WO2017029188A1

WO2017029188A1 - Dosage system, coupling device for a small size dosage system and related method

Info

Publication number: WO2017029188A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/069124
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marie Odinot; Jean-Marc AUDEGOND; Sabrina PIROIS-BLIN; Emilien LANGEVIN; Marc FAIVELEY
Original assignee: Chr. Hansen A/S
Priority date: 2015-08-17
Filing date: 2016-08-11
Publication date: 2017-02-23
Also published as: AR105709A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling device for coupling a container to a main conduit of a dosage system, the coupling device comprising; a first dosage port comprising a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element, the first primary coupling part defining a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage, the first secondary coupling part comprising one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element, and a second coupling part defining a dosage conduit and comprising one or more second engagement elements including a second primary engagement element configured to engage with the first primary engagement element, the second coupling part comprising a hollow needle forming a part of the dosage conduit and having a tip end for penetrating the membrane element and reaching into the main conduit. The invention further relates to a system comprising at least two coupling devices and a related method.

Description

DOSAGE SYSTEM, COUPLING DEVICE FOR A SMALL SIZE DOSAGE SYSTEM AND RELATED METHOD

The present disclosure relates to the food industry and in particular to a dosage system for dosage of additives into a stream and a coupling device for coupling a container to a main conduit of the dosage system. Typically, the additive is stored in the container and the stream runs in the main conduit.

BACKGROUND

Accurate dosaging is of essential importance for the inoculation process in many food-processing industries for producing a homogeneous product, in the dairy industry in particular. This as the industrial and qualitative

performance levels of the final products depend on the amount, nature and the efficiency of the ferments used and on their method of addition.

A dosage system for inline inoculation of a food product, in particular a dairy product, with ferment, which allows for continuous inoculation without having to interrupt the fermentation process for the production of the final product is disclosed in WO 2014/086671 .

One disadvantage of the known inline dosage systems when downscaling the size of the production site even more to a small size production site is that the smaller tubes in the dosage system no longer can be cleaned and disinfected satisfactorily by means of the conventional cleaning system, Cleaned In Place (CIP), used in industries such as dairy, beverage, brewing and processed foods, resulting in contamination of the final product.

SUMMARY There is a need for methods and apparatus allowing for accurate dosaging of additives. Further, there is a need for securing a homogenous product.

Further it is desirable to provide a coupling device for a small size dosage system and a dosage system where contamination of the final product is avoided.

Disclosed herein is a coupling device for coupling a container to a main conduit of a dosage system, the coupling device comprising a first dosage port comprising a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element, the first primary coupling part defining a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage, the first secondary coupling part comprising one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element. The coupling device comprises a second coupling part defining a dosage conduit and comprising one or more second engagement elements including a second primary engagement element configured to engage with the first primary engagement element, the second coupling part comprising a hollow needle forming a first part of the dosage conduit and having a tip end for penetrating the membrane element and reaching into the main conduit.

Also disclosed is a dosage system for dosage of additives into a stream, the dosage system comprising a main conduit extending from a first port to a second port, a first dosage port and a second dosage port for feeding additive into the main conduit. The first dosage port comprises a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element. The first primary coupling part defines a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage, the first secondary coupling part comprising one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element for coupling to a second coupling part.

Also disclosed herein is a method of producing a food product, e.g. using the dosage system as described herein, the method comprising the steps of; adding additive from a first container into the stream in the main conduit through one of either the first or second dosage port; continuously

measuring, such as e.g. weighing the first container, in order to determine, during emptying, the remaining volume of the additive in the first container; adding additive from a second container through the other of the first or second dosage port when the first container is empty or when the remaining volume in the container reaches a threshold value.

