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EP4563481A1 - Machine d'emballage conçue pour produire des emballages scellés contenant un produit versable, kit d'impression amovible pour une telle machine d'emballage - Google Patents

Machine d'emballage conçue pour produire des emballages scellés contenant un produit versable, kit d'impression amovible pour une telle machine d'emballage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4563481A1
EP4563481A1 EP24214060.6A EP24214060A EP4563481A1 EP 4563481 A1 EP4563481 A1 EP 4563481A1 EP 24214060 A EP24214060 A EP 24214060A EP 4563481 A1 EP4563481 A1 EP 4563481A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
packaging machine
tube
printing
printer device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP24214060.6A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Andrea Digani
Stefano Vicini
Jessica BENETTI
Roberto MAGELLI
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Publication of EP4563481A1 publication Critical patent/EP4563481A1/fr
Pending 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
    • B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
    • B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • B65B61/025—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
    • 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
    • B65B57/02—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of binding or wrapping material, containers, or packages
    • 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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a packaging machine configured to produce sealed packages containing a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.
  • the present invention also relates to a removable printing kit for such a packaging machine, and in particular implementable in such a packaging machine in a removable manner.
  • the present invention further relates to a method for producing packages containing a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product.
  • 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 pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by folding and sealing a laminated web of packaging material.
  • the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. made 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, 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.
  • a layer of oxygen-barrier material e.g. an aluminum foil
  • Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging lines, which comprise packaging machines configured to form and fill the packages starting from a multilayer packaging material.
  • a continuous tube is formed starting from a web of packaging material initially wound in a reel and fed through a plurality of unwinding rollers.
  • the web of packaging material is sterilized by a sterilization unit, e.g. by applying a chemical sterilizing agent, such as hydrogen peroxide solution, which, once sterilization is completed, is removed from the surfaces of the packaging material, e.g. evaporated by heating.
  • a chemical sterilizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide solution
  • the tube is fed continuously along a first direction, normally a straight vertical direction, is filled with the sterilized food product from above and is formed, sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross-sections extending along a second direction, normally a direction orthogonal to the first direction.
  • the known packaging machines comprise a forming and sealing unit configured to form the tube, so as to imprint an external shape to it corresponding to the desired shape of the package, and to seal the tube at equally spaced cross-sections orthogonal to the tube advancement direction.
  • a packaging machine of the above type comprises a pair of alternately movable forming and sealing jaws which are controllable with a reciprocating movement in the first direction and in a third direction orthogonal to the first direction and second direction to interact with the tube at successive portions thereof.
  • pillow packs are obtained thereby, which have a longitudinal sealing band, a top transversal sealing band and a bottom transversal sealing band.
  • the pillow packs are then cut at the cross-sections to be separated from one another and directed to a folding unit of the packaging machine for the final folding thereof.
  • the known packaging machines comprise a discard device operatively arranged between the forming and sealing unit and the folding unit and configured to discard the faulty packs.
  • the packaging machines of the aforementioned type further comprise a printing unit for printing such information on the finished packages.
  • a typical packaging machine comprises at least one printing unit arranged in a position operatively downstream of the folding unit and configured to print the data (usually in the form of an alphanumeric code or bar code) on the filled, formed, sealed and folded packages, thereby defining a printing process.
  • the need is felt for improving the synchronization between the packaging material and the printing unit during the aforementioned printing process.
  • number 1 indicates as a whole a non-limiting example of a packaging machine configured to produce sealed packages 2 containing a pourable product, preferably a pourable food product such as pasteurized or UHT milk, water, fruit juice, wine, peas, beans, etc.
  • a pourable product such as pasteurized or UHT milk, water, fruit juice, wine, peas, beans, etc.
  • packaging machine 1 is configured to form, seal and fold packages 2 starting from a web 4 of packaging material, which is initially wound in a reel 4a, and then folded into a tube 3 of packaging material, as explained below.
  • packaging machine 1 is part of a packaging line (known per se and not shown) configured for producing, grouping and boxing a plurality of packages in a known manner.
  • a packaging line known per se and not shown
  • packaging machine 1 comprises:
  • Tube folding device 5 and sealing element 40 define together a tube forming unit.
  • forming and sealing unit 6 has an axis X along which tube 3 is fed, in use.
