Injection device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an injection device (1) suitable for piercing and emptying vacuum-sealed packages (P) containing granular material, comprising a tubular body (2) having a duct (20) for the flow of material extending from an inlet opening (21) at a first end to an outlet opening (22) for the granular material at a second end, and a hollow perforation tool (3) rigidly connected to the tubular body and having a distal end terminating in a sharp tip (30) and a widened base (31) at a proximal end. The device further comprises a shoulder (4) as a stop for abutting the wall of the package to stop the injection device when the wall is perforated by the perforation tool (3), and a bowl (5) configured to allow granular material, possibly escaping the hollow portion of the perforation tool, to flow into the hollow portion by gravity.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an injection device having particular application for piercing and emptying, essentially by gravity, containers containing granular material.

[0002] The present invention more particularly relates to emptying vacuum-sealed packages in which granular material has been compressed by a vacuum inside the package and a pressure difference between the subatmospheric pressure inside the package and the atmospheric pressure outside the package.

[0003] The invention further relates to a fermentation unit with a fermentation tank, which includes an injection device according to the invention and is configured to allow aseptic transfer of granular material from a vacuum-sealed package to the fermentation tank.

[0004] The invention further relates to equipment including an injection device according to the invention, and to a method of disinfecting an injection device using the equipment.

[0005] The present invention further relates to a vacuum sealed package specifically adapted to cooperate with an injection device.

[0006] The injection device according to the present disclosure has particular important application in the aseptic transfer of granular material contained in vacuum-sealed packages, and in particular the aseptic transfer of dried yeast contained in vacuum-sealed packages to equipment such as fermentation tanks, particularly industrial equipment.

[0007] The present disclosure relates to the field of vacuum-sealed packaging of dry granular material, such as powdered dry yeast, and technical means for the aseptic transfer of the granular material contained in the package to predetermined equipment.

[0008] In the field of beer production, it is very often necessary to add dry yeast at some stage of the production, for example after cooling the wort obtained by filtering a mixture of crushed grains and water in order to carry out fermentation in tanks.

[0009] Active dry yeast is typically contained in a vacuum-sealed package to protect it from oxygen and moisture during storage. The package is opened for manual injection into a fermentation tank through a manhole. This operation must be performed as sterile as possible, otherwise contaminants, bacteria, or fungi may be transferred to the tank and grow during fermentation, compromising the organoleptic properties of the beverage. To prevent the transfer of contaminants into the tank, the tool used to open the package (such as scissors) may be sterilized, and the exterior of the package may also be sterilized, before piercing the vacuum-sealed package.

[0010] Once the vacuum sealed package is opened, the operator can inject the yeast into the workpiece in the fermentation tank by simply inverting the package over the manhole.

[0011] According to the inventors' findings, such an implementation is not satisfactory, for several reasons as follows: Disinfecting tools (such as scissors), which is typically done with a flame or disinfectant solution, is messy and the success of the operation is primarily dependent on the care of the operator when performing the operation. Manual injection of packages through manholes is often a cumbersome operation with a non-negligible risk of dangerous drops, e.g. of packages falling into tanks, and in particular The manhole opening required for yeast injection itself carries the risk of compromising the sterility of the tank, as it allows large amounts of unsterilised air to enter the tank, allowing airborne bacteria and fungi to enter the tank and contaminate the wort. [Background technology]

[0012] Devices suitable for piercing and emptying packages for the purpose of transferring hygiene products are known in the prior art, as disclosed in, for example, patent document 1. The device disclosed in patent document 1 is intended for emptying liquid pouches such as sauces or beverages and implicitly requires the use of suction. This technical means is neither effective nor functional for emptying granular materials from vacuum-sealed packages.

[0013] Also known from Patent Document 2, for example, is a specially designed device for removing and emptying a predetermined amount of granular material (such as fine powder). This device includes a drilling tool in the form of an ogive for drilling the wall of a container until a shoulder provided at the base of the ogive abuts against the wall of the container. The drilling tool is hollow and includes a side opening for being located completely inside the container when the shoulder abuts against the wall. By means of the side opening, the material is transferred into the body of the drilling tool and then flows into the base of the ogive towards the outlet hole. This device is designed to deliver an amount of material depending on the volume of the hollow part each time the container is inverted.

[0014] In any case, and to the inventors' knowledge, the device disclosed in Patent Document 2 is not capable of piercing the entire package to completely and quickly empty it, particularly in the case of vacuum-sealed packages, which are held in a stationary position. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0015] [Patent Document 1] EP 1201598 [Patent Document 2] GB 719054 Summary of the Invention

[0016] The present disclosure improves this situation by proposing an injection device that has particular application for puncturing and emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing granular material, essentially by gravity.

[0017] More particularly, the device has particular application for completely and quickly removing and emptying vacuum-sealed packages of granular material while the packages are in a stationary position, i.e., without inverting the packages.

[0018] Another object of the invention is to propose a production unit, such as a fermentation unit, comprising an injection device configured to aseptically transfer granular material contained in vacuum-sealed packages into an enclosure, such as a fermentation tank, of the production unit.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to propose a facility comprising an injection device according to the present invention and a shutter which, in addition to its first function as a closure member, is capable of suitably carrying out cleaning and disinfecting treatments of the interior and exterior surfaces of the injection device that come into contact with the granular material.

