GB832595A - Sterile packaging of sterile consumable material - Google Patents

Abstract

832,595. Packaging-machines; packages. ALPURA A.G. March 13, 1958 [March 14, 1957], No. 8135/58. Class 94(1). [Also in Group VI] Apparatus for packaging liquids such as milk under sterile conditions comprises a previously sterilised chamber within which a sterilised web is formed into a tube and filled with the liquid, the tube emerging from the chamber and being sealed transversely to form the packages. A web 1 of paper coated on one side with thermoplastic material is fed into a chamber 5 in which it loops between bars 10 joining conveyer chains 9a, 9b, (not shown), for passage through a sterilising medium of super-heated steam. The web passes through moistening 11 and drying 12 compartments where first sterile water and thensterile heated air are applied by members 23 and 26 respectively, and is then fed by rollers 16 to the tube-forming chamber 41. This chamber, sterilised prior to operation by super-heated steam and combustion gases from the superheater, is retained sterile by flow of hot air from the chamber 12, this air passing out from the chamber between the tube and an outlet 50. The chamber 41 contains a tube former 45 and longitudinal seam sealer 47, and into it passes the liquid feed pipe 37. The feed nozzle 65 is retractible enabling the opening 50 to be closed by a cap having outlet pipes, Fig. 4 (not shown). during pre-operation sterilisation of both feed means and chamber. The filled tube enters a casing 17, which is not sterile, and is sealed at intervals by jaws 55, 56 on chains 57, 58 (only two chains shown) to form tetrahedral packages. Means 87, 91 is provided to enable the web to be set up on the tube former by hand without destroying the sterile conditions.