JPH03256828A - Packaging method and apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To minimize a sterilizing work required in a circuit by wrapping a sterilizing gaseous material drawn through the outlet of an aseptic chamber from the main stream by a pump, in the flow of the sterilizing gaseous material acting the sterilizing effect on the surface of a packaging material. CONSTITUTION: A carton L passes through an aseptic chamber M of an aseptic packaging apparatus and advances in a walking manner with a chain conveyor and hydrogen peroxide is sprayed in a state the top is opened and the bottom is closed before it reaches a station and ultraviolet rays are radiated to sterilize the inside face. Hot gas blown into the carton T through a nozzle E atomizes or evaporates the hydrogen peroxide in the carton and generates a gas mixture of air and vapor of hydrogen peroxide. The gas mixture is discharged through a hood N fitted to the top wall O of the chamber M. The uppermost end of the carton L is positioned right under the bottom face of the wall O and it coincides with the lowermost end of a hood N. The gas mixture passes a water cooling coil P of a condenser I and a water cooling jacket Q and the vapor of hydrogen peroxide is condensed and returned to a drain tank H through a pipe G and led to a hydrogen peroxide collector R. The hydrogen peroxide is recirculated therefrom when required.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Regarding.

To manufacture cartons for packaging or storing liquids,
Traditionally, there are two systems.

In one system, each open-ended carton sleeve made of cardboard coated with thermoplastic on both sides is sealed at the bottom, filled with liquid, and then sealed at the top. An example of this system is that described in European Patent No. 0013132. This European patent describes a sterile packaging machine that includes a chain conveyor that conveys cartons along a path consisting of an outbound and an inbound pass through a sterile chamber. Ultraviolet germicidal lamps extend over at least a large portion of this outbound path. In the region of the beginning of this major outbound pass, a nozzle arrangement integrated into the top-closed breech breaking device is arranged, by means of which hydrogen peroxide is sprayed into the interior of the carton.

On the return trip, the carton first reaches a filling device, where it is filled with a liquid, for example long-life milk. After filling, the canton is top heated at a top heating station and sealed at a sealing station. The carton entrance and exit to the sterile room have sterile air curtains. Throughout the entire process of this machine, sterile air is fed through the main sterile air filter to the sterile air inlet of the sterile chamber, where it flows relatively smoothly from the inlet to the front end of the sterile chamber, from where it is sterile. It exits through the air outlet. Not only does the sterile air act as a clean gas to remove bacteria and hydrogen peroxide from the sterile chamber and prevent them from entering the filling equipment, but this sterile air also maintains the interior of the sterile chamber at atmospheric pressure. It maintains a slightly higher pressure to prevent ambient air from entering the sterile chamber. We will not discuss here how to dispose of the generated hydrogen peroxide vapor.

Another example of this system is U.S. Pat.
．． It is described in No. 068. In the product packaging apparatus described in the U.S. patent, a series of food containers are moved intermittently along a horizontal path in a sterile chamber from a feeding section, a loading section, through a sterilization section, a drying section, a filling section and a lidding section to a delivery section. will be sent to

In the sterilization zone, two opposing sterilization chambers are formed above and below the feed path, and the sterilization liquid is supplied in finely dispersed form into these sterilization chambers and applied to the incoming containers one after another. In some embodiments, these sterilization chambers are equipped with spray nozzles that spray the sterilizing liquid into the containers, while the sterilizing liquid is ultrasonically atomized into a fine mist and directed to the sterilization chamber. be. A drain outlet is provided in the lower wall of this sterilization section, from which large drops of sterilization liquid are collected for reuse. The drying section includes upper and lower air boxes located above and below the container, which receive filtered heated air under pressure and supply it as a jet to the container. These containers that have come out of the sterilization section are then dried to release them from the sterilization solution. The sterilization chamber also has an inlet for filtered pressurized air, which allows this clean air to flow partly into the delivery section and exit the sterilization chamber through the container outlet, and partly through the filling section, the drying section, sterilization section,
It passes through the loading section and the feeding section and leaves the sterile room through the open top of the feeding section. Whether the hydrogen peroxide vapor is blown into the surrounding atmosphere through the open top of the feed section is not relevant to the present invention and will not be discussed in detail here.

