US20220185519A1 - Packaging machine and method for producing sealed packages - Google Patents

Packaging machine and method for producing sealed packages Download PDF

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Publication number
US20220185519A1
US20220185519A1 US17/432,219 US202017432219A US2022185519A1 US 20220185519 A1 US20220185519 A1 US 20220185519A1 US 202017432219 A US202017432219 A US 202017432219A US 2022185519 A1 US2022185519 A1 US 2022185519A1
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United States
Prior art keywords
gas
packaging machine
tube
web
inner environment
Prior art date
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Abandoned
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US17/432,219
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English (en)
Inventor
Filippo Ferrarini
Arash SAEIDIHAGHI
Gert Lindström
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Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
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Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
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Publication date
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Assigned to TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A. reassignment TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: Lindström, Gert, SAEIDIHAGHI, ARASH, FERRARINI, FILIPPO
Publication of US20220185519A1 publication Critical patent/US20220185519A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • B65B31/00—Packaging articles or materials under special atmospheric or gaseous conditions; Adding propellants to aerosol containers
    • B65B31/02—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas
    • B65B31/021—Filling, closing, or filling and closing, containers or wrappers in chambers maintained under vacuum or superatmospheric pressure or containing a special atmosphere, e.g. of inert gas the containers or wrappers being interconnected
    • 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
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
    • B65B55/103—Sterilising flat or tubular webs
    • 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
    • B65B51/00—Devices for, or methods of, sealing or securing package folds or closures; Devices for gathering or twisting wrappers, or necks of bags
    • B65B51/10—Applying or generating heat or pressure or combinations thereof
    • B65B51/26—Devices specially adapted for producing transverse or longitudinal seams in webs or tubes
    • 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
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/025—Packaging in aseptic tunnels
    • 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
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/08—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
    • 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
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/06—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it
    • B65B9/08—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it in a web folded and sealed transversely to form pockets which are subsequently filled and then closed by sealing
    • 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
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/20—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles
    • B65B9/213—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles the web having intermittent motion
    • 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
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/12—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/16—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for producing sealed packages of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
  • liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
  • UHT ultra-high-temperature treated milk
  • wine tomato sauce
  • etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
  • a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding laminated strip packaging material.
  • the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
  • the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material (an oxygen-barrier layer), e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
  • Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, which advance a web of packaging material from a magazine unit through a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the web of packaging material and to an isolation chamber (a closed and sterile environment) in which the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced.
  • an isolation chamber a closed and sterile environment
  • the web of packaging material is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube having a longitudinal seam portion, which is further fed along a vertical advancing direction.
  • the tube is filled with a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and is transversally sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections within a package forming unit of the packaging machine during advancement along the vertical advancing direction.
  • a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable product in particular a pourable food product
  • Pillow packages are so obtained within the packaging machine, each pillow package having a longitudinal sealing band, a top transversal sealing band and a bottom transversal sealing band.
  • sterilization apparatuses which are configured to sterilize the web of packaging material by means of the application of physical irradiation, in particular electromagnetic irradiation, even more particular electron beam irradiation.
  • a typical sterilization apparatus of this kind comprises an irradiation device typically having a pair of electron beam emitters spaced apart from one another.
  • reaction products may form, which require to be removed and decomposed in a controlled manner, thus increasing the complexity of the design of such packaging machines.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging machine according to the present invention, with parts removed for clarity.
  • Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing sealed packages 2 (only partially shown to the extent necessary for the understanding of the present invention) of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, even more particular a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable food product, such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, etc., from a tube 3 of a web 4 of packaging material.
  • tube 3 extends along a longitudinal axis, in particular having a vertical orientation.
  • Web 4 of packaging material has a multilayer structure (not shown), and comprises at least a layer of fibrous material, such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer, and at least two layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene, interposing the layer of fibrous material in between one another.
  • a layer of fibrous material such as e.g. a paper or cardboard layer
  • heat-seal plastic material e.g. polyethylene
  • web 4 also comprises a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, in particular being arranged between one of the layers of the heat-seal plastic material and the layer of fibrous material.
