a press to separate the solid and liquid parts of a substance, such as grapes
The press design with angularly offset sensors and controlled exhaust members addresses the whale effect, ensuring efficient and damage-free separation of solid and liquid parts by optimizing drainage and rotation control.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023000277
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-01-11
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-01-11
AI Technical Summary
Existing presses for separating solid and liquid parts of materials, such as grape harvest, suffer from a 'whale effect' during rotation, where liquid is projected outside the tank due to high pressure in the head space when a drain is exposed to open air.
A press design with a control unit that utilizes two angularly offset presence sensors and an exhaust member to control tank rotation and drainage, optimizing drainage surface use and preventing the whale effect by ensuring the exhaust member is closed before the drain is exposed to open air.
The solution effectively limits the whale effect and optimizes drainage by controlling the exhaust member's position based on sensor data, ensuring efficient separation without liquid projection and minimizing material damage.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Press for separating the solid and liquid parts of a material, such as grapes
[0001] The present invention relates to a press, preferably pneumatic, for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material, such as grapes.
[0002] It relates in particular to a press, preferably pneumatic, for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material, such as grapes, said press comprising a tank having a longitudinal axis, a support frame on which the tank is arranged substantially horizontally, a drive device for rotating the tank around its longitudinal axis, at least one angular position sensor of the tank and a control unit, said tank having a tubular body closed at each of its opposite ends by a flange, said body being equipped with at least one tank filling opening closed by a door and being provided with a drainage zone comprising one or more longitudinal drains each extending, inside the tank, along said body, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank,one of the tank flanges being equipped with an axial filling orifice for filling the tank with material to be pressed, said tank being further provided with at least one pressurization orifice, said tank comprising at least one membrane, the membrane or at least one of the membranes being fixed in a hermetic manner, on the one hand, to the tubular body of the tank along two opposite longitudinal edges, and on the other hand, to the flanges along two respective transverse edges, the membrane or membranes hermetically separating the internal volume of the tank into a chamber called the treatment chamber, into which said axial filling orifice opens, and at least one chamber called the control chamber, into which one or more of the pressurization orifices opens, said treatment chamber being equipped with at least one material presence sensor, called the first presence sensor,and an exhausting device comprising at least one exhausting member movable between a closed and an open exhausting position of the treatment chamber, the control unit being configured to control the rotational drive device of the tank based at least on the data provided by the first presence sensor.
[0003] A press of the aforementioned type is known. Typically, in such a press, the membrane is configured so that, when the control chamber is pressurized, it can press against the walls of the tank delimiting the treatment chamber, and, when the control chamber is depressurized, it can press against the walls of the tank delimiting said control chamber. Such presses have The advantage of an axial filling port is that it allows the tank to be filled regardless of its angular position, and in particular, even during tank rotation. This results in shorter operating cycles for the press. However, manufacturers of such presses are still searching for solutions to further improve their performance. Specifically, these presses have the disadvantage of exhibiting a phenomenon known as the "whale effect" at the drains in the drainage zone. This whale effect occurs when, during tank rotation, a drain is exposed to the atmosphere while the pressure inside the tank, in the area known as the tank headspace, is high. This results in liquid being projected out of the tank through the drain.
[0004] An object of the present invention is to propose a press whose design makes it possible to limit or even eliminate the whale effect while optimizing drainage.
[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a press, preferably pneumatic, for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material, such as grapes, said press comprising a tank having a longitudinal axis, a support frame on which the tank is arranged substantially horizontally, a device for driving the tank in rotation around its longitudinal axis, at least one angular position sensor of the tank and a control unit, said tank having a tubular body closed at each of its opposite ends by a flange, said body being equipped with at least one tank filling opening closed by a door and being provided with a drainage zone comprising one or more longitudinal drains each extending, inside the tank, along said body, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tank,one of the tank flanges being equipped with an axial filling orifice for filling the tank with material to be pressed, said tank being further provided with at least one pressurization orifice, said tank comprising at least one membrane, the membrane or at least one of the membranes being fixed in a hermetic manner, on the one hand, to the tubular body of the tank along two opposite longitudinal edges, and on the other hand, to the flanges along two respective transverse edges, the membrane or membranes hermetically separating the internal volume of the tank into a chamber called the treatment chamber, into which said axial filling orifice opens, and at least one chamber called the control chamber, into which one or more of the pressurization orifices opens, said treatment chamber being equipped with at least one material presence sensor, called the first presence sensor,and an exhausting device comprising at least one exhausting member movable between a closed and an open exhausting position of the treatment chamber, the control unit being configured to control the rotational drive device of the tank as a function of at least, data provided by the first presence sensor, characterized in that the treatment chamber includes a second material presence sensor, the second presence sensor and the exhaust device(s) are disposed outside the drainage zone, on the part of the tubular body of the tank equipped with the door(s) and extending between one of the longitudinal edges of the membrane and the drainage zone, the first presence sensor and the second presence sensor are angularly offset around the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank so that in the state driven in rotation of the tank with the exhaust device(s) disposed in front of the first presence sensor,The second presence sensor is positioned in front of the first sensor, and the control unit is configured to control the movement of the venting device(s) from the closed to the open position based at least on the data provided by the second presence sensor. The ability of the control unit to control the tank's rotation based on data from the first presence sensor allows for defining the tank's angular positioning according to its fill level, thereby optimizing the use of the drainage surface and limiting the number of tank rotations to reduce the risk of material crushing. The presence of a second presence sensor, whose data allows control of the venting device, can, in the event of excessively rapid tank filling,to ensure the venting device closes to prevent damage to it. The presence of this second presence sensor also allows the venting device to be opened as soon as possible after an angular movement of the tank during which the venting device moves from a position within the grapes to a position outside the grapes, while the first presence sensor is still within the grapes. This prevents the "whale effect" when venting a drain from the drainage zone during this angular movement.
