WO2024069214A1

WO2024069214A1 - Filling unit for carbonated products, with flushing using carbonation fluid recovered during depressurization

Info

Publication number: WO2024069214A1
Application number: PCT/IB2022/059326
Authority: WO
Inventors: Massimo Ceci; Tommaso Tegoni
Original assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Current assignee: Sidel Participations SAS
Priority date: 2022-09-30
Filing date: 2022-09-30
Publication date: 2024-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2025-03-30

Abstract

Filling unit (1) for sequentially filling a plurality of containers with a carbonated pourable product; in which the filling unit (1) comprises: a flushing circuit (4) for flushing the container so as to remove at least oxygen; a pressurization circuit (3) for pressurizing the container after flushing; a supply circuit (5) configured to supply the pourable product into the container (2) after pressurization; and a depressurization circuit (6) configured to depressurize the container (2) after supply, by means of at least a first depressurization substep; in which the depressurization circuit comprises a first depressurization chamber (15) for recovering the fluid exiting the container during at least said first depressurization substep, said first chamber (15) being in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit (4), in such a way that the fluid recovered may be used as flushing fluid for flushing the next container.

Description

FILLING UNIT FOR CARBONATED PRODUCTS, WITH FLUSHING USING CARBONATION FLUID RECOVERED DURING DEPRESSURIZATION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a filling unit for filling a container with a carbonated pourable product, a packaging facility comprising the filling unit and a related filling method.

In particular, the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use for containers including a bottle or a can.

Preferably, the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use in packaging facilities in the food industry.

More preferably, the present invention is advantageously (but not exclusively) for use for carbonated pourable products such as sparkling water, non-alcoholic beverages and beer.

PRIOR ART

In the field of packaging of carbonated pourable products, filling units typically carry out a pressurization step, a step of supplying the product into the container, and a step of depressurization of the container. In the case of products in which oxygen can have a negative effect on quality, the filling unit also carries out a flushing step prior to the pressurization step.

This may involve a very high consumption of flushing fluid, especially in the case of products which are more sensitive to the presence of oxygen, such as beer.

A filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims makes it possible to reduce the consumption of flushing fluid.

A filling machine according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached machine claims comprises a filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims.

A filling unit according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached unit claims is configured to perform a filling method according to the present description and/or according to one or more of the attached method claims.

In the detailed description below, various exemplary embodiments of a unit, a machine and a method according to the present description will be described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DESIGN

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the filling unit, in which the filling valve of the filling unit is placed in a closed configuration.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In figure 1, the numeral 1 designates as a whole a filling unit configured to sequentially fill a plurality of containers (one of which is shown partially and schematically in the attached figure) with a carbonated pourable product at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

The product is carbonated using a carbonation fluid, which comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

The container 2 shown in the figure is an example of a container forming part of said plurality of containers. The other containers which are filled by the filling unit may be substantially identical to the container 2.

Preferably, the container 2 is made of plastic, glass or metal. The container 2 may be a bottle made of plastic, for example PET, or glass. The container 2 may be a can.

The following description will refer explicitly, without this undermining its general applicability, to a carbonated "pourable product" to be packaged in the food industry. In particular, the pourable product is a liquid with the addition of pressurized gas and may be for example sparkling water, a non-alcoholic beverage or beer.

The following description will also refer explicitly, without this undermining its general applicability, to a pressurization fluid and a flushing fluid. Each of the pressurization fluid and the flushing fluid is a gas. It may be that the flushing fluid corresponds to the pressurization fluid, in the sense that the pressurization fluid and the flushing fluid both comprise the same type of substance. The pressurization fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state. It may be that the flushing fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state, and the pressurization fluid is carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

The filling unit 1 comprises a pressurization circuit 3, a flushing circuit 4, a supply circuit 5 and a depressurization circuit 6.

The flushing circuit 4 is configured to flush the container so as to remove at least oxygen. The pressurization circuit 3 is configured to pressurize the container after flushing. The supply circuit 5 is configured to supply the pourable product into the container 2 after pressurization. The depressurization circuit 6 is configured to depressurize the container 2 after supply. The depressurization step comprises at least a first depressurization substep. The depressurization circuit comprises a first depressurization chamber 15 for recovering the fluid exiting the container during at least said first depressurization substep. The first chamber 15 is in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit 4, in such a way that the fluid recovered may be used as flushing fluid for flushing the next container. The consumption of flushing fluid is thus reduced, since the fluid recovered during the depressurization step is at least partially reused for the step of flushing the next container to be filled.

