Method and device for puring of oxygen-enriched air liquids

FIELD: food industry.

SUBSTANCE: method for pouring of oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas liquid mixtures or other gases, specifically drinks into pots such as bottles or jars, provides liquid pouring into pots and the enriched liquid is held in nitrogen atmosphere during pouring process with excessive pressure, mainly in the range of 1-10 BARs, after that it is corked up gastight. The pot is being held in the nitrogen atmosphere, especially pressure which corresponds liquid filling pressure, with excessive pressure before liquid supply and before pressure treatment the pot is blown at least one time, mainly with nitrogen, or vacuumised. Also multiple combined pot treatment by blowing and preliminary vacuumisation can be held. Liquid gas, especially liquid nitrogen or oxygen can be added before vacuumisation. Also before liquid supply into the pot, extruded return gas can be collected and used for blowing treatment of the following pots. Device consists of at least one re-entry component with valve for liquid, at least one gas valve for blowing and/or pressure generation in the pot by nitrogen and partially filled with liquid ring boiler with ability to resist nitrogen pressure in the range of 1-10 BARs. The device also includes inductive sensor for consumption measuring and filling component is connected to supplying channel for liquid with lower side of the ring boiler.

EFFECT: invention provides oxygen consumption decrease in the filling process, because liquid is in the system for a short period of time and there is no oxygen absorption by liquid.

8 dwg

The invention relates to a method and apparatus bottling oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas fluid mixture.

Methods and devices for the preparation of highly oxygen-enriched liquids, in particular beverages, are known from EP 0847959 B1 and DE 10104207 A1.

These methods of oxygen-enriched liquid from the treatment, filling into containers kept in a pure oxygen atmosphere or in an oxygen-gas mixture. Before applying the liquid in the tank to last in the filler affect the blood pressure of oxygen or oxygen-gas mixture. Across the way have to put up with considerable loss of oxygen. Pure oxygen is not only costly, but also because of its reactivity critical in the treatment of them.

In contrast, the basis of the invention lies in the task of creating a method and device for filling oxygen enriched liquids.

This problem is solved in the method of filling an oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas mixture of liquids, in particular beverages, in containers, in particular bottles or cans, which is enriched with oxygen, and optionally other gases, in particular in dissolved form, the liquid is poured in the vessel, which is then gas-tight sealed to the fact that enriched liquid in the filling process is kept in the atmosphere of nitrogen is. Moreover, the nitrogen atmosphere has an excess pressure, mainly in the range of 1-10 bar.

This problem is solved in a device for filling oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas mixture of liquids, in particular beverages, in containers containing at least one filling body with valve for liquid, at least one gas valve and filled with nitrogen space, and through the gas valve installed between the water authority capacity and the camera has a connection for purge and/or a pressure in the vessel with nitrogen so that the device contains a partially filled liquid boiler, designed to withstand pressure of nitrogen, mainly in the range of 1-10 bar.

While still thought it necessary to withstand very high enriched oxygen content (75-330 mg/l) liquids, in particular beverages such as mineral water, soft drinks, fruit juices and the like, since the oxygen enrichment prior to filling into containers, such as bottles, cans or other suitable vessels, in an atmosphere of oxygen or in an oxygen-gas mixture, in order to avoid separation of oxygen, the invention leaves the path and uses the unexpected fact that on the basis of only short in the preparation and bottling of the residence time of the liquid in which the system arises also a very short time of contact between the enriched liquid and applied, according to the invention, oxygen. Unexpectedly it was found that when the impact pressure of the filled capacity of oxygen does not occur negative impact on oxygen-enriched liquid, i.e. dissolved oxygen is not exposed to significant influence, and almost no absorption of oxygen by the liquid. These effects are explained by inertial nature of the dissolved oxygen.

According to a preferred variant of the invention before filing enriched liquid capacity pre-incubated in an atmosphere of nitrogen with excess pressure, in particular a pressure corresponding to the pressure of the filling liquid.

It is preferable that before the filing of a liquid, in particular to the effects of pressure, capacity at least once rinsed, mainly nitrogen.

According to one preferred variant of the invention the impact pressure on the tank of oxygen may be preceded by the blowing well as oxygen.

