ES2325070T3 - APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE FOR PRESSING VEGETABLE PRODUCTS UNDER A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE. - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for pressing grapes, which comprises the supply to a pressing chamber of a pneumatic press (1) having a pressing membrane with said grapes and the introduction of an inert gas into said pressing chamber before pressing, being pushed in said pressing said inert gas outward from said pressing chamber by said pressing membrane, characterized in that said inert gas is confined inside a reservoir means (42) from which said inert gas is removed and transported inside of said pressing chamber, when a subsequent pressing takes place, and said introduction involves the suction of said inert gas from said reservoir means (42) using said press membrane, said suction causing said reservoir means (42) to deflate , said reservoir means (42) being inflated again, while said pressing membrane expands in said pressing chamber.

Description

Apparatus and procedure for pressing products Vegetables under a controlled atmosphere.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and to a procedure suitable for pressing various kinds of fruits, particularly grapes, keep the last ones under an atmosphere controlled, in particular an oxygen-poor atmosphere.

In the field of manufacturing technology of wine, the grapes are pressed in such a way that the solid fraction, which corresponds to the so-called "pomace", is separated from the fraction liquid or "must", which then undergoes the winemaking

According to the prior art, the pressing is carried carried out through suitable pneumatic presses, which comprise a cylindrical reservoir that is arranged in a horizontal position and automated so that it rotates on a longitudinal axis thereof by means of extreme cubes. The inside wall of the tank is divided along a diametral plane of the deposit by a anchoring part of a pressure membrane that can be expanded. The membrane defines, on one side, an operating chamber provided with a variable volume and, on the other side, a camera of pressed for the material to be compressed.

The pressing chamber holds a set of ducts for draining the squeezed product, said ducts being arranged longitudinally in the inner wall of the Deposit.

During pressing, the material to be squeeze is therefore kept in the defined pressing chamber by the pressing membrane and the part of the inner wall of the deposit comprising the ducts. Each duct consists of a perforated curved plate provided with a shaped cross section of the.

The liquid squeezed product is transported through each conduit to a respective exit that leads to outside of the deposit.

The material to be pressed (grapes, berries elderberry, raspberries or other kinds of fruits), which can being whole, crushed, scratched or picked from the bush, is taken to through at least one opening of the pressing chamber, said opening being placed on the side wall of the Deposit.

The presses in which the material to be pressed is taken inside the chamber pressing through an opening that is placed in one of the end walls of the tank substantially in one of the cubes (axial feeding).

These presses carry out a pressing cycle which first comprises blowing compressed air into the interior of the operating chamber, that is, opposite to the material to be press into the operating chamber, so that the membrane, when it inflates, by raising the pressures, of a Progressively compress and squeeze the material previously mentioned, thereby extracting from it a liquid that is drained out through the ducts. Then the air previously insufflated is suctioned by a vacuum pump and the membrane returns to its starting position, that is to say adhered to the inside wall of the tank. In this phase, the air is sucked from the outside through the tank openings. When the membrane is fully retracted, the press rotates axially so that it causes the solid compressed material to crumble falling towards the membrane, which releases the ducts of the solid residues of the squeezed. After the turn, the position of the deposit is adjusted again in order to keep the plant material contained inside. Thus begins a new cycle of pressing and compressed air is blown again into the inside of the operating chamber between the membrane and the wall. The membrane, when inflated, pushes the air, which has previously sucked out of the tank through the openings of the latter. Therefore, work presses alternatively they suck air from the atmosphere into the interior and discharge air from the atmosphere from the pressing chamber. The air of the atmosphere that comes into contact with the material oxidizes the liquid squeezed product, thereby causing, for example, a loss of polyphenols and aromatic substances, said loss negatively affecting the organoleptic characteristics of subsequent product.

An attempt has been made to remedy this problem. evident, for example, by resorting to the resource of injecting large amounts of nitrogen or carbon dioxide in the chamber of pressing. In addition, the pressing chamber can be added antioxidant products based on ascorbic acid and dioxide sulfur, said antioxidant products being distributed by means of automatic bathroom devices.

Finally, it has been suggested to add dry ice in the pressing chamber, said dry ice emitting dioxide from carbon.