The apparatus for sterilizing packaging bottles described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,511,583 includes a device for preparing a mixture of hot air and hydrogen peroxide, and a closable sterilization chamber into which the bottles to be sterilized are introduced. It has the following. The closing lid of the sterilization chamber includes a clamp for suspending the bottles to be sterilized within the sterilization chamber. In order to achieve a reduction in the use of hydrogen peroxide and a reduction in heating energy, the device is provided with a circulation system for the mixture supply. The sterilization chamber forms part of this circulation system together with an adjacent bypass. This bypass and sterilization chamber are alternately connected to the circulation system by means of reversible valves during non-sterilization and sterilization periods. Circulation blowers, air heaters and preparation equipment also form part of the circulation system. This circulation blower can also draw in ambient air via a check valve. After stopping the supply of air-fuel mixture to the sterilization chamber, the sterilization chamber is kept closed for about 3 seconds or more to allow hydrogen peroxide to act. Another possibility consists in opening the sterilization chamber and allowing the hydrogen peroxide condensate to act on the open bottles.

In this way, hydrogen peroxide evaporates more easily.

After a predetermined period of time has elapsed, the closing lid is lifted upwards and the bottle is lifted with this lid. The condensed hydrogen peroxide immediately begins to evaporate due to this process.

This is because the heat generated in the sterilization chamber warms the walls of the bottles. The small amount of hydrogen peroxide remaining will completely vaporize when the sterilization chamber is opened. Traces of hydrogen peroxide remaining on the surface of the bottle after this treatment process can be removed by blowing hot air onto this surface. This sterilization chamber is not only completely unsuitable for high-speed handling of packaging cartons, but also has the disadvantage that hydrogen peroxide vapor escapes into the surrounding environment.

Hydrogen peroxide vapor must be handled correctly because the air containing it is not only unpleasant and unhealthy for workers, but also causes corrosion of metals.

In the other liquid packaging system, a continuously moving web of cardboard coated with thermoplastic on both sides forms a continuous tube that is continuously advanced downwardly to form a continuous tube. is filled with liquid. The tubes are heat-pressure sealed at both ends at intervals to form individual filled cartons, which are then cut and separated from each other at the sealing locations.

An example of this type of system is U.S. Patent No. 3.854.
, No. 874. This U.S. patent describes an apparatus for controlling the atmosphere in a sterilization chamber of an aseptic packaging machine, in which a web is first brought into contact with a liquid sterilant, such as hydrogen peroxide, and then The web passes through the interior of the packaging material, where residual disinfectant is removed from the packaging material, and the web is then formed into tubes and subdivided into individual filled packages or cartons.

In this machine, the interior of the sterilization chamber forms part of the flow circuit;
A mixture of air and disinfectant vapor forming the indoor atmosphere is circulated by a fan provided in this circuit. A throttle valve located between the sterilization chamber and the fan creates atmospheric pressure within the sterilization chamber. Upstream of the fan is a liquid separator from which the separated liquid disinfectant is periodically drained by a tap. The mixture of air and disinfectant vapor enters the fan through the throttle valve and then passes through the filter. An electric spiral heater is disposed in the inlet chamber of this filter.

From this filter, the heated mixture is blown through the device and returned to the sterilization chamber. The spraying device sprays heated disinfectant at high speed on both sides of the web. Once the web is immersed in a bath of liquid disinfectant, the spray reaches the device and then enters the disinfection chamber. The liquid disinfectant still adhering to the web is atomized or vaporized into the room atmosphere by the heated disinfection medium. After the spray passes through the device, the web is shaped into a flexible tube and welded together along both sides of the web to form a tube. Air for welding is drawn from the surrounding atmosphere by a blower, heated by an electric heating spiral, passed through a sterilization chamber, and is forced by a hood into the gap between the two longitudinally overlapping side edges of the web. This process heats the thermoplastic inside the tube and contacts the rolls to form an airtight weld and a longitudinal seam. The bottom of the sterilization chamber is dish-shaped, and the discharge pipe branches off at the lowest point.
This is connected to the liquid separator. Ambient air is drawn into the circuit upstream of the blower and downstream of the throttle valve.

