"COMBINED SYSTEM FOR WATER TREATMENT AND PACKAGING IN BAGS FOR DISTRIBUTORS AND TREATMENT AND PACKAGING METHOD"

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of drinking water distribution through dedicated dispensers, of the "home" type, capable of dispensing water directly into a glass. In particular, the present invention relates to the field of water packaging in containers intended for use in dispensers.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to a combined system for water treatment and packaging in a flexible bag intended to be used for dispensing water from a dedicated dispenser.

[0003] It is known to provide systems for containing natural (or in any case drinking) water in rigid containers, such as the so-called "bottles, " sealed and intended to be inserted in a water dispenser for dispensing water directly into the glass. Typically, the aforesaid dispensers provide a bottle of water arranged upside down above a water dispenser, which dispenses the water directly into a glass or jug or bottle, taking it from the bottle, possibly cooling it.

[0004] The bottles of the prior art are generally filled with water from a source of natural water and subsequently suitably sealed and then sent to the large- scale retail trade to reach the water dispensers located in homes or offices.

[0005] However, the systems of the prior art suffer from some drawbacks. Firstly, rigid containers, such as jerry cans and bottles, and consequently known filling systems suffer from some problems related to transport and storage, being bulky, not very flexible for storage in confined spaces and also not easy to handle. In particular, the filling process for rigid containers requires large storage spaces for containers, long filling lines and separate machines dedicated on one side to filling and on the other to sealing the bottles.

[0006] Additionally, the bottle filling systems require that the source of water from which to draw is near adequate (and often enormous) spaces for the installation of the system, for filling, sealing and storing the bottles .

[0007] Furthermore, once filled, the bottles are not only stored for a long time in environments in contact with environmental pollutants, but also require a huge use of transport and logistics means to allow the distribution of the containers in a capillary manner from the remote filling system up to offices.

[0008] The present invention falls within the previous context, aiming to provide a combined system for water treatment and packaging in a flexible bag and a method capable of overcoming the aforementioned drawbacks, and in particular designed to guarantee adequate purity and composition of the packaged water and at the same time reduced dimensions of the packaging system, as well as speed and efficiency in water treatment and packaging operations .

[0009] This object is achieved with a combined system for water treatment and packaging in a flexible bag and a treatment and packaging method according to the appended independent claims. The dependent claims describe preferred embodiment variants.

[0010] The object of the present invention will now be described in detail, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011] - figure 1 shows a schematic view of a combined system for water treatment and packaging according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] - figure 2 shows a schematic view of a water treatment machine of the combined system for water treatment and packaging according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0013] - figure 3 shows a side view of a water packaging machine of the combined system for water treatment and packaging according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0014] - figure 4 shows a front view of a water packaging machine of the combined system for water treatment and packaging according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0015] With reference to the aforesaid figures, reference numeral 1 identifies a combined system for water treatment and packaging 1 in a flexible bag 5 of polymeric material. The polymeric material of the flexible bag 5 is preferably polyethylene, even more preferably extruded polyethylene, for example transparent .

[0016] The flexible bag 5 obtained from the system is intended for use in a water dispenser, of the type that dispenses water directly into a glass or bottle (via tap), typically for domestic use, in offices or in homes.

[0017] The combined system for water treatment and packaging 1 comprises a water treatment machine 2 comprising a water inlet 20 coming from a water distribution system 21, for example a city water main.

[0018] Furthermore, the water treatment machine 2 comprises a reverse osmosis device 22 for the treatment of water by reverse osmosis so as to obtain hyperfiltered water.

Preferably, the hyperfiltered water leaving the reverse osmosis device 22 has a hardness of less than 10 French degrees .

[0019] Furthermore, the water treatment machine 2 comprises a device for the remineralization 23 of the hyperfiltered water coming from the reverse osmosis device 22 suitable to remineralize the hyperfiltered water by running the hyperfiltered water in a predetermined mineral salt compound, in order to obtain remineralized water.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, for example shown in figure 2, the water treatment machine 2 comprises a second remineralization device 23', so as to allow a finer adjustment of the mineral composition of the remineralized water to be obtained. Moreover, even more preferably, the water treatment machine 2 comprises a third 23' ' and a fourth 23' ' ' remineralization device, to further improve the possibility of obtaining a predetermined remineralization and, therefore, the taste of the water.

[0021] Preferably, the remineralization device 23 is arranged in parallel to one or more between the second remineralization device 23' , the third 23' ' and the fourth remineralization device 23' ' ' .