However, these resources are ineffective, this it is not preventing some oxidation of the liquid squeezed product.

In addition, antioxidant gases are "disposable", this is the amount of antioxidant gas that is used for each pressing cycle is wasted whenever the membrane expands in the pressing chamber.

EP 0524373 discloses a method according to the preamble of claim 1 and an apparatus  which includes a press container, inside which feeds a product that is to be separated and consists of a Press chamber delimited by a flexible diaphragm and a unloading device The flexible diaphragm is adjacent to a zone which is substantially at atmospheric pressure: the Pressing chamber is connected to a vacuum device, the which is suitable to generate a negative pressure, so that the diaphragm acts on the product and press the latter. A accumulation is provided with inert gas, that is, antioxidant, gas which can be introduced inside the chamber of pressing in each pressing cycle by means of a fan. The amount of gas used during each pressing cycle leaves the device through a discharge.

Document FR 2624521 discloses a deposit preservation of wine that contains a neutral gas that can be recover and other liquids to be preserved under neutral gas, this is a device to protect and distribute wine under a gas neutral that can be reused. The device comprises: a rigid container that contains the wine and is provided with a tap; a flexible plastic bag that contains neutral gas and is fixed to the upper part of the container. When the wine is extracted through the tap, the reduction in the volume of the wine is compensates by the gas that comes from the bag and passes to through the tap. In the next one filled in through a opening of the container, the wine sends the gas back inside of the bag, ready to be used in a new cycle. He device according to the invention is particularly intended for protect and distribute wine in bulk.

Document DE 2910170 discloses a press to squeeze a product, for example grape, in which the product squeezed (juice) is alternately moved between a chamber of Pressing of the press and a container to which the press, so that a better degree of pressing is achieved and by so that the juice is extracted in a more complete way. The container only contains the juice produced during the pressing.

An objective of the invention is to improve the fruit pressing procedures of various kinds, particularly grape.

Another objective is to provide a procedure that allows fruit of various kinds to be pressed avoiding substantially the atmospheric oxygen exposure of the mass vegetable that is subjected to pressing.

Another additional objective is to avoid substantially that the liquid squeezed product oxidizes in the presses, so that gas consumption is substantially limited anti-oxidants

An additional objective is to provide a procedure that allows gaseous substances to be supplied  to the fruit subjected to pressing, said gaseous substances inhibiting the oxidation of said fruit and said apparatus and said procedure also allowing said substances to not be wasted after a pressing cycle.

According to the invention a procedure for pressing grapes, as defined in the claim 1. Due to the invention, it is possible to limit considerably waste of non-oxidizing gas.

Additionally, it is possible to produce effectively a controlled environment of non-oxidizing gas, that is, an environment without undesirable amounts of atmospheric oxygen in the chamber of pressing.

In order that the invention may be stated clearly and completely, reference will be made to then, by way of non-limiting examples of the scope of the invention, to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view schematic of a pneumatic press provided with an apparatus according to the invention, in a first relevant version for a configuration in which the non-oxidizing fluid is contained in the chamber of pressing;

Figure 2 is a perspective view as in Figure 1, but relevant for a different configuration in the which non-oxidizing fluid is contained in means of Deposit;

Figure 3 shows a front view schematic of a pneumatic press provided with an apparatus according to the invention, in another embodiment;

Figure 4 shows a schematic section, interrupted and elongated, drawn along a longitudinal plane from the press of figure 3;

Figure 5 shows a front view schematic that a pneumatic press provided with an apparatus according to the  invention, in a further embodiment;

Figure 6 shows a schematic section, interrupted and elongated, drawn along a longitudinal plane from the press of figure 5;

Figure 7 shows a schematic view, interrupted and elongated, of an inner end wall of a tank provided with an apparatus according to the invention, in another form of additional embodiment;

Figure 8 is a schematic deviated section, plotted along plane VI-VI of the figure 5;

Figure 9 shows a side view, interrupted and elongated, of a pneumatic press provided with a apparatus according to the invention, in yet another embodiment additional;

Figure 10 shows a front view schematic of the press of figure 9;

Figure 11 shows an elongated section e interrupted plotted along the V-V plane of the figure 10;

Figure 12 shows a side view interrupted from an upper front part of the pneumatic press of  figure 9;

Figure 13 shows a view like that of the Figure 12, but relevant for a different configuration.

