WO2008119193A1

WO2008119193A1 - Method for inerting a container with the injection of an inert gas and device for implementing same

Info

Publication number: WO2008119193A1
Application number: PCT/CH2008/000101
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Luc Thuliez; Thierry Robert; Mickaël RUSSO; Christophe Varidel
Original assignee: Grether, Pierre-Yves
Priority date: 2007-03-30
Filing date: 2008-03-11
Publication date: 2008-10-09
Also published as: EP2129582B1; ATE547327T1; CH700700B1; EP2129582A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for inerting a container with the injection of an inert gas, in particular a container housing food, such as wine in a bottle, leftovers from cooked meals or fresh produce, in which the atmosphere in the container is replaced with a denser-than-air inert gas. The inventive device (10) includes a connection member (11) connected to an inlet (15) of a container (12) and removably coupled to a self-contained inert gas supply element (13) removably joined to a pressurised inert gas source (41). The device also includes means that can communicate the container (12) with a supply chamber of the supply element (13) and simultaneously communicate said supply element with the pressurised inert gas source (41) for a pre-determined period before the inert gas is introduced with a slight over-pressure into the container, simultaneously forcing the atmosphere from the container.

Description

METHOD OF INERTING A CONTAINER BY INJECTION OF A NEUTRAL GAS AND DEVICE FOR IMPLEMENTING SAID METHOD

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a method of inerting a container by injecting a neutral gas, and in particular a container containing a foodstuff, such as wine contained in a bottle, leftovers of cooked dishes or fresh products preserved during storage and / or transport, in which the atmosphere contained in the container is replaced by the neutral gas.

The present invention also relates to a device for inerting a container by injecting a neutral gas, and in particular a container containing a foodstuff such as wine contained in a bottle, leftovers of cooked dishes or products. costs retained during storage and / or transport, in which the atmosphere contained in the container is replaced by the neutral gas, for the implementation of this process.

Prior art

There is already known a device for storing the contents of an opened bottle, in particular a stopper which fits on a bottle for the purpose of preserving wine. A device of this type is described by European Patent Publication No. 1,204,555 B1 and includes a gas source and electrically controlled mechanical valves for diffusing a neutral gas into an opened bottle containing a wine residue. The goal is to avoid the contact of the wine with the oxygen of the atmosphere, in order to avoid oxidations which lead to the degradation of this wine. Electrically controlled valves require an electrical power supply, which makes the device heavy, cumbersome, expensive, and which reserves it almost exclusively for professional or semi-professional use and not for domestic use. In addition, this device applies exclusively to the preservation of drinks and consists mainly of a cap adaptable to a bottle opened. Its construction does not allow it to adapt to other food containers such as leftovers of cooked dishes or fresh products such as fruits and vegetables. In addition, one of the disadvantages of this system, which is found in most systems of the same type having similar functions, is that it induces in the container an overpressure which, even slight, promotes the elimination of aromas volatile wines that are lighter than gas, while it is precisely to preserve these flavors by preventing an overpressure expels them out of the container. In fact, the induced ventilation induces a current of air which partly sweeps away the aromas of the foods to be preserved.

This type of device with its many disadvantages is unsuitable for commercialization on a large scale and for multiple applications in the food and agri-food sector.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention therefore proposes to overcome these disadvantages by providing a method and the device for the implementation of this method which allows to safely preserve the foodstuff by avoiding the risk of explosion of the container and / or an expulsion of the connecting member due to a blockage of the outlet valve, which can occur in existing systems. In addition, the device of the invention can operate identically and repetitively from the first to the umpteenth use, regardless of the level at which the gas source is located. By design, it also has the advantage of behaving as a pressure reducer and thus work at constant pressure, which is not the case in known devices. Aromas are also well preserved because, unlike known devices, the movement of air generated in the container is very low and controlled.

These advantages are obtained by the method of the invention, as defined in the preamble, and characterized in that a connection member is connected to an inlet orifice of said container and this connecting member is coupled to an autonomous supply element of neutral gas which comprises a source of pressurized neutral gas, and communicating said container with a supply chamber of said supply member which is simultaneously communicated with said source of pressurized neutral gas for a predetermined period controlled by a timer, said supply chamber constituting a dosing system, at least one radial passage allowing the escape of the atmosphere contained in this vessel to be opened simultaneously with the injection of neutral gas into said container, said radial passage being formed in said connection member, and separation is effected the supply element of the connecting member connected to the container, said connecting member becoming sealed.

