CN113474256A - Packaging machine for producing sealed packages - Google Patents
Packaging machine for producing sealed packages Download PDFInfo
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- CN113474256A CN113474256A CN202080016566.7A CN202080016566A CN113474256A CN 113474256 A CN113474256 A CN 113474256A CN 202080016566 A CN202080016566 A CN 202080016566A CN 113474256 A CN113474256 A CN 113474256A
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- tube
- packaging machine
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/025—Packaging in aseptic tunnels
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/027—Packaging in aseptic chambers
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
- B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
Abstract
A packaging machine (1) for producing sealed packages (2) of pourable products is described, the packaging machine (1) comprises at least one insulating casing (18), a forming device (19) arranged at least partially inside the insulating casing (18) and configured to form and/or obtain sealed semi-finished packs (9) of pourable product, an outlet conveying unit (20) configured to receive the sealed semi-finished packs (9) inside the insulating casing (18) and to push the sealed semi-finished packs (9) out of the insulating casing (18) and to a transfer station (21), and a final folding unit (22), the final folding unit (22) is arranged at the transfer station (21) and is configured to receive the sealed semi-finished packs (9) from the outlet conveying unit (20) and to process and/or manipulate the sealed semi-finished packs (9) so as to obtain the packages (2).
Description
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of pourable products, in particular pourable food products.
Background
It is known that many liquid or pourable food products, such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc., are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
A typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package of liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trade mark), which is made by sealing and folding a laminated strip packaging material. The packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, for example of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, for example polyethylene. In the case of aseptic packages for long-storage products, such as UHT milk, the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material (oxygen-barrier layer), for example aluminium foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
Such packages are typically produced on fully automatic packaging machines.
There are known packaging machines which advance a web of packaging material at a sterilization station through a sterilization device for sterilizing the web of packaging material and into an isolation chamber where the sterilized web of packaging material is held and advanced. During the advancement of the web of packaging material within the isolation chamber, the web of packaging material is folded and longitudinally sealed at a tube forming station to form a tube having a longitudinal seam portion, which is further fed in the advancing (vertical) direction.
To complete the forming operation, the tube is filled with a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and is transversally sealed, and subsequently cut along equidistant transverse cross sections, within a package forming unit of a packaging machine during advancement in an advancing direction.
Pillow packs are thus obtained in the packaging machine, each having a longitudinal sealing band, a top transverse sealing band and a bottom transverse sealing band.
These pillow packs define a sealed, semi-finished pack having a central body portion and a plurality of flaps projecting from the central body portion. To obtain the finished package, a pillow pack is further formed and the flaps are folded and sealed onto the central body portion.
A typical packaging machine of this type comprises:
-a conveying device for advancing a web of packaging material along a web advancement path and advancing a tube formed from the web of packaging material along a tube advancement path;
-sterilizing means for sterilizing a web of packaging material before it is formed into a tube;
-a tube forming and sealing device arranged at least partially within the first isolation chamber and configured to form a tube from an advancing web of packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube;
-filling means for filling the tube with a pourable product;
-a package forming unit arranged at least partially within the second compartment and adapted to form, cross-seal and cross-cut a tube of packaging material to obtain pillow packs; and
a final folding unit arranged within the second compartment and configured to process and/or manipulate the pillow packages to obtain finished packages.
The known packaging machine functions satisfactorily, however, there is still a need for further improvements of the known packaging machine. In particular, there is a need to further improve the cleanliness and sterility of these packaging machines and/or to facilitate cleaning and/or sterilization thereof.
Disclosure of Invention
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved packaging machine, in particular with the attendant improved cleanliness and sterility and/or facilitated cleaning and/or sterilization capabilities.
According to the present invention, a packaging machine according to the independent claim is provided.
Preferred embodiments are claimed in the dependent claims.
Drawings
Non-limiting embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
fig. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine according to the invention, with parts removed for clarity; and
Fig. 2 is a schematic view of a conversion of a semi-finished package into a finished package, with parts removed for clarity.
Detailed Description
Numeral 1 generally indicates a packaging machine for producing sealed packages 2 of pourable products, in particular pourable food products, such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the package 2 is made from a tube 3 of a web 4 of packaging material.
