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
  • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
  • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete 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
  • 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
• • 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
• • 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
  • B65B3/06—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles by gravity flow
• • 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
• • 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

Definitions

• the invention relates to a filling machine for filling pourable food products into package sleeves closed at the bottom or packages, comprising:
• the invention relates to methods for generating a unidirectional sterile air stream from top to bottom of such a filling machine according to claims 14 and 15.
• Such a filling machine is known from WO 2023/016693 A1 .
• These known filling machines may comprise a sterile air chamber around at least the aseptic zone to avoid dust or germs entering the machine, wherein the sterile air chamber is continuously supplied with sterile air from top to bottom as described in WO 2023/016692 A1 .
• the moving packing elements should be transported through a uniform and vertically unidirectional flow at least in the drying region at the end of the sterilization station and/or in the aseptic zone.
• turbulence is not a bad thing at all to ensure that the HzOz gets into contact with all surfaces.
• the aforesaid object is solved in that the filling machine further comprises at least one pre-distribution unit for a homogenization of sterile air being introduced from above into the filling machine at least in areas where a uniform downward flow is required, and in that each pre-distribution unit comprises at least one perforated plate arranged above at least one layer of porous material.
• the aforesaid object is also reliably solved by a first method for generating a unidirectional sterile air stream from top to bottom of a filling machine according to claims 3 to 13, comprising the following steps:
• the aforesaid object is also solved by a second method for generating a unidirectional sterile air stream from top to bottom of a filling machine according to claims 4 to 13, comprising the following steps:
• the filling machine comprises at least one vertical inlet pipe above each pre-distribution unit, preferably centrally arranged above each pre-distribution unit. This allows a uniformly distributed air intake inside the filling machine. In case hot sterile air is required, the inlet pipe might be heated from outside.
• the perforated plate is box-shaped, and its perforation is evenly distributed.
• the perforation of the box-shaped perforated plate might be designed differently in the area under the inlet pipe, for example, with smaller or fewer openings in order to increase the second partial air flow.
• the main flow of sterile air is divided inside the pre-distribution unit: one part flows directly downwards into the box-shaped perforated plate, another part is distributed around the box-shaped perforated plate. This ensures that the second partial flow is distributed over a large area outside the box, and, accordingly, the flow velocity decreases and the sterile air flows into the box from all sides resulting in a reduction of the flow momentum, i.e., all fast jets are eliminated.
• the perforated plate is designed as an angled strip, the perforation of which is evenly distributed.
• a strip-shaped perforated plate is contained in an elongated box which is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction of the package sleeves or packages of the filling machine. This construction ensures that the unidirectional sterile air flow is generated from top to bottom of a filling machine underneath the box over a length in the transport direction. which is defined by the width of the elongated box. This allows to create a unidirectional sterile air flow just for a single station, e.g., the hot air station.
• the perforated plates may have a plurality of holes as openings. This allows an easy production and processing, either for box-shaped or strip-shaped perforated plates. However, it is also possible to choose perforations with made from slotted holes or slots. Moreover, gill-like slots can also be used if the flow direction needs to be changed or adjusted.
• each box-shaped perforated plate comprises a horizontal flange circumferential on all sides.
• the horizontal flanges are arranged at the narrow ends of the angled strips.
• the horizontal flanges have a perforated design. More preferred, the perforation of the horizontal flange is identical to the perforation of the box-shaped or strip-shaped perforated plate. This again allows a simplified prefabrication of such boxes or of the angled strips.
• the at least one layer of porous material is designed as a flat, preferably self-supporting, panel being arranged under the perforated plate in each pre-distribution unit.
• the panel of porous material is made of a porous polymer, particularly a microporous sintered polyethylene.
• the layer of a porous material under each perforated plate causes air to accumulate and the air flowing in from the sides to mix with the air flowing in from above. This creates a uniform velocity distribution when the air flows into the panel of porous material.
• the main effect of the layer of porous material is to homogenize the vector lengths, i.e., the speed of the air flow.
• a horizontal honeycomb element made of a plurality of vertically oriented and closely spaced honeycomb cells with openings on both sides is arranged under the at least one layer of porous material in each pre-distribution unit.
• the vertically parallel arranged honeycomb cells direct the flow of sterile air downwards.
• the honeycomb element may be designed as a replaceable insert for insertion in the corresponding pre-distribution unit. Such a design allows a simple assembly and an easy cleaning of the pre-distribution unit.
