SE1551179A1

SE1551179A1 - Device and method for filling a package with a liquid product, and a package containing a liquid product

Info

Publication number: SE1551179A1
Application number: SE1551179A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Hjalmarsson Dan; Hajlmarsson Hans
Original assignee: Caneb Förvaltnings Ab
Priority date: 2015-09-15
Filing date: 2015-09-15
Publication date: 2017-03-16
Also published as: WO2017046134A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for filling a package (1) with a liquid product (2). The method comprises the steps of filling said package (1) with a predetermined volume of the liquid product (2) through an opening (3) of the package to a first level (4) in the package (1), applying a pressure on the package (1) in order to force the liquid product (2) in the package (1) to rise to a second level (6) in the package (1), and providing the package (1) with a seal at a distance from the second level (6). The invention also relates to a device (8) for filling a package (1) with a liquid product (2), and a package (1) containing a liquid product (2).Elected for publication: Fig. 2a.

Description

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FILLING A PACKAGE WITH A LIQUIDPRODUCT, AND A PACKAGE CONTAINING A LIQUID PRODUCT Technical field The invention relates to a method and a device for filling a packagewith a liquid product. The invention also relates to a package containing aliquid product.

Background artLiquids may be packaged in different types of packages, such as bottles, cartons or packages formed by a thin plastic foil material, such as aplastic bag. When choosing the type of packages several properties of theliquid must be taken into account. For example, the liquid may be corrosive orsensitive to light or oxygen. ln the case of the liquid being sensitive to oxygen it is important thatthe packaging material does not allow oxygen to enter through the packagingmaterial.

One type of package used for liquids, typically for different kinds ofbeverages, e.g. wine, is the so called “bag-in-box”. This type of packagecomprises a liquid filled bag made from a thin plastic foil inside a rigidpackage such as a carton box. Such a package is often used for packagingrelatively large volumes, e.g. more than 1.5L. A draining valve is arranged ona side surface of the package, for emptying contents from the package. Oneexample of such a draining valve is disclosed in US 8,657,163.

Conventionally, packages made from a thin plastic foil material, suchas a plastic bag, are filled through the draining valve. However, whenpackaging a liquid in such a package, air, which comprises oxygen, may alsobe trapped inside of the bag, the so called “head space”. The oxygen presentin the air oxidises components of the liquid, which most often leads to ashortened shelf life of the packaged liquid. ln addition oxidisation ofcomponents of the liquid may not only lead to a shortened shelf life, but alsoto changes in taste and colour of the liquid.

Summary of the invention lt is an objective of the present invention to provide an improvement ofthe above technique and prior art. More particularly, it is an objective of thisinvention to provide an improved method for fi||ing a package with a liquidproduct.

According to a first aspect, these and other objects, and/or advantagesthat will be apparent from the following description of embodiments, areachieved, in full or at least in part, by a method for fi||ing a package with aliquid product. The method comprises the steps of fi||ing said package with apredetermined volume of said liquid product through an opening of saidpackage to a first level in said package, applying a pressure on said packagein order to force said liquid product in said package to rise to a second level insaid package, and providing said package with a seal at a distance from saidsecondleveL When the pressure is applied to the package, the level of the liquid inthe package rises and air and foam is pressed out of the package. ln this waythe amount of air inside the package is decreased. Thus, the amount ofoxygen which can oxidise the components of the liquid is also decreased andthe shelf life of the packaged liquid is prolonged. ln addition, by applying a pressure to the package before providing thefirst seal, the volume of the package is decreased.

The method may further comprise the step of stretching said packagein order to force said liquid product in said package to rise to a second level insaid package. When the package is stretched, the second level is adjusted. lnthis way a clean seal may be obtained.

The volume of the liquid may be less than the volume of the sealedpackage. This allows for the liquid to expand when subjected to highertemperatures, e.g. during transportation or storage. This in turn reduces therisk of the package or seal being damaged leading to the leakage of the liquid The first level may be a predetermined level.

The second level may be a predetermined level.

The seal may be provided at a predetermined distance from saidsecondleveL lt is important to realize that a small amount of air may be allowedinside the package. lmportantly, the amount of air inside the package, the“head space” may be controlled with the method according to the invention.

Furthermore, by using the method according to the present invention,the size of the package may be adjusted by changing the location of the firstseal.

The liquid product may have an arbitrary viscosity.

The liquid product may be an emulsion or paste in which solid particlesmay be mixed with a liquid.

According to a second aspect, these and other objects, and/oradvantages that will be apparent from the following description ofembodiments, are achieved, in full or at least in part, by a method for filling apackage with a liquid product. The method comprises the steps of filling saidpackage with a predetermined volume of said liquid product through anopening of said package to a first level in said package, providing saidpackage with a first seal, at a distance from said first level, in order to closesaid opening and seal said package, applying a pressure on said package inorder to force said liquid product in said package to rise to a second level insaid package, and providing said package with a second seal, at a distancefrom first seal, in order to decrease a volume of said package.