The fluid recovered may include the carbonation fluid and/or the pressurization fluid.

The supply circuit 5 is configured to supply the product into the container by causing it to exit through an outlet 20.

The supply circuit 5 comprises a shut-off member 19 which can move inside a flow channel 21 between at least an open position and a closed position. The outlet 20 is located downstream of said shut-off member, with respect to the direction of supply. Therefore, this outlet is downstream of the shut-off member both in the open position and in the closed position. The outlet 20 is located downstream of the flow channel 21 with respect to the supply.

The unit comprises a body having a first end ED which is operationally distal from the container and a second end EP which is operationally proximal to the container 2. The flow channel extends longitudinally in a direction from the first end ED toward the second end EP. Supply takes place in said direction. The outlet 20 is located at said second end EP.

The depressurization circuit 6 comprises a first depressurization valve 10 which is operationally interposed between the outlet 20 and the first chamber 15.

The unit 1 is configured to keep the first chamber 15 at a pressure above atmospheric pressure. This facilitates intake of the fluid recovered into the next container, for flushing the latter.

The unit 1 comprises a recovery duct 16 which places the first chamber 15 in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit 4. The fluid recovered during the first depressurization substep may thus be sent to the flushing circuit 4 after being duly retrieved from the first chamber 15, reducing potential interference from the flushing circuit 4 in the depressurization step.

The flushing circuit 4 comprises a flushing valve 8. The recovery duct 16 is operationally interposed between said first chamber 15 and said flushing valve 8. The flushing valve 8 may thus be used to accurately regulate the entry of the fluid recovered into the flushing circuit 4.

The depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second depressurization chamber 14 for receiving the fluid exiting the container during at least a second depressurization substep. In this case the depressurization step comprises the first depressurization substep and this second depressurization substep. The depressurization step may alternatively also include only the first substep. The depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second depressurization valve 11, which is operationally interposed between the outlet 20 and the second chamber 14. The unit 1 is configured to keep the first chamber 15 at a pressure above the pressure in the second chamber 14. For example, the first chamber 15 may be at a relative pressure of 0.5 bar with respect to atmospheric pressure. For example, the second chamber 14 may be at a vacuum pressure.

The pressurization circuit 3 comprises a pressurization chamber 17. The unit 1 is configured to keep this pressurization chamber at a pressure above atmospheric pressure, in such a way that the pressurization fluid enters the container at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. The unit is configured to keep that first chamber 15 at a pressure below the pressure in the pressurization chamber 17.

The filling machine is configured to fill containers with a pourable product, and comprises a plurality of filling units 1. These filling units share at least the same first chamber 15, in the sense that this first chamber 15 may be used by all of the units of this plurality.

Each unit comprises a recovery duct different to the recovery duct of the other units and a flushing valve 8 different to the flushing valves of the other units. Thus, the distribution of the fluid recovered may be more uniform. Therefore, the overall recovery operation carried out by all of the units of the machine is optimized.

The filling method is for sequentially filling a plurality of containers with a carbonated pourable product. The method comprises, for each container: flushing the container so as to remove oxygen from the container; pressurizing the container after flushing; supplying the pourable product into the container 2 after pressurization; and depressurizing the container 2 after supply; recovering the fluid exiting the container during depressurization; using the fluid recovered as flushing fluid during flushing of the next container.

The carbonation fluid, contained in the pourable product, is in the gaseous state. The carbonation fluid, contained in the pourable product, comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

Each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid is in the gaseous state. Each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state. Each of the flushing fluid, the pressurization fluid and the carbonation fluid comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

This method is particularly applicable in the case where the product is beer, since beer requires an efficient flushing step to remove oxygen and improve the quality of the packaged product.

The method is particularly applicable in the case where the containers are glass bottles.

The unit is configured to carry out the method.