[0006] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first presence sensor is located on the tubular body of the tank in the drainage zone or at the edge of the drainage zone closest to the tank door(s). This position of the first sensor further optimizes the use of the drainage surface.
[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drainage area comprising several drains, the first presence sensor is disposed between two drains.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first presence sensor and the second presence sensor are angularly separated by an angle of at most equal to 60°. The apex of the angle is taken on the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the setting elements The exhaust port is located on the tubular body of the tank and is offset from one of the longitudinal edges connecting the membrane(s) to the tank body by an angle of no more than 60°. Again, the apex of the angle is taken on the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank. Preferably, the pressurization port(s) is an axial port, and the transverse edges connecting the membrane to the flanges extend, at the level of one of the flanges, to one side of a median or diametrical longitudinal plane of the tank passing through the axial tank filling port and the axial pressurization port, and at the level of the opposite flange, to the other side of said median longitudinal plane.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the second presence sensor located on the tubular body of the tank and the venting device(s) are angularly separated by an angle of at most 10°. The apex of the angle is taken on the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank. The venting device(s) and the second presence sensor located on the tubular body of the tank are angularly separated by an angle between 0° and 60°. It is understood that at 0°, the second presence sensor and the venting device(s) are located at the same level on the tubular body of the tank, but this solution is not preferred.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, a radial plane of the tank passing through the second presence sensor and a radial plane of the tank passing through the venting device form, inside the tank, a first angular sector, the radial plane of the tank passing through the second presence sensor and a radial plane of the tank passing through the first presence sensor form, inside the tank, a second angular sector not included in the first angular sector and contiguous to the first angular sector and, for a rotation drive of the tank following at least one turn, the control unit is configured to control the tank rotation drive device along a direction of rotation of the tank in which the first angular sector is arranged in front of the second angular sector taken with respect to the direction of rotation.Thus, ideally, the venting device(s) should be angularly offset from the longitudinal edge of the membrane nearest by an angle between 1° and 60°, the second presence sensor should be angularly offset from the venting device by an angle between 0° and 10°, preferably between 1° and 10°, and the first presence sensor should be angularly offset from the second presence sensor by an angle between 10° and 60°, each angle being a vertex angle taken below the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the drainage zone comprises several drains, the drains extending on either side of the radial plane delimiting the second angular sector passing through the first presence sensor, the second angular sector containing at least one drain and at most three drains.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to command the transition of the exhaust venting device(s) from the open position to the closed position based at least on the data provided by the second presence sensor. This is the case when the tank is filled too quickly.
[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to control the movement of the venting device(s) from the open position to the closed position based at least on data provided by the first presence sensor and the angular position sensor of the tank. This is the case, for example, when a rotation of the tank is commanded to unclog the drainage zone and the tank's fill level is low. This allows the venting device(s) to close just before they enter the grapes.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the venting devices is disposed on the tubular body of the tank in a location of the body closer to the flange opposite the flange provided with the axial filling orifice.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second presence sensors are level probes.
[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the first and second presence sensors are arranged on the tubular body of the tank in the same plane transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tank or in two parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tank separated from each other by a distance at most equal to two-thirds of the length of the tank, the length of the tank being taken along the longitudinal axis of the tank. Brief description of the drawings
[0018] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
[0019] [Fig-1] represents a schematic view, partially in cross-section, of a press in accordance with the invention;
[0020] [Fig.2] represents a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the vat of a press;
[0021] [Fig.3] represents a partial schematic cross-sectional view of the tank of a wine press;
[0022] [Fig.4] represents in the form of two schematic cross-sectional views of the tank the rotation drive of the tank.
