EP3132843B1 - Method and unit for filling a container with one or more mixtures - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The present invention relates to a method of filling a container with at least one mixture of several components, as well as a container filling unit.

Technological Background

There are products that are marketed in the form of jars, containers or cartridges that contain mixtures, a component of which may vary to constitute a range of products. So the products in the range all include the same basic component, which is sometimes referred to as a mixing medium, but are distinguished by an additive that varies from one product to another within the range, by the nature of this additive or by its dosage. This is the case, for example, for flavored yogurts which have the same base of milk and consistency, but which correspond to different flavors. The same situation arises for paint cans which constitute a range of colors: the base of texture, solvent and fixing agent may be common to paint cans whose hues are different, whereas the nature or the concentration a pigmenting or coloring additive varies within the range.

Previous Art

In such situations, it is known to make the blends directly inside the packaging bottles that are used for distribution or retail. Logistics savings result. In particular containers that would be used to store the mixtures before filling the bottles of the final packaging, are no longer necessary. In addition, blends can be made closer to the retail or distribution site, increasing the amount of time the customer has to consume or use the blend before the cut-off date on the product. Finally, transport costs which intervene in the complete product manufacturing and delivery chain, are also reduced through the manufacture of blends directly into dispensing or retail flasks.

However, such manufacture of the mixture directly in the container of the final packaging presents a particular difficulty when the proportion of one of the components in the mixture is low or very low. Indeed, the component that is a minority in the mixture can remain unequally distributed in the container, so that the apparent composition of the product as and when it is consumed or used is not that which is desired and n ' is not constant. In addition, the dimensions of the distribution or retail container are often small, which makes it difficult to homogenize the mixture throughout the volume of the container. In addition, a single mixer diver can not be used quickly for successive containers when they contain different mixtures.

It is also known in the state of the art container filling processes with a mixture of at least two components, either for the manufacture of emulsified ink or for the manufacture of oil-in-water emulsion, the methods comprising providing components in separate containers for separately introducing them into a container to manufacture a mixture comprising at least two substances, the final proportion of a first of the substances being less than the final proportion of one second substances. However, there is a need to provide a method for homogeneous distribution of the first minority substance throughout the container and to control more accurately the proportion of the first substance in the final mixture.

The document EP-A-0 848 046 discloses a process according to the preamble of claim 1 and a unit according to the preamble of claim 8.

In the context of the present invention, the term container means any container adapted to contain a durable mixture of substances, being adapted to the phase (s) of these substances. In the jargon of the skilled person, the term "container" is sometimes used instead of "container", but being synonymous. Such a container may be a bottle, a jar, a tube, a bottle, etc. depending on the field of application and the nature of the substances.

Summary of the Invention

From this situation, an object of the present invention is to fill containers with mixtures whose proportions are likely to vary, while avoiding the above disadvantages.

1. /1/ fournir les composantes dans des récipients respectifs qui sont séparés ou par des canaux respectifs qui sont séparés ; et
2. /2/ introduire ces composantes dans le conteneur à partir des récipients ou canaux séparés de sorte que le mélange soit fabriqué dans le conteneur.

For this, a first aspect of the invention provides a method according to claim 1 for filling a container with a mixture of at least two components, this process comprising the following steps:

1. / 1 / supplying the components in respective containers which are separated or by respective channels which are separated; and
2. / 2 / introduce these components into the container from the separate containers or channels so that the mixture is made in the container.

According to the invention, the mixture to be manufactured comprises at least two substances in respective final proportions in the mixture which are different, the final proportion of a first substance being less than the final proportion of one second of the substances. Step / 1 / then comprises pre-mixing the first substance with at least a first portion of the second substance, to constitute a first of the components. Then, in step / 2 /, the first component and each other component are introduced into the container in respective amounts which are adapted to produce in the container the respective final proportions of all substances in the mixture.

Thus, the first substance, which is a minority in the final mixture, is introduced into the container having already been mixed with a part of the second substance, so that the component of the mixture which is thus constituted itself has a proportion in the mixture which is greater than that of the first substance alone. The first and second components are mixed throughout the volume of the container to form a homogeneous composition, better than the first substance with the second if these last two had been introduced separately. The first substance, which is a minority according to the desired composition of the mixture, is then homogeneously distributed throughout the container by virtue of the invention as part of the larger first component of the mixture.