Referring to figure 1 and figure 2, a pneumatic press 1 for grapes, known for itself and for both not illustrated in detail, comprises a reservoir 5 consisting in a cylindrical housing 2 defined by a pair of end walls 4 that are facing each other axially and are reciprocally parallel.

One of the end walls 4 is affected by the outlet sections 6a of a plurality of axial ducts 6, which are arranged peripherally in order to affect the half of the housing 2.

Press 2 has a pair of cubes 8, only one of which is represented to simplify, said pair of cubes 8 determining a longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank 5.

Below the tank 5 is arranged a tank 10 through the upper opening from which the must, said must coming from the ducts 6 when pressed Grapes.

The tank 10 is connected below by a drain pipe 14 with a container 12, in which collect the must in order to be sent to the processing phases subsequent through the exhaust duct 16.

An extreme part of the reservoir 5, which comprises the end wall 4, the adjacent part of the housing 2 and the outlet sections 6a of the ducts 6, is isolated from the environment exterior through an insulation structure, which is globally indicated by reference number 18. The insulation structure 18 has a first wall 20 that is arranged at a certain distance from the extreme wall 4 and is facing the housing 2 and a second wall 21 that is parallel to the first wall 20, said second wall 21 being arranged at a certain distance from the extreme wall 4 and that interferes with the casing 2.

The first wall 20 and the second wall 21 are connected peripherally by a side wall 24 and a cover top 26 that can be opened, along the direction represented by arrow F, so that you can enter inside the insulation structure 18 for the maintenance and cleaning of the latter at the end of job.

The first wall 20 has a central hole smaller 28 for hermetic coupling with hub 8 which passes through said first wall 20.

The second wall 21 has a central hole 30 larger for hermetic coupling with the surface outside of the housing 2, said larger hole 30 being provided with a diameter that is larger than the diameter of the hole minor 28.

It should be indicated that the hermetic seals of the smaller hole 28 and larger hole 30, respectively  on the hub 8 and the housing 2, are sliding joints, since both the hub 8 and the housing 2 rotate on the longitudinal axis of the tank 5 while the first wall 20, the second wall 21, the side wall 24 and cover 26 are fixed.

The first wall 20, the second wall 21 and the side wall 24 end below in a tight seal edge mutual 32 over the upper opening of the tank 10.

The container 12 is tightly closed on the drain pipe 14 through a cover 34.

The first wall 20 has a part peripheral inside which leads an end 38 of a transit conduit 36 of a non-oxidizing inert gas, for example nitrogen or carbon dioxide, said transit conduit 36 being provided with another end 40 and leading into a tank 42 isolated from the outside environment.

The tank 42 has a housing wall flexible 44 that forms a bag that hangs by a rack of suspension 43, said flexible housing wall 44 being capable of contract or expand, so that it downloads, or respectively receives, quantities of inert gas exchanged with the structure of insulation 18.

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In order to promote the transit of inert gas along the transit conduit 36, a reversible fan 46 in an intermediate section thereof.

It should be indicated that a working volume It is defined inside the insulation structure 18, said operating volume communicating below with the container 12 and with the press chamber of the press 1 through of the outlet sections 6a of the ducts 6. This volume of operation does not communicate with the outside environment, but only with reservoir 44 through transit conduit 36.

Therefore, the must produced inside of the pressing chamber does not come into contact with the oxygen of the ambient air and therefore does not suffer oxidation unwanted

In order to prevent outside air contaminate the volume of operation passing through the duct  exhaust 16 of the container 12, the latter is provided with 226 level sensors, or a siphon, not shown, which they keep a certain amount of must inside the container 12 so that it closes any possible transit of outside air to through the exhaust duct 16.

Comparing figure 1 with figure 2, it notes that when press 1, as depicted in figure 1, is in the situation in which the membrane is retracted, that is not expanded, and the pressing chamber removes gas from outside, the non-oxidizing gas is pushed along the transit conduit 36 towards the press 1 by the fan 46, as shown by arrow F1, which therefore causes the deposit 44 deflates.