US Pat. No. 4,005,035 describes another example of the same system. In this example, the spray device extends into the pipe, and the mixture of disinfectant vapor and air is introduced into the pipe by a hood, passed by another hood to the transition point between the web and the pipe, and then to the top. reach the hood. A device is provided here for applying a liquid disinfectant to the web. The mixture outlet from this top hood leads to a liquid ring compressor. This compressor operates with a circulating water ring as a sealing medium. The outlet from the liquid ring compressor is connected to a liquid separator, from where the air in the mixture is directed to a sterile air heater and then the tube spray is directed to the device.

Ambient air is drawn into the circuit from above the top hood.

U.S. Patent No. 3J54,874 and U.S. Patent No. 4.0
In the machine described in No. 55035, ambient air is drawn directly into the hydrogen peroxide recovery circuit. Therefore, a lot of sterilization work is required within the circuit itself. Furthermore, temporary interruptions in the advance of the web through the machine may cause portions or large portions of the web to be exposed to hot gases for longer than intended, resulting in defects in the finished carton.

A first object of the invention is to advance packaging material through a chamber;
said main flow of substantially sterile gaseous substance via said first inlet means to flow around said packaging material within said chamber and exit said chamber via said first outlet means; into a room, applying a disinfectant to the surface of said packaging material, said disinfectant acting to have a germicidal effect on said surface, and injecting a substantially germicidal gaseous substance through a second inlet means. A method of aseptic packaging comprising activating pump means introducing a second stream to flow it over said surface to carry away said disinfectant, said second stream being directed by said pump means into said main stream. The method is characterized in that it includes a sterile gaseous substance drawn from the second chamber through a second outlet means.

A second object of the invention is to introduce a chamber, a conveying means for advancing a packaging material through the chamber, and a main flow of a substantially sterile gaseous substance to flow around said packaging material. a first inlet means provided in said chamber for sterilizing said chamber, first outlet means for directing said main flow out of said chamber, means provided in said chamber for applying a sterilizing agent to the surface of said packaging material; second inlet means for introducing a second stream of a sterile gaseous substance and causing it to flow over said surface to carry away said disinfectant; and pump means for producing said second stream. In the sterile packaging apparatus, a second outlet means is provided in the chamber and takes out the main stream of gaseous substance from the chamber to form the second stream, and the second outlet means is connected to the second outlet means. and duct means connected to the inlet means.

The secondary flow circuit does not need to receive ambient air directly, since the secondary flow can be drawn entirely from the main flow. The amount of sterilization required within the circuit itself can therefore be minimized.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the station includes an air fan A. In FIGS. There is an air pressure switch B on the downstream side of the air fan A, which detects the air pressure in the circuit including the air fan A. This is to maintain this air pressure at substantially the desired value. Downstream of this air pressure switch B is a Leister heater C. It is rated to raise temperatures to 250°C at airflow rates above its minimum requirement. The air temperature at the outlet from heater C is monitored by a thermocouple for controlling heater C. The hot air can be fed via nozzle E or via bypass F to a return vibrator G with a condensate drain H. There is a condenser downstream of the return vibe G, followed by a filter J. This filter J is connected by a return vibrator K to the ink of the air fan A. In FIG. 1, nozzle E is shown directing hot air into carton L. In FIG. The carton L passes through the aseptic room M of the aseptic packaging machine and is advanced along with a large number of other cartons (not shown) in a pedestrian manner by a chain conveyor (not shown). The top-open bottom sealed carton L prior to reaching the station shown in FIG.
The interior of the carton is sterilized by being sprayed with hydrogen peroxide (and possibly exposed to ultraviolet light). The hot gas blown into the carton L by nozzle E causes the hydrogen peroxide in this carton to atomize or vaporize. This mixture of air and hydrogen peroxide vapor is evacuated through a hood N having a rectangular opening fitted in the top wall O of the chamber M. The top end of this carton L lies directly below the bottom of wall 0 and is aligned with the bottom end of hood N. The air-fuel mixture flows over the water cooling coil P of condenser I, and the water cooling jacket Q of the same condenser I.
As it passes through, the hydrogen peroxide vapor condenses and returns to the drain H through the vibrator G and from there to the hydrogen peroxide collector R. From here, hydrogen peroxide can be recycled if desired. It is disadvantageous to continue to supply hot gas to chamber M via nozzle E when the incremental advance of the carton through chamber M is to be stopped for any reason. In such a case, as shown in Figure 2, the flap valve S provided on the bypass F is opened, and the fan A draws the hot gas from the heater C through the bypass F into the return vibe G. Sterilized air from room M is drawn in through hood N.

