Method and installation for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of the grape juice produced, and assembly comprising a press and such an installation

Abstract

A method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber (12) of a press (11), the nature of the juice produced in said pressing chamber (12) in order to distinguish juice from the pulp zone from juice from the skin zone of the grapes, said method comprising at least one step of storing a setpoint pH value and a step of continuously measuring, in real time, the pH of the juice collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) at least until said stored pH value is obtained. The method includes a step of measuring the pH and conductivity of the juice collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​and a step of determining the setpoint pH value to be stored as a function of the measured pair. Figure for the abstract: Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: Method and installation for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of grape juice produced and assembly comprising a press and such an installation

[0001] The present invention relates to a method and an installation for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of juice produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber, as well as an assembly comprising a press and such an installation.

[0002] The invention relates in particular to a method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of juices produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber with a view to distinguishing the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said pressing chamber being a chamber of variable volume capable of pressing the grapes by varying its volume, said method comprising at least one step of storing a set pH value and a step of measuring in real time and continuously the pH of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber at least until said stored set pH value is obtained.

[0003] In a berry or grape, a distinction is made between the pulp zone and the skin zone of the berry. Here, pulp is understood to mean the soft part of the grape berry excluding the seeds. During pressing, the juices are obtained under the effect of pressure on the berry causing the berry to burst. These juices include juices called from the pulp zone and juices called from the skin zone. When the reference is the extraction yield (volume of juice / mass of the harvest), it is considered that this yield is generally close to 0.8, that is to say that for 100 kg of destemmed / crushed harvest, 80 liters of juice are recovered. Of these 80 liters of juice, it is considered that the last 10 liters of juice collected are juices from the skin zone. These juices from the skin zone have a different composition than the juices from the pulp zone and are considered to be of lower quality.This is why attempts have been made for many years to separate the juices extracted from a press, as illustrated by patent EP 2 433 508. The method is based on real-time and continuous measurement of the pH at the press outlet. While this method is useful, it does not allow the juices to be separated as closely as possible depending on the nature of the juices. Manufacturers of wine-growing equipment are therefore constantly looking for solutions to further improve the fineness of the juice separation without harming the . ease of implementation.

[0004] An aim of the invention is to propose a method of the aforementioned type, the implementation of which makes it possible to precisely separate the juices according to their nature.

[0005] Another aim of the invention is to propose an installation, in particular for implementing the method, the design of which allows reliable and precise determination of the nature of the juices collected without significantly increasing the cost of the installation.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of juices produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said method comprising at least one step of storing a set pH value and a step of measuring in real time and continuously the pH of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber at least until said stored set pH value is obtained, characterized in that said method comprises, before the step of storing said set pH value,a step of measuring the pH and conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​and a step of determining the set pH value to be stored based on the measured pH / conductivity pair.

