Method for controlling a press for pressing liquid-containing pressing material and arrangement for pressing liquid-containing pressing material
The described press system uses a flexible container with electronically controlled compressed air and remote data loading to optimize juice extraction, addressing safety and complexity issues of existing presses, enabling efficient and safe operation in diverse locations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- WILLMES ANLAGENTECHN
- Filing Date
- 2025-12-09
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-25
AI Technical Summary
Existing presses for extracting liquids from substances require complex machine control systems and specialized operators due to the need for precise coordination of compressed air supply, juice outlet opening, and container rotation, posing safety risks and high maintenance efforts, especially when processing different grape varieties.
A method and arrangement for controlling a press using a flexible, sack-shaped container with an electronically actuated compressed air system, where parameter data sets are remotely loaded via a wireless network to optimize pressing based on the material type, eliminating the need for complex PLC systems and allowing operation in various locations.
Enables optimized, safe, and cost-effective juice extraction with reduced operational complexity, allowing presses to be operated directly in vineyards without rotating metal vessels, and adapts to different grape varieties with minimal setup time and safety risks.
Smart Images
Figure EP2025085999_25062026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] PRESS FOR SQUEEKING OUT LIQUID-CONTAINING SUBSTANCES
[0002] The invention relates to a method for controlling a press for squeezing liquid-containing substances, in particular agricultural and chemical products, and an arrangement for carrying out the method according to claims 1 and 8.
[0003] Presses for extracting liquids are known, for example, from EP 1438185 B1 and are used to extract grape juice, used as a raw material for the production of wine or fruit juice, from grapes or fruit placed in the press. The press described in EP 1438185 B1 has a closed, elongated, rigid cylindrical container that can be rotated about its horizontal longitudinal axis. The interior of this container is divided by at least one press membrane into a pressure chamber and a pressing chamber, in which a drainage element made of flexible mesh, also known as a flexi-drain, is located and into which the material to be pressed is placed.
[0004] To extract the juice from the produce with the highest possible yield, the press container is first rotated into the pressing position. In this position, the drainage element(s) are arranged vertically, and the juice outlet, which communicates with the interior of the drainage element(s), is positioned directly at the bottom of the press container in the 6 o'clock position. The electromagnetically actuated juice valve is then opened, and the pressure chamber is pressurized with compressed air by opening a corresponding compressed air valve. This presses the pressing membrane against the produce, and the juice escapes through the drainage element and the open juice outlet into a collection tray or juice collection line located below the press.
[0005] After the pressing process is completed, the juice drain valve is closed, the membrane is retracted by applying negative pressure to the inner wall of the container and
[0006] In the P 6629PCT press, the press container is rotated several times in different directions around its longitudinal axis by an electric drive motor to loosen the material being pressed. This loosening of the material causes the spherical, cohesive agglomerates of material to break down, allowing the juice to escape from partially unused parts of the material during the next pressing process, parts that would otherwise be located in the center of the spherical agglomerates. This loosening of the material after each pressing, known in technical circles as "crumbling," leads to a significant increase in juice flow during subsequent pressing, and thus to a beneficial improvement in juice yield.
[0007] Since the supply and removal of compressed air during the pressing process, as well as the opening of the juice outlet and the control of the drive motor for rotating the press container, must be precisely coordinated, it is necessary with the aforementioned state-of-the-art presses to control the press by a complex machine control system that includes not only all the interfaces, but also the corresponding electronic control device and the associated control software.Since operating the presses requires special safety measures due to the motorized rotation of the press container and the use of compressed air or inert gas at pressures typically exceeding 0.5 bar, optimizing each step of the pressing cycle necessitates, for safety reasons, that a specially trained operator loads the corresponding control software into the programmable logic controller (PLC) and verifies its proper functioning. Because the presses are usually operated in various locations around the world, the maintenance effort required to optimize the control software is considerable. This also applies to installing control software for a new grape variety to be processed in an existing press.
[0008] From the unpublished DE 10 2024 130 495 Al of the applicant, a press is known with a flexible, sack-shaped press container which can be suspended from a holding device or placed on the floor and comprises an inner container made of liquid-permeable mesh fabric into which the material to be pressed can be poured.
[0009] The pressing process in this press (P 6629PCT) takes place with the help of a circumferential, ring-shaped expandable pressure medium chamber made of a flexible plastic fabric film surrounding the bag-shaped press container, which can be pressurized with a pressure of, for example, 1 bar via a compressed air source.
[0010] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for controlling a press for squeezing out liquid-containing substances, with which the disadvantages described above are avoided.
[0011] This problem is solved according to the invention by a method having the features of claim 1.
