliver a dose of material corresponding to the volume of the hollow part, at each tilting of the container.

[0012] In any event, and according to the findings of the inventors, this device taught by GB 719054 does not allow the whole of a package to be pierced and emptied entirely and quickly, while maintaining it in a generally vertical position, and more particularly when it comes to vacuum packaging.

summary

The present disclosure improves this situation by proposing a discharge device, which finds a particular application for piercing a vacuum packaging containing a granular material, and emptying it, essentially by the phenomenon of gravity, or even by shaking it slightly and / or deforming the flexible wall of the packaging, in particular when said device is hand-held. More particularly, the device finds a particular application for completely emptying the granular material of a vacuum packaging, quickly, in a generally vertical position of the device and of the packaging, namely without the need to tilt the packaging. .

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide such a device, a device configured by hand, which limits the risks of improper handling by the operator.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a production unit comprising a discharge device according to the present disclosure permanently attached to the unit configured to ensure the aseptic transfer of a granular material contained in a packaging in empty and up to an enclosure of the production unit.

[0017] Another aim of the present disclosure is to provide a package specially configured to cooperate with a dispensing device, in particular hand-held according to the present disclosure or belonging to the production unit according to the present disclosure.

Another object of the present disclosure is to provide an assembly comprising a discharge device, as well as a packaging specially configured to cooperate with said piercing device according to the present disclosure, in particular by hand or alternatively belonging to the production unit. according to the present disclosure.

[0019] Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the description which follows, which is given only as an indication and which is not intended to limit it.

According to a first aspect, the present disclosure relates to a discharge device, suitable for piercing and emptying a granular material contained in a packaging, in particular under vacuum, comprising:

- a tubular body, having a conduit for the flow of the material, extending from an inlet mouth positioned at the level of a first end of the tubular body to an outlet mouth for the granular material, positioned at the level of a first end of the tubular body. level of a second end of the tubular body,

- a drilling tool, hollow, having a distal end terminating in a point and a base widened at its proximal end, integral with the tubular body at the first end of the tubular body, the drilling tool having at least one lateral opening along the length of the drilling tool, said lateral opening extending along the length of the drilling tool from the enlarged base of the drilling tool, said lateral opening being configured to allow material to be discharged from the outside to the inside of the hollow part of the drilling tool, the hollow part of the enlarged base of the drilling tool being in communication with the inlet mouth of the tubular body,

a shoulder with a peripheral stopper function, formed by the first end of the tubular body arranged around the widened base of the drilling tool, said shoulder with a stopper function being configured to come into contact with the wall of the packaging, directly or indirectly, to ensure the stopping of the dispensing device when said wall is pierced by the piercing tool in a position where said lateral opening extends inside the packaging and in which said device dispenser is configured to provide continuous emptying of the contents of the vacuum package, when the dispenser is oriented vertically with the tip upward, the granular material flowing by gravity through said side opening via the entrance mouth.

[0021] According to optional characteristics of the hand-operated discharge device, taken alone or in combination:

- the drilling tool having a longitudinal axis, said shoulder having a flat surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, configured to serve as a bonding surface with an adhesive on the outer wall of the packaging;

- the flat surface, depending on the surface, this bonding has a useful bonding area of between 3cm ² and 50cm, for example between 5cm ² and 50cm ² , for example between 3 cm ² and 10cm ² , or even between 10 cm ² and 35 cm ² ;

the useful surface for bonding is annular in shape, defined between an outer radius and an inner radius;

- the difference in radius AR between the outer radius and the inner radius is between 2 mm and 20 mm;

- the tubular body has a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the axis longitudinal of the drilling tool,

- Said discharge device being hand-held, the tubular body has dimensions configured to form a gripping handle for the hand;

the useful length of the tubular body acting as a handle is between 5 cm and 15 cm, for example between 6 cm and 10 cm, such as 7 cm;

the external diameter of the useful surface forming a gripping handle is between 2cm and 5cm, such as 2.5cm;

- the device has a wrist strap, integral with the grip handle, intended to be crossed by the user's grip when his hand grasps the grip;

- the discharge device consists essentially of a single piece of plastic material forming the drilling tool and the tubular body, including the shoulder.

According to an advantageous embodiment, in particular for emptying packaging of small dimensions, the drilling tool comprises an enlarged base, having in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool, a dimension of greater length in a first direction and in a second direction, substantially perpendicular, a dimension of smaller length, and in which the surface useful for bonding extends along the path of an oval consisting of an elongated closed curve following the first direction and narrow following the second direction.

According to a second aspect, the present disclosure also relates to a production unit comprising an enclosure as well as a discharge device according to the present disclosure, mounted integral with the enclosure or with a pipe of said production unit, the drilling tool vertically, the point facing upwards, said discharge device being configured to transfer a granular material contained in a vacuum package into the enclosure, directly into said enclosure or indirectly via said pipe.

