EP1094969B1 - Method for the sterile packaging of products, notably food or beverages, in pouches - Google Patents

Abstract

A method of packaging fluid or powdery products, in particular foodstuffs or beverages, in an essentially sterile manner in a packaging material in the form of a pouch of foil material having a filler opening closable by a closure cap, said method includes: providing a pouch whereby the closure cap can be placed in a first and second sealing position relative to the filler opening, whereby the closure cap is removable non-destructively from the filler opening in at least the first position; subjecting the interior of the empty substantially flat pouch having the closure cap in its first position to a germ-killing treatment; conveying the pouch having the closure cap in its first position and its interior already subjected to a germ-killing treatment to a filling plant; subjecting the exterior of the pouch having the closure cap in its first position to a germ-killing treatment; removing the closure cap from the pouch; filling the product into the pouch through the filler opening; and re-placing the closure cap on the filled pouch and closing the filler opening by moving the closure cap into its second position. A corresponding flexible pouch is also described.

Description

The invention relates to a method for the essentially aseptic packaging of flow or pourable products, especially food or beverages, in one Packaging material in the form of a packaging bag made of a film material with a filling opening that can be closed by a cap.

It is known to dispense liquid or pasty cleaning agents in flexible refill bags to keep the amount of packaging material as low as possible for environmental protection reasons to keep possible. Such refill bags can be designed as slicing bags or have a welded part with a closure cap, so that repeated opening and Closing the refill bag is possible. More flexible in this area of application Packaging bags naturally do not have sterilization problems. For health reasons However, reasons and to achieve a sufficiently long shelf life occur Problems with packaging food and drink for human consumption in the foreground. Such products have so far been easy to sterilize primarily stored in rigid containers made of glass or sheet metal. Although these can be Recycle the container well. But is with collecting the emptied containers and their Return to the recycling center is associated with a not inconsiderable environmental impact. In addition, the heavy, voluminous containers cause difficulties during transportation and warehousing. There is therefore a need for packaging for food and Drinks in flexible packaging bags that are easy to dispose of, similar to the known ones Refill bags for detergents without reducing the shelf life of the food or drinks experience a significant loss. Although in EP-A-0 661 208, the a Process for producing a flexible packaging bag with a closure cap and its Filling in a bottling plant revealed that the known The procedure for packaging products such as milk, cooking oil and the like is suitable, however, there is no mention of a sufficient shelf life, as with such packaging can be guaranteed even if the production of the packaging bag in one largely sterile environment and the products before filling would be pre-sterilized. Add to that the tendency in the food industry germicidal treatment of food for various reasons (receipt of Recyclable materials such as vitamins, no loss of aroma, etc.) without long exposure to high Make temperatures so that on the part of the product is not completely sterile can be guaranteed and therefore higher demands on the packaging sterility must be provided.

Document EP-A-0731037 discloses a system for preserving a sterile environment of the Cap of a pouch, the cap before the germicidal treatment of the empty bag is covered with a protective cap, and this protective cap is removed just before the bag is filled.

The aim of the invention is to create a method that meets the requirements of Food industry does justice by allowing food and beverages in an economical, environmentally friendly manner without significant restriction of Shelf life should also be kept in flexible packaging bags.

• Bereitstellen eines Verpackungsbeutels, bei dem die Verschlusskappe in eine erste und zweite abdichtende Position relativ zur Einfüllöffnung gebracht werden kann, wobei die Verschlusskappe wenigstens in der ersten Position zerstörungsfrei von der Einfüllöffnung entfernbar ist,
• keimtötende Behandlung des Inneren des leeren, im wesentlichen flach gelegten Verpackungsbeutels mit in der ersten Position befindlicher Verschlusskappe,
• Überführung des innseitig keimtötend behandelten Verpackungsbeutels mit in der ersten Position befindlicher Verschlusskappe in eine Abfüllanlage, in welcher die folgenden weiteren Behandlungen vorgenommen werden:
• keimtötende Behandlung des Äusseren des Verpackungsbeutels mit in der ersten Position befindlicher Verschlusskappe wenigstens an einem die Verschlusskappe und die Einfüllöffnung umfassenden Bereich,
• Entfernen der Verschlusskappe vom Verpackungsbeutel,
• Einfüllen des Produktes in den Verpackungsbeutel über die Einfüllöffnung, und
• erneutes Aufsetzen der Verschlusskappe auf den gefüllten Verpackungsbeutel und Verschliessen der Einfüllöffnung, indem die Verschlusskappe in die zweite Position gebracht wird.

