Abstract: A bottle handling device for assisting in inserting a number of similar sized bottles into a secondary container, such as a partitionless beer carton. The device comprises a frame which, when inserted into the empty carton, provides a number of similar sized cells or compartments equal to the number of bottles which would completely fill the carton. The frame is maintained by support means above the shoulders of the bottles when located in the carton. Each bottle is inserted into, and its main body passes through, the frame until the bottle sits on the carton floor, the walls of each cell preventing a bottle in that cell from toppling over and hindering the insertion of further bottles and completion of filling of the carton. Upon completion and filling of the carton, the device is readily removed for reuse and the bottles are maintained in their upright condition by contacting adjacent bottles and the carton walls.

Abstract: This invention is directed to the prevention of the production of skunky thiols upon exposure of beer to ultraviolet or visible light. Preferably, the invention is directed to the removal or inactivation of one or more of the reactants that are present in beer that bring about skunky thiol formation, particularly the removal of flavin reactants, especially riboflavin, or to the prevention of the light excitation of such reactants.

Abstract: A process for immobilizing viable cells in gelled carrageenan beads comprises preparing an aqueous phase that is a mixture of a gellable concentration of un-gelled carrageenan, in an aqueous suspension of viable cells, in which the mixture's potassium concentration is low enough that the thermogellation temperature of the carrageenan in the suspension is below a temperature to which the viable cells are substantially thermosensitive. This is done at a first processing temperature that exceeds the thermogellation temperature of the carrageenan in that aqueous suspension, but which is below the temperature to which the cells are substantially thermosensitive. A mixture of the aqueous phase and a non-reactive food-grade oil phase is then prepared, and subjected to shear by passing it through a static mixer under flow-rate conditions selected to disperse the aqueous phase in the oil phase, such that a resulting emulsion has a selected droplet size distribution.

Abstract: A process for reducing the propensity of riboflavin-containing malt beverages employs the treatment of beer or its intermediates with Fuller's earth absorbents and, in particular, colloidal magnesium aluminum silicates, especially attapulgite and montmorillonite clays. This process effects absorbance of riboflavin contained in such beer or its intermediates and can be shown to improve the stability of a treated beer against the formation of skunky off-flavors following exposure to visible wavelengths of light.

Abstract: A method for the rapid, high-sensitivity detection of bacteria in a malt beverage comprising liquid and solid components, wherein the method comprises the steps of:aseptically sampling said malt beverage;separating the solids in the sample from the liquid by means of a substrate having antibodies attached thereto;extracting DNA from the separated solids;subjecting the extracted DNA to a nested polymerase chain reaction, said reaction comprising:enzymatically amplifying at least one fragment of said extracted DNA using at least one highly conserved primer to produce a first amplified sample;enzymatically amplifying a product sequence from said first amplified sample, using a less highly conserved primer to produce a second amplified sample;examining said second amplified sample for the presence of DNA fragments associated with said bacteria.

Abstract: A carton is formed from a blank of cardboard or paperboard by folding the blank along preformed score lines or fold lines. The carton has front and rear walls, opposite side walls, corner walls, and top and bottom walls defining an enclosure for receiving the contents. Tabs are attached to the top and bottom walls at the corners and are folded downward over the corner walls to prevent light from entering the space between the corner walls and the top and bottom walls. Slots can be provided in the corner walls, and the ends of the tabs inserted into the slots to retain the tabs in a flush position against the corner walls.

Abstract: A process provides for the production of fertilizer solutions from brewery cleaning solutions. The process comprises the steps of combining a brewery caustic potash cleaning solution with a brewery nitrogen- or phosphorus-containing acid cleaning solution in mutually neutralizing amounts. This process results in the production of a fertilizer solution comprising a neutralized potassium salt solution having nitrogen-containing, organic, brewing materials entrained therein. If desired, spent grains and/or spent yeast from the brewing process can be added to provide further nutrients.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for managing or controlling fermentation product profiles in a parallel pair of beer product streams in which a brewer's wort is fermented to produce a beer having fermentation products therein. The beer is passed along a first side of a semipermeable membrane, under selective fermentation product passing conditions, to transfer selected fermentation products across the membrane, and into an unfermented beer wort on a second side of that membrane. This procedure results in the production of an unfermented wort having a permeate-supplemented fermentation product profile and a fermented wort having a permeate-reduced product profile. The unfermented wort is then itself fermented to produce a second fermented wort. The second fermented wort has a combination of fermentation-supplemented and permeate-supplemented fermentation product profiles. The respective fermented worts are then finished and-packaged for subsequent distribution and consumption.

Abstract: A static mixer conduit comprises a longitudinally elongated conduit having tabs that are arranged with respective first edges adjacent the conduit wall and respective opposed second edges that are spaced radially inward from the conduit wall. These tabs are operable as fluid foils so that with fluid flowing through the conduit, greater fluid pressures manifest against the tab's upstream faces relative to reduced fluid pressures against their downstream faces. The resultant pressure difference in the fluid adjacent, respectively, the mutually opposed faces of each of the tabs causes a longitudinal flow of fluid through the conduit over and past each said tab to be redirected. As a result of the redirection, there is introduced a radial cross-flow component to the longitudinal flow of fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: A flow-through photochemical reactor includes a reactor body, that circumscribes a longitudinally extending channel having a generally annular cross section. This channel accommodates fluids passing between an inner wall of the reactor body and an outer wall of a photon-transmitting tube that is housed internally thereof. In addition, the reactor includes mechanically static, fluid-dynamic elements for passively inducing substantial turbulent flow within a fluid as it passes through the channel. This arrangement substantially increases the uniformity of the fluid's exposure to photons radiating from a source within the tube into the fluid an it is conducted through the channel.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for detecting defective seams in cans having metal lids. The apparatus is mounted in cooperation with a conveyor to evaluate the cans being conveyed in a continuous operation. The apparatus includes a detecting device which has a pair of electrical contacts positioned to cooperate with a seam on the can. The electrical contacts are spaced apart a distance to contact a bulge in the seam which completes an electrical circuit between the contacts. A signal is then produced indicating a defective can, and the defective can is removed from the conveyor.