  • Axis X is parallel to a straight direction, which preferably is a straight vertical direction.
  • tube 3 is fed along axis X, downwards, and while being filled from above is formed and sealed by forming and sealing unit 6.
  • tube 3 is drawn (downwards) along axis X by forming and sealing unit 6 in a known manner.
  • packaging machine 1 is configured to form and seal a plurality of pillow packs 2a containing the pourable product starting from web 4 and tube 3 and then to fold the pillow packs 2a for obtaining the aforementioned formed, sealed and folded packages 2 containing the pourable product.
  • pillow packs 2a have a main body 41, with a longitudinal sealing band 42 longitudinally extending along main body 41 and two opposite transversal sealing bands 43, one at each longitudinal end portion of the pack 2a.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises a discarding or sorting device (of the type known and not shown) configured to discard or sort the packs, e.g. by sampling the produced packs.
  • the discarding or sorting device may be positioned downstream of the forming and sealing unit 6.
  • the discarding device is configured to discard packs 2a, such as packs 2a having a shape, weight, or sealing deviating from the desired ones or packs that are sampled for testing purposes.
  • Packaging machine 1 further comprises a printing system 11 comprising a printer device 12 configured to sequentially print codes 13 ( Figures 2 and 4 ) on the packaging material.
  • printer device 12 is configured to print codes 13 containing information/data correlated with production events or with the production process.
  • each code 13 may contain information and/or data such as a specific (sequential) production lot number or an expiration date.
  • each code 13 may contain information and/or data indicative of the settings and/or parameters of the components of the packaging machine 1 interacting with the web 4, such as the folding and sealing unit 6.
  • printer device 12 is arranged along advancement path P in a position operatively upstream of forming and sealing unit 6, and is configured to print codes 13 directly on web 4.
  • printer device 12 is arranged in a position operatively upstream of tube forming unit (and in detail upstream of tube folding device 5) with respect to advancement path P, for printing codes 13 directly on web 4 prior to the folding of web 4 into tube 3.
  • printer device 12 is configured to sequentially print codes 13 on the unfolded web 4, i.e. directly on web 4 before web 4 is folded into tube 3.
  • every pack 2a will have a code 13 printed thereon, since codes 13 are provided on the packaging material still in form of web, and therefore before web 4 is transformed into a plurality of packs 2a.
  • packaging machine 1 comprises a control unit 14 configured to control the operation of the conveying means, of tube forming unit, of forming and sealing unit 6 and of the folding device.
  • control unit 14 is further configured to control the operation of printing system 11, i.e. of printer device 12.
  • control unit 14 is further configured to directly send to printer device 12 signals/data correlated with codes 13 to be printed.
  • control of the printing system can be performed directly by the packaging machine, e.g. adapting dynamically to transients and events.
  • printing system 11 further comprises a sensor device 15 configured to detect a speed (and in particular an advancing speed) of web 4 along advancement path P. Accordingly, control unit 14 is configured to receive from sensor device 15 a speed signal indicative of the detected speed and to control the operation of printer device 12 as a function of such speed signal.
  • control unit 14 is configured to adjust a printing cadence of printer device 12 as a function of the speed signal.
  • control unit 14 is configured to control a movement of printer device 12 towards and away from web 4 (i.e. from advancement path P) as a function of the speed signal for adjusting a distance of printer device 12 from web 4 (i.e. from advancement path P).
  • sensor device 15 includes ( Figures 2 and 3 ) :
  • a direct synchronization of printer device 12 with web 4 is provided, which is easier to manage, more reliable and less prone to errors than a synchronization made between a printing unit and the finished packages 2, as it is the case in the prior art configurations.
  • sensor device 15 provides a better and direct synchronization of printer device 12 with web 4, as the chain of errors and tolerances is shorter than the one between finished packages 2 and a printing unit arranged downstream of the folding device, as it is the case in the prior art configurations.
  • sensor device 15 further comprises a counter-roller 18 configured to abut against roller 16, with the interposition on web 4.
  • the detection performed by encoder 17 can better adapt to possible fluctuations in the packaging material thickness or speed, thereby further improving the synchronization between web 4 and printer device 12.
  • roller 16 (and therefore also counter-roller 18) is arranged in a position adjacent to printer device 12, so as to define a detection area on the advancing web 4 that is located adjacent to printer device 12.
  • roller 16 provides the most accurate speed detection, at an area close to where the printing is carried out, thereby minimizing the effect of possible events, undertensioning and/or overtensioning of web 4 on the speed detection, and shortening the chain of error.
  • web 4 consists of web portions 4b.
  • the conveying means are configured to advance a sequence of web portions 4b defining the web 4, each web portion 4b being apt to define a respective package 2 after the forming, sealing and folding thereof.
  • control unit 14 is further configured to carry out a tracking of each web portion 4b, and then of each pillow pack 2a and package 2, along the packaging machine 1.
  • control unit 14 is configured to carry out a method for tracking each web portion 4b, pack 2a, or package 2 as described in the Italian Patent Application No. 102023000007410 , in the name of the same Applicant.