The dosage conduit may be configured to lead additive from a container to the stream in the main conduit. A dosage of an additive from between 0.001 % to 0.1 % may be added to the main stream. The dosage conduit may have an inner diameter between 1 .0 mm and 10 mm, preferably between 1 .5 mm and 5.0 mm. The hollow needle, which forms the first part of the dosage conduit, may be suitable for and may be made from a material suitable for being cleaned and sterilized when changing type of additive such as stainless steel and/or the hollow needle may be made of a material suitable for disposable products. The hollow needle may be made of a polymer, a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel or any material suitable for being used in food production, being sterilized and rigid enough to penetrate the membrane element. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The hollow needle may have a length at least corresponding to the radius of the main conduit. The hollow needle may have a wall thickness of 0.25 mm to 2 mm.

In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the dosage conduit further comprises a tube extending in-between the container and the hollow needle. The tube may be releasably attached to the hollow needle, e.g. by means of a connection element. The inner diameter of the dosage conduit may correspond to the inner diameter of the hollow needle and/or the tube.

The tube or pipe, forming a second part of the dosage conduit, may be an injection tube suitable for being cleaned and sterilized after change of type of additive. The tube may be a flexible tubing and may be provided with means for temporary connection, e.g. connecting elements such as clip fasteners or snap-fasteners in one or both ends of the tube. The more or less flexible tubing may be made of a plastic, such as a plastic suitable for being cleaned and sterilized and/or suitable for disposable products. The means for temporary connection enables disassembly of the dosage system, so that particularly the dosage conduit, i.e. the tube and hollow needle as well as the second coupling part and membrane element may be cleaned and sterilized separately by means of more suitable methods such as Autoclave, and contamination of the final product may be prevented. Penetrating the membrane may not be the only functionality of the tip end of the hollow needle. The tip end may, when the second coupling part is connected to the dosage system, be oriented so that the open side of the needle points downstream of the stream. The closed side of the hollow needle then prevents that the stream is pushed inside the hollow needle and that the additive is pushed back inside the hollow needle. Thereby, a flawless release of the additive to the stream may be obtained.

The container may contain an additive, such as a ferment, preferably concentrated ferments in a liquid form. The container may have a capacity ranging from 200 g to several kilos. The container may be a container suitable for being cleaned and sterilized when changing type of additive. The container may be a more or less flexible container which may be made of a plastic, such as a plastic suitable for being cleaned and sterilized and/or for disposable products.

A small size production site may be defined by that the main conduit may have a diameter between 20 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 35 mm and 70 mm. The main conduit may be made of metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. A small size production site may be further defined by that a stream of a liquid, such as a liquid to be inoculated, may run in the main conduit with a flow rate between 300 liters/h and 70,000 liters/h, preferably between 500 liters/h and 50,000 liters/h.

The dosage port may comprise a through hole in the wall of the main conduit. The through hole may have a circular or oval cross section. The diameter of the circular through hole or the maximum cross sectional width of the through hole may be any diameter between the diameter of the main conduit and the diameter of the hollow needle, such as from 3 mm to 50 mm. An exemplary dosage port may have a through hole where the diameter changes

throughout the wall thickness of the main conduit, i.e. from the outside surface to the inside surface, so that the profile of the through hole in the main conduit is shaped like a truncated cone.

The first primary coupling part may be welded to the main conduit or alternatively attached by means of a threaded portion. Accordingly, the first primary coupling part may comprise a threaded portion, e.g. for attachment to the main conduit.

A coupling part, such as the first primary coupling part, first secondary coupling part and/or second coupling part, may be made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The first primary coupling part, first secondary coupling part and second coupling part may be suitable for being cleaned and sterilized. This may in particular be useful when changing the type of additive used in the dosage system.

The membrane element may be made of any flexible polymeric material, such as rubber. The membrane element may be made of a material with a tensile strength of at least 5 Mpa such as between 6.5 and 15. The

membrane element may be made of a material with an ultimo elongation of at least 500% such as at least 650%. The membrane element may be made of a material with a hardness (shore A; 15s) between 30 and 50, preferably between 35 to 45. The membrane element may be made of a material with a 300 modulus in between 1 and 5, preferably between 2 and 4. The

membrane element may preferably be a self-sealing membrane element. The membrane element may be made of any material suitable for a self-sealing membrane element such as a rubber. The membrane element may comprise one or more elastomers. An exemplary elastomer is chlorobutyl . The membrane element may comprise one or more curing agents. An exemplary curing agent is metallic oxide. The membrane element may comprise one or more fillers, e.g. including a mineral filler.

