EP2129614B1 - Verfahren zur füllung einer ausziehbaren packung - Google Patents

Verfahren zur füllung einer ausziehbaren packung Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2129614B1
EP2129614B1 EP08719456.9A EP08719456A EP2129614B1 EP 2129614 B1 EP2129614 B1 EP 2129614B1 EP 08719456 A EP08719456 A EP 08719456A EP 2129614 B1 EP2129614 B1 EP 2129614B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
package
bottle
filling
packaging
cooling
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.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP08719456.9A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2129614A2 (de
Inventor
Jacques Thomasset
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.)
Aisapack Holding SA
Original Assignee
Aisapack Holding SA
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
Priority claimed from EP07105418A external-priority patent/EP1975116A1/de
Application filed by Aisapack Holding SA filed Critical Aisapack Holding SA
Priority to EP08719456.9A priority Critical patent/EP2129614B1/de
Publication of EP2129614A2 publication Critical patent/EP2129614A2/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2129614B1 publication Critical patent/EP2129614B1/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/06—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure
    • B67C3/14—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus using counterpressure, i.e. filling while the container is under pressure specially adapted for filling with hot liquids
    • 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
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • 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
    • B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
    • B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/04—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus without applying pressure
    • B67C3/045—Apparatus specially adapted for filling bottles with hot liquids
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
    • B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
    • B67C3/22—Details
    • B67C2003/226—Additional process steps or apparatuses related to filling with hot liquids, e.g. after-treatment
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/13—Hollow or container type article [e.g., tube, vase, etc.]
    • Y10T428/1328—Shrinkable or shrunk [e.g., due to heat, solvent, volatile agent, restraint removal, etc.]
    • Y10T428/1331—Single layer [continuous layer]

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method of packaging a liquid product in a shrinkable package according to the preamble of claim 1, and to a device according to the preamble of claim 5 and as disclosed in the FR 2432991 .
  • the invention describes the packaging of a product at high temperature in a plastic container which shrinks under the effect of said high temperature.
  • the method applies in particular to the packaging of a product at more than 60 ° C in a PET bottle that has not been heat-fixed.
  • PET Polyethylene terephthalate
  • Thermoplating is considered to be the most efficient method for improving the heat resistance of bi-oriented PET bottles.
  • the principle of this process widely used on the market, is to heat treat the walls of the bottle to increase crystallization and thus improve the molecular stability at high temperature.
  • This principle can be broken down into several methods and thermo-fixing devices described in the prior art.
  • An important advantage of thermo-fixing processes is not to change the packaging processes, the thermo-fixing of the bottle being made during the manufacture of said bottle.
  • bottles having undergone heat treatment to allow the conditioning of a liquid at high temperature have several disadvantages.
  • a first drawback lies in the fact that only specific grades of polyethylene terephthalate can be used. These grades are more difficult to produce and generate additional packaging costs.
  • a second disadvantage is related to the decrease in the production rate of the bottles because the thermo-fixing process slows down the blowing cycle.
  • a third drawback is related to the weight of these bottles.
  • a bottle When a bottle is filled with a hot liquid, it results after cooling a negative pressure inside the bottle; said negative pressure having the effect of randomly deforming the walls of the bottle.
  • the most common method for dealing with the negative pressure in the bottle is the addition of compensation panels that allow the bottle to be deformed in a controlled manner.
  • bottles with compensation panels are stiffer and therefore heavier. This results in an excess of material which is not strictly necessary for the good conservation of the product.
  • the compensation panels are detrimental to the aesthetics of the packaging, which makes it less attractive to the consumer.
  • Patent applications WO2004106175 and WO2005002982 propose a design of the bottom of the bottle which can be deformed and avoids the use of lateral compensation panels.
  • the patent application FR2432991 proposes a method of filling a PET bottle which avoids the use of bottles having undergone thermo-fixing.
  • This process consists in cooling the outer walls of the bottle in order to to avoid any distortion of the bottle during the conditioning cycle.
  • the cooling of the outer walls of the bottle can be interrupted when it is no longer necessary to prevent deformation of said bottle.
  • This method makes it possible to avoid deformations of the bottle during filling.