According to one embodiment of the production unit, the tubular body of the discharge device is integral with said enclosure in a sealed manner, so that the outlet mouth is in communication with the internal volume of said enclosure, said discharge device in the upper part of said enclosure, configured so that the granular material flows from the outlet mouth to the interior of said enclosure (by gravity).

[0025] According to one embodiment of the production unit, said enclosure being supplied with products in a forced manner by the pipe, said tubular body of the discharge device is sealingly coupled to the pipe, directly or indirectly, via a system of transfer so that the granular material flows in the pipeline while mixing with the products, and before said granular material is conveyed, together with the products in said enclosure. For example, the production unit is a fermentation unit and said enclosure is a fermentation tank.

According to a third aspect, the present disclosure relates to a package containing a granular material, comprising on the outer face of its wall an aseptic or even sterile adhesive, isolated from external contamination by a peelable sheet, intended to be removed before piercing the l packaging, the adhesive being configured to stick to the shoulder of a dispensing device according to the present disclosure when the piercing tool pierces the wall of the packaging. The discharge device can be configured manually or alternatively be a permanent part of the production unit.

[0027] According to optional characteristics of the packaging, taken alone or in combination:

- the adhesive is a double-sided adhesive having a first adhesive side bonded to the wall of the packaging and a second adhesive side, covered by the peelable sheet, configured to stick to the bonding surface of said shoulder of a device overflow according to the present disclosure;

- the adhesive has a hole intended to be passed through by the drilling tool when the tool pierces the wall of the packaging;

- the adhesive has an annular or oval shape;

- the double-sided adhesive has a thickness separating the first adhesive side and the second adhesive side, between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, such as for example 0.6 mm, 1, 1 mm or 1, 6 mm, l 'double-sided adhesive being flexible depending on its thickness,

- the double-sided adhesive comprises a support, flexible, for a composition adhesive, and an adhesive composition covering the support, the support being cellular, formed by a closed cell foam,

- the granular material is under vacuum in the packaging.

[0028] According to a fourth aspect, the present disclosure also relates to an assembly comprising not only a hand-operated discharge device but also a packaging according to the present disclosures.

According to one embodiment of said assembly, said assembly comprises a hand-operated dispenser device according to the present disclosure, the adhesive of the packaging being stuck on the shoulder of the dispenser device when the wall of the packaging is pierced by the drilling tool by forming an adhesive bond, the adhesive bond between the shoulder and the adhesive being configured to allow the operator to hold the assembly only by the handle of the dispenser device, the tip of the tool of which is piercing is directed downwards, the package containing the granular material then suspended from the dispensing device only by the bonding force of the adhesive bond.

[0030] The present disclosure also relates, according to a fifth aspect, to equipment comprising a discharge device according to the present disclosure, or a discharge device of a production unit according to the present disclosure, as well as a shutter cooperating in a sealed manner with the first end of the tubular body, covering the drilling tool, forming a sealed chamber for a fluid, said chamber being defined between the shutter, on the one hand, and the drilling tool, and the shoulder, on the other hand, said sealed chamber in communication with the pipe of the tubular body via said at least lateral opening.

The present disclosure also relates to a method for cleaning and disinfecting the inner surfaces of the drilling tool and the conduit of the tubular body and the outer surfaces of the drilling tool and the shoulder of the discharge device d 'equipment according to the present disclosure in which:

- The shutter covering the drilling tool and said shoulder is placed in place, forming a sealed chamber for a fluid, said chamber being defined between the shutter, on the one hand, and the drilling tool and said shoulder, on the other hand, said sealed chamber in communication with the duct of the tubular body via said at least side opening,

- A disinfectant fluid is injected through the outlet mouth so that the disinfectant fluid circulates, on the one hand, in the duct and the hollow of the drilling tool, coming into contact with the internal walls of the duct and of the hollow part of the drilling tool, and circulates, on the other hand, in the sealed chamber by coming into contact with the outer walls of the drilling tool, and of the shoulder.

[0032] According to one embodiment, the step of injecting disinfectant fluid ensuring the disinfection of the internal surfaces of the drilling tool and of the conduit of the tubular body of the discharge device and of the external surfaces of the drilling tool, and the shoulder is an injection simultaneously ensuring the cleaning of the internal surfaces of the production unit.

[0033] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent on reading the detailed description below, and on analyzing the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 [0034] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a hand-operated discharge device according to one embodiment.

Fig. 2

[0035] [Fig. 2] is a top view of the device as illustrated in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 [0036] [Fig. 3] is a view of a particularly vacuum packaging according to one embodiment of the present disclosure

Fig. 3a

[0037] [Fig. 3a] is a detail view of the adhesive of the packaging of FIG. 3, with its first adhesive face glued to the wall of the packaging, the second adhesive face covered with said peelable sheet, and the central hole for for the passage of the drilling tool of the manual discharge device.

Fig. 4 [0038] [Fig. 4] is a schematic view of the device of Figure 1 when the latter is used by an operator to pierce and empty the granular content of the package according to Figure 3, the bonding surface of the shoulder glued to the adhesive of annular shape of said package. Fig. 5

[0039] [Fig. 5] is a sectional view of Figure 4 (operator's hand not shown).