Thermostabilised containers such as glass bottles, before supplying oxygen-enriched fluid is alternatively or additionally also possible, at least one stage of degassing before will impact pressure up to the pressure of filling, which is above the atmospheric pressure, in particular the saturation pressure. Next the impact of pressure possible is repeatedly combined processing capacity purge and pre-vacuum.

In another embodiment of the invention before applying liquid can enter small amounts of liquid gas in the tank, for example liquid nitrogen and/or oxygen. Subsequent short-term evacuation of liquid gas due to the relatively rapid drop in pressure can be quickly evaporated, resulting in can also be generated gas atmosphere, in particular of nitrogen. Liquid oxygen is less critical in circulation than pure oxygen in a gaseous phase. Of course, the supply of bottled liquid in the tank may also be preceded by a phase of pressure.

Application of nitrogen should not be limited to only fill the tanks, but can also extend to storage tanks in the filler and in the installation of the impregnation liquid impregnating tank, storage tanks, etc.), i.e. the entire cooking process, from the impregnation liquid oxygen and ending with bottling the vessel may occur continuously in an atmosphere of nitrogen.

Nitrogen in circulation not only less critical, but much cheaper than oxygen.

In another embodiment of the invention when the flow of the liquid in the tank from it collect replaced vozvrat the th gas and use it for processing by the blowing of the following containers.

Below a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated with the aid of the drawing, which represent:

- figure 1: schematic top view of a device for the preparation and bottling of beverages in bottles;

- figa-2g: vertical partial section of the outer periphery of the filling machine of figure 1 in several consecutive time operating conditions.

Device for filling oxygen enriched liquids, in particular beverages, contains figure 1 is driven in continuous rotation of the filling machine 7 having, for example, partially filled with bottled drink annular boiler 8 and filled above the mirror fluid 9 a cushion of gas under pressure from the gas space 10, and the pressure corresponds to at least the saturation pressure corresponding to drink, mostly in the range of 1-10 bar. In this case, the gas space is filled with nitrogen.

Along the periphery of the annular boiler are distributed with equal intervals along the periphery of the filling bodies 11, attached to each supply line 12 to flow through the inductive sensor 13 flow measurement, to the underside of the boiler. Power driven in continuous rotation ring of the boiler filling machine bottled drink and called compressed gas (pure nitrogen) proishodivshem itself by means installed in the center of the casting machine, a rotary distributor 14, which, on the one hand, connected with a gas-feeding pipe, and, on the other hand, with the buffer tank 15 impregnating installations for the supply of liquid.

The treatment plant comprises known in itself, for the enrichment of liquid such as water, lemonade, tea, etc., oxygen, at least one injector 16, provided with a connection for the fluid supply and at least one additional connection for the oxygen supply. If necessary, may provide additional injectors 17, for example, for the dissolution of CO₂can be provided also installed in parallel injectors with different passage cross-sections to achieve at different costs optimal mixing ratios due to the choice of a suitable injector or appropriate injectors.

The liquid coming from the injector 16, 17, and having a high content of dissolved oxygen is sent to a buffer tank 15, which is only partially filled with liquid and contains valid to mirror the fluid contained in the reservoir of the gas cushion made with the possibility of a managed pressure control by the oscillations of the mirrors through a gas-feeding and suction piping. Also, this compressed gas (nitrogen) has an excess pressure of at least the higher the pressure is of the saturating fluid.

To power the injectors and translation ready mixed drink filling machine is provided by pumps (not shown).

Each of the water bodies 11 contains driven with electro-pneumatic control valve 18 to the fluid through which the circle passes gas channel 19. This gas channel, which goes down into the extended gas tube 20, is connected through the connecting pipe 21 with the output connected to the filling body 11 of the valve block 22, which in this case contains at each filling body five separate driven with pneumatically controlled gas valves 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 for the dependent from the process inlet and outlet separate process gases depending on the filling process. The valve 27 through a connecting pipe to lying under valve 18 for liquid gas cutting.

All valve blocks 22 secured together with a valve 18 for fluid on the annular holder 28, which in this case contains three passing horizontally across the periphery sealed from the surrounding atmosphere, the annular channel 29, 30, 31, also connected to the respective rotary valves in the heart filling machines for gazobetona or flue. This can be a channel 29 for clean gas channel 30 for purging knogo gas discharge or vacuum channel 31.

In the area under water bodies 11 are raised and lowered lifting cylinders 32, are controlled by a stationary lifting Cam 34 in combination with the Cam rollers 33 and containing one affecting capacity 40 in particular on the belt neck plastic bottles beneath him, gripping or holding body 35. Encased in a lifting cylinder gas cushion provides during the entire rotation constantly clamping force directed upward to the filling body 11.

Below with the help of depicting individual filling phase figa-2g explains the full cycle of filling.

The number of containers 40, in particular plastic bottles, continuously coming in one thread, for example, from producing their injection-inflatable machine (not shown), pushing through located in the entrance area of the filler 7 separation of the screw 36 on the step size of the water bodies on the periphery of the filler and with a further input sprocket 37 is passed into the lifting cylinder 32. In this case, each tank 40, in particular a bottle, grab under the band of her neck with hold open drain holes oriented concentric with the release of fluid positioned above the filling body 11 (figa).

Interacting with kulack the new roller 33 of the lifting cylinder 32 fixed lifting Cam 34 is made in the direction of rotation so that what is the capacity of 40, in particular a bottle, its drain hole is first lifted in the direction of release of the liquid, but not yet pressed tight to filling the body 11. During this process the gas tube 20 that extends down behind the release of the liquid into the space of the neck of the filled container 40, in particular bottles (fig.2b). Due to the opening of the gas valve 23 for blowing a gas connection from the annular channel 30 for the purge gas through the connecting pipe 21 and immersed in a bottle of gas tube 20 so that, in this case consisting mainly of nitrogen purge gas with high velocity flows in the still-sealed bottle and displaces initially contained air through the open outlet of the bottle. This is in marked item 1 in figure 1 plot of rotation of the filling machine.

In the subsequent raising of the vessel 40, in particular bottles, by means of the lifting cylinder 32 of the drain hole gas-tight pressed against the filling of the release of the filling body 11 with the valve 18 for liquid, then after closing the gas valve 23 opens the gas valve 24 to tension, to create a conductive connection between the gas tube 20 and the annular channel 29 for pure gas (figs). Now the pure nitrogen from the annular channel 29 for a pure gas may be introduced into held tightly by the atmosphere of the container 40, in particular a bottle, before reaching the set pressure, tension, mainly 1-10 bar, which corresponds to the gas pressure prevailing in the annular boiler filling machines (section 2 rotation figure 1). Equal pressure between the two named volumes can be achieved, for example, through a connecting pipe (not shown). The gas cushion in the annular boiler 8 of the filler 7 may also consist of pure nitrogen. The internal pressure of the boiler, which is above the saturation pressure oxygen-enriched drink, depends in each case on the degree of enrichment of processed drink and its temperature and can accordingly be adjusted.

Upon reaching the desired pressure tension in the bottle to open the valve 18 to the liquid by raising its rolling shutter from the saddle, close the gas valve 24 to tension and actuate the gas valve 25 to return gas. During the process, the beverage flows through the drain hole of the bottle in its inner space and is directed deflector plate located in the area extending to the shoulders of the container 40, in particular bottles, gas tube 20, to the wall of the bottle, draining therefrom in the form of a liquid film along the wall of the bottle to the bottom of the bottle (fig.2d). Meanwhile, the incoming number is in the drink continuously recorded by means of an inductive sensor 13 flow measurement. Upon reaching the specified amount of liquid, it produces a signal to close the valve 18 for the liquid. During the inflow of liquid in the tank 40, in particular a bottle, originally enclosed in the vessel 40, in particular a bottle, gas simultaneously flows back through the incoming liquid gas tube 20 by the open during this phase of the gas valve 25 to the return gas channel for the purge gas (3 phase rotation figure 1). With the closing of the valve 18 for fluid approximately at the same time also closes the valve 25 to return gas (fige). After a specified time calming (section 4 rotation 1) by opening at least one gas valve 26 for unloading are still under pressure in the head space of the filled bottle is connected with the annular channel 31 for the discharge to cause a decrease in pressure, for example, through an intermediate throttle nozzle, to an intermediate pressure or immediately directly to atmospheric pressure (sections 5 and 6 of rotation figure 1). Due to the second gas valve 27 for discharge can simultaneously unload the gas tube 20 (fig.2f). Alternatively, however, can be installed in the annular channel for discharging a reduced pressure, if the intermediate has calculated the data accordingly narrower throttle nozzle.

