Classifications

• • 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
  • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
  • B65B39/001—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers with flow cut-off means, e.g. valves
• • 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
  • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
  • B65B39/02—Expansible or contractible nozzles, funnels, or guides
• • 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
  • B65B39/00—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers
  • B65B39/12—Nozzles, funnels or guides for introducing articles or materials into containers or wrappers movable towards or away from container or wrapper during filling or depositing

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of packaging technology. More particularly, it is related to a nozzle for a fill pipe of a fill system used in packaging machines in which containers are filled with liquid food product and a fill system comprising such nozzle.
• the speed of filling containers with liquid food product may affect many parameters. For example, faster filling speeds allow manufacturers to produce more units of their product in a shorter amount of time. This increases production efficiency and throughput, ultimately reducing manufacturing costs per unit. Moreover, faster packaging machines often have quicker changeover times between different products or packaging formats. This means less downtime for reconfiguration and setup, maximizing the utilization of the production line.
• Filtering removes impurities, particles, and contaminants from the liquid, ensuring a higher quality final product. This is especially important for food safety and meeting regulatory standards. Filtering may help maintain the integrity of the liquid food product by removing any solids or foreign materials that could affect its taste, texture, or appearance. It ensures consistency in the product's characteristics from batch to batch. Further, many food safety regulations require manufacturers to implement measures to ensure the safety and quality of their products. Filtering liquid food products before packaging is often a necessary step to comply with these regulations and avoid legal issues.
• liquid food product in connection with the filling is challenging. This since introducing a filter to a fill system affect the flow in the fill system. Further, the liquid food product itself may be affected by introduction of such filter. Especially a liquid food product comprising both fat and protein, such as milk.
• the herein disclosed technology seeks to at least partly mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-mentioned deficiencies and disadvantages in the prior art.
• it is an object to provide a nozzle for a fill pipe of a filling system used in a packaging machines in which containers are filled with liquid food product, which nozzle allow for high filling speed of the containers and at the same time filters the liquid food product in connection with the filling.
• the inventors of the present inventive concept have realized a new and improved way of filtering the liquid food product in connection with the filling which also allow high speed filling of the containers.
• a nozzle for a fill pipe used in fill system of a packaging machines in which containers are filled with liquid food product.
• the containers to be filled typically have an open top.
• the fill system is typically arranged to fill each container with a pre-determined quantity of liquid food product.
• the nozzle comprises a flexible mouthpiece and a mesh filter.
• the flexible mouthpiece comprises a flexible collar and a plurality of flaps made from a flexible material.
• the plurality of flaps are extending from the flexible collar.
• the plurality of flaps are biased to a closed state.
• the flexible mouthpiece sealing the outlet end of the fill pipe when the plurality of flaps is in the closed state.
• the plurality of flaps are disposed to be moved from the closed state to an open state by liquid food product flowing through the flexible mouthpiece.
• the mesh filter is configured to filter liquid food product flowing through the flexible mouthpiece.
• the mesh filter comprises a bulge protruding into an interior space of the flexible mouthpiece.
• the bulge comprises a plurality of through holes.
• the herein disclosed nozzle allow for a speedy filling of liquid food product through the nozzle, but at the same time allowing filtering of the liquid food product during the filling process.
• the filtering allow for safeguarding that no foreign objects is filled into the container together with the liquid food product.
• the mesh filter comprises a bulge protruding into an interior space of the flexible mouthpiece an open area, i.e. a sum of all the hole areas of the plurality of through holes, of the mesh filter may be increased as compared to a planar mesh filter.
• the open area of the mesh filer may be made as large or larger than the cross sectional area of the fill pipe by using a mesh filer having the bulge protruding into the interior space of the flexible mouthpiece.
• the flexible mouthpiece reduces dropping of residue of liquid food product onto the filled containers.
• the plurality of through holes may have a diameter in a range of 0.8 - 1.2 mm.
• the bulge may have a conical shape.
• the bulge may have a spherical shape.
• a combined surface area of the plurality of through holes may be in a range of 30% to 50% of a total surface area of the bulge.