Fig. 6

[0040] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view of a discharge device according to a second embodiment, configured to be permanently attached and in a sealed manner to a production unit.

Fig. 7

[0041] [Fig. 7] is a section through the device of FIG. 6, to which a shutter is added, by screwing onto a thread of the body of the discharge device. Fig. 8

[0042] [Fig. 8] is a schematic view illustrating several possible integrations of a discharge device according to Figure 6 permanently fixed in a fermentation unit.

Fig. 9 [0043] [Fig. 9] is a view of a top variant of the device as illustrated in FIG. 1 for which the ogive arcs of the drilling tool each have a bevelled section, and in which the drilling tool has a enlarged base having, in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, a dimension of greater length in a first direction and in a second direction, substantially perpendicular, a dimension of smaller length, and in which the useful surface for bonding extends along the trajectory of an oval made up of a closed curve, elongated in the first direction and narrow in the second direction.

Description of the embodiments The invention relates to a discharge device 1 suitable for piercing and emptying a granular material contained in a package P, and in particular a vacuum package.

The granular material is preferably dry, for example a dry, active yeast intended for the implementation of fermentation, for example for the manufacture of beer. This granular material is contained in a packaging preferably under vacuum. The material and the packaging are compacted due to the vacuum and the pressure difference between the internal pressure, lower than atmospheric pressure, and the external pressure, namely atmospheric pressure.

According to the preliminary tests carried out by the inventors, the discharge devices operating by piercing a package to empty liquids or a granular material in a conventional package (without vacuum) as known from the state of the art by example disclosed by GB 719054, are not satisfactory when it comes to emptying compacted granular material from a vacuum package. When these devices are used with such vacuum packaging, the granular material begins to empty before the flow quickly dries up. These dispensing devices do not allow the granular contents of the package to be emptied quickly.

The invention was born from the observation by the inventors that the discharge devices of the state of the art, when used to pierce and empty a vacuum packaging, generate during the flow of the material a depression which can maintain the vacuum inside the packaging, a vacuum which opposes the flow of the granular material. Otherwise, the air required to flush out the granular contents flowing against the flow, can cause backflow, resulting in loss of product, which escapes from the device at the borehole.

The inventors have responded to this problem by designing a discharge device which when configured by hand, and which at least according to one embodiment will allow the packaging to be pierced and to be easily handled by the operator, for example by shaking the entire discharge device and pierced packaging during emptying operations, or even by deforming the flexible wall of the packaging in order to promote flow, for example over a hole of a fermentation tank, and preferably by limiting the risks of improper handling and untimely falls.

Advantageously, such a device thus makes it possible to empty quickly and in particular continuously all of the granular material contained in the packaging, in particular under vacuum.

In the case where the discharge device is, according to one embodiment, integral and permanently attached to a production unit, the discharge device advantageously makes it possible to ensure the aseptic transfer of the granular material contained in a package. under vacuum and up to an enclosure of the production unit.

Also, and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 by way of non-limiting example, the discharge device 1 is configured by hand and is suitable for piercing and emptying a granular material contained in a package P, in particular under vacuum .

In general, the discharging device 1 configured (hand-held or not) comprises:

- a tubular body 2, having a conduit 20 for the flow of the material, extending from an inlet mouth 21 positioned at the level of a first end of the tubular body to an outlet mouth 22 for the material granular, positioned at a second end of the tubular body 2,

- a drilling tool 3, hollow, having a distal end terminated in a point 30 and an enlarged base 31 at its proximal end, integral with the tubular body at the first end of the tubular body, the drilling tool having at least one lateral opening 32 along the length of the piercing tool, said side opening 32 extending the length of the piercing tool from the enlarged base 31 of the piercing tool, said side opening being configured to allow dumping material from the outside to the inside of the hollow part of the drilling tool 3, the hollow part of the enlarged base 31 of the drilling tool 3 being in communication with the inlet mouth 21 of the tubular body 2,

- a shoulder 4 acting as a peripheral stopper, formed by the first end of the tubular body 2 arranged around the widened base 31 of the drilling, said shoulder 4 acting as a stop being configured to come into contact with the wall of the packaging to ensure the stopping of the discharge device when said wall is pierced by the drilling tool 3.

In general, it is noted that the longitudinal axis A of the drilling tool and the longitudinal axis of the duct 20 are preferably substantially coincident, the duct 20 extending vertically the drilling tool when the latter is oriented vertically, the point 30 upwards.

In general, it is noted that the drilling tool can include several side openings 32, distributed around the axis A of the drilling tool and for example four in number, each opening extending along a angular sector, in particular less than 90 °.

The drilling tool 3 may have the shape of an ogive, comprising ogive arcs 33 each extending from the enlarged base 31 of the drilling tool 3 to the tip 30 of the tool. drilling where the rib arcs 33 meet. Said at least one side opening 32 may include a plurality of side openings 32. Each side opening 32 preferably extends from the widened base 31 between two of the consecutive rib arches 33, over all or part of the length of the lattice. 'drilling tool in the direction of the point 30. By way of example, the ogive arcs 33 are four in number, distributed around the axis A, for example every 90 °.

