RU2776270C2 - Container for product based on fruits and/or vegetables, method and installation, in which such a container is used - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: storage; transportation.

SUBSTANCE: invention relates to the field of containers for transportation, storage and use of a product based on fruits and/or vegetables. Container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) for a liquid or semi-liquid product, in particular prepared of fruits and/or vegetables, contains tank (102) for being filled with mentioned product (104) and a lid on the tank. Lid (108) is equipped with at least one longitudinal neutral gas injector (202) immersed in tank (102) and containing at least one hole (204) for injecting neutral gas to product (104) being in mentioned tank (102) in order to mix mentioned product (104). The container also contains at least one outlet (210) for removing the mentioned injected neutral gas from mentioned tank (102).

EFFECT: providing homogeneity of the mentioned product before use, wherein it is simple, quick, with less costs and without the risk of damage of the mentioned container, and without the need for using stabilizers.

11 cl, 6 dwg

Description

Technical field

The present invention relates to a container for transporting, storing and using a product based on fruits and/or vegetables. It also relates to the manner in which such a container is used, as well as to the installation in which such a container is used.

The invention relates to the field of containers for transporting, storing and using a product based on fruits and/or vegetables.

Prior Art

Fruits and vegetables are used to prepare many foods. For example, a fruit-based product may be ready for consumption. It can also be used to make dairy products, ice cream, concentrates, etc.

The product is in the form of a mixture containing pieces of fruit or crushed fruit and a liquid phase, which can be obtained in the form of fruit juice, to which water is usually added. Depending on the application, the product may also contain sugar.

Typically, the product is placed in a container for storage, transportation and reuse on site or elsewhere, once or multiple times.

However, during storage in a warehouse or during transport in containers, precipitation or phase separation occurs in the product. In this case, the mixture ceases to be homogeneous and cannot be used adequately.

The first solution is to add stabilizers to reduce and even eliminate the phenomenon of phase separation and thicken the product. This solution involves the use of more ingredients.

The second solution is to shake the container before each use to mix the product in it. This solution requires a complex and expensive installation, and is also time consuming and risks damage to the container and hence microbiological contamination of the product in the container.

The objective of the invention is to eliminate the above disadvantages.

The present invention also aims to provide a container for a fruit product that ensures that said product is uniform before use, simply, quickly, at lower cost and without risk of damage to said container and without the need for stabilizers.

Disclosure of invention

The invention makes it possible to solve at least one of the above problems by means of a container for a liquid or semi-liquid product, in particular from fruits and/or vegetables, containing a container for filling with said product.

The declared capacity differs in that it additionally contains:

- at least one hole for injecting a neutral gas into the product located in the said tank, in order to mix the said product; and

- at least one outlet for removing said injection neutral gas from said reservoir and in particular from said reservoir.

Thus, the claimed container provides for agitation of the product by injection of a neutral gas in order to mix or stir the product to ensure its uniformity before or during withdrawal of the product from the container. The injection of gas into the tank is carried out by means of one or more injection holes arranged in such a way as to inject neutral gas into the middle of the product and that the injected gas sets the product in motion in the tank.

Thus, the declared capacity avoids the use of stabilizers to maintain product uniformity.

In addition, the claimed container ensures product uniformity without moving/shaking the container: this goal can be achieved more easily and quickly and without the risk of damage to the container.

Finally, mixing by injecting neutral gas avoids the use of a mechanical agitator/mixer in the vessel and hence the need for complex mechanical design in the vessel.

The neutral gas used can be nitrogen, CO ₂ or any other gas that is neutral with respect to the product in the container.

The neutral gas can always be the same, such as nitrogen, or it can vary depending on the product.

In particular, one or more injection holes may be immersed in the product.

Preferably, at least one injection opening may be located in the bottom of the container or in the bottom of the reservoir of said container.

Thus, even if the tank is only partially filled, said injection hole allows neutral gas to be injected into the middle of the product, which can be stirred/stirred.

In particular, at least one injection port may be located in the lower third or lower quarter of the container or container.

In general, the claimed container may contain at least one opening or tube for withdrawing product from the reservoir. Such a sampling orifice or such a sampling tube is usually located at the bottom of the tank for obvious reasons.

Preferably, at least one neutral gas injection port may be on the side of said extraction port.

Preferably, at least one injection port may be formed or located on the tank wall.

In this case, the supply of the injection port can be carried out in accordance with various non-limiting examples, which can be combined with each other:

- through the gas supply channel/pipe,

- through a double wall in which the pressurized gas passes up to said injection hole,

- through a special connector directly connected to said injection opening: in this case, the connector or injection opening passes through the wall of the container.