By providing a first seal before the pressure is applied to the package,the risk of the liquid spilling over the rim of the package is reduced. lf liquidwould spill over the rim of the package there would be a need for cleaning theoutside of package since remains of the liquid could lead to the growth ofmould on the package or to a sticky surface.

When the pressure is applied to the package, the level of the liquid inthe package rises and air and foam is pressed towards the first seal. ln thisway the amount of air inside the package is decreased. Thus, the amount ofoxygen which can oxidise the components of the liquid is also decreased andthe shelf life of the packaged liquid is prolonged. ln addition, by applying a pressure to the package before providing thesecond seal, the volume of the package is decreased.

The method may further comprise the step of stretching said packagein order to force said liquid product in said package to rise to a second level insaid package. When the package is stretched, the second level is adjusted. lnthis way a clean sea| may be obtained.

The volume of the liquid may be less than the volume of the sealedpackage. This allows for the liquid to expand when subjected to highertemperatures, e.g. during transportation or storage. This in turn reduces therisk of the package or sea| being damaged leading to the leakage of theliquid.

The first level may be a predetermined level.

The second level may be a predetermined level.

The sea| may be provided at a predetermined distance from saidsecondleveL lt is important to realize that a small amount of air may be allowedinside the package. lmportantly, the amount of air inside the package, the“head space” may be controlled with the method according to the invention.

Furthermore, by using the method according to the present invention,the size of the package may be adjusted by changing the location of the firstsea|.

The liquid product may have an arbitrary viscosity.

According to a first embodiment, said first sea| may be provided abovesaid first and second level, and said second sea| may be provided betweensaid first sea| and said second level. ln this way, a head space of air iscreated.

The amount of air may be controlled by adjusting the location of thesecond sea| in relation to the second level.

According to a second embodiment, said second sea| may be providedadjacent to said second level. ln this way, the amount of air is minimized. Thisis especially advantageous when the liquid is very sensitive to oxidization.

According to another embodiment, the method may further comprisethe step of separating said package from a web of preformed packages. The package may be separated from the web of preformed packages before it isfilled with the liquid. Alternatively, the package may be separated from theweb of preformed packages after it is filled with the liquid. This allows for acontinuous process of filling and sealing packages without the need forreloading the device used with empty packages.

According to yet another embodiment, the method may furthercomprise the step of providing said opening in said package.

According to one embodiment, said liquid product may be a wineproduct. However, the liquid products may be any kind of liquid product. Themethod is especially suitable for liquid products which are sensitive to oxygenand where there is a need to decrease the amount of air inside the package.Examples of such liquid products are milk; fruit juices, such as orange juiceand apple juice, vegetable juices, such as tomato juice, and juices made frombernes.

According to a third aspect, these and other objects are achieved, infull or at least in part, by a device for filling a package with a liquid product.The device is adapted to receive a web of preformed packages, wherein saiddevice comprises a cutting tool adapted to provide a first cut to cut off apackage from said web, and a second cut in order to provide said packagewith an opening, a filling device adapted to fill said package with apredetermined volume of said liquid product through said opening to a firstlevel in said package, a pressure device adapted to apply a pressure on saidpackage so that said liquid product will rise to a second level, and a sealingtool adapted to provide a first seal in order to close said opening and sealsaid package, and to provide a second seal, at a distance from said first seal,in order to decrease a volume of said package.

The first cut and the second cut may be the same cut.

The first level may be a predetermined level.

The second level may be a predetermined level.

The seal may be provided at a predetermined distance from said secondleveL The device for filling a package with a liquid product may furthercomprise a stretching device adapted to stretch said package so that saidliquid product will rise to a second level.

According to one embodiment, said first sea| may be provided abovesaid first and second level, and said second sea| may be provided betweensaid first sea| and said second level. ln this way, a head space of air iscreated. The amount of air may be controlled by adjusting the location of thesecond sea| in relation to the second level.

According to another embodiment, said second sea| may be providedadjacent to said second level. ln this way, the amount of air is minimized. Thisis especially advantageous when the liquid is very sensitive to oxidization.

According to a further embodiment, said liquid product may be a wineproduct. However, the liquid products may be any kind of liquid product. Themethod is especially suitable for liquid products which are sensitive to oxygenand where there is a need to decrease the amount of air inside the package.Examples of such liquid products are milk, fruit juices, such as orange juiceand apple juice, vegetablejuices, such as tomatojuice; and juices made fromberries.

