WO1985005092A1

WO1985005092A1 - Method and device for dispensing liquids such as nutritive liquids and particularly beverages

Info

Publication number: WO1985005092A1
Application number: PCT/FR1985/000098
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alain Freychet
Original assignee: Societe Française D'achat Et De Distribution S.O.F
Priority date: 1984-04-27
Filing date: 1985-04-26
Publication date: 1985-11-21
Also published as: FR2563509B1; FR2563509A1; DE3566526D1; EP0179113B1; EP0179113A1

Abstract

Method and device providing a vacuum-forming member of the venturi type wherein the diluent liquid inlet (18) leads to through an interchangeable nozzle, the concentrate being sucked into the vacuum-forming member through a piping (14) provided with a non return valve (15), the vacuum-forming member being continued by a homogenization conduit (8) and a pouring spout (11) provided to remain filled with liquid between two dispensing operations.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR DISPENSING LIQUIDS SUCH AS FOOD LIQUIDS AND IN PARTICULAR BEVERAGES

The present invention relates to a method and u device for the distribution of liquids such as liqui from food and in particular from refrigerated drinks or not, in which a concentrated liquid is diluted by means of a diluent liquid, in particular water.

The invention applies in particular to the distribution of refrigerated drinks from concentrates, such as for example drinks prepared from natural fruit juice concentrates, for example oranges, with or without pulp, crushed or unground .

The devices or apparatuses of this type currently known are intended to automatically ensure the dilution of a concentrated liquid product, viscous or not, with or without pulp, in water, in general water refreshed and, in general, to deliver doses of the product thus diluted, for example to the glass or to the cup.

These devices have in particular the disadvantage of being relatively expensive, complicated since they include numerous moving parts, difficult to maintain and above all to clean in accordance with the prescriptions which impose a systematic cleaning of the liquid dispensers. The components of which, such as pump, valve, pipes and distribution conduits, are the site of bacterial fermentations in particular.

It has already been proposed to replace mobile elements, such as pumps, by mixing means using a pressure-reducing element.

US Patent 2,920,579 describes a device in which the fruit concentrate is brought directly into the axis of a venturi by an adjustable injector 44 opening into a venturi nozzle. It is clear that such a device has been provided to try to adjust, by axial displacements at the level of the venturi, and this in an extremely fine manner, the flow of concentrate. This implies that the depression caused is not substantially constant and varies, notarr_r nt depending on the level of concentrate in the refrigerated container of concentrate 16. In addition, this device is complex and comprises a complicated venturi made up of several assemblable parts, to namely, in particular, the central injector, the part forming a nozzle and distribution duct, a water inlet, a blocking part 49 as well as seals and blocking means. These different means are necessary because of the principle of operation and of adjustment required. Of course, these parts are difficult to disassemble and difficult to wash. Finally, the throttling of the venturi is provided to prevent the entry of air coming from the opening 21 at the injector, which means that the duct 20 receives air through its mouth and that in this conduit the liquid is not sheltered from the air and therefore from fermentation. French patent 1,392,840 describes a device in which there is air inside the pressure-reducing member before the start of operation. The presence of this air prevents the establishment of a constant depression and therefore the obtaining of a good homogeneity. Such a device is particularly sensitive to differences in level in the reservoir of the product which must be diluted. The depri¬ mogenic member is oriented vertically, which prevents it from retaining the liquid inside. A fortiori, the vertical evacuation duct is exposed to the air between two functions with all the resulting drawbacks in terms of hygiene. Finally, the device is also very complicated, has a large number of complex parts and seals and requires delicate adjustments.

German patent 3,234,957 describes a device which is intended to operate at very high pressure and not at pressure such as that delivered by an ordinary pipe. To this end, it includes a pump for increasing the pressure. It recommends, in the case of concentrates containing pulp, to introduce air into the device, so that it probably succeeds in ensuring a certain homogeneity of concentration only by means of a very strong pressure. Even in the case where air is not admitted into the device, the air enters the delivery tube. This device is obviously very complex and requires an additional valve as well as regulating means. In addition, it is cumbersome, the pressure-reducing member cannot be located above the container. The present invention proposes to remedy these drawbacks and to provide a method and a device for dispensing liquids such as food liquids and especially beverages, making it possible to dilute, to a given concentration and with great precision, a liquid concentrate which can be indifferently viscous or non-viscous, with or without crushed pulp or not and, if necessary, to deliver the diluted product in exact doses, and this by using simple means, inexpensive and little subject to breakdowns. Another objective of the invention is thus to make it possible to obtain an extremely homogeneous diluted product.

