FOOD PRODUCTS"

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102019000024451 filed on December 18, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an agri-food product processing plant and a container for agri-food products.

BACKGROUND ART

As is known, the traceability of products along the supply chain is becoming increasingly important in the agri food sector. On the one hand, in fact, in many countries, traceability is imposed by food safety and hygiene regulations and, on the other, it is above all the interest of companies that make high-quality products to be able to best guarantee the public of the origin of raw materials and the nature of the processes carried out, as well as of their integrity until marketing. Basically, therefore, there is the need to reduce the room for possible fraud implemented by replacing or adding raw materials of different origin from that declared. All of this is also for the essential protection of the quality-conscious end consumer.

Numerous solutions have therefore been developed with the aim of assisting the certification of the origin and processing of marketed products. In any case, several initial steps of the traceability chain for agricultural products, including processing steps, have a number of weaknesses that make certification difficult and still leave ample room for fraud attempts.

Normally, an agri-food processing plant such as an oil mill comprises reservoirs or vats into which raw products (e.g. fruits) are placed and/or semi-finished or finished products are collected, processing machines and lines for conveying the material, in paste or liquid form, between the reservoirs and the machines. Reservoirs, vats, machines, and lines may be equipped with hydraulic regulation valves to control the movement of the product through the plant or a part of it. The regulation valves are normally manual and it is not possible to know their state (open/closed) remotely and automatically. It should be added that it is generally not possible to add sensors and servo-assist devices to the plant, due to the difficulty of ensuring that the food product being processed is not contaminated. In addition, hygiene regulations, e.g. HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) protocols, are becoming increasingly stringent and plant components that touch food products must be appropriately certified (e.g. MOCA). Any modification involving components that are in contact with the food product to be processed would therefore have to undergo a new certification process, with the time and costs that this entails.

It is, therefore, almost impossible to monitor material transfers and prevent attempts at fraud, which may be perpetrated for example by adding less valuable and cheaper product, taking advantage of the fact that the status of the regulation valves cannot be tracked.

SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of this invention is to overcome or at least mitigate the limitations described.

According to this invention, therefore, an agri-food product processing plant is provided for equipment for aiding the traceability of products essentially as defined in claim 1.

According to one aspect of this invention, a container for agri-food products as defined in claim 18 is also provided. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description of non-limiting embodiments thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a simplified block diagram of an agri food product processing plant;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hydraulic regulation valve of the plant in Figure 1, made according to one embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 3 is a plan view from above of the regulation valve in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a simplified block diagram of the regulation valve in Figure 2;

- Figures 5a-5c show control devices, respectively a hydraulic regulation valve, a lid, and a door, in accordance with respective different embodiments of this invention;

- Figure 6 is a side view of a hydraulic regulation valve of the plant in Figure 1, according to an additional embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 7 is a plan view from above of the regulation valve in Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a simplified block diagram of the regulation valve in Figure 6;

- Figure 9 shows a detail of a hydraulic regulation valve in accordance with a different embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 10a is a side view of a lid that may be used in the plant in Figure 1 and made in accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention;

- Figure 10b is a side view of a door that may be used in the plant in Figure 1 and made in accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention;

Figure 11 is a simplified block diagram of a monitoring device that may be used in the plant in Figure 1; - Figure 12 is a simplified side view of a container equipped with a lid in accordance with one embodiment of this invention and that may be used in the plant in Figure

1;

- Figure 13 is an enlarged side view of a detail of the container in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a simplified block diagram of a monitoring device of the container in Figure 13;

- Figure 15 is a plan view from above of a container equipped with a lid in accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention and that may be used in the plant in Figure 1;

- Figure 16 is a side view of a detail of the container in Figure 15;