[0012] According to the invention, in a method for controlling a press for pressing liquid-containing material, the press comprises a liquid-tight pressing container with a juice outlet and a pressing chamber contained therein, which can be filled with the material to be pressed, as well as a pressure chamber surrounding the material, which can be filled with compressed air from a compressed air source via a compressed air valve for pressing the material. This pressure chamber is electrically actuated by an electronic control device based on different parameter data sets adapted to a specific type of material to be pressed. These parameter data sets are stored in an electronic memory. The parameter data sets are loaded into this memory from a database server located remotely from the press via a mobile device and / or a data network connection, in particular a wireless data network connection.In this process, a parameter data set is only made available by the database server after the transmission of a unique authentication code assigned to the press and / or its owner and / or the electronic control device, preferably permanently stored in it, so that it can be downloaded into the electronic storage via the data network connection in order to control the compressed air valve during a press cycle in an optimized manner for a grape variety based on the data contained in the parameter data set.
[0013] P 6629PCT Another object of the invention is to create an arrangement for carrying out the process with which pressable material, in particular grapes, can be processed into juice in a cost-effective manner and in a way that is gentle on the respective type of pressable material.
[0014] This problem is solved according to the invention by an arrangement having the features of claim 8.
[0015] The arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention comprises a press with a liquid-tight press container, which has a press chamber contained therein that can be filled with the material to be pressed, and a pressure chamber surrounding the material, which can be filled with compressed air for pressing the material. The arrangement further comprises an electrically actuated compressed air valve through which the pressure chamber can be supplied with compressed air from a compressed air source. The arrangement also includes an electronic control device for controlling the compressed air valve based on different parameter data sets adapted to a specific type of material to be pressed. This electronic control device contains an electronic memory in which the parameter data sets are preferably stored as a sequence of target pressure values and values for the duration of the air pressure in the pressure chamber (30), each assigned to a specific type of material.
[0016] The electronic control unit is connected to a data communication device configured to load parameter data sets, particularly via a mobile device or a data network connection, from a database server located remotely from the press for storage in memory. An authentication code (AC) is assigned to the press and / or its owner and / or the electronic control unit. Upon receiving the authentication code, the database server is configured to transmit a parameter data set via the data network connection, preferably a wireless data network connection, and the data communication device to the electronic storage device, which stores it in electronic memory. During press operation, the electronic control unit reads the parameters of the parameter data sets from this memory to open or close the compressed air valve accordingly.
[0017] P 6629PCT The arrangement according to the invention has the advantage that the control of the actual pressing process can be optimized in a simple way and in a very short time, e.g. by means of a mobile phone for a respective grape variety.
[0018] Although the invention can also be used in the aforementioned membrane presses of the prior art, such as EP 1438185 Bl, to change the air pressure in the pressure medium chamber of the rigid press container, the interior of which is divided in a known manner into a press medium chamber and a pressure medium chamber by a membrane, during the pressing cycles in a manner optimally adapted to the respective grape variety, based on a parameter data set downloaded into the PLC of the press in a manner according to the invention, the invention is preferably used in the embodiment of a press described in more detail below, which has a flexible press container.
[0019] The latter offers the particular advantage that the press itself can be operated in any location, such as directly in the vineyard, without a complex PLC control system, and the pressing pressures can be optimized according to the current grape variety, without exposing the user of the press to the danger of a rotating, pressurized metal pressure vessel, as is used in the aforementioned state-of-the-art membrane presses.
[0020] Further features of the invention are contained in the dependent claims.
[0021] The invention is described below with reference to the drawings and preferred embodiments.
[0022] The drawings show:
[0023] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement according to the invention with a sack-shaped flexible [material] mounted on a weighing device.
[0024] P 6629PCT Press container after filling with the material to be pressed and closing it,
[0025] Fig. 2 shows a schematic overview of the invention.
[0026] Arrangement in which the electronic control device is housed in a common casing with the compressed air valve and the ventilation valve, and
[0027] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an exemplary process of a pressing operation carried out with the arrangement according to the invention, in which the pressure in the pressure medium chamber is increased stepwise in three successive pressing cycles and reduced to zero at the end of a pressing cycle by opening the vent valve.
