Description:BACKGROUND
Field of Invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a preparation of milk-based powder and particularly to a system and method for preparation of milk-based fruit powder using a vacuum assisted spray dryer.
Description of Related Art
[002] Instant powders based on milk and fruit juice can help in extending a shelf life of the powders apart from convenience in packaging, transportation and carrying. Fruit juice and milk are the good combination of taste and nutrition. Spray dried powders preserve well for a longer period apart from low weight. They can be re-hydrated just before consumption. Traditional spray dryers are operated at very high temperatures in a range of 150 degrees Celsius to 200 degrees Celsius.
[003] However, the high temperature causes loss of certain heat labile compounds of food. Moreover, a lot of heat is wasted when the spray dryers are operated at the high temperature. In addition, there are no control systems available for protecting nutrients which are temperature sensitive from damaging.
[004] There is thus a need for an improved and advanced system and method that can standardize parameters for preparation and packaging of milk-based fruit powder in a more efficient manner.
SUMMARY
[005] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a method for preparation of milk-based fruit powder. The method comprising steps of: extracting fresh juice from a fruit by using a fruit extractor; concentrating the fruit juice at 60-degree brix by using a vacuum evaporator technique; breaking down fat globules from pasteurized milk by using a milk homogenizer; concentrating the milk at 60-degree brix by using the vacuum evaporator technique; mixing the concentrate of milk and fruit juice in different ratios in a mixer; pumping the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice by a feed pump into a spray drying chamber through a nozzle; enabling sprayed droplets of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice to come in contact with hot air to produce the dried milk-based fruit powder; enabling a vacuum pump to assist low temperature evaporation of water from the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice; collecting the dried milk-based fruit powder dispensed through an outlet of the spray dried chamber into a powder collector; performing a primary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using a packaging material such that the packaging material is Polyethylene; sealing the primary packaging by using a vacuum sealing machine; performing a secondary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using the packaging material such that the packaging material is polypropylene- nylon-polypropylene packaging material with aluminium foil; and sealing the secondary packaging by using a continuous band sealing machine.
[006] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on their particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for preparation of milk-based fruit powder by using a vacuum assisted spray dryer.
[007] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that protects temperature sensitive components present in the milk-based fruit powder from damaging by using a vacuum assisted spray dryer.
[008] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that produces milk and fruit juice in powder form in a quick and continuous manner and can be re-hydrated just before consumption.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system for preparation of milk-based fruit powder that may be capable to control entire production line.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a system that may be provided with a continuous packing and sealing equipment arranged in a production line for packaging of milk-based fruit powder.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 illustrates a system for preparation of milk-based fruit powder, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method for preparation of milk-based fruit powder, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0017] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0018] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0019] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 for preparation of milk-based fruit powder, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system 100 may be configured to prepare the milk-based fruit powder by using a vacuum assisted spray dryer, according to embodiments of the present invention. The system 100 may be configured to prepare the milk-based fruit powder by standardizing parameters such as a temperature, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the system 100 may comprise a juice extractor 102, a juice concentrator 104, a milk homogenizer 106, a milk concentrator 108, a mixer 110, a feed pump 112, a nozzle 114, a spray drying chamber 116, a vacuum pump 118, an outlet 120, a powder collector 122, a packaging material 124, a vacuum sealing machine 126, a continuous band sealing machine 128, and a control unit 130.
[0022] In an embodiment of the present invention, the juice extractor 102 may be utilized for extracting fresh juice from a fruit. The fruit may be, but not limited to, an apple, a banana, a mango, a chikoo, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the fruit including known related art and/or later developed technologies. The juice extractor 102 may be, but not limited to, a centrifugal force juicer, a twin gear juicer, a juice press, and so forth, in an embodiment of the present invention. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the juice extractor 102 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0023] In an embodiment of the present invention, the juice concentrator 104 may be adapted to concentrate the fruit juice at 60-degree brix by using a vacuum evaporator technique. The vacuum evaporator technique may be, but not limited to, a rotatory vacuum evaporator, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the vacuum evaporator technique including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0024] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the milk homogenizer 106 may be adapted to break down fat globules from milk that may be pasteurized at 100 degrees Celsius. In other words, the milk may be pasteurized first and then homogenized to mix and disperse milkfat throughout the milk to create a uniform mixture. Further, the milk concentrator 108 may be adapted to concentrate the milk at 60-degree brix by using the vacuum evaporator technique.