[0007] Determining the set pH value based on a measurement of the pH and conductivity at a given time relative to pressing, before real-time and continuous monitoring of the pH of the collected juices, makes it possible to define more precisely the set pH value corresponding to the change in nature of the juices and the transition from juices from the pulp zone to juices from the skin zone.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, said method comprises, before the step of storing the setpoint pH value, a step of storing reference pH and conductivity data, and the method comprises, during the step of determining the setpoint pH value to be stored as a function of the measured pH / conductivity pair, a phase of comparing the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity pair and a phase of determining an increase in pH as a function of the comparison, the setpoint pH value to be stored being equal to the pH value of the measured pH / conductivity pair plus the pH increase value resulting from the comparison of the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity pair. The storage of reference pH and conductivity data is carried out, for example, in the form of charts. Reference pH and conductivity values ​​can be stored in correlation with a pH increase value. Alternatively or additionally, the pH increase value is determined by calculation based on the result of comparing the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity value pair. The measured pH / conductivity value pair can therefore be compared with reference pH and conductivity values ​​that are empirically correlated with a pH increase value to determine, from the measured pH / conductivity value pair, the pH increase value to be added to the measured pH to obtain the target pH value.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, it comprises a step of emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal when the set pH value is reached. The winegrower is thus informed that the nature of the collected juices has just changed and he can, if necessary, act accordingly, in particular by interrupting the collection of the juices or by modifying the trajectory of the flow of collected juices or the collection tank.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, the juices produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber being collected downstream of the pressing chamber following a first or a second circulation path, the method comprises a step of changing the circulation path when the pH set value is reached.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, the method comprises a step of interrupting the step of collecting the juices when the set pH value is reached.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, said pressing chamber being a chamber of variable volume capable of pressing the grapes by varying its volume and the pressing comprising a succession of pressure stages, with each stage corresponding to the application of a pressure resulting from a reduction in the volume of the pressing chamber over a period of time, said method comprises at least one step of determining the progress of the pressing and the step of measuring the pH and the conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​is carried out as a function of the progress of said pressing. Ideally, the measurement of the pH and the conductivity to form the pair of pH / conductivity values ​​takes place during the first pressure stage for a destemmed-crushed harvest or later during the pressing in the case of a whole harvest.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, the method comprises, during the step of determining the progress of the pressing, at least one phase direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the method of the invention, the variable volume pressing chamber being a chamber delimited at least partially by a membrane deformable according to the internal pressure of a control chamber separated from the pressing chamber at least by said membrane, the method comprises, during the step of determining the progress of the pressing, at least one phase of measuring the pressure inside said control chamber. Simply monitoring the pressure makes it possible to determine the stage of progress of the pressing in order to detect the instant of measurement of the pH / conductivity value pair.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the method of the invention, the method comprises at least one step of adding to the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber at least one so-called fining agent with the function of flocculation or coagulation agent of at least a portion of the compounds of said grape juices. It is thus possible, due to the possibility of determining the nature of the collected juices, to proceed directly, during collection, to a treatment of a portion of the collected juices, in particular the juices from the skin zone, in order to be able to subsequently remix them with the juices from the pulp zone.

[0016] The invention also relates to an installation for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press, the nature of grape juice produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said installation comprising at least one juice collection system arranged downstream of the pressing chamber and capable of being in fluid communication with the pressing chamber to collect the juices produced by pressing the grapes in the pressing chamber, at least one pH measurement sensor arranged at the collection system,at least one data storage memory and a control unit configured to control the storage of a setpoint pH value in the or one of the memories and the real-time and continuous measurement of the pH at the collection system at least until said stored setpoint pH value is obtained, characterized in that the installation comprises, at the collection system, a conductivity measurement sensor and in that the control unit is configured to, prior to controlling the storage of a setpoint pH value in the or one of the memories, control the measurement, at the collection system, of the pH and the conductivity to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​and to determine the setpoint pH value to be stored as a function of the pair of measured pH / conductivity values. The installation therefore allows in particular the implementation of the method as described above.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the or at least one of the memories is a memory for storing reference pH and conductivity data, and the control unit is configured to compare the reference pH and conductivity data with the pair of measured pH / conductivity values ​​and to determine an increase in pH as a function of the comparison, the setpoint pH value to be stored being equal to the pH value of the pair of measured pH / conductivity values ​​plus the pH increase value resulting from the comparison of the reference pH and conductivity data with the pair of measured pH / conductivity values.

[0018] The pH and conductivity data can be stored in the form of charts. The reference pH and conductivity data can be stored in correlation with a pH increase value.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the increase in pH is determined by calculation based on the comparison between the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity value pair.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the installation comprises at least one device for emitting an audible and / or light alert signal and the control unit is configured to control the emission of an audible and / or light alert signal by the device for emitting an audible and / or light alert signal when the set pH value is reached.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, the juice collection system comprising a reservoir connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber, said reservoir is equipped at the outlet with a first circulation path and a second circulation path which are selectively closable, and the control unit is configured to control the closing of one of the circulation paths and the opening of the other circulation path when the set pH value is reached.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the juice collection system comprising a reservoir connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber, said inlet of the reservoir is equipped with a closure member and the control unit is configured to control the closing of the closure member of said inlet when the set pH value is reached. This closing of the closure member may be accompanied by a pause of the press requiring manual reactivation of the press by an operator.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressing comprising a succession of pressure stages, with each stage corresponding to the application of pressure for a period of time, said installation comprises at least one system for determining the progress of the pressing and the control unit is configured to measure the pH and the conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​depending on the progress of said pressing.

[0024] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressing chamber being a chamber of variable volume capable of pressing the grapes by varying its volume, the system for determining the progress of the pressing comprises at least one member for direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber.