[0023] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a press 1, as illustrated in [Fig. 1]. The press 1 is a pneumatic press intended to separate the solid parts Liquid parts, also called juice, of a substance, such as grapes. This press 1 includes a vat 2. This vat 2 defines an enclosure. This vat 2 has walls to define the enclosure. This vat 2 is here a vat with a substantially horizontal axis, with a peripheral lateral wall forming the tubular body 5, specifically cylindrical, of the vat 2, and two end walls or flanges 6 closing the vat 2 at one end and the other end of the cylindrical body 5, respectively. Obviously, the tubular body 5 of the vat 2 could have had a different shape in cross-section than a circular one, even if the circular shape is preferred.
[0024] This tank 2 is a rotating tank mounted to rotate about a longitudinal axis of the tank 2, represented as XX' in the figures. This longitudinal axis XX' corresponds to the substantially horizontal longitudinal axis of the cylinder formed by the tank 2. The press 1 comprises a support frame 3 on which the tank 2 rests. The tank 2 is positioned substantially horizontally on the support frame 3, meaning that the longitudinal axis XX', which is substantially horizontal, of the tank 2 is horizontal to within ± 20° when the press 1 is positioned on a horizontal flat surface.
[0025] This support frame 3 includes posts resting on the ground and on which the tank 2 is mounted for rotation. The posts of the frame 3 thus each support, for example, a bearing cooperating with a trunnion of the tank 2 located at the center of each flange 6 of the tank 2. The press 1 further includes a device 4 for rotating the tank 2 around the longitudinal axis XX' of the tank 2, a sensor 20 for the angular position of the tank 2, and a control unit 16. The control unit 16 is configured, in particular, to control the device 4 for rotating the tank 2. This device 4 for rotating the tank 2 may include an electric motor 41 mounted on one of the posts. The rotating shaft of this electric motor 41 carries a pinion 42 which meshes directly or indirectly with a gear 43 of the tank 2.The angular position sensor 20 of the tank 2 can be an encoder located at the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank 2 or any other sensor, for example for detecting the angular position of the teeth 43 or the pinion 42.
[0026] To allow the filling of the tank 2 with the material to be pressed, one of the flanges 6 of the tank 2 is equipped with an axial filling port 8. This axial filling port 8 is coaxial with the longitudinal axis XX' of the tank 2. This axial filling port 8 is connected to a pumping circuit external to the tank. The tank 2 also has, for its filling, one or more access doors 19 arranged on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2. In the example, two access doors 19 are shown. These access doors 19 allow the press 1 to be supplied at atmospheric pressure. These access doors 19 also serve as the tank's drain port. The axial filling port 8 can, for its part, allow a- pressurization of tank 2 in material to be pressed.
[0027] The flange 6 opposite the one equipped with the axial filling port 8 is, in the example shown, equipped with a pressurization port 9. This pressurization port 9 is an axial pressurization port shared with a depressurization port of the tank 2. This axial pressurization port therefore also serves as a depressurization port for the tank 2. Inside the tank 2 is at least one flexible, deformable membrane 10. In the example shown in [Fig. 1], only one membrane 10 is provided. The membrane 10 is fixed in a hermetic manner, on one side, to the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 along two opposing longitudinal edges 17, and on the other side, to the flanges 6 along two respective transverse edges 18.The transverse edges 18 connecting the membrane 10 to the flanges 6 extend, at the level of one of the flanges 6, to one side of a median or diametrical longitudinal plane of the tank 2 passing through the axial filling port 8 of the tank 2 and the axial pressurization port 9, and at the level of the opposite flange 6, to the other side of said median longitudinal plane. The membrane 10 thus hermetically separates the internal volume of the tank 2 into two chambers, namely, one, called the treatment chamber 11, into which the axial filling port 8 of the tank 2 and the access door(s) 19 open, and the other, called the control chamber 12, into which the axial pressurization port 9 opens, which also serves as a depressurization port. Obviously, the pressurization port and the depressurization port could have been made separately.Alternatively, tank 2 could have been separated by means of several membranes into a treatment chamber and several control chambers, each equipped with a pressurization orifice.
[0028] The treatment chamber 11 includes drainage means configured to allow communication between the inside and outside of the tank 2, and in particular the drainage of the juices contained in the tank 2. These drainage means include one or more drains 71. Each drain 71 may be in the form of a drainage channel or an elongated perforated portion of conduit as illustrated in [Fig. 2]. In each case, the drain(s) are located at the level of the tubular body 5 of the tank 2. Said drains 71 are longitudinal drains, each extending inside the tank 2 along the body 5 of the tank 2, in particular along a generatrix of the tubular body 5 of the tank 2.