  • this method does not make it possible to eliminate the compensation panels to cope with the negative pressure in the bottle after cooling.
  • the patent US5251424 also proposes a method of packaging a PET bottle which avoids the use of bottles having undergone thermo-fixing. This process involves filling the bottle with a high temperature liquid, and adding a dose of liquid nitrogen before closing. The vaporization of the nitrogen generates a pressure in the bottle which prevents its retraction. In addition, this method avoids lateral compensation panels, because the nitrogen maintains a sufficient pressure in the bottle to compensate for the change in volume of the liquid.
  • the process described in the patent US5251424 should allow the use of conventional PET bottles as well as cost reduction. However, in practice this process is very difficult to implement. The overpressure generated immediately after closing the bottle whose walls are at high temperature causes an immediate and undesired deformation of the package.
  • the patent US6502369 proposes a similar process, but with a filling of the bottle in the cavity of a mold.
  • This process involves introducing the bottle into the cavity of a mold, filling the bottle with a liquid at high temperature, and adding a dose of liquid nitrogen before closing. The vaporization of the nitrogen pressurizes the wall of the package against the wall of a cooled mold.
  • This method makes it possible to obtain conventional bottles filled at high temperature, however the complexity of the packaging machine which consists of filling each bottle in the cavity of a mold makes this process difficult to use.
  • the processes proposed in the prior art all have one thing in common, which is to avoid the shrinkage of the package under the effect of temperature.
  • the volume of the packaging is unchanged before and after packaging.
  • the principle of the invention is to exploit the shrinkage properties of the package during the conditioning phase and consequently leads to a change in the volume of said package.
  • the volume of the filled package according to the invention is smaller after conditioning.
  • the process according to the invention consists in using, in a controlled manner, the shrinkage properties of the packages when they are filled at high temperature (generally 85 ° C. for PET bottles).
  • high temperature generally 85 ° C. for PET bottles.
  • the subject of the invention is in particular a method as defined in claims 1-4. It also relates to a device as defined in claims 5 and 6.
  • the process described in the invention allows packaging that shrinks when they are subjected to the high product conditioning temperature. These plastic packages have a molecular orientation that shrinks at said high temperature.
  • the invention is particularly applicable to the filling of bioriented PET containers such as bottles.
  • the invention also applies to the high temperature filling of plastic packaging made from films, said films shrinking under the effect of said high temperature.
  • the method according to the invention also makes it possible to generate a positive relative pressure inside a retractable package.
  • the invention consists in retracting a filled and sealed package by heating the wall of said package.
  • the process according to the invention makes it possible to improve the grip and the vertical compressive strength of thin-walled packagings.
  • the invention involves using the shrinkage properties of a package when heated at high temperature.
  • high temperature defines a temperature to initiate the retraction of the package; and by contrast the term “low temperature” defines a temperature below the retraction temperature.
  • the shrinkage properties of a package strongly depend on the manufacturing processes and more precisely the molecular orientation induced during said manufacture.
  • a package such as a PET bottle made by bi-stretching a preform in a mold, shrinks strongly when heated at high temperature.
  • Other packages, such as packaging made from film may also have similar shrink properties.
  • the first embodiment of the invention is to use the retraction of the package during the packaging of a product at high temperature, said product having the effect of heating the walls of the package and generate the retraction.
  • the key point of the invention is to use in a controlled manner the shrinkage of the package to limit deformation and at least partially remedy the negative pressure that usually appears in the packaging after cooling.
  • the figure 1 shows the initial geometry of the package 1 comprising a neck 4, a cylindrical body 5, and a bottom 6.
  • the package has a strong shrinkage of its walls when heated at high temperature.
  • the figure 1 shows the package 1 filled with a product at high temperature 9, and sealed with a cap 8.
  • the packaging is also filled with gas 10 at the head space, said gas can be air.
  • the filling level 11 defining the relative volume of product at high temperature and gas inside of the packaging at the time of its closure, is defined precisely. Before sealing the package, it is generally preferable to avoid retraction of said package. Therefore, when the retraction of the package is fast, it may be advantageous to implement means for blocking the retraction before said hermetic closure.