According to an advantageous embodiment, said neutral gas is introduced inside said container at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure, and said radial passage is kept open during the entire operation to avoid any overpressure in said container.

Preferably, the duration of the introduction of the neutral gas inside said container can be determined by a timer distributor which controls the closing of a pneumatic control valve serving as a communication valve of the chamber supply and said container.

Preferably, the supply chamber is communicated with said container by actuating a pusher dispenser comprising a movable pusher integral with a piston arranged to actuate the pneumatically operated dispenser during said opening time commanded by said timer distributor. These advantages are also achieved by the device as defined in the preamble and characterized in that it comprises means arranged for connecting a connecting member to an inlet orifice of said container and for removably coupling said connecting member to a neutral gas self-contained supply element removably connected to a source of pressurized neutral gas, means arranged to port said container to a supply chamber of the supply member and simultaneously supplying said supply in communication with said source of pressurized neutral gas for a predetermined period controlled by a timer distributor to introduce said neutral gas into said container, said supply chamber constituting an introduced gas metering system, means arranged to avoid any overpressure in said container simultaneously with the introduction of the neutral gas s said container, and means arranged to make the connection member tight when it has been detached from the supply element.

According to a preferred embodiment, the means for introducing the neutral gas into the container are arranged to introduce said gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure and to avoid any overpressure in said container.

Advantageously, the means for avoiding any overpressure of the gas in said container comprise at least one radial passage to allow the escape of the atmosphere contained in this container, said radial passage being formed in said connecting member.

In the preferred embodiment of the device, the connecting member comprises an anterior portion and a posterior portion, said anterior portion being axially movable relative to the posterior portion, and said radial passage is defined by the displacement of the anterior portion by compared to the posterior part. Preferably, this radial passage communicates, by means arranged in the rear part of the connecting member, with a fixed, substantially V-shaped passage formed in said rear part.

Advantageously, the anterior part of the connecting member may be composed of two elements, a first element, which is integral with a central tubular shaft formed in said connecting member, and a second element which slides axially on said rod. tubular central to provide between them a space of admission of the neutral gas in the container.

The timer distributor is preferably arranged to determine the duration of the introduction of the neutral gas inside the container by controlling the closing of a pneumatically operated distributor serving as a valve for placing the supply chamber in communication with said supply chamber. container.

In the preferred embodiment of the device, said means for communicating the supply chamber of the connection member with said container comprise a pusher dispenser provided with a movable pusher secured to a piston arranged to port said feed chamber and the pneumatically operated dispenser during said open time controlled by said timing distributor.

So that said neutral gas can protect the foodstuff and replace the air contained in the container, said neutral gas is advantageously denser than air.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a preferred implementation of the method of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of indication and not limitation, in which: FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing the device according to the invention adaptable to a container containing foodstuffs,

FIG. 2A is a sectional view showing the connecting member of the device of FIG. 1 in the closed position,

FIG. 2B is a sectional view showing the connection member of the device of FIG. 1 in open position,

FIGS. 3A and 3B are two sectional views showing the dosing system of the device according to the invention, respectively in the closed and open position,

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two perspective views representing the dosing system of the device according to the invention, respectively according to two different angles offset by 90 °,

FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the pusher dispenser of the device according to the invention illustrating its mode of operation,

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the pneumatically operated distributor of the device according to the invention illustrating its mode of operation, and

Figure 7 is a schematic sectional view of the timer valve of the device according to the invention illustrating its mode of operation.

Best way to realize the invention

The process according to the invention consists in rendering inert the atmosphere in which there are foodstuffs that one wishes to preserve from the action of oxygen contained in the atmosphere. In particular, it is intended to enable the atmosphere of a container to be replaced by a neutral gas that is denser than air by injecting a determined quantity of this neutral gas into a very low speed so as to avoid overpressure and turbulence. To implement this method, the inerting device comprises a supply element and a connection member to the container, which will be described below. The feed member comprises a source of releasable pressurized gas, preferably a stand-alone cartridge such as, for example, a cartridge containing a mixture of 80% Argon and 20% CO ₂ . The gas contained in this cartridge under a pressure of the order of 180 bar is expanded and a determined amount of this gas is injected with a very slight overpressure, of the order of 0.2 bar, into the container. This neutral gas is denser than air, it settles on the foodstuff and flushes air trapped in the container closed by the connecting member.