The membrane element blocks the dosage port passage, so that the stream cannot flow through the dosage port passage. The membrane element may have a first end and a second end with an end wall arranged at the first end. The end wall is configured for penetration by a hollow needle. The end wall may be self-sealing, the end wall may seal the opening caused by the penetrating hollow needle when the hollow needle is retracted from the membrane element. The end wall may have a thickness in the range from 0.1 mm to 10 mm, preferably a range between 0.25 mm to 0.75 mm. The membrane element may comprise a sidewall extending from the end wall towards the second. The outer surface of the sidewall may have a cross- sectional shape and/or size to fit with the inner surface of the first primary coupling part. The outer diameter of the sidewall may be less than an outer diameter of the end wall to form a collar part.

In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the first primary coupling part and the first secondary coupling part respectively comprises a threaded portion for releasably attaching the first secondary coupling part to the first primary coupling part.

The first secondary coupling part may be releasably attached to the first primary coupling part by means of any other kind of suitable engagement assembly. When the coupling device is assembled, the hollow needle penetrates the membrane element, such as the end wall of the membrane element, and the tip end of the hollow needle is configured to reach into the main conduit. In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the tip end of the hollow needle is configured to reach into the main conduit, such as from 10 % to 90% of the main conduit diameter into the main conduit. In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the tip end of the hollow needle is configured to reach within the middle half of the diameter of the main conduit. Arranging the tip end of the hollow needle in the middle half of the stream may have the advantage, that the additive is more uniformly distributed in the stream.

Further, the risk of the additive being trapped in a layer of the stream along the inside surface of the main conduit may be reduced. Accordingly a more homogeneous product is obtained.

In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the first primary engagement element and the second primary engagement element form a bayonet coupling. A bayonet coupling may facilitate a well-defined rotational position of the hollow needle. A bayonet coupling requires a small rotation for engagement compared to a threaded coupling. Accordingly, a bayonet coupling enables easy attachment of the second coupling part to the first dosage port.

The first primary engagement element may comprise the slit portion of the bayonet coupling and the second primary engagement element may comprise the pin portion of the bayonet coupling. The first primary

engagement element may comprise the pin portion of the bayonet coupling and the second primary engagement element may comprise the slit portion of the bayonet coupling.

The first primary engagement element and the second primary engagement element may form a threaded coupling. In one or more exemplary coupling devices, the second coupling part comprises one or more handle elements including a first handle element, e.g. for enabling a user to effectively grab and attach the second coupling part to the first coupling part. The second coupling part may comprise a second coupling body. The second coupling body may be an elongated body circumventing the hollow needle. The second coupling body may comprise the first handle element. The first handle element may be an elongated element substantially perpendicular to the hollow needle. The second coupling body may further comprise a second handle element. The second handle element may be an elongated element substantially perpendicular to the hollow needle. The first and second handle elements may extend from the second coupling body in opposite directions. The first and/or second handle element may be attached to the hollow needle. The additive may comprise or be one or more ferments, enzymes, sugars, growth factors and/or colorants, all preferably concentrated fin a liquid form.

The ferment or ferments used may be composed of bacteria which are used for producing cheeses such as, for example, soft cheeses, cooked pressed cheeses, uncooked pressed cheeses, spun-curd cheeses, and fermented milks such as, for example, stirred or set, flavored or natural yoghurts, drinking yoghurts, sour cream and fromages frais and also for producing other fermented products such as, for example, wine.