Preferably, the at least one injection port may be at the level of the reservoir port or tube.

In this case, before the product is withdrawn from the tank, neutral gas is injected into the sampling tube, which spreads into the tank through the said sampling tube.

According to the exemplary embodiment, the injection hole can be made directly in the wall of the sampling tube.

According to another exemplary embodiment, the injection hole can be made on an additional part attached to the sampling tube, for example, at the level of its free end. During product selection, an additional part can be removed. Alternatively, the additional piece may be a tube piece sized to allow the product to pass through during withdrawal, in which case the additional piece may be left in place while the product is withdrawn.

According to a preferred embodiment, at least one injection opening can be provided on an injector, in particular on a longitudinal injector immersed in a reservoir, in particular starting from the wall of said reservoir.

Without limitation, the injector may have a very small cross section compared to its length.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the injector can be made in the form of a rod immersed in the reservoir, starting from the wall of said reservoir.

The injector can be fixedly connected to any wall of the tank or said tank.

The injector may have a plurality of injection holes distributed along said injector, in particular when it is made in the form of a longitudinal rod.

The claimed container may include a lid on the reservoir. Preferably, the injector can be fixedly connected to said cover and can be immersed in the reservoir starting from said cover.

This makes it possible to equip a standard container with an injector, changing only the tank lid and not affecting the rest of the container, which is a simpler and less expensive solution to implement in a limited space on site or at a distance, without resorting to transporting the entire container.

Of course, the claimed container may additionally contain at least one opening for supplying said container with neutral gas from an external source.

The external source may be a neutral gas reservoir.

Alternatively, the external source may be an inert gas distribution network, which may be located at the site of use.

Preferably, at least one supply port may be provided with a sterile filter, such as a sterile ventilation filter, for example, made of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene).

Preferably, the sterile filter may be outside the reservoir.

The sterile filter can be connected to the supply port directly or through the connector provided with said port.

At least one supply port may have or may be equipped with a quick connection fitting, in particular a HANSEN type fitting.

Such a connector facilitates the connection or disconnection of the neutral gas source with respect to the tank, as well as any other component such as a filter, a pressure and/or flow control device, etc.

In addition, at least one supply port may be provided with a valve.

Such a valve allows you to start or stop the supply of neutral gas to the tank and, possibly, regulate the flow of neutral gas supplying the tank.

Preferably, at least one outlet can be provided with a connection for recovering the gas leaving the container, in particular the container.

Such a fitting may be a quick connect fitting, in particular a HANSEN type fitting.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one outlet may be equipped with a degassing device, a pressure or flow control device. Such a device may be configured to allow the passage of gas when the pressure inside the reservoir is within a predetermined range, for example 0.8-1 bar.

During use of the container, neutral gas can be injected at a predetermined pressure, preferably in excess of 0.8 bar, for example between 0.8 and 1 bar.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the claimed container may contain a lid equipped with:

- at least one longitudinal neutral gas injector immersed in the tank and containing one or more holes (204) injection of neutral gas; and

- at least one outlet for removal of neutral gas from said reservoir.

The injector can be made in the form of a rod fixedly connected to the lid and immersed in the tank, starting from the said lid.

Another object of the invention is a method of using the declared container containing a product, in particular a liquid or semi-liquid product, and in particular a product based on fruits and/or vegetables.

The claimed method may include at least one iteration of the following steps:

- injection of neutral gas into the tank for mixing the product; and

- selecting at least a part of said product.

The injection step may last 5-10 minutes and in particular up to 20 minutes.

The injection step can be carried out by injecting neutral gas at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. In particular, neutral gas can be injected into the reservoir at a pressure of 0.8 to 1 bar.

The pumping step can be carried out by injecting inert gas at a flow rate of 75 l/min to 100 l/min.

The injection step may be performed prior to the withdrawal step. In particular, the extraction step may start after the pumping step is terminated. In particular, the selection phase may begin after:

- termination of the pumping phase, and

- establishing a pressure in the tank, ranging from 0.8 bar to 1 bar.

Alternatively, the pumping step may be terminated after the withdrawal step has begun.

Another object of the invention is an installation containing:

- declared capacity, and

- a source of neutral gas, made with the possibility of connection with the said container.

The neutral gas source can be the neutral gas network.

Alternatively, the neutral gas source may be a reservoir of neutral gas.