The web 4 of packaging material has a multilayer structure (not shown) and comprises at least one layer of fibrous material, for example paper or paperboard, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, for example polyethylene, interposed between each other. One of these two layers of heat-seal plastic material defines the inner surface of package 2 eventually contacting the pourable product.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the web 4 also comprises a layer of gas and light barrier material, for example aluminium foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, which is arranged in particular between one of the layers of heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material. Preferably, but not necessarily, the web 4 also comprises a further layer of heat-seal plastic material interposed between the layer of gas and light barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the web 4 comprises a first face and a second face, in particular the first face is the face of the web 4 which forms the inner face of the shaped packages 2 which eventually contact the filled pourable food product.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the typical package 2 extends along a longitudinal axis a and has a longitudinal seam portion 5 (extending along axis a and only partially shown) and a pair of transverse sealing bands 6, in particular a transverse top sealing band and a transverse bottom sealing band. In particular, the package 2 has a substantially parallelepiped structure.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, each pack 2 comprises at least two transverse walls 7 (transverse to longitudinal axis a) arranged at opposite sides of pack 2 and a plurality of lateral walls 8 extending between transverse walls 7. In particular, one transverse wall 7 defines a bottom wall, while the other transverse wall 7 defines a top wall of the respective package 2. Even more particularly, the bottom wall has a support surface adapted to be placed on a (horizontal) plane, e.g. a shelf in a dispensing point, and the top wall is opposite to the bottom wall.
With particular reference to fig. 1, packaging machine 1 is configured to produce sealed semi-finished packs 9, for example pillow packs, which are filled with pourable product and further processed and/or handled and/or formed into packs 9 to obtain packages 2. In use, the pack 9 is first produced and then the package 2 is formed from the pack 9.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, each pack 9 comprises at least one central body portion 10 and a plurality of flaps 11 projecting from the central body portion 10.
Preferably, but not necessarily, each pack 9 extends along a longitudinal axis B and comprises a longitudinal sealing band 12 (extending along axis B) and two transverse sealing bands 13 provided at opposite ends 14 of pack 9.
In particular, each longitudinal sealing band 12 and respective transverse sealing band 13 define respective longitudinal seam portion 5 and respective transverse sealing band 6, respectively, of respective package 2 (obtained from respective pack 9).
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the end portion 14 of each pack 9 tapers from the respective central body portion 10 to the respective transverse sealing band 13.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, each end 14, in particular at its opposite lateral edges, carries at least two flaps 11.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, packaging machine 1 is configured to manipulate and/or form and/or process packs 9 such that flaps 11 are folded and sealed onto at least one lateral wall 8 and/or one transverse wall 7 of respective packages 2. According to the non-limiting embodiment shown, two flaps 11 are sealed to two respective side walls 8 and two flaps 11 are sealed to one transverse wall 7 of respective package 2 (see, for example, fig. 2).
With particular reference to fig. 1, the packaging machine 1 comprises at least:
-an insulating housing 18;
a forming device 19 arranged at least partially inside the insulating casing 18 and configured to form and/or obtain a pack 9 of pourable product;
an exit conveyor unit 20 configured to receive the packets 9 inside the insulated housing 18 and to push the packets 9 out of the insulated housing 18 and to a transfer station 21; and
a final folding unit 22 arranged at transfer station 21 and configured to receive packs 9 from outlet conveying unit 20 and to process and/or manipulate packs 9 to obtain packages 2.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the packaging machine 1 further comprises a conveying device 24, which conveying device 24 is configured to advance the web 4 along the web advancement path P at least to the tube forming station 23, at which station 23 the web 4 is formed, in use, into the tube 3; and advancing the tube 3 along the tube advancing path Q.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the insulated casing 18 comprises at least a first insulated chamber 25 having a first internal environment 26 and a second insulated chamber 27 having a second internal environment 28.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the second isolation chamber 27 and the second internal environment 28 are arranged along the tube advancing path Q downstream of the first isolation chamber 25 and the first internal environment 26, respectively. In particular, in use, the tube 3 passes from the first internal environment 26 to the second internal environment 28.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, packaging machine 1 also comprises a safety chamber 29, distinct from insulated casing 18, in particular from first and second insulated chambers 25 and 27, and housing at least part of final folding unit 22, so that final folding unit 22, in use, handles and/or manipulates packets 9 inside safety chamber 29 to obtain packages 2.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the safety chamber 29 is laterally spaced from the insulating housing 18, in particular from the second insulating chamber 27.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the safety chamber 29 is separated from the insulating casing 18, in particular from the first 25 and second 27 insulating chambers; i.e. there is no direct mechanical contact between the safety chamber 29 and the isolating housing 18.
