SYSTEM FOR PROTECTING AND SECURING BAGS IN BULK HPP EQUIPMENT AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

Abstract

System for protecting and securing bags for bulk high pressure processing equipment including at least one tube provided with holes, covers for evacuating and connecting the ends of the tube or tubes, the tube or tubes being anchored to the covers, a protector for the bag adapted to lengthen the outlet path of the processed product once the depressurization of the equipment is produced, and a fitting for the protector for connecting the protector to the cover on the side from which the product in the bag comes out.

Claims

1-10. (canceled)

11. A system for protecting and securing bags for bulk high pressure processing equipment wherein it comprises: at least one tube provided with holes; covers for evacuating pressurization fluid and connecting the ends of the tube or tubes, the tube or tubes being anchored to said covers; protection means for the bag to lengthen the outlet path of the processed product once the depressurization of the equipment is produced, said protection means having a spiral, mesh, strap or cylinder shape with holes; a fitting for the protection means for connecting the protection means to the cover on the side from which the product in the bag comes out.

12. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein the holes of the tube or tubes are oriented towards the inner face of the vessel.

13. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein, the protection means extend inside the bag along at least of the length thereof.

14. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein the tube or tubes have a circular, oval or square cross section.

15. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein the holes of the tube or tubes have a diameter between 2 mm and 10 mm.

16. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein the covers for evacuation and connection are provided with conduits for the outlet of pressurization fluid.

17. The system for protecting and securing bags according to claim 11, wherein the tube or tubes are provided with a telescopic section.

18. A unit of high-pressure processing equipment comprising a processing vessel, a bag and a system for protecting and securing the bag according to claim 11.

19. A method of high-pressure treatment by means of equipment according to claim 18, where in a first step an amount of pressurization fluid is introduced into the vessel that is less than the amount of fluid needed to maintain the pressure of a recipe.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the bag, after the application of the recipe, is emptied using a pressurized fluid outside of it.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] In order to assist in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention and to complement this description, the following figures, of illustrative and non-limiting nature, are attached:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a possible bulk HPP system according to the state of the art.

[0025] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the HPP system incorporating the invention.

[0026] FIG. 3 shows details of the bag protection and securing system according to the invention.

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the cover of the side through which the product is inserted according to the invention.

[0028] FIG. 5 shows an implementation with a filling valve on the side opposite from the emptying valve, wherein the bag is connected to 2 plugs, one for filling and the other for emptying.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] In reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the system for protecting and securing the bag is made up of perforated tubes 10 that extend along the inside of the vessel 1 (although 3 are shown in the figures, there could be from a single tube up to twenty) and covers for evacuating and connecting the ends of the tube or tubes 11a and 11b. It is further provided with means for protecting the bag 13 that aim to facilitate the outlet path of the processed product. By facilitating the outlet path of the treated product, the pressure on the bag is diminished. They are therefore any lengthened means having an increased surface along which the treated product is distributed and they have a spiral, mesh, strap or cylinder shape with holes. The protection means extend inside the bag and have at least of the length thereof. The means 13 are secured to the fitting 14 of the plug 3a through a support 12. The product can pass through the fitting 14. The means 13 are preferably manufactured from stainless steel, which gives them the sufficient rigidity to not collapse during the emptying of product due to the pressure on the outside of the bag and makes them resistant to corrosion that the different products can produce. The support 12 is provided with holes. The means 13 and the support 12 protect the integrity of the bag during the emptying of the product and prevent the bag from being sucked through the outlet circuit, since they lengthen the outlet path for the product and make the suction not focus rapidly on one point with a narrow diameter at the outlet of the bag but rather on an increased surface. In this manner, the bag, if collapsed, does so on the protection means and not on a small area.

[0030] The covers 11a and 11b for evacuating and connecting the ends of the tube or tubes are manufactured from stainless steel in order to support on one side the stresses created during the high-pressure unloading and to be resistant to the corrosion produced by the pressurisation fluid. They guarantee continuity in the outlet path of said fluid and eliminate the risk of suction of the bag at any point. Through the covers, which are provided with channels 16, the unloading path 8a, 8b is connected to the tube or tubes 10. The connection of the tube or tubes 10 to the covers for evacuating and connecting 11a and 11b is made through mechanical means, preferably with quick connection to facilitate the operation. Each one of the tubes 10 is manually inserted into the housings of the anchoring points 15 (FIG. 4) in both covers and they are locked mechanically.

[0031] The cover 11a through which the product enters is provided with a housing for the fitting 14. The opposite cover 11b is provided with the channels 16 but not with the housing for the fitting in the case in which the product enters and leaves through the same valve. Otherwise, (see FIG. 5) the cover 11b will be provided with a fitting for the product inlet.

[0032] The protection and securing system in the assembly thereof provides the following advantages: [0033] i. Supplying a path for the suitable evacuation of the air contained in the vessel during the filling of the bag. [0034] ii. Supplying a quick evacuation path for the pressurisation water during the unloading, thereby protecting it from the suction and consequent perforation of the bag. [0035] iii. Acting as an anchoring point for the treatment bag during the successive cycles, preventing the movement or twisting that could be produced during the different process phases.

