Patents by Inventor Andrea Comin
Andrea Comin has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12258253Abstract: The invention relates to a system for introducing an additive into a container (2). The system comprises an automated device for transporting the container (2) in a horizontal plane (P), such as a rotary wheel. The system further comprises a static microdoser (5) having a nozzle from which a jet (7) of an additive issues upon passage of an opening of the container (2). Additive is so injected into said container (2). According to the invention, the nozzle of the static microdoser (5) is inclined relative to a direction orthogonal to said horizontal plane (P). This limits splashing, in particular when the jet (7) of additive hits an inner wall of the container (2) that is free of liquid. This can be facilitated by an acceleration applied on the container (2) which inclines the free surface (8) of the liquid material present in the container (2). A preferred application is the introduction of a flavored concentrate into a bottle of water.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: March 25, 2025Assignee: SOCIÉTÉ DES PRODUITS NESTLÉ S.A.Inventor: Andrea Comin
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Patent number: 12091305Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dispensing a small quantity of a liquid product, comprising a dispensing head (9) comprising an injection nozzle (7) to dispense a desired quantity of liquid product. The dispensing head (9) comprises an inlet (2) connected to a source of the liquid product (12) and an outlet (3) provided with the injection nozzle (7). It comprises a first valve (10) and a second valve (11) installed in series. The device comprises a control system (17) to command an opening sequence of the first valve (10) and of the second valve (11), resulting in a time of concomitant opening of the valves. The invention also relates to a method for introducing a liquid product into a container using this device. The invention makes it possible to obtain a dispensing head, which allows the dispensing of a liquid product for a period less than the minimum opening period of the valves that it comprises.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2021Date of Patent: September 17, 2024Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.Inventors: Andrea Comin, Rony Abou-Naoum
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Publication number: 20240228254Abstract: The invention relates to a system for introducing an additive into a container (4) partially filled with a main liquid material. It comprises an automated conveyor for transporting the container (4) along a straight horizontal trajectory (T) at a substantially constant container speed (Vc). It further comprises a static microdoser (6) having a nozzle (9) from which at least one jet (8) of an additive issues upon passage of an opening (7) of the container (4). The system is configured to introduce a given mass of additive into the container. The nozzle of the microdoser (6) is inclined relative to a vertical direction that is perpendicular to the trajectory (T). The inclination of the nozzle, the number, the shape and the speed (Vj) of the at least one jet, the mass of additive, and the container speed (Vc) are configured such that the specific kinetic energy of the impact of the at least one jet on the free surface of the main liquid material is less than 3000 mJ/m2.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: ANDREA COMIN, RONY ABOU-NAOUM
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Publication number: 20240228253Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle for a microdoser, the nozzle (1) comprising one orifice (4) or a plurality of orifices (4), the nozzle having a total orifice opening area of at least 10 mm2. Each orifice (4) is configured so that no circle larger than 1.6 mm in diameter can be inscribed within the opening of said orifice. The nozzle has an opening configuration that allows injection of a large quantity of additive at a low outlet speed, which limits splashing, and that allows the additive to be held by capillarity in the nozzle when the injection stops. The invention also relates to a system for introducing an additive into a container comprising a static microdoser having such nozzle (1) from which at least one jet of an additive issues upon passage of an opening of the container in proximity to the nozzle to introduce the additive into said container.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 4, 2022Publication date: July 11, 2024Inventors: ANDREA COMIN, RONY ABOU-NAOUM, BRUNO MOUTHON
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Publication number: 20230211993Abstract: The invention relates to a device for dispensing a small quantity of a liquid product, comprising a dispensing head (9) comprising an injection nozzle (7) to dispense a desired quantity of liquid product. The dispensing head (9) comprises an inlet (2) connected to a source of the liquid product (12) and an outlet (3) provided with the injection nozzle (7). It comprises a first valve (10) and a second valve (11) installed in series. The device comprises a control system (17) to command an opening sequence of the first valve (10) and of the second valve (11), resulting in a time of concomitant opening of the valves. The invention also relates to a method for introducing a liquid product into a container using this device. The invention makes it possible to obtain a dispensing head, which allows the dispensing of a liquid product for a period less than the minimum opening period of the valves that it comprises.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 8, 2021Publication date: July 6, 2023Inventors: ANDREA COMIN, RONY ABOU-NAOUM
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Publication number: 20230091547Abstract: The invention relates to a system for introducing an additive into a container (2). The system comprises an automated device for transporting the container (2) in a horizontal plane (P), such as a rotary wheel. The system further comprises a static microdoser (5) having a nozzle from which a jet (7) of an additive issues upon passage of an opening of the container (2). Additive is so injected into said container (2). According to the invention, the nozzle of the static microdoser (5) is inclined relative to a direction orthogonal to said horizontal plane (P). This limits splashing, in particular when the jet (7) of additive hits an inner wall of the container (2) that is free of liquid. This can be facilitated by an acceleration applied on the container (2) which inclines the free surface (8) of the liquid material present in the container (2). A preferred application is the introduction of a flavored concentrate into a bottle of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 17, 2021Publication date: March 23, 2023Inventor: ANDREA COMIN