[0025] According to one embodiment of the invention, the pressing chamber being a chamber delimited at least partially by a membrane deformable as a function of the internal pressure of a control chamber separated from the pressing chamber at least by said membrane, the or at least one of the members for direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the chamber of the system for determining the progress of the pressing is a member for measuring the pressure preferably inside said control chamber.

[0026] According to one embodiment of the invention, the juice collection system which comprises a so-called main tank connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber comprises at least one so-called auxiliary tank for the storage of so-called fining agents acting as flocculation or coagulation agents for at least part of the compounds of said grape juice, and a system for transferring the contents of the auxiliary tank to the main tank.

[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the installation comprises a device for measuring the quantity of juice collected in the main tank, such as a flow meter, and the control unit is configured to control the transfer system as a function at least of the data provided by the measuring device.

[0028] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a press comprising a pressing chamber and an installation for determining, downstream of said pressing chamber of the press, the nature of grape juice produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said installation comprising at least one juice collection system arranged downstream of the pressing chamber and capable of being in fluid communication with the pressing chamber to collect at least the juices produced by pressing the grapes in the pressing chamber, at least one pH measurement sensor arranged at the collection system,at least one data storage memory and a control unit configured to control the storage of a set pH value in the or one of the memories and the real-time and continuous measurement of the pH at the level of the collection system at least until said stored set pH value is obtained, characterized in that said installation is, consistent with that described above. Brief description of the drawings

[0029] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0030] [Fig-1] represents a schematic view of an installation in accordance with the invention associated with a press to form an assembly in accordance with the invention;

[0031] [Fig.2] represents a pressure / time curve of a pressing and illustrating the instant of measurement of the pH / conductivity couple.

[0032] As mentioned above, the invention relates to a method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber of a press 11, the nature of juices produced at least by pressing in the pressing chamber 12, with a view to distinguishing the juices originating from the grape berry pulp zone from those originating from the grape berry skin zone which are extracted from the pressing chamber at the end of pressing, as well as an installation 1 of the type shown in [Fig.l] for implementing the method, this installation 1 forming, in the state in fluid communication with the press 11, an assembly which is also the subject of the invention.

[0033] The press 11, with which the installation 1 is intended to be in fluid communication, may be a press 11 of the pneumatic type with membrane 14, as in the example shown or a screw or plate press or other.

[0034] Regardless of the type of press 11, the latter has a pressing chamber 12, that is to say a chamber of variable volume inside which the whole or destemmed and crushed grapes are poured.

[0035] The pressing, that is to say the pressing of the harvest in order to extract the juices, is carried out by varying the volume of the pressing chamber 12 in the direction of a reduction in the volume, in a manner known per se.

[0036] In the example shown in [Fig.l], the pressing chamber 12 is a chamber partially delimited by a deformable membrane 14. In fact, the press comprises a tank housing a membrane 14 which separates the tank into the pressing chamber 12 and a control chamber 13.

[0037] This control chamber 13 is separated from the pressing chamber 12 by the membrane 14. This control chamber 13 can be pressurized by connection to a compressed air source. This pressurization of the control chamber 13 causes a deformation of the membrane 14 in the direction of a reduction in the volume of the pressing chamber 12. This control chamber 13 can also be put under vacuum to return the membrane to its undeformed state in which it is pressed against a wall of the tank, as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0038] The pressing chamber 12 is equipped with a juice outlet downstream of which a juice collection system 2 of the installation 1 is positioned. This juice collection system 2 is capable of being in fluid communication with the pressing chamber 12 to collect the juices produced by pressing the grapes from the pressing chamber 12. The fluid communication can take place with or without a connection device between the pressing chamber 12 and the collection system 2. In the absence of a connection device, it is sufficient to position the collection system 2, in particular the reservoir 201 of the collection system 2 which will be described below, under the juice outlet of the pressing chamber 12. The juices thus fall directly into the collection system 2.This juice collection system 2 therefore comprises at least one tank 201 whose inlet ideally extends below and vertically to the juice outlet of the pressing chamber 12, as illustrated in [Fig.l], for gravity collection of the juices from the pressing. This tank 201 is called the main tank when the installation 1 comprises several tanks.