[0020] Another object of the invention is to propose a cleaning and disinfecting process for implementing the equipment according to the invention.

[0021] Yet another object of the invention is to propose a vacuum-sealed package that is particularly adapted to cooperate with the invention, with an injection device according to at least one embodiment.

[0022] Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description, which is for information purposes only and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

[0023] According to a first aspect, there is proposed a dosing device suitable for piercing and emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing granular material, said dosing device comprising: a tubular body having a material flow duct extending from an inlet opening at a first end to an outlet opening for said particulate material at a second end; a hollow drilling tool having a tapered distal end and an enlarged base at a proximal end, the hollow drilling tool being integral with the tubular body at a first end thereof, the hollow drilling tool having at least one side opening along the length of the drilling tool extending from the enlarged base of the drilling tool along the length of the drilling tool and configured to allow material to be injected from outside the hollow portion of the drilling tool into the hollow portion of the enlarged base of the drilling tool, the hollow portion of the enlarged base of the drilling tool communicating with the inlet opening of the tubular body; a shoulder formed by the first end of the tubular body disposed around the widened base of the drilling tool and configured to abut against a wall of the package and stop the injection device when the wall is drilled by the drilling tool at a position where the side opening extends into the package; It is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upward and is configured to ensure that the contents within the vacuum-sealed package are continuously removed and emptied when the granular material flows by gravity through the side opening, through the inlet opening, and into the outlet opening in a direction opposite to the direction of air flowing into the vacuum-sealed package.

[0024] In one embodiment, the shoulder as a peripheral stop is configured to abut against the wall of the package and stop the injection device when the wall is drilled by the drilling tool at a position where the side opening extends along a first portion of the interior length of the package and a second portion of the exterior length of the package where the side opening forms an air inlet, the shoulder is radially spaced from the widened base of the drilling tool, the injection device is formed at the first end of the cylindrical body, is arranged along the periphery of the drilling tool and includes a bowl portion located between the shoulder and the widened base of the drilling tool, the inclined surface of the bowl portion is inclined toward the drilling tool and is configured to allow granular material that passes through the second portion of the length of the side opening and escapes from the hollow portion of the drilling tool to flow into the hollow portion by gravity when the drilling tool is positioned vertically with its pointed tip facing upward.

[0025] Any of the features may be used separately or in combination. The widened base of the drilling tool has an outer radius relative to the axis of the drilling tool, and the lower part of the bowl section has a recess at the side opening at a further depth in the wall of the bowl section that communicates with the duct of the cylindrical body, the recess being configured to extend the inlet opening radially outward of the radius R1 of the widened base of the drilling tool to at least the position of the at least one side opening. The inlet opening extends to the location of the side opening to a radius R2 relative to the axis A of the drilling tool that is greater than the outer radius R1 of the widened base of the drilling tool. The drilling tool has an ogive shape with ogive arches each extending from the widened base of the drilling tool to the pointed tip of the drilling tool and converging, and the at least one side opening includes a plurality of side openings extending over all or part of the length of the drilling tool in the direction from the widened base to the pointed tip between two consecutive ogive arches.

[0026] In one embodiment, the drilling tool includes a locking groove for receiving the wall edge of the package directly or indirectly via an annular ring firmly connected to the wall of the package, the locking groove being configured to hold the drilling tool when the package is drilled by the drilling tool and being formed by a plurality of notches at the same radial position relative to the axis A of the drilling tool.

[0027] In one embodiment, the notch is positioned along the axis A of the drilling tool so as to be flush with the shoulder along the axis A of the drilling tool, which is spaced from the widened base of the drilling tool along the axis A, and thus, when the wall of the package is locked by the notch of the locking groove, the side opening extends upward to allow the granular material to be injected into the interior of the drilling tool in a first part of the length of the drilling tool inside the package, which is located between the pointed tip and the locking groove, while forming the air intake in a second part of the length of the drilling tool outside the package, which is located between the locking groove and the widened base.

[0028] In one embodiment, the assembly of the cylinder and the piercing tool is a manually operated portable hand tool configured to manually pierce the vacuum sealed package to remove and empty the granular material.

[0029] Alternatively, the injection device may be an integral part of a manufacturing unit.

[0030] The present invention also relates to a production unit, such as a fermentation unit, comprising a housing, such as a fermentation tank, and an injection device arranged to be fixed and integrated into said housing or a pipe, wherein said perforation tool is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upwards, and the injection device is configured to transfer granular material contained in a vacuum-sealed package into the housing directly or indirectly via a pipe.

[0031] In one embodiment of the manufacturing unit, the cylindrical body of the injection device is sealed and integrated into the housing, in particular the fermentation tank, so that the outlet opening is in communication with the internal volume of the housing, and the injection device, which is placed on top of the housing, is configured so that the granular material flows into the interior of the tank through the outlet opening by gravity.

[0032] Alternatively, the enclosure, in particular the fermentation tank, is pumped with product by the pipe, and the injection device cylinder is sealingly connected to the pipe directly or indirectly via a transfer system so that the granular material flows into the pipe while mixing with the product before being routed together with the product into the enclosure, such as the fermentation tank.