[0028] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a press 1 used in an arrangement 300 according to the invention for pressing liquid-containing material 2, in particular grapes, comprises a flexible, liquid-tight, sack-shaped press container 10, at the bottom 10b of which a juice drain 14 is formed, which can be closed by an electrically and preferably also manually operated juice drain valve 12. A pressure medium chamber 30 is formed on the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10, which includes a circumferential, self-contained air chamber 32 that can be filled and vented with compressed air via a valve 34. Inside the interior of the sack-shaped press container 10, an inner container 40, also sack-shaped and defining a pressure medium chamber, is arranged, which preferably consists entirely of liquid-permeable, flexible mesh fabric.The sack-shaped inner container 40, which can be removed upwards from the interior of the press container 10, can be filled with material 2 through its opening and can be closed by a zipper 42 or other closing means after the material 2 has been filled, such that no kernels of the material 2 can pass through the zipper 42 into the sack-shaped press container 10 and from there into the juice outlet 14 during the pressing process shown in Fig. 2. After the material 2 has been filled into the sack-shaped inner container 40 and the zipper 42 has been closed,
[0029] P 6629PCT the opening of the press container 10 is also closed by means of a sealing device 50, which will be discussed in more detail below.
[0030] The pressure medium chamber 30 comprises an endless film 33 made of flexible, air-impermeable fabric arranged on the outside of the sack-shaped press container 10, which is connected airtight to the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 by thermal welding or bonding along a circumferential weld or bond seam 11.
[0031] The circumferential fabric film 33 is preferably attached centrally to the bottom 10b of the sack-shaped container 10, particularly at the juice outlet 14, and connected to the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 along the circumferential welded or glued seam 11 such that the circumferential welded or glued seam 11 is located between the top of the outer wall 10a of the open sack-shaped press container 10 and approximately its center. This has the advantage that, when the pressure chamber 30 is pressurized, the flexible outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container is moved upwards by the expanding pressure chamber 30, together with the juice outlet 14 and the sack-shaped inner container 40 made of liquid-permeable mesh fabric. This loosens the material to be pressed automatically after a pressing process, without rotating the press container about a horizontal axis.
[0032] This effect of the container bottom 10b lifting during pressurization and lowering during aeration of the pressure medium chamber 30 ensures a so-called "automatic" loosening of the mash after a pressing process and occurs particularly strongly when the height of the wall section 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 between the juice outlet 14, or the bottom 10b and the circumferential welded or glued seam 11 is less than the height of the radially outer wall section of the pressure medium chamber 30 made of woven film 33, which extends from the welded or glued seam 11 to the juice outlet 14.
[0033] P 6629PCT In the preferred embodiment of the press 1 according to the invention, the closure means 50 comprise a first, in particular tubular, keder 52 received in a first partial section 10.1 of the upper edge 10c of the flexible liquid-tight, bag-shaped press container 10, which is designed to hold the liquid-tight, bag-shaped press container 10 in an open position when it is held by a clamping handle 60 encompassing the partial section 10.1.
[0034] The closure means 50 shown by way of example in Fig. 1 further comprise a second, in particular semi-tubular, bead 54, which is preferably designed to be complementary to the bead 52 and is arranged in a second subsection 10.2 of the upper edge 10c opposite the first subsection 10.1. In this case, the second subsection is configured to engage with the first subsection 10.1 so that the two subsections 10.1 and 10.2 are essentially / almost liquid-tight against each other when they are mechanically pressed together and into each other by the clamping handle 62 of a lifting device 92.
[0035] After the openings of the sack-shaped inner container 40, which contains the material to be pressed, and of the flexible, liquid-tight, sack-shaped press container 10 have been closed, the pressure chamber 30 is pressurized with compressed air. This causes it to press against the outer wall of the press container 10, and the resulting pressure is transferred to the material to be pressed via this wall and the mesh of the inner container 40. During this pressing process, the liquid, i.e., in the case of grapes, the grape juice, is introduced through the mesh of the drainage bag 40, the juice drain 14, and the open juice drain valve 12 into a juice collection container 60, which is preferably located directly below the press container 10 held by the lifting device 42.
[0036] To further improve juice flow even at low pressing pressures of, for example, only 0.5 bar, a vibration generator 80, in particular a vibration motor or a preferably motor-driven percussion device, can be arranged on the outside of the flexible, liquid-tight, sack-shaped press container 10. This vibration generator, schematically indicated in Fig. 1, acts upon
[0037] P 6629PCT the pressure medium chamber 30 or the juice outlet 14 during the pressing process with pulsating pressure waves that propagate in the endlessly rotating chamber and whose frequency and / or amplitude can preferably be changed to obtain an optimal juice flow.
[0038] Furthermore, to improve juice flow at a given pressing pressure, essentially vertically extending spacer cords or plastic tubes can be arranged between the inner wall of the flexible liquid-tight sack-shaped press container 10 and the outer wall of the sack-shaped inner container made of sieve fabric, which during the pressing process provide a dead space extending along the spacer cords or tubes to the juice outlet 14 between the sieve fabric and the inner wall of the flexible liquid-tight sack-shaped press container 10, through which the juice emerging from the pressing material 2 can flow to the juice outlet 14.