• the filling machine comprises a plurality of parallel tracks for running through the package elements to be filled.
• each pre-distribution unit spans several parallel tracks perpendicular to the transport direction of the package sleeves or packages of the filling machine.
• Fig. 1A represents a blank 1 known from the prior art, from which a package sleeve may be formed.
• the blank 1 may comprise a plurality of layers of different materials, for example paper, paperboard, plastic, or metal, in particular aluminium.
• the blank 1 has a plurality of fold lines 2, which are intended to facilitate the folding of the blank 1 and which divide the blank 1 into a plurality of surfaces.
• the blank 1 may be divided into a first side surface 3, a second side surface 4, a front surface 5, a rear surface 6, a sealing surface 7, bottom surfaces 8 and gable surfaces 9.
• a package sleeve 10 may be formed from the blank 1 by folding the blank 1 in such a way that the sealing surface 7 can be connected, particularly welded, to the front surface 5.
• a round weakening line W is represented by dashes in the region of a spout element (not shown) to be sealed at a later stage.
• Fig. 1B shows a package sleeve 10 known from the prior art in the flat-folded state.
• the regions of the package sleeve 10 which have already been described in connection with Fig. 1A are provided with corresponding references in Fig. 1B .
• the package sleeve 10 is formed from the blank 1 shown in Fig. 1A .
• the blank 1 has been folded in such a way that the sealing surface 7 and the front surface 5 are arranged overlapping, so that the two surfaces can be welded together over their surfaces.
• a longitudinal seam 11 is obtained as a result.
• a plurality of package sleeves 10 may be stacked in a particularly space-saving manner.
• the flat-folded package sleeves 10 are therefore often stacked at the place of manufacturing and transported in stacked form to the place of filling. Only then are the package sleeves 10 unstacked and unfolded so that, after sealing the bottom, they can be filled with contents, for example with pourable foodstuffs.
• Fig. 1D shows the package sleeve 10 of Fig. 1C in a completely unfolded state.
• a spout element S may be applied to the weakening line W (no longer visible here) and, for example, welded to the package material by means of ultrasonics.
• the present invention also includes the use of package sleeves with a hole for inserting a spout element and sealing its flange on the inside of the blank.
• the spout element S is provided with a screw cap which, on the one hand, allows initial opening of the (subsequently) filled package and can furthermore be used to reclose such a package.
• the unfolded state refers to a configuration in which an angle of about 90° is formed between the two respectively adjacent surfaces 3, 4, 5, 6, so that the package sleeve 10 - depending on the shape of these surfaces - has a square or rectangular cross section. Accordingly, the opposite side surfaces 3, 4 are arranged parallel to one another. The same applies for the front surface 5 and the rear surface 6.
• FIGS 1E and 1F show a package P manufactured from the package sleeve 10 of Fig. 1D in the (subsequently) filled and closed state.
• a fin seam 12 is created in the region of the bottom surface 14 and in the region of the gable surfaces at the head 15.
• protruding regions of excess material which are also referred to as "ears" 13 are formed in the edge regions of the bottom surfaces 8 and the gable surfaces 9.
• the fin seams 12 and the ears 13 protrude.
• both the fin seams 12 and the ears 13 have been applied, for example by means of an adhesive method.
• Fig. 1F the package P is therefore shown in a state ready for sale.
• Fig. 2 shows - schematically - a filling machine 20 in a side view.
• Individual package sleeves 10 are taken of a stack 19 of package sleeves 10 and are slightly unfolded. Thereafter, the package sleeves 10 are transferred to an unfolding station 21 of the actual filling machine 20. However, the package sleeves 10 could also be unfolded beforehand so that no unfolding station 21 is required. In the illustrated embodiment, the package sleeves 10 are then lifted into an applicator station 22, provided with a spout element S by means of an ultrasonic sealing unit 23 known per se and lowered again.
• an optical sensor system 24 checks if the package sleeve 10 provided with the spout element S for possible defects. The package sleeve 10 is then taken over in a transfer station 25 by a transport device 26. If required, an ejection station 28 can also be provided for ejecting defective package sleeves 27 that have not been correctly transferred or sleeves with a missing or incorrectly sealed spout element S.
• a pre-folding station 29 is provided, in which both the bottom 14 and the head 15 of the carton sleeves 10 are pre-folded.
• the package sleeves 10 are then sterilized in a sterilization station 30.
• the sterilization station 30 has three sub stations, namely a hot air station 31 for preheating the package sleeves 10 that are still open at the bottom, a sterilizing agent station 32 for sterilizing the package sleeves by injecting a sterilizing agent and a drying station 33 for drying the sterilized package sleeves.
• the hot air station 31 is not necessary in any case.
• the bottom sealing takes place in a bottom sealing station 34, whereby the ears formed thereby are sealed from below onto the closed bottom 14 of the package bodies 16 formed by the bottom sealing station 34.
• the now filled package body 16 passes through a head closure station 37 for forming and sealing the head 14 of the package body 16, which can also be regarded as the gable of the package body 16.
• a head closure station 37 for forming and sealing the head 14 of the package body 16, which can also be regarded as the gable of the package body 16.
• the head seam is sealed.
• the thereby formed ears 13 are then sealed to the side surfaces 3, 4 in an ear sealing station 39, resulting in the finished package P, which is discharged at the end of the transport device 26 via a discharging station 40, particularly in a horizontal direction.
