METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE QUALITY AND QUANTITY OF OZONE GENERATION FOR INTRODUCTION INTO FOOD PRODUCT PACKAGES DURING PACKAGING

Abstract

Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging. This invention patent refers to a method (m) for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, such that said method (m) uses a conversion factor to adapt the production of ozone gas (o3), enabling the use of small-scale ozone generators on an industrial scale.Thus, method (m) allows for a constant generation of ozone gas (o3), providing a safe modified atmosphere with ozone gas (o3) inside the product passage tube (p), which as it passes carries a portion of the modified atmosphere into each package, extending the shelf life of the packaged products, since ozone gas (o3) has sanitizing properties.

Description

1 / 11 “Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging”

[01] The present invention relates to a method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, more specifically, said method uses a conversion factor to adjust the production of ozone gas (O3).

[02] In particular, ozone gas (O3) is used in packaging machines for granulated products, such as beans, rice, granola, lentils, chickpeas, animal feed, cereals, as well as refined and / or powdered products, such as flour, chocolate drinks, sugar, among others.

[03] Advantageously, the present invention allows for a constant generation of ozone gas (O3), which provides a safe modified atmosphere with ozone gas (O3) inside each package, which makes it possible to extend the shelf life of the packaged products, since ozone gas (O3) has sanitizing properties. History of the Invention

[04] Several types of modified atmospheres are known in the state of the art, all with the same objective of reducing or delaying the proliferation of bacteria and microorganisms in a given environment, since the presence of oxygen creates a favorable environment for the survival and proliferation of microorganisms. Therefore, methods are used to obtain a modified atmosphere.

[05] A known method of modified atmosphere is the use and application of ozone gas (O3) in environments and / or containers, generally closed or partially closed. Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 5 / 18 2 / 11

[06] Ozone gas (O3) has excellent sanitizing properties that eliminate microorganisms such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, among others. These properties advantageously make it suitable for purifying the air in environments such as car interiors, buildings and furniture, helping to remove odors and other organic matter, and it is also used in reservoirs for water treatment and sanitizing fruits and vegetables.

[07] Ozone gas (O3) can still be used during the packaging of food products, so that the gas can be injected directly into the package or applied to the packaging area, in such a way that the product, when packaged, carries the gas into the package. In this way, a modified atmosphere is created inside the package to inhibit the proliferation of microorganisms, increasing the shelf life of the packaged products.

[08] To obtain ozone gas (O3), there are known small and large generators that use oxygen (O2) to generate ozone gas (O3).

[09] Large-scale ozone generators, which operate continuously, are large in size, which, disadvantageously, means they require more factory space for installation. In addition, large-scale ozone generators need to be supplied with air from oxygen concentrators or other sources of near-pure oxygen, which increases operating costs.

[010] Small-scale ozone generators, on the other hand, use ambient air as a power source. Because ambient air has many variations in temperature and relative humidity, these ozone generators need to operate intermittently, since high temperatures and humidity are limitations and restrictions for the proper functioning of ozone generators. Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 6 / 18 3 / 11

[011] In this way, disadvantageously, the ozone generator must work in intermittent cycles so as not to damage the ozone generating cell, responsible for transforming oxygen into ozone. In addition, poor air quality, in terms of temperature and humidity, significantly reduces the lifespan of the ozone generator, making this type of generator unsuitable for industrial use.

[012] Yet another problem with small-scale ozone (O3) gas generators is that these devices generate byproducts that are harmful to health when supplied with air with high humidity. One of the byproducts generated under these conditions is nitric acid, which can cause undesirable effects, as well as damage the ozone generator itself.

[013] Furthermore, ozone generators have a maximum capacity for generating ozone gas (O3), however, this capacity is directly affected by the ambient weather conditions. Thus, in colder environments, the equipment generates a greater amount of ozone gas (O3), while in warmer environments the equipment generates a smaller amount of ozone gas (O3).

[014] In this way, in a disadvantageous manner, packaging machines may package food with an amount of ozone below the pre-established level, which will have no effect on microorganisms, or package food with an amount of ozone above the pre-established level, which impairs the quality of the food.