The method according to the invention is characterized by the following steps:

• Providing a packaging bag in which the closure cap can be brought into a first and second sealing position relative to the fill opening, the closure cap being removable from the fill opening at least in the first position,
• germicidal treatment of the interior of the empty, essentially flat-lying packaging bag with the closure cap in the first position,
• Transfer of the inside of the packaging bag, which has been treated with a germicide, with the closure cap in the first position into a filling system, in which the following further treatments are carried out:
• germicidal treatment of the exterior of the packaging bag with the closure cap located in the first position at least on an area comprising the closure cap and the filling opening,
• Removing the sealing cap from the packaging bag,
• Filling the product into the packaging bag through the filling opening, and
• Put the cap back on the filled packaging bag and close the filler opening by moving the cap to the second position.

The method according to the invention is described in more detail below.

The starting material is a fully sealed, e.g. heat-sealed more flexible Packing bag with a permanently attached to it by welding Pouring insert, hereinafter referred to as a weld-in part, onto which a closure cap can be assembled by bouncing to a one defined by the weld-in part Seal the filling opening, which provides access to the inside of the bag, tightly. The structure of a preferred packaging bag suitable for the method according to the invention described in more detail below. The packaging bag can be, for example Take up volumes between 0.3 and 5.0 1, without restricting the Invention can be seen.

The empty flat-lying packaging bag with in a first of two closing positions both seal the fill opening, the cap is first removed, i.e. before one further treatment in a bottling plant, a germicidal treatment, preferably with germicidal γ radiation in an irradiation station, which is basically a can have a known structure and therefore need not be described in detail. The germicidal treatment can be obtained from the manufacturer of the packaging bag or, if desired, immediately before inserting the packaging bag into the filling system. goal of Treatment is to put the inside of the packaging bag in a sterile or at least to put aseptically as possible largely. Because the one in the first closed position Sealing cap hermetically seals the inside of the packaging bag, the germ-free Maintain condition for further treatment of the packaging bag even if between the germicidal and further treatment a longer period of e.g. some Days to several months.

A number of packaging bags pretreated as described above can be combined into one Transport package be summarized and is then in a storage magazine Filling system used, with a ring collar on the weld-in part offers an abutment by means of the packaging bag in a rail-like receptacle of the magazine of the bottling plant pushed in by hand or in any other way with the welding part pointing upwards can be. The packaging bags are opened one after the other from the magazine of the filling system given a transport device, the ring collar for supporting the packaging bag During transport, the packaging bag is used in succession along a variety to move from stations where further treatment is carried out.

The transport device is preferably a turntable with a A large number of treatment stations arranged thereon. In a first Treatment station is the packaging bag with the first in the position The cap is subjected to a germicidal external treatment by at least on the area of the packaging bag that includes the sealing cap and the weld-in part, a liquid disinfectant is sprayed on using a spray nozzle. At the Disinfectant can be any known in the food industry Act substance, so that a further explanation is unnecessary.

Following the germicidal treatment of the outside of the packaging bag a drying step in a drying station in which hot air or steam is applied to the Packaging bag is left to act.

The packaging bag pretreated in this way is then transported to a station at which Grasp the cap and remove it from the weld-in part. The removed one The sealing cap is led to a bypass transport path and temporarily stored there to be placed on the packaging bag again later.

The packaging bag then comes in with the cap removed a filling station at which a product to be filled, e.g. a food or drink into the interior of the packaging bag via the filler opening exposed on the weld-in part is introduced.

Then, before putting the cap back on, the inside of the filled Packaging bag an inert gas, e.g. Nitrogen, or steam, in another station introduced to expel residual air in the packaging bag and thereby one counteract undesired oxidation or other aging of the filling.