According to yet another embodiment, said sealing tool may be aninduction heating device. However, the sealing tool may be any deviceadapted to sea| the package, e.g. a device for applying glue to the packagingmaterial, an inductor sealing device or a welding device.

According to another embodiment, said pressure device may comprisetwo pressure elements arranged opposite to each other at a distance tocreate a gap, wherein said pressure elements may be adapted to apply apressure on said package when located in said gap. An advantage of thisembodiment is that when the pressure is applied from two directions oppositeeach other, the resulting shape of the package is essentially symmetrical.This will facilitate its placement into a symmetrical outer package, which, inthe case of the “bag-in-box” is a symmetrical carton box.

According to another embodiment, said volume of said package maybe varied by adjusting said cutting tool and/or by adjusting a feeding speed ofa feeding device adapted to feed said web into said device. This is especially advantageous, since the same device may be used for producing packagesof different volumes.

According to a fourth aspect, these and other objects are achieved, infull or at least in part, by a package containing a liquid product, wherein thepackage has been filled using the method described above and/or by meansof the device described above. Such a package will prolong the shelf life ofthe packaged liquid, since the volume of air inside the package is reducedcompared to packages filled using conventional techniques.

Other objectives, features and advantages of the present invention willappear from the following detailed disclosure, from the attached claims, aswell as from the drawings. lt is noted that the invention relates to all possiblecombinations of features.

Generally, all terms used in the claims are to be interpreted accordingto their ordinary meaning in the technical field, unless explicitly definedotherwise herein. All references to “a/an/the [element, device, component,means, step, etc.]” are to be interpreted openly as referring to at least oneinstance of said element, device, component, means, step, etc., unlessexplicitly stated otherwise.

As used herein, the term “comprising” and variations of that term arenot intended to exclude other additives, components, integers or steps.

The method may described herein is not limited to use in connectionswith the device described herein. That is to say, the method may beimplemented using any suitable device or separate components.

Brief description of the drawinqs The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe present invention, will be better understood through the followingillustrative and non-limiting detailed description of embodiments of the presentinvention, with reference to the appended drawings, where the samereference numerals may be used for similar elements, and wherein: Fig. 1a is a schematic drawing of a part of a device according to theinvention, wherein the package is about to be introduced into the gapbetween two pressure elements.

Fig. 1b is a schematic drawing of a part of the device according to theinvention, wherein the package is located in the gap between two pressureelements.

Figs. 1c - 1f show a flow chart of a method according to the presentinvention and schematic drawings of a package as well as a device accordingto the present invention during the different steps of the method according tothe present invention.

Fig. 1g is a schematic drawing of a part of the device according to theinvention, wherein the package has been sea|ed and leaves the device.

Fig. 2a is a schematic drawing of a device for fi||ing a package with aliquid product according one exemplary embodiment of the presentinvenﬁon.

Fig. 2b is a further schematic drawing the device in Fig. 2a.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the inventionFigs. 1a and 1b illustrate a part of a device 8 for fi||ing a package 1. ln Fig. 1a, the package is shown before it is introduced into the gap 13 betweentwo pressure elements 12'. ln Fig.1 b, the package is shows when it is locatedin the gap 13 between two pressure elements 12'. The device 8 is able toreceive a web 9 of preformed packages, such as from a roll of preformedplastic bags where the bottom seal is already provided or from a palletainerwherein plastic bags are placed in a zig-zag pattern of overlapping entities.The device 8 comprises a cutting tool 10 which provides a first cut to cut off apackage 1 from said web 9, and a second cut in order to provide the package1 with an opening 3. The cutting tool 10 may provide one single cut to cut offa package 1 from said web 9 and to simultaneously provide the package 1with an opening 3. Further, the device 8 comprises a fi||ing device 11, which isadapted to fill the package 1 with a predetermined volume of the liquidproduct 2 through the opening 3 to a first level 4. The device 8 also comprisesa pressure device 12 adapted to apply a pressure on the package 1 so thatthe liquid product 2 will rise to the second level 6. The pressure device 12comprises two pressure elements 12' arranged opposite to each other at adistance to create a gap 13. The pressure elements 12' are adapted to apply a pressure on the package 1 when the package 1 is located in the gap 13.Furthermore, the device 8 comprises a sealing tool 14, preferably aninduction heating device, adapted to provide the first sea| 5 in order to closethe opening 3 and sea| the package 1, and to provide the second sea| 7 at adistance from the first sea| 5, in order to decrease the volume of the package1.

The device 8 may also comprises a stretching device adapted tostretch the package 1 so that the liquid product 2 will rise to the second level6.

