WO2012149918A1

WO2012149918A1 - Method for emptying a container with a liquid

Info

Publication number: WO2012149918A1
Application number: PCT/DE2012/000310
Authority: WO
Inventors: Benedikt Leibinger
Original assignee: Leibinger Smb Technik Gmbh
Priority date: 2011-05-05
Filing date: 2012-03-22
Publication date: 2012-11-08
Also published as: ES2544617T3; EP2704981B1; EP2704981A1

Abstract

A method for emptying a container (1) filled with liquid (7) has a balloon-like body (6), which is introduced into the container (1). Expansion medium (8) is introduced into this balloon-like body (6), and so the balloon-like body (6) is inflated and the liquid (7) is forced out of the container (1).

Description

METHOD FOR EMPTYING A CONTAINER WITH A LIQUID

The invention relates to a method for emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid according to the preamble of claim 1.

A special field of application of the emptying process according to the invention is the emptying of a bottle filled with sparkling wine after bottle fermentation. Nevertheless, the emptying method according to the invention is generally intended for emptying a container which is filled with a liquid, for example with a liquid intended for consumption.

In the bottle fermentation of sparkling wine settle in the bottle from solids, which must be removed after the fermentation process. For this purpose, the so-called Transvasierverfahren is known. This means that the sparkling wine is emptied from the bottle after fermentation to filter off the unwanted solids. In the Transvasierverfahren so far C0 ₂ or another compressed gas such as nitrogen or sterile air is entered into the bottle, so that there is an overpressure. Due to this pressure, the champagne is squeezed out of the bottle.

However, the use of C0 ₂ is undesirable because it dissolves in the contact with the sparkling wine in this. In a laboratory examination of the sparkling wine with regard to the C0 _{2 contained} is then not clear whether the sparkling wine is actually produced by a bottle fermentation sparkling wine. Because it is chemically detectable if the C0 _{2 is} not caused by fermentation, but has a different source of production. It can then be concluded that it is not sparkling wine but sparkling wine with added CO ₂ . But the other compressed gases are not readily acceptable.

On this basis, the invention is based on the invention, the method for emptying a container with a particular intended for consumption liquid of the type mentioned in such a way that the liquid can be emptied from the container without that it comes into contact with a pressurized gas.

The technical solution is characterized by the features in the characterizing part of claim 1. As a result, an effective method for gas-free emptying of liquid from a container, for example, from sparkling wine is created from the bottle after a bottle fermentation. The method is characterized in that the liquid can be emptied of gas from the container during the emptying process without contact. The advantage of this method is thus that the liquid after emptying from the container no gas release, gas exchange or gas entry subject. The implementation of the method provides that in the container at least one balloon-like body is introduced. This can be arbitrarily shaped in the initial state. By this balloon-like body is filled after insertion into the container by means of a medium, thereby creating a defined by the balloon-like body interior space within the container. The liquid in the container is pressed or pressed by this overpressure through a corresponding opening to the outside. Alternatively, this relative overpressure can also be generated by applying a negative pressure, namely by suction of the liquid. Since the balloon-like body is liquid-tight and gas-tight, the expansion medium contained in this balloon-like body does not come into contact with the liquid. After emptying the liquid from the container, the medium contained in the balloon-like body is pumped out again, so that the emptied balloon-like body can be taken out of the container again and provided for the next emptying process.

The development according to claim 2 proposes that the balloon-like body is expandable. This means that this balloon-like body expands during filling of the medium in the manner of a balloon and - vice versa - returns to its original shape when escaping or when pumping the medium. For example, when the expandable balloon-like body is filled with air, and after the container is emptied with the liquid, the air supply is opened, the air from the balloon-like body escapes automatically, as if the air is released from a balloon. Because the balloon-like body contracts due to its flexibility and pushes out the air therein. This has the consequence that when inserting the balloon-like body in the container this occupies only a very small volume, so that the insertion process can be performed easily.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable according to claim 3, that the balloon-like body is not expandable.