[0039] The inlet of the reservoir 201 is shown at 2010. This inlet 2010 of the reservoir 201 may be equipped with a closure member 2011, such as a valve. In the example shown, the reservoir 201 is equipped at the outlet with a first circulation channel 202 and a second circulation channel 203. Each circulation channel is equipped with a closure member, such as a valve.

[0040] Thus, the first circulation channel 202 is equipped with a closing member 2021, while the second circulation channel 203 is equipped with a closing member 2031. The closing members are selectively activatable to allow the closing of one or other of the channels.

[0041] In practice, during pressing, one of the circulation paths is open during the collection of a first type of juice, namely for example, the collection of juices from the pulp area of ​​the grape berries, while the other circulation path is open during the collection of juices from the skin area of ​​the grape berries.

[0042] It is also possible to close the two channels when it is desired to carry out a treatment of the juices directly in the tank 201, called the main tank, arranged upstream of said channels. For this purpose, the juice collection system 2 may comprise, in addition to the main tank 201, in fluid communication at the inlet with the pressing chamber 12, a tank 204, called the auxiliary tank, for the storage of so-called fining agents acting as flocculation or coagulation agents for at least a portion of the compounds of the grape juices, and a system 205 for transferring the contents of the auxiliary tank 204 to the main tank 201. This transfer system 205 may comprise a metering pump as illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0043] The installation 1 also comprises at least one pH measuring sensor shown at 3 and arranged at the level of the collection system 2. Ideally, this pH measuring sensor pH 3 formed, for example by a measuring probe, is placed at the level of the main tank 201 and measures at its level the pH of the collected juices.

[0044] The installation 1 further comprises at least one data storage memory 4 and a control unit 5. Said control unit 5 is in the form of an electronic and computer system which comprises for example a microprocessor and a working memory. According to a particular aspect, the control unit may be in the form of a programmable automaton. In other words, the functions and steps described may be implemented in the form of a computer program or via hardware components (e.g. programmable gate arrays).In particular, the functions and steps performed by the control unit or its modules may be performed by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller or may be performed by dedicated electronic components or components of the programmable logic circuit type (or FPGA which is the acronym for field-programmable gate array, which literally corresponds to in-situ programmable gate array) or of the application-specific integrated circuit type (or ASIC which is the acronym for application-specific integrated circuit, which literally corresponds to application-specific integrated circuit). It is also possible to combine computer parts and electronic parts.When it is specified that the unit or means or modules of said unit are configured to carry out a given operation, this means that the unit comprises computer instructions and the corresponding execution means which make it possible to carry out said operation and / or that the unit comprises corresponding electronic components.

[0045] The installation also comprises, at the level of the collection system 2, a conductivity measuring sensor 6. This conductivity measuring sensor 6 can, in a similar manner to the pH measuring sensor 3, be arranged at the level of the main tank 201 to measure the conductivity of the collected juices at this level.

[0046] The control unit 5 is configured to acquire data, in particular from the sensors described above, to determine a set pH value, store this set pH value and measure in real time and continuously the pH at the level of the collection system 2 until the stored set pH value is obtained. This set pH value is considered to correspond to a change in the nature of the juices at the level of the collected juices.

[0047] To enable the determination of a setpoint pH value, the control unit 5 is configured to record a pair of pH / conductivity values, i.e. a pair of values ​​comprising a pH value and a conductivity value, and to determine the setpoint pH value to be stored, as a function of the pair of measured pH / conductivity values.

[0048] The recording of the pH / conductivity value pair takes place at a time T1 in function of the progress of the pressing. This instant Tl can be determined by the operator who can visually determine that the draining phase is complete and that pressing can begin. The operator can then manually decide to start the pressing operation and decide at what time, during this pressing, the installation 1 must record the pH / conductivity value pair. In this case, the operator manually commands the recording of a pH / conductivity value pair.

[0049] Alternatively, the triggering of this recording of a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​can be carried out automatically. For this purpose, the installation 1 can comprise a system 8 for determining the progress of pressing and the control unit 5 is configured to measure the pH and the conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber 12, to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​as a function of the progress of said pressing.

[0050] The control of this recording can for example be carried out on the basis of a measurement of the flow rate of the collected juices. The system 8 for determining the progress of the pressing can therefore comprise a device for measuring the quantity of juice collected. For this purpose, the installation 1 can comprise, at the inlet of the main tank, a flow meter shown at 82 in [Fig.l].