  • a layer of gas- and light-barrier material e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film
  • EVOH ethylene vinyl alcohol
  • web 4 also comprises a further layer of heat-seal plastic material being interposed between the layer of gas- and light-barrier material and the layer of fibrous material.
  • a typical package 2 obtained by packaging machine 1 comprises a longitudinal seam portion and a pair of transversal sealing bands, in particular a transversal top sealing band and a transversal bottom sealing band.
  • packaging machine 1 is configured to advance web 4 along a web advancement path, to sterilize web 4 during advancement along the web advancement path, to form tube 3 from web 4 , to fill tube 3 with the pourable product and to form single packages 2 from the filled tube 3 .
  • packaging machine 1 comprises at least:
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises, a control valve 19 , in particular a three-way valve, connected to, in particular being integrated into, conduct assembly 15 , and configured to control an evacuation and/or releasing of a portion of the gas flowing, in use, along flow path Q from the flow circuit.
  • a control valve 19 in particular a three-way valve, connected to, in particular being integrated into, conduct assembly 15 , and configured to control an evacuation and/or releasing of a portion of the gas flowing, in use, along flow path Q from the flow circuit.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a control device (not shown) configured to at least partially control operation of packaging machine 1 .
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a gas sensor 21 , configured to determine and/or measure a nitrogen content and/or an oxygen content within the gas flowing along flow path Q and/or within the flow circuit.
  • the flow circuit is a closed flow circuit.
  • the closed flow circuit is configured and/or constructed such that uncontrolled losses of the gas flowing along the flow path Q and/or within the flow circuit are limited.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises:
  • package forming unit 26 is arranged downstream of isolation chamber 5 and the tube forming device along the tube advancement path.
  • the conveying device is adapted to advance tube 3 and any intermediate of tube 3 in a manner known as such along the tube advancement path, in particular from tube forming station 23 towards and at least partially through package forming unit 26 .
  • any configuration of web 4 is meant prior to obtaining the tube structure and after folding of web 4 by the tube forming device has started.
  • the intermediates of tube 3 are a result of the gradual folding of web 4 so as to obtain tube 3 , in particular by overlapping opposite lateral edges of web 4 with one another.
  • isolation chamber 5 comprises an inlet opening 31 configured to allow, in use, (the sterilized) web 4 to enter into isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 , and an outlet opening 32 configured to allow, in use, the outlet of tube 3 from isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 .
  • sterilization apparatus 8 further comprises:
  • sterilization chamber 10 is arranged upstream of isolation chamber 5 along the web advancement path.
  • web 4 advances from inner space 11 into inner environment 6 (i.e. inner environment 6 receives web 4 after its sterilization).
  • sterilization chamber 10 comprises an inlet passage 34 and an outlet passage 35 configured to allow respectively the entrance and the exit of web 4 into and from sterilization chamber 10 , in particular inner space 11 .
  • isolation chamber 5 and sterilization chamber 10 are connected to one another, in particular such that inlet opening 31 and outlet passage 35 are adjacent to one another.
  • in use (the sterilized) web 4 exits from sterilization chamber 10 and enters directly into isolation chamber 5 .
  • the tube forming device comprises at least a first forming ring assembly and a second forming ring assembly, in particular arranged within isolation chamber 5 , even more particular within inner environment 6 , and being adapted to gradually fold in cooperation with one another web 4 into tube 3 , in particular by overlapping the edges of web 4 with one another for forming the longitudinal seam portion.
  • first forming ring assembly and the second forming ring assembly are spaced apart from and parallel to one another.
  • first forming ring assembly and the second forming ring assembly are arranged coaxial to one another and define the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.
  • the sealing device comprises a sealing head arranged within isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 , and being adapted to (configured to) transfer thermal energy to tube 3 , in particular to the seam portion for longitudinally sealing tube 3 , in particular the seam portion.
  • the sealing head can be of any type.
  • the sealing head can be of the kind operating by means of induction heating and/or by a stream of a heated gas and/or by means of ultrasound and/or by laser heating and/or by any other means.
  • the sealing device also comprises a pressing assembly adapted to exert a mechanical force on tube 3 , in particular onto the seam portion, so as to ensure the longitudinal sealing of tube 3 along the seam portion.
