Method for Creating Controlled Atmospheres without Containment on Automated Packaging Lines

Abstract

A method and an installation seeking to create a controlled atmosphere in the head space of a product storage container in an installation of the type in which the following measures are taken continuously: —the container is partially filled with the product to a given fill level; —the upper part of the container is placed in contact with a treatment gaseous atmosphere aimed at removing all or some of the air present in the container above said fill level and at installing the required controlled atmosphere above said level; —the upper edge of the container is sealed or closed using a suitable means; —the controlled atmosphere being installed upstream of and/or during sealing, characterized in that the controlled atmosphere is installed in an uncontained injection zone by using at least one injector of tubular type oriented in the injection zone in such a way that at least one of the components of the velocity of the sprayed gas is the opposite to the direction of travel of the containers, and in that the injector is supplied with flow that is turbulent.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A method for producing a controlled atmosphere in a head space of a container storing a product, the containers moving in an installation, said method comprising the steps of:
 partially filling the container with a product up to a given filling level;   putting a top part of the container in contact with a gaseous treatment atmosphere in an unconfined injection zone, thereby evacuating some or all of any air present in the container above the filling level and putting the gaseous treatment atmosphere in place above the filling level, wherein the gaseous treatment atmosphere is put into place using at least one tubular-type injector that sprays the gaseous treatment atmosphere towards a top edge of the container in the injection zone, the injector being oriented in the injection zone so that at least one component of a velocity of the sprayed gas is opposite to a direction of movement of the containers in the installation, the gaseous treatment atmosphere sprayed from the injector in a turbulent flow regime with a Reynolds number of between 5,000 and 20,000.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the injector is such that the cross section of a jet of the sprayed gaseous treatment atmosphere is greater than twice a surface area of the container to be treated. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a diameter of the injector is such that the cross section of a jet of the sprayed gaseous treatment atmosphere is greater than three times a surface area of the container to be treated. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a distance between the injector and the injection zone is less than 20 cm. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a distance between the injector and the injection zone is less than 15 cm. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein a distance between the injector and the injection zone is less than 20 cm, and preferentially less than 15 cm. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein a distance between the injector and the injection zone is less than 15 cm. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein said at least one tubular-type injector comprises first and second tubular-type injectors each one of which is positioned on either side of a conveyor conveying the containers partially filled with product. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the unconfined injection zone is not confined by a hood or tunnel. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the product is fruit juice. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the gaseous treatment atmosphere is nitrogen.