[0051] Generally, the pressing comprises a succession of pressure stages with each stage corresponding to the application of a pressure P for a period of time T, as in the example shown in [Fig.2], which illustrates the evolution of the pressure P in the control chamber as a function of time T. The stages are memorized. The installation 1 can therefore comprise a memory in which these pressure stages are stored, that is to say the pressure and time values.

[0052] The system 8 for determining the progress of pressing may comprise, for its part, at least one member 81 for direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber 12.

[0053] In the case of a press as described above, this member 81 for directly or indirectly measuring the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber of the system 8 for determining the progress of the pressing, is a pressure measuring member preferably arranged inside the control chamber 13.

[0054] The measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber 12 is therefore, in this case, an indirect measurement.

[0055] The installation 1 can in fact thus comprise a simple pressure sensor that can be positioned inside the control chamber 13 of the press. The control unit 5 is configured to compare the measured pressure with a stored pressing pressure and when the stored pressing pressure is reached, the pH and conductivity values ​​measured at that moment are stored to form the pair of measured pH / conductivity values.

[0056] In practice, the instant T1, as illustrated in [Fig.2], corresponds to the instant of recording of the pH / conductivity value pair. It should be remembered that during pressing, after the application of one or more pressure levels, the control chamber is vacuumed, then possibly re-dug, i.e. the press tank is rotated before applying one or more pressure levels again.

[0057] The instant T1 of recording of the measured pH / conductivity value pair corresponds, in the case of a crushed destemmed harvest, to the first pressurization of the control chamber, i.e. to the first pressure level. In the case of a whole harvest, this instant T1 corresponds to the end of the first pressing cycle, a cycle being a succession of pressure levels before a re-digging. We can have a following cycle 5 min at 5,000 Pa 5 min at 10,000 Pa 5 min at 15,000 Pa then vacuum drawing and re-digging. The three pressure levels correspond to a pressing cycle. In a pressing, there can be several cycles.

[0058] The or one of the memories 4 of the installation is a memory for storing reference pH and conductivity data, for example in the form of an abacus. Thus, this memory comprises, for a value or a range of conductivity values ​​expressed for example in MilliSiemens per centimeter (mS / cm), and a pH value or a range of pH values, a value of A of increase in pH.

[0059] Thus, for example, the memory may comprise the following data: [Tables 1] Conductivity (mS / cm) PH A pH increase <3.00 <3.5 + 0.1 >3.01 >3.51 + 0.05

[0060] The control unit 5 is configured to compare the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity value pair and to determine an increase in pH as a function of the comparison.

[0061] The set pH value to be stored is equal to the pH value of the measured pH / conductivity value pair, plus the pH increase value resulting from the comparison of the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity value pair.

[0062] Thus, for example, it is assumed that the pH / conductivity value pair measured at Tl is equal to 3.2 for the pH and 2.90 for the conductivity. Since the measured conductivity is < 3, and the pH is < 3, then the delta value (A) of increase in pH is equal to 0.1, so that the setpoint value is equal to the measured pH value plus the delta of increase in pH, i.e. 3.2+0.1=3.3. This setpoint pH value equal to 3.3 is therefore stored, and the control unit 5 acquires, from this storage in real time and continuously, the pH value measured by the pH measuring sensor 3, at least until the setpoint pH value is obtained.

[0063] When the set pH value is reached, several complementary or cumulative scenarios can be envisaged. Thus, the juice collection step can be interrupted when the set pH value is reached and the press can be paused until manual reactivation by the operator. Alternatively or additionally, the installation 1 can comprise a device 7 for emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal, such as an alarm or a visual indicator term, arranged near or at the collection system 2.

[0064] The control unit 5 is configured to control the emission of an audible and / or luminous alert signal by the device 7 for emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal, when the set pH value is reached.

[0065] The operator can thus, when this signal is emitted, decide to stop the collection of juices or to modify the collection conditions. These operations can also be carried out automatically. Thus, the control unit 5 can be configured to control the closing of the member 2011 for closing the inlet 2010 of the main tank 201 when the set pH value is reached. This closing of the closing member 2011 can be carried out with or without the emission of an audible and / or luminous alert signal and preferably with a pause of the press which may in certain cases require manual reactivation of the press.