A preferred embodiment according to claim 4 suggests that the at least one balloon-like body can inflate targeted, in such a way that all the liquid contained in the container can be easily extruded from this container. Technically This can be implemented in such a way that the balloon-like body is profiled accordingly, ie that first the profile inflates in the region of the container bottom, in order then to move successively towards the container opening. Alternatively, it is also possible that a plurality of balloon-like body are provided, for example a first balloon-like body in the bottom region of the container, a second balloon-like body in the central region of the container and finally a third balloon-like body in Behältnishalsbereich. These are inflated in turn.

In a further preferred embodiment, it is proposed according to claim 5, that the at least one balloon-like body is associated with an elongated carrier, with the aid of which the balloon-like body is inserted into the container. This elongated carrier is to be understood in the most general sense, Basically, this carrier is an elongated, narrow structure, which can be easily introduced together with the balloon-like body through the opening of the container into this container. Conversely, the assembly of elongated carrier and balloon-like body can easily pull out of the container again when the emptying process is completed.

A further development proposes according to claim 6, that the carrier is arranged on a cap. This means that after insertion of the carrier into the container, this cap rests on the container opening and thus creates a liquid-tight and gas-tight seal with the container opening.

Preferably, the cap described above according to the embodiment in claim 7, an opening through which the liquid is forced out.

The development according to claim 8 proposes a first embodiment of the carrier in the form of a tube. The basic idea is that the balloon-like body or bodies is / are arranged on a tube, wherein the balloon-like body surrounds this tube. Then, when an expansion medium is supplied to the balloon-like body through the tube, the balloon-like body inflates around the tube. For this purpose, the tube is provided according to the number of balloon-like body with corresponding openings for the exit of the expansion medium. The use of a tube has the advantage that it can be easily inserted into the container together with the balloon-like body.

The development according to claim 9 proposes a second embodiment of the carrier in the form of one or more rods, against which the balloon-like body. Basically, it is also conceivable that the two embodiments tube / rod are combined. The rod is to be understood in the most general sense. It is an elongated structure. In contrast to the tube described above, however, this rod is not inside the balloon-like body, but the rod and the baflon-like body are adjacent. The advantage of this rod is, on the one hand, that the balloon-like body can be easily introduced into the container, since the rod and the balloon-like body, so to speak, form a structural unit. On the other hand, the rod has the advantage that it comes to rest on inflation of the balloon-like body between the outer shell of this balloon-like body and the inner wall of the container. This automatically creates a small gap between the outer shell of the balloon-like body and the inner wall of the container, through which liquid can escape to the container opening. The advantage is thus that even after the complete inflation of the balloon-like body no liquid bubbles can form in the container. The liquid of these liquid bubbles can easily escape through the container opening through the above-described gap.

The development according to claim 10 proposes various embodiments of the rod. First, it can be bendable, so that it automatically adapts to the respective contours. The rod can also be relatively rigid. In this case, it is shaped so that it is adapted to the inner contour of the container.

Furthermore, the development proposes according to claim 11, that the front end of the rod is connected to the front end of the balloon-like body. For this purpose, a plastic cord or the like. Serve. The advantage is that in the initial position of the balloon-like body assumes a stretched starting position by the fixation at the front end of the rod and thereby can be easily inserted through the container opening into the container. Another advantage is that any remaining liquid bubble must escape in the bottom region of the container towards the carrier.

The development according to claim 12 proposes that the outer surface of the balloon-like body has elevations, in particular knob-shaped elevations. Between these elevations, a gap may form to escape the liquid. For this can - as already described in connection with the rod - automatically adjust a gap between the outer shell of the balloon-like body and the inner wall of the container through which liquid can escape to the container opening. The advantage, therefore, again lies in the fact that even after the complete inflation of the balloon-like body no liquid bubbles can form in the container. The liquid of these liquid bubbles can easily be replaced by the above-described gap by the container opening escape. The knob-shaped elevations may be formed, for example, diamond-shaped.