In addition, the invention makes it possible to control with greater precision the proportion of the first substance in the final mixture. Indeed, the proportion of the first substance in the premix of the first component, is greater than the proportion of the same first substance in the final mixture that is manufactured in the container. For this reason, the proportion of the first substance in the final mixture can be controlled more easily and more precisely by virtue of the invention.

All the substances which are used to form the mixture, as well as all the components of the mixture, may have any phases provided that they can be mixed homogeneously in the container. In particular, they may each be a liquid, a gel, a gas, a powder, etc.

Finally, each substance can itself be a pure compound or be itself an initial mixture. In the latter case, the composition of each initial mixture which constitutes one of the substances is preferably known accurately, in order to determine the proportions of all the chemical entities that are present in the final mixture.

The method of the invention is particularly advantageous when the container is a final packaging of the mixture which has been manufactured in step / 2 / and which is intended for distribution or retail sale, without reconditioning or subsequent transfer.

• une troisième composante du mélange peut comprendre une troisième partie d'encore la même seconde substance, avec une troisième substance, cette troisième partie de la seconde substance et la troisième substance étant pré-mélangées dans la troisième composante ;
• l'invention est particulièrement adaptée lorsque la proportion finale de la première substance dans le mélange qui est fabriqué à l'étape /2/, peut être inférieure à 5% en masse, de préférence inférieure à 2% en masse ; et
• le procédé peut comprendre en outre l'étape suivante, qui est exécutée après l'étape /2/ :
  • /3/ appliquer une agitation au mélange qui est contenu dans le conteneur, afin de l'homogénéiser à l'intérieur du conteneur.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least one of the following improvements may be used alone or in combination of several of them:

• a third component of the mixture may comprise a third part of still the same second substance, with a third substance, this third part of the second substance and the third substance being premixed in the third component;
• the invention is particularly suitable when the final proportion of the first substance in the mixture which is manufactured in step / 2 /, may be less than 5% by weight, preferably less than 2% by weight; and
• the method may further comprise the following step, which is performed after step / 2 /:
  • / 3 / apply agitation to the mixture that is contained in the container, in order to homogenize it inside the container.

The invention is particularly advantageous when the mixture of which the container is filled is a liquid for electronic cigarettes. In this case, the first substance may be chosen from the group of substances containing the aromatic bases and the nicotinic compounds, and the second substance may be a support liquid for the mixture, for example comprising monopropylene glycol, designated by the acronym MPG. . Possibly, the third component may comprise a premix of a substance selected from all substances containing aromatic bases and nicotinic compounds and which is different from the first substance with the second substance. The mixture may thus comprise the following three components: the first component, which is the premix of the aromatic base with a first part of the support liquid of the mixture, the second component which is constituted by the second part of the support liquid of the mixture, and the third component that includes the premix of the nicotinic compound and a third part of the carrier liquid of the mixture (s).

• au moins un module d'approvisionnement, qui est adapté pour délivrer les composantes à partir de récipients respectifs qui sont séparés ou par des canaux respectifs qui sont séparés ; et
• au moins un module de remplissage, qui est adapté pour introduire dans le conteneur ces composantes délivrées par le module d'approvisionnement, de sorte que le mélange soit fabriqué dans le conteneur.

A second aspect of the invention proposes a filling unit according to claim 8 for filling a container with a mixture of at least two components, this filling unit being adapted to implement a process which is in accordance with the first aspect of the invention. invention, and comprising:

• at least one supply module, which is adapted to deliver the components from respective containers that are separated or respective channels that are separated; and
• at least one filling module, which is adapted to introduce into the container these components delivered by the supply module, so that the mixture is manufactured in the container.

• au moins un module de pré-mélange, qui est adapté pour pré-mélanger des quantités respectives d'une première substance et d'une seconde substance afin de constituer une première des composantes, et qui est connecté au module d'approvisionnement pour alimenter ce dernier avec cette première composante.

According to the invention, the filling unit further comprises:

• at least one pre-mix module, which is adapted to pre-mix respective quantities of a first substance and a second substance to form a first component, and which is connected to the supply module to feed this last with this first component.

Brief Description of Drawings

• à la figure 1 : un diagramme d'une unité de remplissage de conteneurs conforme à des modes de réalisation de l'invention.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent on reading the description which follows. This is purely illustrative and should be read in conjunction with the attached drawing which shows:

• to the figure 1 : a diagram of a container filling unit according to embodiments of the invention.