[0033] The invention further relates to an installation comprising an injection device according to the invention or an injection device for a fermentation unit according to the invention, and a shutter which sealingly cooperates with a first end of a cylindrical body to cover the perforation tool and optionally the bowl portion by forming a fluid-tight chamber which is defined between the shutter, the perforation tool, the shoulder portion and optionally the bowl portion, and which communicates with a duct in the cylindrical body via the at least one side opening.

[0034] The invention further relates to a method for cleaning and disinfecting the drilling tool and the inner surface of the duct of the cylindrical body of an injection device of an installation according to the invention, as well as the drilling tool and thus the bowl and thus the outer surface of the shoulder, the shutter is placed in a predetermined position and covers the drilling tool, the shoulder and optionally the bowl portion to form a sealed chamber for the fluid, the sealed chamber being defined between the shutter, the drilling tool, the shoulder and optionally the bowl portion, while communicating with the duct of the cylindrical body through the side opening; By injecting disinfectant through the inlet opening, the disinfectant flows into the hollow portion of the duct and the drilling tool and abuts against the inner walls of the hollow portion of the duct and the drilling tool, while also flowing into the sealed chamber and abutting against the drilling tool, the shoulder, and possibly the outer wall of the bowl portion.

[0035] If the method is carried out by an installation comprising an injection device of a fermentation unit according to the invention, the disinfecting liquid injection step of disinfecting the perforation tool and the inner surface of the duct of the tubular body of the injection device, and the perforation tool and possibly the outer surface of the bowl and shoulder, may also be an injection step of simultaneously cleaning and / or sterilizing the inner surface of the fermentation unit. Thus, the cleaning and disinfecting method is preferably a "cleaning in place" (CIP) method.

[0036] The invention further relates to a vacuum-sealed package containing a granular material and an annular ring configured to engage a locking groove of an injection device according to one embodiment and integrated into a wall of said package.

[0037] In one embodiment, the outer surface of the sealing wall of the annular ring of the vacuum sealed package to be pierced may be cleaned and isolated from external contamination by a release sheet to be removed prior to piercing.

[0038] Finally, the invention also relates to the use of an injector or production unit according to the invention, in particular an injector belonging to a fermentation unit according to the invention, or to an installation according to the invention for emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing active dry yeast.

[0039] The following features can be implemented as desired. These features may be implemented singly or in combination of two or more.

[0040] Other features, details and advantages will become apparent from an analysis of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0041] [Figure 1] 1 is a perspective view of an injection device according to one embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 3] 2 is a cross-sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 1 taken along a vertical plane parallel to and slightly offset from the longitudinal axis of the device. [Figure 4] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the device in use when a punching tool penetrates the wall of a vacuum-sealed package and the edge of the package wall is directly received and locked in the locking groove of the punching tool. FIG. [Figure 5] A diagram of a vacuum-sealed package that specifically includes an annular ring that is integrated into the wall of the package to cooperate with the aforementioned locking groove, and a peelable protective sheet for locally isolating the outer surface of the package at the annular ring from external contamination. [Figure 5a] FIG. 10 is a detailed cross-sectional view showing the wall, release sheet and intermediate annular ring of the package. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the device in use with a piercing tool penetrating the wall of the vacuum sealed package and the annular ring being received and held in a locking groove in the piercing tool. [Figure 7] 2 is a cross-sectional view of equipment including the device shown in FIG. 1 and a shutter, for carrying out a method for cleaning and disinfecting the interior and exterior surfaces of an injection device. [Figure 7a] FIG. 10 is a partial cross-sectional view of the drilling tool through its longitudinal axis illustrating the underside of the hollow section of the tool at a sharp tip with flats present to prevent retention of product. [Figure 8] 2 is a schematic diagram showing several possible combinations of the injection device shown in FIG. 1 permanently installed in a fermentation unit. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second alternative embodiment of an injection device to that of FIG. 1, in which the locking grooves that hold the edges of the wall of the package are omitted and replaced with stops that project radially from the drilling tool and are coupled to the threads. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] The present invention relates to an injection device 1 suitable for piercing and emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing granular material.

[0043] The granular material is preferably a dry material such as active dry yeast intended for fermentation purposes such as in beer production. The granular material is contained within a vacuum-sealed package. The vacuum and pressure differential between an internal pressure that is below atmospheric pressure and an external pressure, i.e. atmospheric pressure, compresses the material and the package.

[0044] Preliminary tests conducted by the inventors have shown that injection devices, such as those known from the prior art disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,629,693, which operate to puncture the package and empty liquid or granular material from conventional packaging (without vacuum), are not sufficient to empty compressed granular material from vacuum-sealed packages. When used with such vacuum-sealed packages, these devices begin emptying the granular material before the flow ceases. These injection devices are unable to quickly empty the granular contents within the package. In other words, if the air needed to empty the granular contents flows in the opposite direction to the flow, reflux can occur, resulting in loss of granular material and the risk of it escaping the device at the perforation point.

[0045] The inventors have discovered that, in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, conventional injection devices, when used to pierce and empty vacuum-sealed packages, tend to create a partial vacuum during material flow, maintaining a vacuum inside the empty package that opposes the flow of granular material. Furthermore, if the air required for emptying flows only in the opposite direction to the granular material, the air may reflux, causing product loss.

[0046] In at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inventors have addressed this problem by designing an injection device for injecting granular material solely by gravity, while the injection device is held in a substantially static position, without encouraging air to be entrained through the perforated opening in the package and potentially causing reflux and loss of product.