On the contrary, when the membrane is expanded and occupies a substantial part of the pressing chamber expelling the non-oxidizing gas previously contained in the latter, the non-oxidizing gas returns back along the conduit of transit 36, as represented by arrow F2, by reverse fan action 46 or by simple thrust, said gas does not oxidizer flowing inside the tank 42 and inflating this latest.

Another embodiment of the press represented in figure 1 and figure 2 will be described to then, referring to figure 3 and figure 4. The pieces of the press represented in figure 3 and figure 4 which they are common to the pieces already described with respect to the press represented in figure 1 and figure 2 are indicated by The same reference numbers.

Each outlet section 6a of the ducts 6 of the press 1 is fitted inside an intermediate duct respective 50 radially disposed outside the reservoir 5, said intermediate conduit 50 leading into a part exterior 52 of a rotating manifold 54, the structure of which will be set forth in greater detail later in this document.

A transfer conduit 57 leads moving away from the rotating manifold 54, said conduit of transfer 57 leading into the container 12 in the which is collected the must extracted. The container 12 has its own upper part inside which leads one end 58 of the transit conduit 36, said end 58 being opposite the end 40 which is connected to the tank 42.

Referring to figure 4, the part outside 52 of the rotating manifold 54 and intermediate ducts 50 are complete with deposit 5 and therefore rotate together with the latest. The outer part 52 develops in an annular manner to a certain distance from the hub 8, said outer part 52 comprising an inner wall 58, fitted on the hub 8, and an outer wall 53 that receives the intermediate ducts 50. A first annular wall 56, facing the extreme wall 4, connects the inner wall 58 and the outer wall 53 of the outer part 52. Therefore the latter has a shaped cross section C-shaped turned in a direction which is opposite the wall extreme 4.

An inner part 60 of the manifold 54 is held inside the outside 52, on the opposite side  of the first annular wall 56. The inner part 60 has a C-shaped cross section that faces the outer part 52 and is contained in the latter. This means that the inner part 60 has a cavity turned towards the first annular wall 56 and defines, together with the latter, axial development of an inner chamber 64 of the manifold 54, through a second annular wall 62. The inner chamber 64 is further defined radially by the inner wall 58 and the outer wall 53.

The inner part 60 is fixed and allows the outer part 52 rotate outwardly from the inner part 60 of so that the must, which is collected from the inner chamber 64 to through the intermediate ducts 50, can flow through the transfer conduit 57, said conduit conduit of transfer 57 into the second annular wall 62. A inner ring gasket 66 is placed between the inner part 60 and an extreme part of the outer wall 53. An outer ring seal 68 is placed between the inner part 60 and an end zone of the outer wall 53.

The operation of the press represented in Figure 3 and Figure 4 is similar to the operation that has has already been exposed with reference to figure 1 and figure 2, except in which the non-oxidizing gas flows inside the chamber of pressed from the tank 42 through the container 12, the transfer duct 57, the rotating manifold 54 and the intermediate ducts 50, which globally define a insulation structure that insulates the air pressing chamber of the environment

It should be indicated that the embodiment represented in figure 3 and figure 4 has a structure of insulation whose size is remarkably smaller than the shape of embodiment shown in figure 1 and figure 2. In addition, the air tight seals are greatly simplified in the insulation structure.

Reference is made below to Figure 5 and Figure 6 which set forth an additional embodiment of the press represented in figure 3 and figure 4. The pieces of the press represented in figure 5 and figure 6 which have already been described in relation to the press of figures 1 to 4 They are indicated with the same reference numbers.