[0029] These drains 71 therefore extend inside the tank 2 along the cylindrical body of the tank 2, parallel to the longitudinal axis XX' of the tank 2. Regardless of their embodiment, these drains 71 are in fluidic communication with partially shown juice outlet means. These juice outlet means may include a collector for the result of the drainage, this collector including an outlet orifice positionable above and directly above a collection reservoir for a transfer of juices leaving the tank through said drains 71 to said collection tank.
[0030] In the example illustrated in the figures, the drains 71, which constitute longitudinal drainage channels, are formed by means of perforated profiled elements arranged on the inner face of the cylindrical body 5 of the tank, extending along a generatrix of the cylindrical body 5 of said tank. These profiled elements form a filtering sieve due to the presence of orifices, such as holes or slots, provided in their wall. The collection tank can, for its part, be arranged at least partially under the tank 2. In the position positioned horizontally along the longitudinal axis XX' of the tank 2 corresponding to the operating configuration, at least a part of the drains 71 can be positioned in the lower part of the tank to form the lowest point of the tank. This arrangement is, for example, shown in [Fig.3] where the drains 71 are arranged in the lower half of the tank 2 due to the angular position occupied by the tank 2. The area of the body 5 of the tank 2, along which the drain(s) 71 are arranged, is called the drainage area 7 of the tank 2.
[0031] The pressurization port, which also serves as the depressurization port for tank 2, is connectable to a pressurized fluid circuit. This circuit includes a device for supplying fluid, particularly pressurized gas, to the control chamber and a vacuum generation device. The device allows compressed gas, which may be compressed air, to be admitted into the control chamber 12 during the pressurization phases. The device for supplying the pressurized fluid includes a pressurized fluid source. This pressurized fluid source may be a compressor, a compressed air network, or other. This pressurized fluid source may therefore be integrated into the press 1 or independent of the press 1. The pressurized fluid circuit connecting this pressurized fluid source to the control chamber may be closable.
[0032] The vacuum generation device allows the aspiration of gas, such as compressed air, into the control chamber(s) 12, particularly during the filling, crumbling, and emptying phases of the tank 2. In the example shown, which includes only one control chamber 12, when the control chamber 12 is depressurized, the membrane 10 tends to be pressed against the portion of the tubular body 5 of the tank used to delimit said control chamber 12. This allows, during the filling of the treatment chamber 11, for optimization of the available volume of the treatment chamber 11. In the pressurized state of the control chamber 12, the membrane 10 tends to be pressed towards the drains 71 so as to compress the material to extract juice, which then flows out of the tank through the drains 71.The ability to pressurize and depressurize the control chamber 12 also allows back-and-forth movements of the membrane against the material to be treated to be applied to the membrane. in order to press it efficiently to extract the juice. The operation would be similar with multiple membranes and control chambers.
[0033] The press includes, as mentioned above, a control unit 16 which allows, in addition to the control of the device 4 for rotating the tank 2, control of the device for supplying pressurized gas to the control chamber(s) 12 and control of the vacuum generation device.
[0034] The control unit 16 is in the form of an electronic and computer system that includes, for example, a microprocessor and working memory. According to a particular aspect of the invention, the control unit 16 can be in the form of a programmable logic controller (PLC). In other words, the functions and steps described can be implemented as a computer program or via hardware components, for example, programmable gate arrays. In particular, the functions and steps performed by the control unit or these modules can be carried out by instruction sets or a computer module implemented in a processor or controller, or by dedicated electronic components or FPGA or ASIC type components. It is also possible to combine computer and electronic components.When it is specified that the control unit 16 or means or modules of said unit are configured to perform a given operation, this means that the unit includes computer instructions and the corresponding means of execution which enable said operation to be carried out and / or that the unit includes corresponding electronic components.
[0035] The press 1 further includes a device 14 for venting the treatment chamber 11. This device 14 for venting the treatment chamber includes at least one venting element 141 movably mounted between a closed position and an open position for venting the treatment chamber 11. This or each venting element 141 may be in the form of a valve or a pilot-operated flapper. In the figures, only one venting element 141 is shown.
[0036] This venting device 14 allows, in the open position of the venting member 141, to avoid overpressure or underpressure inside the tank during the filling phase of the tank 2 through the axial filling orifice 8 of the tank 2.
[0037] The press 1 also includes a first material presence sensor 13 and a second material presence sensor 15.
[0038] In the examples shown, each material presence sensor is a level probe. In particular, this material presence sensor can be an analog level probe, using impedance spectroscopy technology, i.e., capable of producing an electrical signal when it is in contact with the material, the sensitivity of the sensor being a function, for example, of the more or less aqueous nature of the material and the contact surface.