  • the pressing assembly comprises at least an interaction element (not shown) and a counter-interaction element (not shown) adapted to exert the mechanical force onto the seam portion from opposite sides thereof.
  • the sealing head is arranged between the first forming ring assembly and the second forming ring assembly.
  • filling device 25 comprises a filling pipe 39 being in fluid connection with a pourable product supply (not shown) and being adapted to (configured to) direct, in use, the pourable product into tube 3 .
  • filling pipe 39 is, in use, at least partially placed within tube 3 for feeding the pourable product into tube 3 .
  • package forming unit 26 comprises a plurality of pairs of at least one respective operative assembly 40 and at least one counter-operative assembly 41 (only partially shown to the extent necessary for the understanding of the present invention);
  • each operative assembly 40 is configured to cooperate, in use, with the respective counter-operative assembly 41 of the respective pair for forming a respective package 2 from tube 3 .
  • each operative assembly 40 and the respective counter-operative assembly 41 are configured to form, to transversally seal and, preferably but not necessarily also to transversally cut, tube 3 for forming packages 2 .
  • conduct assembly 15 comprises at least one main injection portion 45 configured to introduce and/or inject gas flowing, in use, within the flow circuit, in particular conduct assembly 15 , into isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 .
  • injection portion 45 extends within inner environment 6 .
  • injection portion 45 could be connected to isolation chamber 5 without extending within inner environment 6 .
  • conduct assembly 15 also comprises at least an auxiliary injection portion 46 configured to introduce and/or inject gas flowing, in use, within the flow circuit, in particular conduct assembly 15 , into an interface area between isolation chamber 5 and sterilization chamber 10 .
  • conduct assembly 15 also comprises at least a first valve 47 configured to selectively control the outflow of gas through main injection portion 45 , and in particular also at least a second valve 48 configured to control the outflow of gas through auxiliary injection portion 46 .
  • conduct assembly 15 comprises an inlet portion 49 configured to receive gas flowing, in use, from inner space 11 into conduct assembly 15 .
  • inlet portion 49 is connected to sterilization chamber 10 .
  • conduct assembly 15 also comprises a main conduct portion 50 connected to inlet portion 49 and main injection portion 45 and/or auxiliary injection portion 46 .
  • main conduct portion 50 fluidically connects main injection portion 45 and/or auxiliary injection portion 46 with inlet portion 49 .
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 comprises at least a nitrogen generator 51 configured to generate nitrogen, in particular from air.
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 also comprises a nitrogen storage tank 52 configured to store and/or buffer nitrogen generated by nitrogen generator 51 .
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 also comprises a flow control assembly 53 configured to control the injection and/or inlet of the nitrogen into the flow circuit, in particular into conduct assembly 15 .
  • flow control assembly 53 is also configured to control the flow rate of the nitrogen being, in use, introduced and/or injected by nitrogen distribution unit 16 , in particular so that the flow rate ranges between 1 to 20 m 3 /h, even more particular between 3 to 10 m 3 /h.
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 is operationally connected to the control device.
  • flow controlling device 18 comprises a rotary machine 54 , in particular a compressor, even more particular a dry-type compressor, being arranged within conduct assembly 15 , in particular main conduct portion 50 , and being configured to generate the flow of gas along flow path Q.
  • rotary machine 54 exerts a suction force within inner space 11 so as to extract gas from inner space 11 and to direct gas, in particular through main injection portion 45 , into inner environment 6 .
  • rotary machine 54 is also configured to direct the nitrogen injected and/or introduced by nitrogen distribution unit 16 into at least isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 .
  • rotary machine is positioned downstream of injection station 17 along flow path Q.
  • flow controlling device 18 is operationally connected to the control device.
  • control valve 19 is operationally connected to the control device.
  • control valve 19 is controllable, in particular by the control device, so as to at least selectively open and close for respectively allowing or impeding the evacuation and/or release of gas from the flow circuit (and through control valve 19 ).
  • control valve is of the three-way type and is integrated into conduct assembly 15 , in particular main conduct portion 50 .