Thus, and as illustrated in Figure 4 and in its hand-held configuration, such a discharge device is used by piercing the wall of the packaging with the drilling tool and until it comes into abutment. of the shoulder 4 against the outer face of the wall of the packaging. The discharge takes place when the device is held in a position where the axis of the drilling tool is substantially, vertical, the point 30 directed upwards; the granular material flows, from the package, through said lateral opening in the hollow of the drilling tool 3, through the inlet mouth 21, and to the outlet mouth 22 where the granular material escapes.

During this emptying operation, the operator holds the packaging with one hand and the discharge device with his other hand and can deform the packaging, or even shake the dispenser device and packaging P assembly to promote flow, in particular when it is a vacuum packaging.

The hand pouring device will find particular application for the aseptic transfer of dry brewer's yeast into a fermentation tank. In particular in this respect, and in order to avoid the risk of an object falling (packaging and / or dispensing device) into the fermentation tank with the associated risks of contamination, the dispensing device and / or the packaging itself may present certain advantageous provisions.

[0059] Also said shoulder 4 may first of all have a flat surface substantially perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, configured to serve as a bonding surface Sc with an adhesive on the outer wall of the packaging. In such a case, the package P containing the granular material may advantageously comprise on the outer face of its wall an aseptic or even sterile adhesive Ad; isolated and protected from external contamination by a peelable sheet Fp. This peelable sheet Fp intended to be removed before drilling. Once the peelable sheet Fp has been removed, the adhesive is configured to stick to the shoulder 4 of the dispenser device when the piercing tool pierces the wall of the package.

The adhesive Ad can be a double-sided adhesive having a first adhesive face S1 glued (prefixed) to the wall of the packaging and a second adhesive face S2, covered by the peelable sheet Fp with the function of protecting the second. adhesive surface. Once the peelable sheet has been removed, the second adhesive surface is configured to come to stick to the bonding surface Sc of the shoulder, and to ensure the maintenance of the dispensing device on the packaging. For exemple ; the double-sided adhesive can be double-sided adhesive silicone. This adhesive can be positioned at one of the longitudinal ends of the packaging when the packaging has a direction of greater length, and as visible in the figures. The adhesive also makes it possible to advantageously avoid reflux of granular material by producing a seal between the shoulder 4 and the adhesive, at 360 ° around the piercing device, and thus advantageously prohibits product leaks at the level of the hole in the packaging. The double-sided adhesive may have a thickness separating the first adhesive face and the second adhesive face, between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, such as for example 0.6 mm, 1, 1 mm or 1, 6 mm. Such a thickness, combined with the fact that the adhesive is flexible (depending on its thickness), makes it possible to ensure a seal between the packaging and the bonding surface of the device, advantageously by compensating for the irregularities on the wall of the packaging. in contact with the first side of the adhesive. The irregularities may for example consist of a fold (s) or a groove in the wall of the packaging.

The double-sided adhesive can thus comprise a support of adhesive composition, flexible, for example cellular, such as a foam preferably with closed cells. The foam can for example acrylic. The adhesive composition covering the support can be acrylic.

The flat surface, as a function of the bonding surface Sc can have a useful bonding surface of between 3cm ² and 50 cm ² , for example between 5cm ² and 50 cm ² , for example between 10 cm ² and 35 cm ² , such as for example of the order of 20 cm ² The surface can still be between 3 cm ² and 10 cm ² . The bonding surface is a determining parameter for the bond strength of the adhesive bond between the packaging and the dispensing device. However, it is possible to reduce the bonding surface to ensure the same bonding strength, depending on the nature of the adhesive selected (and its adhesive power), by selecting an adhesive composition whose adhesion power is greater.

The useful surface for bonding can be of annular shape, defined between an outer radius Rext and an inner radius Rint. The difference in radius AR between the outer radius Rext and the inner radius Rint is between 2 mm and 30 mm, for example between 2mm and 10mm or, alternatively, between 10mm and 20mm.

The adhesive Ad may have a hole T intended to be passed through by the drilling tool when the tool pierces the wall of the packaging. This hole has a diameter at least equal to the diameter of the enlarged base 31 of the drilling tool. The adhesive Ad can be of annular shape; the adhesive is preferably dimensioned to the dimensions of the bonding surface Sc formed by the shoulder 4: In the case of an annular adhesive, it can have the same internal radius and the same Ray exterior than the flat useful surface of the shoulder acting as a bonding surface Sc.

[0066] According to a possible alternative (not illustrated), it is also possible to provide the adhesive (prefixed) on the shoulder 4 of the piercing device, and not on the packaging.

