CA2343165A1 - Method and device for the handling and heat treatment of bag or film packs - Google Patents

Method and device for the handling and heat treatment of bag or film packs Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2343165A1
CA2343165A1 CA002343165A CA2343165A CA2343165A1 CA 2343165 A1 CA2343165 A1 CA 2343165A1 CA 002343165 A CA002343165 A CA 002343165A CA 2343165 A CA2343165 A CA 2343165A CA 2343165 A1 CA2343165 A1 CA 2343165A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
carrier device
film
film packs
handling
partitions
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002343165A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Meinhard Protz
Peter Kalisch
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Mars Inc
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of CA2343165A1 publication Critical patent/CA2343165A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A23FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
    • A23LFOODS, FOODSTUFFS, OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES A21D OR A23B-A23J; THEIR PREPARATION OR TREATMENT, e.g. COOKING, MODIFICATION OF NUTRITIVE QUALITIES, PHYSICAL TREATMENT; PRESERVATION OF FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS, IN GENERAL
    • A23L3/00Preservation of foods or foodstuffs, in general, e.g. pasteurising, sterilising, specially adapted for foods or foodstuffs
    • A23L3/001Details of apparatus, e.g. for transport, for loading or unloading manipulation, pressure feed valves
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65BMACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/06Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by heat

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Polymers & Plastics (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Nutrition Science (AREA)
  • Food Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Processing And Handling Of Plastics And Other Materials For Molding In General (AREA)
  • Control And Other Processes For Unpacking Of Materials (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for handling and thermally treating rectangular bag or film packagings (5) with a smaller thickness than length and width and with two longer and two shorter lateral edges. The inventive method is characterized by an orientation of the film packagings (5) in which a principle extension plane of the film packagings containing the lateral edges forms an angle of less than 60~ with the verticals during handling and/or thermal treatment, and the longer edges are orientated in an essentially horizontal manner.