  • the figure 2 shows package 1 and its contents after cooling to room temperature.
  • the packaging shrunk when packaging the product at high temperature.
  • the volume variation of the package is schematically represented by the variation in height 3 of the package.
  • the variation in volume can be related to a variation in height, a variation in diameter or a change in geometry. In all cases, the volume variation is created by the retraction of the walls of the package. Some parts of the packaging are not retracted as the neck 4 for example which seals with the cap.
  • the figure 2 also shows the volume of product 9 inside the package; said volume having decreased due to the contraction of the product 9 during cooling to room temperature.
  • the shrinkage of the walls of the package after hermetic closure at least partially compensates for the contraction of the product during cooling. It is often advantageous to shrink the package sufficiently to generate a relative pressure inside the package greater than or equal to zero when the product is at room temperature. Thus, the use of packaging with compensation panels is no longer necessary.
  • the Figures 3 to 8 illustrate the filling of PET packaging, and describe each step of the process.
  • the figure 3 is a PET package 1 comprising a neck 4, side walls 5 and a bottom 6.
  • This packaging has a strong molecular orientation at its walls, so that said walls shrink at high temperature.
  • said high temperature which corresponds to the temperature at which the molecular mobility becomes sufficient to allow retraction, is greater than 60 ° C.
  • hot fill temperatures are at least 85 ° C to ensure sufficient storage properties. At these temperatures the walls of the PET packaging retract strongly and quickly.
  • the figure 4 represents the filling of a product 9 at high temperature in the package 1 which retracts at said high temperature.
  • the cooling of the outer walls of the package 1 is necessary in order to avoid shrinkage of the package during said filling.
  • Means 7 cool the outer wall of the package at the neck 4, the side walls 5 and the bottom 6.
  • partial cooling of the walls of the package is sufficient.
  • the cooling of the outer wall of the bottle can be done with a low temperature fluid projected onto the package.
  • the filling is done quickly to avoid the shrinkage of the packaging under the effect of temperature.
  • the package 1 is not completely filled with the product 9 in order to leave a sufficient volume of gas in the headspace. This gas is generally air, however it may be advantageous in some cases to use specific gases such as nitrogen or carbon dioxide.
  • the addition of specific gases in the headspace is usually done immediately after filling and before sealing the package.
  • the figure 5 illustrates the hermetic closure of the package 1 after filling the product 9 at high temperature.
  • the filling level 11 at the time of hermetic sealing defines the filling ratio, that is to say the relative proportions of the product 9 and the gas 10 in the package.
  • the degree of filling plays an important role in the invention because it defines the residual pressure in the package after cooling. This aspect will be better understood after the complete description of the different steps of the process.
  • the closing operation consists in the application of a cap 8 on the neck 4 to seal the package 1.
  • the relative pressure inside the package is zero. Cooling means 7 avoid the rise in too high temperature of the packaging and its retraction.
  • the illustrated closing step figure 5 is performed quickly according to known methods. For example, the closure can be made by corking or welding.
  • the figure 6 illustrates the key step of the packaging process whereby the package retracts in a controlled manner.
  • the walls of the package shrink under the effect of temperature and create a decrease in the volume of said package. It follows a rise in pressure in the package which is hermetically sealed. This rapid increase in pressure has the effect of compressing the volume of gas inside the package.
  • the retraction step of the illustrated package figure 6 is initiated when the product is still hot enough to create the retraction.
  • the shrinkage is done immediately after closing when the product is still at high temperature.
  • a retraction temperature that is too high results in unwanted deformations of the package.
  • the shrinkage is initiated at a high enough temperature to generate a pressure inside the package, and low enough to avoid unwanted deformations of said package.
  • this temperature is generally between 65 ° C and 100 ° C; however, a shrink temperature of between 75 ° and 90 ° C is advantageous.
  • the retraction of the packaging is usually weak and hardly visible to the naked eye.
  • the shrinkage depends on the package, the fill rate, the temperature and the shrink time.
  • the rate of shrinkage has a direct influence on the residual pressure, that is to say on the relative pressure in the package after cooling.
  • a liquid product filled to High temperature shrinks by about 2% to 5% when cooling.