Another objective of the invention is to deliver, at a temperature recommended for consumption, the liquid food whatever the frequency of use. Another objective of the invention is to make it possible to reconstitute the organoleptic properties of a freshly squeezed fruit juice from a frozen natural concentrate of fruit juice.

Another objective of the invention is to produce a device which does not use complex mechanical means in contact with the concentrate or the diluting liquid.

Another objective of the invention is to avoid or considerably limit the phenomena of oxidation or fermentation of the liquids contained and thus to conserve the organoleptic properties of the food liquid delivered, and this in particular for products very sensitive to oxidation and fermentation.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a device which is extremely easy and easy to clean, allowing rapid disassembly.

Yet another objective of the invention is, in the frequent case where the diluent liquid is drinking water, to use the pressure from the drinking water network which supplies the device as an energy source.

The subject of the invention is a process for the distribution of liquids such as food liquids and in particular drinks, in which a liquid concentrate is diluted to a diluting liquid, such as in particular water, by circulating the diluent liquid through a pressure reducing device at a determined rate so as to create a vacuum and the liquid concentrate is brought inside the pressure reducing device into the flow of diluting liquid, characterized in that the diluting liquid. at usual pressure, circulates so as to create a constant depres¬ sion large enough to bring the liquid concentrate into the flow of diluent liquid via a calibrated passage, the flow rate ^' drawn in from concentrate not being sensitive significantly to variations in level in the concentrated container that contains it.

Preferably, the liquid concentrate is fed with the depressant organ by the simple suction effect of the depressor organ, or possibly by additionally using the gravity of the concentrated liquid.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the pressure-reducing member continues with a distribution pipe which may possibly facilitate or improve the homogenization of the product to be distributed, and according to an advantageous characteristic of the method according to the invention, it is maintained between two successive operations dispensing, the liquid product in said pipe preventing any entry of air, and preferably maintaining the volume of the pipe at a very low value compared to the volume of doses which can be dispensed. For example, this ratio can be between 0.5 and 2% of the dose volume, the latter being able to range up to 20 cl and more.

Maintaining the liquid product in said pipe can be carried out preferably by simple effect of the surface tensions, for example by capillarity, and / or by the geometrical arrangement of the pipe, but other means can also be used, in particular gravity , the use of check valves, especially on the concentrate etc ...

Preferably, said pipe may consist of, or comprise directly downstream of the pressure-reducing member, a homogenization pipe preferably of small diameter with a length / diameter ratio preferably greater than 10.

According to the invention, in the case where the diluent liquid is potable water, it is advantageous to use, to ensure the circulation of the water and preferably the suction of the concentrate, the pressure of the network of drinking water by possibly fitting it, by means of pressure regulation such as a pressure reducer, to a predetermined value corresponding to the chosen use.

In the case of distribution of fresh products or cold or chilled drinks, it is advantageous to refresh and refrigerate the concentrate and / or the diluent so as to distribute the final product at the desired temperature. According to the invention, in the case where it is desired to distribute precise individual doses of product, this can be obtained in a simple manner by de¬ limiting exactly the duration of passage of the diluent liquid in the pressure-reducing means.

The method according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a diluent / concentrated volume ratio of between 2 and 100 and more.

In accordance with the invention, the flow rates and passage sections are preferably designed so as to allow a flow speed of the diluted product of the order of 2 to 6 m / s.

The invention also relates to a device for the implementation of the method and comprising a source of diluent liquid, in particular the drinking water network regulated by a regulator, a source of concentrated product, a pressure-reducing organ for diluting the concentrated product in the diluent liquid, characterized in that it comprises a depressogenic organ of simple shape inside which the liquid concentrate is brought in via a passage calibrated to provoke. No effect of suction of the liquid concentrate according to a constant depression such that the concentrate suction flow is not significantly sensitive to changes O ^* th level of the concentrate container. -g-

The pressure-reducing element may consist of a single chamber supplied with diluent liquid through a calibrated nozzle to create in the chamber a stable depression sufficient to suck the concentrate at a stable flow rate.