[0039] According to the invention, the compressed air valve 34 in an arrangement 300 comprising the press 1 described above, with which the pressing operations can be carried out automatically, is designed as an electrically actuated compressed air valve. The arrangement 300 includes an electronic control device 100, which preferably contains a microcontroller, and which is connected to the compressed air valve 34 via an unspecified electrical line in order to open and close it for filling the pressure medium chamber 30 with compressed air from a compressed air source 35, e.g., a known compressor with a compressed air reservoir.
[0040] According to the invention, the opening and closing of the compressed air valve 34 is based on different parameter data sets DSi, DSi, DSN adapted to a specific type TS of the material to be pressed 11. For this purpose, the parameter data sets DSi, DSi, DSN are stored in an electronic memory 110 of the control unit 110, preferably as a sequence of target pressure values Pi, Pi, PN and associated values for the holding time Ti, Ti, TN of the air pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 for a specific type of material TS, as schematically indicated in Figures 2 and 3. A data communication device 112 is connected to the electronic control unit 110 and is configured to transmit the parameter data sets DSi, DSi, DSN, in particular via a connection indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
[0041] P 6629PCT Mobile device, e.g. a mobile phone 200 and a data network connection 210, preferably a wireless data network connection, to load from a database server 220 located remotely from the press 1 for storage in memory 110.
[0042] To adjust the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 according to the respective current pressure setpoint Pi of a parameter data set DS for a corresponding holding time Ti, the arrangement 300 further includes a pressure sensor 38, which communicates with the pressure medium chamber 30 via flow, and whose signals are received by the electronic control unit 100. To set a new pressure value in the pressure medium chamber 30, the electronic control unit 100 opens the compressed air valve 34 at the end of the current holding time Ti until the pressure value Pi detected by the pressure sensor 38 is reached. Stthe next pressure setpoint Pi in the parameter data set corresponds and then closes the compressed air valve 34 again until the end of the associated holding time Ti, as shown by way of example in Fig. 3.
[0043] Although the pressure sensor 38 used to set the desired pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 by means of a setpoint-actual comparison can also be arranged directly on or in the pressure medium chamber 30, in a preferred embodiment of the arrangement it is provided that the electronic control device 100, the compressed air valve 34 and also the data communication device 112 are preferably housed together with the pressure sensor 38, which is fluidly connected to the outlet of the compressed air valve 34 and can be read by the electronic control device 100, in a mobile housing 120, as shown in Fig. 2.
[0044] The inlet of the compressed air valve 34 is preferably connected to the compressed air source 35 via a quick-release compressed air coupling, and the outlet of the compressed air valve 34 is preferably connected to the pressure medium chamber 30 via a further quick-release compressed air coupling and a compressed air supply line.
[0045] According to a further concept underlying the invention, the electronic control device 100 can also be configured to supply the compressed air source 35 to the pressure medium chamber 30 via the electrically actuated compressed air valve.
[0046] P 6629PCT 34 to operate the compressed air supplied, in particular to switch on or off, in order to activate the compressor of the compressed air source 35 in a timely manner, for example when the pressure in the buffer storage of the compressed air source 35 approaches the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 detected by the pressure sensor 38.
[0047] Furthermore, the juice drain valve 12 may also be an electrically actuated valve, which is opened and closed by the electronic control unit 100 according to the setpoint pressure values Pi, ... Pi, ... PN and holding time Ti, ... Ti, ... TN of a parameter data set DS stored in memory i 10. This allows, for example, the automatic closing of the valve when a predetermined quantity of juice has drained from the juice drain 14 or juice drain valve 12. This may be necessary, for instance, when the juice collection container 60 is completely full and needs to be emptied or replaced with an empty one. In addition, the juice drain valve 14 is preferably also manually operable to open or close the juice drain independently of the electronic control unit 100 in an emergency.
[0048] To determine the weight, or the decrease in weight, of the filled press container 10 and, depending on this, for example, to prematurely terminate a pressing cycle or to close the juice drain valve 12, which is otherwise preferably open throughout a pressing process, the arrangement 300, according to a further embodiment, comprises a weighing device 39 coupled to and readable by the electronic control unit 100, in particular a scale on which the press container 10 can be placed during a pressing process. Alternatively, the weighing device 39 can be designed as a hanging scale, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, which is attached, for example, to a holding device such as the lifting forks of a forklift truck, and on which the press container 10 is suspended during a pressing process.