[0039] Obviously, any other level sensor, preferably one that is active by contact with the material, can be considered without departing from the scope of the invention. The data provided by the first and second presence sensors are transmitted to the control unit 16. The first and second presence sensors are located inside the treatment chamber 11. The first and second presence sensors are angularly offset around the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank 2. The first presence sensor 13 is located on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2. The second presence sensor 15 is located on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2.Ideally, the first and second presence sensors are arranged substantially in the same transverse plane, i.e. orthogonal, to the longitudinal axis XX' of rotation of the tank or in two parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of tank 2 separated from each other by a distance not more than two-thirds of the length of tank 2, the length of tank 2 being taken along the longitudinal axis of tank 2. .
[0040] The second presence sensor 15 is disposed on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 outside the drainage zone 7, the portion of the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 equipped with the gate(s) 19 extending between one of the longitudinal edges 17 of the membrane 10 and the drainage zone 7. Similarly, the venting device(s) 141 are disposed outside the drainage zone 7 on the portion of the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 equipped with the gate(s) 19 extending between one of the longitudinal edges 17 of the membrane 10 and the drainage zone 7. With this description, in the state driven in rotation of the tank 2 with the exhausting organ(s) 141 arranged in front of the first presence sensor 13, the second presence sensor 15 is arranged in front of the first sensor 13. Thus, during an anti-clockwise rotation to the [Fig.[4] In the left-hand view, the venting device(s) 141 enter the grapes before the first presence sensor 13 and simultaneously, or ideally before, the second presence sensor 15, the second presence sensor 15 entering the grapes before the first presence sensor 13. The second presence sensor 15 and the venting device(s) 141 are arranged within the angular sector extending between one of the longitudinal edges 17 of the membrane 10 and the drainage zone 7. The control unit 16 is configured to control the transition of the venting device 141 from the closed position to the open position, based at least on the data provided by the second presence sensor 15.The control unit 16 is configured to control the transition of the exhaust device(s) 141 from the open position to the closed position based at least on the data provided by the second presence sensor 15.
[0041] The control unit 16 is also configured to control the rotation drive device 4 of the tank 2 based at least on the data provided by the first presence sensor 13. In particular, the control unit 16 is configured to control the transition of the venting device(s) 141 from the open position to the closed position based at least on the data provided by the first presence sensor 13 and the angular position sensor 20 of the tank 2. Ideally, the first presence sensor 13 is located on the tubular body of the tank in the drainage zone 7 or at the edge of the drainage zone 7, in particular at the edge of the drainage zone 7 located closest to the door(s) 19 of the tank 2. This edge of the drainage zone 7 is defined by the outer longitudinal edge of the outermost drain of the drainage zone 7 and closest to the door(s) 19 of the tank 2.
[0042] In the example shown in [Fig.2], the drainage zone 7 comprises several drains 71 and the first presence sensor 13 is arranged between two drains 71. To obtain better results in terms of optimizing the use of the drainage surface of the tank 2, while avoiding the whale effect, it is preferable that the first presence sensor 13 be angularly separated from the second presence sensor 15 by an angle of at least 10° and at most 60°.
[0043] In practice, and as mentioned above, the venting device(s) 141 and the second presence sensor 15 are located on the portion of the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 equipped with the gate(s) 19 that extends between a longitudinal edge 17 of the membrane 10 and the drainage zone 7, as shown in [Fig. 3]. When the first presence sensor 13 is located at the edge of the drainage zone 7, the relevant edge of the drainage zone 7 is the edge closest to the gate(s) 19 of the tank. Each edge of the drainage zone 7 is formed by a longitudinal edge of a drain. When the drainage zone 7 is reduced to a single drain, the edges of the drainage zone 7 are formed by the longitudinal edges of the drain.When the drainage zone 7 comprises several parallel drains, the edges are formed by the longitudinal edges of the drain which are separated from each other by the greatest angular value, that is to say, which form between them the greatest angle with the apex of the angle disposed on the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank 2. The or at least one of the venting devices 141 is preferably further disposed on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 and separated from one of the longitudinal edges 17 of connection of the or one of the membranes 10 to the body 5 of the tank 2 by an angle between 1° and 60°. Ideally, the venting device(s) 141 should be as close as possible to the longitudinal edge of the membrane closest to the door(s) 19. The second presence sensor 15 located on the tubular body of the tank and the venting device(s) 141 are angularly separated by one. angle not exceeding 10°.