According to the invention, the neutral gas coming from the tank can be recovered and reused, possibly after a treatment step carried out to purify this neutral gas.

Alternatively, the inert gas coming from the vessel may not be recovered.

Description of Figures and Embodiments

Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a non-limiting example of a known capacity.

Fig. 2-6 are schematic views of non-limiting examples of claimed capacity.

Of course, the embodiments described below are by no means restrictive. In particular, it is possible to envision versions of the invention having only one set of features described below, distinct from the other features described, if that set of features is sufficient to impart a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from known solutions. This set contains at least one preferably functional feature without structural details, or with only a part of the structural details, if only this part is sufficient to give a technical advantage or to distinguish the invention from known solutions.

In particular, all versions and all described embodiments can be combined with each other, if nothing prevents this combination from a technical point of view.

In the figures, elements common to several figures have the same designation.

In FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first example of a known container for a liquid or semi-liquid product.

Container 100 shown in FIG. 1 includes a container 102 configured to contain product 104 and supported by legs 106 so that container 100 can be placed on the floor. Thus, the container 100 includes a top and a bottom.

At its top, container 100 includes a lid 108 that closes container 102. This lid 108 can be opened to clean container 100 before and/or after use.

The lid 108 is provided with a valve 110 which prevents the pressure in the reservoir 102 from exceeding a predetermined maximum value. Thus, if the pressure in the tank 102 reaches its maximum value, the valve 110 opens, releasing the gas in the tank 102.

The container 100 is equipped with a tube 112 for withdrawing or draining the product in the tank 102. In the example shown, the withdrawal tube 112 is usually located at the bottom of the tank 102 so that all the product in it can be drained. The sampling tube 112 is provided with a valve 114 to allow or shut off the passage of product in the sampling tube 112 .

The main disadvantage of the container shown in Fig. 1 is the separation of the phases of the solution in the tank during its transportation or storage in a warehouse.

In FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a non-limiting embodiment of the claimed capacity.

Shown in FIG. 2, container 200 contains all of the elements of container 100 shown in FIG. one.

In addition to these elements, the tank 200 is equipped with an injector 202, made in the form of a longitudinal rod and containing a plurality of holes 204 for injecting gas into the middle of the product 104 in the tank.

The injector 202 is fixedly connected to the cover 108 and is immersed in the tank, that is, in the product 104 located there, starting from the mentioned cover 108. The injector 202 has such a length that it extends from the cover to the bottom of the tank 102, but does not touch the bottom of the tank 102.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the injector 202 has a distal portion curved to match the shape of the reservoir 102 on the side of the bottom of said reservoir 102.

The injector may be made of any material compatible with the product 104, such as food grade plastic, or preferably stainless steel.

All injection holes 204 may be the same size. Alternatively, the injection holes 204 may be of different sizes, in particular, sizes increasing towards the distal end of the injector 202 so that the inert gas reaches the distal end with sufficient pressure.

The container 200 also contains an opening 206 supplying the injector 202 with neutral gas.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the supply port 206 is formed in the cover 108 and the injector 202 is powered through the cover 108. The supply port 206 is equipped with a quick connect fitting 208 of the HANSEN fitting type for quick and ergonomic connection/disconnection to a neutral gas source.

Although in FIG. 2, although not shown, the feed port 206 can be optionally equipped with any combination of the following:

- sterile filter

- a device for measuring and/or controlling the flow/pressure of neutral gas injected into the tank 102; and/or

- valve.

Tank 200 also includes an outlet 210 for removing neutral gas from tank 102.

In the example shown in FIG. 2, outlet 210 is provided in cover 108.

The outlet 210 is equipped with a sterile filter 212, which allows, on the one hand, to filter the gas escaping from the tank 102 and, on the other hand, to prevent the entry of contaminants into the tank 102 through the outlet 210. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the sterile filter 212 is fixedly connected to the lid 108 and is located on the side of the reservoir 102.

Outlet 201 can also be fitted with a HANSEN type quick connect fitting 214 for quick and ergonomic connection/disconnection of outlet 210 to the following devices in any combination:

- devices for measuring or controlling the flow/pressure of the gas removed from the tank 102; and/or

- devices for recovery of gas removed from the tank 102.

The outlet 210 can also be used to inject neutral gas while draining the product 104 through the selection tube 112.

In FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of another non-limiting embodiment of the claimed capacity.

Container 300 shown in FIG. 3 contains all the elements of the container 200 shown in FIG. 2 except injector 202.

In addition, unlike the container 200, in the container 300, the inert gas supply hole 206 is provided on the sampling tube 112 .

