WO2018122129A1 - Process and system for packaging a lipid-based compound in doses, capsules of lipid-based compound thus obtained and applications of these capsules - Google Patents

Abstract

Process for packaging a lipid-based compound in the form of a dose adapted to a functional use, comprising the following steps: - filling (I) a first part of a premade capsule, opened beforehand to give two parts, with a predetermined volume of a lipid-based compound; - insertion (II) of a lipophilic absorbent into the lipid-based compound within the first part, so as to produce, upon completion of the absorption of the lipid-based compound, a core in the form of a pasty mixture providing a predetermined rate of dissolution, and - closure (III) of the capsule by placing the second part on the first part containing this core.

Description

 "Process and system for conditioning a lipid compound into doses, lipid compound capsules thus obtained and applications thereof" Technical Field

 The present invention relates to a method for conditioning oil or a lubricant in doses. It also relates to a packaging system implementing this method, as well as lubricant capsules and their applications, especially in mechanics.

 Such a method is more particularly in the fields of mechanics but also that of the agri-food industry.

State of the art

 There are currently many situations in which there is a need to use oil and more generally lipid compounds in appropriate amounts and dosages. This is for example the case when lubricating mechanisms, or in the food industry when it comes to bringing a precise amount of oil as an ingredient in a culinary preparation.

 To date, lubricant dispensers are available for injecting into a mechanism, such as a ball bearing, a predetermined dose of oil or grease. However, these feeders are necessarily coupled to a lubrication system and they implement controlled actuators.

 In the agri-food industry and catering, oil minidose packages are available in rigid packaging. Their use involves removing a seal to release the dose of oil.

 Thus, there is a need to simply access doses of lipid compound without the need to implement a controlled system or manual intervention.

Currently, the coating of lipid substances can be obtained by different technologies that can ensure the realization of final particles of very varied sizes. The lipid compounds can thus be incorporated, for example, into microparticles with a liquid heart. or solid, dispersed in droplets, or stabilized by crystallization, gelation, polymerization or precipitation. The lipid compound packaging methods currently used use, for example, gelation, spray-drying, prilling (micro-granulation), coating and emulsion techniques.

 Thus, the incorporation of a large volume of oils at high concentration does not find a solution in these technologies.

 The object of the present invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a method for packaging lipid compounds that can provide doses for use of lubricant for mechanical or food use or food, these doses of lipid compounds to be easily and selectively releasable .

Presentation of the invention

 This object is achieved with a method for conditioning a lipid compound in the form of a dose adapted for functional use, comprising the following steps:

 filling a first portion of a prefabricated capsule, previously opened in two parts, with a predetermined volume of a lipid compound;

 inserting a lipophilic absorbent into the lipid compound in said first part, so as to produce, after the absorption of said lipid compound, a heart in the form of a pasty mixture providing a dissolution rate predetermined,

 closing said capsule by placing the second part on the first part containing said core.

 In an advantageous version of the packaging method according to the invention, it further comprises a step for coating with a polymer the closed capsule.

This coating step may comprise several applications of polymers on the capsule, the number of these applications conditioning the thickness of the coating layer. The lipophilic absorbent may advantageously comprise tapioca, so that the mixture thus produced is flexible and provides a rapid release of the lipid compound.

 According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a system for conditioning a lipid compound in the form of a dose adapted for functional use, implementing the method according to the invention, comprising:

 means for filling a first portion of a prefabricated, previously open, two-part capsule with a predetermined volume of a lipid compound;

 - Means for inserting a lipophilic absorbent in the lipid compound in said first part, so as to achieve, after absorption of said lipid compound, a heart in the form of a pasty mixture providing a rate of predetermined dissolution,

 means for closing said capsule by placing the second part on the first part containing said core.

 The packaging system may further advantageously comprise means for coating the capsule thus closed by a polymer.

 The coating means may be arranged to perform one or more treatments to produce one or more coating layers of selected polymers, the number of these treatments conditioning the thickness of the coating layer.

 The method and the packaging system according to the invention can be applied to the production of oil capsules for culinary or agri-food purposes, the lipophilic agent then comprising a food absorbent, for example tapioca.

 The method and the packaging system according to the invention can be applied for producing lubricant capsules for mechanical use, the lipophilic agent then comprising an absorbent with suitable dissolution properties.

In the field of mechanical lubrication, the interest is to ensure in an easy but above all reliable and reproducible way the release of a selected amount of lubricant within a moving mechanical complex to ensure optimum performance.

 The advantage over the current state of the art is to be able to place a capsule within the site to lubricate without being dependent on an operator and therefore to best respect the advice of the manufacturer of the mechanical movement. Many applications of this mode of lubrication can be considered in particular in the automotive industry and in industries and mobility services.

 According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for lubricating a mechanism, comprising means for receiving a lubricant capsule produced by implementing the packaging method according to the invention, means for selectively releasing a dose. lubricant contained in the capsule and means for injecting this dose of lubricant into the mechanism.