[0049] Another possible application of the embodiment described above is to extract only a specific quantity of grape juice during a first pressing process, as is done, for example, in the production of champagne. In this
[0050] In the P 6629PCT trap, after the first pressing operation, only a predetermined quantity of grape juice, e.g., 50 ml, is drawn from the juice outlet 14 into a first juice collection container 60 from the whole grapes. The juice outlet valve 12 is then closed to collect the juice extracted during subsequent pressing operations in a second juice collection container 60 for a lower-quality end product. In this case, the electronic control unit 100 continuously determines the quantity of grape juice drawn from the difference between the initial and final weights, based on signals from the weighing device 39, and closes the juice outlet valve 14 accordingly when the predetermined quantity of juice for the first pressing has been reached.
[0051] Although the pressure medium chamber 30 can also be vented via the compressed air valve 34 to reduce the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30, for example if this is designed as a 2 / 3-way valve, a preferred embodiment of the arrangement 300 comprises a vent valve 36 that can be actuated by the electronic control unit 100. As shown in Fig. 2, this vent valve is preferably also included in the housing 116, which preferably also contains the compressed air valve 34, the pressure sensor 38, the electronic control unit 100, and the data communication unit, as well as optionally a power supply unit (not shown in Fig. 2) for the electrical supply of the valves, the data communication unit 112, the electronic control unit 100, and optionally also the weighing unit 39. However, as shown in Fig. 1, the vent valve 116 can also be arranged directly on the pressure medium chamber 30 or in the compressed air supply line to it.
[0052] With regard to a fully automated pressing process, it is particularly advantageous if, in the previously described embodiments of the arrangement 300, the pressure medium chamber 30, as shown in Fig. 1, comprises a flexible woven film 33 attached to the outside of the sack-shaped press container 10, which is airtightly connected to the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 by thermal welding or bonding along a circumferential weld or bond seam 11. The circumferential woven film 33 is centrally attached to the bottom 10b of the sack-shaped container 10, in particular at the juice outlet 14, and is bonded to the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 along the circumferential weld or bond seam 11.
[0053] P 6629PCT or adhesive seam 11 connected. According to the invention, the circumferential weld or adhesive seam 11 is arranged between the top of the outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container 10 and preferably approximately in its center, such that when the pressure medium chamber 30 is automatically pressurized with the target pressure values Pi from the parameter data sets DSi downloaded from the database server 220, the flexible outer wall 10a of the sack-shaped press container is moved upwards by the expanding pressure medium chamber 30 together with the juice outlet 14 and the sack-shaped inner container 40 made of liquid-permeable mesh.
[0054] This advantageously enables fully automated operation of the arrangement 300, since the material to be pressed 2 is mixed after each pressing operation without rotation of the press 1, when the setpoint pressure Pi is reduced to 0 bar by opening the vent valve 36 and, after the associated holding time T, is then increased again to the next setpoint pressure Pi, as shown in Fig. 3.
[0055] The method used for the press operation using the previously described arrangement 300 for controlling the press 1 is characterized in that the electrically actuated compressed air valve 24, as already explained above, is electrically actuated by the electronic control device 100 on the basis of different parameter data sets DSi, DSi, DSN adapted to a type TS of the material to be pressed 2.These are downloaded via a mobile device 200 and / or a data network connection, in particular a wireless data network connection 210, from a database server 220 located remotely from the press 1 and stored in an electronic memory 110 of the electronic control device 100, from which the electronic control device 100 reads the respective pressure setpoints Pi and the associated holding duration Ti and, depending on these values, opens and closes the compressed air valve 36 accordingly until the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 corresponds to the respective pressure setpoint Pi.
[0056] In order to be able to download the parameter data sets DSi to DSN stored on the database server 220 with the mobile device 200 from the database server 220, each press 1, or the electronic control unit 100, which automates the pressing processes, has
[0057] To control the P 6629PCT, an authentication code AC, assigned to the press owner, is generated. This code is first entered into the electronic control unit 100, preferably via the mobile device 200, for example, using an NFC data connection. This activates the associated data communication device 112, which then enables the data connection for downloading the parameter data sets DS from the database server 220. After the authentication code AC has been transmitted directly or via the mobile device 200 to the database server 220 via the data network 210 (schematically indicated in Fig. 2), and the database server 220 has identified the authentication code AC as correct, the database server 220 then requests the identifier for the type of material being pressed, TS. This identifier is entered by the operator, for example, via the keypad of the mobile device 200, and transmitted to the database server 220 via the data network 210.
[0058] The identifier TS for the variety of grapes to be pressed 2 includes, for example, the name of a grape variety to be pressed and preferably also specifies whether the grapes are whole or crushed, which are conveyed into the press container 10 by a must pump. The difference is that the latter are already pre-crushed and a large portion of the grape juice to be pressed flows into the juice collection container 60 as the inner container 40 is filled with juice when the juice drain valve 12 is open.
