METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FROTHING A LIQUID PRODUCT WITH WHICH BOTTLES ARE FILLED

Abstract

A method for frothing beer in a bottle includes introducing, into the bottle of beer, a predetermined quantity of pressurized aqueous chlorine dioxide solution.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A method comprising frothing beer in a bottle, wherein frothing comprising introducing, into said bottle, a predetermined quantity of pressurized aqueous chlorine dioxide solution.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution has a proportion of chlorine dioxide that is less than 0.8 ppm.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein introducing a predetermined quantity of pressurized aqueous chlorine dioxide solution comprises introducing less than 0.05 ml of said of aqueous chlorine dioxide solution.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein introducing a predetermined quantity of said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution comprises introducing less than 0.02 ml of said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising warming said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution to 70° C.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising warming said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution to a temperature between 60° C. and 70° C.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein frothing beer comprises frothing beer that has an ethanol content of more than 4%, and wherein introducing, into a bottle of beer, a predetermined quantity of pressurized aqueous chlorine dioxide solution comprises introducing said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution at room temperature.

20. An apparatus for frothing beer in a bottle, said apparatus comprising an injector, a controller, and a heat-resistant container containing an aqueous chlorine dioxide solution, wherein said controller is configured to cause a predetermined quantity of said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution to be drawn from said heat-resistant container and introduced, under pressure, into said beer.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution comprises less than 0.8 ppm of chlorine dioxide.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said predetermined quantity of aqueous chlorine dioxide solution is less than 0.05 ml.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said predetermined quantity of aqueous chlorine dioxide solution is less than 0.02 ml.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution is maintained at a temperature between 60° C. and 70° C.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a portioning device, said portioning device being configured to draw, under control of said controller, said predetermined quantity of said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution from said heat-resistant container.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a heater associated with said heat-resistant container for warming aqueous chlorine dioxide solution container therein.

27. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said aqueous chlorine dioxide solution is maintained at a temperature of 70° C.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The invention is explained in greater detail hereinafter on the basis of FIG. 1, which is a simplified schematic representation of a device for frothing beer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a frothing apparatus 1 that is a constituent part of a production line for filling bottles 2 with beer. The frothing apparatus 1 is between a filling machine and a closing.

[0022] Once the filling machine fills a bottle 2 with beer, the frothing apparatus 1 applies energy in a controlled manner to form froth. This froth tends to force air out of the bottle 2. The frothing apparatus 1 controls the applied energy so as to avoid over-frothing while still causing frothing of sufficient vigor to drive air out of the bottle 2.

[0023] The frothing apparatus 1 uses an injector, such as an injection nozzle 3, to apply the frothing energy. The injection nozzle 3 is provided above a movement path of the upright bottle 2, between a filling machine and a closing machine.

[0024] The frothing apparatus 1 includes a heat-resistant reception container 5 that holds liquid treatment-medium 4. A feed line 6 and a portioning device 7 together connect the container 5 to the injection nozzle 3. In some embodiments, the portioning device 7 is a pressure regulator.

[0025] Both the injection nozzle 3 and the portioning device 7 connect to a controller 8 that controls delivery of the predetermined quantity of pressurized liquid treatment-medium 4 into the bottle 2. The controller 8 exercises such control by appropriately actuating the portioning device 7.

[0026] The frothing apparatus 1 applies an amount of energy that corresponds to the sum of the kinetic energy of the pressurized liquid treatment-medium 4 and the thermal energy of the liquid treatment-medium 4. To keep the energy application into each bottle 2 as constant as possible even with different performance capacities of the production system, i.e. with different numbers of the bottles 2 passing the injection nozzle 3 per unit time, and with the temperature of the liquid treatment-medium 4 constant or essentially constant, the controller 8 regulates the kinetic energy portion of the total applied energy. It does so by an injection pressure as a function of the performance capacity. As a result, during the operation of the frothing apparatus 1, the controller 8 adjusts the quantity of liquid treatment-medium 4 that emerges from the injection nozzle 3 and its injection pressure based at least in part on the capacity of the production line. Preferably, the frothing apparatus 1 introduces the liquid treatment-medium 4 into the bottles 2 at a pressure of between 2 bar and 16 bar.

[0027] To froth beer that has been introduced into a bottle 2, the predetermined quantity of the liquid treatment-medium 4 is conducted under pressure to the beer in the bottle 2. In some practices, the liquid treatment-medium 4 is an aqueous solution with a proportion of chlorine dioxide. Preferably, the proportion or concentration of chlorine dioxide is less than 0.8 ppm. This is related to the predetermined quantity of the liquid treatment-medium 4. The predetermined quantity is, for example, less than 0.05 ml, and preferably less than 0.02 ml. As a result, due to the use of water or an aqueous solution in this small quantity, almost no dilution occurs of the beer. Such a low concentration of chlorine dioxide in the water or aqueous solution is sufficient to effectively prevent bacterial growth without noticeably impairing the quality of the liquid filling-product. In fact, test subjects who sampled beer filled according to the method described herein experienced no change in taste.

[0028] A heating device 9 in contact with the liquid treatment-medium 4 provides a way to heat the liquid treatment-medium before injecting it. In some practices, the heating device 9 heats the liquid treatment-medium to a temperature of less than 70° C., and preferably to a temperature in the range between 60° C. and 70° C. In some embodiments, the heating device 9, is integrated into the receiving container 5. In those embodiments that include a heating device 9, the controller 8 connects to the heating device 9 and controls its operation.

[0029] During frothing of beer with an ethanol content of more than 4%, liquid treatment-medium 4 is introduced in the cold state, preferably at room temperature, into the containers. In such cases, no additional warming of the liquid treatment-medium 4 is required.

[0030] Some embodiments also include a sensor device 10 located downstream of the injection nozzle 3 in the transport path of the bottles 2. The sensor device connects to the controller 8 and provides the controller 8 with a signal indicative of an extent of frothing produced by the injection nozzle 3. In response, the controller 8 regulates relevant parameters of the injection process, such as the injection pressure, the predetermined quantity, and the temperature of the liquid treatment-medium 4 in an effort to achieve the correct frothing extent. Embodiments of the sensor device 10 include an optoelectronic sensor device, such as a camera.

[0031] In other embodiments, injection nozzles 3 are disposed such that each bottle 2 passes under two or more injection nozzles 3 during the course of the frothing procedure.

[0032] Although the foregoing description refers to beer as the liquid filling-material, other liquid filling-materials can also be used.

[0033] The invention has been described heretofore by an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and deviations are possible without thereby departing from the inventive concept underlying the invention.