• the mesh filter may be made from a non-flexible material.
• the mesh filter may comprise a filter collar.
• the flexible collar may be removably connected to the filter collar.
• the filter collar may comprise a bayonet fitting for removably connecting the nozzle to the fill pipe. This allow for easy removal for cleaning.
• the filter collar and the flexible collar may comprises a respective alignment mark. This may safeguard so that the flexible mouthpiece is aligned with the container to be filled. According to one example four such alignment marls may be arranged on each of the filter collar and the flexible collar, this due to the symmetry of the flexible mouthpiece.
• a diameter of the plurality of the through holes may vary such that through holes located relatively closer to the flexible mouthpiece upon the flexible mouthpiece being in the closed state have a relatively larger diameter than through holes located relatively further away from the flexible mouthpiece upon the flexible mouthpiece being in the closed state. This facilitate opening of the flexible mouthpiece due to that the flow of liquid food product is higher through the relatively larger through holes.
• the liquid food product may be milk, such as cow's milk, goat's milk, or sheep's milk, or plant-based alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk and coconut milk.
• a fill system for a packaging machine for filling containers with a liquid food product comprising: a fill pump for pumping a liquid food product; a fill pipe comprising an elongate body having an interior passageway, an inlet end for flow communication of the liquid food product under pressure between the fill pump and the interior passageway, and an outlet end in flow communication with the interior passageway, the outlet end dispensing the liquid food product from the fill pipe into the container; and a nozzle according to the first aspect.
• the fill pump is configured to pump the liquid food product through the fill pipe under pressure to thereby urge the flaps of the nozzle from the closed state to the open state.
• the outlet end of the fill pipe may have a circular or elliptical cross section.
• the mesh filter of the nozzle may comprises a filter collar having a bayonet fitting for removably connecting the nozzle to outlet end of the fill pipe.
• the form factor of the outlet end of the fill pipe is selected based on if the container has a rectangular or quadratic cross section.
• a fill pipe being circular or elliptical is easier to insert into the container to be filled. Further, it is easier to connect the mesh filter and the flexible mouthpiece to something having a circular or elliptical shape.
• the fill system may further comprise one or more actuators for relatively moving a container to be filled and the nozzle toward one another to a first position in which the nozzle is disposed in the interior bottom of the container to be filled and a second position in which the nozzle is disposed distal from the interior bottom of the container.
• the fill pump may be configured to start pumping the liquid food product through the fill pipe under pressure when the container and nozzle are disposed in their relative first position.
• the one or more actuators is configured to relatively move the container to be filled and the nozzle from the first position towards the second position during filling of the container.
• the flaps of the flexible mouthpiece may be dimensioned to conform and seal with the sidewalls of the container to be filled when the flaps are urged to the open state.
• the fill system may be configured to fill at least 6500 containers per hours.
• the present disclosure when the present disclosure is described in terms of a method, it may also be embodied in an apparatus or device comprising one or more processors, one or more memories coupled to the one or more processors, where computer code is loaded to implement the method.
• the one or more memories may store one or more computer programs that perform the steps, services and functions disclosed herein when executed by the one or more processors.
• Fig. 1 generally illustrates, by way of example, a fill system 100 for a packaging machine for filling containers 20 with a liquid food product.
• a specific packaging machine may comprise one or more fill systems 100. Below one such fill system 100 will be discussed.
• the liquid food product is typically milk, such as cow's milk, goat's milk, or sheep's milk, or plant-based alternatives like almond milk, soy milk, oat milk, rice milk, hemp milk and coconut milk.
• Each fill system 100 of the packaging machine is configured to fill at least 6500 containers 20 per hours.
• the containers 20 to be filled typically has a cross-section defined by a plurality of sidewalls, an interior bottom engaging the sidewalls, and an open top.
• the fill system 100 comprises a conveyor 110 configured to transport containers 20 to be filled with a liquid food product to present the containers 20 to be filled successively below a fill pipe 144 of the fill system 100. After having been filled, the containers 20 are typically transported away from the fill pipe 144 by the conveyor 110. It is however, readily understood that one conveyer may be configured to transport the unfilled containers 20 to the fill pipe 144 and another conveyer may be configured to transport the filled containers 20 from the fill pipe 144.