- Figure 17 is a side view of a container equipped with a lid in accordance with an additional embodiment of this invention and that may be used in the plant in Figure 1.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1, an agri-food product processing plant, in particular an oil mill, is identified as a whole with the reference number 1 and comprises multiple processing stations and reservoirs where the liquid that is extracted is collected, in this case oil at the end of the processing. As mentioned, in the example described, the plant 1 is an oil mill for producing olive oil. However, the invention is intended to apply equally to all the other types of plants in which agri-food products are transferred and processed, in particular, but not exclusively, fruit and vegetables. As non-limiting examples, the invention may be applied to plants for wine production, to plants for producing foods based on fruit, such as juices and jams, and plants for pasteurizing and packaging milk. The processing stations may comprise, by way of example, a crusher 2, a kneading assembly 3, a separator 5, a centrifuge 6, and a decanting vat 7. Reservoirs 8 receive the product at the end of its processing. The storage in reservoirs 8 may occur directly from the decanting vat 7 or via cans 9 that are filled by tapping the decanting vat 7 and, following this, emptied into the reservoirs 8.

The processing stations are connected to each other via connection lines 10, which can transport semi-finished paste product or liquid product, according to the processing stage.

The plant 1 may also comprise one or more pumps 12, 13 for moving the product forward between successive processing stations along respective connection lines 10.

In the example in Figure 1, the crusher 2 receives the harvested product (olives) through a hopper, not shown here, and produces a paste that is fed to the kneaders 3. The kneaders 3 are connected in parallel between the crusher 2 and the pump 12 and are each equipped with respective inlet gate valves 14 and outlet gate valves 15. In addition, taps 16 enable water to be fed to the kneaders 3 during processing. By operating the inlet gate valves 14 and the outlet gate valves 15, the kneaders 3 may be selectively activated to have a variable number of kneaders 3 in operation and allow different amounts of product to be processed as needed.

The pump 12, in addition to moving the olive paste coming out of the kneaders 3 to the separator 5, makes it possible to add water to obtain the degree of fluidity desired via the tap 17.

A gate valve 18 makes it possible to control the feeding of olive paste to the separator 5. Raw olive oil, and then extra-virgin oil, are respectively extracted from the paste coming out of the pump 12 into the separator 5 and into the centrifuge 6. The extra-virgin oil is collected in the decanting vat 7 and transferred from here into the reservoirs 8, either directly or using the cans 9. Extra virgin oil is withdrawn from the decanting vat using a tap 19a (towards the reservoir 8 through one of the connection lines 10 and the pump 13) or another tap 19b (for extraction with cans 9).

The reservoirs 8 may be, in their turn, equipped with loading and unloading taps 20 for filling and emptying. Pouring off from the decanting vat 7 and/or from the cans 9 may be carried out by gravity through a lid or by the pump 13, using the taps 20.

The gate valves 14, 15, 18 and the taps 16, 17, 19, 20 define hydraulic regulation valves that have the function of controlling the movement of the product between processing stations, the feeding of the product at processing stations, the filling, and the emptying of the reservoirs 8. The hydraulic regulation valves are usually manually activated and are equipped with a control member that has a closed position, an open position, and multiple intermediate positions between the closed position and the open position.

In one embodiment, the regulation valves are equipped with sensors and transmitters coupled in communication with a monitoring station 25 to detect a corresponding state (open/closed) in the monitoring station 25 itself, and to keep it updated.

The monitoring station 25 (Figure 1) is provided with a central processing unit 26 and a memory unit 27. The central processing unit 26 is configured to track the state of the regulation valves and to record a chronology of the states in the memory unit 27. Thus, it is possible to objectively document all the events (openings and closings or regulation members) that enable the quantities of product being processed at the different stations of the plant 1 to be changed and, as a result, all the loading, unloading, washing, sample-taking, and connection operations.

As mentioned, the regulation valves may comprise taps and gate valves equipped with sensors and connection capacity to detect and communicate their status to the monitoring station 25. In the following, examples of a tap and of a gate valve will be described in more detail. In particular, reference will be made to the tap 20 of one of the reservoirs 3, which is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, and to the gate valve 18 of the separator 5, which is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. It should be understood, however, that what has been described applies, respectively to all the other taps and to all the other gate valves present in the plant 1.