Preferably, the pressure-reducing member continues, in the axis of the nozzle or of the diluent liquid flow, by a conduit of small internal volume and preferably of short length through which the final product is distributed, conduit preferably leading to a spout.

This duct can advantageously be a duct having a length / diameter ratio greater than 10.

In accordance with an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the source of concentrated product is located under the pressure-reducing member and the tubing then plunges into the source of concentrated liquid which is progressively sucked in, anti-reflux means such as for example a ball valve, being arranged in the tubing, for example ^* at the level of the pressure-reducing organ or, better, at the lower end of the tubing immersed in the source of liquid concentrate.

The source of concentrated product, which can then consist of a simple container, can be, if desired, suitably refrigerated and it is advantageous to use these refrigeration means to cool the flow of diluent liquid.

The distribution conduit can play the role of homogenization conduit and is. preferably, designed in such a way that at the end of the dispensing, it remains filled with liquid, as well as, if necessary, the spout which extends it, the internal volume of these elements retaining the liquid preferably by capillarity , although other means may be provided that Tejs valve, inclination of the conduit ^'allowing liquid to remain by gravity, etc ... As a result, the entire device according to the invention is therefore always filled with liquid, which opposes the penetration of air and avoids or considerably reduces the phenomena of oxidation and / or fermentation. . Advantageously to avoid any stagnation or accumulation of product, pulp, as well as any fermentation, it avoids giving the internal volume of the device and in particular to the distribution duct and if necessary, to the pouring spout, any form comprising zones dead, so that any internal surface is swept by the liquid during the dispensing operation.

The material or materials in contact with the final product, the diluent liquid and the concentrated liquid are preferably opaque and produced with an excellent surface condition.

The adjustment and / or adaptation of the concentration of the final product can be carried out by acting on the flow rate of the diluent liquid in the pressure-reducing element, but preferably this adjustment is carried out using interchangeable pressure-reducing elements of suitable dimensions or, in a same pressure-reducing organ, using calibrated nozzles and / or calibrated passages of different diameters to introduce the diluent liquid and / or the concentrate.

Thanks to the invention, it is thus possible, without using the slightest mobile member, to distribute homogeneous liquid food products, of precise and stable concentration, of high food purity, and this even in doses of small or very small volumes.

Other advantages and characteristics of the invention will appear on reading the following description, ^'given by way of nonlimiting example, and' referring to the appended drawing in which:

FIG. 1 represents a schematic view, in sagittal section, of a device according to the invention, FIG. 2 represents, on an enlarged scale, the pressure-reducing member and the distribution duct with the pouring spout.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a device for dispensing doses of orange juice from frozen concentrate. The device comprises, in a suitable camber 1 covered by a cover 2 presenting a part 2a in cantilever, a heat-insulated enclosure 3 inside which is arranged a means of refrigeration

3_0 ration such as a coil (not shown) to maintain a temperature of 2 to 4 ° C. In this enclosure is suspended a container 4 containing the concentrate of frozen orange juice which, after a certain time, gets to the temperature prevailing in the enclosure 3. τ_5 Above the enclosure 3 and the lid of the container 4 is placed, on support means 5, a metal or plastic part 6, of generally parallelepipedal shape and the shape of which is best seen in FIG. 2. This part comprises a depression chamber -

20 only 7 opening onto one of the faces of the part 6 and continuing horizontally by a long passage of small diameter 8 opening itself into a passage of larger diameter 9 this time arranged vertically and for following, towards the underside of the part 6, by a widening

25 slide 10 intended to receive and hold the upper end of a vertical tube 11 forming the pouring spout. A second chamber 12, this time vertical, opens into the front part of the chamber 7 through a calibrated orifice 13.

By way of example, the internal dimensions can be as follows:

- chamber 7: length 24 mm, diameter 10.4 mm

- duct 8: length 120 mm, diameter 4 mm

- duct 9: diameter 7 mm

35 - chamber 12: length 18 mm, diameter 12.2 mm

- calibrated orifice 13: diameter 4 mm, thickness 2 mm. In the chamber 12 penetrates, in a sealed manner, a vertical pipe 14 which extends to the vicinity of the bottom of the container 4 where there is a narrowing with a ball 1 forming a non-return valve, preventing in the state of rest l concentrate of liquid contained in the tube 14 to descend to the container 4. The connection of the pipe 14 in the chamber 12 is effected in a sealed manner, for example by means of an O-ring. The dimensions are as follows: - pipe 14: length 200 mm, diameter 10 mm

- ball 15: diameter 8 mm on seat with diameter 6 mm.