With reference to FIG. 1, the inerting device 10 of the invention mainly comprises two independent elements, a connection member 11 to a receptacle 12 and an autonomous supply element 13 made of neutral gas, hereinafter referred to 'food. The supply element 13 and the connecting member 11 are arranged to be coupled in order to inject into the container 12 containing foodstuffs 14, a neutral gas making it possible to replace the atmosphere containing oxygen initially contained. in the container 12 by a neutral gas atmosphere preserving food. The connecting member 11 has a valve function and the supply element 13 has a reservoir and metering function. It is intended to be partially engaged, like a plug, in an opening 15 formed in the lid or in a wall of the container 12. This container may be in any form, in particular that of a box, a bottle, container, pouch or the like.

The connecting member 11 is shown in section in FIGS. 2A and 2B ₁ respectively in the closed state and in the open state. It consists of two main parts, namely an anterior portion 20 and a posterior portion 21, the anterior portion 20 being axially movable relative to the posterior portion 21. The anterior portion 20 has a generally conical shape mounted to the end of a central tubular shaft 22 provided with a central channel 23. This anterior portion 20 is itself composed of two elements, namely a first element in the form of a tip 20a and a second element forming a valve 20b. The tip 20a is secured to the central tubular shaft 22 and the valve 20b is axially sliding on the central tubular shaft. Between the tip 20a and the valve 20b is provided an inlet space 24 which can be closed or open to allow the neutral gas to enter the container. The opening of this space 24, that is to say the spacing of the tip 20a and the valve 20b, is controlled by the passage of the neutral gas. The posterior portion 21 is of inverted frustoconical shape and is provided towards its base with an annular protuberance 21a for positioning the connecting member 11 on the container 12.

When the connecting member 11 is engaged in the appropriate opening 15 of the container 12, this opening then being sealingly closed by the annular protuberance 21a, and a connecting piece 16, which is part of the element 13 (see Figure 1), bears against the free end of the central tubular shaft 22 and pushes it downwards, the front portion 20 of this connecting member 11, which is completely inserted into the container 12, is downward shifts (see Figure 2B) relative to its rear portion 21. The central tubular rod 22 causes in its displacement the front portion 20 of the connecting member 11 by moving relative to the rear portion 21. This shift axial opens a radial passage 27, which opens internally, through a cavity 26 formed in the rear portion 21 of said connecting member 11 and along the central rod 22, in a fixed passage 28 V-shaped formed in the rear portion 21 of the connecting member 11. A thrust spring 25, housed in the cavity 26, ensures, during the injection of the gas, an opening of the radial passage 27 sufficient for the The air initially contained in the container 12 can escape correctly through the fixed passage 28 via the cavity 26. The central tubular rod 22 carries a disc 29 which bears on a spiral spring 30, arranged to bias the disc 29, and therefore the central tubular shaft 22, upwards. This spiral spring 30 serves as a return spring for returning the central tubular rod 22 to its initial position when the thrust exerted through the tip 16, which is part of the feed member 13, is released, which corresponds to at a position of closure of the radial passage 27, the front portion 20 and the rear portion 21 of the connecting member being contiguous, as shown in Figure 2A.

The operation of the connecting member 11 is as follows. Coupling of the connecting member 11 and the supply element 13 is performed by means of the endpiece 16. A pressure exerted on this endpiece by the supply element 13 axially displaces the central tubular stem 22, shifts the front portion 20 of the connecting member 11 relative to the rear portion 21 and opens the radial passage 27. In this way, the air contained in the container 12 can be evacuated. When the supply element 13 is activated, as will be described later, neutral gas is injected under slight overpressure into the container 12 through the central tubular shaft 22 and the admission space 24 formed between the tip 20a and the valve 20b. The pressure of the gas shifts the tip 20a of the valve 20b and has a tendency to close the radial passage 27. This tendency is, however, thwarted by the thrust spring 25 which maintains this radial passage 27 open and allows the air and possibly part of the neutral gas, to escape to avoid any excess pressure detrimental to the preservation of certain foodstuffs, including wine in a bottle opened.