[0047] Advantageously, such a device is capable of rapidly and continuously removing and emptying all of the granular material contained in the vacuum-sealed package.

[0048] Also, as shown in the drawings, which are non-limiting examples, an injection device for piercing and emptying a vacuum-sealed package P containing granular material may be a cylindrical body 2 having a duct 20 for the flow of material extending from an inlet opening 21 at a first end to an outlet opening 22 for the granular material at a second end; a hollow drilling tool (3) having a distal end terminating in a sharp tip (30) and an enlarged base (31) at a proximal end, the hollow drilling tool (3) being rigidly connected to the tubular body at a first end thereof, the hollow drilling tool (3) having at least one side opening (32) along the length of the drilling tool extending from the enlarged base (31) of the drilling tool along the length of the drilling tool and configured to allow material to be injected from outside the hollow portion of the drilling tool to the inside, the hollow portion of the enlarged base (31) of the drilling tool (3) communicating with the inlet opening (21) of the tubular body (2); and a shoulder 4 as a peripheral stop formed by a first end of the cylindrical body 2 that is arranged around the widened base 31 of the drilling tool and configured to abut against the wall of the package and stop the injection device when the wall is drilled by the drilling tool at a position where the side opening 32 extends into the interior of the package.

[0049] It should be noted that, in general, it is preferable that the axis A of the drilling tool and the axis of the duct 20 are approximately the same, and that the duct 20 extends vertically of the drilling tool when the drilling tool is positioned vertically, with the pointed tip 30 facing upward.

[0050] It should be noted that in general the drilling tool may include a number of lateral openings 32 distributed around the axis A of the drilling tool, for example four openings extending over an angular sector, in particular an angle of less than 90°.

[0051] Thus, as shown in Figure 4, such an injection device is used by perforating the wall of the package with the perforation tool until the shoulder 4 hits the outer surface of the package and stops. Injection takes place when the device is held in a position where the axis of the perforation tool is substantially vertical and the pointed tip 30 points upwards, and the granular material flows from the package through the side openings and the inlet opening 21 in the hollow part of the perforation tool 3 and into the outlet opening 22 through which the granular material escapes.

[0052] In at least one embodiment, to account for the vacuum within the package that tends to prevent rapid emptying of the granular contents, the dosing device 1 includes the following features.

[0053] The shoulder 4 as a stop is configured to abut against the wall of the package and stop the injection device when the wall is perforated by the perforation tool 3, in particular at a position where the side opening 32 extends along a first portion L1 of the interior length of the package and a second portion L2 of the exterior length of the package where the side opening forms an air inlet.

[0054] Thus, as shown in Figure 4, each side opening extends through the package by a first portion L1 of the length of the side opening 32 through which the side opening allows granular material to enter the hollow portion of the drilling tool, and along a second portion L2 of the length outside the package through which the side opening forms an air inlet.

[0055] 4 and represented by the single-line arrow, a second portion L2 of the length of the side opening provides a lateral air inflow, as shown by the double-line arrow, at the first end of the cylinder 2, in a direction opposite to the gravity inflow of the granular material. This lateral air inflow is preferably in addition to any possible air inflow occurring axially from the outlet opening 22 through the cylinder duct 20.

[0056] As an example, the ratio L2 / L1 may be between 0.05 and 0.25, for example 0.1.

[0057] The side intake formed by the side openings 32 substantially increases the amount of air entering the vacuum sealed package and promotes the flow of material from the vacuum sealed package by avoiding the creation of a vacuum due to the flow of granular material, which is substantially better and allows the granular contents of the vacuum sealed package to be quickly removed and emptied even when the injection device is stationary and tip-up.

[0058] However, it should be noted that sometimes air flowing axially in a direction opposite to the granular material can cause a reflux of the granular material escaping laterally through the(respective) side openings 32 in the second portion L2 of the outer length of the package. The inventors have ameliorated this problem by allowing the granular material to return to the device by gravity.

[0059] Thus, according to this embodiment of the disclosure, the shoulder is radially spaced from the widened base 31 of the drilling tool, and the device includes a bowl portion 5 formed at the first end of the tubular body 2 and arranged around the drilling tool 3, in particular around 360° of the drilling tool 3. The bowl portion 5 is located between the shoulder 4 and the widened base 31 of the drilling tool, and the inclined surface of the bowl portion is preferably inclined towards the drilling tool 3 and configured to allow granular material escaping the hollow portion of the drilling tool through the second portion L2 of the length of the side opening 32 (when the drilling tool is positioned vertically and the tip 30 of the drilling tool is facing upwards) to flow by gravity back into the hollow portion. The bowl portion 5 thereby preferably serves to return granular material escaping laterally from the side opening 32 to the duct 20.

[0060] Finally, the injection device is configured to continuously remove and empty the contents within the vacuum-sealed package when the injection device is positioned upright with the pointed tip pointing upwards and the granular material flows by gravity along the direction opposite to the air through the inlet opening 21 via the side opening 32 and into the outlet opening 22, in particular through the axial intake formed by the duct 20, and possibly through a side intake penetrating the side opening 32.