The bacteria used may be mesophilic microorganisms. Among the

mesophilic microorganisms typically used, mention may in particular be made of, for example, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris, Leuconostoc cremoris, Lactoccus lactis biovar. diacetylactis, Lactobacillus casei, Streptococcus durans, Streptococcus faecalis. Use may also be made of thermophilic microorganisms. Mention may in particular be made of, for example, Streptococcus thermophilus,

Lactobacillus lactis, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Lactobacillus acidophilus or any other appropriate

microorganism.

Likewise, strictly anaerobic microorganisms of the bifidobacteria type, including Bifidus bifidum and Bifidobacterium longum (animalis) can be used.

Use may also be made of propionic bacteria such as Lactobacillus

helveticus, Propionibacterium freudenreichii, Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii, etc.

The bacteria used may be wine bacteria, for example Oenococcus oeni (Leuconostoc oenos), Lactobacillus plantarum or Pedicoccus sp. Use may also be made of yeasts of the family Saccharomycetaceae or molds such as Penicillium or Geotrichum. The enzymes used may comprise coagulants such as rennets or chymosins, lipases, phospholipases, lactases and/or any other enzyme used in the dairy product manufacturing process.

The level of additive with ferment or concentrated bacterial culture may vary according to the technologies and the products under consideration.

Generally, the additive constitutes from 0.005 percent to 0.025 percent of the food product. The additive may be added to the stream/main conduit at a flow rate in the range from 0.0001 % to 1 % of the flow rate in the main conduit, preferably a range from 0.001 % to 0.1 % of the flow rate in the main conduit. For example, if the flow rate in the main conduit is 5,000 liters/h, the flow rate of the additive into the main conduit may range from 0.5 liters/h to 50 liters/h.

The additive may be packed and stored in a container. The container may have a capacity ranging from 200 g to 10 kg. The container may be a container suitable for being cleaned and sterilized when changing type of additive. The container may be a more or less flexible container which may be made of a plastic, such as a plastic suitable for being cleaned and sterilized and or suitable for disposable products. The container may be arranged in a dosage chamber.

In the dosage system, the second dosage port may comprise a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element. The first primary coupling part defines a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage. The first secondary coupling part comprises one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element for coupling to a second coupling part.

The first primary coupling part, the first secondary coupling part and the membrane element may be part of a coupling device as described herein, wherein at least a first coupling device and a second coupling device may be attached to the main conduit at respectively the first dosage port and the second dosage port.

The coupling device attached to the main conduit at the first dosage port and the coupling device attached to the main conduit at the second dosage port may constitute a pair of coupling devices. The number of coupling devices attached to the main conduit may be between two and ten, preferably any even number between two and ten. The number of pairs of coupling devices attached to the main conduit may be between one and five. Having an even number of coupling devices or a number of pairs of coupling devices attached to the main conduit makes it possible to add each type of additive to the stream through two coupling devices. Having a set-up where two containers with one type of additive is connected to the main conduit through two coupling devices makes it possible to continuously adding a specific dosage to the stream, as when one container is empty and replaced by another container, a second container is on standby and ready to continue the dosaging without any time delay.

The dosage system may comprise at least one measuring (such as e.g. a weigh-in-device capable of continuously determining the remaining volume in the container being emptied. The weight measured may be compared to a threshold value corresponding to the weight of the empty or almost empty container. The measuring device may be arranged in the dosage chamber together with the container. The dosage chamber may be divided into two or more compartments, wherein each compartment may have one container and one measuring device arranged therein.

The main conduit may be divided into at least two parts, a dosage part and a mixing part. The dosage part may extend between the first port and the mixing part and the mixing part may extend between the dosage part and the second port. The dosage part of the main conduit may be approximately straight whereas the mixing part of the main conduit preferably may be meandering. The mixing part of the main conduit may comprise one or more bends, such as a first bend, a second bend and/or a third bend. The mixing part of the main conduit may comprise one or more straight tube sections. The straight tube sections, such as a first tube section and a second tube section, may be substantially parallel (± 5 degrees). A bend, such as the first bend, the second bend and/or the third bend, may be in the range from 80 to 190 degrees. The first bend, the second bend and/or the third bend may be a 180 degrees bend, i.e. a U-shaped bend. The mixing part of the main conduit must be sufficiently long to ensure that the stream is sufficiently