Referring to figure 5 and figure 6, in the press 1 all the outlet sections 6a of the ducts 6 fit inside a common additional rotating manifold 154. The additional rotating manifold 154 has an outer part additional 152 that takes the form of a circular sector in the proximity of the extreme wall 4. The additional outer part 152 comprises an additional inner wall 158 fitted on the hub 8, a rear wall 156 adjacent to the end wall 4 of the tank 5, an additional outer wall 153. The rear wall 156 is developed in the form of a circular sector surrounding the cube 8 and extends to the periphery of the extreme wall 4, reaching said rear wall 156 to the outlet sections 6a of the ducts 6. The latter are tightly inserted into a plurality of openings 130 made in the back wall 156. A distant part 153a, opposite the end wall 4, and a part next 153b adjacent to the end wall 4, are defined in the additional outer wall 153. The distant part 153a runs in shape annular and parallel to the additional inner wall 158, said part distant 153a finally continuing inside the part next 153b. The next part 153b, which is shaped like a sector circular, run first parallel and then orthogonal to the wall later 156, finally joining on the last. That way, two rectilinear pipes, not represented, which converge in the proximity of cube 8 and an interposed arch wall, not represented, which has a concavity turned towards the hub 8, are defined between the back wall 156 and the next part 153b.

An additional inner wall 160 of the manifold Additional swivel 154 is admitted inside the part additional exterior 152, said inner part being opposite additional 160 to the back wall 156. The additional inner part 160 has a section formed in a section in C, said section being opposite to the outer part 152 and contained in the latter. This means that the additional inner part 160 has a cavity that is turned towards the rear wall 156, said part additional interior 160 defining, together with the rear wall 156, the axial development of an additional inner chamber 164 of the additional rotating manifold 154 through an annular wall additional 162. In addition, the additional inner chamber 164 is defined radially by the additional inner wall 158 and the wall exterior 153, said additional inner chamber 164 being provided of a cross section in the form of a circular sector.

The additional inner part 160 is fixed and allows the additional outer part 152 to rotate out of so that the liquid product obtained by pressing, which is collected from the additional inner chamber 164 through the peripheral openings 130, can then flow through the transfer duct 57 emerging from the annular wall additional 162. Transfer conduit 57 carries the liquid product directly to an additional container 19, whose structure and operation will be described in detail later in this document with reference to figures 9 to 13.

The inner ring seal 66 is placed between the additional inner part 160 and an end part of the wall additional inner 158. The outer annular seal 68 is placed between the additional inner part 160 and an extreme part of the additional outer wall 153.

According to another additional embodiment of the invention, represented in figure 7 and figure 8, the ducts transfer 50 are arranged inside the tank 5, that is in the vicinity of the extreme wall 4, on the side of the last facing the pressing chamber, being placed said transfer conduits 50 between an extreme part of the ducts 6 and a fixed collector 70 which is placed inside of the level pressing chamber with an axial outlet 72, which pass through the cube 8.

An additional embodiment of the invention is represented in figures 9 to 13. The parts of the press represented in figures 9 to 13, which have already been described in relation to the press represented in figures 1 to 6, are indicated with the same reference numbers. The sections of exit 6a of the press 1 lead into a collector in arc 317 provided with a curved connector 234. The latter rises from an approximately middle part of the arc collector 317 and it forms a convexity that is turned towards the extreme wall 4. A terminal end 219 of the curved connector 234, said end terminal 219 being opposite the end wall 4, is formed complete with an additional curved connector 210, which is arranged so that it points its concavity towards the extreme wall 4. A first flexible pipe 212 provided with a length suitable is placed between an additional terminal end 211 of the additional curved connector 210, said additional terminal end 211 being opposite the end end 219, and a first roller 214, which is shaped like a disk and is part of a device winding / unrolling 215. The latter is placed by under the tank 5, in the vicinity of the end wall 4 and manufactured entirely with the support structures, not represented, from reservoir 5. In the vicinity of a vertical axis 216 of the first roller 214, the first flexible pipe 212 leads inside a curved drain pipe 217 that continues up to a second flexible pipe 218. The second flexible pipe 218 leads into the additional container 19 which is connected to a vacuum pump 222 through a flexible conduit 221 and is additionally connected to reservoir 42, described above in this document with reference to figures 1-3 and 5, through transit conduit 36.

One end 258 of the transit conduit 36 leads into the additional container 19 and is provided with an interceptor valve 228, for example a membrane valve. The liquid product obtained by pressing once it leaves the ducts 6, advances along a path comprising, in sequence, the arc collector 317, the curved connectors 218 and 219, the first flexible pipe 212, the drain pipe curved 217, the second flexible pipe 218 and the container additional 19. The liquid product leaves the latter through a additional exhaust duct 220 and is then transported at subsequent processing phases.