According to an alternative non-limiting embodiment, the safety chamber 29 is in contact with at least the second isolation chamber 27.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the packaging machine 1 also comprises a connecting channel 30 interposed between the insulating casing 18, in particular the second insulating chamber 27, and the safety chamber 29.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the connection channel 30 accommodates at least one (intermediate) portion of the outlet delivery unit 20 to propel, in use, the packet 9 within the connection channel 30 between the isolation housing 18 (in particular the second isolation chamber 27) and the safety chamber 29.
In particular, the connecting channel 30 encloses an advancement space 31, inside which advancement space 31 the pack 9 advances in use between the insulation casing 18, in particular the second insulation chamber 27, and the final folding unit 22 and/or the safety chamber 29.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, forming device 19 is configured to form web 4 into tube 3 and to longitudinally seal tube 3, fill tube 3 with pourable product and to form, transversely seal, in particular also transversely cut tube 3, to obtain and/or produce packages 9.
With particular reference to fig. 1, the forming means 19 comprise at least:
a tube forming and sealing device 32 arranged at least partially inside the first insulating chamber 25 and configured to form and longitudinally seal the tube 3 at the tube forming station 23, in particular inside at least a portion of the first insulating chamber 25, even more in particular inside the first internal environment 26;
a filling device 33 for filling tube 3 with a pourable product; and
a pack forming unit 34, which is arranged at least partially inside second compartment 27 and/or second internal environment 28 and is adapted (configured) to form and transversely seal at least tube 3, preferably also transversely cut tube 3, in particular to transversely seal tube 3, preferably also transversely cut tube 3, inside second internal environment 28 during advancement of tube 3 along tube advancement path Q, to obtain and/or produce packs 2.
In particular, the package forming unit 34 is arranged along the path Q downstream of the first insulating chamber 25 and the tube forming and sealing device 32.
In particular, the tube 3 extends along a longitudinal axis, in particular with a vertical orientation.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, packaging machine 1 also comprises sterilization means for sterilizing at least a portion of web 4 at a sterilization station arranged along web advancement path P upstream of tube forming station 23.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the sterilization device is configured to sterilize the web 4 by means of physical sterilization, such as sterilization irradiation, in particular electromagnetic irradiation, even more particularly electron beam irradiation.
Alternatively or additionally, the sterilization device may be configured to sterilize the web 4 by means of chemical sterilization, in particular by means of hydrogen peroxide.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the packaging machine 1 further comprises a magazine unit adapted to carry and supply the web 4 at the main station. In particular, the conveying device 24 is configured to advance the web 4 from the main station, in particular through the sterilization station, to the tube forming station 23.
Preferably, but not necessarily, conveying device 24 is adapted to advance tube 3 and any intermediate body of tube 3 along path Q in a manner known per se, in particular from tube forming station 23 through first internal environment 26 and towards and at least partially through second internal environment 28. In particular, the intermediate body of tube 3 refers to any configuration of web 4 before the tube structure is obtained and after the folding of web 4 by tube forming and sealing device 32 has been started. In other words, the intermediate body of the tube 3 is the result of progressively folding the web 4 (in particular by overlapping the opposite side edges of the web 4 with each other) in order to obtain the tube 3.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the first isolation chamber 25 separates the first internal environment 26 from the external environment, in particular allowing the formation and filling of the tube 3 in a controlled atmosphere. In particular, the first internal environment 26 contains a sterile gas.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the packaging machine 1 further comprises an atmosphere control unit configured to control the gas atmosphere within at least a portion of the insulated housing 18, in particular the first insulated chamber 25.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the atmosphere control unit is configured to control a positive pressure within the internal environment 24 that is greater than ambient pressure, in particular also to introduce sterile gas into at least the internal environment 24.
