Procedure for filling alcoholic beverages, in particular wine, into stand-up type pouches made from polylaminate material

Abstract

A procedure for filling alcoholic beverages, in particular wine, into stand-up type containers made from polylaminate material comprises the following operational steps: a) preparing a stand-up type container; b) mechanically opening the upper part of the container ( 21 ) to form a filling space; c) injecting an inert gas in the filling space with the aim of reducing the presence of oxygen in the space; d) introducing a predetermined quantity of an alcoholic beverage, in particular wine, inside the space; e) closing without sealing the open edges of the container ( 21 ); f) sealing the upper part of the container ( 21 ) to form a hermetically closed container and containing an alcoholic beverage, in particular wine. The polylaminate material used comprises a cellulose layer having a basic weight of not less than 150 g/m2; the mechanical opening comprises the mechanical opening from the inside of the mouth of the container ( 21 ) and the deep injection into the container of a high pressure jet of air; step f) is performed inside a sealing station ( 38 ) in which a first sealing unit ( 55 ) performs a hermetic sealing operation fulling sealing a shaped strip inside the upper portion of the container ( 21 ).

1 .- 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A procedure for filling alcoholic beverages, in particular wine, into stand-up type containers made from polylaminate material comprising the following operational steps:
 a) preparing a stand-up type container starting from a continuous sheet in the form of a reel of polylaminate material which is performed inside a machine that subsequently performs a first operation for folding the sheet to form two main folds alongside each other, a second folding operation during which a base fold folded inwards is formed at the folded edge, and a third operation for sealing two counter-opposing vertical edges of the container, in such a way as to form a container closed on three sides and which can be opened on the upper part;   b) mechanically opening the upper part of the container to form a filling space using a system of suckers which from the outside separate the counter-opposing flaps of the container and a jet of air sent at the opening area;   c) injecting an inert gas n the filling space with the aim of reducing the presence of oxygen in the space;   d) introducing a predetermined quantity of liquid foodstuff inside the space;   e) closing without sealing the open edges of the container under the action of an inert gas with the aim of reducing the presence of oxygen in the closing area;   f) sealing the upper part of the container to form a hermetically closed container and containing a liquid foodstuff;   and wherein:   the polylaminate material used comprises a cellulose layer having a basic weight of not less than 150 g/m2;   the mechanical opening under step b) also comprises the mechanical opening from the inside of the mouth of the container and the deep injection into the container of a high pressure jet of air;   step c) is performed by inserting inside the container a nozzle which injects a high pressure inert gas, at the base of the container, causing the complete unfolding of the base of the container, as well as the moving away of the oxygen present inside the space;   step e) is performed by moving the container filled with an alcoholic beverage, wine in particular, inside a structure comprising a sterilizing tunnel in which the open edges of the container are placed alongside each other and an inert gas is emitted inside the tunnel with the aim of keeping the edges of the container are placed alongside each other free from the presence of oxygen; and   step f) is performed inside a sealing station in which a first sealing unit performs a hermetic sealing operation fulling sealing a shaped strip inside the upper portion of the container and a second sealing unit seals the remaining upper portion of the container not touched by the first sealing.   
     
     
         13 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein the polylaminate material comprises at least one outer layer made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE), an inner layer made from linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), as well as an intermediate layer comprising an aluminum foil. 
     
     
         14 . The procedure according to  claim 13 , wherein the mechanical opening from the inside of the counter-opposing flaps of the container is performed using a truncated cone-shaped tool with a substantially ellipsoidal base, which is hollow inside, that is inserted in depth between the counter-opposing walls of the container, opening them, and in that a high pressure jet of air is emitted inside the central cavity of the tool with the aim of reaching the base of the container and opening the base of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The procedure according to  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle for injecting inert gas comprises an elongated cylindrical element movable vertically in such a way as to be able to be inserted in depth inside the container, and in that during the relative movement of the nozzle it is subjected to the action of a pair of counter-opposing ultraviolet light lamps which sterilize nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The procedure according to  claim 15 , wherein upstream of the sterilizing tunnel there is a nozzle comprising a flat element that is hollow inside which sprays an inert gas in the closing area of the container with the aim of avoiding the presence of oxygen in the closing area. 
     
     
         17 . The procedure according  claim 16 , wherein downstream of the sterilizing tunnel there is a pair of pre-sealing rollers which position alongside each other the counter-opposing walls of the upper portion of the container thereby arranging them to be sealed. 
     
     
         18 . The procedure according  claim 17 , wherein the first sealing unit comprises a pair of counter-opposing plates rotatable about a common pin, each plate being equipped with a shaped, raised sealing area, the combined operation of the plates causing the high temperature sealing of the shaped strip. 
     
     
         19 . The procedure according to  claim 18 , characterized in that the sealing is performed on the plates at a temperature of greater than 220° C., preferably at about 250° C. 
     
     
         20 . The procedure according to  claim 18 , wherein in a further work step the upper part of the container filled and sealed is cut in a cutting station with the aim of giving the container the shape of a bottle, the final container thereby having three different types of sealings, more specifically, a pair of side sealings of the vertical edges of the container, a high temperature shaped sealing strip of a portion of the upper area of the container, and a further sealing area of the upper portion of the container. 
     
     
         21 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein the sealing is performed by the first sealing unit by ultrasound or by electro-induction. 
     
     
         22 . The procedure according to  claim 20 , wherein the inert gas is nitrogen. 
     
     
         23 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein the mechanical opening from the inside of the counter-opposing flaps of the container is performed using a truncated cone-shaped tool with a substantially ellipsoidal base, which is hollow inside, that is inserted in depth between the counter-opposing walls of the container, opening them, and in that a high pressure jet of air is emitted inside the central cavity of the tool with the aim of reaching the base of the container and opening the base of the container. 
     
     
         24 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein the nozzle for injecting inert gas comprises an elongated cylindrical element movable vertically in such a way as to be able to be inserted in depth inside the container, and in that during the relative movement of the nozzle it is subjected to the action of a pair of counter-opposing ultraviolet light lamps which sterilize nozzle. 
     
     
         25 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein upstream of the sterilizing tunnel there is a nozzle comprising a flat element that is hollow inside which sprays an inert gas in the closing area of the container with the aim of avoiding the presence of oxygen in the closing area. 
     
     
         26 . The procedure according  claim 12 , wherein downstream of the sterilizing tunnel there is a pair of pre-sealing rollers which position alongside each other the counter-opposing walls of the upper portion of the container thereby arranging them to be sealed. 
     
     
         27 . The procedure according  claim 12 , wherein the first sealing unit comprises a pair of counter-opposing plates rotatable about a common pin, each plate being equipped with a shaped, raised sealing area, the combined operation of the plates causing the high temperature sealing of the shaped strip. 
     
     
         28 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the sealing is performed on the plates at a temperature of greater than 220° C., preferably at about 250° C. 
     
     
         29 . The procedure according to  claim 12 , wherein in a further work step the upper part of the container filled and sealed is cut in a cutting station with the aim of giving the container the shape of a bottle, the final container thereby having three different types of sealings, more specifically, a pair of side sealings of the vertical edges of the container, a high temperature shaped sealing strip of a portion of the upper area of the container, and a further sealing area of the upper portion of the container. 
     
     
         30 . The procedure according to  claim 13 , wherein the sealing is performed by the first sealing unit by ultrasound or by electro-induction. 
     
     
         31 . The procedure according to  claim 20 , wherein the inert gas is nitrogen.