[0061] As a non-limiting example: The height H of the drilling tool along the axis A from the shoulder 4 to the pointed tip 30 can be 25 mm to 40 mm, for example, about 30 mm to 40 mm; The diameter D of the widened base of the drilling tool may be between 15 mm and 25 mm, for example 20 mm; The diameter Dc of the bowl portion 5 is 120% to 200% of the diameter of the widened base 31 of the drilling tool, for example 40 mm to 60 mm.

[0062] In one embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the widened base of the drilling tool has an outer radius R1 relative to the axis A of the drilling tool, and the lower part of the bowl portion 5 has a recess 50 at the lateral opening 32 further into the wall of the bowl portion 5 which communicates with the duct 20 of the tubular body 2.

[0063] The recess 50 is in particular configured to extend the inlet opening 21 radially outward of the radius R1 of the widened base 31 of the drilling tool at least up to the position of said at least one lateral opening 32.

[0064] Such recesses 50, as can be seen particularly in Figure 2, further facilitate the return of granular material from the bowl portion 5 to the inlet opening 21, avoiding accumulation of material in the bowl portion 5 outside the drilling tool 3. Such recesses 50 can be provided in each side opening 32, thereby allowing the inlet opening 21 to extend to the position of the side opening 32 to a radius R2, relative to the drilling tool axis A, which is greater than the outer radius R1 of the widened base 31 of the drilling tool 3, as shown in Figure 2.

[0065] The drilling tool 3 has an ogive shape, with each ogive arch 33 extending from the widened base 31 of the drilling tool 3 to the pointed tip 30 of the drilling tool and meeting therein. The at least one side opening 32 may comprise a plurality of side openings 32. Preferably, each side opening 32 extends from the widened base 31 towards the pointed tip 30 over all or part of the length of the drilling tool between two consecutive ogive arches 33. By way of example, there are four ogive arches 33 distributed around the axis A, for example every 90°.

[0066] In one embodiment, the punch tool 3 includes a locking groove 34 for receiving the wall edge of the package P directly or indirectly via an annular ring B that is rigidly connected to the wall of the package P. The locking groove 34 is configured to hold the punch tool 3 to the package when the package is punched by the punch tool 3.

[0067] For example, if the injection device is configured as a detachable, independent hand tool, the operator does not need to grasp the injection device 1, and the locking groove 34 allows the injection device 1 to be held against the wall of the package and suspended from the package.

[0068] As shown in the drawings, the locking groove 34 is formed, for example, by a plurality of notches 35 in an ogive arch 33 at the same radial position relative to the axis A of the drilling tool. The notches 35 are positioned along the axis A of the drilling tool so as to be flush with a shoulder 4 along the axis A of the drilling tool, which is spaced apart from the widened base 31 of the drilling tool along the direction of the axis A. In this way, when the notches 35 of the locking groove 34 lock onto the wall of the package, the side opening 32 extends upward along a first portion L1 of the length of the drilling tool 3 inside the package, which is located between the pointed tip 30 and the locking groove 34, and also extends upward along a second portion L2 of the length of the drilling tool 3 outside the package, which extends between the locking groove 34 and the widened base 31. In this second portion L2 of the length, the side opening forms a side air inlet.

[0069] The locking groove can be directly locked to the wall edge of the package as shown in FIG. 4, or can be indirectly locked via an annular ring B that is firmly connected to the wall of the package as shown in FIG.

[0070] The invention also relates to a package P comprising a granular material and an annular ring B adapted to be locked in a locking groove 34 of the injection device 1 and rigidly connected to the wall of the package.

[0071] Another possibility, combined (or not) with the presence of the annular ring B, is that the outer surface of the sealing wall of the vacuum-sealed package to be perforated, for example at the annular ring B, is isolated from external contamination by a release sheet Pel which is removed before perforation. This surface can preferably be cleaned or sterilized immediately before providing the release sheet Pel.

[0072] The variant of Figure 9 in particular comprises a stop 37 which projects radially from the drilling tool (instead of the locking groove 34 of Figure 1) and more particularly is formed in the shape of a ring substantially perpendicular to the axis A of the drilling tool. This ring connects the ogive arches 33 of the drilling tool. This stop 37 is located along the axis A so as to be substantially flush with the shoulder 4 which is spaced apart from the widened base 31 along this axis A. This stop is preceded by a thread 38 which connects the ogive arches 33 of the drilling tool.

[0073] The injection device is provided by piercing the flexible wall of the package with the sharp tip 31 of the perforation tool 3 and then threading the thread 38 into the flexible wall of the package until, when the wall of the package abuts the shoulder 4, the flexible wall is sandwiched between the ring forming the stop 37 and the immediately adjacent part of the thread 38.

[0074] As a first possibility, the assembly of the cylinder 2 and the piercing tool 3 is configured as a manually operated portable hand tool adapted to manually pierce the vacuum sealed package and empty it of the granular material.

[0075] Another possibility is that the injection device may be permanently installed in the production unit and be an integral part of the production unit with the sharp tip of the drilling tool pointing upwards.

[0076] The present invention further relates to a production unit 7, such as a fermentation unit, comprising a housing 70, such as a fermentation tank, and an injection device 1 according to the present invention, which is rigidly attached to the housing 70 or rigidly connected to a pipe 71, wherein the drilling tool is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upwards, and the injection device is configured to transfer granular material contained in a vacuum-sealed package into the housing 70 directly or indirectly via the pipe 71.