• the fill system 100 further typically comprises a storage or balance tank 130 configured to contain the liquid food product.
• a flow control system 140 is arranged to transport the liquid food product from the storage or balance tank 130 into the containers 20 to be filled.
• the flow control system 140 generally stated, comprises, a fill pump 142, the fill pipe 144, and a nozzle 200.
• the fill pipe 144 comprises an elongate body having an interior passageway for transporting the liquid food product, typically under pressure.
• the fill pipe 144 is at an inlet end 145 thereof connected to the storage or balance tank 130.
• An outlet end 146 of the fill pipe 144 is configured to dispense the liquid food product from the fill pipe into a container 20 to be filled.
• the fill pump 142 is configured to pump the liquid food product.
• the fill pump 142 is configured to pump the liquid food product from the storage or balance tank 130 via the fill pipe 144 to the outlet end thereof such that liquid food product may be filled into a container 20 located in register with the outlet end of the fill pipe 144.
• the outlet end of the fill pipe 144 typically has a circular or elliptical cross section. An outlet end of the fill pipe 144 being circular or elliptical is easier to insert into the container to be filled. Further, the form factor of the outlet end of the fill pipe 144 is selected based on if the containers 20 has a rectangular or quadratic cross section.
• the nozzle 200 comprises a flexible mouthpiece 210 and a mesh filter 220.
• the mesh filter 220 is configured to filter liquid food product flowing through the flexible mouthpiece 210.
• the flexible mouthpiece 210 comprises a flexible collar 212 and a plurality of flaps 214 made from a flexible material and extending from the flexible collar 212.
• the flexible mouthpiece may be made from silicone.
• the plurality of flaps 214 being biased to a closed state.
• the flexible mouthpiece 210 sealing the outlet end of the fill pipe 144 when in the closed state.
• the plurality of flaps 214 being disposed to be moved from the closed state to an open state by liquid food product flowing through the flexible mouthpiece 210.
• the plurality of flaps 214 of the flexible mouthpiece 210 are dimensioned to conform and seal with the sidewalls of the container 20 to be filled when the flaps are urged to the open state.
• the flexible mouthpiece 210 will be discussed in more detail below in connection with the actual filling of a container 20 is disclosed.
• the mesh filter 220 comprises a filter collar 222 having a bayonet fitting 221 for removably connecting the nozzle 200 to outlet end of the fill pipe 144.
• the flexible collar 212 of the flexible mouthpiece 210 is removably connectable to the filter collar 222. Typically this is achieved by stretching the flexible collar 212 over a portion 223 of the filter collar 222. This allow for a sealing to be formed between the flexible collar 212 and the filter collar 222.
• the filter collar 222 and the flexible collar 212 typically comprises one or more respective alignment marks 225, 215. This safeguards so that the flexible mouthpiece 210 is aligned with the container 20 to be filled.
• the mesh filter 220 is typically made from a non-flexible material.
• the mesh filter 220 is made from stainless steel, however, food grade plastics may also be used.
• the mesh 220 filter comprises a bulge 224 protruding into an interior space of the flexible mouthpiece 210.
• the bulge 224 comprises a plurality of through holes.
• the plurality of through holes typically has a diameter in a range of 0.8 - 1.2 mm.
• the bulge 224 may have a conical shape.
• the bulge 224 may have a spherical shape. Using a bulge 224 having a conical shape maximizes the number of holes in the mesh filter 220.
• a conical shape of the bulge 224 provide that all (or substantially all) the through holes exhibit an opening angle in relation to a flow direction through the mesh filter that is less than 90°. This allow for enhanced flow through the through holes.
• the tip portion of a conical shaped bulge 224 may be spherical. This allow for arranging through holes on the tip portion of such a bulge 224.
• a combined surface area of the plurality of through holes may be in a range of 30% to 50% of a total surface area of the bulge 224.