Fig. 1c - 1f illustrate the different steps of a method according to thepresent invention and also depict how the package 1 is formed and sealedduring the different steps of the method. Fig. 1c - 1f also show a device 8according to the present invention during the different steps of the methodaccording to the present invention. ln the first step, the package 1 is filledthrough an opening 3. The package is filled through the filling device 11.Theliquid is filled to a first level 4 of the package 1. Depending on the volume ofthe resulting product, this level is adjusted. Thereafter the package 1 issealed with a first sea| 5. The package is sealed by the sealing device 14.According to this embodiment the sea| is made by an induction heatingdevice. ln the next step, a pressure is applied by the pressure device 12 onthe package 1. The level of the liquid in the package 1 rises to a second level6 in the package 1. The air inside of the package 1 as well as any foam willbe pressed towards the first sea| 5. ln the final step, the package 1 isprovided with a second sea| 7. The second sea| is provided by the sealingdevice 14. The second sea| 7 is provided at a distance from the first sea| 5and the volume of the package 1 is thus decreased, separating a portion ofthe air and the foam from the packaged liquid. ln Fig. 2a, a device 8 according to the present invention is shown. Aweb 9 of preformed packages is shown entering the device 8. ln Fig. 2b, the opposite side of a preferred embodiment of the device 8is shown. ln this embodiment, the cutting tool 10 is adapted to provide asingle cut to cut off a package 1 from the web 9 and to simultaneously providethe package 1 with an opening 3. Thus, in this embodiment the cutting tool 10 is adapted to cut off a package 1 from the web and provide the package withan opening 3 with one cut only. ln another embodiment the cutting tool 10 isadapted to cut off a package 1 from the web and provide the package with an opening 3 with two separate cuts.

Claims

1. A method for filling a package (1) with a liquid product (2),comprising the steps of filling said package (1) with a predetermined volume of said liquidproduct (2) through an opening (3) of said package (1) to a first level (4) insaid package (1), applying a pressure on said package (1) in order to force said liquidproduct (2) in said package (1) to rise to a second level (6) in said package(1 ), and providing said package (1) with a seal at a distance from said secondlevel (6).

2. A method for filling a package (1) with a liquid product (2),comprising the steps of filling said package (1) with a predetermined volume of said liquidproduct (2) through an opening (3) of said package (1) to a first level (4) insaid package (1), providing said package (1) with a first seal (5), at a distance from saidfirst level (4), in order to close said opening (3) and seal said package (1 ), applying a pressure on said package (1) in order to force said liquidproduct (2) in said package (1) to rise to a second level (6) in said package(1 ), and providing said package (1) with a second seal (7), at a distance fromfirst seal (5), in order to decrease a volume of said package (1 ).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said first seal (5) isprovided above said first and second level (4, 6), and said second seal (7) isprovided between said first seal (5) and said second level (6).

4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said second seal (7)is provided adjacent to said second level (6). 12

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, furthercomprising the step of separating said package (1) from a web (9) ofpreformed packages.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, furthercomprising the step of providing said opening (3) in said package (1 ).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, whereinsaid liquid product (2) is a wine product.

8. A device (8) for filling a package (1) with a liquid product (2), saiddevice (8) being adapted to receive a web (9) of preformed packages,wherein said device (8) comprises a cutting tool (10) adapted to provide a first cut to cut off a package (1)from said web (9), and a second cut in order to provide said package (1) withan opening (3), a filling device (11) adapted to fill said package (1) with apredetermined volume of said liquid product (2) through said opening (3) to afirst level (4) in said package (1), a pressure device (12) adapted to apply a pressure on said package(1) so that said liquid product (2) will rise to a second level (6), and a sealing tool (14) adapted to provide a first seal (5) in order to closesaid opening (3) and seal said package (1 ), and to provide a second seal (7),at a distance from said first seal (5), in order to decrease a volume of saidpackage (1 ).

9. The device (8) according to claim 8, wherein said first seal (5) isprovided above said first and second level (4, 6), and said second seal (7) isprovided between said first seal (5) and said second level (6).

10. The device (8) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said second seal(7) is provided adjacent to said second level (6). 13

11. The device (8) according to any one of claims 8-10, wherein saidliquid product is a wine product.

12. The device (8) according to any one of claims 8-11, wherein saidsealing tool (14) is an induction heating device.

13. The device (8) according to any one of claims 8-12, wherein saidpressure device (12) comprises two pressure elements (12') arrangedopposite to each other at a distance to create a gap (13), wherein saidpressure elements (12') are adapted to apply a pressure on said package (1)when located in said gap (13).

14. The device (8) according to any one of claims 8-13, wherein saidvolume of said package (1) can be varied by adjusting said cutting tool (10)and/or by adjusting a feeding speed of a feeding device adapted to feed saidweb (9) into said device (8).

15. A package (1) containing a liquid product (2), wherein said package(1) has been filled using the method according to any one of claims 1-7and/or by means of the device (8) according to any one of the claims 8-14.