[0044] When following the profile of the tubular body of the tank 2 by rotating around the longitudinal axis XX' of rotation of the tank, and starting from the longitudinal edge of the membrane 10 closest to the venting member 141, one first encounters the venting member 141, then the second presence sensor 15, then either the first presence sensor 13, then the drainage zone 7 when the first presence sensor 13 is at the edge of the drainage zone 7, or at least a first drain of the drainage zone 7 then the first presence sensor 13 when the first presence sensor 13 is not at the edge of the drainage zone 7 but in the drainage zone 7.
[0045] In the example shown, the first sensor 13 is located between two drains immediately after the first drain of the drainage zone 7. The second presence sensor 15 and the venting device 141 are angularly offset along the body of the tank 2 relative to the longitudinal axis of rotation of the tank 2. Alternatively, although this solution is not preferred, the second presence sensor 15 could be not angularly offset from the venting device(s) 141. In this case, when following the profile of the tubular body of the tank 2 while rotating around the longitudinal axis XX' of rotation of the tank, and starting from the longitudinal edge of the membrane 10 closest to the venting device 141, the venting device 141 and the second presence sensor 15 are encountered simultaneously.
[0046] This venting device 141 is preferably located on the tubular body 5 of the tank 2 in a location on the body 5 closer to the flange 6 opposite the flange equipped with the axial filling orifice 8.
[0047] If we define, as illustrated in [Fig.3], a first angular sector SI formed by a radial plane of the tank passing through the second presence sensor 15 and a radial plane of the tank 2 passing through the venting device 141 and a second distinct angular sector S2, i.e. not included in the first angular sector S1 and contiguous to the first angular sector S1 with the second angular sector S2 formed by the radial plane of the tank 2 passing through the second presence sensor 15 and a radial plane of the tank 2 passing through the first presence sensor 13, the direction of rotation of the tank to make at least one rotation is imposed by the control unit 16 which is configured to control the rotation drive device 4 of the tank 2 along a direction of rotation of the tank 2 in which the first angular sector SI is arranged in front of the second angular sector S2 taken with respect to the direction of rotation.It is noted that, in this example where drainage zone 7 includes several drains 71, the drains 71 extend on either side of the radial delimitation plane of the second sector. angular S2 passing through the first presence sensor 13. In particular, a drain 71 located at the edge of the drainage zone 7 extends inside the second angular sector S2.
[0048] Although the solution of a first sensor 13 preferably disposed at the edge of the drainage zone is conceivable, generally the first presence sensor 13 is in the drainage zone 7 and the second angular sector S2 contains at least one drain 71 and at most three drains 71.
[0049] The traditional operation of a press is as follows.
[0050] Before filling the processing chamber 11 with material, such as grapes, air or any other equivalent pressure agent is drawn out of the control chamber 12 of the tank 2 using the vacuum generation device through the pressurization orifice 9 equipping the control chamber 12, so that a vacuum is produced and the membrane 10 presses against the parts of the tank wall used to delimit said control chamber 12, as illustrated for example in [Fig.1].
[0051] The vacuum generation device is controlled by the control unit 16 using a pressure measurement sensor located either inside the tank enclosure in the control chamber(s) 12 or at the level of the pressurized fluid circuit connecting the vacuum generation device to the tank 2.
[0052] Although the press tank can be filled with the material to be pressed when the tank is stopped, via the door(s) 19 with which the treatment chamber 11 is equipped, the tank 2 is generally filled only through the axial filling port 8, which is advantageously equipped with a rotating fitting to allow filling while the tank 2 is rotating.
[0053] This filling therefore takes place in the closed state of the doors 19 of the tank and in such a way that an overpressure could be observed in the treatment chamber 11, when a blockage occurs at the level of the drainage zone 7, or when the evacuation flow rate becomes less than the supply flow rate, at least when the venting device(s) 141 are not in the open position.
[0054] In this filling position, the tank 2 is positioned in which the drains 71 are located in the lower part of the tank 2, opposite the collection reservoir for the liquid contained in the material located at least partially below the tank. If necessary, during this tank filling process, a rotation of the tank can be controlled by the control unit 16, particularly according to the tank's fill level, as will be described below.
[0055] During this filling and draining phase, the juice flows freely at atmospheric pressure. Once this free flow of juice is complete, the pressing phase can begin. It is assumed that one or more Setpoint pressures were stored, along with corresponding time periods for maintaining said setpoint pressure inside the control chamber(s). The pressurized fluid supply device was then activated.
[0056] Under the effect of this pressurized fluid supply to the control chamber 12, the membrane 10 is pressed against the material present in the treatment chamber 11, which is itself pressurized against the drains 71. As a result, the liquid part of this material flows through the drains 71 while the solid part remains in the tank outside of said drains 71.