After this treatment, the closure cap is removed from the bypass transport path in a closing station taken by means of a gripping device and on the filled Put the packaging bag back on and fasten it so that the sealing cap is in the second sealing position comes to rest, in which it does not or only from the weld-in part removed again with considerable effort, possibly by destroying the welded-in part can be.

If desired, the last treatment step is followed by a drying treatment Hot air or steam in a drying station before being filled and hermetically sealed sealed packaging bags leave the bottling plant for further use.

It is preferred that treatment at least in the wards that remove the Sealing cap from the packaging bag, its filling with a product and the renewed Place the cap on the filled packaging bag, in one largely aseptic environment is made by these treatment stations be kept largely shielded from the outside environment. The transport of the Packaging bags along the individual treatment stations and the ones made in them Treatments can be done automatically under the control of a process control device. When setting up such a filling system with the treatment stations mentioned, the Those skilled in the art generally use known means, so that there is a more detailed explanation unnecessary.

Fig. 1 in fragmentarischer geschnittener Ansicht einen Verpackungsbeutel nach der Erfindung mit einer in einer ersten Position befindlichen Verschlusskappe, und

Fig. 2 in einer Ansicht ähnlich Fig. 1 den Verpackungsbeutel mit der Verschlusskappe in einer zweiten Position.

A packaging bag preferred for the method according to the invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary sectional view of a packaging bag according to the invention with a closure cap in a first position, and

Fig. 2 in a view similar to Fig. 1, the packaging bag with the cap in a second position.

In FIGS. 1 and 2 there is a bag base part of the packaging bag with the reference number 1 provided and only shown in fragments. The bag base part 1 can be any suitable one Outline configuration and made of any suitable germ-proof film material exist, which is a film made of plastic or metal foil e.g. Aluminum foil, or can be a composite film made of plastic and metal. In the empty initial state the packaging bag is basically a substantially flat structure that with Advertising notices can be printed.

At a suitable location along the outer circumference of the bag base part 1, preferably at a corner area, is a dimensionally stable insert or weld-in part 2 in a slot-shaped Opening (not shown) of the bag base part 1 inserted and by welding with the Bag base part 1 hermetically sealed. Although other types of connection are provided the weld-in part 2 is preferably through on the bag base part 1 Ultrasound welding attached. Weld-on ribs (not shown) can be attached to the weld-in part 2 be provided, which can be designed according to WO96 / 38349, to which therefore reference can be taken.

The weld-in part 2 comprises a tubular, from the bag base part 1 to the outside protruding neck region 3, which defines a passage passage 4, which connects between creates the inside of the bag base part 1 and the outside environment. On the neck area 3 For example, a closure cap 5 can be placed around the inlet opening of the neck area 3 hermetically sealed from the outside environment. On the cap 5 can a cover part 6 can be articulated via a film hinge 7. A sealing cone 8 stands from the cover part 7 and can seal in a funnel-shaped passage 9 in a bottom wall of the Insert the cap 5 when the cover part 6 is in the closed position. A Tear-off tab 11 can be provided around the cover part 6 in the shown in the drawing To fix the closed position so that a movement of the Cover part can be made from the closed to the open position (not shown). Another sealing cone 10 can be provided on the closure cap, which in the Inlet opening of the neck area 3 engages sealingly when the cap is in the 1 and 2 position shown relative to the neck area 3 is.

On the peripheral edge 12 of the closure cap 5 is an inward radial near its free end somewhat protruding collar 13 provided.

The closure cap 5 can be positioned in two positions relative to the neck area 3, wherein in both positions the passage 4 through the cap 5 opposite the Outside environment is sealed. The two positions are due to the intervention of the cap-side ring collar 13 with first and second rear engagement areas on the neck area 3 of the welding part 2 defined. In particular, along the outer circumference of the Neck region 3 a plurality of rear gripping cams 14 projecting radially outwards provided (only two diametrically opposed rear gripping cams 14 are shown in the drawing to see), which are arranged at the same angular distance from each other. Every rear gripping cam 14 has a rear gripping surface pointing in the direction of the bag base part 1. As in Fig. 1 is shown, the cap-side collar 13 is in the first position of the closure cap 5 in Engagement with the rear gripping surfaces of the rear gripping cams 14.