Description

NETHOD AND DEVICE FOR THE HANDLING AND HEATyTREATMENT OF BAG OR
FILM PACKS
The invention relates to a method for handling and heat treating rectangular bag or film packs with a smaller thickness than length and width and having two longer and two shorter lateral edges, as well as a magazine-like carrier device for handling and heat treating a plurality of bag or film packs for performing said method.
In the sense of the present invention the term "handling" covers conveying, feeding, transferring, sorting, intermediate storing, gripping, etc.
The invention is in the field of the manufacture of bag or film packs filled with (animal) foods, in which previously manufactured (tubular) bag or film packs, which are also known as pouches, are filled with a content material in special filling and sealing devices and then closed (sealed) and are subsequently inter alia subject to sterilization before the finished products are packed.
To illustrate the aims of the invention reference is made in exemplified manner to the production of animal foods packed in film packs where, due to veterinary regulations, a specific so-called Fo value must be respected and which for specific products is in the range 20 to 40. For this purpose it is necessary to maintain at all points of the finished product a temperature of at least 121 °C for a specific period of time. This can e.g. be achieved by introducing the bag packs into a steam. sterilizer with a pressure between 1.5 and 2 bar.
Although the relatively flat bag packs are very favourable compared with compact shapes such as can packs with respect to the heat penetration and the time required for it (as is known the heat penetration rate increases in square law form with the greatest depth dimension of a body to be heated), the known procedure in which the bag packs or pouches are juxtaposed on tray-like plates, several plates being stacked in superimposed manner, is disadvantageous both with respect to the heat transfer in the sterilizer and also with respect to handling.
This is on the one hand due to the fact that the contact of the sterilization steam with the film packs lying on the tray-like plates is not of an optimum nature (perforated plates can only be used to a limited extent, because the perforation pattern would tfe transferred to the film pack materials which are relatively soft at the sterilization temperature) and on the other because the largely manual placing of the film packs on trays represents an interruption of the otherwise substantially automated manufacturing process.
Thus, the problem of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for the handling and heat treatment of film packs or pouches, with which is solved both the problem of the partial manual handling of film packs and also the heat treatment, so that it is possible to reduce costs for the sterilization and handling of flexible film or bag packs From the method standpoint, this problem is solved by a method for handling and heat treating rectangular bag or film packs with a smaller thickness than length and width, having two longer and two shorter lateral edges, which is characterized by an orientation of the film packs, in which one main extension plane of the film pack containing the lateral edges forms during handling and/or heat treatment an angle of less than 60° with the vertical and the longer edges are oriented substantially horizontally.
The angle is preferably less than 30°. It is even more preferred that the angle is 0°, so that the film packs are in a vertical orientation resting on a longer lateral edge.
In the case of an inclined orientation, the film packs can overlap one another in scale-like manner.
From the apparatus standpoint, the problem of the invention is solved by a magazine-like carrier device for handling and heat treating a plurality of film packs, which is suitable for performing the method according to the invention, having .a plurality of successively arranged, substantially parallel partitions for forming receiving pockets for in each case two mutually spaced partitions between two adjacent receiving pockets.
Appropriately the width of the partitions substantially corresponds to the longest dimension of the film packs to be received.
The height of the partitions can be smaller than the length of the shorter lateral edge of the film packs to be received.
Preferably, the mutual spacing of the partitions forming a receiving pocket substantially corresponds to the thickness of the film packs to be received.
According to a preferred embodiment, the partitions forming a receiving pocket are slightly V-shaped with an opening angle of more than 0°.
Preferably, the partitions are flexibly held on an elongated body, so that it is possible to expand the receiving pocket, whilst increasing the opening angle.
Preferably, the receiving pockets have a V-shaped bottom.
Appropriately the carrier device has a stackable construction.
Preferably, the carrier device is stackable in such a way that receiving pockets of a carrier device are partly arranged in gaps between receiving pockets of a carrier device to be adjacently positioned.
Further advantages and features of the invention can be gathered from the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the attached single fig. 1, which is a detail of an inventive carrier device for handling film packs.
Fig. 1 shows in side view the structure of an inventive carrier device for handling a plurality of film packs given the overall designation 1. On an elongated body 2, which can comprise a suitable profile cross-section, are so i:itted in parallel several rectangular partitions 3 that in each case receiving pockets 4 are formed between them, the mutual spacing a of in each case two partitions forming a receiving pocket being chosen in such a way that it is possible to receive a single film pack 5. In each case two partitions 3 forming a receiving pocket 4 are at the top, i.e. in a direction away from the body 2, fitted in a slightly V-shaped manner, in order to facilitate the insertion or introduction of a film pack 5 from above into the receiving pocket. For example by the punctiforni fixing of the lower edge of the partitions 3 to the body 2, they are held slightly flexibly on the latter, so that it is possible to increase the opening angle of the partitions if a corresponding force is exerted thereon. This can be advantageous during a heating or sterilization process, because the content of the film pack expands by up to about 4% on heating to approximately 120°C.
As is also indicated in fig. 1, in the vicinity of the body 2, i.e. below the partitions 3, the receiving pockets 4 are provided with a V-shaped bottom 7, on which in the case of a substantially horizontal position of the body 2 or the carrier device l, the film packs 5 rest with their longer lateral edges.
As a result of the inventive positioning of the film packs the width dimension of the carrier device running perpendicular to the representation plane of fig. l, substantially corresponds to the longest dimension of the film packs to be received, whilst the height b of the carrier device, which results from the height of the body 2, plus the height of the partitions 3, is smaller than the length of the shorter lateral edge of the film packs 5, so that the latter project upwards out of the receiving pockets 4, as shown in fig. 1.
The dimensions c by which the film packs 5 are allowed to project over the upper edge of the partitions 3 is inter alia dependent on the stability of the film packs, particularly under the action of heat (softening of the film material) and should be as large as possible, so as to aid the heat transfer processes and save material with respect to the carrier device.
The method according to the invention can take place in the following way.
Firstly previously produced film packs are filled and sealed and introduced into earner devices 1 according to the invention. A large number of carrier devices are combined on pallets to block-like units, sterilized, after sterilization are again removed from the pallets and then dried.
The film packs are then removed from the carrier devices 1 and combined into despatchable and saleable pack units 20. The film packs only have to be once inserted in and once removed from the carrier devices, which can take place without manual activity and clearly facilitates handling.