The flow cross-sectional area of the return vibrator G is made smaller than the flow-through cross-sectional area of the hood N to increase the velocity of the air-fuel mixture and shorten the time for this air-fuel mixture to flow from the hood N to the condenser I. However, the cross-sectional area of the mixture in the condenser I is significantly larger than that of the vibrator G, which increases the time the mixture flows through the condenser I, which promotes the condensation of the hydrogen peroxide vapor. . Filter J is relatively fine, for example a 5 micron filter. This is to completely separate the hydrogen peroxide vapors that could not be removed by condenser I. Chamber M has a main inlet and a main outlet (both not shown) for sterile air.

In Figures 3 and 4, a machine 1 for carrying out aseptic packaging includes at one end a conventional device 2 for preforming gable-top cartons (including bottom sealing). do. The open-top preformed carton reaches the other end of the machine through a closed channel 3 by means of a chain system. Channel 3 is bounded by cover 4. These covers 4 are hinged in such a way that they can be lifted individually, giving access to the interior of the channel. At the front end of the machine, open-topped cartons are moved forward vertically in a pedestrian manner by conveyor chains 5. Along its hairpin-like path P, an outgoing path extends towards the device 2 and a return path extends towards the free end. The cartons exit channel 3 directly to sterile room M. This sterile room completely covers the chain 5 and is equipped with an access cover 6#. The chains 5 arranged one above the other so as to occupy the same area extend from here to the outside of the path P with long lugs 5.
′ stands out. These lugs 5' extend beyond the guide strip extending along the path P. The carton is received here and is advanced by these long lugs 5' along the path P, supported at one end by the chain 5 and at the other end by the guide strip. these chains 5
The cartons are first transported to the top pre-breaking device W7, where the open top of each carton is pre-opened. These cartons are then passed directly under a powerful ultraviolet germicidal lamp 8. These germicidal lamps 8 extend in a hairpin-shaped section that forms at least a major part of the outgoing length of the path P. In the region of the beginning of this section, some means of introducing a fine spray of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into the interior of the carton is arranged. This means includes a nozzle device 7' integrated with the bleb cuff, with which the interior of the carton is sprayed with H2ss.

The combined effect of ultraviolet irradiation and hydrogen peroxide spray can synergistically exert a strong sterilizing effect.

At the downstream end of this path section, the chain 5 causes the carton to turn around 180 degrees and reach the return leg of path P. On the return trip, the carton first passes through Figures 1 and 2.
The disinfectant removal station shown in the figure is reached, and then the filling device 9 is reached, where the cartons are filled with a sterile product, for example long-life milk. The cartons then proceed to a top heating device 10 where the thermoplastic surface of the top of each carton is heated to a sticky condition. The carton then advances to the top sealing device 11 where the gable top is sealed. The sealed carton leaves the sterile chamber M through an exit hole 6' at the front end of the machine. During operation of this machine, sterile air is supplied to the sterile air inlets 13 and 13' of machine M from the main sterile air filter. In this sterile room, sterile air flows relatively smoothly from the inlet 13 into the machine M.
and from there exits through a sterile air outlet 14 to a filter system (not shown). The sterile air acts as a purge gas to remove bacteria and hydrogen peroxide from the chamber M so that the bacteria and hydrogen peroxide are removed from the filling device 9.
The sterile air also maintains the interior of chamber M at a slightly higher pressure than the surrounding atmosphere, preventing outside air from entering the chamber. .