  • control valve is configured to allow a fluid connection between inlet portion 49 and at least main injection portion 45 , in particular also auxiliary injection portion 46 , when being opened and when being closed.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a pressure control assembly 57 configured to control the pressure within at least isolation chamber 5 , and in particular also within sterilization chamber 10 , in particular such that the pressure is above the ambient pressure, even more particular controlling an overpressure of 20 Pa or more.
  • pressure control assembly 57 is configured to control the pressure and/or the flow rate of the gas to be introduced into inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 .
  • At least a portion of pressure control assembly 57 is arranged downstream of rotary machine 54 and upstream of isolation chamber 5 along flow path Q.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a gas sterilization assembly 58 configured to sterilize and/or purify the gas to be introduced and/or inserted into inner environment 6 .
  • gas sterilization assembly 58 is integrated into conduct assembly 15 and arranged upstream of isolation chamber 5 and/or inner environment 6 along flow path Q.
  • gas sterilization assembly 58 is arranged downstream of rotary machine 54 along flow path Q.
  • gas sterilization assembly 58 comprises at least a main sterilization portion 59 (comprising a plurality of gas filters) and, preferentially but not necessarily a pre-sterilization portion 60 arranged upstream of main sterilization portion 59 along flow path Q.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a heating unit 61 configured to heat the gas flowing along flow path Q.
  • heating unit 61 is arranged downstream from rotary machine 54 and upstream of isolation chamber 5 , along flow path Q.
  • heating unit 61 is arranged upstream of main sterilization portion 59 along flow path Q; and in particular downstream form pre-sterilization portion 60 along flow path Q.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises an air distribution unit 62 configured to at least distribute air to nitrogen distribution unit 16 , in particular nitrogen generator 51 .
  • air distribution unit 62 comprises at least an air compressor and an air filter assembly.
  • air distribution unit 62 is also configured to selectively introduce and/or inject air into the flow circuit, in particular into conduct assembly 15 at an air inlet station 63 , in particular downstream of control valve 19 along flow path Q.
  • air distribution unit 62 also comprises an air flow control assembly 64 configured to control the injection and/or inlet of the air into the flow circuit, in particular into conduct assembly 15 .
  • air distribution unit 62 is operationally connected to the control device.
  • control device is configured to control packaging machine 1 at least into:
  • control device is also configured to control packaging machine 1 into a venting configuration during which packaging machine 1 is vented, in particular such that inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 is/are filled with air.
  • packaging machine 1 is controlled into the set-up configuration for controlling and/or determining a defined gas atmosphere within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 .
  • control device is configured to control packaging machine 1 into the set-up configuration so as to control and/or determine the gas atmosphere within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 and/or the gas flowing along flow path Q.
  • control device controls packaging machine 1 in the set-up configuration for obtaining a nitrogen content of the gas within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 and/or the gas flowing along flow path Q being at least volume %, in particular being at least 95 volume %, even more particular substantially equaling 99 volume %.
  • control device is configured to control, in particular when packaging machine 1 is, in use, controlled into the set-up configuration, control valve 19 so as to selectively open and close control valve 19 for respectively allowing or impeding the evacuation and/or release of gas from the flow circuit (and through control valve 19 ) as a function of the nitrogen and/or oxygen content within the flow of gas, in use, along flow path Q and as determined and/or measured by gas sensor 21 .
  • control device is configured to close control valve 19 if the flow of gas within flow circuit and/or the gas being within inner environment 6 and/or within inner space 11 corresponds to a pre-determined and/or desired and/or required condition, in particular having the desired nitrogen content. In this way, it is guaranteed that the formation of package 2 and/or the sterilization of web 4 can be performed within a substantially nitrogen atmosphere.
  • packaging machine 1 forms packages 2 filled with the pourable product.
  • packaging machine 1 forms packages 2 while being controlled, in particular by the control device, into the operative configuration.
  • packaging machine 1 is, in particular prior to being controlled into the operative configuration, controlled into the set-up configuration, so as to control the gas atmosphere within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 and/or of the gas flowing along flow path Q.