homogenous. The length of the mixing part of the main conduit may be at least 25 cm. The length of the mixing part of the main conduit may be between 25 cm to 100 cm, preferable between 40 cm and 60 cm. The two or more coupling devices or pairs of coupling devices may be arranged along the dosage part of the main conduit. The dosage system may comprise at least one pressure gauge including a first pressure gauge. The first pressure gauge may be coupled to the main conduit preferably between the first port and the first dosage port and/or between a last dosage port and the second port. The pressure gauge(s) may be used to determine whether the injection or feeding pressure of the additive is higher or lower than the fluid pressure of the stream. The injection pressure of the additive needs to be higher than the fluid pressure of the stream in order to feed the additive into the stream.

The last dosage port may be the second, fourth, six or eight or tenth dosage port or whichever dosage port having the shortest distance along the main conduit to the second port and the longest distance along the main conduit to the first port.

The dosage system may comprise a dosage regulation device, such as a dosage pump, for regulating the flow rate of the additive and/or a stream regulation device, such as a stream pump, for regulating the flow rate of the stream.

The first primary coupling part may be attached to the main conduit by means of a combining part.

The combining part may be arranged between the first primary coupling part and the main conduit in order to attach the first primary coupling part to the main conduit. The combining part may be coupled to the main conduit in a way so that the combining part circumvents the main conduit.

The dosage system may be part of an inline inoculation system, wherein the inline inoculation system comprises the dosage system, a supply tank and a receive tank.

The food product may be a dairy product or a wine product. The method may comprise changing the first container to a third container, while additive is added from the second container.

In the method, the second coupling part may be releasably attached to the first secondary coupling part and the second coupling may not be

disengaged from the first secondary coupling part when changing the first container to a third container.

One or more connecting elements may be arranged between the tube and the container and/or the tube and the second coupling part which releasably attaches the container to the tube and/or the tube to the second coupling part which is disengaged when changing a container.

Not changing the second coupling part when changing the container simplifies the change of container, as the secondary coupling part does not need to be cleaned and sterilized. Changing the second coupling part may not be necessary unless changing to a container with another type of additive.

The connecting elements may make it possible to clean and sterilizing the tube separately.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other features and advantages will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art by the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 schematically shows an exemplary inline inoculation system

comprising a dosage system and coupling device;

Fig. 2 schematically shows an exemplary coupling device; Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross sectional view of the coupling device of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 schematically shows an exploded view of the coupling device of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5A and 5B schematically show an exemplary coupling device comprising a combining part, and

Fig. 6 schematically shows a top view of an exemplary dosage system comprising a first, second, third and fourth dosage port.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 schematically shows an inline inoculation system 1 comprising a dosage system 10 and a coupling device 30.

The dosage system 10 comprises a main conduit 12 extending from a first port 13 to a second port 14. The main conduit is configured to comprise a stream flowing with 500 liters/h to 50,000 liters/h and may therefore preferably be made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. The main conduit may have a diameter in between 35 mm and 70 mm. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The main conduit is divided into a dosage part 15 and a mixing part 16. The dosage part comprises at least two coupling devices 30 each for connecting a container 1 1 comprising an additive to be mixed with the stream in the main conduit through a first and second dosage port 31 , 32. The additive is lead from the container to the coupling devise through a tube 17 extending from the container to the coupling device. The tube may be made of plastic, preferably a plastic suitable for being sterilized and/or a plastic suitable for disposable products.

The additive in the two containers 1 1 may be the same additive or two different types of additive. Preferably, two containers with the same additive are coupled to the main conduit 12. If there is a need of adding

supplementary additives to the stream another pair of coupling devices, i.e. one pair of coupling devices per type of additive, is added to the main conduit.