The device described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 has the following advantages.

(1) Bacterial air is drawn into the apparatus at all times from the sterilization chamber M only via the extraction hood N, so that it is the sterile air that is supplied as the main source to the chamber M in use.

(2) When this machine is not manufacturing cartons, hot air from the heater bypasses nozzle E and hood N via bypass F and returns to vibrator G. Therefore, a very small amount of power is consumed by heater C to maintain the hot air at the correct exit temperature. This is because the hot air is returned to the ink of fan A relatively quickly. During this recirculation, the oxygen content in the air will decrease. Particularly when filling juices, such a reduction in oxygen is advantageous, and in the case of juices with conventional Big 2 Fu 0 minutes, the air in the cartons is mixed with the juice during filling into cartons. This will significantly reduce the problem.

(3) The flap valve can be opened by a shift register associated with the carton in the absence of the carton. This shift register is closed when the carton begins to approach the station shown in the drawing again.

(4) Even during the manufacture of the carton, the hot gas forced into the carton by the nozzle E tends to rise naturally, and this effect is further enhanced by the suction effect produced in the hood N by the fan A. Ru.

(5) Although the hot air from the heater loses temperature both in the carton and in condenser I, this temperature is still relatively high, and recirculation of the air reduces the power requirements for the heater and It reduces the oxygen content inside.

(6) Both the conventional problem of residual hydrogen peroxide in the sterilization chamber and the problem of this residual hydrogen peroxide being discharged into the working environment are substantially eliminated.

(7) As the carton moves from the station shown in the drawing, some hot air is sent into the chamber M from the nozzle E, and some new sterilized air is passed through the hood N, even though the proportion of fresh air is approximately 10%. The air in the circuit varies partially from carton to carton as it is drawn into the circuit. This effect of blowing some hot air into the room and drawing fresh sterile air into the circuit is due to the air gaps between the cartons. Approximately 90% of the hot air blown into the room M during operation of the machine is blown back through the hood N, and the temperature of the sterilized air in the room tends to be maintained at a relatively low temperature.

(8) Blowing hot air onto the hydrogen peroxide on the inner surface of the carton L increases the sterilization effect on the inner surface of the carton.

Instead of the coil and jacket condenser I, a cold water spray system could be provided to condense the hydrogen peroxide and flush it out of the mixture.

Although the present invention has been described above in detail with reference to the preferred embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, the present invention is not limited to this specific embodiment, and without departing from the spirit of the invention,
Of course, many variations and modifications can be made.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a station for removing disinfectant from packaging cartons, forming part of a sterile packaging machine, under conditions for removing disinfectant from the carton;
FIG. 2 is a diagram similar to FIG. 1, but schematically showing the station without removing disinfectant from the cartons;
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of this machine, and FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of this machine. A...Air fan, B...Air pressure switch, C...Heater, D...Thermocouple, E...Nozzle, F...Bypass,
G... Return vibe, H... Drain, ■... Capacitor,
J...filter, K...return pipe, L...carton,
M... Sterile room, N... Hood, 0... Wall, P... Water cooling coil, Q... Water cooling jacket, 1... Machine, 2... Preforming device, 3... Channel, 4... Cover, 5... Conveyance chain, 5'... Lug, 6'... Exit hole, 6''...
Cover, 7.. Pre-breaking device, 7'. Nozzle device, 8.. Ultraviolet germicidal lamp, 9.. Filling device, 10.. Top heating device, 11.. Top sealing device, 13, 13'
... Sterile air inlet, 14... Sterile air outlet.