As visible in Figure 4, and generally when the device is configured by hand, the tubular body 2 can advantageously be of dimensions configured to form a gripping handle 5. The useful length Lp of the tubular body as a function of handle may be between 5 cm and 15 cm, for example between 6 cm and 10 cm, such as 7 cm, namely a length corresponds approximately to the width of a palm of a hand. The external diameter Dp of the useful surface forming a gripping handle can be between 2cm and 5cm, such as 2.5 cm. Note that the handle may have, at the level of the outlet mouth 22, a peripheral rim 53 projecting radially outwards.

According to one embodiment, said device may have a wrist strap 51, in particular in the form of a strap, integral with the gripping handle 5, intended to be traversed by the user's handle when the hand grasps the handle grip 5. A fastening eyelet 52 in one piece with the tubular body 2 can allow the fastening of the strap 51. This strap represents additional security against the risk of loss and fall during emptying operations, in particular in the event that the operator shakes the packaging / discharge device assembly during operations.

[0069] According to one embodiment, the discharge device may consist essentially of a single piece of plastic material forming the drilling tool and the tubular body (including the shoulder and the possible gripping handle) , including the shoulder. According to another possible mode of manufacture, the device results from the assembly of several parts The integral part of the discharge device (or the various parts of said device), can be obtained by additive manufacturing, such as 3D printing , or by injection molding. [0070] According to another possibility, the discharge device can be an integral part of a production unit, permanently attached to the production unit, the tip of the drilling tool facing upwards.

According to one embodiment, particularly illustrated in FIG. 10, the section of the ogive arches 33 can be advantageously bevelled, each ogive arch thus having a particularly sharp edge 330, formed between two sloping surfaces 331, 332 of the bevel, said edge oriented radially outwards. The angle between the two sloping surfaces 330, 331 can be 90 ° or even less than 90 °, namely an acute angle. Such beveled pointed arches ensure controlled piercing of the wall of the packaging, when the piercing tool passes through the wall of the packaging, avoiding uncontrolled tears thanks to the bevels: the risk of leakage is avoided by unwanted tearing of the packaging when the piercing tool passes through its wall.

According to one embodiment, further illustrated in FIG. 10, the drilling tool may have an enlarged base 31, having in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the tool, a dimension of greater length along a first direction d1 and following a second direction d2 of the same plane, substantially perpendicular, a dimension of smaller length. The surface useful for bonding the shoulder 4 then preferably extends along the path of an oval consisting of a closed curve elongated in the first direction d1 and narrow in the second direction d2, near the widened base. The width of the bonding surface in the radial direction may be between 2mm and 20mm.

Such a shape of the drilling tool and of the bonding surface, advantageously makes it possible to limit the useful dimension of the device along the second direction d2, and by comparison with the embodiments for which the enlarged base extends along the same radius in the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool, and advantageously without reducing the emptying performance.

[0074] Accordingly, the adhesive of the packaging may be oval in shape with this design illustrated in Figure 9, and not annular in shape as for the embodiments of the device of Figures 1 and 2. The dimension of the adhesive according to its narrow dimension, is then less than the diameter of the annular adhesive, which facilitates the implementation for packaging, in particular of small dimensions.

Also, the present disclosure also relates to a production unit 7 such as a fermentation unit comprising an enclosure 70 such as a fermentation tank as well as a discharge device 1 according to the invention mounted integral with said enclosure. 70 or integral with a pipe 71 of said production unit, the drilling tool vertically, the point facing upwards, said discharge device being configured to transfer a granular material contained in a vacuum package into said enclosure 70, directly in said enclosure or indirectly via said pipe 71.

For this purpose, the second end of the tubular body is fixed in a sealed manner to said enclosure 70, in particular to the fermentation tank or to the pipe, for example by means of an internal thread 23 (or a thread) at the level of the outlet mouth 22 cooperating by screwing with a threaded connection of the production unit. Any other type of connector can be used to secure the second end to the tank or to the pipe, such as a connector according to the SMS standard or a connector known to those skilled in the art under the name of "CLAM P connector. ".

According to one embodiment, the tubular body of the discharge device is integral with said enclosure 70 in a sealed manner, so that the outlet mouth 22 is in communication with the internal volume of the enclosure, and in particular of the fermentation tank. The discharge device is fixed in the upper part of the enclosure, in particular of the tank, configured so that the granular material flows from the outlet mouth 22 to the interior of said chamber 70, in particular the tank through the gravity.

According to another possibility, said enclosure 70 in particular the fermentation tank 70 being fed with products in a forced manner by the pipe 71, said tubular body of the discharge device is coupled in a sealed manner to the pipe 71 directly or indirectly via a system transfer so that the granular material flows in the pipe 71 while mixing with the products, and before said granular material is conveyed, together with the products in said enclosure 70.

One can for example use a transfer system such as a venturi 8, through which the fluid of the pipe passes, the depression generated by the venturi 8 sucking the granular material in order to mix it with the fluid downstream of the venturi.

Again the present disclosure relates to an equipment which comprises a discharge device 1 according to the present disclosure or a discharge device of a production unit 7 according to the present disclosure, as well as a shutter 6 cooperating in a sealed manner with the first end of the tubular body, covering (in the closed position) the drilling tool 3 and the shoulder 4, forming a sealed chamber 60 for a fluid.