On the neck area 3 there is also a radially outwardly protruding near the rear gripping cams 14 Rear gripping collar 15 is provided which is undercut by the ring collar 13 on the cap side when the closure cap 5 is in the second position, as shown in FIG. 2.

The interior of the bag base part 1 is hermetic in both positions of the closure cap 5 sealed from the outside environment. In the first position shown in FIG The sealing cap 5 promotes the sealing in that the ring collar 13 on the cap side bears against the rear gripping collar 15 by being arranged near the rear gripping cams 14. In the cap-side engages under the second position of the closure cap 5 shown in FIG. 2 Ring collar 13 the rear gripping collar 15 along the entire circumference, whereby the desired Sealing is created. In the second position, the closure cap 5 can no longer can be easily removed from the neck area 3. In contrast, the backing is Relationship between the closure cap 5 and neck area 3 in the first position so that the Cap 5 without destruction with little effort from the neck area 3 can be removed by the cap-side ring collar 13 out of engagement with the Rear gripping cam 14 is brought.

At an axial point between the bag base part 1 and the rear grip collar 15 is also a radially outwardly protruding ring collar 16 is provided on the neck area 3, which as Holding means for the transport of the packaging bag by means of a transport device in one Filling system (not shown) is used. The collar 16 can be continuous or interrupted.

Instead of a collar, a large number of lugs distributed over the circumference could also be used as holding means be provided.

The invention was previously based on a preferred embodiment and a preferred embodiment of a packaging bag described. However, it goes without saying that this is not to be seen as a limitation of the invention, but rather modifications that are offer the specialist based on the given teaching are included. This applies in particular to the omission of individual treatment steps provided the aseptic packaging of the Food or drinks are not affected or only marginally affected.

Claims (8)

1. A method of essentially sterile packaging fluid or powdery products, in particular foodstuffs or beverages, in a packaging material in the form of a packaging pouch (1) of foil material having a filler opening (4) which can be closed by a closure cap (5),
   characterised by the following steps:

   1.1 providing a packaging pouch in which the closure cap (5) can be placed in a first and second sealing position relative to the filler opening (4), whereby the closure cap is removable in non-destructive manner from the filler opening in at least the first position,

   1.2 subjecting the interior of the empty packaging pouch (1) when laid essentially flat to a germ-killing treatment with the closure cap (5) in its first position,

   1.3 conveying the packaging pouch (1) with the closure cap (5) in its first position and its interior already subjected to a germ-killing treatment to a filling point,

   1.4 subjecting the exterior of the packaging pouch (1) with the closure cap (5) in its first position to a germ-killing treatment at least at a portion thereof including the closure cap and the filler opening (4),

   1.5 removing the closure cap (5) from the packaging pouch (1),

   1.6 filling the product into the packaging pouch (1) through the filler opening (4), and

   1.7 re-placing the closure cap (5) on the filled packaging pouch (1) and closing the filler opening (4) by bringing the closure cap into its second position.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the germ-killing treatment of step 1.2 is effected by exposing the packaging pouch (1) to γ-rays.
3. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the packaging pouch (1) with the closure cap (5) in the first position thereof is subjected to a pre-sterilisation by means of heated steam prior to step 1.4.
4. The method according to claim 1, characterised in that the germ-killing treatment of step 1.4 is effected by applying a disinfectant.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterised in that the surroundings of the closure cap (5) and the filler opening (4) are dried by means of hot air or steam after the application of the disinfectant.
6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least steps 1.5 to 1.7 are carried out in essentially germ-free surroundings.
7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that a treatment by means of an inert gas or steam is performed prior to step 1.7 for at least partially reducing an oxidising atmosphere in the filled packaging pouch (1).
8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that step 1.7 is followed by a drying treatment by means of hot air or steam.

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