• the fill system 100 may further comprise one or more actuators 160 for relatively moving a container 20 to be filled and the outlet end of the fill pipe 144 with the nozzle 200 arranged thereto toward one another.
• the relative movement may be performed between a first position in which the nozzle 200 is disposed in the interior bottom of the container 20 to be filled and a second position in which the nozzle 200 is disposed distal from the interior bottom of the container 20. In the second position the nozzle 200 is located outside the container 20.
• the nozzle 200 and the container 20 to be filled is in the second relative position. They are them moved relatively towards each other to the first position.
• the fill pump 142 is configured to start pumping the liquid food product through the fill pipe 144 under pressure when the container 20 and nozzle 200 are disposed in their relative first position. Thereafter, the one or more actuators 160 is configured to relatively move the container 20 to be filled and the nozzle 200 from the first position towards the second position during filling of the container 20. Preferably, the nozzle 200 is maintained above the surface level of the liquid food product throughout the filling process.
• the fill pump 142 is configured to stop pumping the liquid food product through the fill pipe 144.
• the one or more actuators 160 is configured to relatively move the now filled container 20 and the nozzle 200 to the second position so that the nozzle 200 is outside the container and the container may be transported away for sealing of the same.
• the flexible mouthpiece 210 of the nozzle 200 includes a plurality of flaps 214 which are made of a flexible material, such as FDA approved silicone.
• the flaps 214 are flexible between an open state in which the liquid food product is allowed to flow through the flexible mouthpiece 210 and a closed state in which the flexible mouthpiece 210 seals the outlet end of the fill pipe 144.
• the flaps 214 are biased to the closed state by virtue of their inherent resiliency. Movement of the flaps 214 to their open state may ensue by virtue of the pressure of the liquid food product against the inherent resiliency.
• the bottom portion 160 of the container 20 to be filled and the nozzle 200 are brought proximate to one another while the flexible mouthpiece 210 is in the closed state.
• the flaps 214 are then urged to the open state by the pressure of the liquid food product against the flaps 214 as produced by the fill pump 212.
• the flaps 214 of the flexible mouthpiece 210 are dimensioned to conform and seal with the sidewalls of the container 20 to be filled when the flaps are urged to the open state. Such seal with the sidewalls is sufficient to inhibit mixing between the liquid food product and ambient gas, such as air, during subsequent filling.
• the nozzle 200 and container 20 are moved relative to one another to thereby begin extracting the nozzle 200 from engagement with the interior of the container 20 during filling.
• the flaps 214 remain in their open state due to the pressure from the liquid food product as provided by the fill pump 142.
• the motion profile used to cause the disengagement is preferably controlled to maintain the lower end of the flexible mouthpiece 210 at a level slightly above the surface of the liquid food product in the container 20.
• the container 20 is filled with the desired volume of product and the flaps 214 go to their closed state. This since the fill pump 142 stop pumping liquid food product and the inherent resiliency of the flaps 214 urge the flaps 214 to the closed state.
• the closing of the flaps 214 may also be enhanced by arranging the fill pump 142 to provide a backpressure that assists closing the flaps 214. Such provided backpressure may also enhance the retaining of the flaps 214 in their closed state. In the closed state of the flexible mouthpiece 210 the likelihood that a further amount of product will drip into or onto the container 20 is reduced.
• a container 20 may be filled with 1 liter of liquid food product.
• a diameter of the plurality of the through holes may vary such that through holes located relatively closer to the flexible mouthpiece 210 upon the flexible mouthpiece 210 being in the closed state have a relatively larger diameter than through holes located relatively further away from the flexible mouthpiece 210 upon the flexible mouthpiece210 being in the closed state. Arranging the plurality of through holes in this manner facilitate opening of the flexible mouthpiece 210. This due to that the flow of liquid food product is higher through the relatively larger through holes.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Supply Of Fluid Materials To The Packaging Location (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

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ID=91023054

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2025
  • 2025-04-16 WO PCT/EP2025/060470 patent/WO2025228693A1/en active Pending
  • 2025-04-16 EP EP25170869.9A patent/EP4650282A2/de active Pending

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