[015] Aiming to solve these inconveniences, the present invention proposes a method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, capable of maintaining stable ozone gas (O3) generation, by means of a conversion factor to adapt the production of ozone gas (O3). Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 7 / 18 4 / 11

[016] Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide an automated control method for the generation of ozone gas (O3), which is equipped with a set of instruments / sensors incorporated into an air intake and drying device for the generation of ozone gas (O3) for introduction into food product packages during packaging, in order to allow the use of small generators, in continuous working mode, for industrial use, which advantageously increases productivity, in addition to occupying a reduced space and having the possibility of being installed close to or even next to the packaging equipment.

[017] Another objective of the present invention is to improve the quality of the air entering the ozone generator, since controlling the temperature of the air entering the ozone generator affects the ozone gas (O3) generation capacity, given that lower temperatures promote more ozone gas (O3) generation, while higher temperatures generate less ozone gas (O3). Similarly, controlling the humidity of the air entering the ozone generator increases the safety, quantity, and quality of the gas, since the relative humidity of the air is monitored in real time and is simultaneously linked to the aforementioned air intake and drying device in order to provide air with ideal parameters for ozone gas (O3) generation, in addition to preventing the generation of byproducts along with the ozone gas (O3).

[018] Furthermore, controlling the temperature and relative humidity of the air also advantageously increases the lifespan of the ozone generating cell, reducing maintenance costs and machine downtime.

[019] Furthermore, it is an objective of the present invention to ensure that all packaged product is within a package equipped with an atmosphere modified by ozone gas (O3), since a gas detection instrument is arranged at the outlet of the injector nozzle, in order to signal any type Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 8 / 18 5 / 11 interruption in the supply of ozone gas during the packaging process.

[020] In this way, innovation makes it possible to increase productivity in the food packaging process with the application of ozone, since the control of the quality of the air entering the ozone gas (O3) generator allows the said ozone generator to work in a continuous regime, without interruptions related to inclement weather.

[021] Schematic figures of a particular embodiment of the invention are presented below, the dimensions and proportions of which are not necessarily real, as the figures are only intended to didactically present its various aspects, the scope of protection of which is determined only by the scope of the appended claims. Brief description of the drawings

[022] Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view, highlighting the method (M), particularly the step of introducing ozone gas (O3) into the interior of the product passage tube (10) (P), which carries a portion of said ozone gas (O3) into the interior of the package (11) during packaging.

[023] Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of the method (M) showing an ozone generation system (S), an HMI (6) and a packaging machine (E).

[024] Figure 3 illustrates a flowchart of the steps of the method (M). Description of the Invention

[025] According to the attached figures, the present patent refers to a method (M) for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages. Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 9 / 18 6 / 11 during packaging, in order to promote a modified atmosphere inside each package (11).

[026] A modified atmosphere, rich in ozone gas (O3), allows a packaged product (P) to have its “shelf life” extended, since one of the characteristics of ozone gas (O3) is to reduce or even eliminate microorganisms present in food before packaging.

[027] Figure 1 illustrates an ozone gas generation system (S), which generates a certain quantity of ozone gas (O3) and injects it into the product (P) passage tube (10). In this way, as the product (P) passes through the tube (10), it carries a quantity of ozone gas (O3) into the package (11), which is then sealed by the package sealer (12) located on the packaging machine (E). Thus, the product (P) remains temporarily in contact with the ozone gas (O3) that was packaged along with the product (P).

[028] As illustrated by figure 2, the method (M) is associated with the ozone generation system (S), equipped with air dryers (S1), at least one valve (S2), at least one pump (S3) and at least one ozone generator (S4). The said ozone generation system (S) is managed and controlled by an HMI (6) equipped with at least one humidity instrument (1), at least one temperature instrument (2), at least one controller module (3), an ozone gas (O3) volume selector (4) and at least one power regulator (5).

[029] However, the quantity and quality of ozone gas (O3) generated by the ozone generation system (S) depends on climatic factors of the environment where the packaging machine (E) and the ozone generation system (S) itself are installed. The factors that influence the quantity and quality of ozone gas (O3) are the temperature and relative humidity of the air. Thus, high temperatures and high percentages of humidity Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 10 / 18 7 / 11 relative to the air, significantly reduce the quantity and quality of ozone gas (O3).

[030] According to figure 4, graph 1 illustrates ozone generation in relation to temperature, without any type of temperature control of the inlet air or any conversion factor.

[031] Thus, graph 1 illustrates a reduction in the rate of ozone gas (O3) generation as the inlet air temperature increases.

[032] Thus, the present patent, as shown in figures 1 to 3, illustrates the method (M) for controlling the parameters of the air entering the ozone generation system (S) to increase the quality and quantity of ozone gas (O3) generation, which is introduced into packages (11) of food products (P) during packaging.