In the presently illustrated embodiment the two containers 1 1 are arranged in a dosage chamber 18 by means of two support devices 19 each capable of supporting a container containing an additive. The support device may be a vertical attachment device or a device for gripping the container, e.g.

comprising a set of plates for holding the container in place and/or a hook. Between each container and the tube 17 is a connecting element 21 for engagement and disengagement of the container to the tube. In the presently illustrated embodiment the dosage chamber 18 further comprise a weighing device 20 for weighing the container 1 1 in order to deduce the volume of the remaining additive during dosaging when emptying the container.

The inline inoculation system 1 may further comprise a supply tank 2, supplying the stream directly or indirectly to the first port 13 of the dosage system 10 as well as a receive tank 3 receiving the stream with the added additive directly or indirectly from the second port 14 in the dosage system 10.

Fig. 2 schematically shows an exemplary of the coupling device 30 comprising a first primary coupling part 40, a first secondary coupling part 41 and a second coupling part 50. The coupling device further comprises a membrane element 42 arranged inside and between the first primary coupling part 40 and first secondary coupling part 41 , see Fig. 3.

The first primary coupling part 40 is configured to be attached to the main conduit, not shown. In the presently illustrated embodiment the first primary coupling part 40 is welded to the main conduit. The first secondary coupling part 41 is configured to be releasable attached to the first primary part 40 by means of a first engagement element, not shown, on the first primary coupling part 40 and a second engagement element, not shown, on the first secondary coupling part 41 . The first secondary coupling part 41 may further comprise a grip pattern 48 facilitating a better grip on the part which advantageously may be used when attaching the first secondary coupling part 41 to the first primary coupling part 40 to secure that the parts are firmly attached to each other. In the presently illustrated embodiment the first secondary part comprises two portions with a grip pattern 48 comprising a number of grooves.

The first secondary coupling part 41 further comprises a first primary engagement element 45 configured to engage with a second primary engagement element 55 on the second coupling part 50. In the presently illustrated embodiment the first and second primary engagement element 45, 55 form a bayonet coupling.

The second coupling part 50 comprises the second primary engagement element 55 and a hollow needle 52. The hollow needle 52 has a tip end 53 configured for penetrating the membrane element 42, see Fig. 3. The tube extending from the container, not shown, may be directly or indirectly attached to the hollow needle by means of one or more connecting elements, not shown, in the end of the hollow needle opposite the tip end.

As in the presently illustrated embodiment, the second coupling part 50 may further comprise an elongated second coupling body 57 circumventing the hollow needle and an elongated first and second handle element 56', 56" extending from the second coupling body approximately perpendicularly to a center axis 33 of the elongated second body, see Fig. 3. The pair of handles 56', 56" may be used for easy mounting of the second coupling part 50 to the first secondary coupling part 41 . Fig. 3 schematically shows a cross sectional view of the coupling device 30 with the center axis 33, where the coupling part is assembled and attached to the main conduit 12. To the main conduit there is attached a first dosage port 31 , see Fig. 4, comprising the first primary coupling part 40 constituting a dosage port passage 43. The dosage port is in the presently illustrated embodiment attached to the main conduit adjacent to an approximately circular through hole in the wall of the main conduit.

The first primary coupling part 40 may be made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The first primary coupling part comprises a first tube shaped body 100. The inside of the first tube shaped body, i.e. the dosage port passage 43, comprises an approximately truncated cone inside portion 101 extending from the main conduit 12 in a direction away from the center axis of the main conduit, and an approximately cylindrical inside portion 102 in continuation of the truncated cone inside portion, i.e. extending from the truncated cone inside portion in a direction away from the main conduit 12. The outside of the first tube shaped body comprises a first outside portion 103, the first outside portion may be approximately cylindrical, extending from the first dosage port in a direction away from the main conduit and a second outside portion 104, the second outside may be approximately cylindrical, in continuation of the first outside portion whereas the first outside portion has a larger diameter than the second outside portion creating a protruding edge 105 between the first and second outside portion. In the presently illustrated embodiment the second outside portion comprises an outside threaded portion, i.e. the first engagement element, not shown, for attaching the first secondary coupling part 41 to the first primary coupling part 40.