[0057] The control chamber 12 is then evacuated, during which the membrane 10 is separated from the drains 71, followed by a crumbling phase in which the tank 2 is rotated around its axis to break up the cake of material that forms under the effect of pressure. A new pressing phase can then be initiated.
[0058] Once the pressing phase is complete, the control chamber is evacuated again to allow an operator to remove the remaining solid material from the tank. To empty the tank, once pressing is complete, the door(s) 19 on the tubular body 5 of the tank are opened, and the tank is rotated so that the remaining solid material in the treatment chamber is gradually evacuated through the opening exposed by the door. The operator can then clean the membrane by passing a jet of water through the lateral opening in the cylinder body on the treatment chamber side to clean the membrane pressed against the wall of the control chamber. A new cycle can then begin.
[0059] It should be noted that the operation, as described above, would be similar in the presence of several membranes and several control chambers.
[0060] The first and second presence sensors and the venting device(s) 141 play an essential role during the filling, draining, and crumbling phases described above. The objective is to ensure filling, draining, and crumbling without human intervention, while avoiding a whale effect in the drainage zone 7 and optimizing the use of the drainage surface. Optimization of the drainage surface is achieved during tank filling by limiting tank tilting, as tank ventilation is always ensured due to the presence of at least one venting device 141 and the controlled angular positioning of the tank using the first presence sensor 13.The angular separation between the first and second presence sensors allows, during a rotation of the tank, time to depressurize the tank using the venting device(s) 141 before the drainage zone 7 is uncovered. Thus, the whale effect is avoided.
[0061] If we refer for example to [Fig.4], if a rotation of the tank in the counter-clockwise direction is engaged in the position of the tank shown in the right view where the venting device 141 is open and the first presence sensor 13 does not indicate the presence of grapes, the control unit commands the drive device to rotate the tank by keeping the venting device 141 in the open position for as long as possible with regard to the information provided by the first presence sensor 13 and by the angular position sensor 20 of the tank 2. These two sensors make it possible to determine the angular position of the tank corresponding to the entry of the venting device 141 into the grapes.
[0062] The venting device 141 is closed immediately before it enters the grapes. The control unit 16 is configured to control the movement of the venting device(s) 141 from the open position to the closed position based at least on the data provided by the first presence sensor 13 and the angular position sensor 20 of the tank 2. When the venting device 141 is closed, part of the drainage zone 7 may be open to the air so that the tank can vent. The rotation of the tank continues until the venting device 141 exits the grapes.This discharge of the grapes from the exhaust vent 141 is immediately detected by the second presence sensor 15, which then triggers the opening of the exhaust vent 141 so that, as soon as a drain exits the grapes, the free space, known as the headspace of the tank, is already at atmospheric pressure and no whale effect is observed. The control unit 16 is therefore configured to command at least the transition of the exhaust vent 141 from the closed position to the open position when the second presence sensor 15 detects the absence of grapes in the rotating state of the tank 2.
[0063] As the tank fills, the first presence sensor 13, through the information it provides to the control unit 16, tends to enable a progressive rotation of the tank. This optimizes the position of the drainage zone 7 to limit the number of drains open to the air, i.e., outside the grape harvest area. It should be noted that the presence of the second presence sensor 15 also prevents damage, particularly clogging of the venting device 141, during overly rapid tank filling. In such a case, the control unit 16 would not have had enough time, based on the data provided by the first presence sensor 13, to generate a partial rotation of the tank to move the venting device 141 away from the top of the grape harvest.The control unit 16 is therefore configured to control the transition from the open position to the closed position of the exhaust device 141 based on at least the . data provided by the second presence sensor 15.
[0064] In the preceding example, the control unit commands the movement of the exhaust vent 141 from the closed position to the open position based on data provided by the second presence sensor 15. It can also command the movement of the exhaust vent 141 from the open position to the closed position based on data provided by the second sensor 15 or based on data provided by the first sensor 13, depending on the situation. Furthermore, the control unit 16 always controls an angular displacement of the tank based on the data provided by the first presence sensor 13. The control unit 16 is configured to control an angular displacement of the tank at least when the first presence sensor 13 detects the presence of material around said first presence sensor 13 under conditions defined according to its sensitivity.