The tap 20 in one embodiment is, for example, a ball valve and is equipped with a control member 21, angularly movable along a 90° arc of a circle between a closed position PC and an open position PA. The tap 20 is, in addition, provided with a monitoring device 30, which is configured to detect at least movements of the control member 21 to and from the closed position PC and to and from the open position PA. Thus, at every instant, the monitoring device 30 makes it possible to determine whether the control member 21 is in the closed position PC, in the open position PA, or in an intermediate position between the two. In particular, the monitoring device 30 comprises a fixed support 31, a movable support 32, an excitation member 33, defined by magnet, and a first detector 35a and a second detector 35b, defined by a first electric coil and a second electric coil, respectively. The detectors 35a, 35b are connected to a control device 36 (Figure 4), which comprises an on-board processing unit 37, in turn coupled in communication with the monitoring station 25 through a communication module 38, and a memory unit 39. In one embodiment, the on-board processing unit 37 is configured to transmit values of respective detection signals SI, S2 provided with detectors 35a, 35b, together with an identifier tag ID associated with the tap 20. In addition, the on-board processing unit 37 is configured to associate time markers with the detection signals SI, S2 received and to store, in the memory unit 39, the succession of detection signals SI, S2 received and the corresponding associated time markers. In one embodiment, for example, an event E (L, TSK) may be defined by a label L that identifies which of the detection signals SI, S2 was received and by a time marker TSK generated when it is received and associated with the signal received. The sequence of events is stored in the memory unit 39. The communication module 38 is configured to connect with an access point to a data network and in one embodiment it is a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) modem or based on other LPRF (Low Power Radio-Frequency) technologies, advantageously limiting energy consumption. In the event of a communication error between the communication module 38 and the monitoring station 25, it is possible to reconstruct the sequence of events E (L, TSK) from the content of the memory unit 39.

In the embodiment in Figures 2 and 3, the fixed support 31 is a plate in the form of a circular sector extending across an arc of at least 90°. The fixed support 31 is rigidly connected to the valve body 22 of the tap 20 and is arranged basically perpendicularly to the rotation axis A of the control member 21. The first detector 35a and the second detector 35b are located on an upper face 31a of the fixed support in positions corresponding respectively to the closed position PC and the open position PA of the control member 21. In practice, the detectors are separated by an angular distance equal to the rotation angle of the control member 21 between the closed position PC and the open position PA. An anti-tamper device 36 prevents the control member 21 and the fixed support 31 from being removed from the tap 20.

The movable support 32 is rigidly fixed to the control member 21 of the tap 20 and houses the excitation member 33 so that the excitation member 33 faces the first detector 35a, when the control member 21 is in the closed position PC, and the second detector 35b, when the control member 21 is in the open position PA. Shielded sectors 31a of the fixed support 31 decouple the excitation member 33 from the detectors 35a, 35b when the excitation member 33 is not aligned with them. In addition, the movable support 32 is shaped so that the detectors 35a, 35b are covered by the movable support 32 in any position between the closed position and the open position. For example, the movable support 32 may be shaped like a circular crown sector or circular sector and be arranged facing the fixed support 31, so that, independently of the position of the movable support 32, the detectors 35a, 35b are located in the gap between the fixed support 31 and the movable support 32. Once the monitoring device 30 has been installed, the detectors 35a, 35b are, thus, inaccessible from the outside and the possibility of inducing false readings, of the state of the tap 20 is basically precluded when, for example, a magnet is brought close.

The detectors 35a, 35b generate corresponding detection signals SI, S2 when the excitation member 33 is overlapped with them or drawn away from them due to the movement of the control member 21. In particular, the first detector 35a generates a detection signal SI when the control member 21 is brought into the closed position PC and when the control member 21 is moved from the closed position PC. Similarly, the second detector 35a generates a detection signal S2 when the control member 21 is brought into the open position PA and when the control member 21 is moved from the open position PA. Once the initial state has been defined, therefore, the current state of the tap 20 can always be determined from the sequence of detection signals SI, S2. For example, if starting from the closed position PC the detection signal SI is transmitted, the central processing unit 26 determines that the control member 21 of the tap 20 has been moved from the open position PA and the current state is (and remains) partially open until either a detection signal S2 is generated or, again, another detection signal SI. In the first case, the central processing unit 26 determines that the control member 21 of the tap 20 has reached the closed position PC and, thus, the state is closed; in the second, that the control member 21 of the tap 20 has returned to the open position PA and the state is, again, open. Similar considerations may be made, mutatis mutandis, starting from the closed position PC.