The first flexible pipe 212 is what long enough to accompany deposit 5 during the turning movements carried out by the last on its axis longitudinal during a pressing cycle. More exactly, the first flexible pipe 212 is long enough to allow tank 5 to perform four turns together, two of which being clockwise and two being counterclockwise. These laps they are sufficient to obtain an effective pressing of the material vegetable and a subsequent crumbling of the solid residue compacted that adheres to the interior walls of the reservoir 5. During movements clockwise and in counterclockwise mentioned above, the first flexible pipe 212 is dragged by the connector curved 234 which is integral with the arc collector 317, said first flexible pipe 212 respectively is wound around, or unwinds from, a second roller 227 that is coaxial with the hub 8. The movements of the first flexible pipe 212 are made possible by means of the winding / unwinding device 215 comprising the first roller 214. When the tank 5 is moves clockwise, the first pipe Flexible 212 is unwound from the first roller 214 and then she rewinds herself around the last one because of the counterclockwise movements brought to out by deposit 5.

The set comprising the arc collector 317, the curved connector 234, the additional curved connector 210, the first flexible pipe 212, the curved drain pipe 217 and the second curved pipe 218 defines a volume of operation that communicates, at one end, with the container additional 19 through the second flexible pipe 218 and, in the opposite end, with the press chamber of the press 1 through of the outlet sections 6a of the ducts 6. This volume of operation is isolated from the outside environment and only communicates with tank 42 through the transit duct 36.

Therefore, the must that is produced in the The inside of the pressing chamber does not come into contact with the oxygen from the ambient air but with the inert gas contained in the tank 42, said must not proving to be subject to oxidation unwanted

In order to prevent outside air from being able to contaminate the volume of operation passing through the additional exhaust duct 220 of the additional container 19, this The latter is equipped with 226 level sensors that maintain a certain amount of must inside the additional container 19 thereby closing any possible outdoor air traffic through the additional exhaust duct 220.

When, in press 1, the pressing membrane it is removed, that is, it is not expanded, and the pressing chamber withdraws gas from the outside, the non-oxidizing gas is pushed by the fan 46 along the transit duct 36 towards the press 1, according to an F1 direction, thereby causing a drain partial and deflation of tank 42. This configuration reversible adopted by deposit 42 is represented by a dashed line

On the contrary, when the membrane is expanded and occupies a substantial part of the pressing chamber expelling the non-oxidizing gas previously contained inside of the latter, the non-oxidizing gas passes through the conduit of transit 36, under the inverse action of fan 46 or by a simple thrust, along a direction F2 opposite the previous direction F1, said non-oxidizing gas flowing towards the tank 42 that adopts a full configuration represented by A continuous line.

When the membrane is still expanded and by So when the plant material is pressed and the product liquid that is obtained by pressing subsequently advances from the tank 5 to the additional container 19, the pump Vacuum 222 works by accelerating the advancement mentioned above. The vacuum pump 222 is stopped during expansion and retraction of the membrane in order to prevent the inert gas from being accidentally removed from the operating volume previously definite. The diaphragm valve 228 closes when the pump void 222 is working, thereby excluding the conduit of transit 36 of the cavity of the additional container 19 and avoiding then the inert gas is extracted, in a way undesirable, from container 42. Thus, it is only extracted a small amount of inert gas, which is inside the additional container 19 when the vacuum pump 222 is working, said small amount being easily replenished in the apparatus.

Claims (2)

1. A method for pressing grapes, which comprises the supply to a pressing chamber of a pneumatic press (1) having a pressing membrane with said grapes and the introduction of an inert gas into said pressing chamber before pressing, said inert gas being pushed into said pressing towards the outside of said pressing chamber by said pressing membrane, characterized in that said inert gas is confined inside reservoir means (42) from which said inert gas is removed and transported into said press chamber, when a subsequent pressing takes place, and said introduction involves the suction of said inert gas from said reservoir means (42) using said press membrane, said suction causing said reservoir means (42) they are deflated, said reservoir means (42) being inflated again, while said pressing membrane expands in said pressing chamber. 2. Method according to claim 1 in the that said storage means (42) is inflated again substantially by means of the same amount of said inert gas previously introduced in said pneumatic press (1).