[033] Thus, the method (M) comprises the following steps: a) Determine the operating state of the packaging machine (E); b) Measure, using a humidity instrument (1), the relative humidity of the air; c) Measure, using a temperature instrument (2), the temperature of the incoming air; d) Send the data collected in steps “a”, “b” and “c” to a controller module (3); e) Analyze, using the controller module (3), the data received from step “d”; Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 11 / 18 8 / 11 f) Determine, according to the data from step “e”, using the control module (3), which production operating range the ozone gas generation system (S) falls within; g) Report, by means of an HMI (6), the operating status of the packaging machine (E) and the operating status of the ozone gas generation system (S) in the first stage; h) Activate, by means of the control module (3) and the power regulator (5), the ozone generator (S4) according to the operating range determined in step “f” and according to the volumetric selection pre-established by means of the ozone gas (O3) volume selector (4); i) Inject ozone gas (O3), generated by means of the ozone gas generation system (S), into the interior of the tube (10).

[034] Thus, step “a” of the method (M) certifies the operating status of the packaging machine (E), since preferably the ozone generation system (S) is activated if the said packaging machine (E) is in operation. However, optionally, an operator can release the operation of the packaging machine (E) via the HMI (6), without ozone generation, so that it does not interrupt the food product (P) filling process. It will be understood that the release by the operator of the packaging machine (E) can occur at any stage of the method (M), so that such release is recorded in the control module (3).

[035] Steps “b” and “c” of the method (M) perform the measurements of humidity and temperature, respectively, using the humidity (1) and temperature (2) instruments. It will be understood that the humidity measuring instrument can be any instrument from the hygrometer family, while the temperature measuring instrument can be any instrument from the thermometer family. Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 12 / 18 9 / 11

[036] Steps “d”, “e” and “f” verify whether the air humidity and temperature parameters are within the minimum desired parameters for ozone gas (O3) generation, since the air entering the ozone generation system (S) is collected from the same environment in which the ozone generation system (S) is installed.

[037] Specifically, step “f” determines, through the parameters analyzed in step “e”, the best ozone gas (O3) production range, with method (M) preferably having 3 production ranges: underproduction, nominal production, and overproduction. It will be understood that method (M) may optionally include more than 3 production ranges, or operate linearly, gradually passing through all points between the underproduction ranges up to overproduction.

[038] Thus, nominal production is determined when the inlet air temperature is preferably between 15 and 25°C. Underproduction is determined when the inlet air temperature is below 15°C, while overproduction is determined when the inlet air temperature is above 25°C. It will be understood that the temperature ranges for each production range may be altered according to each project, taking into account the climatic conditions of each application.

[039] Thus, according to each operating range, the control module (3) increases or decreases the power supply to the ozone generator (S4) by means of the power regulator (5). In this way, for underproduction the control module (3) decreases the power supply, while for overproduction the control module (3) increases the power supply to the ozone generator (S4).

[040] Stage “g” informs via the HMI (6) the operating status of the packaging machine (E) and the operating status of the ozone gas generation system (S) in the first stage. It will be understood that the Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 13 / 18 10 / 11 HMI (6) refers to any type of interface between the operator and the packaging machine (E), so that said interface may be sound, visual light, mechanical, visual graphic, touch, among other interfaces.

[041] Thus, according to step “h”, the control module (3) activates, preferably automatically, the ozone gas generation system (S), according to the production range determined in step “f” and according to the volumetric selection pre-established for each type of product, adjusted by the packaging machine operator (E) by means of the ozone gas volume selector (4) (O3).

[042] In step “i”, the method (M) releases and injects ozone gas (O3), generated by means of the ozone gas generation system (S), into the inside of the tube (10) of the packaging machine (E). In this way, the product (P) when passing through the tube (10) carries with it a portion of the ozone gas (O3) contained inside the tube (10).

[043] The method (M), additionally and optionally, also includes the following steps: j) Verify, using a gas detection instrument (7), the presence of ozone gas (O3) inside the tube (10); l) Send the data collected in step “j” to the controller module (3); m) Analyze and determine, using the controller module (3), whether the data from step “l” meet the predetermined parameters; n) Report, by means of an HMI (6), the operating status of the ozone gas generation system (S) in the second stage.