[0065]
Claims
Claims
1. Press (1), preferably pneumatic, for separating the solid and liquid parts, also called juice, of a material, such as grapes, said press (1) comprising a tank (2) having a longitudinal axis (XX1), a support frame (3) on which the tank (2) is arranged substantially horizontally, a device (4) for rotating the tank (2) around its longitudinal axis (XX'), at least one sensor (20) for the angular position of the tank (2) and a control unit (16), said tank (2) having a tubular body (5) closed at each of its opposite ends by a flange (6), said body (5) being equipped with at least one opening for filling the tank closed by a door (19) and being provided with a drainage zone (7) comprising one or more longitudinal drains (71) each extending, inside the tank (2), along said body (5), parallel to the longitudinal axis (XX') of the tank (2),one of the flanges (6) of the tank (2) being equipped with an axial filling orifice (8) for filling the tank (2) with material to be pressed, said tank (2) being further provided with at least one pressurization orifice (9), said tank (2) comprising at least one membrane (10), the or at least one of the membranes (10) being fixed in a sealed manner on the one hand, to the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) along two opposite longitudinal edges (17), on the other hand, to the flanges (6) along two respective transverse edges (18), the membrane(s) (10) separating in a sealed manner the interior volume of the tank (2) into a chamber (11) called the treatment chamber, into which said axial filling orifice (8) opens, and at least one chamber (12) called the control chamber, into which the or one of the pressurization orifices (9) opens, said treatment chamber (11) being equipped with at least one material presence sensor, called first presence sensor (13),and an exhaust device (14) comprising at least one exhaust member (141) mounted to move between a closed position and an open position for exhausting the treatment chamber (11), the control unit (16) being configured to control the device (4) for driving the tank (2) in rotation as a function at least of the data provided by the first presence sensor (13), characterized in that the treatment chamber (11) comprises a second material presence sensor (15), in that the second presence sensor (15) and the exhaust member(s) (141), to the exhaust are arranged outside the drainage zone (7), on the part of the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) equipped with the door(s) (19) and extending between one of the longitudinal edges (17) of the membrane (10) and the drainage zone (7), in that the first presence sensor (13) and the second presence sensor (15) are angularly offset around the longitudinal axis (XX') of rotation of the tank (2) so that in the state driven in rotation of the tank (2) with the exhaust member(s) (141) arranged in front of the first presence sensor (13), the second presence sensor (15) is arranged in front of the first sensor (13) and in that the control unit (16) is configured to control the passage of the exhaust member(s) (141) from the closed position to the open position as a function at least of the data provided by the second presence sensor (15).
2. Press (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first presence sensor (13) is arranged on the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) in the drainage zone (7) or at the edge of the drainage zone (7) located closest to the door(s) (19) of the tank (2).
3. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the drainage zone (7) comprising several drains (71), the first presence sensor (13) is arranged between two drains (71).
4. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the first presence sensor (13) and the second presence sensor (15) are angularly spaced apart by an angle at most equal to 60°.
5. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the or at least one of the exhaust members (14) is arranged on the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) and spaced from one of the longitudinal edges (17) connecting the or one of the membranes (10) to the body (5) of the tank (2) by an angle at most equal to 60°.
6. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second presence sensor (15) arranged on the tubular body of the tank and the exhaust member(s) (141) are angularly spaced apart by an angle at most equal to 10°.
7. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a radial plane of the tank (2) passing through the second presence sensor (15) and a radial plane of the tank (2) passing through the exhaust member (141) form, inside the tank (2), a first angular sector (SI), in that the radial plane of the tank (2) passing through the second presence sensor (15) and a radial plane of the tank (2) passing through the first presence sensor (13) form, inside the tank (2), a second angular sector (S2) not included in the first angular sector (SI) and contiguous to the first angular sector (SI) and in that, for rotational driving of the tank (2) following at least one revolution, the control unit (16) is configured to control the device (4) for rotational driving of the tank (2) following a direction of rotational movement of the tank (2) in which the first angular sector (SI) is arranged in front of the second angular sector (S2) taken with respect to the direction of rotational movement.
8. Press (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the drainage zone (7) comprises several drains (71), the drains (71) extend on either side of the radial plane delimiting the second angular sector (S2) passing through the first presence sensor (13), the second angular sector (S2) containing at least one drain (71) and at most three drains (71)
9. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the control unit (16) is configured to control the passage of the exhaust member(s) (141) from the open position to the closed position as a function at least of the data provided by the second presence sensor (15).
10. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the control unit (16) is configured to control the passage of the exhaust member(s) (141) from the open position to the closed position as a function at least of the data provided by the first presence sensor (13) and the angular position sensor (20) of the tank (2).
11. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the or at least one of the exhaust members (141) is arranged on the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) at a location on the body (5) closer to the flange (6) opposite the flange provided with the axial filling orifice (8).
12. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the first and second presence sensors (13, 15) are level probes.
13. Press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first and second presence sensors (13, 15) are arranged on the tubular body (5) of the tank (2) in the same transverse plane to the longitudinal axis of the tank (2) or in two parallel planes transverse to the longitudinal axis of the tank (2) separated from each other by a distance at most equal to two thirds of the length of the tank (2), the length of the tank (2) being taken along the longitudinal axis of the tank (2).