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Patent number: 11345580Abstract: The invention concerns a method for filling a thermoplastic container (2), comprising a mouth (2a), with a gasified liquid having a pressure (P), said method using a filling unit (1) and comprising the steps of: —Positioning the container (2) under a filling head (3) of the filling unit (1), the filling head (3) comprising a product filling valve (8); —Establishing fluid tight connection between the filling head (3) and the mouth (2a) of the container (2); —Delivering a first volume of a first product (FL) in the container, said first volume being less than 10% of the maximum defined volume of the container; —Pressurizing the container (2) with a pressurized gas (G) at a pressure similar to the pressure (P) of the gasified liquid to be filled, using at least one pressurization valve (9a, 9b); —Filling the container (2) under pressurized condition until its maximum defined volume with the gasified liquid (PL), using the product filling valve (8); —Depressurizing the container (2) using a venting valve (10); —SType: GrantFiled: October 12, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Jean-Philippe Kannengiesser
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Publication number: 20200277179Abstract: The invention concerns a method for filling a thermoplastic container (2), comprising a mouth (2a), with a gasified liquid having a pressure (P), said method using a filling unit (1) and comprising the steps of:— Positioning the container (2) under a filling head (3) of the filling unit (1), the filling head (3) comprising a product filling valve (8);— Establishing fluid tight connection between the filling head (3) and the mouth (2a) of the container (2);— Delivering a first volume of a first product (FL) in the container, said first volume being less than 10% of the maximum defined volume of the container;— Pressurizing the container (2) with a pressurized gas (G) at a pressure similar to the pressure (P) of the gasified liquid to be filled, using at least one pressurization valve (9a, 9b);— Filling the container (2) under pressurized condition until its maximum defined volume with the gasified liquid (PL), using the product filling valve (8);— Depressurizing the container (2) using a venting valve (10);— SType: ApplicationFiled: October 12, 2018Publication date: September 3, 2020Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Jean-Philippe Kannengiesser
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Patent number: 10287151Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers comprises a nozzle for establishing fluid communication with a container, a filling line extending between the nozzle and a source of a product fluid, a filling valve in the filling line, an auxiliary line extending from the nozzle to a drain, and a drain isolation valve in the auxiliary line; further comprising at least one additive line which extends from a junction with the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the drain valve to an additive fluid source; and a dosing valve in the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the at least one additive line, which permits a predetermined volume of additive fluid to flow through the auxiliary line to the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2016Date of Patent: May 14, 2019Assignee: Nestec S.A.Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Kannengiesser
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Publication number: 20180354766Abstract: The invention relates to a bottling machine comprising a carousel (1) for filling containers with a main liquid material, wherein said bottling machine comprises a first micro-carousel (61) for introducing a first additive fluid into transferred containers; and a second micro-carousel (62) for introducing a second additive fluid into transferred containers. The invention also relates to a method for producing packs of a given number of containers filled with at least two different products within the same pack.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: NESTEC S.A.Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Kannengiesser
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Publication number: 20180354764Abstract: An apparatus (100) for filling and sealing containers comprises a carousel (401) with a plurality of stations (106) revolving about an axis (104), each station (106) comprising a holder (108) adapted to accommodate a container (110), a filling tool (126) for dispensing a fluid product in the container, and a sealing tool (200) for applying a closure (202) to the container (110); at each station (106), the holder (108) is mobile in a radial direction (R) of the carousel between a first, retracted position substantially aligned with the filling tool (126), and a second, extended position substantially aligned with the sealing tool (200).Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2016Publication date: December 13, 2018Applicant: NESTEC S.A.Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Kannengiesser
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Publication number: 20170158479Abstract: An apparatus for filling containers comprises a nozzle for establishing fluid communication with a container, a filling line extending between the nozzle and a source of a product fluid, a filling valve in the filling line, an auxiliary line extending from the nozzle to a drain, and a drain isolation valve in the auxiliary line; further comprising at least one additive line which extends from a junction with the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the drain valve to an additive fluid source; and a dosing valve in the auxiliary line between the nozzle and the at least one additive line, which permits a predetermined volume of additive fluid to flow through the auxiliary line to the nozzle.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Kannengiesser
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Publication number: 20170158478Abstract: The invention relates to a device for introducing an additive fluid into a container such as a bottle. The device comprises a support disk, a plurality of fluid lines, each comprising a fluid outlet situated on the perimeter of the support disk, a fluid manifold fixed on the support disk configured to feed the fluid lines with additive fluid, and dosing valves, a dosing valve equipping each fluid line. The device further comprises a pairing assembly for pairing the device with a transfer wheel of a bottling machine, configured to synchronise a rotation of the support disk with a rotation of the transfer wheel with which it is paired. The invention also relates to a system comprising such a device and to a bottling machine comprising such a system. The invention also relates to a method for transforming a bottling machine comprising adding a device for introducing an additive fluid into a container.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 7, 2016Publication date: June 8, 2017Inventors: Andrea Comin, Damien Kannengiesser