Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2/00—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor
  • A61L2/02—Methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects other than foodstuffs or contact lenses; Accessories therefor using physical phenomena
  • A61L2/08—Radiation
  • A61L2/087—Particle radiation, e.g. electron-beam, alpha or beta radiation
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
  • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
  • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
  • B65B3/045—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles for filling flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type
• • 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
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/02—Forming flat bags from individual sheets or blanks
• • 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
  • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
  • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
  • B65B43/123—Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
• • 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
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/06—Packaging groups of articles, the groups being treated as single articles
• • 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
  • B65B5/00—Packaging individual articles in containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, jars
  • B65B5/10—Filling containers or receptacles progressively or in stages by introducing successive articles, or layers of articles
• • 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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/18—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements
  • B65B61/186—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for making package-opening or unpacking elements by applying or incorporating rigid fittings, e.g. discharge spouts
• • 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
  • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
  • B65B61/20—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for adding cards, coupons or other inserts to package contents
• • 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
  • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
  • B65B7/02—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
  • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
  • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
  • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
  • B67C7/008—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing comprising a cleaning step between two closing steps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/10—Apparatus features
  • A61L2202/11—Apparatus for generating biocidal substances, e.g. vaporisers, UV lamps
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61L—METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES
  • A61L2202/00—Aspects relating to methods or apparatus for disinfecting or sterilising materials or objects
  • A61L2202/20—Targets to be treated
  • A61L2202/23—Containers, e.g. vials, bottles, syringes, mail
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02W—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO WASTEWATER TREATMENT OR WASTE MANAGEMENT
  • Y02W90/00—Enabling technologies or technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to greenhouse gas [GHG] emissions mitigation
  • Y02W90/10—Bio-packaging, e.g. packing containers made from renewable resources or bio-plastics