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. A packaging material (L) is advanced through a chamber (M), and a first inlet means is used to direct a main flow of a substantially sterile gaseous substance through (13) into said chamber (M). M) flows around said packaging material (L) into said chamber (M) via a first outlet means (14).
A sterilizing agent is applied to the surface of the packaging material (L), the sterilizing agent is applied to the surface to exert a sterilizing effect, and a second actuating a pump means (A) for introducing a second stream of a substantially sterile gaseous substance through the inlet means (E) of the surface to cause it to flow over said surface to carry away said sterilizing agent; A method of aseptic packaging comprising: wherein said second stream is pumped from said main stream to said second chamber (M) by said pump means (A).
A method characterized in that it comprises a sterilizing gaseous substance drawn off via a second outlet means (N) of the sterile gaseous substance. 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, in which a disinfectant is removed from the second stream downstream of the second outlet means (N) and upstream of the second inlet means (E) with respect to the second stream. A method characterized by removing. 3. A method as claimed in claim 2, in which between the removal of the disinfectant from the second stream and the return of the second stream via the second inlet means (E), A method comprising sterilizing the flow. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the packaging material (L) includes containers (L), each of which is connected to the second inlet means (E) and the second inlet means (E). 2. A method characterized in that the method is characterized in that: 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein each of said containers (L) has a closed axial end and an open axial end, said second inlet means (E) and said second outlet means means (N) act on said pumping means (A) for each container (L) to direct said second flow from said open axial end to said closed axial end of said container (L); axially so that at the closed axial end the second flow reverses its flow direction and flows in the opposite axial direction to the open axial end. 6. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the second inlet means (E) and the first Bypass (F) that bypasses the exit means (N) of No. 2
) of interrupting the introduction of the second flow through the second inlet means (E). 7 a chamber (M), a conveying means (5) for advancing the packaging material (L) through said chamber (M), and a substantially sterile gaseous material flowing around said packaging material (L); a first inlet means (13) provided in said chamber (M) for introducing a main stream of substance and a first inlet means (13) for introducing said main stream from said chamber (M);
means (7') for applying a sterilizing agent to the surface of said packaging material (L); and a second flow of a substantially sterilizing gaseous substance provided in said chamber (M). a sterile packaging device comprising second inlet means (E) for introducing and causing said disinfectant to flow over said surface and carrying away said disinfectant; and pump means (A) for producing said second flow. a second outlet means (N) provided in the chamber (M) for taking out the main flow of gaseous substance from the chamber (M) to form the second flow; (N) to said second inlet means (E).
, K). 8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the duct means (E
, G, K), a sterilizing agent removing means (I) is provided to remove the sterilizing agent from the second flow. 9. A device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the packaging material (L) comprises a container (L) and the transport means (5)
is adapted to advance said containers (L) one by one along a path extending through said second inlet means (E) and said second outlet means (N). . 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said second inlet means (E) and said second outlet means (N) are arranged adjacent to each other and across said path substantially A device characterized by being directed in the axial direction. 11. A device according to claim 10, wherein the second inlet means (E) and the second outlet means (N) are of a generally through-flow cross-section, An apparatus having a dimension along said path that is substantially equal to a dimension along said path. 12. Device according to claim 11, characterized in that said cross section has a dimension in the direction perpendicular to said path equal to the dimension in said direction of each container (L). 13. The device according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the second inlet means (E) and the second outlet means (N) are arranged one around the other. device to do. 14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that said second inlet means (E) and said second outlet means (N) are arranged one surrounding the other. 15. A device according to any one of claims 7 to 14, wherein the second inlet means (E) and the second outlet means (E) extend from the downstream side of the pump means (A) to the upstream side thereof. a bypass (F) for bypassing the second
and flow diversion means (S) operative to direct the flow of. 16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that the flow diversion means (S) include a valve (S) in the bypass (F). 17. The apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 16, wherein the cross-sectional area of the second outlet means (N) is larger than the area of the duct means at a point immediately downstream of the second outlet means (N). (G) A device characterized in that the cross-sectional area is larger than that of (G).