In one embodiment (Figure 5a), the excitation member 33 is applied to the fixed support 31, while the first detector 35a and the second detector 35b are applied to the movable support, here indicated with reference number 132, so that it is located in a position corresponding to the excitation member 33 when the control member 21 is located, respectively, in the closed position PC and in the open position PA.

The solutions described with reference to Figures 2-4 and 5a, may be applied, in an agri-food product processing plant, to any type of regulation device (between processing stations and/or along fluidic connection lines) and of reservoir-closing device or processing stations that have an open state and a closed state and a control member that is angularly movable on an angle less than 360° between an open position and a closed position. The regulation devices can comprise regulation valves and taps. The closure devices may comprise, for example, lids (80 in Figure 5b) and doors (85 in Figure 5c) of containers that have a control member for locking and unlocking (81 for the lid 80 in Figure 5a and 86 for the door 85 in Figure 5b). All these devices have a body to which the fixed support may be applied from the outside, without contact with the inside of the container, while the movable support is applied to the operating member. In the case of a door, for example, the movable support may be directly attached to the outer face of the door itself, while the movable support is coupled to the outer edge of the wheel or steering wheel. In one embodiment, the door itself can act as the fixed support, to which the detectors or the excitation member are directly attached.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the gate valve 18 is placed along a duct 39, for example a section of a connection line 10, and comprises a valve body 40, a gate valve 41, slidable perpendicularly to an axis A' of the duct 39, and a screw control member 42, movable between a closed position PC' and an open position PA'. More specifically, the control member 42 comprises a screw 42a that may be activated by a wheel 42b, which is located at a first distance and a second distance from the axis A' when the control member 42 is, respectively, in the closed position PC' and in the open position PA'. The gate valve 18 is, in addition, provided with a monitoring device 45, which is configured to detect at least those movements of the control member 42 to and from the closed position PC' and to and from the open position PA'. Thus, at every instant, the monitoring device 45 makes it possible to determine whether the control member 42 is in the closed position PC', in the open position PA', or in an intermediate position between the two. In particular, the monitoring device 45 comprises a fixed support 46, rigidly fixed to the valve body 40, directly or indirectly, a movable support 47, an excitation member 49, defined by a magnet, and a first detector 50a and a second detector 50b, defined, respectively, by a first electric coil and a second electric coil. In one embodiment, the fixed support 46, for example a stiff rod, is fixed to the duct 39 by a ring 52, which may be closed with anti-tamper screws 53. The first detector 50a and the second detector 50b are located on the fixed support 46 at distances from the axis A' corresponding, respectively, to the closed position PC' and the open position PA'.

The movable support 47 comprises a cursor movable along a rod 54 fixed to the ring 52 and extending radially to the axis A'. In one embodiment, the movable support 47 has a throat 47a wherein an external edge of the wheel 42b of the control member 42 is housed, with play. Therefore, when the control member 42 is actuated, the movable support 47 is dragged between the closed position PC' and the open position PA'. The excitation member 49 is arranged on the movable support 47 so as to face the first detector 50a and the second detector 50b when the movable support 47 is located, respectively, in the closed position PC' and in the open position PA'. For example, the excitation member 49 may be located on one face of the movable support 47 opposite the throat 47a.

The detectors 50a, 50b are connected to a control device 55 (Figure 8), which comprises an on-board processing unit 56, in turn coupled in communication with the monitoring station 25 through a communication module 57, and a memory unit 58. In one embodiment, the on-board processing unit 55 is configured to transmit values of respective detection signals SI ¹ , S2 ¹ provided with detectors 50a, 50b, together with an identifier tag ID associated with the gate valve 18.

Identification of the state of the gate valve 18 may be carried out based on the respective detection signals SI ¹ , S2 ¹ basically as already described with reference to the tap 20.