The first secondary coupling part 41 may be made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The first secondary coupling part comprises a lid shaped body 200. The lid shaped body comprises a side portion 201 and an approximately circular end portion 202. The end portion comprises a through hole 203 approximately in the center of the end portion for allowing the hollow needle 52 to enter through the dosage port passage 43 and into the main conduit 12. The trough hole may be approximately circular. The diameter of the through hole may change throughout the wall thickness of the end portion, i.e. from the outside surface to the inside surface, so that the profile of the through hole is shaped like a truncated cone. In the presently illustrated embodiment the side portion comprises an inside threaded portion, i.e. the second engagement element, not shown, on the inside surface for attaching the first secondary coupling part 41 to the first primary coupling part 40.

The first secondary coupling part 41 further comprises the first primary engagement element 45. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the first engagement element is the slit portion of a bayonet coupling. The slit portion of the bayonet coupling extends from the outside of the end portion 202 and circumvent the through hole 203.

The membrane element 42 is in the presently illustrated embodiment a self- sealing membrane element. The membrane element may be made of any material suitable for a self-sealing membrane element such as a rubber comprising chlorobutyl. The membrane element comprises an end wall or blocking part 300 for blocking the dosage port passage 43 and the through hole 203 in the end portion 202 of the first secondary coupling part 41 . The blocking part may be approximately circular and have approximately the same diameter as the inside diameter of the end part of the first secondary coupling part 41 . The blocking part may be fixed or supported between the inside of the end portion and an edge portion 106 of the first primary coupling part 40 when attaching the first secondary coupling part 41 to the first primary coupling part 40. The membrane element may further comprise a sidewall or collar part 301 . The collar part may be approximately cylindrical and have an outside diameter corresponding to the inside diameter of the first primary coupling part 40, i.e. the cylindrical inside portion 102. The collar part may stiffen the membrane element and prevent that the blocking portion disengages from between the first primary and secondary coupling part 40, 41 . This both when the hollow needle 33 is pushed through the membrane element and withdrawn from the membrane element.

The second coupling part 50 or parts of the second coupling part may be made of a metal or metal alloy, such as stainless steel. Examples of stainless steel are type 316 stainless steel or type 304 stainless steel. The second coupling part comprises the hollow needle 52 which forms a part of the dosage conduit 51 , the second primary engagement element 55, the first and second handle element 56', 56" and the second coupling body 57. In the presently illustrated embodiment, the second primary engagement element 55 comprises the pin portion of the bayonet coupling. The first and the second handle element 56', 56" and the second coupling body 57 constitute one solid part circumventing a portion of the hollow needle 52. The two pins in the bayonet coupling are attached in the second coupling body. The tip end 53 of hollow needle 52 extends approximately into the center of the main conduit 12 and is oriented so that the open side of the needle points downstream of a flow direction 80 of the stream.

Fig. 4 schematically shows an exploded view of the coupling device 30 comprising the first or second dosage port 31 , 32 and the second coupling device 50 showing how the coupling device may be assembled. The first primary coupling part 40 may first be attached to the main conduit, see Fig. 3. The membrane element 42 may then be arranged within the first primary coupling part. The first secondary coupling part 41 may then be attached to the first primary coupling part encapsulating and fixating the membrane element. Finally the hollow needle 52 may be pushed through the membrane element and the second coupling part 50 may be attached to the first secondary coupling part 41 .

Fig. 5A and 5B schematically show a coupling device 30 attached to the main conduit 12 by means of a combining part 60. The combining part circumvents a portion of the main conduit 12. The combining part may comprise at least one threaded portion. The combining part may be suitable for introducing manometers, temperature probes and dosage conduits to the main conduit, i.e. the inside of the main conduit. In the presently illustrated embodiment the grip pattern 48 on the first secondary part 41 comprising a number of grooves extending all the way around an outside surface of the first secondary part.