The supply element 13 comprises a metering system 40, represented respectively by the views in axial section 3A and 3B, on which is mounted, removably, a cartridge 41 containing a pressurized neutral gas, intended to be injected into the the container to protect foodstuffs by avoiding any contact with oxygen. This metering system 40 comprises a feed chamber 42 which initially contains neutral gas under pressure and whose upper wall constituting a piston 43, is integral with a hollow tubular piston rod 44, subjected to the pressing force of a compression spring 45. As long as the pressure of the gas is sufficient to thwart the force of the compression spring 45, the piston 43 and the rod 44 remain in the closed position, as shown more particularly in FIG. 3A. The upper end of the rod of the tubular piston 44 is then closed by the fact that it bears against a seal 46 of a chamber 47 which is in communication with a conduit 48 which penetrates inside the cartridge 41 It will be noted that the supply chamber 42 is supplied with neutral gas from the cartridge 41 as soon as the pressure inside this chamber becomes lower than a threshold which allows the compression spring 45 to push back the piston 44. This chamber 42 operates mainly the function of compressed gas tank neutral constant pressure independent of the pressure of the cartridge 41. When the pressure is no longer sufficient in the chamber 42, the piston 43 moves and the dosing system goes to the open position (Figure 3B). The gas can then pass into the hole of the rod 44 to supply the output of the metering system 40.

The metering system 40 further includes a pusher dispenser 50, a pneumatic control valve 60 and a timer distributor 70, the positioning of which in said metering system 40 is illustrated in Figs. 4A and 4B. These elements are intended to allow the implementation of all the functions of the device with the only energy of the neutral gas under pressure contained in the cartridge 41.

The pusher distributor 50, illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 5, is actuated by a pusher 50a which controls the supply of neutral gas. When a user presses said pusher 50a, the latter moves a piston 51 housed in a chamber 52 which communicates via a conduit 53, with the supply chamber 42 containing expanded gas. Due to this displacement, the gas can escape, as shown by the arrows M, in the extension 52a of the chamber 52 to escape through a conduit 54 to the pneumatic control valve 60.

In this pneumatic control valve 60, more specifically illustrated in FIG. 6, the gas from the pusher dispenser 50 enters, as shown by arrow N, into a chamber 61 disposed at one end of this dispenser. As a result, it acts on a piston 62 which it moves in the direction of the arrow R, which has the effect of allowing the passage of the expanded gas towards a double duct 63, one of which channels the gas towards the container and the other channel directs the gas to a timing distributor 70. The function of this timing distributor is to ensure the supply of expanded gas tank for a predetermined time with the only energy of the pressurized gas and without It is necessary to control the gas passages by electric valves or the like.

In the timing distributor 70, shown schematically in FIG. 7, the gas coming from the pneumatically controlled distributor 60 is transmitted, via a rear chamber 71, towards a timing tank 73 closed by a plug of closing 74. This reservoir 74, by filling gradually, pushes a piston 72 in the direction of the arrow S to open a return passage of the pneumatic control valve 60. The axes of the timing tank 73 and the distributor timer 70 are arranged at 90 ° in the current construction as shown. The rear chamber 71 of the timing distributor 70 communicates with the feed chamber 42, when the pneumatic distributor 60 is in the activated position, that is to say after an action on the push-button distributor 50. The timer distributor 70 has for aim of limiting the injection of neutral gas into the container by returning the pneumatic control valve 60 to its initial position.

When the neutral gas has been introduced into the container 12, the supply element 13 is detached from the connection member 11. This then becomes leakproof since the rod 22 rises and thus closes the radial passage 27 and the admission space 24.

The device of the invention makes it possible to perform all of its functions without any external energy input other than the pressurized neutral gas contained in the cartridge. As a result, it is completely autonomous and particularly compact. It adapts to various containers and can therefore be used for various applications. It is also very reliable because the slight excess pressure necessary for the introduction of the gas remains constant regardless of the level of the gas in the cartridge. Finally, its manufacturing cost is low and the consumable substance, namely the pressurized neutral gas, is currently available on the market.