  • packaging machine 1 is, in particular after having been controlled in the operative configuration, controlled in the vent configuration, so as to allow a venting of at least inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 and/or conduct assembly 15 , in particular so as to exchange the gas present with air.
  • a method for forming packages 2 comprises at least the steps of:
  • the step of controlling the gas content is executed with packaging machine 1 being controlled in the operative configuration or the set-up configuration.
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 directs the nitrogen into the flow circuit.
  • flow control assembly 53 controls and/or determines the flow of nitrogen into the flow circuit, even more particular so that the flow rate ranges between 1 to 20 m 3 /h, most preferably between 3 to 10 m 3 /h.
  • the volume ratio of the nitrogen within inner environment 6 and/or inner space is controlled to be at least 90 volume %, in particular being at least 95 volume %, even more particular substantially equaling 99 volume %.
  • the flow of the nitrogen is controlled such that the volume of the introduced nitrogen compensates for any gas, in particular any nitrogen, being lost from the flow circuit.
  • gas flows from inner environment 6 through at least a portion of conduct assembly 15 back into inner environment 6 .
  • the gas flows from inner environment 6 to inner space 11 and from inner space 11 into inner environment 6 through at least a portion of conduct assembly 15 .
  • rotary machine 54 creates a suction force on the gas present within inner space 11 and directs the gas through main injection portion 45 into inner environment 6 .
  • the gas flows through at least gas sterilization assembly 58 , in particular main sterilization portion 59 and/or pre-sterilization portion 60 , and/or heating unit 61 .
  • the method also comprises the step of producing nitrogen, during which nitrogen generator 51 produces nitrogen, in particular by extracting nitrogen from air.
  • nitrogen generator 51 receives air from air distribution unit 62 .
  • the method also comprises a step of evacuating and/or releasing gas from the flow circuit through control valve 19 .
  • the step of evacuating and/or releasing gas is executed with packaging machine 1 being controlled, in particular by the control device, in the set-up configuration or the venting configuration.
  • control valve 19 is selectively opened for allowing the evacuation and/or release of the gas (through control valve 19 ) and is selectively closed for impeding the evacuation and/or release of the gas (through control valve 19 ).
  • control valve 19 is controlled, in particular when packaging machine 1 is controlled in the set-up configuration, as a function of the oxygen and/or nitrogen content within the gas flowing along flow path Q.
  • control valve 19 is opened until the nitrogen content within the gas flowing along flow path is at least 90 volume %, in particular at least 95 volume %, even more particular at least 99 volume %.
  • packaging machine 1 being controlled into the venting configuration control valve 19 is opened.
  • the method also comprises the step of determining and/or measuring, in particular by means of gas sensor 21 , the nitrogen and/or oxygen content within the gas flowing along flow path Q.
  • the method also comprises a step of controlling the gas pressure within at least isolation chamber 5 and/or sterilization chamber 10 .
  • the step of controlling the gas pressure is executed with packaging machine 1 being controlled in the operative configuration or the set-up configuration.
  • pressure control assembly 57 controls the pressure within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 to be above ambient pressure, in particular so that there is an over-pressure of at least 20 Pa.
  • the method also comprises the step of sterilizing the gas flowing along flow path Q, in particular by means of gas sterilization assembly 58 .
  • the gas is sterilized by gas sterilization assembly 58 , in particular by at least main sterilization portion 59 and, even more particular also by pre-sterilization portion 60 .
  • the method also comprises the step of directing air into the flow circuit, in particular into conduct assembly 15 .
  • the step of directing air is executed with packaging machine 1 being controlled, in particular by the control device, into the venting configuration.
  • the method also comprises the steps of:
  • the steps of advancing web 4 and/or of forming tube 3 and/or of longitudinally sealing tube 3 and/or of filling tube 3 and/or of obtaining single packages is/are executed with packaging machine 1 being controlled, in particular by the control device, in the operative configuration.
  • the conveying device advances web 4 along the web advancement path through sterilization apparatus 8 , in particular through inner space 11 , and into isolation chamber 5 , in particular inner environment 6 .
  • the conveying device advances the sterilized web 4 to the tube forming device so as to form tube 3 .