Definitions

• This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for the preparation for sterilisation of thin-body flexible containers (generally known as "pouches") .
• These containers are typically used to contain food products such as fruit juices, yoghurt, fruit or vegetable puree, creams, honey and the like, or medicines, and the like.
• a chemical sterilisation is performed, during which the container is washed with disinfectants, for example hydrogen peroxide, and then dried, before being sent to subsequent filling.
• disinfectants for example hydrogen peroxide
• the purpose of this invention is to provide a method and an apparatus for the preparation for sterilisation of flexible containers, which are able to reduce the impact of such costs, allowing for the management of a high number of containers simultaneously.
• Figure 1 shows a flexible, thin-body, pouch-type container provided with a sacrificial closure
• Figure 2 illustrates a plurality of containers of
• FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a drinking spout provided with the sacrificial closure, partially housed in the transport device, realised according to a first sectional plane, orthogonal to an axis X in Figure 2;
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the drinking spout provided with the sacrificial closure, partially housed in the transport device, realised according to a first sectional plane, containing the axis X in Figure 2 and orthogonal to the first sectional plane;
• FIG. 5 shows a spout and a final cap applicable to the spout, in separate parts
• Figures 6 and 7 illustrate diagrams of construction variants of transport groups
• Figure 8 is a diagram of a filling machine.
• reference number 1 indicates a flexible, thin-body, pouch-type container as a whole.
• the pouch 1 comprises a container body 2 formed by two or more walls 4 consisting of flexible film, facing each other and joined, for example welded, along the edges, possibly with folding lateral walls (gussets) or with a bottom wall.
• the film is a single layer.
• the film is multilayer.
• one or more layers of the film are made from polymers, such as polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polymers derived from renewable sources (bio-based) , bio-degradable and compostable.
• polymers such as polyolefins, polyamides, polyesters, polycarbonates, polymers derived from renewable sources (bio-based) , bio-degradable and compostable.
• one or more layers are coated with metal oxides, for example aluminium oxides, silicon or combinations thereof, or with lacquers, with or without the presence of metal oxides, such as aluminium oxides.
• metal oxides for example aluminium oxides, silicon or combinations thereof, or with lacquers, with or without the presence of metal oxides, such as aluminium oxides.
• one or more layers are impermeable to oxygen, moisture and/or light.
• the film is suitable to withstand sterilisation treatments using ionising radiation, as well as some heat treatments such as pasteurisation, freezing, or treatments under pressure or under vacuum.
• the films or individual layers have a thickness between a few nanometres and a few millimetres.
• the pouch 1 further comprises a spout 6 made of rigid material, sealingly applied to the body 2.
• the spout 6 is typically inserted into a portion of the edge of the body 2, usually between the lateral walls 4.
• the spout 6 is made, in a single piece, of plastic, for example polyethylene or polypropylene, by injection moulding.
• the spout 6 extends substantially along a longitudinal axis Z and comprises, from the part that remains inside the container body 2 of the pouch 1 towards the outside, an entrance portion 8, an intermediate portion 10 and a final portion 12.
• the spout 6 comprises a conduit 14, usually of a circular cylindrical shape, that extends along the longitudinal axis Z, between an inlet 16 of the entrance portion 8 and an outlet mouth 18 of the final portion 12.
• the entrance portion 8 is preferably formed by a pair of facing walls 20, with prevailing extension in the transverse direction, i.e., perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Z, joined at the ends. These walls form two outwardly engaging surfaces 22 intended for coupling with the films of the container body 2, preferably by means of welding.
• the final portion 12 comprises a tube 24, which extends along the longitudinal axis Z, coaxial with the conduit 14, typically terminating with the outlet mouth 18.
• the final portion 12 further comprises a threading 26 for screwing a cap 100, realised, for example, by sections of interrupted threading .
• the cap 100 for the spout 6 comprises an outer annular wall 102, which surrounds the tube 24 and, for example, is provided with threading for engagement with the threading 26 of the spout 6.
• the cap 100 further comprises a bottom 104 suitable to close the outlet mouth 18 and, at the other end, a tamper-evident seal 106.
• the final portion 12 of the spout 106 comprises an engaging portion suitable to engage with the tamper-evident seal 106 of the cap 100, to realise an anti-rotation constraint of said tamper-evident seal.
• the cap 100 is applicable to the spout 6 in an inviolable manner, since the unscrewing of the cap causes the tearing of the tamper-evident seal 106, which engages with the engaging portion 6 of the spout.
• a sacrificial closure 200 suitable to be applied to the spout 6, and in particular to the tube 24 of the final portion 12, to close the outlet mouth 18, in a reversible manner.
• the sacrificial closure 200 comprises a lateral annular wall 202 that, applied to the closure to the spout 6, extends along the longitudinal axis Z, and a bottom 204, for example made in one piece with the lateral wall 202, for the closure of the outlet mouth 18.
• the sacrificial closure 200 is sealingly applicable to the tube 24 of the spout 6, so as to preserve any preexisting conditions of sterility inside the pouch.
• the sacrificial closure 200 is reversibly applicable to the tube 24 of the spout 6, i.e., in such a way that it is separable from the spout without tears or breaks.
• the sacrificial closure 6 is , pressure- applicable to the tube 24 of the spout 6, for example in such a way that the lateral wall 202 surrounds the wall of the tube 24 and sealingly engages with it.
• the intermediate portion 10 comprises a first support surface 30 and a second support surface 32, lying substantially on planes orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Z and spaced axially.
• said support surfaces are constituted by the facing surfaces of a first plate 30a and a second plate 32a, respectively, spaced axially.
• the first plate 30a is joined to the walls 20 of the entrance portion 8, while the second plate 32a is joined to the engaging portion of the final portion 12.
• the intermediate portion 10 has a first guide surface 34 and a second guide surface 36, mutually parallel, parallel to the longitudinal axis Z and equally spaced from this, contained between the support surfaces 30,32.
• said guide surfaces are constituted by the facing surfaces of guide walls 34a, 36a respectively, spaced transversely.
• a transport device 300 suitable for loading a plurality of pouches 1 provided with the respective sacrificial closure 200.
• Said transport device 300 has a compartment 302 in which, when the pouch with the closure is loaded, at least a portion of the spout 6 and the respective sacrificial closure 200 applied to the spout is received, while any remaining part of the spout 6 and the container body 2 are arranged outside the compartment 302.
• the transport device 300 has support means suitable for engaging the spout 6 and supporting the pouch provided with the closure, both in the "standing" configuration, in which the spout is arranged above and the pouch below, and the “upside down” configuration, in which the spout is arranged below and the pouch above ( Figure 2) .
• said support means comprise a pair of fins 304 suitable to be received between the support surfaces 30,32 of the spout 6, creating a bilateral engagement in the direction of the longitudinal axis Z.
• said engagement means of the transport device 300 are suitable to slidingly engage the spout 6 along a sliding axis X, lying on a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis Z.
• said fins 304 allow the pouch to slide with the closure along the sliding axis X; preferably, said sliding is guided by the guide surfaces 34,36 that cooperate with the fins 304.
• said transport device 300 comprises a section bar having extension along said sliding axis X.
• said section bar comprises a base 308, flanked by lateral walls 310, surmounted by said fins 304 , each projecting from the respective lateral wall 310.
• the base 308, the lateral walls 310 and the fins 304 peripherally define the compartment 302.
• the fins 304 are inserted between the support surfaces 30,32, while the second plate 32a, the tube 24 and the closure 200 are contained in the compartment 302.
• a preparation method for sterilisation comprises a first step that involves the production of a plurality of container bodies 2, the production of a plurality of spouts 6 and the production (or reuse) of a plurality of sacrificial closures 200.
• the spout 6 is sealingly applied to the respective container body 2, obtaining a plurality of pouches 1.
• the sacrificial closure 200 is applied, for example by pressure, to the tube 24, realising a provisional closed pouch to be sterilised 600.
• the preparation method for sterilisation comprises a subsequent step of loading a plurality of transport devices 300 with provisional closed pouches to be sterilised, each transport device being loaded with a predetermined number of provisional closed pouches to be sterilised, for collective transport to a sterilising subject.
• the loading step involves the insertion by sliding of the provisional closed pouches 600 in said section bar along said sliding axis X and the support of the provisional closed pouch, in the "standing" or “upside down” configuration through the use of the fins 304 between the support surfaces 30,32 of the spouts 6.
• the method involves forming a transport group 400, containing a plurality of transport devices .300, each carrying the closed pouches to be sterilised, stacked.
• the group 400 comprises a plurality of simple transport surfaces 402, wherein each transport surface 402 comprises a predefined number of transport devices 300 placed side by side at the same height, all carrying the provisional pouches arranged in the same direction, for example all "standing” or all “upside down”.
• the transport surfaces 402 are stacked on each other, forming the transport group 400.
• the group 400 comprises a plurality of dual transport surfaces 402, wherein each transport surface comprises a first level 404 comprising a predefined number of transport devices 300 placed side by side at the same height, all carrying the provisional pouches arranged in the same direction, for example all "standing” or all “upside down”, and a second level 406 superimposed on the first, comprising a predefined number of transport devices 300 placed side by side and all carrying the provisional pouches arranged in the direction opposite to that of the first level 404 , for example all "upside down" or all "standing”.
• the provisional "standing" pouches thus alternate with provisional “upside down” pouches along the sliding axis X.
• the transport group 400 is accommodated in a box 410, for example made of cardboard, for transport.
• the method also provides for a possible transport step in which the transport group 400 is transported from the site of the producer subject to a steriliser subject, for example a specialised centre, or a filler subject that also performs sterilisation, where a sterilisation step is performed.
• a steriliser subject for example a specialised centre, or a filler subject that also performs sterilisation, where a sterilisation step is performed.
• the transport group 400 constituted by sterilised provisional closed pouches, is transport to the filler subject.
• the sterilised provisional closed pouches are picked from the transport group 400 and sent to a filling machine 500 provided with a sterile chamber 502 suitable to contain, for each sterilised provisional closed pouch, at least a portion of the tube 24 of the spout 6 and the sacrificial closing 200 applied to it .
• the sacrificial 200 closures are collected and set aside, and possibly sent for recycling.
• the filling machine 500 further comprises filling means 504 that open into the sterile chamber 502, suitable for supplying on command the product to be filled in the pouch 1 through the spout 6. Therefore, there is a filling step.
• the sterilisation management system according to this invention overcomes the drawbacks of the known art, since it allows -transporting or handling a large number of pouches, maintaining sterile conditions up to the application of the final cap.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Toxicology (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)
• Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
• Making Paper Articles (AREA)
• Closing Of Containers (AREA)
• Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)