The gas is injected into the tank through the selection tube 112 . In particular, neutral gas is injected into the sampling tube 112, in which it passes and then enters the tank 102, providing mixing of the product 104 in the tank.

In FIG. 4 schematically shows another non-restrictive example of the claimed capacity.

Container 400 shown in FIG. 4 contains all the elements of the container 300 shown in FIG. 3.

In addition, unlike the container 300, the container 400 contains an additional tube 402, hermetically connected to the free end of the selection tube 112.

An inert gas supply port 206 is formed on this additional tube 402. The additional tube 402 also includes a valve 404 positioned such that the supply port 206 is between valve 404 and reservoir 102.

The neutral gas is injected into the tank through the additional tube 402. In particular, the neutral gas is injected into the additional tube 403, after which it passes through the return tube 112 and then enters the tank 102, ensuring the mixing of the product 104 in the tank.

In addition, the dimensions of the additional tube 402 are provided in such a way as to pass the product during its withdrawal. Thus, during the withdrawal of the product 104, an additional tube can be left in place.

In FIG. 5 schematically shows another non-restrictive example of the claimed capacity.

Container 500 shown in FIG. 5 contains all the elements of the container 300 shown in FIG. 3.

In addition, unlike the container 300, the container 500 includes a plug 502 sealed to the free end of the sampling tube 112.

An inert gas supply port 206 is provided on this additional plug 502.

The neutral gas is injected into the tank 102 through the additional plug 502. In particular, the neutral gas is injected into the additional plug 502, after which it passes through the return tube 112 and then enters the tank 102, providing mixing of the product 104 in the tank 102.

During product 104 withdrawal, additional plug 502 is removed.

In the examples described with reference to FIG. 3-5, the injector can be used similarly to the container 200 shown in FIG. 2. In this case, the injector can be connected to the supply hole 206 provided on the sampling tube 112, or on the additional tube 402, or on the plug 502, then it passes through the sampling tube 112 and reaches the reservoir 102 to inject neutral gas directly into the middle product 104 in tank 102.

In FIG. 6 schematically shows another non-restrictive example of the claimed capacity.

Container 600 shown in FIG. 6 contains all the elements of the container 100 shown in FIG. 1, as well as the outlet 210, which is available in containers 200, 300, 400 and 500.

In contrast to these containers, the container 600 contains several injectors 602 installed in the walls of the container 600 and opening into the reservoir 102 at the bottom of said reservoir 102.

The injectors 602 may be powered individually or by a power system (not shown).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples described, and a wide variety of changes can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (18)

1. Container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) for a liquid or semi-liquid product, in particular from fruits and/or vegetables, containing: - a reservoir (102) for filling with said product (104), and - cover on the tank; characterized in that said cover (108) is equipped with: - at least one longitudinal neutral gas injector (202) immersed in the tank (102) and containing at least one hole (204) for injecting neutral gas into the product (104) located in the mentioned tank (102) for the purpose of mixing said product (104), and - at least one outlet (210) for removing said injected neutral gas from said tank (102). 2. Container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) according to the previous paragraph, characterized in that it contains at least one injection hole (204, 206) located in the lower part of said container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600), in particular in the lower quarter of said container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600). 3. Container (600) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one injection hole (602) provided on the wall of the container (102). 4. Container (300; 400; 500) according to any one of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that it contains at least one injection hole (206) located at the level of the product withdrawal tube (112) (104) from the reservoir (102). 5. Container (200; 600) according to any of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that it contains at least one injection hole (204) made on the injector (202; 602), in particular on a longitudinal injector immersed in the reservoir (102) . 6. Container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) according to any of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that it contains at least one opening (204) for supplying said container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) with neutral gas from external source. 7. Container (200; 300; 400; 500) according to the previous paragraph, characterized in that at least one supply opening (206) is equipped with a sterile filter. 8. Capacity (200; 300; 400; 500) according to any one of paragraphs. 6 or 7, characterized in that at least one supply opening is equipped with a fitting (208) quick connection. 9. Capacity according to any one of paragraphs. 6-8, characterized in that at least one supply hole is equipped with a valve. 10. Container (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) according to any of the previous paragraphs, characterized in that at least one outlet (210) is equipped with a fitting (214) for recovering gas leaving the container, in particular with a fast connections. 11. Installation comprising: - capacity (200; 300; 400; 500; 600) according to any one of paragraphs. 1-10, and - a source of neutral gas, made with the possibility of connection with the said container.

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