Fig. 6 schematically shows an exemplary dosage system 10 comprising a first, second, third and fourth dosage port 31 , 32, 34, 35. The dosage system comprises a main conduit extending from the first port 13 to the second port14. The main conduit is divided into the dosage part 15 and the mixing part 16. The mixing part may extend from a first bend 70 to the second port 14. In the presently illustrated embodiment the mixing part further comprises a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth bend 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77.

References

1 Inline inoculation system

2 Supply tank

3 Receive tank

10 Dosage system

1 1 Container

12 Main conduit

13 First port

14 Second port

15 Dosage part

16 Mixing part

17 Tube

18 Dosage chamber

19 Support device

20 Measuring device

21 Connecting element

30 Coupling device

31 First dosage port

32 Second dosage port 33 Centre axis 34 Third dosage port

35 Fourth dosage port

40 First primary coupling part

41 First secondary coupling part

42 Membrane element

43 Dosage port passage

44 First engagement elements

45 First primary engagement element 48 Grip pattern

50 Second coupling part

51 Dosage conduit

52 Hollow needle

53 Tip end

54 Second engagement elements 55 Second primary engagement element

56' First handle element

56" Second handle element

57 Second coupling body

60 Combining part 70 First bend

71 Second bend

72 Third bend

73 Fourth bend

74 Fifth bend

75 Sixth bend

76 Seventh bend

77 Eighth bend

80 Flow direction

100 First tube shaped body

101 Truncated cone inside portion

102 Cylindrical inside portion

103 First outside portion

104 Second outside portion 105 Protruding edge

106 Edge portion

200 Lid shaped body

201 Side portion

202 End portion

203 Through hole 300 Blocking part

301 Collar part

Claims

A coupling device for coupling a container to a main conduit of a dosage system, the coupling device comprising;

- a first dosage port comprising a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element, the first primary coupling part defining a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage, the first secondary coupling part comprising one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element , and

- a second coupling part defining a dosage conduit and comprising one or more second engagement elements including a second primary engagement element configured to engage with the first primary engagement element, the second coupling part comprising a hollow needle forming a part of the dosage conduit and having a tip end for penetrating the membrane element and reaching into the main conduit.

Coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the dosage conduit further comprises a tube extending in-between the container and the hollow needle, the tube being releasably attached to the hollow needle by means of a connection element.

Coupling device according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the first primary coupling part and the first secondary coupling part respectively comprises a threaded portion for releasably attaching the first secondary coupling part to the first primary coupling part.

4. Coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tip end of the hollow needle is configured to reach within the middle half of the diameter of the main conduit.

5. Coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first primary engagement element and the second primary

engagement element form a bayonet coupling.

6. Coupling device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second coupling part comprises a first handle element for attaching the second coupling part to the first coupling part. 7. A dosage system for dosage of additives into a stream, the dosage

system comprising;

- a main conduit extending from a first port to a second port,

- a first dosage port and a second dosage port for feeding additive into the main conduit, wherein the first dosage port comprises a first primary coupling part attached to the main conduit, a first secondary coupling part and a membrane element, the first primary coupling part defining a dosage port passage, wherein the membrane element is configured to block the dosage port passage, the first secondary coupling part comprising one or more first engagement elements including a first primary engagement element for coupling to a second coupling part.

8. Dosage system according to claim 7, wherein the first primary coupling part is attached to the main conduit by means of a combining part.

9. A method of producing a food product using the dosage system according to claims 7 or 8, the method comprising the steps of; - adding additive from a first container into the stream in the main conduit through one of either the first or second dosage port;

- continuously measuring the first container, in order to determine, during emptying, the remaining volume of the additive in the first container;

- adding additive from a second container through the other of the first or second dosage port when the remaining volume in the first container reaches a threshold value.

10. Method according to claim 9, further comprising the step of changing the first container to a third container, while additive is added from the second container.

1 1 . Method according to claim 10, wherein the second coupling part is

releasably attached to the first secondary coupling part and wherein the second coupling part is not disengaged from the first secondary coupling part when changing the first container to a third container.