[0077] The second end of the tubular body is therefore sealingly fixed to the housing 70, in particular to a fermentation tank or pipe, for example by means of the internal thread 23 of the outlet opening 22 which is threaded with a threaded fitting of the production unit. Any other type of fitting may also be used to attach the second end to the tank or pipe, such as fittings according to SMS standards and fittings known to those skilled in the art under the name "CLAMP fittings".

[0078] In one embodiment, the injection device tubing is tightly and sealingly connected to the housing 70 such that the outlet opening 22 is in communication with the interior volume of the fermentation tank. The injection device is fixed to the top of the tank and is configured so that the particulate material flows by gravity through the outlet opening 22 into the housing 70, and in particular into the interior of the tank.

[0079] Another possibility is that the housing 70, in particular the fermentation tank 70, is pumped with product by means of a pipe 71, and the injection device cylinder is sealingly connected to the pipe 71 directly or indirectly via a transfer system, so that the granular material flows into the pipe 71 while mixing with the product before being routed into the housing 70 together with the product.

[0080] For example, a transfer system such as a venturi 8 through which the fluid in a pipe passes may be used, and a partial vacuum created by the venturi 8 draws the particulate material in to mix with the fluid downstream of the venturi.

[0081] The present disclosure further relates to an equipment comprising an injection device 1 according to the present invention or an injection device of a fermentation unit 7 according to the present invention, and a cover 6 sealingly engaged with a first end of the cylindrical body to cover the drilling tool and the bowl portion (in a sealed position) and form a sealed chamber 60 for a fluid.

[0082] This sealed chamber is defined between the inner wall of the cover 6, the drilling tool 3 (possibly the bowl portion 5), and the shoulder portion 4, and communicates with the duct 20 of the cylindrical body through at least one side opening. In addition to functioning as a component for closing the inlet opening, such a cover 6 can also be used to perform cleaning and disinfection methods. The cover 6 has an internal thread that screws into the external thread of the cylindrical body at the first end of the cylindrical body, and can be screwed onto the cylindrical body. Alternatively, the cover 6 can be attached to the cylindrical body of the device by any coupling, such as an SMS coupling or a CLAMP coupling.

[0083] The invention further relates to a method for cleaning and disinfecting the drilling tool and the inner surface of the duct of the cylindrical body, as well as the outer surface of the drilling tool, the bowl and possibly the shoulder of the injection device 1 of the installation according to the invention. This cleaning and disinfecting method includes the following steps. The cover 6 is placed in position and covers the drilling tool, shoulder 4 (and possibly bowl 5) to form a sealed chamber 60 for fluid, which is defined between the cover, drilling tool 3 and shoulder 4 (and possibly bowl 5) while communicating with the duct 20 of the tubular body via at least one side opening 32. By injecting disinfectant through the outlet opening 22, the disinfectant flows into the hollow portion of the duct 20 and the drilling tool and abuts against the inner walls of the hollow portion of the duct 20 and the drilling tool 3, while flowing into the sealed chamber 60 and abuts against the outer walls of the drilling tool 3 and the shoulder portion 4, and possibly the bowl portion 5.

[0084] As shown in the detailed view of Figure 7a, the hollow portion of the drilling tool may include a flat 36 on the underside of the drilling tool opposite the sharp tip 30 to avoid trapping of the product.

[0085] If the dosing device is configured as an integral part of the production unit, this cleaning and sanitizing step can preferably be carried out simultaneously with the cleaning and sanitizing of the production unit 7. For example, in the case of a fermentation unit, the sanitizing liquid dosing step that sanitizes the inner surfaces of the drilling tool and the duct of the tubular body of the dosing device 1 and the outer surfaces of the drilling tool, bowl and shoulder is a dosing step that simultaneously cleans the inner surfaces of the fermentation unit. In other words, the step of cleaning the fermentation unit simultaneously sanitizes the dosing device.

[0086] The injection device has particular application for emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing active dry yeast, for example in beer production. [Explanation of symbols]

[0087] 1: Injection device 2: Cylindrical body 20: Duct 21: Entrance opening 22:Exit opening 23: Female thread 3:Drilling tool 30: Sharp tip 31: Widened base 32: Side opening 33: Ogeve Arch 34: Locking groove 35: Notch 36: Flat part inside the hollow part of the drilling tool (the bottom surface opposite to the sharp tip) 4: Shoulder as a stopper 5: Bowl section 50: A recess in the inclined wall of the bowl section at a greater depth 6: Cover 60: Closed room 7: Fermentation unit and other manufacturing units 70: Housing of fermentation tank etc. 71: Pipe 8: Venturi A: Axis of the drilling tool B: Annular ring D: Diameter of the widened base Dc: diameter of bowl H: Height of drilling tool from shoulder P: Vacuum sealed package Pel: Peel-off sheet L1: First part of the length of the side opening (inside the package) L2: The second part of the length of the side opening (inside the package) R1: outer radius of the widened base R2: Radius of the inlet opening where the recess exists