[0036] The perforated tube or tubes 10 have a section preferably without edges that can mark the bag and damage it when it is full. They can have a circular, square, elliptical or other shape. The number of tubes is variable, preferably three and the dimensions thereof are, preferably but not necessarily, between 20 and 40 mm in diameter. The length of this tube or tubes corresponds to the distance between plugs of the machine. In at least one of the ends of the tube a telescopic section is foreseen which enables the connection thereof to the covers when these are outside the vessel, in the bag assembly phase, since the distance between covers will be reduced in the step before the subsequent pressurisation. The tube or tubes have outlet/inlet holes 10a. The diameter thereof is preferably between 2 and 10 mm. The holes can also have a slot shape or have different diameters. They are arranged along the entire length of the tube, oriented towards the inner face of the vessel 1 such that the bag 2, located in the inner space defined by the tubes 10, in the case of there being more than one, cannot reach these holes during the high pressure unloading phase, thus preventing the possible suction of the bag 2 and the consequent breakage thereof.

[0037] Possible materials for the tube or tubes are 316 stainless steel or plastic, in order to minimise the risks of metal-metal contact with the vessel and the consequent damage to it. On both ends of the tube or tubes 10, sliding and fastening bushings 17 are arranged in order to enable and limit the movement of the telescopic tubes and prevent contact of the tube or tubes 10 with the vessel 1. Furthermore, the bushings have the function of an anchoring point for the bag in order to keep it in the correct position throughout all the cycles in which it will be used, as will be seen further on. The bushings can be manufactured from plastic material, preferably high-density PE. Furthermore, tube spacers 18 made of preferably plastic material are arranged, the main function of which is to keep the tubes 10 joined and conveniently orient them with the holes towards the vessel. They also prevent the contact of said tubes with the vessel 1 and further act as support points for the treatment bag during the insertion and extraction phases of the processing vessel. In the case of there only being one tube, the spacers 18 would continue to orient it with the holes towards the vessel and would also prevent the contact of the tube with the vessel, as well as continuing to act as support points for the treatment bag. The joint of the spacers 18 and the tube or tubes 10 is preferably made with non-metal fittings.

[0038] The process of bulk HPP treatment by means of equipment incorporating the system of the invention is as follows:

1. Placement of the bag:

[0039] A table for preparing and loading the bag is arranged at the inlet of the vessel. The tube or tubes 10 and spacers 18 act in this step as support for the fastening of the bag and the subsequent insertion thereof into the vessel 1.

[0040] The bag is joined to the bushings 17 by means of elastic bands in order to maintain the fixed position thereof in successive cycles that will be performed with it and prevent possible movements or twisting that can be produced due to the effects during the phases of the process such as the high pressure unloading.

[0041] Afterwards, the protection means 13 and the support 12 are inserted into the bag.

2. Insertion of the assembly into the vessel:

[0042] With the vessel 1 in a position aligned with a table for preparing the bag, the assembly of tube or tubes 10 and spacers 18 with the bag 2 incorporated is pushed until it is completely inserted into the vessel 1.

3. Moving of vessel to the working position:

[0043] The vessel is aligned with the yoke, in the processing position.

4. Connection of tube or tubes 10 and spacers 18 to the evacuation and connection covers 11:

[0044] The bag 2 is connected to the fitting of the product plug 14.

[0045] The perforated tube or tubes 10 connect to both evacuation and connection covers 11a and 11b. The connection is made manually. The anchoring is performed by means of a quick fastening system.

5. Closing of vessel:

[0046] The plugs and wedges of the machine are closed. The machine is ready for the beginning of the cycle.

6. Prefilling of vessel:

[0047] A small amount of water is introduced into the vessel (on the outside of the bag) which will act to fill in the uncovered spaces with it. Thus, the bag is protected during the product filling phase, since the water exerts a counter pressure. This step also has the aim of reducing the amount of water to be introduced by the high pressure pumps and therefore accelerating the cycle.

7. Filling of bag:

[0048] Filling of the bag 2 with the product to be treated. The tube or tubes 10 of the protection and securing system act in this phase to help to properly evacuate the air from the inside of the vessel through the holes 10a. The product enters through the valve 5, which can be in any of the two plugs.

8. Pressurisation, maintenance and unloading:

[0049] The high pressure cycle is started. The pressurisation water enters through the ducts 7a and 7b through the covers 11a and 11b and is distributed through the perforated tube or tubes 10. The pressurisation water stays in the surroundings of the tube or tubes. After maintaining the pressure during the time defined by the recipe, the pressure of the vessel is released through the ducts 8a and 8b. The water finds the path thereof through the tube or tubes 10 and covers 11a and 11b towards the atmosphere. The function of the tube or tubes is to prevent the suction of the bag during this phase.

9. Emptying of the bag:

[0050] In order to empty the bag of the already treated product, a pressurised fluid is introduced into the vessel and on the outside of the bag.

10. Consecutive cycles:

[0051] The processing bag has to support a series of consecutive cycles. Once the production of a certain type of product has ended, the estimated limit on the number of cycles has been reached or a breakage of the bag has been detected, the bag is then changed, repeating the previous process in reverse from point 5.

[0052] In view of this description and figures, the person skilled in the art will understand that the invention has been described according to preferred embodiments thereof, but that multiple variations can be made to said preferred embodiments without departing from the object of the invention as has been claimed.