- S -The inventive handling of the film packs through their standing en their longer lateral edge in inclined or perpendicular manner, leads to numerous advantages compared with a lay-flat support or an upright support on a shorter lateral edge. Firstly an automated handling is possible through the use of the inventive carrier devices, magazines or cassettes due to the fixed, predetermined spacing between two film packs. This automated handling is further accelerated by the inventive support on a longer lateral edge, because on feeding or removing shorter distances have to be covered as compared with an upright support or storage. The thickness distribution of the product contained in a film pack is also optimized with regards to heat penetration. A problem occurs here that in particular at elevated temperatures (sterilization), the film material of the packs softens and the products assume fluid-like characteristics, so that they tend to collect to a greater extent in the bottom area of a film pack, accompanied by bulging.
The bulging tendency clearly increases with the height of the film pack (static pressure of the content). This is very unfavourable for an optimum heating and/or sterilization of film packs, i.e. requiring very short heating times, where in particular in the case of animal food a specific Fo value has to be respected, because the time required for reaching a specific temperature, under otherwise identical conditions, increases in square law form with the greatest depth dimension or thickness of the product. As a result of the handling position according to the invention these problems are largely eliminated.
The features of the invention disclosed in the description, drawing and claims are essential to the implementation of t'he different embodiments of the invention, both singly and in random combinations.

Claims (11)

1. Method for handling and heat treating rectangular bag or film packs with a smaller thickness than length and width, having two longer and two shorter lateral edges, characterized by an orientation of the film packs (5), in which one main extension plane of the film pack containing the lateral edges forms during handling and/or heat treatment an angle of less than 60° with the vertical and the longer edges are oriented substantially horizontally.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle is smaller than 30°.
3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the angle is 0°.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the film packs overlap one another in scale-like manner.
5. Magazine-like carrier device for handling a plurality of film packs for performing the method according to one of the claims 1 to 4, having a plurality of successively arranged, substantially parallel partitions (3) for forming receiving pockets (4) for in each case one film pack (5), in each case two mutually spaced partitions (3) being arranged between two adjacent receiving pockets (4), characterized in that the width of the carrier device (1) substantially corresponds to the longest dimension of the film packs to be received, and that the height of the carrier device is smaller than the length of the shorter lateral edge of film packs (5) to be received.
6. Carrier device according to claim 5, characterized in that the mutual spacing (a) of partitions (3) forming a receiving pocket (4) substantially corresponds to the thickness of the film packs to be received.
7. Carrier device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the partitions forming a receiving pocket are arranged in a slightly V-shaped manner with an opening angle of more than 0°.
8. Carrier device according to one of the claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the partitions are flexibly held on an elongated body (2), so that it is possible to expand the receiving pockets, whilst increasing the opening angle.
9. Carrier device according to one of the claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the receiving pockets have a V-shaped bottom.
10. Carrier device according to one of the claims 5 to 9, characterized in that the carrier device has a stackable construction.
11. Carrier device according to claim 10, characterized in that the carrier device is stackable in such a way that receiving pockets of one carrier device are partly positioned in gaps between receiving pockets of an adjacently arranged carrier device.
CA002343165A 1998-11-02 1999-11-02 Method and device for the handling and heat treatment of bag or film packs Abandoned CA2343165A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19850419.5 1998-11-02
DE19850419A DE19850419A1 (en) 1998-11-02 1998-11-02 Method and device for handling and thermally treating bag or film packaging
PCT/DE1999/003548 WO2000026090A1 (en) 1998-11-02 1999-11-02 Method and device for handling and thermally treating bag or film packagings