[0066] The control unit 5 can also control the closure of the first circulation channel 202 and the opening of the second circulation channel 203, or vice versa, when the set pH value is reached. In the same way, this operation can take place in parallel with the emission of an audible and / or luminous alert signal or not.

[0067] Once this set pH value is reached, it may also be decided to interrupt the collection and to add to the main tank 201 fining agents preferably chosen from the group formed by mineral type fining products, such as bentonite, silica gel or organic type, such as gelatin, casein, pea protein and stored in the auxiliary tank 204.

[0068] The control unit 5 can thus be configured to control the transfer system 205 for automatic supply of the main tank 201 from the auxiliary tank 204. For this purpose, the installation can comprise a device for measuring the quantity of juice collected in the main tank 201. This measuring device can be formed by the flow meter 82 described above and arranged at the inlet of the main tank 201. The control unit 5 is configured to control the transfer system 205 and in particular the dosing pump of the transfer system 205 as a function at least of the data provided by the measuring device with regard to the instruction provided by the operator.

[0069] Thanks to the characteristics of the installation 1, as described above, and to the method implemented, it results in a possibility of determining reliably and quickly the nature of the collected juices in order to determine precisely the moment during collection when the juices must no longer be considered as juices from the pulp zone, but as juices from the skin zone of the grape berries.

[0070] Depending on the level of automation required, the installation 1 for determining the nature of the juices, as described above, may be entirely autonomous or produced in the form of a unit with the press.

Claims

Claims

1. Method for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber (12) of a press (11), the nature of juices produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber (12) in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said method comprising at least one step of storing a set pH value and a step of measuring in real time and continuously the pH of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) at least until said stored set pH value is obtained, characterized in that said method comprises, before the step of storing said set pH value,a step of measuring the pH and conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​and a step of determining the set pH value to be stored as a function of the measured pH / conductivity pair.,

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises, before the step of storing the setpoint pH value, a step of storing reference pH and conductivity data, and in that the method comprises, during the step of determining the setpoint pH value to be stored as a function of the measured pH / conductivity pair, a phase of comparing the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity pair and a phase of determining an increase in pH as a function of the comparison, the setpoint pH value to be stored being equal to the pH value of the measured pH / conductivity pair plus the pH increase value resulting from the comparison of the reference pH and conductivity data with the measured pH / conductivity pair.

3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that it comprises a step of emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal when the set pH value is reached.

4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the juices produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber (12) being collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) following a first (202) or a second circulation path (203), the method comprises a step of changing the circulation path when the pH setpoint is reached.

5. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the method comprises a step of interrupting the step of collecting the juices when the set pH value is reached.

6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said pressing chamber (12) is a chamber of variable volume capable of pressing the grapes by varying its volume and the pressing comprising a succession of pressure stages, with each stage corresponding to the application of a pressure resulting from a reduction in the volume of the pressing chamber over a period of time, said method comprises at least one step of determining the progress of the pressing and in that the step of measuring the pH and the conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​is carried out as a function of the progress of said pressing.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the method comprises, during the step of determining the progress of the pressing, at least one phase of direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber (12).

8. Method according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that the variable volume pressing chamber (12) being a chamber delimited at least partially by a membrane (14) deformable according to the internal pressure of a control chamber (13) separated from the pressing chamber (12) at least by said membrane (14), the method comprises, during the step of determining the progress of the pressing, at least one phase of measuring the pressure inside said control chamber (13).

9. Method according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the method comprises at least one step of adding to the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) at least one so-called fining agent with the function of flocculation or coagulation agent of at least part of the compounds of said grape juices.

10. Installation (1) for determining, downstream of a pressing chamber (12) of a press (11), the nature of grape juice produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber (12) in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said installation (1) comprising at least one juice collection system (2) arranged downstream of the pressing chamber (12) and capable of being in fluid communication with the pressing chamber (12) to collect the juices produced by pressing the grapes in the pressing chamber (12), at least one pH measuring sensor (3) arranged at the collection system (2), at least one data storage memory (4) and a control unit (5) configured to control the storage of a set pH value in the or one of the memories (4) and the real-time and continuous measurement of the pH at the collection system (2) at least until said stored set pH value is obtained, characterized in that the installation (1) comprises, at the collection system (2), a conductivity measuring sensor (6) and in that the control unit (5) is configured to, prior to controlling the storage of a set pH value in the or one of the memories (4), control the measurement, at system level (2) of collection,pH and conductivity to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​and to determine the set pH value to be stored based on the pair of pH / conductivity values ​​measured.