Figure 9 shows one embodiment wherein the excitation member 49 is applied to the fixed support 46, while the first detector 50a and the second detector 50b are applied to the movable support, here indicated with reference number 67, so that it is located in a position corresponding to the excitation member 49 when the control member 42 is located, respectively, in the closed position PC' and in the open position PA'. For example, the movable support 67 may comprise a bar 67a extending radially to the axis A' and the first detector 50a and the second detector 50b may be fixed to opposite ends of the bar 67a.

The solutions described with reference to Figures 6-9 may be applied, in an agri-food product processing plant, to any type of regulation devices (between processing stations and/or along fluidic connection lines) and of reservoir closing devices or processing stations, such as lids (90 in Figure 10a) or doors (95 Figure 10b), having an open state and a closed state and a screw and wheel or steering wheel control member (91 for the lid 90 in Figure 10a and 96 for the door 95 in Figure 10b), wherein basically the rotation of the wheel or steering wheel causes the screw to move forward or backward along an axis between an open position and a closed position. For example, in this case too, the regulation devices may comprise regulation valves and taps, while the closing devices may comprise lids and doors with a control member for locking and unlocking.All these devices have a body to which the fixed support may be applied from the outside, without contact with the inside of the container, while the movable support is applied to the operating member. In the case of a door, for example, the fixed support (rod) may be directly attached perpendicular to the outer face of the door itself, while the fixed support is coupled to the outer edge of the wheel or steering wheel.

Figure 11 shows a block diagram of a monitoring device, identified with reference number 130, which may be used with any of the regulating or closing devices of the plant 1. The monitoring device 130 comprises a fixed support 131, a movable support 132, an excitation member 133, for example defined by a magnet, and a first detector 135a and a second detector 135b. In addition, the detectors 135a, 135b are connected, in wireless mode, to a control device 136 that comprises an on-board processing unit 137, in turn coupled in communication with the monitoring station 25 through a communication module 138, and a memory unit 139. The first detector 135a comprises a first coil 140a and a first memory element 141a, wherein a first identification code ID1 is stored. The second detector 135b comprises a second coil 140b and a second memory element 141b, wherein a second identification code ID2 is stored.

When the excitation member 133 interacts with the first coil 140a as a result of the movement of the control member (not shown here), the first detector 135a wirelessly transmits a first detection signal SI ¹¹ that contains the first identification code ID1 stored in the first memory element 141a. Similarly, when the excitation element 133 interacts with the second coil 140b due to the movement of the control member, the second detector 135b wirelessly transmits a second detection signal S2 ¹¹ that contains the second identification code ID2 stored in the second memory element 141b. The detection signals SI ¹¹ , S2 ¹¹ are received by the on-board processing unit 137, which stores them in the memory unit 139 and, in turn, transmits them to the monitoring station 25 via the communication module 138. It is understood that, in a different embodiment, the excitation member 133 may be attached to the fixed support 131, while the first detector 135a and the second detector 135b may be attached to the movable support 132. It is, in fact, possible to determine from the identification codes ID1, ID2 contained in the detection signals SI ¹¹ , S2 ¹¹ which of the first detector 135a and the second detector 135b has interacted with the excitation member 133 and, thus, whether the control member is in the open or closed position.

In the plant described, the monitoring station continuously monitors the state of the regulation valves. As a result, it is possible to detect any attempt to intervene during processing, from the time the products enter the plant until the end of processing, to alter the treated product by adding material of an unidentified origin. In fact, fraud is often carried out by adding less valuable and costly material to high-quality material, which is then diluted. These attempts, however, require the actuating of one or more regulation valves at different times than the expected plant- loading times for the expected product quantities. By tracking the state of the regulation valves, it may be ensured that the end product is derived exclusively from the processing of the controlled product fed into the plant. The information about the tracking of the state of the regulation valves can easily be supplemented by the monitoring station with information about e.g. the quantity of processed product or environmental conditions, both to further improve the product-tracking chain from origin to shelf and to monitor storage conditions and any effects on final quality. In addition, the monitoring devices are totally external to the regulation valves and do not, in any way, come into contact with the product being processed. On the one hand, therefore, any contamination of the product is avoided without the need for special precautions. On the other hand, the solution described makes it possible to intervene to improve existing plants without modifying the hygiene or health conditions and, therefore, it is not necessary to produce new certifications of compliance with the current regulations.