Claims

1. 1. An injection device (1) suitable for piercing a vacuum-sealed package (P) to empty the granular material contained in said vacuum-sealed package (P), comprising: a cylindrical body (2) having a duct (20) for the flow of material extending from an inlet opening (21) located at a first end of the cylindrical body (2) to an outlet opening (22) for the particulate material located at a second end of the cylindrical body (2); a hollow boring tool (3) having a distal end terminating in a sharp tip (30) and an enlarged base (31) at a proximal end, the hollow boring tool (3) being rigidly connected to the tubular body at a first end thereof, the hollow boring tool (3) having at least one side opening (32) along the length of the hollow boring tool extending from the enlarged base of the hollow boring tool along the length of the hollow boring tool and configured to allow material to be injected from outside the hollow portion of the hollow boring tool into the inside, the hollow portion of the enlarged base (31) of the hollow boring tool (3) communicating with the inlet opening (21) of the tubular body (2); a shoulder (4) as a peripheral stop formed by a first end of the tubular body (2) arranged around the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool and configured to abut against a wall of the vacuum-sealed package to stop the injection device when the wall is pierced by the hollow drilling tool (3) at a position where the side opening (32) extends into the interior of the vacuum-sealed package, the vacuum-sealed package is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upward and configured to facilitate continuous removal of the contents of the vacuum-sealed package when the particulate material flows by gravity through the inlet opening (21) via the side opening (32) and into the outlet opening (22) in a direction opposite to the direction of air flowing into the vacuum-sealed package; The shoulder (4) as the peripheral stop is configured to abut against the wall of the vacuum sealed package to stop the injection device when the wall is pierced by the hollow drilling tool (3) at a position where the side opening (32) extends along a first portion (L1) of the interior length of the vacuum sealed package and a second portion (L2) of the exterior length of the vacuum sealed package where the side opening forms an air inlet, the shoulder being radially spaced from the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool, and the injection device is attached to the first end of the tubular body (2). the injection device (1) is formed with a hollow boring tool (3) and arranged along the periphery thereof, and includes a bowl portion (5) located between the shoulder portion (4) and the widened base (31) of the hollow boring tool, the inclined surface of the bowl portion being inclined toward the hollow boring tool (3), and configured to allow granular material that has passed through the second portion (L2) of the length of the side opening (32) and escaped from the hollow portion of the hollow boring tool to flow into the interior of the hollow portion by gravity when the hollow boring tool is arranged vertically with the pointed tip portion (30) of the hollow boring tool facing upward.

2. 2. The injection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the widened base of the hollow drilling tool has an outer radius R1 relative to the axis (A) of the hollow drilling tool, and the lower part of the bowl portion (5) has a recess (50) at the side opening (32) at a further depth in the wall of the bowl portion (5) communicating with the duct (20) of the cylindrical body (2), the recess being configured to extend the inlet opening (21) radially outward from the radius R1 of the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool at least to the position of the at least one side opening (32).

3. 3. The injection device according to claim 2, wherein the inlet opening (21) extends to the position of the side opening (32) to a radius R2, relative to the axis A of the hollow drilling tool, which is greater than the outer radius R1 of the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool (3).

4. 4. The injection device according to claim 1, wherein the hollow drilling tool (3) has an ogive shape including converging ogive arches (33) each extending from the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool (3) to the pointed tip (30) of the hollow drilling tool (3), and the at least one side opening (32) includes a plurality of side openings (32) extending over all or part of the length of the hollow drilling tool in the direction from the widened base (31) to the pointed tip between two consecutive ogive arches (33).

5. 1. An injection device (1) suitable for piercing a vacuum-sealed package (P) to empty the granular material contained in said vacuum-sealed package (P), comprising: a cylindrical body (2) having a duct (20) for the flow of material extending from an inlet opening (21) located at a first end of the cylindrical body (2) to an outlet opening (22) for the particulate material located at a second end of the cylindrical body (2); a hollow boring tool (3) having a distal end terminating in a sharp tip (30) and an enlarged base (31) at a proximal end, the hollow boring tool (3) being rigidly connected to the tubular body at a first end thereof, the hollow boring tool (3) having at least one side opening (32) along the length of the hollow boring tool extending from the enlarged base of the hollow boring tool along the length of the hollow boring tool and configured to allow material to be injected from outside the hollow portion of the hollow boring tool into the inside, the hollow portion of the enlarged base (31) of the hollow boring tool (3) communicating with the inlet opening (21) of the tubular body (2); a shoulder (4) as a peripheral stop formed by a first end of the tubular body (2) arranged around the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool and configured to abut against a wall of the vacuum-sealed package to stop the injection device when the wall is pierced by the hollow drilling tool (3) at a position where the side opening (32) extends into the interior of the vacuum-sealed package, the vacuum-sealed package is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upward and configured to facilitate continuous removal of the contents of the vacuum-sealed package when the particulate material flows by gravity through the inlet opening (21) via the side opening (32) and into the outlet opening (22) in a direction opposite to the direction of air flowing into the vacuum-sealed package; The hollow drilling tool (3) includes a locking groove (34) for receiving the wall edge of the vacuum-sealed package (P) directly or indirectly via an annular ring (B) firmly connected to the wall of the vacuum-sealed package (P), and the locking groove (34) is configured to hold the hollow drilling tool (3) when the vacuum-sealed package is pierced by the hollow drilling tool (3), and is formed by a plurality of notches (35) at the same radial position relative to the axis A of the hollow drilling tool (3).