[0059] Based on the authentication code AC and the transmitted identifier for the type of material to be pressed TS, the database server 220 then determines a corresponding parameter data set DS i , DSi , DSN, which was previously determined, for example, empirically and stored on the database server 220, and transmits this or a multitude of parameter data sets DS assigned to the respective authentication code via the data network connection 210 and, if applicable, the mobile device 200 to the data communication device 112. The data communication device 112 forwards the parameter data set(s) DSi , DSi , DSN to the electronic control device 100, which stores them in memory 110. Although, in the simplest case, only a single parameter data set DSi can be stored on the database server 220 to control the arrangement 300 according to the invention, or the press 1 according to the invention.
[0060] To operate the P 6629PCT procedure, a large number of respective parameter data sets DSN are preferably stored on the database server 220, which may also include further parameters such as the location of the vines, or the sugar content of the grapes, or their processing state (whole grapes or partially crushed grapes), etc., to name just a few examples.
[0061] The fact that there are a large number of different parameter data sets stored on the database server 220 is symbolized in the present application by the fact that the parameter data sets DS as well as the target pressure values P and the associated holding duration T are provided with an index i, which stands for a natural number between 1 and N.
[0062] According to a further aspect of the invention, it can be provided that one or more parameter data sets DSi to DSN are made available for download by the database server 220 only after the database server 220 has transmitted an authentication code AC assigned to the press 1 and / or its owner and / or the electronic control device. This authentication code is generated based on payment data for a provided parameter data set DSi, DSi, DSN. The authentication code is preferably sent to a user of the arrangement 300 according to the invention only after a corresponding payment confirmation code has been transmitted to the database server 220 or a server connected to it. Known payment and authentication methods, such as two-factor authentication, as used, for example, in online banking, can be employed for the generation, verification, and transmission of the payment confirmation code.The payment confirmation code can be obtained simultaneously or alternatively, for example in the form of a voucher code, from an external server upon payment.
[0063] After the desired parameter data set for a grape variety TS has been transferred from the database server 220 and loaded into the memory 110, the electronic control unit 100 starts the first pressing operation in a pressing cycle and opens and closes the compressed air valve 34 according to the parameter data set.
[0064] P 6629PCT contains the sequence of pressure setpoints Pi,Pi, PN and associated values for the holding time of the air pressure Ti, Ti, TN.
[0065] When the electronic control unit 100, after traversing a sequence of pressure setpoints P in a parameter data set, reads a next pressure setpoint P that is 0 (bar), it keeps the compressed air valve 34 closed and opens the vent valve 36 for the corresponding holding time Ti in the parameter data set in order to reduce the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 to ambient pressure (0 bar). If, after the corresponding holding time Ti has elapsed, the next pressure setpoint Pi is again greater than 0 bar, the electronic control unit 100 closes the vent valve 38 again and pressurizes the pressure medium chamber 30 with compressed air by opening the compressed air valve 34 until the corresponding pressure setpoint is reached, so that the next pressing cycle can continue in the manner described above.
[0066] To complete a sequence of pressing cycles, it may also be possible to provide, instead of a pressure setpoint achievable in practice, for example a negative value or two consecutive 0 values in the parameter data set, which signal the end of the pressing operations to the electronic control device 100, so that it closes the compressed air valve 34 and opens the vent valve 36.
[0067] As previously described, the pressure in the pressure medium chamber 30 is detected via a pressure sensor 38, depending on its signals the electronic control device 100 controls or regulates the supply of compressed air to the pressure medium chamber 30 by opening and closing the compressed air valve 34 until a pressure setpoint PI, Pi, PN is reached, preferably on the basis of a usual setpoint-actual comparison.
[0068] To ensure that the juice drain valve 12 continues to open and close at the desired times, a parameter data set DSi can additionally contain the opening and closing duration and / or opening and closing times of the juice drain valve. Alternatively, the parameter data set can be provided to contain, in addition to the value pairs for the pressure setpoint Pi and the associated holding time Ti, a value for the closed state of the juice drain valve 12, based on which the
[0069] P 6629PCT electronic control unit 100 opens or closes the juice drain valve 12. This can be, for example, 1 for the open position and 0 for the closed position.
[0070] It is also conceivable to store the activation state of the vibrator 80 as an additional value in the parameter data set in order to selectively switch it on or off via the electronic control unit. Switching on or off preferably occurs when the respective target pressure value during a pressing process is greater than 0, i.e., above the ambient pressure.