Detailed description of embodiments

10

module de remplissage

11

conteneur

12

convoyeur

20

module d'approvisionnement

C1

première composante du mélange

21

cuve de la première composante du mélange

C2

seconde composante du mélange

22

cuve de la seconde composante du mélange

C3

troisième composante du mélange

23

cuve de la troisième composante du mélange

28

dispositifs de dosage des composantes C1, C2 et C3, par exemple du type à mesures pondérales de quantités successives

29

mélangeurs des contenus respectifs des cuves 21, 22 ou 23

30

module de pré-mélange primaire

S1

première substance

31

cuve de la première substance

S2

seconde substance

32

cuve de la seconde substance

S3

troisième substance

33

cuve de la troisième substance

38

dispositifs de dosage des substances S1, S2 et S3, par exemple du type à mesures pondérales de quantités successives

39

mélangeur du contenu de la cuve 32

40

module de pré-mélange secondaire

41, 42

cuves du module de pré-mélange secondaire

S10, S20

substances contenues dans les cuves 41 et 42, respectivement

48

dispositifs de dosage des substances S10 et S20

M

mélange réalisé dans chaque conteneur, dit mélange final

For the sake of clarity, the dimensions of the elements shown in this figure do not correspond to actual dimensions or to actual dimension ratios. The references shown in the figure have the following meanings:

10

filling module

11

container

12

conveyor

20

supply module

C1

first component of the mixture

21

tank of the first component of the mixture

C2

second component of the mixture

22

tank of the second component of the mixture

C3

third component of the mixture

23

tank of the third component of the mixture

28

metering devices for the components C1, C2 and C3, for example of the weight-for-weight type of successive quantities

29

mixers of the respective contents of the tanks 21, 22 or 23

30

primary premix module

S1

first substance

31

tank of the first substance

S2

second substance

32

tank of the second substance

S3

third substance

33

tank of the third substance

38

dosing devices for the substances S1, S2 and S3, for example of the weight-for-weight type of successive quantities

39

mixer the contents of the tank 32

40

secondary premix module

41, 42

tanks of the secondary premix module

S10, S20

substances in tanks 41 and 42, respectively

48

dosing devices for substances S10 and S20

M

mixture made in each container, said final mixture

For an application for preparing a bottle of liquid for electronic cigarettes, also called a cartridge, the substance S1 can be an aromatic base, and the substance S2 can be a premix of glycerol and MPG serving as a support for the final mixture, optionally added with other constituents which are different from the aromatic bases used. In addition, the substance S3 can be a nicotinic compound, for example nicotine.

Optionally, the filling unit may be adapted to deliver in successive containers mixtures which contain several different aromatic bases, alternately or in combination. In this case, the elements that are contained in the frame referenced BA can be repeated as many times as the number of different aromatic bases that are implemented.

The premix module 30 produces a first mixture of the substance S1 (aromatic base) with the substance S2 (comprising MPG) to constitute the component C1 which is stored intermediate way in the tank 21. This first mixture, which is realized by the module 30, was called premix in the general part of the description. In particular, the metering devices 38 make it possible to control the respective proportions of the substances S1 and S2 in the component C1. For example, the proportion of substance S1 in component C1 can be 10% by weight. The mass proportion of the substance S2 in the component C1 is then 90%. One of the mixers 29 ensures the homogenization of the component C1 in the tank 21. The use of such a mixer can be facilitated by the capacity of the tank 21, which can be much greater than that of each container 11.

The component C2 of the mixture M can consist of substance S2 only.

The component C3 of the mixture M, which is contained in the tank 23, may consist of the pure substance S3 (nicotinic compound), or it may be a titled premix of substance S3 and substance S2. In the latter case, the tanks 32 and 33 with the corresponding metering devices 38 form another primary premix module which operates in parallel with that of the tanks 31 and 32.

When the substance S2 itself is a premix, denoted C10, the filling unit may comprise the additional premix module 40, which is situated upstream of the tank 32. For this reason, the pre-mixing modules 40 -mixing 30 and 40 are called primary and secondary, respectively. But the secondary premix unit 40 may be identical in principle to the primary premix unit 30. In the premix unit 40, the vessel 41 contains the MPG which constitutes the substance S10, and the tank 42 contains the glycerol which constitutes the substance S20. The tank 32 is then advantageously equipped with the mixer 39.

The feed module 20 comprises flow channels which come respectively from the tanks 21, 22 and 23, with the metering devices 28 which are arranged on each of the flow channels.