Priority Applications (14)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (3)

Families Citing this family (8)

Citations (1)

Family Cites Families (39)

• 2015
  • 2015-07-01 IT ITUB2015A001794A patent/ITUB20151794A1/it unknown
• 2016
  • 2016-02-29 CN CN201680038266.2A patent/CN107980032B/zh active Active
  • 2016-02-29 KR KR1020187001375A patent/KR102545780B1/ko active Active
  • 2016-02-29 MX MX2018000289A patent/MX391033B/es unknown
  • 2016-02-29 BR BR112018000024-8A patent/BR112018000024B1/pt active IP Right Grant
  • 2016-02-29 RU RU2018103455A patent/RU2718989C2/ru active
  • 2016-02-29 US US15/739,947 patent/US10588990B2/en active Active
  • 2016-02-29 ES ES16716281T patent/ES2980957T3/es active Active
  • 2016-02-29 WO PCT/IB2016/051108 patent/WO2017001947A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-02-29 AU AU2016285355A patent/AU2016285355B2/en active Active
  • 2016-02-29 CR CR20170603A patent/CR20170603A/es unknown
  • 2016-02-29 NZ NZ739180A patent/NZ739180A/en unknown
  • 2016-02-29 EP EP16716281.7A patent/EP3317188B1/en active Active
  • 2016-02-29 UA UAA201712906A patent/UA123861C2/uk unknown
  • 2016-02-29 CA CA2990919A patent/CA2990919C/en active Active
  • 2016-02-29 JP JP2017568284A patent/JP6669785B2/ja active Active
  • 2016-03-28 US US15/082,969 patent/US10245336B2/en active Active
• 2017
  • 2017-12-29 CL CL2017003501A patent/CL2017003501A1/es unknown

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