With particular reference to fig. 1, the filling device 33 comprises at least one filling pipe 35, which filling pipe 35 is fluidly connected or controllable to be fluidly connected to a pourable product tank (not shown and known per se) and extends partially inside the first insulating chamber 25, in particular inside the first internal environment 26. In particular, in use, the filling tube 35 is placed partially inside the tube 3 to feed the pourable product into the tube 3 which advances in use.
With particular reference to fig. 1, tube forming and sealing device 32 comprises at least one tube forming assembly configured to form (in particular by overlapping respective side edges of web 4) tube 3 from web 4; and at least one sealing head 37, the sealing head 37 being configured to longitudinally seal the tube 3, in particular along a portion of the tube 3 obtained by overlapping the side edges of the web 4.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the tube forming assembly and the sealing head 37 are arranged inside the first insulating chamber 25, in particular inside the first internal environment 26.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the tube forming assembly comprises at least a plurality of forming ring assemblies 38 (two in the particular example shown) adapted to progressively fold web 4 into tube 3. In particular, the forming ring assembly 38 is arranged in parallel and spaced planes, in particular orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the first isolation chamber 25, even more in particular having a substantially horizontal orientation.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the tube forming and sealing device 32 further comprises a pressing assembly configured to exert a mechanical force on the tube 3, in particular to facilitate longitudinal sealing of the tube 3. In particular, the pressing assembly is associated with a forming ring assembly 38, which forming ring assembly 38 is arranged downstream of another forming ring assembly 38 along the web advancement path P and/or the tube advancement path Q.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the package forming unit 34 comprises a plurality of pairs of at least one respective operating assembly (not shown and known per se) and at least one counter-operating assembly (not shown and known per se); and
a conveying unit (not shown and known per se) adapted to advance the operating assemblies and the respective relative operating assemblies along respective conveying paths.
Preferably, but not necessarily, each operating assembly is adapted to cooperate, in use, with a respective pair of respective opposite operating assemblies to form the tube 3, in particular to transversely seal and transversely cut the tube 3 to obtain one respective pack 9, while advancing, in use, along a respective operating portion of the respective conveying path.
Preferably, but not necessarily, each operating assembly and each relative operating assembly comprises:
a half-shell adapted to contact tube 3 and to define at least partially the shape of pack 9 and/or package 2;
one of a sealing element and an opposite sealing element, suitable for transversally sealing tube 3 in a known manner, in particular between adjacent packs 9; and
one of a cutting element (not shown and known per se) and an opposite cutting element (not shown and known per se) for transversely cutting the tube 3 between adjacent packs 9 in a manner known per se.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the first isolation chamber 25 comprises at least one outlet opening configured to allow the tube 3 to pass from the first internal environment 26 into the second internal environment 28, in particular an inlet opening opposite the outlet opening and configured to allow the introduction of the web 4 into the first internal environment 26.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the first isolation chamber 25 comprises a first lateral delimiting wall 39 carrying and/or having an outlet opening and a plurality of lateral walls 40 extending from the first lateral delimiting wall 39 in a first direction, in particular the first direction being the upward direction.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the second isolation chamber 27 comprises a plurality of lateral walls 41, in particular the lateral walls 41 extend from the first transverse delimiting wall 39 in a second direction opposite to the first direction, in particular the second direction being a downward direction.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, a first lateral delimiting wall 39 separates the first internal environment 26 from the second internal environment 28.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the first and/or second isolation chambers 25, 27 comprise sealing means for sealing the outlet opening in cooperation with the tube 3 in use to substantially limit and/or prevent any exchange of gases between the second internal environment 28 and the first internal environment 26.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the insulation casing 18, in particular the second insulation chamber 27, comprises an outlet aperture 42 configured to allow the bag 9 to come out of the insulation casing 18, in particular from the second insulation chamber 27 and/or the second internal environment 28. In particular, the outlet delivery unit 20 extends through the outlet aperture 42 and is configured to push the pack 9 out of the second isolation chamber 27 through the outlet aperture 42.
Preferably, but not necessarily, one of the side walls 41 comprises an outlet hole 42.