With reference to Figures 12 and 13, a liquid food container, identified with reference number 200, comprises a hollow body 201 with an opening 202 and a lid 203 reversibly coupled to the opening 202. The container 200 may be, by way of non-limiting example, a drum for storing and transporting food liquids, such as oil, milk, wine, beer, or a reservoir for storing the same materials in a plant (such as vats for storing oil or for aging wine). In either case, the container 200 may be used in the plant 1 in Figure 1. In addition, the container 200 may be provided with draining taps, valves, inspection doors, each provided with any of the types of monitoring devices described above.

In the example in Figures 12 and 13, in particular, the container 200 is a drum for transporting oil and is provided with a draining tap 205, to which a monitoring device 206 is coupled, for example of the type described with reference to Figures 2-4.

The hollow body 201 has a neck 201a, at the end of which there is an opening 202. The lid 203 is coupled to the neck 201a of the hollow body 201 using, for example, a screw (Figure 12) or by an annular seal, which is optionally inflatable and not illustrated for simplicity.

The container 200 is provided with a monitoring device 230 (Figure 14), comprising a fixed support 231, a movable support 232, an excitation device 233, attached to the fixed support 231, and a detector 235, attached to the fixed support 231. The fixed support 231 is rigidly connected to the hollow body 201 so that the detector 235 is arranged near the opening 202. The fixed support 231, for example, may be a ring attached to the neck 201a of the hollow body 201 and closed with anti-tamper screws 253. The movable support 232 is fixed to the lid 203 so that the excitation member 233, for example a magnet, is located near the detector 235 when the lid 203 is in the closed position. In particular, the angular positions of the fixed support 231 and the movable support 232 are selected so that the excitation member 233 faces the detector 235 when the lid 203 is in the closed position, i.e. at the end of the stroke in the case of screw coupling. Otherwise, the hollow body neck and lid may be provided with references (e.g., a pin and a groove, not shown) to be coupled so that the detector 235 and the excitation member 233 face each other. In the example in Figures 12 and 13, wherein there is a screw coupling between the lid 203 and the neck 201a of the hollow body 201, the fixed support 231 and the movable support 232 determine a distance between the excitation member 233 and the detector 235 in a direction parallel to an axis B of the opening 202 when the lid 203 is in the closed position. In particular, the fixed support 231 and the movable support 232 are shaped so that the detector 235 interacts with the excitation member 233 only in the closed position of the lid 203, while, again preferably in the passage during the last rotation of the lid 203 before reaching the closed position, the distance is such as to prevent interaction between the detector 235 and the excitation member 233. The correct relative positions may be easily adjusted for this purpose, including in view of the fact that detectors with detection intervals of a few millimetres are available.

In addition, the detector 235 is connected, in wireless mode, to a control device 236 that may be attached, for example, to the fixed support 231 and comprises an on-board processing unit 237, in turn coupled in communication with the monitoring station 25 through a communication module 238, and a memory unit 239. The detector 235 comprises a coil 240 and a memory element 241, wherein an identification code ID is stored. When the excitation member 233 interacts with the coil 240a as a result of the movement of the lid 203 from or towards the closed position, the detector 235 wirelessly transmits a detection signal S ¹¹¹ that contains the identification code ID stored in the memory element 241a. The detection signal S ¹¹¹ is received by the on-board processing unit 237, which stores it in the memory unit 239 and, in turn, transmits it to the monitoring station 25 via the communication module 238. It is understood that, in a different embodiment, the excitation member 233 may be attached to the lid 203 by the movable support 232, while the detector 235 may be attached to the fixed support 231.