This chamber is defined between the internal wall of the shutter 6, on the one hand, and the drilling tool 3, and the shoulder 4, on the other hand, said sealed chamber in communication with the pipe 20 of the tubular body via said at least lateral opening. Such a shutter 6, in addition to its function as a sealing element for the inlet mouth, can advantageously allow the implementation of a cleaning and disinfection process. The shutter 6 can be screwed to the tubular body, the shutter having an internal thread cooperating with an external thread F of the tubular body, at the first end of the tubular body. Alternatively, the shutter 6 can be attached to the tubular body of the device by any type of fitting, such as an SMS fitting or a CLAM P fitting.

[0082] Also, the invention also relates to a method for cleaning and disinfecting the interior surfaces of the drilling tool and the conduit of the tubular body of the discharge device 1 and of the exterior surfaces of the drilling tool of the shoulder of the discharge device of an item of equipment according to the present disclosure.

This cleaning and disinfection process comprises the following steps:

- The shutter 6 is placed covering the drilling tool said shoulder 4 by forming a sealed chamber 60 for a fluid, said chamber being defined between the shutter, on the one hand, and the drilling tool 3, said shoulder 4 on the other hand, said sealed chamber in communication with the duct 20 of the tubular body via said at least lateral opening 32,

- A disinfectant fluid is injected through the outlet mouth 22 so that the disinfectant fluid circulates, on the one hand, in the duct 20 and the hollow of the drilling tool, coming into contact with the internal walls of the duct 20 and the hollow part of the drilling tool 3, and circulates, on the other hand, in the sealed chamber 60 by coming into contact with the outer walls of the drilling tool 3 and of the shoulder 4.

The present disclosure also relates to a packaging as such, as previously described with the adhesive Ad aseptic or even sterile, isolated from external contamination by a peelable sheet Fp, intended to be removed before piercing the packaging, the adhesive being configured to come to stick to the shoulder 4 of a hand dispensing device according to the present disclosure, when the piercing tool pierces the wall of the packaging, or else on the shoulder 4 of a discharge device permanently attached to the production unit.

In the latter case where the adhesive sticks to the shoulder at 360 ° around the drilling tool of a discharge device belonging to a production unit, this still has the advantage, in addition to preventing leakage of granular products, to prevent the entry of outside air, potentially non-sterile, with the material flowing into the production unit.

The present disclosure also relates to an assembly comprising a discharge device according to the present disclosure and such a packaging according to the present disclosure. The package adhesive is configured to adhere to the shoulder bonding surface 360 ° around the dispenser piercing tool, forming an adhesive bond between the package and the dispenser device. This adhesive bond guarantees a good seal by preventing material leakage during emptying, between the packaging and the discharge device.

In the case where the dispenser device is hand-held (in particular the tubular body 2 is of dimensions configured to form a gripping handle 5 for the hand), this adhesive connection between the dispenser device and the packaging still makes it possible to secure the dumping operations of the contents of packaging by the operator. The risks of the packaging and / or the discharge device falling, in particular into a fermentation tank, are avoided.

Such an adhesive bond allows in particular, at the end of emptying the packaging to deform the wall of the packaging with both hands to expel the last volumes of granular material through the discharge device, and therefore without requiring to hold the dispensing device by the handle which is then suspended from the packaging by the adhesive connection between the packaging and said device, the outlet mouth 22 then directed downwards.

Preferably, and conversely, the adhesive connection can also be advantageously configured to allow the operator to maintain the assembly only by the handle of the dispenser device, the tip of which is directed downwards, the packaging containing the granular material suspended only by the adhesive bond.

In this case, the bonding force of the adhesive bond is therefore at least equal (or preferably even greater) than the force exerted by gravity on the packaging and therefore the weight of the packaging containing the granular material. The weight to be considered here is the weight of the packaging, before it is pierced by the tip of the discharge device, and therefore prior to emptying the granular material.

The bond strength depends on the nature of the adhesive and the bonding surface of the shoulder, as explained above.

Industrial application

The dispenser device will find a particular application for emptying a vacuum packaging containing active dry yeast, for example during the manufacture of beer, and more particularly for ensuring the aseptic transfer of dry brewer's yeast in a fermentation tank from the yeast contained in the packaging.