The use of the device object of the present invention is not limited to the food or food industry but may also extend to the medical or paramedical field for the preservation of pharmaceutical products or the like.

Claims

1. A method of inerting a container by injecting a neutral gas, and in particular a container containing a foodstuff, such as wine contained in a bottle, the remains of cooked dishes or fresh products preserved during storage and / or transport, in which the atmosphere contained in the container is replaced by the neutral gas, characterized in that a connecting member (11) is connected to an inlet (15) of said container (12) and this connecting member is coupled to a neutral gas supply element (13) which comprises a source of pressurized neutral gas (41), said container (12) is placed in communication with a supply chamber (42) of said supply member (13) which is simultaneously communicated with said source of pressurized neutral gas (41) for a specified period of time controlled by a timer (70), said chamber power supply (42) constituting a n dosing system (40), is opened, simultaneously with the injection of neutral gas into said container, at least one radial passage (27) allowing the escape of the atmosphere contained in said container, said radial passage being arranged in said connecting member (11), and the supply element (13) is detached from the connecting member (11) connected to the receptacle, said connection member becoming sealed.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said neutral gas is introduced inside said container (12) at a pressure slightly greater than atmospheric pressure, and in that said radial passage is kept open. (27) during the entire operation to avoid overpressure in said container (12).

3. Method according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the duration of the introduction of the neutral gas inside said container is determined by a timer distributor (70) which controls the closing of a pneumatically operated distributor ( 60) serving as a communication valve of the supply chamber and said container.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterized in that one puts the supply chamber (42) in communication with said container (12) by actuating a pusher distributor (50) having a movable pusher (50a) secured to a piston (51) arranged to actuate the pneumatic control valve (60) during said open time controlled by said timer valve (70).

5. Device for inerting a container by injecting a neutral gas, and in particular a container containing a foodstuff, in particular wine contained in a bottle, the remains of cooked dishes or fresh products preserved during the storage and / or transport, in which the atmosphere contained in the container is replaced by the neutral gas, characterized in that said device (10) comprises means arranged for connecting a connection member (11) to an orifice of inlet (15) of said container (12) and for releasably coupling said connecting member to a self-contained neutral gas supply member (13) releasably connected to a source of pressurized neutral gas (41), means arranged to place said container (12) in communication with a supply chamber (42) of the supply element (13) and simultaneously to put said supply element in communication with said source of neutral gas under pressure sion (41) for a predetermined period controlled by a timer (70) to introduce said neutral gas into said container, said supply chamber (42) constituting a metering system (40) of the introduced gas, arranged means to avoid any overpressure in said container (12) simultaneously with the introduction of the neutral gas into said container, and means arranged to make the connecting member (11) tight when it has been separated from the supply element (13).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means for introducing the neutral gas into the container are arranged to introduce said gas at a pressure slightly above atmospheric pressure and to avoid overpressure in said container (12).

7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for preventing any excess pressure of the gas in said container (12) comprise at least one radial passage (27) arranged to allow the escape of the atmosphere contained in this container. , said radial passage being formed in said connecting member (11).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the connecting member (11) comprises an anterior portion (20) and a rear portion (21), said anterior portion (20) being axially movable relative to the posterior portion. (21), and in that said radial passage (27) is defined by the displacement of the anterior portion (20) relative to the posterior portion (21).

9. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the radial passage (27) communicates, by means arranged in the rear part (21) of the connecting member (11), with a fixed passage (28), substantially V-shaped, formed in said rear portion (21).

10. Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the front portion (20) of the connecting member (11) is composed of two elements (20a, 20b), a first element (20a) which is integral with a central tubular shaft (22) formed in said connecting member and a second element (20b), which slides axially on said tubular shaft central (22), to provide between them an intake space (24) of the neutral gas in the container (12).

11. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the timer distributor (70) is arranged to determine the duration of the introduction of the neutral gas inside the container (12).

12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said timer distributor (70) is arranged to control the closure of a pneumatically operated distributor (60) serving as a communication valve of the feed chamber (42). and said container (12).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that said means for communicating the supply chamber (42) of the connecting member (11) with said container (12) comprise a pusher distributor (50) provided a movable pusher (50a) integral with a piston (51) arranged to actuate the pneumatic control valve (60) during said opening time controlled by said timer distributor (70).

14. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said neutral gas is denser than air.