[0025] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the mixer 110 may be adapted to mix the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in different ratios to suit different customer requirements for a taste level. In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixer 110 may be adapted to mix the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in a ratio of 1:1. In another embodiment of the present invention, the mixer 110 may be adapted to mix the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in a ratio of 1:2. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, mixer 110 may be adapted to mix the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in a ratio of 1:3.
[0026] Further, the feed pump 112 may be adapted to pump the mixed concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice into the spray drying chamber 116 through the nozzle 114, in an embodiment of the present invention. The feed pump 112 may be, but not limited to, a progressive cavity pump, a flat diaphragm pump, a peristaltic pump, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the feed pump 112 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] Further, the nozzle 114 may be a spray nozzle that may be adapted to spray the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice into the spray drying chamber 116, in an embodiment of the present invention. The nozzle 114 may be, but not limited to, a flat fan nozzle, a hollow cone nozzle, a full cone nozzle, an air atomizing nozzle, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the nozzle 114, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. The mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice that may be sprayed through the nozzle 114 increases a surface area of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice that may later be contacted to hot air in the spray drying chamber 116 and dried into a milk-based fruit powder.
[0028] The spray drying chamber 116 may be used to produce the dried milk-based fruit powder, in an embodiment of the present invention. The spray drying chamber 116 may comprise the hot air that may be heated at a pre-defined temperature by using a heated element. In an embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined temperature may depend on characteristics of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the pre-defined temperature may be in a range of 95 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius. In an embodiment of the present invention, the hot air may come in contact with sprayed droplets of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice through an air distributor.
[0029] The vacuum pump 118 may be fitted to the spray drying chamber 116 to assist low temperature evaporation of water from the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice, in an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum pump 118 may be operated based on an output generated by the control unit 130, in an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum pump 118 may be, but not limited to, a rotary vane vacuum pump, a liquid ring vacuum pump, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the vacuum pump 118 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] Further, the powder collector 122 may be placed near to the outlet 120 of the spray drying chamber 116, to collect the dried milk-based fruit powder through the outlet 120 of the spray drying chamber 116, in an embodiment of the present invention. Further, the milk-based fruit powder may be packed in a multi-layer packaging for preserving the milk-based fruit powder at a room temperature.
[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, a primary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder may be done by using a packaging material 124 such as, but not limited to, polypropylene, plastic, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material 124 may be Polyethylene having a thickness in a range of 78 microns to 82 microns. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the thickness of the Polyethylene may be 80 microns. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the packaging material 124 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] Further, the vacuum sealing machine 126 may be used to seal the packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder, in an embodiment of the present invention. The vacuum sealing machine 126 may be, but not limited to, a nozzle vacuum sealing machine, a chamber vacuum sealing machine, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the vacuum sealing machine 126 including known related art and/or later developed technologies.
[0033] Further, a secondary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder may be done by using the packaging material 124 such as, but not limited to, Polyethylene, plastic, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the packaging material 124 may be polypropylene- nylon-polypropylene packaging material with aluminium foil. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the packaging material 124 including known related art and/or later developed technologies. In an embodiment of the present invention, the polypropylene-nylon-polypropylene packaging material with aluminium foil may be having a thickness in a range of 150 microns to 200 microns.