  • sensor device 15 may comprise a detector (not shown) configured to sequentially detect data carriers on web 4, each data carrier being indicative of the position and/or speed of a respective web portion 4b, the detector being configured to send to control unit 14 signals correlated with each detection.
  • the data carriers may be defined by markers such as optical marks or magnetic marks.
  • the detector includes an optical detector for optically detecting the data carriers, or a magnetic detector for magnetically detecting the data carriers, depending on the nature of the data carriers.
  • the detector is arranged along the advancement path P in a position operatively upstream of printer device 12.
  • the above configuration allows for reducing wear on the packaging material, compared to the sensor device 15 with encoder 17 and roller 16, albeit being less accurate than the roller-encoder system described above.
  • packaging machine 1 further comprises a sterilization unit 19 arranged along advancement path P in a position upstream of tube folding device 5 and configured to perform a sterilizing treatment on web 4.
  • printer device 12 is arranged in a position upstream of sterilization unit 19, with respect to advancement path P, for printing codes 13 directly on web 4 prior to its sterilization.
  • printer device 12 By arranging printer device 12 upstream of such sterilizer, it is ensured that codes 13 are cured by the electron beam, i.e. codes 13 are well-dried on the packaging material, other than being sterilized.
  • printer device 12 is an inkjet printer.
  • printer device 12 is a laser printer. In such a case, there is no need for any ink to dry.
  • each pack 2a has a main body 41, with a longitudinal sealing band 42 longitudinally extending along main body 41 and two opposite transversal sealing bands 43, one at each longitudinal end portion of the pack 2a, as shown in Figure 4 .
  • printer device 12 is configured to print a pair of codes 13 on each web portion 4b, so that a first code 13a is located at a part of the web portion 4b corresponding to a first end 41a of the respective pack 2a or package 2 proximal to a first sealing band 43 thereof, and a second code 13b is located at another part of the web portion 4b corresponding to a second end 41b of the respective pack 2a or package 2 proximal to a second sealing band 43 thereof.
  • packs 2a and packages 2 are cut in half during tests. Having a unique code 13 in each respective half allows for better detecting to which pack 2a or package 2 the cut half belongs.
  • the control unit may be configured to receive an event signal indicative of an event occurring in the packaging machine.
  • an event comprises a splice, i.e. a joining of the web of packaging material with a new web belonging to a new reel.
  • the control unit may be configured to adjust a control of the printer device 12 as a function of the event signal, preferably varying the printing cadence and/or printing codes 13 indicative of said event.
  • the codes 13 may comprise information on the event.
  • the code 13 printed on the packages may comprise such splice, in order to identify the web portions 4b in proximity thereof, e.g. the web portion affected by the splice and the neighboring ones.
  • printer device 12 and sensor device 15, i.e. printing system 11 are configured to be implemented in packaging machine 1 in a removable manner, so as to define a removable printing kit for packaging machine 1.
  • printing system 11 advantageously defines a removable printing kit adapted to be implemented in packaging machine 1, the removable printing kit comprising:
  • printing system 11 allows to implement a method for the production of packages 2 containing a pourable product starting from a web 4 of packaging material, the method comprising the steps of:
  • the method comprises the steps of:
  • codes 13 are printed on the packaging material in form of web 4, and therefore before web 4 is turned into a plurality of packs 2a, every pack 2a and package 2 will have one or more codes 13 printed thereon.
  • sensor device 15 provides a better and direct synchronization of printer device 12 with web 4, as the chain of errors and tolerances is shorter than the one between finished packages 2 and a printing unit arranged downstream the folding device, as it is the case in the prior art configurations.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
EP24214060.6A 2023-11-30 2024-11-20 Machine d'emballage conçue pour produire des emballages scellés contenant un produit versable, kit d'impression amovible pour une telle machine d'emballage Pending EP4563481A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT102023000025584A IT202300025584A1 (it) 2023-11-30 2023-11-30 Macchina di confezionamento configurata per produrre pacchetti sigillati contenenti un prodotto versabile, kit di stampa removibile e metodo per la produzione di pacchetti contenenti un prodotto versabile

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4563481A1 true EP4563481A1 (fr) 2025-06-04

Family

ID=90363258

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP24214060.6A Pending EP4563481A1 (fr) 2023-11-30 2024-11-20 Machine d'emballage conçue pour produire des emballages scellés contenant un produit versable, kit d'impression amovible pour une telle machine d'emballage

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP4563481A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT202300025584A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2025114097A1 (fr)

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08217039A (ja) * 1995-02-20 1996-08-27 Taisei Kikai:Kk 包装機械における印字方法
WO1997024278A1 (fr) * 1995-12-29 1997-07-10 Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A. Materiau d'emballage portant des renseignements invisibles

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPH08217039A (ja) * 1995-02-20 1996-08-27 Taisei Kikai:Kk 包装機械における印字方法
WO1997024278A1 (fr) * 1995-12-29 1997-07-10 Tetra Laval Holding & Finance S.A. Materiau d'emballage portant des renseignements invisibles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2025114097A1 (fr) 2025-06-05
IT202300025584A1 (it) 2025-05-30

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