  • water cooling from 85 ° C to 20 ° C decreases its volume by about 3%.
  • the decrease in volume depends on the temperature variation as well as the properties of the product.
  • shrinkage of the package equal to the change in volume of the product leads to zero residual pressure.
  • the residual pressure When the retraction of the package is greater than the change in volume of the product, the residual pressure is positive; and conversely, when the retraction of the package is smaller than the change in volume of the product, the residual pressure is negative.
  • the temperature of the gas during the hermetic closure of the packaging can influence the residual pressure. It is advantageous to trap a low temperature gas at the time of hermetic sealing of the package.
  • the geometry of the package has a direct influence on the volume shrinkage of said package. It has been observed that a small volume, thick package is favorable for generating high shrinkage pressure.
  • the conditions of manufacture of said packaging also have a great influence on the shrinkage.
  • a low bi-axial stretching temperature makes it possible to obtain packages which shrink strongly under the effect of temperature.
  • a high biaxial stretching temperature makes it possible to obtain lower shrinkage forces.
  • the stretching temperature optimizes the strength and speed of shrinkage of the package.
  • the degree of filling defined by the ratio of the volume of product to the volume of the package at the time of sealing, has an influence on the retraction of the package.
  • the filling ratio is chosen between 85% and 98%, and preferably between 90% and 96%.
  • the figure 6 illustrates the retraction mechanism. Under the effect of the high temperature of the product 9, the package retracts and compresses the volume of gas 10 located in the headspace. The compression of the gas is visualized by the change of the filling level 11.
  • the shrinkage speed of the package is generally quite fast and depends on the shrinkage temperature.
  • the retraction time is less than 5 minutes and preferably less than 3 minutes. Retraction is initiated when the product is still at high temperature.
  • the figure 7 shows the step of cooling the package and its contents to room temperature.
  • Means 7 cool the outer wall of the package. For example, water is sprayed on the package to cool it, or the package can be immersed in a cold water bath. It is often advantageous to rapidly cool the package to the molecular stability temperature of said package, i.e. the temperature at which the package does not shrink. For a bi-axially stretched PET package this temperature is about 60 ° C. From this temperature, the packaging can be cooled more slowly by natural convection with the ambient air.
  • the figure 8 shows the package after cooling to room temperature. Cooled packaging is distinguished from pre-filled packaging shown figure 3 ; said volume of the package having decreased because of its retraction during packaging.
  • the relative pressure inside the package is greater than or equal to zero.
  • the packaging does not include compensation panels; said panels being useless since the pressure inside the package is positive or zero.
  • the degree of crystallization of the side walls of the package is less than 30% and usually between 15 and 25%.
  • the package is always shown with the neck 4 upwards. It is common to spill the package after sealing it to sterile the entire inner surface of the package.
  • the overthrow of the package allows the sterilization of the inner surface of the neck 4 and the plug 8; said inner surface being in contact with the product at high temperature during overturning.
  • the sterilization of the packaging thanks to the high temperature of the product makes it possible to kill the germs that may remain on the inner wall of the packaging and ensures optimal preservation of the product.
  • the sterilization of the package is advantageously carried out together with the retraction of the package.
  • the invention makes it possible to fill high-temperature packagings with great precision and reproducibility. Reproducibility requires the use of packaging produced identically. For PET packaging made by blowing a preform, it is important for example to control the blowing temperature which has a great influence on the shrinkage properties. When packaging the product, it is important to proceed in the same way with all bottles. The control of the manufacturing process of the packaging and their filling ensures a production of great stability.
  • the invention makes it possible to fill at 100 ° C PET packaging without heat-fixing.
  • Packaging a product at 100 ° C may require optimized cooling means during the steps of filling and sealing the package.
  • the package can be filled and retracted at 100 ° C; or the package can be filled at 100 ° C and retracted at a lower temperature, such as 85 ° C.
  • packaging When the packaging is made at a particularly high temperature, it may be advantageous to use packaging which only some parts have undergone a heat treatment. It is advantageous, for example, to use a PET packaging where only the neck is crystallized in order to avoid shrinkage. this part of the package.
  • a particularly advantageous bottle has a neck whose crystallization rate is greater than that of the side walls.