In the field of the manufacture of beer, it brings significant progress by limiting the risks of contamination inside the fermentation tank when the yeast is poured into the tank from a vacuum packaging. List of reference signs

1: Hand-operated discharge device,

2. Tubular body,

20. Conduit, 21 Entrance mouth,

22. Outlet mouthpiece,

23. Tapping,

3. Drilling tool,

30. Tip, 31. Enlarged base,

32. Side opening,

33. pointed arches,

330. Ridge (pointed arch bevel),

331, 332. Sloping surface, 4. Shoulder,

5. Grip handle,

51. Strap,

52. Eyelet (strap attachment)

53. Rim, 6. Shutter,

60. Airtight chamber,

7. Unit of production, such as a fermentation unit,

70. Enclosure, such as a fermentation tank,

71. Pipe,

A. Longitudinal axis of the drilling tool 3,

Adhesive, d1, d2. First direction and second direction,

F. Thread, Fp. Peelable sheet,

P. Packaging, S1. First adhesive surface (double-sided adhesive),

S2 Second adhesive surface (double-sided adhesive),

Rint, Rext. Inside and outside radii of the bonding surface formed by the shoulder 4, Sc. Bonding surface, flat, (the shoulder 4),

T. Adhesive hole.

Claims

[Claim 1] A discharge device (1) suitable for piercing and emptying a granular material contained in a vacuum packaging (P), comprising:

- a tubular body (2), having a conduit (20) for the flow of the material, extending from an inlet mouth (21) positioned at a first end of the tubular body to a mouth outlet (22) for the granular material, positioned at a second end of the tubular body (2),

- a drilling tool (3), hollow, having a distal end terminated in a point (30) and an enlarged base (31) at its proximal end, integral with the tubular body at the first end of the tubular body, the drilling tool having at least one lateral opening (32) along the length of the drilling tool, said lateral opening (32) extending the length of the drilling tool from the enlarged base of the drilling tool, said lateral opening being configured to allow the discharge of material from the outside to the inside of the hollow part of the drilling tool (3), the hollow part of the widened base (31) of the drilling tool (3) being in communication with the inlet mouth (21) of the tubular body (2),

- a shoulder (4) having a peripheral stopper function, formed by the first end of the tubular body (2) arranged around the widened base (31) of the drilling tool, said shoulder (4) having a function stopper being configured to come into contact with the wall of the packaging, directly or indirectly, to ensure the stopping of the dispensing device when said wall is pierced by the drilling tool (3) in a position where said lateral opening ( 32) extends inside the package and wherein said dispenser device is configured to ensure continuous emptying of the contents of the vacuum package, when the dispenser device is oriented vertically, tip up , the granular material flowing by gravity through said side opening (32) via the inlet mouth (21) and up to the outlet mouth (22) by gravity, against the current of the air entering the packaging.

[Claim 2] A hand-operated discharge device according to claim 1 wherein the drilling tool having a longitudinal axis, said shoulder (4) having a planar surface substantially perpendicular, perpendicular to said longitudinal axis, configured to serve as a bonding surface ( Sc) with an adhesive on the outer wall of the packaging.

[Claim 3] A hand-operated discharge device according to claim 2 in which the flat surface, acting as a bonding surface (Sc) has a useful bonding surface of between 3cm ² and 50 cm ² , for example between 3 cm2 and 10 cm2.

[Claim 4] A hand-operated discharge device according to one of claims 2 or 3, in which the useful surface for bonding is annular in shape, defined between an outer radius (Rext) and an inner radius (Rint).

[Claim 5] A hand-operated discharge device according to claim 4 wherein the difference in radius AR between the outer radius (Rext) and the inner radius (Rint) is between 2 mm and 20 mm.

[Claim 6] Device according to one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the drilling tool (3) has an enlarged base (31), having in a plane perpendicular to its longitudinal axis, a dimension of greater length according to a first direction (d1) and in a second direction (d2), substantially perpendicular, a dimension of smaller length, and in which the useful surface for bonding extends along the path of an oval consisting of an elongated closed curve following the first direction (d1) and narrow following the second direction (d2).

[Claim 7] A hand-operated discharge device according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the tubular body has a longitudinal axis substantially coincident with the longitudinal axis of the drilling tool.

[Claim 8] A dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 7, hand in which the tubular body (2) is of dimensions configured to form a gripping handle (5) for the hand.

[Claim 9] A hand-operated discharge device according to claim 8, in which the useful length (L) of the tubular body acting as a handle is between 5 cm and 15 cm, for example between 6 cm and 10 cm, such that 7 cm.

[Claim 10] A hand-operated discharge device according to one of claims 8 or 9, wherein the outer diameter of the useful surface forming a gripping handle (5) is between 2cm and 5cm, such as 2.5cm.

[Claim 11] Device according to one of claims 8 to 10, having a wrist strap (51), integral with the gripping handle (5), intended to be traversed by the user's handle when the hand grasps the handle. grip (5).

[Claim 12] Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, consisting essentially of a single piece of plastic material forming the drilling tool and the tubular body, including the shoulder.

[Claim 13] Production unit (7) comprising an enclosure (70) as well as a discharge device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, mounted integral with the enclosure (70) or a pipe ( 71) of said production unit, the drilling tool vertically, the tip pointing upwards, said discharge device being configured to transfer a granular material contained in a vacuum package into the enclosure (70), directly into said enclosure or indirectly via said pipe.

[Claim 14] A production unit according to claim 13 wherein the tubular body of the discharge device is integral with said enclosure (70) in a sealed manner, so that the outlet mouth (22) is in communication with the internal volume of said enclosure (70), said discharge device in the upper part of said enclosure (70), configured so that the granular material flows from the outlet mouth to the interior of said enclosure (70) through gravity.