[044] In this way, steps “j”, “l” and “m” verify and certify, in a second stage, the arrival and release of ozone gas (O3) inside the tube (10) arranged in the packaging machine (E), so that the state Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 14 / 18 11 / 11 of operation of said second stage is reported by means of the HMI (6) in step “m”.

[045] Additionally, method (M) can interrupt the generation of ozone gas (O3) by means of the ozone gas generation system (S), if the parameter of step “j” does not meet the predetermined parameter. Thus, the control module (3) will interrupt step “h” and inform the operating state via the HMI (6) to the packaging machine operator (E). Similarly, optionally, the HMI (6) can inform the amount of ozone gas (O3) generated by the ozone gas generation system (S), so that the amount of ozone gas (O3) is measured by a flowmeter (not shown).

[046] In this way, method (M) ensures that the ozone generation system (S) operates at its best operating regime, since method (M) uses the conversion factor, determined in step “f” to adapt the production of ozone gas (O3).

[047] Thus, according to figure 5, which illustrates graph 2, it shows that method (M) promotes a greater amount of ozone gas (O3).

[048] Thus, graph 2 illustrates an equalized production in the rate of ozone gas (O3) generation even with the increase in the temperature of the inlet air.

[049] A person skilled in the art will readily perceive, from the description and the drawings provided, various ways of carrying out the invention without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Petition 870200134139, dated 10 / 23 / 2020, page 15 / 18

Claims

1 / 3 Claims 1. A method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, characterized in that the control method (M) comprises the following steps: a) Determining the operating state of the packaging machine (E); b) Measuring, using a humidity instrument (1), the relative humidity of the air; c) Measuring, using a temperature instrument (2), the ambient temperature; d) Sending the data collected in steps a, b, c, and c to a control module (3); e) Analyzing, using the control module (3), the data received from step d;f) Determine, according to the data from stage e, using the control module (3), which production operating range the ozone gas generation system (S) falls within, where the determination of the operating range is carried out based on a conversion factor that adjusts the ozone gas (O3) production as a function of the relative air humidity measured in stage b and the ambient temperature measured in stage c, in order to compensate for climatic variations that affect the efficiency of the ozone generating cell; g) Report, using an HMI (6), the operating status of the packaging machine (E) and the operating status of the ozone gas generation system (S) in the first stage;h) Activate, by means of the control module (3) and the power regulator (5), the ozone generator (S4) according to the operating range determined in step f according to the volumetric selection pre-established by means of the ozone gas (O3) volume selector (4), the power regulator (5) adjusting the power supply of the ozone generator (S4) according to the determined operating range, in order to equalize the ozone generation rate regardless of temperature and humidity variations; i) Inject the ozone gas (O3), generated by means of the ozone gas generation system (S), into the inside of the tube (10); Petition 870260052774, dated 01 / 06 / 2026, page 16 / 19 2 / 3 j) Verify, by means of a gas detection instrument (7), the presence of ozone gas (O3) inside the tube (10); l) Send the data collected in step j to the controller module (3); m) Analyze and determine, using the controller module (3), whether the data from step l meet the predetermined parameters;n) Report, by means of an HMI (6), the operating status of the ozone gas generation system (S) in the second stage.; 2. Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, according to claim 1, characterized in that step f determines, through the parameters analyzed in step e, the appropriate range of ozone gas (O3) production, with the ranges divided into underproduction, nominal production and overproduction, wherein in the underproduction range the control module (3) commands the power regulator (5) to increase the power supply of the ozone generator (S4), and in the overproduction range the control module (3) commands the power regulator (5) to decrease the power supply of the ozone generator (S4).

3. Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, according to claim 1, characterized in that the control module (3) increases or decreases the power supply of the ozone generator system (S) by means of the power regulator (5), based on the relative humidity and ambient temperature data analyzed in step e.

4. Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, according to claim 1, characterized in that the method (M) interrupts the ozone generation, from step h, in case of non-detection of the presence of ozone gas (O3) inside the tube (10), determined in step j.

5. Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, according to claim 1, characterized by the HMI (6) informing the quantity of ozone gas (O3) to be generated based on step h so that the quantity of ozone gas (O3) is measured by a flowmeter.

6. Method for controlling the quality and quantity of ozone generation for introduction into food product packages during packaging, according to claim 1, characterized in that the HMI (6) allows an operator to trigger the continuation of the packaging process without the generation of ozone gas (O3). Petition 870260052774, dated 01 / 06 / 2026, pp. 18 / 19

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