According to the further development in claim 13, a gas, in particular air, or a liquid, in particular water, can be used as the medium for filling the balloon-like body or bodies.

Embodiments of an emptying device according to the invention for emptying a container filled with liquid after a container fermentation are described below with reference to the drawings. In these shows:

Fig. 1a to 1g a first embodiment, wherein various process sections are shown;

Fig. 2 shows a second embodiment of the device;

3a to 3d a third embodiment of the device using three balloon-like bodies, also in different process sections;

4a to 4g, a fourth embodiment, wherein various process sections are shown.

FIG. 1a of the first embodiment of the emptying device shows a container 1 with a container opening 2. The emptying device initially consists of a tube 3, which is held in a cap 4. This tube 3 is open on the underside. In addition, it has a feed opening for a medium at the upper end. The cap 4 finally still has a lateral opening 5.

On the tube 3, a flexible body 6 is pushed and fastened with its upper peripheral edge close to the cap 4. This body 6 can be inflated into a kind of balloon.

The operation is as follows:

The emptying device is introduced with the tube 3 ahead in the container 1 through the container opening 2 through. The container 1 is filled with liquid 7. Fig. 1 b shows the situation when the emptying device is fully inserted while the cap 4 rests tightly on the container opening 2.

Fig. 1 c shows how the pipe 3, an expansion medium 8, in particular air (but also alternatively a hydraulic expansion medium), is supplied. This expansion medium 8 exits from the lower opening of the tube 3 and thereby inflates the body 6 into a balloon-like body 6. This creates a pressure acting on the liquid 7 inside the container 1. This conveys the liquid upwards, so that it can escape via the opening 5 from the container 1. The final situation is shown in Fig. 1d. It shows how the balloon-shaped body 6 completely rests against the inner wall of the container 1 and therefore the liquid 7 has been completely emptied from the container 1.

Subsequently, the emptying device must be pulled out of the container 1 again. For this purpose, a vacuum is applied to the tube 3 and, for example, the cap 4 is moved slightly upwards so that air can flow into the container 1. Since the balloon-shaped body 6 then contracts, it finally rests again tightly against the tube 3, as can be seen in FIG. 1f.

Finally, the entire emptying can be pulled out of the container 1 again (Fig. 1g).

2 shows a somewhat modified embodiment of the balloon-like body 6. Here it is shown that the balloon-like body 6 inflates in a profiled manner during filling of the medium, in such a way that first the bottom area of the container 1 is filled, then the middle container area and finally the neck area of the container 1.

FIGS. 3a to 3d show a further modified embodiment of the emptying device. Here, a total of three superposed balloon-shaped body 6 are provided, which are arranged on the tube 3 enveloping this. Each of these three balloon-shaped body 6 is associated with an outlet opening from the tube 3.

In this embodiment variant, first the lowermost balloon-shaped body 6 is inflated (FIG. 3b), then the middle balloon-shaped body 6 (FIG. 3c) and finally the uppermost balloon-shaped body 6 (FIG. 3d). As a result, the liquid 7 is successively pressed upwards in the direction of the opening 5 and exits there. FIGS. 4a to 4d show a further modified embodiment of the emptying device. The basic principle here is that instead of a tube 3 on the cap 4, a rod 9 is arranged. This rod 9 is in particular made of plastic and is designed as an elongated, flexible structure. In contrast to the tube 3, the rod 9 does not protrude into the balloon-like body 6, but rather the balloon-like body 6 and the rod 9 are located side by side. The front end of the balloon-like body 6 is connected to the front end of the rod 9 via a cord 10 or the like.

4b to 4e can be seen that the upper end of the balloon-like body 6 in the region of the valve opening of the cap 4 bears directly against the inner wall of the formed in this cap 4 axial through hole. This has the advantage that no gap remains, with which the liquid 7 could come into contact. This training is also applicable to the above-described embodiments.