Furthermore, in the chamber 7, an injection nozzle 16 containing a calibrated orifice 17 in the axis of the chamber and of the conduit 8 is in place, at a location such that the useful volume of the chamber 7 disposed between the nozzle and the conduit 8 has an axial length of 4 mm, without taking account of the conical end of the chamber 7. Finally, upstream of the nozzle 16, the chamber 7 is connected to a pipe 18 of which only the initial part is shown on the Figure 1. This pipe 18, which is intended for supplying the diluent liquid, in this case water from the urban network, passes through the insulated enclosure 3 so as to allow the cooling of the diluent liquid, after which the pipeline continues towards the water inlet, preferably by means of a pressure regulator of the usual type. A solenoid valve 19 is mounted on the canalization 18 and is controlled by a button-ression (not shown) or another control device, to open the passage for the determined duration which, taking into account the characteristic dimensions of the apparatus, makes it possible to deliver a very precise dose of product and in this case orange juice ready for consumption, for example in cups. The solenoid valve 9 can be replaced by any other control means, timed or not.

It can be seen that the device thus produced is extremely simple and has no moving parts. The whole ble of these elements can be made interchangeably and the various passages and pipes of the part 6 are devoid of blind spots and have a smooth internal wall of good quality. These different 5 parts, namely part 6 with the pouring spout 11, preferably not removable, the pipe 14 and the injection nozzle 16 can be very easily dismantled and cleaned and this daily.

Adjusting the concentration of the distri- _j _0 mist dose is ensured each time using a nozzle 16 having an appropriate diameter of orifice 17 and by keeping this nozzle in place in the chamber 7.

The operation is as follows:

The pipe 14 being filled with concentrate, we open

- _j _5 the solenoid valve 19. The water jet which is established in the pressure-reducing element in the chamber 7 immediately sucks a determined flow of concentrate which mixes in the chamber and continues to homogenize in the conduit homogenization 8, the liquid product then leaving through the spout 11

20 being completely homogeneous and of constant concentration and this until the solenoid valve is stopped. When stopped, due to the dimensions, in particular the diameter, of the conduit 8, it remains filled with liquid. It is the same for the spout 11 which has only a reduced diameter. We see in

25 further that no drop forms at the end of the spout ver¬ sor 11 so that it avoids dirtying the base of the positive dis¬.

Despite the significant difference in level which is established in the container 4 between the time it is filled

3 ₀ and the moment when it is emptied, the doses distributed present a constancy of sufficient concentration to be completely imperceptible to the taste and to be in harmony with the regulations in force, and this thanks to the presence of the calibrated orifice 13 with a high pressure drop

35 compared to the variation in the level of concentrate. The examples which follow will illustrate the properties of the device according to the invention during the implementation of the distribution process. Example 1 Preparation of an orange juice with a natural frozen concentrate with unmilled pulp. This concentrate must be stored at a temperature less than or equal to -18 ° and in use it must be reheated to a temperature around 0 ° C. It is a product which does not have very precise characteristics and which needs to be diluted for one part of concentrate with three parts of water for the reconstitution of the original orange juice, which has a BRIX degree of 10.2.

The viscosity of the concentrate is 290 centipoise at 4 ° C and 310 centipoise at 2 ° C.

The temperature of the concentrate varied from 2 to 4 ° C during the test.

A nozzle 16 was used having an ori¬ fice diameter 17 of 1.9 mm and the water pressure at the end of the nozzle was reduced to 0.8 kg / cm ² effective. During all the tests, a fruit juice having a BRIX degree of 10.1 ± 2% was obtained, while the relative variation in the level of concentrate in the container 4 was 15 cm. This variation in BRIX degree cannot be detected by taste. Example 2

Preparation of an orange juice with a natural pasteurized concentrate with crushed pulp.

The reconstitution ^" of orange juice requires one part of concentrate for five parts of water. The BRIX degree of the original product thus carefully reconstituted manually is 10.5.

The viscosity of the concentrate is 445 centipoise at 5.5 ° C and 475 centipoise at 3.5 ° C.