[0071] P 6629PCT Reference List
[0072] 1 Press
[0073] 2 Pressed material
[0074] 10 press containers
[0075] 1 Oa Outer wall of the press container
[0076] 10b Floor
[0077] 1 Oc upper edge of the sack-shaped press container
[0078] 10.1 First section of the upper edge of the press container
[0079] 10.2 second section of the upper edge of the press container
[0080] 11 Weld / glue seam
[0081] 12 electrically operated juice drain valves
[0082] 14 Juice drain
[0083] 30 Pressure medium space
[0084] 32 surrounding, self-contained air chambers
[0085] 33 Fabric film
[0086] 34 Compressed air valve
[0087] 35 Compressed air source
[0088] 36 Ventilation valve
[0089] 38 Pressure sensor
[0090] 39 Weighing device
[0091] 40 inner containers
[0092] 42 other fasteners / zipper
[0093] 50 sealing agents
[0094] 52 Keder
[0095] 60 juice collection containers
[0096] 62 Clamping handle
[0097] P 6629PCT 100 electronic control unit
[0098] 110 electronic storage devices
[0099] 1 12 Data communication facility
[0100] 120 Housings for accommodating the control unit and the compressed air valve
[0101] 200 mobile devices
[0102] 210 Data network connection
[0103] 220 database servers
[0104] 300 arrangement
[0105] DSi first parameter data set
[0106] DSi i-th parameter data set
[0107] DSN last parameter data set
[0108] Ti first holding time of the air pressure in parameter data set
[0109] Ti i-te holding time of the air pressure in parameter data set
[0110] TN last holding time of the air pressure in parameter data set
[0111] P i first pressure setpoint in parameter data set
[0112] Pi i-th pressure setpoint in parameter data set
[0113] PN last pressure setpoint in parameter data set
[0114] Pist is the current actual pressure value read from the pressure sensor.
[0115] AC authentication code
[0116] TS identifier for the type of pressed material
[0117] P 6629PCT
Claims
Claims 1. A method for controlling a press (1) for pressing liquid-containing material (2), in particular grapes, which has a liquid-tight press container (10) with a juice outlet (14) and a press chamber contained therein, which can be filled with the material (2), as well as a pressure chamber (30) surrounding the material, which can be filled with compressed air from a compressed air source (35) via a compressed air valve (34) for pressing the material (2), wherein the compressed air valve (24) can be electrically actuated by an electronic control device (100) on the basis of different parameter data sets (DSi, DSi, DSN) adapted to a type of material to be pressed, which can be stored in an electronic memory (110) and accessed therein via a mobile device (200) and / or a data network connection, in particular a wireless data network connection (210), from a database server located remotely from the press (1). (220) are rechargeable,wherein a parameter data set (DSi to DSN) is made available for download from the database server (220) after transmission of an authentication code (AC) assigned to the press (1) and / or its owner and / or the electronic control device.
2. V according to claim 1, characterized in that the press (1) comprises a flexible liquid-tight sack-shaped press container (10) with a juice outlet (14) formed on its bottom (10b) and a pressure medium chamber (30) formed on its outer wall (10a) of the container, which has a circumferential, self-contained air chamber (32) which can be filled with compressed air from the compressed air source (35) via the compressed air valve (34), and which has a sack-shaped inner container (40) made of liquid-permeable flexible sieve fabric which can be inserted into the interior of the sack-shaped press container (10) and which can be filled with material to be pressed (2). P 6629PCT 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each parameter data set (DSi, DSi, DSN) comprises an identifier for the type of product to be pressed (TS), in particular the name of a grape variety to be pressed, and a sequence of setpoint pressure values (Pi,Pi, P ) and associated values for the holding time of the air pressure (Ti, Ti, TN ) in the pressure medium chamber (30) during a pressing process, assigned to this grape variety, from which the electronic control device (100) determines the times for opening and closing the compressed air valve (34).
4. V according to claim 3 , characterized in that the electronic control device (100) closes the compressed air valve (34) after reaching the last pressure setpoint (PN) at the end of a pressing process and preferably vents the pressure medium chamber (30) after the associated holding time (TN) has elapsed by opening a venting valve (36).
5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the pressure (Pist) in the pressure medium chamber (30) is detected via a pressure sensor (38) flow-connected to it, depending on its signals the electronic control device (100) releases the supply of compressed air into the pressure medium chamber (30) by opening and closing the compressed air valve (34) until a pressure setpoint (Pi,Pi, PN) is reached.
6. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the juice outlet (14) can be closed via a juice outlet valve (12) which can be electrically actuated by the electronic control device (100), and that each parameter data set (DSi, DSi, DSN) contains values for the opening and closing duration and / or opening and closing times of the juice outlet valve (12), on the basis of which the electronic control device (100) can control the juice outlet valve (12). P 6629PCT opens or closes.
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the authentication code (AC) is created on the basis of payment data for a provided parameter data set (DSi, DSi, DSN) and is provided by the database server (220) after receipt of a payment confirmation code.