With reference to Figures 15 and 16, a container 300 comprises a hollow body 301 with an opening 302, a lid 303, and the monitoring device 230 in Figure 14. The lid 302 is coupled to the hollow body 301 by a lever clamp ring 305. The clamp ring 305 has an inner profile that, in use, receives and clamps an annular edge 301a of the hollow body 301 and an edge of the lid 303 (Figure 16). The clamp ring 305 is equipped with a locking lever 306 that may be moved between a locking position (continuous line in Figure 15) and a release position (dashed line in Figure 15) parallel to a plane P of the opening. The movable support 232 is attached to the locking lever 306. In a different embodiment, not illustrated, the locking lever 306 itself performs the function of the movable support 232.

The fixed support 231 is defined by a ring fixed around the hollow body 301 by anti-tamper screws 253. The excitation member 233 is fixed to the locking lever 306 by the movable support 232, while the detector 235 is attached to the fixed support 231, like the control device 236. The detector 235 and the excitation member 233 are positioned so that they face each other in corresponding positions when the lid 303 is in a closing configuration, i.e. in the closed position with the locking lever 306 of the clamp ring 305 in the locking position. To ensure the unambiguousness of the closed position of the lid 303 and the correspondence between the positions of the detector 235 and the excitation member 233, a centring seat 310 is formed on the fixed support 231 (or directly on the hollow body 301, in an embodiment not shown), and the lid 303 is provided with a pin 311 that engages the centring seat 310 when the lid 303 is in the closed configuration and serves as a reference. It is also understood, in an additional embodiment not shown, that the excitation member 233 and the detector 235 may be coupled respectively to the fixed support 231 and to the movable support 232.

As shown in Figure 17, a container 400 comprises a hollow body 401 that has an opening 402, a lid 403, and the monitoring device 230 in Figure 14. The lid 402 is coupled to the hollow body 401 by a lever clamp mechanism 405. The clamp mechanism comprises a locking lever 406, fixed to the hollow body 401 and movable perpendicularly to a plane P' of the opening 402, a hook 407 connected to the locking lever 406, and an anchorage 408 engaged by the hook 407 in the locking position. In one embodiment not shown, the lever and the anchorage may be mounted, respectively, on the lid and on the hollow body. The clamp mechanism may, obviously, comprise multiple levers, hooks, and anchorages.

The fixed support 231 is defined by a ring fixed around the hollow body 401 by anti-tamper screws 253. The excitation member 233 is fixed to the locking lever 406 by the movable support 232, while the detector 235 is attached to the fixed support 231, like the control device 236. The detector 235 and the excitation member 233 are positioned so that they face each other in corresponding positions when the lid 403 is in a closing configuration, i.e. in the closed position with the locking lever 406 of the clamp mechanism 405 in the locking position. A centring seat 410 is formed on the fixed support 231 (or directly on the hollow body 401, in an embodiment not shown), and the lid 403 is provided with a pin 411 that engages the centring seat 410 when the lid 403 is in the closed configuration and serves as a reference.

The monitoring device 230 enables the detection of the opening and closing of any container provided with a lid, both for medium- to long-term storage, and the short-term storage and transport. In particular, the containers may include, without limitations, transport drums, typically with a capacity of some tens of litres, and containers for storage at the plant (in some cases, as in the wine production chain, for ageing as well) that may have capacities of several hundred litres. In this case too, all the opening and closing events may be stored to monitor the state of the containers and to signal unexpected openings that may correspond to attempts at fraud. In addition, there is no possibility of contamination of the product stored in the containers, because the monitoring device is located outside the hollow body and there is no contact with the inside.

It is clear, finally, that modifications and variations may be made to the plant and to the container described and claimed herein while remaining within the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.

In particular, the state of the hydraulic regulation valves may be detected by excitation members and detectors other than those described, for example photoemitters and photodetectors. In this case, the detection signals provided by the photodetectors are step signals that may have leading edges when the control members of the corresponding regulation valves are brought to the corresponding closed or open positions (thus initiating the interaction between the photoemitters and the photodetectors) and trailing edges when the control members are moved away (thus terminating the interaction between the photoemitters and the photodetectors) . Alternatively, contacts associated with different impedance values in the closed and open positions, and detectable by an impedance meter, may be used.