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2343165A1 true CA2343165A1 (en) 2000-05-11

Family

ID=7886390

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002343165A Abandoned CA2343165A1 (en) 1998-11-02 1999-11-02 Method and device for the handling and heat treatment of bag or film packs

Country Status (16)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1127005B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1143796C (en)
AT (1) ATE245566T1 (en)
AU (1) AU754097B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9915197A (en)
CA (1) CA2343165A1 (en)
DE (2) DE19850419A1 (en)
DK (1) DK1127005T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2203211T3 (en)
MX (1) MXPA01003362A (en)
NZ (1) NZ511029A (en)
PL (1) PL347333A1 (en)
PT (1) PT1127005E (en)
RU (1) RU2243928C2 (en)
WO (1) WO2000026090A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA200103007B (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1186537A1 (en) * 2000-09-07 2002-03-13 Seroba Transport container, apparatus and process for packaging bagged products using such a container
JP5415847B2 (en) * 2008-07-18 2014-02-12 株式会社クラレ Film carrier
US20130022497A1 (en) * 2011-07-21 2013-01-24 John Bean Technologies Corporation Carriers for processing pouches and other irregular containers and objects

Family Cites Families (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2532604A (en) * 1947-06-18 1950-12-05 Baltimore Biolog Lab Ampoule holding rack
US3531300A (en) * 1964-11-17 1970-09-29 Pillsbury Co Process for heat treating food sealed within flexible containers
US3625712A (en) * 1969-11-20 1971-12-07 Fmc Corp Control of diffusion of gases in pouches
US3812270A (en) * 1970-03-31 1974-05-21 Reynolds Metals Co Method of feeding filled containers to a retort or the like
FR2129843A1 (en) * 1971-03-16 1972-11-03 Illouze Charles Fresh food storage - in containers having a sealed compartment contg transpiration and respiration aids
DE2553359A1 (en) * 1975-11-27 1977-06-08 Raku Kunststoff Verpackungswer Filling and sealing thermoplastic containers - esp. ampoules with medicaments, blow moulded in easily handled units
AU4630479A (en) * 1979-04-20 1980-10-23 Suominen, H. S. Bag support
US4646629A (en) * 1984-02-10 1987-03-03 Fmc Corporation Sterilizing apparatus
NL8701796A (en) * 1987-07-29 1989-02-16 Bouwe Prakken DEVICE FOR FILLING BOXES WITH FILLED BAGS.
IT1226353B (en) * 1988-07-13 1991-01-11 Barilla Flli G & R EQUIPMENT FOR THERMAL STABILIZATION OF PACKAGED FOOD PRODUCTS
DE4224432C1 (en) * 1992-07-24 1993-12-09 Concept Verpackungssysteme Gmb Tubular bag packing machine - has tip-up pick=up pallet with troughs of variable cross=section to hold several filled bags until tipped for joint emptying
JP3527019B2 (en) * 1996-06-13 2004-05-17 森永製菓株式会社 Sterilization method and sterilization device for container containing liquid food

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1549200A (en) 2000-05-22
MXPA01003362A (en) 2003-06-24
EP1127005B1 (en) 2003-07-23
DE59906387D1 (en) 2003-08-28
RU2243928C2 (en) 2005-01-10
CN1324316A (en) 2001-11-28
ES2203211T3 (en) 2004-04-01
DK1127005T3 (en) 2003-11-17
ZA200103007B (en) 2002-07-11
NZ511029A (en) 2002-11-26
EP1127005A1 (en) 2001-08-29
PL347333A1 (en) 2002-03-25
ATE245566T1 (en) 2003-08-15
WO2000026090A1 (en) 2000-05-11
DE19850419A1 (en) 2000-05-04
AU754097B2 (en) 2002-11-07
CN1143796C (en) 2004-03-31
BR9915197A (en) 2001-08-07
PT1127005E (en) 2003-11-28

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Discontinued