  • the conveying device advances web 4 to sterilization station 9 and to tube forming station 23 .
  • the sealing device in particular the sealing head, heats and/or directs thermal energy to the seam portion.
  • the conveying device advances tube 3 (and any intermediates of tube 3 ) along the tube advancement path to (and partially through) package forming unit 26 .
  • filling device 25 fills the pourable product into the longitudinally sealed tube 3 .
  • the pourable product is directed into tube 3 through filling pipe 39 .
  • package forming unit 26 in particular the operative assemblies 40 and the respective counter-operative assemblies 40 , at least forms and transversally seals tube 3 between successive packages 2 and, preferentially, also transversally cuts tube 3 between successive packages 2 .
  • At least a sterilizing irradiation in particular electromagnetic irradiation, even more particular electron beam irradiation, is directed onto at least the first face, preferentially also onto the second face 6 , of web.
  • packaging machine 1 allows to obtain a nitrogen atmosphere within inner environment 6 and/or inner space 11 allowing to form and fill tube 3 and/or to sterilize web 4 in an inert gas atmosphere.
  • sterilization of web 4 this allows to avoid the formation of unwanted substances, in particular in the case of using an irradiation.
  • the forming and filling of tube 3 this allows to avoid any oxidation processes or to provide for the nitrogen needed in the case of producing packages 2 with a nitrogen headspace.
  • nitrogen distribution unit 16 is fluidically connected to a centralized nitrogen supply of e.g. the production facility within which packaging machine 1 is installed. According to such an alternative embodiment, nitrogen distribution unit 16 does not necessarily comprises nitrogen generator 51 and/or nitrogen storage tank 52 .

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
US17/432,219 2019-02-22 2020-01-30 Packaging machine and method for producing sealed packages Abandoned US20220185519A1 (en)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP4345013A1 (en) * 2022-09-30 2024-04-03 IPI S.r.l. Machine for producing containers filled with a product and sealed

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US3086336A (en) * 1959-01-02 1963-04-23 Hermorion Ltd Apparatus for producing aseptic packages
US3516225A (en) * 1966-11-29 1970-06-23 Procedes Ind Alimentaire Sterile packing
US4391080A (en) * 1979-09-20 1983-07-05 The Mead Corporation Method for providing an inert sterile atmosphere in an aseptic packaging machine
US4783947A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-11-15 Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. Apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film
EP1245493A1 (de) * 2000-11-06 2002-10-02 SIG Combibloc International AG Verfahren und Anlage zum Verpacken von Flüssigkeiten und/oder stückigen Produkten in Standbeutel
US7007441B2 (en) * 2002-02-08 2006-03-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Unit for sterilizing web-fed material on a machine for packaging pourable food products

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NL8202209A (nl) * 1982-06-01 1984-01-02 Unilever Nv Werkwijze en inrichting voor het aseptisch verpakken van produkten zoals voedingsmiddelen en farmaceutische produkten.
EP1795448B1 (en) * 2005-12-12 2009-03-25 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Air processing circuit for a sterilizing unit for sterilizing sheet packaging materials for packaging pourable food products, and sterilizing unit featuring such a circuit
EP2695816B1 (en) * 2012-08-10 2020-10-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Valve for controlling an air flow

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* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
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US3086336A (en) * 1959-01-02 1963-04-23 Hermorion Ltd Apparatus for producing aseptic packages
US3516225A (en) * 1966-11-29 1970-06-23 Procedes Ind Alimentaire Sterile packing
US4391080A (en) * 1979-09-20 1983-07-05 The Mead Corporation Method for providing an inert sterile atmosphere in an aseptic packaging machine
US4783947A (en) * 1987-03-25 1988-11-15 Baxter Travenol Laboratories, Inc. Apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film
EP1245493A1 (de) * 2000-11-06 2002-10-02 SIG Combibloc International AG Verfahren und Anlage zum Verpacken von Flüssigkeiten und/oder stückigen Produkten in Standbeutel
US7007441B2 (en) * 2002-02-08 2006-03-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Unit for sterilizing web-fed material on a machine for packaging pourable food products

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JP2022521288A (ja) 2022-04-06

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