Preferably, but not necessarily, according to an alternative non-limiting embodiment not shown, the safety chamber 29 is in contact with one of the side walls 41, in particular with the one comprising the outlet hole 42.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the exit conveyor unit 20 is configured to advance the packs 9 along an advancement path R from the receiving station 43 to the transfer station 21, at which receiving station 43 the exit conveyor unit 20 receives the packs 9 in use.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, the exit conveyor unit 20 comprises at least one belt conveyor arranged at least partially within the second internal environment 28.
Alternatively or additionally, the exit conveyor unit 20 may also comprise another type of conveyor.
Alternatively or additionally, the exit conveyor unit 20 may comprise a plurality of belt conveyors arranged in succession with each other and extending at least between the receiving station 43 and the transfer station 21.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment and with particular reference to fig. 2, the final folding unit 22 is configured to manipulate and/or process the packs 9 so as to form and/or shape at least the respective central body portion 10 (in the desired form and/or shape of the respective package 2) and to control and/or determine the relative position of the flaps 11 with respect to the respective central body 10.
Preferably, but not necessarily, final folding unit 22 is configured to seal each flap 11 to respective central body 10, so that each flap 11 is sealed to one of lateral walls 7 and/or lateral walls 8 of respective package 2.
In particular, the final folding unit 22 is of ｃA known type, for example as described in EP-A-0887261 or EP-A-2586719 or WO-A-2008122623 or any other species.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the final folding unit 22 comprises at least:
a conveying assembly configured to advance the packs 9 along a final advancement path; and
at least one processing unit configured to form and/or shape the central body portion 10 and/or fold and seal the flaps 11 onto the respective central body portion 10 during the advancement of the pack 9 along the final advancement path.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the conveying assembly comprises a plurality of holding pockets configured to hold at least one respective pack 9 during advancement of package 2 along the final advancement path.
According to a non-limiting embodiment, the final folding unit 22 comprises a plurality of handling units, each associated with one respective retaining pocket and/or arranged along the final advancement path.
In use, packaging machine 1 forms packages 2 filled with pourable product.
In particular, the method of forming the package 2 comprises the following main steps:
forming the packet 9 by means of the forming device 19;
-feeding the packs 9 to a final folding unit 22; and
final folding of the pack 9 by means of the final folding unit 22 to obtain the package 2 (see figure 2).
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the method also comprises the main step of transferring the packets 9 to the outlet delivery unit 20, in particular at the receiving station 43.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the method also comprises the main step of transferring the packs 9 to a final folding unit 22 at a transfer station.
In particular, the main step of final folding is performed after the main step of forming the packet 9.
In more detail, the main steps of forming the packet 9 comprise at least the following steps:
advancing the web 4 along an advancement path P;
folding the web 4 into the tube 3 at the tube forming station 23, in particular within the first insulating chamber 25 and/or the first internal environment 26;
longitudinal sealing of tube 3, in particular longitudinal sealing of tube 3 in first compartment 25;
-filling tube 3 with a pourable product;
advancing the tube 3 along the tube advancing path Q, in particular through a portion of the first internal environment 26 and/or the first isolation chamber 25 towards and at least partially through the second internal environment 28 and/or the second isolation chamber 27; and
Obtaining packs 9 from tube 3 by forming tube 3, transversely sealing and transversely cutting tube 3 within second internal environment 28 and during advancement of tube 3 along tube advancement path Q.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the main step of forming also comprises the step of sterilizing the web 4 at a sterilization station.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, during the step of advancing the web 4, the conveyor means 24 advance the web 4 along the web advancement path P, in particular from a master station to at least the tube forming station 23.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, during the step of folding the tube 3, the tube forming and sealing device 32 progressively overlaps the opposite side edges of the web 4 with each other so as to form a longitudinal seal.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the step of longitudinally sealing the tube 3, the tube forming and sealing device 32 seals the longitudinal seal by directing heat onto the longitudinal seal, in particular by means of a sealing head 37 which transfers thermal energy onto the longitudinal seal.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the step of advancing the tube 3, the conveying device 24 advances the tube 3 (and any intermediate body of the tube 3) along the path Q, in particular through the first isolation chamber 25 and partly through the second isolation chamber 27.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the step of filling the tube 3, the filling device 33 fills the pourable product into the longitudinally sealed tube 3. In particular, the pourable product is guided into tube 3 through filling tube 35.