[0022] Preferably, the water treatment machine 2 comprises an active carbon filtration device 24 suitable to clarify the water. Preferably, the active carbon filtration device 24 is positioned upstream of the reverse osmosis device 22.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, the water treatment machine 2 comprises an ultraviolet sterilization device 25. Preferably, the ultraviolet sterilization device 25 is arranged downstream of the remineralization device 23.

[0024] According to an embodiment variant, the water treatment machine 2, in addition to the reverse osmosis device 22 and the remineralization device 23, comprises the active carbon filtration device 24, the ultraviolet sterilization device 25 and a first sock filtration device 26, all contained within the water treatment machine 2.

[0025] According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the water treatment machine 2 comprises the following devices arranged one after the other in series in the direction proceeding from the water inlet 20 to a water outlet 200 on the water treatment machine 2:

[0026] - the first sock filtration device 26;

[0027] - a second sock filtration device 27, configured to filter particles having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the particles filtered by the first sock filtration device 26;

[0028] - the active carbon filtration device 24;

[0029] - optionally, a third 28 and a fourth sock filtration device 29;

[0030] - the reverse osmosis device 22;

[0031] - optionally, an active carbon finishing filtration device 24', suitable to eliminate any unpleasant odors;

[0032] - the remineralization device 23;

[0033] - optionally, the second remineralization device 23', the third 23'' and the fourth remineralization device 23' ' ' , preferably arranged in parallel with the remineralization device 23;

[0034] - the ultraviolet sterilization device 25.

[0035] Preferably, the water treatment machine 2 comprises an outer casing 201, for example the walls of a cabinet, which completely encloses the active carbon filtration device 24, the ultraviolet sterilization device 25 and the sock filtration device 26.

[0036] Even more preferably, the outer casing completely encloses the first sock filtration device 26, the second sock filtration device 27, the active carbon filtration device 24, optionally the third 28 and the fourth sock filtration device 29, optionally the active carbon finishing filtration device 24', the remineralization device 23, optionally the second remineralization device 23', the third 23'' and the fourth remineralization device 23' ' ' , the ultraviolet sterilization device 25.

[0037] According to the invention, the water packaging machine 3 comprises a polymer film supply unit 31, suitable to supply a thin polymer film 310, preferably a thin polymer film having a thickness ranging from 0.06 mm to 1.5 mm.

[0038] The water packaging machine 3 further comprises a unit 32 for washing and sterilizing the thin polymer film 310 coming from the polymer film supply unit 31 and a remineralized water inlet 30 which receives remineralized water through a remineralized water channeling system 4 coming from the water treatment machine 2.

[0039] Furthermore, the water packaging machine 3 comprises a water bagging device 33, suitable to receive the remineralized water from the remineralized water inlet 30 and to wrap and seal the thin polymer film 310 so as to form a flexible bag 5 made of polymeric material containing the remineralized water.

[0040] Preferably, the washing and sterilization unit 32 comprises an ultraviolet film sterilization device 32, configured to sterilize the thin polymer film on the side intended to come into contact with the remineralized water, before the step of forming the flexible bag containing water.

[0041] Preferably, the washing and sterilization unit 32 comprises a film washing device 32 configured to wet the polymer film with a disinfectant fluid for disinfecting the polymer film.

[0042] According to a preferred embodiment, the water bagging device 33 comprises:

[0043] - a guiding device 331 shaped to mold the thin polymer film from a planar configuration to a substantially tubular shape, wherein a first outer flap of the film 311 and a second outer flap of the film 312, arranged on the side opposite the first 311, reach between them a configuration that is close together or at least partially overlapping;

[0044] - a longitudinal sealing device 332, for example a heated plate, configured to seal the first outer flap of the film 311 and the second outer flap of the film 312 together so as to close the substantially tubular shape;

[0045] - a transverse sealing device 333, suitable to seal transversely the polymer film so as to seal the tubular shape to form a lower sealing line 51 and allow the tubular shape to be filled with remineralized water.

[0046] Furthermore, preferably, the water bagging device 33 comprises a water supply conduit 334, surrounded in a spaced manner by the guiding device 331. In other words, the guiding device 331 comprises a substantially tubular region 331' spaced apart around the water conduit line 334. The polymer film 310 flows over the substantially tubular region 331' so as to assume the substantially tubular shape.