• Compared to Example 1, the suction pipe is modified in that the ball valve has a diameter of 5.5 mm instead of 8 mm and in that the hole in the seat of the ball has been reduced to 3 mm. The nozzle has an orifice diameter 17 of 2 mm, the water pressure being 0.850 kg / cm ² .

During the test, the temperature of the concentrate was maintained between 3 and 4.5 ° C. The fruit juice reconstituted by the process according to the invention has a BRIX degree of 10.6 + 3%.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a particular embodiment, it is understood that it is in no way limited thereto and that it can be made various modifications without departing from its scope or of his mind.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 ° / Method of dispensing liquids such as food liquids and especially beverages, in which a liquid concentrate is diluted to a diluting liquid, such as in particular water, by circulating the diluting liquid to through an orifice or a rate determined do to create a ^'dé¬ pressure and feeding the concentrated liquid inside the pressure reducing member in the flow of diluent liquid, characterized in that the diluent liquid has habitual pressure, circulates so as to create a constant depression large enough to bring the liquid concentrate into the flow of diluent liquid through a calibrated passage (13), the aspirated flow of concentrate not being sensitive to significantly to variations in level in the concentrated container that contains it.

2 ° / A method according to claim 1, characterized in that one causes a homogenization in a canali¬ tion or homogenization conduit (8), having a high length / diameter ratio, immediately downstream of the pressure-reducing organ.

3 ° / Method according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one maintains, between two successive dispensing operations, the liquid product in the pipe or pipes or conduits downstream of the pressure-reducing member, thus avoiding any ^* air intake.

4 ° / Method according to one of claims 2 and 3, characterized in that one uses, downstream of the negative pressure orga¬, a volume of pipe or conduit whose ratio to the volume of doses is between 0.5 and 2%.

5 ° / Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that one uses the pressure of the drinking water network regulated by a regulator to ensure the circulation of water as diluent liquid and aspiration of the concentrate. 6 ° / Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a flow is produced at a flow speed of the diluted product of the order of 2 to 6 m / second. 7 ° / Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the concentrate is kept in a refrigerated enclosure and that, in the case of dispensing a cold drink, the diluent is refreshed by doing so pass through said enclosure. 8 ° / Device for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 and comprising a source of diluent liquid, in particular the drinking water network regulated by a -regulator, a source of concentrated product ( 4), a pressure-reducing element for diluting the concentrated product in the diluting liquid, characterized in that it comprises a pressure-reducing element of simple shape inside which the liquid concentrate is brought through a calibrated passage ( 13) to cause a suction effect of the concentrated liquid as a function of a constant vacuum such as the flow rate, aspirated from the concentrate is not significantly sensitive to variations in the level of the concentrate container.

9 ° / Device according to claim 8, caracté¬ ized in that the pressure-reducing member consists of a simple cylindrical chamber (7) supplied with diluent liquid via an interchangeable calibrated nozzle (16), the pipe being connected to said chamber by a calibrated orifice (13).

10 ° / Device according to any one of claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the pressure-reducing member is continued by a small internal volume duct (8) forming a homogenization duct.

11 ^e / Device according to claim 10, carac¬ terized in that the length / diameter ratio of the conduit ^" homogenization (8) is greater than 10. 12 ° / Device according to any one of reven¬ dications 8 to 11, characterized in that the pipe is provided with a non-return valve (15) located at one. lower end close to the bottom of the container (4) constituting the source of concentrated product.

13 ° / Device according to claim 12, charac¬ terized in that the diameter of the seat of said non-return valve (15) is less than or equal to the diameter of the calibrated orifice (13). 14 ° / Device according to any one of reven¬ dications 8 to 13, characterized in that the pressure-reducing member is located at the upper end of the pipe above the container (4) containing the concentrate.

15 ° / Device according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized in that the pressure-reducing member and the homogenization pipe (8) are formed in a single piece comprising a chamber forming the pressure-reducing member and susceptible to receive an interchangeable nozzle (16) as well as a second chamber of transverse axis and opening through an orifice (13) in the front part of the pressure-reducing chamber (7) to receive the upper end of an interchangeable pipe (14).

16 ° / Device according to any one of reven¬ dications 9 to 15, characterized in that the source of concentrated product is contained in an insulated enclosure (3) and maintained at constant temperature.