The depressurization circuit 6 comprises a first branch 12 which places the first depressurization valve 10 in fluidic communication with the first depressurization chamber 15.

The depressurization circuit 6 comprises a second branch 13 which places the second depressurization valve 11 in fluidic communication with the second depressurization chamber 14.

The machine comprises a tank 18 for holding the product. The supply circuit 5 is in communication with the tank 18.

The pressurization circuit 3 comprises a pressurization valve 7.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE FIGURES

1 filling unit

2 container

3 pressurization circuit 4 flushing circuit

5 supply circuit

6 depressurization circuit

7 pressurization valve

8 flushing valve

9 filling valve

10 depressurization valve

11 depressurization valve

12 branch

13 branch

14 depressurization chamber

15 recovery chamber

16 branch

17 tank

18 tank

19 shut-off member

20 outlet

ED distal end

EP proximal end

Claims

C L A I M S

1) A filling unit (1) for sequentially filling a plurality of containers with a carbonated pourable product; wherein the filling unit (1) comprises: a flushing circuit (4) for flushing the container so as to remove at least oxygen from the container; a pressurization circuit (3) for pressurizing the container after flushing; a supply circuit (5) configured to supply the pourable product into the container (2) after pressurization; and a depressurization circuit (6) configured to depressurize the container (2) after supply, by means of at least a first depressurization substep; in which the depressurization circuit comprises a first depressurization chamber (15) for recovering the fluid exiting the container during at least said first depressurization substep, said first chamber (15) being in fluidic communication with the flushing circuit (4), in such a way that the fluid recovered may be used as flushing fluid for flushing the next container.

2) The unit as claimed in claim 1, in which:

- the supply circuit (5) is configured to supply the product into the container by causing it to exit through an outlet (20);

- the depressurization circuit (6) comprises a first depressurization valve (10) which is operationally interposed between said outlet (20) and said first chamber (15); the unit being configured to keep said first chamber (15) at a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

3). The unit as claimed in claim 2, in which the supply circuit (5) comprises a shut-off member (19) which can move inside a flow channel (21) between an open position and a closed position, said outlet (20) being located downstream of said shut-off member, with respect to the direction of supply.

4) The filling unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a recovery duct (16) which places said first chamber (15) in fluidic communication with said flushing circuit (4).

5) The filling unit as claimed in claim 4, in which the flushing circuit (4) comprises a flushing valve (8), said recovery duct (16) being operationally interposed between said first chamber (15) and said flushing valve (8).

6) The unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, in which the depressurization circuit (6) comprises:

- a second depressurization chamber (14) for receiving the fluid exiting the container during at least a second depressurization substep;

- a second depressurization valve (11) which is operationally interposed between said outlet (20) and said second chamber (14); the unit being configured to keep said first chamber (15) at a pressure above the pressure in said second chamber

(14).

7) The filling unit as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, in which the pressurization circuit (3) comprises a pressurization chamber (17), the unit being configured to keep said pressurization chamber (17) at a pressure above atmospheric pressure and said first chamber

(15) at a pressure below the pressure in the pressurization chamber (17).

8) A filling machine for filling containers with a pourable product, comprising a plurality of filling units, each unit being as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims.

9) The machine as claimed in claim 8, in which: the unit (1) is as claimed in claim 5, each unit comprising a recovery duct different to the recovery duct of the other units and a flushing valve (8) different to the flushing valves of the other units; wherein these filling units share at least the same first chamber (15).

10) A filling method for sequentially filling a plurality of containers with a carbonated pourable product, comprising, for each container: flushing the container so as to remove at least oxygen from the container; pressurizing the container after flushing; supplying the pourable product into the container (2) after pressurization; and depressurizing the container (2) after supply; recovering the fluid exiting the container during depressurization; using the fluid recovered as flushing fluid during flushing of the next container.

11) The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the carbonation fluid contained in the carbonated product comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

12) The method as claimed in claim 10 or 11, wherein each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid is in the gaseous state.

13) The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the flushing fluid and the pressurization fluid comprises carbon dioxide in the gaseous state.

14) The method as claimed in one or more of claims 10 to 13, wherein the product is beer.

15) The method as claimed in one or more of claims 10 to 14, wherein the containers are glass bottles.