8. Arrangement (300) for pressing liquid-containing material (2), in particular grapes, for carrying out the method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a press (1) with a liquid-tight press container (10), a pressing chamber contained therein which can be filled with the material (2), and a pressure chamber (30) surrounding the material (2) which can be filled with compressed air for pressing the material (2), an electrically actuated compressed air valve (34) for filling the pressure chamber (30) with compressed air from a compressed air source (35), and an electronic control device (100) for controlling the compressed air valve (34) on the basis of different parameter data sets (DSi, DSi, DSN) adapted to a type (TS) of the material (2) to be pressed, which contains an electronic memory (110) in which the parameter data sets (DSi, DSi,DSN) preferably as a sequence of target pressure values (Pi to PN) and values for the holding time (Ti, Ti, T ) of the air pressure in the pressure medium chamber (30) assigned to a type of material to be pressed (TS), and a data communication device (112) connected to the electronic control device (100), which is configured to load the parameter data sets (DSi, DSi, DSN) in particular via a mobile device (200) or a data network connection (210), preferably a wireless data network connection, from a database server (220) located remotely from the press for storage in the memory (110), wherein an authentication code (AC) is assigned to the press (1) and / or its owner and / or the electronic control device (100), and that the database server (220) is configured toAfter receiving the authentication code (AC), a parameter data set (DSi to DSN) is sent via the data network connection (210) and the data communication device (112) to the electronic storage device (100), P 6629PCT to be sent for storage in electronic memory (110).
9. Arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the press (1) comprises a flexible liquid-tight sack-shaped press container (10) with a juice outlet (14) formed on its bottom (10b) and a pressure medium chamber (30) formed on its outer wall (10a) of the container, which has a circumferential, self-contained air chamber (32) which can be filled with compressed air from the compressed air source (35) via the compressed air valve (34), and which has a sack-shaped inner container (40) made of liquid-permeable flexible sieve fabric which can be inserted into the interior of the sack-shaped press container (10) and which can be filled with material to be pressed (2).
10. Arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the electronic control device (100), the compressed air valve (34) and the data communication device (112) are preferably housed together in a mobile housing (120) together with a pressure sensor (38) which is fluidly connected to the outlet of the compressed air valve (34) and which can be read by the electronic control device (100), wherein the inlet of the compressed air valve (34) is preferably connected to a compressed air source (35) via a quick-release compressed air coupling and the outlet of the compressed air valve (34) is preferably connected to the pressure medium chamber (30) via a further quick-release compressed air coupling and a compressed air supply line.
11. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the electronic control device (100) is further configured to actuate the compressed air source (35) to provide the compressed air supplied to the pressure medium chamber (30) via the electrically actuated compressed air valve (34), in particular to switch it on or off, and / or that the juice drain valve (12) is an electrically actuated valve which is controlled by the P 6629PCT | electronic control device (100) is opened and closed according to the pressure setpoint values (Pi,Pi, PN) and holding time (Ti, Ti, TN) of a parameter data set (DSi to DSN) stored in the memory (110), and / or that the arrangement (300) includes a ventilation valve (36) that can be actuated by the electronic control device (100), through which the pressure medium chamber (30) can be ventilated with ambient air at the end of a pressing process.
12. Arrangement according to one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that it comprises a weighing device (39) coupled to and readable by the electronic control device (100), in particular a scale on which the press container (10) can be placed during a pressing process or the press container (10) can be suspended during a pressing process, and that the electronic control device (100) detects the weight of the press container (10) during a pressing process and opens or closes the juice drain valve (34) depending on this, and / or that the arrangement comprises a stop switch connected to the electronic control device (100) and the electronic control device (100) is configured to close and / or open the juice drain valve (34) when the stop switch is actuated for the purpose of replacing a juice collection container (60) arranged under the juice drain (14).
13. Arrangement according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that the pressure medium chamber (30) comprises a flexible woven film (33) attached to the outside of the sack-shaped press container (10), which is airtightly connected to the outer wall (10a) of the sack-shaped press container (10) by thermal welding or bonding along a circumferential weld or bond seam (11), and that the circumferential woven film (33) is centrally attached to the bottom (10b) of the sack-shaped container (10), in particular at the juice outlet (14), and is connected to the outer wall (10a) of the sack-shaped press container (10) along the circumferential weld or bond seam (11), wherein the circumferential weld or bond seam (11) is between the top of the outer wall (10a) of the sack-shaped press container (10) and preferably in P 6629PCT approximately its center, such that when the pressure medium chamber (30) is pressurized, the flexible outer wall (10a) of the sack-shaped press container is moved upwards by the expanding pressure medium chamber (30) together with the juice outlet (14) and the sack-shaped inner container (40) made of liquid-permeable sieve fabric. P 6629PCT