• a preferred first embodiment of a pre-distribution unit 42 of the present invention is shown in a vertical section.
• the pre-distribution unit 42 comprises a housing 43 with an inlet pipe 44 on top through which sterile air is introduced into the pre-distribution unit 42.
• a box-shaped perforated plate 45 is arranged having a plurality of openings, in the preferred and illustrated embodiment realized as holes or bores.
• Underneath of the box-shaped perforated plate 45 a layer of porous material is shown, which in this embodiment is designed as a flat, preferably self-supporting, panel 47.
• the panel 47 under the box-shaped perforated plate 45 causes air to accumulate and the air flowing in from the side to mix with the air flowing in from above. This creates a uniform velocity distribution when the air flows into the panel 47 of porous material.
• Fig. 5 shows a simplified illustration of all air flows in the pre-distribution unit 42 shown in Fig. 4 .
• the arrangement, size and direction of the arrows show the speed and direction of the sterile air inside the pre-distribution unit 42.
• the main flow inside the inlet pipe 44 (large vertical arrow) is directed downwards.
• the top surface of the box-shaped perforated plate 45 allows one part of the vertical flow to enter the box-shaped perforated plate 45 from above and deflects the vertical flow into partial flows radially in all horizontal directions (black horizontal arrows). These partial flows enter the box through the openings on top and its four sidewalls (small black arrows).
• Fig. 6 the box-shaped perforated plate 45 is shown in a perspective view inside the pre-distribution unit 42, which is only indicated by dashed lines.
• FIG. 7 shows a part of the filling machine 20 in a vertical section through the area with four adjacent pre-distribution units 42, each having inlet pipes 44 on top.
• Two of each pre-distribution units 42 are arranged one behind the other in the transport direction of the packages to be filled and sealed and the other ones next to each other perpendicular to said transport direction.
• the four adjacent pre-distribution units 42 extend over six parallel tracks, of which three tracks A, B, and C on the left and three tracks D, E, and F on the right are indicated as cut open package bodies illustrated in dashed lines for a better understanding. Due to the perspective view, only the first two pre-distribution units 42 are visible in more detail.
• a honeycomb element 48 is arranged comprising a plurality of vertically oriented and closely spaced honeycomb cells, each having openings at the top and bottom.
• the honeycomb element 48 will be described in more detail below under Fig. 8 .
• FIG. 7 shows the upper side of the box-shaped perforated plate 45, where a different design of the perforation directly below the inlet pipe 44 can be seen.
• the perforation of the box-shaped perforated plate 45 is designed differently with significantly smaller openings in order to increase the second partial air flow directed radially to the sides of the box-shaped perforated plate 45, as was already described above regarding Fig. 5 .
• Fig. 8 shows the left pre-distribution unit 42 of Fig. 7 in a vertical section along the line VIII-VIII in Fig. 7 .
• the vertical arrangement of the individual components is clearly visible in this enlarged view. From top to bottom, these comprise the inlet pipe 44, the roof of the housing 43, the box-shaped perforated plate 45, the panel 47, made of porous material, and a honeycomb element 48, comprising a plurality of vertically oriented and closely spaced honeycomb cells 49.
• the vertically parallel arranged honeycomb cells 49 direct the flow of sterile air downwards into the filling machine 20.
• the components listed before are attached to unspecified support elements of the pre-distribution unit 42.
• Fig. 9 shows a second preferred embodiment of a pre-distribution unit 42' containing two adjacent strip-shaped perforated plates 45', each having two horizontal flanges 46' at their narrow ends, the view of which corresponds approximately to that of Fig. 7 above.
• Underneath of each strip-shaped perforated plate 45' of pre-distribution unit 42' one can see a flat panel 47'.
• Both the strip-shaped perforated plates 45' and the flat panels 47' are arranged one after the other in an elongated box 50 which is arranged perpendicular to the transport direction of the filling machine 20.
• the top of the box 50 is closed with a two-part top element comprising two lid plates 51, partially cut.
• a partition wall (not shown) can be provided between the adjacent pre-distribution units 42' to separate them from each other.
• the sterile air supplied to the strip-shaped perforated plate 45' is heated to be used as a drying medium in the drying station 33.
• two heated inlet pipes 52 are arranged on top of each lid plate 51 centrally above each strip-shaped perforated plate 45'.
• the elongated box 50 is closed on all four sides by vertical wall elements.
• the front wall element is not shown in Fig. 9 to get an overview of the internal design of the pre-distribution unit 42'.
• Fig. 10 shows the left pre-distribution unit 42' of Fig. 9 in a perspective view from above. Here both front and end wall elements of the elongated box 50 are depicted and the lid plates 51 were removed. The longitudinal sides of the strip-shaped perforated plates 45' touch the inside of the wall elements. Moreover, the strip-shaped perforated plate 45' has a different pattern of holes in its center region for better flow distribution of the hot sterile air.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=90904482

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (2)

Citations (9)

• 2024
  • 2024-04-25 EP EP24172498.8A patent/EP4640567A1/fr active Pending
  • 2024-11-29 WO PCT/EP2024/084071 patent/WO2025223687A1/fr active Pending

Patent Citations (10)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events