[0034] Further, the continuous band sealing machine 128 may be used to seal the secondary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] The control unit 130 may be configured to execute computer executable instructions stored in a memory (not shown) to generate the output. The control unit 130 may be configured to control an entire production line of preparation of the milk-based fruit powder, in an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 130 may be configured to generate the output for operating the vacuum pump 118, in an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 130 may be, but not limited to, a Programmable Logic Control unit (PLC), a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a development board, and so forth. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control unit 130 may be an Arduino Board. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the control unit 130 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] The memory may be a non-transitory data storage medium that may be configured to store the computer executable instructions, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The memory may be, but not limited to, a Random-Access Memory (RAM) device, a Read Only Memory (ROM) device, a flash memory, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the memory including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] FIG. 2 depicts a flowchart of a method 200 for preparation of the milk-based fruit powder, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0038] At step 202, the system 100 may extract the fresh juice from the fruit by using the fruit extractor 102.
[0039] At step 204, the system 100 may concentrate the fruit juice at 60-degree brix by using the vacuum evaporator technique.
[0040] At step 206, the system 100 may break down the fat globules from the milk that may be pasteurized at 100 degrees Celsius by using the milk homogenizer 106. Further, the milk may be concentrated at 60-degree brix by using the vacuum evaporator technique.
[0041] At step 208, the system 100 may mix the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in different ratios in the mixer 110.
[0042] At step 210, the system 100 may pump the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice into the spray drying chamber 116 through the nozzle 114.
[0043] At step 212, the system 100 may enable the sprayed droplets of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice to come in contact with the hot air to produce dried milk-based fruit powder.
[0044] At step 214, the system 100 may enable the vacuum pump 118 to assist the low temperature evaporation of water from the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice.
[0045] At step 216, the system 100 may collect the dried milk-based fruit powder dispensed through the outlet 120 of the spray drying chamber 116 into the powder collector 122.
[0046] At step 218, the system 100 may perform the primary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using the packaging material 124 and may further seal the packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using the vacuum sealing machine 126.
[0047] At step 220, the system 100 may perform the secondary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using the packaging material 124 and may further seal the packaging of the dried milk-based fruit powder by using the continuous band sealing machine 128.
[0048] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. , Claims:CLAIMS
I/We Claim:
1. A method (200) for preparation of milk-based fruit powder, the method (200) comprising steps of:
extracting fresh juice from a fruit by using a fruit extractor (102);
concentrating the fruit juice at 60-degree brix by using a vacuum evaporator technique;
breaking down fat globules from pasteurized milk by using a milk homogenizer (106);
concentrating the milk at 60-degree brix by using the vacuum evaporator technique;
mixing the concentrate of the milk and the fruit juice in different ratios in a mixer (110);
pumping the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice by a feed pump (112) into a spray drying chamber (116) through a nozzle (114);
enabling sprayed droplets of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice to come in contact with hot air to produce dried milk-based fruit powder;
enabling a vacuum pump (118) to assist low temperature evaporation of water from the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice;
collecting the dried milk-based fruit powder dispensed through an outlet (120) of the spray drying chamber (116) into a powder collector (122);
performing a primary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit by using a packaging material (124) such that the packaging material (124) is Polyethylene;
sealing the primary packaging by using a vacuum sealing machine (126);
performing a secondary packaging of the dried milk-based fruit by using the packaging material (124) such that the packaging material (124) is polypropylene- nylon-polypropylene packaging material with aluminium foil; and
sealing the secondary packaging by using a continuous band sealing machine (128).
2. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the milk is pasteurized at 100 degrees Celsius.
3. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the different ratios are selected from 1:1, 1:2 or 1:3.
4. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vacuum pump (118) is fitted to the spray drying chamber (116).
5. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Polyethylene is having a thickness of 80 microns.
6. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polypropylene-nylon-polypropylene packaging material with aluminium foil is having a thickness in a range of 150 microns to 200 microns.
7. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the powder collector (122) is placed near to the outlet (120) of the spray drying chamber (116).
8. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sprayed droplets of the mixed concentrate of milk and fruit juice are dried at a pre-defined temperature.
9. The method (200) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the pre-defined temperature is ranging from 95 degrees Celsius to 100 degrees Celsius.
10. The method (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a control unit (130) configured to control an entire production line of a system (100).

Date: May 08, 2023
Place: Noida

Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant