System and method for preserving the contents of beverage containers

A system for preserving a liquid in a container, the system comprising:

• a pressure modifying device operable to cause gas flow in a fluid flow line;
• a connector for connecting the fluid flow line to a headspace of the container;
• a pressure sensor for measuring a pressure in the fluid flow line;
• a controller arranged to receive a measured pressure value from the pressure sensor and to operate the pressure modifying device;
• and
• a memory for storing an initial target dynamic pressure value Pt and a target static pressure value Pstat;
• wherein the controller is configured to:
• operate the pressure modifying device to start a gas flow in the fluid flow line;
• operate the pressure modifying device to stop the gas flow when the measured pressure value Pd meets the initial target dynamic pressure value Pt;
• determine a static pressure measurement Ps from the measured pressure value when the gas flow is stopped;
• determine a pressure correction Pcorr based on a difference between the static pressure measurement Ps and the target static pressure value Pstat;
• and
• apply the pressure correction Pcorr to the initial target dynamic pressure value Pt to obtain an updated target dynamic pressure value Pt′.

An apparatus for preserving still and sparkling beverages, comprising:

• a first system comprising:
• a gas supply valve connected with a gas supply, the gas supply valve being operable to feed gas into a first fluid flow line from the gas supply;
• a first connector for connecting the first fluid flow line to a first headspace of a first container, the first connector being arranged to receive a pressure stopper fitted to a sparkling beverage container;
• a first pressure sensor for measuring a first pressure in the first fluid flow line;
• a first controller arranged to receive a measured first pressure value from the first pressure sensor and to operate the gas supply valve;
• and
• a first memory for storing a first initial target dynamic pressure value Pt and a first target static pressure value Pstat;
• wherein the first controller is configured to:
• operate the gas supply valve to start a first gas flow in the first fluid flow line;
• operate the gas supply valve to stop the first gas flow when the measured first pressure value Pd meets the first initial target dynamic pressure value Pt;
• determine a first static pressure measurement Ps from the measured first pressure value when the first gas flow is stopped;
• determine a first pressure correction Pcorr based on a difference between the first static pressure measurement Ps and the first target static pressure value Pstat;
• and
• apply the first pressure correction Pcorr to the first initial target dynamic pressure value Pt to obtain an updated first target dynamic pressure value Pt′;
• and
• a second system comprising:
• a vacuum pump operable to draw gas out of a second fluid flow line for reducing the pressure in a second headspace of a second container;
• a second connector for connecting the second fluid flow line to the second headspace of the second container, the second connector being arranged to receive a vacuum stopper fitted to a still beverage container;
• a second pressure sensor for measuring a second pressure in the second fluid flow line;
• a second controller arranged to receive a measured second pressure value from the second pressure sensor and to operate the vacuum pump;
• and
• a second memory for storing a second initial target dynamic pressure value Pt and a second target static pressure value Pstat;
• wherein the second controller is configured to:
• operate the vacuum pump to start a second gas flow in the second fluid flow line;
• operate the vacuum pump to stop the second gas flow when the measured second pressure value Pd meets the second initial target dynamic pressure value Pt;
• determine a second static pressure measurement Ps from the measured second pressure value when the second gas flow is stopped;
• determine a second pressure correction Pcorr based on a difference between the second static pressure measurement Ps and the second target static pressure value Pstat;
• and
• apply the second pressure correction Pcorr to the second initial target dynamic pressure value Pt to obtain an updated second target dynamic pressure value Pt′.