The filling module 10 may consist of a conveyor 12 which successively brings containers 11 to a position located below outlets of the flow channels of the three components C1, C2 and C3. The metering devices 28 make it possible to adjust the proportions of these three components in the final mixture M which is directly produced in each container 11, and possibly to vary them between two containers 11 which are successive on the conveyor 12. For example, if the mass proportions of the three components in the final mixture M are 10% by mass for component C1, 78% by mass for component C2 and 12% by mass for component C3, while the final proportion by mass of substance S1 ( aromatic base) in the final mixture M is 1% for the composition that was given above for the C1 component. In general, one skilled in the art can take into account the effect of dilution of the component C1 in the final mixture M to determine the effective mass proportion of the substance S1 (aromatic base) in the final mixture. The same reasoning can be applied for the substance S3, and twice chained for each of the substances S10 and S20.

The filling unit 10 may further comprise a system for homogenizing the contents of each container 11, operational after this container has been filled. For example, such a homogenization system (not shown) may proceed by applying vibration or agitation to the container in a sequence and for a predetermined time.

It is understood that the invention can be implemented by adapting or modifying certain minor aspects of it with respect to the detailed description which has just been given. It is recalled that the invention consists in pre-mixing a substance which enters into the composition of a final mixture, and the proportion of which in this final mixture is a minority, with at least part of another substance of the mixture, then all components are introduced directly into the packaging container to make the final mix. Thus, it is possible to combine the advantages of making the final mixture directly into the container, with obtaining a homogeneous distribution for the minority substance in the container. Obviously, the numerical values cited and the substances mentioned have been only examples, and can be changed on demand for each implementation of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Method for filling a container (11) with a mixture (M) of at least two components (C1, C2, C3...), the method comprising the steps of:

   /1/ supplying the components (C1, C2, C3) in respective recipients that are separated or via respective ducts that are separated; and

   /2/ feeding said at least two components (C1, C2, C3) into the container (11), from the separated recipients or ducts such that the mixture (M) is made in said container;

   the mixture (M) to be made comprising at least two substances (S1, S2, S3...) according to respective final proportions of said substances in the mixture that are different, the final proportion of a first of the substances (S1) being less than the final proportion of a second (S2) of the substances, and the step /1/ comprises:

   pre-mixing the first substance (S1) with at least a first portion of the second substance (S2) in order to constitute a first of the components (C1),

   and in step /2/, said first component (C1) and each further component (C2, C3) are fed into the container (11) according to respective quantities of said components that are suitable for producing, in said container, the respective final proportions of the substances (S1, S2, S3...),

   characterised in that the second component (C2) comprises an additional second portion of said second substance (S2) in the mixture (M) that is made in step /2/ relative to the first portion of said second substance (S2) that was used in step /1/ for the first component (C1), said second component (C2) being constituted from the second part of said second substance (S2).
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein a third (C3) of the components of the mixture (M) comprises a third portion of the second substance (S2) and a third substance, said third portion of the second substance and said third substance being pre-mixed in said third component.
3. Method according to either claim 1 or 2, wherein the final proportion of the first substance (S1) in the mixture (M) is less than 5 wt.%, preferably less than 2 wt.%.
4. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the mixture (M) with which the container (11) is filled is a liquid for electronic cigarettes, and wherein the first substance (S1) is chosen from the group of substances containing aromatic bases and nicotine compounds, and the second substance (S2) is a carrier liquid for the mixture, for example comprising a mixture of monopropylene glycol and glycerin.
5. Method according to claims 2 and 4, wherein the third substance (S3) is chosen from the group of substances containing aromatic bases and nicotine compounds, and is different from the first substance.
6. Method according to any of the previous claims, further comprising the following step, carried out after step /2/, of:

   /3/ stirring the mixture (M) contained in the container (11), in order to homogenise said mixture inside said container.
7. Method according to any of the previous claims, wherein the container (11) is a final packaging for retail sale or distribution of the mixture (M) made in step /2/.
8. Filler unit for filling a container (11) with a mixture (M) of at least two components (C1, C2, C3), the unit comprising:

   - at least one supply module (20), suitable for supplying the components (C1, C2, C3) from respective recipients that are separated or via respective ducts that are separated; and

   - at least one filler module (10), suitable for feeding, into the container (11), said at least two components (C1, C2, C3) supplied by the supply module (20), such that the mixture (M) is made in said container;

   the filler unit further comprising:

   - at least one pre-mixing module (30), suitable for pre-mixing respective quantities of at least two substances (S1, S2) in order to constitute a first (C1) of the components, and connected to the supply module (20) in order to feed said supply module with said first component;

   characterised in that the filler unit is suitable for implementing a method according to any of the previous claims.

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