  • the bottom of the package is designed to withstand both the temperature and the pressure in the bottle during shrinkage.
  • a bottom of petaloid type even if its crystallization rate is low, has proved particularly suitable.
  • a strongly stretched bottom whose geometry is close to that obtained in free blow (bubble geometry) also has good aptitude for the filling process.
  • preferred retraction zones can be created during manufacture of said package by generating a stronger molecular orientation in said retraction zones.
  • preferred shrink zones can be created by varying the draw ratio and the draw temperature. A low blow-up temperature or a high draw ratio makes it possible to increase the shrinkage.
  • the figure 9 illustrates another method for having preferred retraction zones. This method consists of blocking the retraction of certain parts of the package during the retraction step. Means 7 cool the lower part of the package and thus avoid the retraction of this part of the package. The top of the uncooled package retracts.
  • the first embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for filling at high temperature bi-oriented PET packaging such as bottles.
  • the invention makes it possible to dispense with the use of bottles having undergone a heat-fixing treatment. It allows the use of bottles without compensation panels as well as filling at temperatures as high as 100 ° C.
  • the invention also allows the use of thin-walled bottles, said thin wall being less than 0.3 mm.
  • the invention makes it possible to obtain bottles with slight residual internal pressure; said pressure being generated by shrinkage of the package during the hot filling process.
  • the invention can be used for high temperature filling of a wide variety of packages that shrink at said high temperature.
  • Packaging made from films can be used.
  • the Figures 10 and 11 show the conditioning of a high temperature liquid in a packaging made from a film.
  • the figure 10 illustrates the hermetic sealing step of the package.
  • the package 1 comprises a tubular body 5 connected to a neck 4 and a bottom 6; said tubular body 5 being made from a film which shrinks under the effect of said high temperature.
  • the film having one or more layers has a molecular orientation sufficiently large to generate the shrinkage properties.
  • Said film has not been heat-fixed which suppresses the shrinkage properties.
  • the connection between the film 5 and the ends 4 and 6 can be made by welding.
  • Said ends 4 and 6 generally have a greater thickness than the tubular body 5 and can be made by molding. According to a preferred embodiment, the ends 4 and 5 respectively forming the neck and the bottom of the package do not shrink under the effect of said high temperature.
  • the package 1 is filled with a product at high temperature 9 and sealed with a cap 8.
  • a volume of gas 10 is trapped at the head space during sealing.
  • the outer wall of said package is not necessarily cooled during hot filling and sealing. Cooling may be necessary to limit or prevent retraction of the package prior to sealing.
  • the figure 11 illustrates the package 1 retracted after cooling to room temperature of the package and its contents. Only the tubular body 5 has shrunk under the effect of high temperatures. After cooling, the residual relative pressure in the package 1 is positive or zero. A slight overpressure in the package is favorable to improve the handling of said package and its resistance to vertical compression.
  • the retraction of the packaging may not be sufficient to compensate for the variation in the volume of the product contained in the package. This is particularly the case for large volume bottles for which the volume of trapped gas is small relative to the volume of the product; this is also the case for very thin-walled bottles which generate low shrinkage forces; and this is the case finally bottles having a high filling rate to minimize the amount of oxygen trapped in the bottle.
  • a first variant consists in heating the packaging at least partially immediately after filling and sealing.
  • the heating has the effect of increasing the retraction of the package and compressing the gas included in the headspace. During cooling the gas under pressure relaxes.
  • the package is heated while the package and its contents have already begun to cool.
  • the package is heated when the average temperature of the walls is close to the glass transition.
  • the package is heated when the cooling is completed.
  • the heating retracts the walls of the package and creates a positive or zero relative pressure inside the package.
  • the heating of the packaging is preferably at the side walls. It may be advantageous to heat the walls of the package locally at a previously defined zone called the retraction zone.
  • Heating is advantageously fast and at high temperature to limit the heating of the product contained in the package. Heating by blowing hot air is advantageous.
  • the bottle is generally retracted homogeneously about the axis of symmetry.
  • the rotation of the bottle around the axis of symmetry during the passage of the bottle in the furnace provides a homogeneous shrinkage.