Abstract: A process for chill-treating, which is exemplified by a process for preparing a fermented malt beverage wherein brewing materials are mashed with water and the resulting mash is heated and wort separated therefrom. The wort is boiled, cooled, and fermented, and the beer is subjected to a finishing stage, which includes aging, to produce the final beverage. The improvement comprises subjecting the beer to a cold stage comprising rapidly cooling the beer to a temperature of about its freezing point in such a manner that ice crystals are formed therein in only minimal amounts. The resulting cooled beer is then mixed for a short period of time with a beer slurry containing ice crystals without any appreciable collateral increase in the amount of ice crystals in the resulting mixture. Finally, the so-treated beer is extracted from the mixture.

Abstract: A process for immobilizing viable cells in gelled carrageenan beads comprises preparing an aqueous phase that is a mixture of a gellable concentration of un-gelled carrageenan, in an aqueous suspension of viable cells, in which the mixture's potassium concentration is low enough that the thermogellation temperature of the carrageenan in the suspension is below a temperature to which the viable cells are substantially thermosensitive. This is done at a first processing temperature that exceeds the thermogellation temperature of the carrageenan in that aqueous suspension, but which is below the temperature to which the cells are substantially thermosensitive. A mixture of the aqueous phase and a non-reactive food-grade oil phase is then prepared, and subjected to shear by passing it through a static mixer under flow-rate conditions selected to disperse the aqueous phase in the oil phase, such that a resulting emulsion has a selected droplet size distribution.

Abstract: A flow-through photochemical reactor includes a reactor body, that circumscribes a longitudinally extending channel having a generally annular cross section. This channel accommodates fluids passing between an inner wall of the reactor body and an outer wall of a photon-transmitting tube that is housed internally thereof. In addition, the reactor includes mechanically static, fluid-dynamic elements for passively inducing substantial turbulent flow within a fluid as it passes through the channel. This arrangement substantially increases the uniformity of the fluid's exposure to photons radiating from a source within the tube into the fluid as it is conducted through the channel.

Abstract: A container suitable for shipping and dispensing a plurality of individual products is disclosed. The container conforms with accepted beverage industry handling and distribution practices, is conveniently transported from the point of retail sale by the consumer, and facilitates the consumer's dispensing of individual products from the container. The container includes a carton that is adapted with a zone of weakness to break partially away along predetermined lines of weakness. This structure forms a pair of interhinged trays having a common handle between them. The contents of each tray are then disposed in a position that facilitates placing the carton in the consumer's refrigerator without the need for adjusting the spacing of shelves.

Abstract: A sanitary coupling device and a method for its use are described. The sanitary coupling device taps a vessel, such as a brewery tank, without exposing the fluid to the atmosphere. The device can include a coupler that prevents the collected fluid from exposure to the atmosphere. The method for tapping a vessel can include engaging a nipple with a coupler. Then, collecting a sample and disengaging the coupler from the nipple is performed. The invention is desirable for a brewery tank sampling with a clean-in-place connection system.

Abstract: A process for the production of a hopped malt beer wherein a processing liquid containing riboflavin is hopped to form the desired beverage. The improvement comprises subjecting that processing liquid to an effective amount of actinic radiation of a wavelength adopted to decompose the riboflavin and thereby reduce the amount thereof, whereby a beer having enhanced light stability is obtained.

Abstract: A static mixer conduit comprises a longitudinally elongated conduit having tabs that are arranged with respective first edges adjacent the conduit wall, and respective opposed second edges that are spaced radially inwardly from the conduit wall. These tabs are operable as fluid foils so that with fluid flowing through the conduit, greater fluid pressures manifest against the tab's upstream faces relative to reduced fluid pressures against their downstream faces. The resultant pressure difference in the fluid adjacent, respectively, the mutually opposed faces of each of the tabs causes a longitudinal flow of fluid through the conduit over and past each said tab, to be redirected. As a result of that redirection, there is introduced a radial cross-flow component to the longitudinal flow of fluid through the conduit.

Abstract: This invention relates to herbicidal compositions containing sulfonylureas useful for control of undesired vegetation by treatment of vegetation or the locus to be protected. To eliminate detrimental effects of herbicides in crop rotation and phytotoxicity to crops by lowering dosage and widening of activity spectrum a novel herbicidal composition is disclosed consisting of diethylethanolammonium salts of 1-(2-chlorobenzenesulfonyl)-3-(4-isopropylydeniminoxy-6-dimethylamino-1,3, 5-triazin-2-yl)urea and 1-(2-substituted-benzenesulfonyl)-3-(4-methoxy-6-methyl-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl )urea (e.g. chlorsulfuron and triasulfuron derivatives), a surfactant, an organic solvent and water.

Abstract: A process for chill-treating, which is exemplified by a process for preparing a fermented malt beverage wherein brewing materials are mashed with water and the resulting mash is heated and wort separated therefrom. The wort is boiled cooled and fermented and the beer is subjected to a finishing stage, which includes aging, to produce the final beverage. The improvement comprises subjecting the beer to a cold stage comprising rapidly cooling the beer to a temperature of about its freezing point in such a manner that ice crystals are formed therein in only minimal amounts. The resulting cooled beer is then mixed for a short period of time with a beer slurry containing ice crystals, without any appreciable collateral increase in the amount of ice crystals in the resulting mixture. Finally, the so-treated beer is extracted from the mixture.