According to a preferred, non-limiting embodiment, during the step of sterilizing the web 4, sterilizing radiation, in particular electromagnetic radiation, even more in particular electron beam radiation, is directed to at least the first side, preferably also to the second side, of the web 4.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, the sterilization step is performed before the folding step.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the step of obtaining packs 9, pack forming unit 34 forms, transversely seals tube 3, and transversely cuts tube 3, in particular transversely cuts tube 3 between successive packs 9.
Preferably, but not necessarily, during the step of obtaining the packs 9, each operating assembly and the respective relative operating assembly advance along a respective conveying path and cooperatively form, transversely seal and transversely cut the tube 3 while advancing along the respective operating portion.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the main step of transferring the packs 9 to the exit conveyor unit 20, the packs 9 are transferred to the exit conveyor unit 20 at the receiving station 43 by means of gravity. Alternatively, the packets 9 may be transmitted by means of a transmission element.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment, during the main step of transferring the packs 9 to the final folding unit 22, the packs 9 are transferred to the conveying assembly, in particular to a respective retaining pocket.
According to a preferred non-limiting embodiment and with particular reference to fig. 2, during the main steps of final folding of the pack 9, the respective central body portion 10 is formed and/or the respective flaps 11 are folded and sealed onto the respective central body portion 10.
Preferably, but not necessarily, the main steps of final folding of pack 9 comprise the steps of conveying pack 9 (by means of a conveying assembly) along a final advancement path and of handling pack 9 during advancement along the final advancement path to obtain package 2.
In particular, during the step of processing the packet 9, at least one processing unit forms and/or shapes the respective central body portion 10 and/or folds and seals the respective flap 11 onto the respective central body portion 10.
The advantages of the packaging machine 1 according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description.
In particular, by placing final folding unit 22 outside insulated housing 18, in particular outside second internal environment 28, the entire cleaning and/or sterilization process of packaging machine 1, for example a cleaning and/or sterilization process completed during a clean-in-place and/or sterilization-in-place process, is facilitated. This is possible, for example, because the size of the second isolation chamber 27 can be reduced with respect to state-of-the-art packaging machines, and because the cleaning and/or sterilization process does not require cleaning and/or sterilization of the final folding unit 22 as is currently necessary.
Another advantage is seen in the possibility of cleaning the second compartment 27 and/or the package forming unit 34 independently of the safety compartment 29 and/or the final folding unit 22. Furthermore, this allows applying different cleaning frequencies for cleaning the second isolation chamber 27 and/or the package forming unit 34 as well as for cleaning the safety chamber 29 and/or the final folding unit 22.
Another advantage lies in the possibility of facilitating the construction of the final folding unit 22, since the final folding unit 22 does not need to be optimized for cleaning and/or sterilization purposes.
Clearly, changes may be made to packaging machine 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the protective scope as defined in the accompanying claims.
Claims (12)
1. Packaging machine (1) for producing sealed packages (2) of pourable products, said packaging machine (1) comprising at least:
-an insulating housing (18);
-forming means (19) arranged at least partially within said insulating casing (18) and configured to form and/or obtain a sealed semi-finished packet (9) of said pourable product;
-an outlet delivery unit (20) configured to receive the sealed semi-finished packs (9) inside the insulating housings (18) and to push the sealed semi-finished packs (9) out of the insulating housings (18) and to a transfer station (21); and
-a final folding unit (22) arranged at said transfer station (21) and configured to receive said sealed semi-finished packs (9) from said outlet conveying unit (20) and to process and/or manipulate said sealed semi-finished packs (9) to obtain said packages (2).
2. A packaging machine according to claim 1, and further comprising conveying means (22) for advancing the web (4) of packaging material along a web advancement path (P) at least to a tube forming station (23), at which tube forming station (23) said web (4) of packaging material is formed, in use, into a tube (3); and for advancing the tube (3) along a tube advancing path (Q);
wherein the insulating housing (18) comprises at least:
-a first insulating chamber (25) having a first internal environment (26); and
-a second insulating chamber (27) having a second internal environment (28);
wherein the forming device (19) comprises at least:
-a tube forming and sealing device (32) arranged at least partially within the first insulating chamber (25) and configured to form the tube (3) at the tube forming station (23) and to seal the tube (3) longitudinally within the first internal environment (26);
-filling means (33) for filling said tube (3) with said pourable product; and
-a package forming unit (34) arranged at least partially inside said second compartment (27) and adapted to form, transversally seal and transversally cut said tube (3) inside said second internal environment (28) to obtain said sealed semi-finished packs (9);
wherein at least a portion of said outlet conveyor unit (20) is arranged within said second compartment (27) to receive said sealed semi-finished packs (9) and to push said sealed semi-finished packs (9) out of said second compartment (27) and to said transfer station (21).