  • Another method is to use infrared lamps to create the shrinkage of the walls of the package.
  • the Figures 12 and 13 illustrate the second embodiment of the method which is not part of the invention and consists in using the shrinkage properties to pressurize a filled package at a temperature below the shrink temperature. Pressurizing the packaging after filling is particularly useful when said packaging has walls of thin thickness.
  • the conventional method for generating this pressure is to add after filling a gas such as nitrogen in the headspace. The change of state of the gas generates a slight overpressure which improves the strength of the package and facilitates its use. This embodiment makes it possible to generate this overpressure without adding a specific gas in the headspace.
  • the figure 12 shows the package 1 filled with a product 9 at low temperature, said low temperature being lower than the retraction temperature of the package.
  • a cap 4 seals the package 1.
  • a volume of air 10 is enclosed in the package and is located at a retractable area of the package. Means 12 heat at least said retractable zone to slightly reduce the volume of said package and slightly compress the volume of air 10.
  • the figure 13 illustrates the retracted package.
  • the decrease in height 3 serves to illustrate the variation in volume of said package.
  • the volume of air in the package has decreased, indicating that the air is slightly compressed.
  • This embodiment is particularly advantageous for pressurizing PET packaging such as bottles.
  • the invention of using the retraction properties of the package during packaging requires a package design that takes into account shrinkage of the package during packaging.
  • the packaging must be designed so that the final volume corresponds to the desired volume.
  • the shrinkage of the package is between 1% and 20%, and preferably this shrinkage is between 3 and 15%.
  • the bottle has a weight of 24 grams, and its bottom is petaloid. Its initial volume is 543.2 ml. After filling at 90 ° C according to the procedure below, its volume becomes 508.7 ml. The bottle shrank by 6.35% during filling. After cooling, the relative pressure inside the bottle is slightly positive.
  • the bottle has a weight of 37.4 grams, and its bottom is petaloid. Its initial volume is 1064.2 ml. After filling at 88 ° C according to the procedure below, its volume becomes 1012.1 ml. The bottle was retracted 4.9% during filling. After cooling, the relative pressure inside the bottle is slightly positive.
  • the bottle has a weight of 24 grams, and its bottom is petaloid. Its initial volume is 543.2 ml. After filling at 95 ° C according to the procedure below, its volume becomes 489.5 ml. The bottle was retracted 9.89% during filling. After cooling, the relative pressure inside the bottle is slightly positive.
  • the bottle has a weight of 46 grams, and its bottom is petaloid. Its initial volume is 1556 ml. After filling at 88 ° C according to the procedure below, its volume becomes 1503.8 ml. The bottle has shrunk by 3.4% during filling. After cooling, the relative pressure inside the bottle is slightly positive.
  • the bottle has a weight of 46 grams, and its bottom is petaloid. Its initial volume is 1556 ml. After filling at 98 ° C according to the procedure below, its volume becomes 1455 ml. The bottle has shrunk by 6.5% during filling. After cooling, the relative pressure inside the bottle is slightly positive.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers Having Bodies Formed In One Piece (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Closing Of Containers (AREA)
  • Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Claims (6)

  1. Verfahren zum Verpacken einer Flüssigkeit in einem Kunststoffbehälter (1) mit einer starken Molekularorientierung, wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfasst:
    - Füllen des Behälters (1) mit einer Flüssigkeit mit hoher Temperatur, wobei es die hohe Temperatur ermöglicht, eine Schrumpfung des Behälters anzuregen, insbesondere bei über 60 °C,
    - Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) während des Schrittes des Befüllens,
    - Schließen des Behälters (1) auf dichte Weise,
    - Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) während des Schrittes des Schließens, gekennzeichnet durch die folgenden Schritte:
    - passive Schrumpfung des Behälters (1) im Anschluss an den Schritt des Schließens,
    - Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) im Anschluss an den Schritt des Schrumpfens.
  2. Verfahren nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, bei dem nur ein Teil der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) gekühlt wird.
  3. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem die Wände (5) des Behälters (1) zumindest teilweise im Anschluss an den Schritt des Schließens erhitzt werden.