The basic principle of emptying corresponds to that basic principle, as has already been described above. This means that the rod 9 is introduced with its balloon-like body 6 in the container opening 2 of the container 1 (Fig. 4a and 4b). After opening a valve, the balloon-like body 6 is filled with air, so that the fluid 7 is pressed out of the container 1 through the outlet valve, and thus emerges through the associated displacement effect (FIGS. 4c and 4d).

Subsequently, the air is discharged from the balloon-like body 6 again. For this purpose, a vacuum is applied to the tube 3 and, for example, the cap 4 is moved slightly upwards so that air can flow into the container 1. Since this balloon-type body 6 is a kind of air balloon, it automatically contracts, thereby pushing out the air contained in the balloon-like body 6 (FIG. 4e). Finally, then the emptying device can be pulled out of the container 1 and used for a subsequent emptying process (Fig. 4f).

The advantage of using the above-described rod 9 is that it comes to rest during filling of the balloon-like body 6 with air between the outer surface of this balloon-like body 6 and the inner surface of the container 1 such that forms a gap along the rod 9. This creates a possibility that all liquid can escape from the container 1, if any liquid bubbles should form, if the balloon-like body 6 should inflate correspondingly unfavorable. This can be seen in the sectional view to Fig. 4d. In this case, the gap reduces automatically with increasing expansion of the balloon-like body 6. The air gap virtually ensures itself to minimize or eliminate. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 container

2 container opening

3 pipe

4 cap

5 opening

6 balloon-like body

7 liquid

8 expansion medium

9 staff

10 string

Claims

1. A method for emptying a container (1) with a particular intended for consumption liquid (7),

wherein the liquid (7) is forced out of the container (1) by means of an expansion medium (8) introduced into the container (1) by overpressure,

characterized ,

that in the container (1) at least one, compared to the liquid (7) liquid-tight and gas-tight, balloon-like body (6) is introduced and

in that the at least one balloon-like body (6) is filled and inflated with the expansion medium (8) or fills with the expansion medium (8) and inflates, so that the balloon-like body (6) fills the interior of the container (1) and thereby the liquid (7) escapes from the container (1).

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the balloon-like body (6) expands during the supply of the expansion medium (8) and returns to its original shape after the escape of the expansion medium (8).

3. The method according to claim 1,

characterized,

that the balloon-like body (6) is not expandable.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that the at least one balloon-like body (6) or the balloon-like body (6) can be inflated in such a way that the interior of the container (1) is filled successively from the end remote from the container opening (2) to the container opening (2).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the at least one balloon-like body (6) is associated with an elongated carrier and

in that the carrier together with the at least one balloon-like body (6) is introduced into the container (1).

6. The method according to claim 5,

characterized,

in that the carrier is held by a cap (4) which can be placed on the container opening (2).

7. Instrument according to claim 6,

characterized,

in that the cap (4) has an opening (5) for the passage of the liquid (7).

8. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 7,

characterized,

that the support is a tube (3) on which the at least one balloon-like body (6) is arranged liquid-tight and gas-tight and this at least partially wrapped and thereby rests in the ground state of this tube (3) and

in that the tube (3) has at least one outlet opening for the expansion medium (8), via which the expansion medium (8) supplied to the tube (3) enters the balloon-like body (6) and inflates it.

9. The method according to any one of claims 5 to 8,

characterized,

in that at least one rod (9), on which the balloon-like body (6) rests, is provided as the carrier. 0. Method according to claim 9,

characterized,

that the rod (9) is either bendable or is adapted in terms of its longitudinal contour to the inner contour of the container (1).

11. The method according to claim 9 or 10,

characterized,

that the front end of the rod (9) is connected to the front end of the balloon-like body (6) by means of a cord (10) or by means of a wire or the like.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the outer surface of the balloon-like body (6) has elevations, in particular knob-shaped elevations.

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

in that a gas, in particular air, or a liquid, in particular water, is used as the expansion medium (8) for filling the balloon-like body (6).