After unloading the container 40, in particular a bottle, by means of a suitably performed stationary lifting Cam 34 is lowered against the applied lifting cylinder 32, the current upward pressing force (figd), and then passed to the output sprocket of the filler 7, and simultaneously open the holding tank 40, in particular a bottle, holding the bodies of 35 lift cylinder 32. Now completed, however, is still open vessel 40, in particular a bottle, may be directed to the capping machine 39, which is gas-tight places, for example, a threaded bolt.

Before placing the gate on the way from the filling machine 7 to the capping machine 39 through located on this transport section managed the first injection device 42 to inject with impulse control in open head space of the bottles of liquid nitrogen and/or oxygen.

Similarly, the possible injection of liquid nitrogen and/or oxygen through the second injection device 41 in the zone before entering the filling machine 7, first of all, if before serving bottled liquid short-term create a vacuum, resulting in the interaction temporarily with a bottle of existing in the discharge channel of the vacuum. It is clear that in this case the vessel 40, in particular bottles, depending on the desired poniendo the pressure must have sufficient dimensional stability, as in the case of glass bottles.

In order reliably to avoid in the annular boiler 8 of the filler 7 or in the buffer tank 15 section impregnation drink gas exchange between the atmosphere of nitrogen and the underlying drink, can be used in the boiler 8 additionally, the float 43 is in the form of an annular disk, which covers basically the entire surface of the existing boiler volume of the drink. Also in the receiving oxygen-containing beverage containers 15 in front of the filling machine impregnating section can be used for the same purpose floats 44, closing the mirror liquid. Instead of floats is also possible elastic membranes, bubbles or collapsing of the membrane, which could be achieved even without gaps and thus a complete separation of compressed gas and a drink.

Alternatively, the proposed nitrogen could be used, if necessary, inert gases (helium, etc.), which, however, roads in the acquisition.

1. Method of filling an oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas mixture of liquids, in particular beverages, in containers, in particular bottles or cans, which is enriched with oxygen, and optionally other gases, in particular in dissolved form, the liquid is poured in the vessel, which is then gas-tight sealed, characterized in that the enriched liquid in PR is the process of filling is kept in a nitrogen atmosphere, having excessive pressure predominantly in the range of 1-10 bar.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before applying the enriched liquid capacity pre-incubated in an atmosphere of nitrogen with excess pressure, in particular a pressure corresponding to the pressure of the filling liquid.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before applying the liquid, in particular to the effects of pressure, capacity at least once drawn mainly nitrogen.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before applying the liquid capacity of at least once vaccum, in particular, the pressure of nitrogen, mainly before and/or after purging the vessel, mainly nitrogen.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the flow of the liquid in the container from her collect the displaced return gas and use it for processing by the blowing of the following containers.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that before applying the liquid, in particular before the step of degassing, the capacity of the injected gas in the liquid phase, mainly liquid nitrogen and/or oxygen.

7. Device for filling oxygen-enriched or oxygen-gas mixture of liquids, in particular beverages, in containers, for implementing the method according to one of claims 1 to 6, containing at least one filling body with valve for having hidcote, at least one gas valve, filled with nitrogen and space channels that are used to purge and/or a pressure in the vessel with nitrogen, characterized in that the device comprises partially filled with liquid ring boiler, designed to withstand pressure nitrogen predominantly in the range of 1-10 bar.

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the filling body made with the possibility of connection through a gas valve with a channel for the purge gas and/or through another gas valve with a channel for pure gas.

9. The device according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the filling body made with the possibility of connection through at least one gas valve with unloading and/or vacuum channel.

10. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that it further provided with a partially filled liquid buffer tank made with the possibility of making liquid after enriching it with oxygen and with the possibility of loading with nitrogen under pressure.

11. The device according to claim 7 or 10, characterized in that at least approximately complete separation of the liquid in the boiler and/or in the buffer tank from which gas pressure is provided in particular movable floats or elastic membrane.

12. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that before the filling machine in which tableno injection device to enter into an open container of liquid gas, in particular nitrogen or oxygen.