  4. Verfahren nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei dem in den Behälter (1) ein Gas, wie Stickstoff oder Kohlendioxid, im Anschluss an den Schritt des Befüllens und vor dem Schritt des Schließens hinzugefügt wird.
  5. Vorrichtung für den Einsatz des Verfahrens nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, umfassend Mittel zum Befüllen eines heißen Behälters (1), Mittel (7) zum Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) während des Schrittes des Befüllens, Mittel zum Schließen des Behälters (1), Mittel (7) zum Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) während des Schrittes des Schließens, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Vorrichtung Mittel zum Bewirken einer Schrumpfung des Behälters (1) und Mittel (7) zum Kühlen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1) im Anschluss an den Schritt des Schrumpfens umfasst.
  6. Vorrichtung nach dem vorhergehenden Anspruch, umfassend Mittel zum Erhitzen der Wände (5) des Behälters (1).
EP08719456.9A 2007-03-31 2008-02-24 Verfahren zur füllung einer ausziehbaren packung Not-in-force EP2129614B1 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP08719456.9A EP2129614B1 (de) 2007-03-31 2008-02-24 Verfahren zur füllung einer ausziehbaren packung

Applications Claiming Priority (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP07105418A EP1975116A1 (de) 2007-03-31 2007-03-31 Verfahren zum Füllen einer Schrumpfverpackung
IB2007051772 2007-05-10
IB2007052009 2007-05-29
PCT/IB2008/050661 WO2008120115A2 (fr) 2007-03-31 2008-02-24 Procédé de remplissage d'un emballage rétractable
EP08719456.9A EP2129614B1 (de) 2007-03-31 2008-02-24 Verfahren zur füllung einer ausziehbaren packung

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EP2129614A2 EP2129614A2 (de) 2009-12-09
EP2129614B1 true EP2129614B1 (de) 2013-04-17

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EP (1) EP2129614B1 (de)
JP (1) JP5139510B2 (de)
BR (1) BRPI0809560A2 (de)
CA (1) CA2679801C (de)
ES (1) ES2421331T3 (de)
HK (1) HK1140177A1 (de)
MX (1) MX2009009363A (de)
MY (1) MY147820A (de)
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US10703617B2 (en) * 2008-05-19 2020-07-07 David Murray Melrose Method for controlled container headspace adjustment
DE102009060655A1 (de) * 2009-12-22 2011-06-30 Krones Ag, 93073 Kühleinrichtung zum Stabilisieren einer Behältnisstruktur
DE102010012211A1 (de) * 2010-03-19 2011-09-22 Krones Ag Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Heißabfüllen von Getränken
IT1399272B1 (it) * 2010-04-06 2013-04-11 Soremartec Sa "procedimento per realizzare contenitori e relativo contenitore"
US20130239522A1 (en) * 2010-11-19 2013-09-19 David Murray Melrose Controlled container headspace adjustment and apparatus therefor
EP2639197A1 (de) * 2012-03-12 2013-09-18 Sogepi Wärmebehandlungsverfahren eines Behälters, der für die Heißbefüllung und zur Langzeitlagerung vorgesehen ist, und so erhaltener Behälter
DE102013007411A1 (de) * 2013-03-29 2014-10-02 Khs Corpoplast Gmbh Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Herstellung von gefüllten Behältern
DE102014001446A1 (de) 2014-01-31 2015-08-06 Kocher-Plastik Maschinenbau Gmbh Vorrichtung zum Herstellen von Behältererzeugnissen aus Kunststoffmaterial
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WO2008120115A3 (fr) 2009-01-15
MX2009009363A (es) 2009-09-21
CA2679801A1 (fr) 2008-10-09
US20100119743A1 (en) 2010-05-13
WO2008120115A2 (fr) 2008-10-09
JP5139510B2 (ja) 2013-02-06
CA2679801C (fr) 2014-12-09
EP2129614A2 (de) 2009-12-09
MY147820A (en) 2013-01-31
HK1140177A1 (en) 2010-10-08
BRPI0809560A2 (pt) 2014-09-16
ES2421331T3 (es) 2013-08-30
JP2010523413A (ja) 2010-07-15
US8333055B2 (en) 2012-12-18

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