 According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a culinary production equipment comprising means for receiving a capsule-dose of a lipid compound for food use according to the invention, and means for injecting this capsule-dose into a production area within this production equipment.

 This invention thus finds applications in all fields where it is sought to benefit from the provision of lipid substrates in a simple manner of handling and dosing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES AND EMBODIMENTS Other advantages and particularities of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of implementations and non-limiting embodiments, and the following appended drawings:

 - Figure 1 shows schematically the essential steps of the packaging method according to the invention;

- Figure 2 schematically illustrates an example of implementation of the packaging method according to the invention for producing capsules containing a dose of oil; - Figure 3 schematically illustrates a lubrication system of a mechanism, implementing lubricant dose capsules made with the packaging method according to the invention; and

 - Figure 4 schematically illustrates a culinary production equipment implementing lipid compound dose capsules made with the packaging method according to the invention.

 We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, how the packaging method according to the invention can be implemented on the basis of a set of specifications established for the design of capsules intended to contain a dose of oil.

 A first design step is to choose the oil or lipid compound based on its functional use, to determine the volume of a dose, and then to choose the capsule intended to contain this dose of oil.

 Since a capsule 1, previously manufactured according to the current industrial standards, has been chosen to contain the lipid compound, it is opened in two parts 10, 11 (step B).

 The following capsule conditioning steps will now be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.

 The first portions 10.1, 10.2, .., 10. i of prefabricated and empty capsules, preferably the longest portions of these capsules, are arranged in cylindrical housings 20, 21, .., 2i having a suitable shape and arranged within a support 2.

 A first conditioning step (I) consists in the partial filling of the first capsule parts 10.1, 10.2, .., 10i with a determined quantity of essential oil or lipid compound 4 poured from a controlled filling device 3 in motion at above the support 2 in an automated version of the packaging system according to the invention. By way of nonlimiting example, a mass of one gram of oil can be poured into the first portions 10.1, 10.2, .., 10i open capsules.

During a second conditioning step (II), a lipophilic agent 6 is poured from a controlled overflow device 5 movement, in the first part 10.1 of a capsule, until saturation of the oil or lipid compound 4 already present.

 Slow filling ensures absorption of the oil without overflowing the container. The capsule finally reaches a mass of about 1.5 grams by way of non-limiting example. By mixing the lipid compound 4 and the lipophilic agent 6, a pasty substance with a variable dissolution rate is obtained according to the type of lipophilic agent chosen.

 Follows a step (III) during which the capsules thus filled are closed by means of their respective second closing portions 11.1, 11.2, ..., l 1. i which are nested in their respective second portions 10.1, 10.2, ..., 10. i.

 In many configurations of use of the doses of oil thus packaged, the capsule must then undergo a coating treatment in order to strengthen the protection of the envelope and ensure an optimal and durable seal, ensuring a commercial feasibility .

 After filling the capsule with the oil / absorbent mixture and its closure, a peripheral coating of the capsule will ensure its tightness in time, its hermeticity and mechanical strength. This peripheral coating may also allow a choice of dissolution rate.

 The capsules thus filled and closed are subjected, during a coating step (IV), to one or more (n) successive quenching in a bath filled with a liquid phase polymeric component, or to several contacts with these polymers, for example and without limitation by spraying.

 At the end of this coating step (IV), then capsules are now operational which will then be packaged 100 adapted to their distribution (step V).

 The aforementioned steps can be automated in whole or in part within a system S of packaging according to the invention.

The capsules or oil capsules thus obtained can be used in systems and equipment specifically designed to receive them, as illustrated by two practical examples diagrammatically shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Thus, with reference to FIG. 3, a lubrication system L provided for equipping a mechanism 30 comprises a device 31 designed to receive a capsule containing a mixture 7 'of an oil and an absorbing agent, a device 32 for piercing the envelope of the capsule 1a, a device 34 for selectively aspirating the mixture 7 'via a conduit 33, and a nozzle 35 for diffusing the lubricant mixture in a mechanism 30 such as a ball bearing.

 Such a lubrication system makes it possible to control and quantify the consumption of lubricants in the mechanism through the insertion of dose capsules. It can further be provided that the release of the mixture contained in the capsule-dose is controlled according to physical parameters internal to the mechanism (temperature, vibrations, etc.) or external such as preventive maintenance instructions attached to this mechanism.

 With reference to FIG. 4, a culinary production equipment 40 is provided with an oil delivery system H in a culinary preparation zone 44 within the equipment 40. This system H comprises a device 42 arranged to receive a 1 "capsule containing a mixture of 7" oil and a food lipophilic agent, and a device 43 for releasing this capsule 1 "in a controlled manner so that it falls inside the food preparation in the zone 44 and dissolves to let the oil join this culinary preparation.

 Here again, the use of dose-capsules containing a determined amount of oil or lipid compound makes it possible to better respect the doses recommended for a recipe, which can be particularly critical in food production equipment in the food industry.

 We will now describe in more detail how we can choose the various components used in the packaging process according to the invention.