3. The packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the first isolation chamber (25) comprises an outlet opening configured to allow the tube (3) to pass from the first internal environment (26) to the second internal environment (28).
4. A packaging machine according to claim 2 or 3, and further comprising an atmosphere control unit configured to control a positive pressure within the first internal environment (26) greater than ambient pressure.
5. A packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, and further comprising a safety chamber (29) distinct from the insulating casing (18) and housing at least a portion of the final folding unit (22);
wherein the final folding unit (22) is configured to process and/or manipulate the sealed semi-finished packages (9) within the safety chamber (29).
6. The packaging machine according to claim 6, wherein the safety chamber (29) is laterally spaced from the insulating housing (18).
7. The packaging machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the safety chamber (29) is separate from the insulating housing (18).
8. A packaging machine according to any one of claims 5 to 7, and further comprising a connecting channel (30) interposed between the insulating casing (18) and the safety chamber (29) and housing at least a portion (20) of the outlet delivery unit to advance, in use, the sealed semi-finished packages (9) between the insulating casing (18) and the safety chamber (29) within the connecting channel (30).
9. The packaging machine according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the safety chamber (29) is in contact with at least a side wall (41) of the insulating casing (18).
10. A packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each sealed semi-finished packet (9) comprises a central body portion (10) and at least one flap (11) projecting from the respective central body portion (10);
wherein the final folding unit (22) comprises at least:
-a conveying assembly configured to advance the semi-finished packs (9) along a final advancement path; and
-at least one processing unit configured to form and/or shape each central body portion (10) and/or for folding and sealing a respective at least one flap (11) onto a respective central body portion (10) during the advancement of the sealed semi-finished pack (9) along the final advancement path.
11. The packaging machine according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the insulation housing (18) comprises an outlet aperture configured to allow the sealed semi-finished packet (9) to come out of the insulation housing (10).
12. The packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the insulating housing (18) comprises at least one side wall (41) having the outlet aperture.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP19162708 | 2019-03-14 | ||
| EP19162708.2 | 2019-03-14 | ||
| PCT/EP2020/055568 WO2020182542A1 (en) | 2019-03-14 | 2020-03-03 | Packaging machine for producing sealed packages |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CN113474256A true CN113474256A (en) | 2021-10-01 |
Family
ID=65812131
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CN202080016566.7A Pending CN113474256A (en) | 2019-03-14 | 2020-03-03 | Packaging machine for producing sealed packages |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US20220177173A1 (en) |
| EP (1) | EP3708506A1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2022525158A (en) |
| CN (1) | CN113474256A (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2020182542A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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| CN117735005A (en) * | 2024-02-01 | 2024-03-22 | 苏州盛曼特新材料有限公司 | Material collecting and packaging machine and method for packaging alumina powder for electronic glass production |
| CN117735005B (en) * | 2024-02-01 | 2024-04-19 | 苏州盛曼特新材料有限公司 | Material collecting and packaging machine and method for packaging alumina powder for electronic glass production |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN114537773A (en) * | 2022-04-07 | 2022-05-27 | 广州西利实业有限公司 | Full-automatic high-stability triangular bag packaging machine |
| WO2023198615A1 (en) * | 2022-04-13 | 2023-10-19 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Infeed conveyor for a folding apparatus, folding apparatus having an infeed conveyor and packaging machine having a folding apparatus |
| EP4317002A1 (en) * | 2022-08-02 | 2024-02-07 | Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. | Packaging blank for forming a package and package formed from a packaging blank |
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Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| US20220177173A1 (en) | 2022-06-09 |
| EP3708506A1 (en) | 2020-09-16 |
| WO2020182542A1 (en) | 2020-09-17 |
| JP2022525158A (en) | 2022-05-11 |
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