6. The notch (35) is located in the same plane as the shoulder (4) along the axis A, away from the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool along the direction of the axis A of the hollow drilling tool, according to the axis A, so that when the wall of the vacuum-sealed package is locked by the notch (35) of the locking groove (34), the side opening (32) is located between the pointed tip (30) and the locking groove (34).

6. The injection device according to claim 5, wherein the vacuum-sealed package extends upwardly inside the vacuum-sealed package in a first part of the length (L1) of the hollow drilling tool (3) to allow the granular material to be injected into the hollow drilling tool, while the side opening (32) extends upwardly to form an air intake outside the vacuum-sealed package in a second part of the length (L2) of the hollow drilling tool (3) located between the locking groove (34) and the widened base (31).

7. 6. The injection device (1) according to claim 1 or 5, wherein the assembly of the cylindrical body (2) and the hollow perforation tool (3) is configured as a manually operated portable hand tool configured to manually perforate the vacuum sealed package to remove and empty the granular material.

8. 10. A manufacturing unit (7) comprising a housing (70) or a pipe (71) and the injection device (1) of claim 5 firmly attached to the housing (70) or the pipe (71), wherein the hollow drilling tool is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upward, and the injection device is configured to transfer granular material contained in the vacuum-sealed package directly to the housing (70) or indirectly via the pipe.

9. 9. The manufacturing unit according to claim 8, wherein the cylindrical body of the injection device is tightly sealed and connected to the housing (70) so that the outlet opening (22) communicates with the internal volume of the housing (70), and the injection device, which is arranged on the top of the housing (70), is configured so that the granular material flows into the interior of the housing (70) through the outlet opening by gravity.

10. 10. A production unit according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the enclosure (70) is a fermentation tank.

11. 1. An injection device (1) suitable for piercing a vacuum-sealed package (P) to empty the granular material contained in said vacuum-sealed package (P), comprising: a cylindrical body (2) having a duct (20) for the flow of material extending from an inlet opening (21) located at a first end of the cylindrical body (2) to an outlet opening (22) for the particulate material located at a second end of the cylindrical body (2); a hollow boring tool (3) having a distal end terminating in a sharp tip (30) and an enlarged base (31) at a proximal end, the hollow boring tool (3) being rigidly connected to the tubular body at a first end thereof, the hollow boring tool (3) having at least one side opening (32) along the length of the hollow boring tool extending from the enlarged base of the hollow boring tool along the length of the hollow boring tool and configured to allow material to be injected from outside the hollow portion of the hollow boring tool into the inside, the hollow portion of the enlarged base (31) of the hollow boring tool (3) communicating with the inlet opening (21) of the tubular body (2); a shoulder (4) as a peripheral stop formed by a first end of the tubular body (2) arranged around the widened base (31) of the hollow drilling tool and configured to abut against a wall of the vacuum-sealed package to stop the injection device when the wall is pierced by the hollow drilling tool (3) at a position where the side opening (32) extends into the interior of the vacuum-sealed package, an injection device (1) arranged vertically with a pointed tip pointing upward and configured to facilitate continuous removal of the contents within the vacuum-sealed package when the granular material flows by gravity through the inlet opening (21) via the side opening (32) and into the outlet opening (22) along a direction opposite to that of air flowing into the vacuum-sealed package; a cover (6) sealingly cooperating with the first end of the cylindrical body to cover the hollow drilling tool and form a sealed chamber (60) for fluid; Including, The equipment includes a sealed chamber (60) defined between the cover (6), the hollow drilling tool (3) and the shoulder (4), and communicating with the duct (20) of the cylindrical body through the at least one side opening.

12. 12. A method for cleaning and disinfecting the hollow drilling tool of the injection device (1) of the equipment according to claim 11, the inner surface of the duct of the cylindrical body of the equipment, and the outer surface of the hollow drilling tool, comprising: the cover (6) is placed in a predetermined position and covers the hollow drilling tool and the shoulder (4) to form the sealed chamber (60), the sealed chamber being defined between the cover, the hollow drilling tool (3) and the shoulder (4) and communicating with the duct (20) of the cylindrical body through the at least one side opening (32); By injecting a disinfectant through the outlet opening (22), the disinfectant flows into the duct (20) and the hollow portion of the hollow drilling tool and abuts against the inner walls of the hollow portions of the duct (20) and the hollow drilling tool (3), while flowing into the sealed chamber (60) and abuts against the outer wall of the hollow drilling tool (3).

13. 13. The method of claim 12, The method is carried out in a manufacturing unit (7) including a housing (70) or a pipe (71) and the injection device (1) rigidly attached to the housing (70) or the pipe (71), wherein the hollow drilling tool is arranged vertically with its pointed tip pointing upward, and the injection device is configured to transfer granular material contained in the vacuum-sealed package directly into the housing (70) or indirectly via the pipe, Inject disinfectant, an inner surface of the hollow drilling tool; the duct of the cylindrical body of the injection device (1), an outer surface of the hollow drilling tool; and the shoulder portion, and the step of disinfecting the manufacturing unit is a pouring step that simultaneously cleans the interior surfaces of the manufacturing unit.

14. Use of an injection device (1) according to claim 1 or 5 or of an injection device (1) belonging to a production unit (7) according to claim 8 or of an injection device (1) belonging to an installation according to claim 11 for emptying vacuum-sealed packages containing active dry yeast.

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