[0047] Advantageously, preferably, the water packaging machine 3 is arranged immediately in cascade with the water treatment machine 2. Furthermore, preferably the water packaging machine 3 and the water treatment machine 2 are both arranged next to each other and in a single room.

[0048] Preferably, the water packaging machine 2 comprises a machine casing 37 which encloses the polymer film supply unit 31, the polymer film washing and sterilization unit 32, the water bagging device 33.

[0049] Preferably, the treatment and packaging system 1 comprises a bag transport system 6 with conveyor belt, configured to receive in sequence the bags 5 of water from the water packaging machine 3 to a downstream processing system.

[0050] Another object of the present invention is also a method of treatment and packaging of water in a bag 5 of flexible polymeric material, preferably comprising, in the order indicated, the steps of:

[0051] - providing in one place a water treatment machine 2 and a water packaging machine 3;

[0052] - conveying water coming from a water distribution system 21 to the water treatment machine 2;

[0053] - treating the water using a reverse osmosis process to obtain hyperfiltered water;

[0054] - remineralizing the hyperfiltered water by running the hyperfiltered water in a predetermined mineral salt compound to obtain remineralized water;

[0055] - conveying the water to a water packaging machine

3;

[0056] - arranging a polymer film 310 in a substantially tubular shape around an outlet mouth 334' which dispenses remineralized water;

[0057] - heat-sealing the polymer film 310 to form a pocket suitable to receive the remineralized water;

[0058] - dispensing the remineralized water into the pocket ;

[0059] - re-welding the polymer film to close the pocket and obtain the bag 5 made of flexible polymeric material containing the remineralized water.

[0060] In particular, the step of heat-sealing the polymer film 310 so as to form a pocket suitable to receive the remineralized water is carried out by means of the transverse sealing device 333, which preferably is a hot plate or a hot blade suitable to heat-seal the polymer film transversely.

[0061] Furthermore, preferably, the step of re-welding the polymer film again to close the pocket and obtain the bag 5 of flexible polymeric material is carried out by means of the same transverse sealing device 333.

[0062] At the end of the treatment and packaging method, a bag 5 is thus obtained which comprises a thin, flexible and collapsible plastic wall, which encloses an internal chamber which contains water (or a beverage) .

[0063] Preferably, subsequently, the method comprises the step of applying a removable tear-off tab (not shown in the accompanying tables) on the external thin wall of the bag 5, so as to cover a perforable region of the bag, which will subsequently be perforated when the bag will be introduced into a water dispenser.

[0064] Preferably, the tear-off tab is fixed by means of a glue or is heat-sealed in a peelable manner to the thin wall .

[0065] Innovatively, the combined system for water treatment and packaging according to the present invention allows the drawbacks associated with the prior art to be solved, and in particular it allows handling in a handy and hygienically safe way water with an adequate purity and composition in any place, provided that a source of water is provided. Therefore, by virtue of the combined treatment and packaging system according to the present invention, it is not necessary to provide a natural source of pure water, nor expensive and bulky purification and packaging systems for water in large containers .

[0066] In particular, by virtue of the presence of both the water treatment machine and the packaging machine in a single room, it is possible to optimize the dimensions and the production efficiency of the bags.

[0067] In an advantageous way, moreover, by virtue of the steps of water hyperfiltration and subsequent remineralization on site, immediately before its packaging, an adequate composition and taste of the water is guaranteed, which can thus maintain the predetermined properties and taste, in any place, irrespective of the original source of water from which the water originates, before being treated.

[0068] Furthermore, by virtue of the UV sterilization steps of both water and the polymer film, the absence of any bacterial proliferation is guaranteed, keeping the water durable over time.

[0069] In addition, the combined system for treatment and packaging in bags allows high production efficiency to be obtained even in small rooms, allowing the installation of small systems scattered in multiple places on the territory, thus allowing easy capillary distribution of the bags in very fast times from the moment of packaging, reducing the storage time of the bags. This ensures that the water contained in the bags is not subject to deterioration by polluting and atmospheric agents, as happens instead for the bottles of the prior art, often stored for long periods in areas far from users.

[0070] It is also clear that the combined treatment and packaging system of the present invention allows the distribution logistics of the packaged water to users to be simplified, since the treatment and packaging systems are in the immediate vicinity of the users themselves.

[0071] A man skilled in the art may make several changes or replacements of elements with other functionally equivalent ones to the embodiments of the combined system for water treatment and packaging in order to meet specific needs.

[0072] Also such variants are included within the scope of protection as defined by the following claims.