11. Installation (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the or at least one of the memories is a memory for storing reference pH and conductivity data, and in that the control unit (5) is configured to compare the reference pH and conductivity data with the pair of measured pH / conductivity values ​​and to determine an increase in pH as a function of the comparison, the setpoint pH value to be stored being equal to the pH value of the pair of measured pH / conductivity values ​​plus the pH increase value resulting from the comparison of the reference pH and conductivity data with the pair of measured pH / conductivity values.

12. Installation (1) according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the installation (1) comprises at least one device (7) for emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal and in that the control unit (5) is configured to control the emission of an audible and / or luminous alert signal by the device (7) for emitting an audible and / or luminous alert signal when the set pH value is reached.

13. Installation according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the juice collection system (2) comprising a reservoir (201) connected to connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber (12), said tank (201) is equipped at the outlet with a first circulation path (202) and a second circulation path (203) which can be selectively closed, and the control unit (5) is configured to control the closing of one of the circulation paths and the opening of the other circulation path when the set pH value is reached.

14. Installation (1) according to one of claims 10 to 13, characterized in that the juice collection system (2) comprising a reservoir (201) connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber (12), said inlet (2010) of the reservoir (201) is equipped with a closure member (2011) and the control unit (5) is configured to control the closing of the closure member (2011) of said inlet (2010) when the set pH value is reached.

15. Installation (1) according to one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the pressing comprising a succession of pressure stages, with each stage corresponding to the application of pressure for a period of time, said installation (1) comprises at least one system (8) for determining the progress of the pressing and in that the control unit (5) is configured to measure the pH and the conductivity of the juices collected downstream of the pressing chamber (12) to record a pair of pH / conductivity values ​​as a function of the progress of said pressing.

16. Installation (1) according to claim 15, characterized in that the pressing chamber (12) being a chamber of variable volume capable of pressing the grapes by variation of its volume, the system (8) for determining the progress of the pressing comprises at least one member (81) for direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the pressing chamber (12).

17. Installation (1) according to claim 16, characterized in that the pressing chamber (12) being a chamber delimited at least partially by a membrane (14) deformable as a function of the internal pressure of a control chamber (13) separated from the pressing chamber (12) at least by said membrane (14), the or at least one of the members (81) for direct or indirect measurement of the state of the deformation of the chamber of the system (8) for determining the progress of the pressing is a member for measuring the pressure preferably inside said control chamber (13).

18. Installation (1) according to one of claims 10 to 17, characterized in that that the juice collection system (2) which comprises a so-called main tank (201) connectable at the inlet to the pressing chamber (12) comprises at least one so-called auxiliary tank (204) for the storage of so-called fining agents acting as flocculation or coagulation agents for at least part of the compounds of said grape juice, and a system (205) for transferring the contents of the auxiliary tank (204) to the main tank (201).

19. Installation (1) according to claim 18, characterized in that the installation (1) comprises a device for measuring the quantity of juice collected in the main tank (201), such as a flow meter (82), and the control unit (5) is configured to control the transfer system (205) as a function at least of the data provided by the measuring device.

20. Assembly comprising a press (11) comprising a pressing chamber (12) and an installation (1) for determining, downstream of said pressing chamber (12) of the press, the nature of grape juice produced at least by pressing grapes in said pressing chamber (12) in order to distinguish the juices from the pulp zone of the grape berries from the juices from the skin zone of the grape berries, said installation (1) comprising at least one juice collection system (2) arranged downstream of the pressing chamber (12) and capable of being in fluid communication with the pressing chamber (12) to collect at least the juices produced by pressing the grapes in the pressing chamber (12), at least one pH measuring sensor (3) arranged at the collection system (2),at least one data storage memory (4) and a control unit (5) configured to control the storage of a set pH value in the or one of the memories (4) and the real-time and continuous measurement of the pH at the level of the collection system (2) at least until said stored set pH value is obtained, characterized in that said installation (1) conforms to one of claims 10 to 19.,

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