We all know that inert gas dosing is a key step in the bottling process, and this is precisely one of the many strengths of our customised high-speed monoblocs.
Optimisation of conservation and ageing
A particularly well known process at STONE Industrie, inert gas purging consists of evacuating oxygen and replacing it with an inert gas, usually nitrogen.
The challenge is none other than the establishment of all the conditions necessary to preserve the quality of the bottled liquid and ensure its ageing in optimal conditions.
This operation is followed by a "final de-aeration" conducted at capping, so that at the end of the bottling cycle residual oxygen is close to 0.
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Ease of use and performance
Overview of how the STONE Industrie inert gas unit works: first, a vacuum of -0.8 bar is applied to the inside of the bottle during 80% of its journey through the turret.
The pre-vacuum created in this manner reduces gas consumption and ensures the correct diffusion of the nitrogen in the bottle regardless of its shape.
This vacuum is followed by a 0.6 bar nitrogen injection. During this phase, the bottle neck is sealed to the centering cone of the inert gas unit to obtain the best possible result: at the inert gas unit outlet, the air contained in the bottle is 95/97% nitrogen.
Ultimately, the quality of our inert gas system provides a close to 0 dissolved oxygen rate after filling (measurements taken at the outlet of a STONE Industrie filler).
The inert gas dosing turret developed by STONE Industrie enables de-aeration followed by inert gas dosing (nitrogen) of your bottles before they are filled. The dispensing is carried out by a two fluid rotating connection.
Depending on the design, your bottles are loaded onto the monobloc conveyor by an endless screw and/or an inlet starwheel.
Manufactured in stainless steel and synthetic materials, the gas circuit includes all the necessary equipment for a safe and efficient operation: electrical isolation valves, flow meters, control valves, pressure regulators...
Centering and sealing is carried out by a spigot and socket system.
After inert gas injection, your bottles are transported on the conveyor belt to the filling module.
High performance and proven inert gas dosing solutions
- 12-station turret for an output of less than 6 000 bottles/hour
- 20-station turret for an output of between 6 000 and 12 000 bottles/hour
- 30-station turret for an output of less than 12 000 bottles/hour
The height can be adjusted electrically.
The lead screw as well as the inlet/outlet starwheel are mounted on safety devices.
The entire casing (partitions) as well as the electrical panel are manufactured in food-grade stainless steel.
The inlet/outlet starwheels are multi-format, this means that any size of cylindrical glass bottle from Ø 60 to 110 mm can be processed.
The STONE Industrie inert gas dosing turret features a release system controlled by brushless motors (pneumatic system for mobile lines) enabling direct passage.
In its automatic version, the turret positions itself automatically according to the bottle size.
It can also be combined with an air filtering chamber with filtered air overpressure (ISO class 5) and filter clogging indicator.
Please contact our sales team to discuss your project and find the most suitable bottling solution.