To make the capsule envelopes concentrated and stabilized oil preparations, one can in practice choose empty capsules already manufactured and marketed by specialized laboratories. The capsules are preferably opaque white to avoid deterioration in time by prolonged exposure to light. The size of these capsules must allow filling by a volume corresponding to the recommended dose for the use of this oil.

 The choice of the lubricant is of course determined by the quality of the parts used. The choice of the lipophilic agent must take into account the fact that this lipophilic agent must not generate wear by particulate friction, which precludes the use of a lipophilic agent based on clay and makes it preferable to use tapioca as a lipophilic agent, as shown in the comparison table below:

 Comparison of the hardness of clay particles and tapioca.

We will now consider elements involved in the choice of absorbing lipophilic agent. This choice will depend on a goal of speed of release and absorption more or less strong.

 By way of non-limiting example, tapioca is a very good absorbent agent. It is a starch used in cooking, produced from the roots of cassava, dried and then pulverized. It ensures the realization of a more flexible mixture with faster dissolution. The mixture obtained between the tapioca and the oils is thus released more quickly.

 The coating of the capsule previously filled with the absorbent + oil mixture and closed can for example be carried out using a specific polymer such as EUDRAGIT® marketed by EVONIK INDUSTRIES. The chemical composition of these products is that of methacrylic acid copolymers and esters of this acid. Three derivatives are particularly known: EUDRAGIT L, S and L30D. They are differentiated by their methacrylic group content.

The greater the number of baths in this coating polymer, the greater the thickness of the coating layer and the more the capsule is resistant to acid attack and perennial over time. These embodiments being in no way limiting, it will be possible to consider variants of the invention comprising only a selection of characteristics described or illustrated subsequently isolated from the other characteristics described or illustrated (even if this selection is isolated within a sentence including these other characteristics), if this selection of features is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the prior art. This selection comprises at least one preferably functional characteristic without structural details, and / or with only a part of the structural details if this part alone is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the state of the art. earlier.

 Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples that have just been described and many adjustments can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention.

 Of course, the various features, shapes, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other in various combinations to the extent that they are not incompatible or exclusive of each other. In particular all the variants and embodiments described above are combinable with each other.

Claims

A method for conditioning a lipid compound in the form of a dose adapted for functional use, comprising the steps of:  filling (I) a first portion (10; 10.1, 10.2, ..., 10i) of a prefabricated capsule (1), previously opened in two parts, with a predetermined volume of a lipid compound (4) ;  inserting (II) a lipophilic absorbent (6) into the lipid compound (4) in said first part (10; 10.1, 10.2, ..., 10i), so as to produce, at the end of the absorption of said lipid compound (4), a heart in the form of a pasty mixture (7) providing a predetermined dissolution rate, and  closing (III) said capsule (1) by placing the second part (11; 11.1, 11.2, .., 11. i) on the first part (10; 10.1, 10. 2, ..., 10i) containing said heart. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a step for coating (IV) with a polymer (9) the closed capsule (1). Process according to Claim 2, characterized in that the coating step (IV) comprises one or more (n) treatments of the capsule (1) for applying a polymer (9) to the periphery of said capsule (1), the number (n) of said treatments conditioning the thickness of the coating layer. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lipophilic absorbent (6) comprises tapioca, so that the mixture thus produced is flexible and provides a rapid release of the lipid compound (4). System for packaging a lipid compound (4) in the form of a dose adapted for functional use, implementing the A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising:  - means (3) for filling a first part (10.1, 10.2, .., 10.i) of a prefabricated capsule (1) previously opened in two parts, with a predetermined volume of a lipid compound (4); - means (5) to insert a lipophilic absorbent (6) in the lipid compound (4) within said first part (10.1, 10.2, .., 10. i), so as to carry out, after the absorption of said lipid compound (4), a heart in the form of a pasty mixture (7) providing a predetermined dissolution rate, and  means for closing said capsule by placing the second part (11.1, 11.2, 11 i) on the first part (10.1, 10.2, .., 10. i) containing said core. System according to claim 5, characterized in that it further comprises means (8) for coating with a polymer (9) said closed capsule (1). System according to claim 6, characterized in that the coating means are arranged to perform one or more successive treatments of the capsule to apply a polymer on the periphery of said capsule, the number of said treatments conditioning the thickness of the coating layer. 'coating. Application of the method and of the packaging system according to any one of the preceding claims, for the production of oil capsules for culinary or agri-food purposes, in which the lipophilic agent comprises a food absorbent, in particular tapioca. Application of the method and the packaging system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, for producing lubricant capsules for mechanical use, wherein the lipophilic agent comprises an absorbent with suitable dissolution properties. 10. Device for lubricating a mechanism, comprising means for receiving a lubricant capsule made by implementing the packaging method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, means for selectively releasing a dose of said lubricant contained in said capsule and means for injecting said dose of lubricant into said mechanism. 11. Culinary production equipment comprising means for receiving a capsule-dose of a lipid compound for food use carried out by implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and means for injecting said capsule-dose in a production zone within said production equipment.