[Claim 15] A production unit according to claim 13 wherein said enclosure (70) being forcibly supplied with products through the pipeline (71), said tubular body of the discharge device is sealingly coupled to the pipeline (71) directly. or indirectly via a transfer system so that the granular material flows in the pipeline (71) while mixing with the products, and before said granular material is conveyed, together with the products in said enclosure (70).

[Claim 16] A production unit according to one of claims 13 to 15 wherein said enclosure (70) is a fermentation tank.

[Claim 17] Packaging (P) containing a granular material, comprising on the external face of its wall an aseptic or even sterile adhesive (Ad) isolated from external contamination by a peelable sheet (Fp), intended to be removed before piercing, the 'adhesive being configured to stick to the shoulder (4) of a discharge device according to one of claims 1 to 12 or belonging to a production unit (7) according to one of claims 13 to 16 when the The drilling tool pierces the wall of the packaging.

[Claim 18] A package according to claim 17, wherein the adhesive is a double-sided adhesive (Ad) having a first adhesive side stuck to the wall of the package and a second adhesive side, covered by the peelable sheet (Fp) , configured to come to stick on the bonding surface (Sc) of said shoulder (4) of a discharge device according to one of claims 1 to 12 or belonging to a production unit (7) according to one of claims 13 to 16 when the drilling tool pierces the wall of the packaging.

[Claim 19] A package according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the adhesive has a hole (T) for the piercing tool to pass through when the tool pierces the wall of the package.

[Claim 20] A package according to claim 19, wherein the adhesive (Ad) has an annular shape, or an oval shape.

[Claim 21] Packaging according to one of claims 17 to 20 in which the double-sided adhesive has a thickness separating the first adhesive side and the second adhesive side, between 0.5 mm and 2 mm, such as for example 0 , 6 mm, 1, 1 mm or 1, 6 mm, the double-sided adhesive being flexible according to its thickness.

[Claim 22] A package according to claim 21, wherein the double-sided adhesive comprises a flexible backing for an adhesive composition, and an adhesive composition covering the backing, the cellular backing, formed by a closed cell foam.

[Claim 23] A package according to one of claims 17 to 22 in which the granular material is under vacuum.

[Claim 24] An assembly comprising a discharge device according to one of claims 1 to 12 and a package according to one of claims 17 to 23.

[Claim 25] An assembly according to claim 24 comprising a hand-held dispensing device according to claim 8, the adhesive of the packaging being adhered to the shoulder (4) of the dispensing device when the wall of the packaging is pierced by the. 'drilling tool by forming an adhesive bond, the adhesive bond between the shoulder and the adhesive (Ad) being configured to allow the operator to hold the assembly only by the handle of the dispenser device, the tip of which is the piercing tool is directed downwards, the package containing the granular material then suspended from the dispenser device only by the bonding force of the adhesive bond.

[Claim 26] Equipment comprising a discharge device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, or a discharge device of a production unit according to one of claims 13 to 16, as well as a shutter ( 6) cooperating in a sealed manner with the first end of the tubular body, covering the drilling tool, forming a sealed chamber (60) for a fluid, said chamber being defined between the shutter (6), on the one hand, and the drilling tool (3), and the shoulder (4), on the other hand, said sealed chamber in communication with the pipe (20) of the tubular body via said at least lateral opening.

[Claim 27] A method for cleaning and disinfecting the inner surfaces of the drilling tool and the conduit of the tubular body and the outer surfaces of the drilling tool of the discharge device (1) of equipment according to claim 26 in which :

- the shutter (6) covering the drilling tool of said shoulder (4) is put in place by forming a sealed chamber (60) for a fluid, said chamber being defined between the shutter, on the one hand, and the drilling tool (3), said shoulder (4) and, on the other hand, said chamber sealed in communication with the duct (20) of the tubular body via said at least lateral opening (32), - a disinfectant fluid is injected through the outlet mouth (21) so that the disinfectant fluid circulates, on the one hand, in the duct (20) and the hollow of the drilling tool by coming into contact with the inner walls of the duct (20) and of the hollow part of the drilling tool (3), and circulates, on the other hand , in the sealed chamber (60) by coming into contact with the outer walls of the drilling tool (3), and of the shoulder (4).

[Claim 28] The method of claim 27 implemented in equipment comprising a discharge device of a production unit according to one of claims 13 to 16, in which the step of injecting disinfectant fluid ensuring the disinfection of the surfaces of the drilling tool and of the duct of the tubular body of the dispensing device (1) and of the external surfaces of the drilling tool, and of the shoulder is an injection ensuring at the same time the cleaning of the internal surfaces of the dispensing unit. production.

[Claim 29] Use of the hand dispensing device according to one of claims 1 to 12, of the packaging according to claims 17 to 23 or of said assembly according to claim 24 or 25 for the transfer of dry brewer's yeast into a tank fermentation.