Method for filling packs with varying products in a filling machine

Abstract

A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine is disclosed. Packages are successively transported through a filling machine, and the packages are each successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank. To empty the product tank, at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position, and a residue of the first product is discharged at least partially from the sterile environment, via the outlet means located in the emptying position. The outlet means is removed from the emptying position following the emptying of the product tank. Packages are subsequently each successively filled with a second product in a sterile environment, via a filling outlet connected to a product tank.

Claims

1. A method for filling packages with changing products in a filling machine comprising: successively transporting packages through a filling machine such that the packages are, in each case, successively filled with a first product in a sterile environment via a filling outlet connected to a product tank, transferring the packages to be filled to cells of a transporting device, wherein the packages to be filled are transported via the transporting device cells through a filling machine, in which at least one outlet means in the form of a package mock-up with at least one base opening, without a base, and/or at least one side opening is used, in which the at least one outlet means is transferred to a cell of the transporting device cells and is transported via the transporting device, while in the cell, through the filling machine, in order to empty the product tank bringing the at least one outlet means into an emptying position and discharging a residue of the first product at least partially from the sterile environment via the outlet means located in the emptying position, wherein the outlet means is removed from the emptying position after the emptying of the product tank, and successively filling the packages, in each case, with a second product in a sterile environment via the filling outlet connected to said product tank or a second product tank or a second filling outlet connected to the second product tank.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in order to empty the product tank the at least one outlet means is brought into an emptying position between two consecutive packages.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: when a predetermined process state is reached, automatically bringing the at least one outlet means into an emptying position and discharging a residue of the first product at least partially from the sterile environment via the outlet means located in the emptying position and/or automatically removing the outlet means from the emptying position after the emptying of the product tank.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined process state comprises a minimum fill amount of the product tank.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein an outlet means with a base opening is used, the cross-sectional area of which corresponds to only a part of the cross-sectional area and/or the base area of the package and/or outlet means.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein an outlet means is used having external dimensions that correspond at least substantially to the external dimensions of the packages to be filled with the first product and/or with the second product.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the packages are formed from package cuttings, package precursors and/or package blanks held ready in a bundle, and wherein prior to the emptying of the product tank a package cutting, a package precursor and/or a package blank is introduced at a predetermined point into the bundle of package cuttings, package precursors and/or package blanks for forming the least one outlet means.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the introduction of a package cutting, package precursor and/or package blank for forming the outlet means takes place automatically when a predetermined process state is reached.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined process state comprises a minimum fill amount of the product tank.

10. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of the base opening corresponds to less than 50% of the cross-sectional area and/or the base area of the package and/or outlet means.

11. The method according to claim 1, comprising: transferring the packages to be filled to a transfer position and, then, to the cells of a transporting device, wherein the packages to be filled are transported via the transporting device cells through a filling machine, and wherein the at least one outlet means is transferred to a cell of the transporting device at the transfer position and is transported via the transporting device in the cell through the filling machine.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one outlet means is positioned with the cell in a filling position underneath the filling outlet, wherein the packages are filled in the filling position via the filling outlet, and wherein the outlet means is held in the filling position via the transporting device during the emptying of the product tank.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the least one outlet means is formed either from a packaging material laminate or from a plastic.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one outlet means is formed from the packaging material laminate by folding and sealing.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the folded and sealed outlet means is transferred to a cell of the transporting device and is transported to the cell through the filling machine.

16. The method according to claim 1, comprising: sterilising the at least one outlet means and bringing the at least one outlet means into the emptying position.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the at least one outlet means is brought into the emptying position laterally to the transporting direction of the packages.

18. The method according to claim 1, comprising: discharging the residue of the first product via the at least one outlet means downwards and/or to the side from the sterile environment.

19. The method according to claim 1, comprising: during the transport of the packages through the filling machine, successively sterilising the interior of the packages, filling the packages with the first or the second product, and closing the packages filled with the first or second product.

20. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sterile environment comprises an aseptic area.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention is explained in greater detail below by means of a drawing merely depicting exemplary embodiments. In the drawing, is shown

(2) FIG. 1 a first device for carrying out a first method according to the invention in a schematic depiction,

(3) FIG. 2 a detail of a second device for carrying out a second method according to the invention in a schematic depiction,

(4) FIG. 3 a detail of a third device for carrying out a third method according to the invention in a schematic depiction,

(5) FIG. 4 a detail of a fourth device for carrying out a fourth method according to the invention in a schematic depiction,

(6) FIG. 5 a package blank for forming a package for carrying out the first method according to the invention in a perspective view and

(7) FIG. 6 a package blank for forming an outlet means for carrying out the first method according to the invention in a perspective view and

(8) FIG. 7 an outlet means for carrying out the first method according to the invention in a perspective view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) A device 1 for shaping, filling and closing packages 2 is depicted in FIG. 1. The packages 2 are in particular cardboard packages made of corresponding package material laminates with at least one cardboard layer, at least one barrier layer, for example consisting of aluminium, polyamide and/or an ethylene vinyl alcohol and outer layers made of a thermoplastic, in particular polyethylene (PE). The device 1 depicted and preferred in this respect comprises two bundles 3, 4 of package blanks 5, 6 in the form of package material cuttings, the longitudinal edges of which are sealed to each other and thus form package covers, which are held folded together adjacent in the bundles 3, 4. The package blanks 5, 6 are unfolded by a feeding device 10. In the case of the device depicted and preferred in this respect, an application device can also be provided, such as in the form of an injection moulding machine, for applying, in particular injecting pouring elements, not depicted, onto the package blank 5, 6.

(10) The mandrel wheel 7 depicted and preferred in this respect comprises six mandrels 8 and rotates cyclically, i.e. gradually, anticlockwise. A package blank 5, 6 is pushed on the mandrel 8 in the first mandrel position. Spring clamps, not described in greater detail, in this regard, secure the position of the package blank 5, 6 on the mandrel 8. Subsequently, the mandrel wheel 7 is rotated further into the subsequent mandrel wheel position II, in which the base region of the package blank 5, 6 is heated via a hot air fan, not described in greater detail, with hot air. The heated base region is prefolded by a press 9 in the subsequent mandrel wheel position III and is sealed into a base in the following mandrel wheel position IV in the folded position by a sealing device, not described in greater detail. A package 2 closed on one side is thereby obtained, which is removed from the mandrel in the following mandrel wheel position V and transferred into a transfer position 11 to a cell 12 of a continuous transport device guided in a circle. The package 2 is, in this regard, partially received in the cell 12 and is preferably held there in a positive-locking manner. The transport device 13 depicted and preferred in this respect is a so-called cell chain. No work step is assigned in the subsequent mandrel wheel position VI. The number of mandrel wheel positions or mandrels 8 and the processing steps provided there can, if required, deviate from the depiction according to FIG. 1 and the associated description.

(11) The package 2 with the open head region directed upwards is transported from the transfer position 11 with the aid of the transport device 13 in the associated cell 12 through a filling machine 14. If required, the package 2 could also be filled through the base region directed upwards if the head region directed downwards were closed. The filling machine 14 comprises an aseptic chamber 15, which comprises a sterilisation area 16 and a filling and sealing area 17, through which a row of packages 2 is successively transported. The transport direction 13 of the packages 2, in this regard, points from left to right as is symbolised by the arrows, wherein the transport of the packages 2 does not have to take place in a straight line, but can also take place in at least an arc or even in a circle. The transport device 13 is not completely sterile such that the aseptic region, in particular the aseptic area 18, of the filling and sealing area 17 ends in any case at the transport device 13 below the cells 12. However, the region within the packages 2 and above the packages 2 in the filling and sealing area 17 is at least sterile. This minimal region is indicated by the shaded aseptic area 18 and should also be maintained sterile for a product change. At the lower end of the filling and sealing area 17 and below the transport device 13, there is a collection trough 19, from which the collected liquid can be drained, for example via a base outlet.

(12) In order to avoid contamination of the sterile environment, of the aseptic area 18, a current of sterile air is preferably maintained from above to below in the aseptic chamber 15. To this end, corresponding sterile air connections 20 are provided along the aseptic chamber 15 to supply sterile air.

(13) The sterilisation area 16 and the filling and sealing area 17 are separated by a curtain of sterile air in the depicted device 1, which is blown in from above and flows downwards in a substantially laminar manner. Alternatively or in addition to the curtain, a sluice or a confined space would also be conceivable, which just allows the containers or packages 2 through into the filling and sealing area 17, however, which holds back the atmosphere from the sterilisation area 16 at least tendentially.

(14) Following the entry into the sterilisation area 16, the packages are successively preheated by a preheating device 21 by being blown with hot sterile air. Subsequently, a mixture of steam, hydrogen peroxide and preferably filtered air is applied to the packages 2 by means of a sterilisation device 22 in order to, in any case, sterilise the inner sides of the packages 2. After this, the packages 2 are dried by applying sterile air via a drying device 23 and brought into a filling position 24 below a filling outlet 25 of a filling device 26 after the transfer from the sterilisation area 16 to the filling and sealing area 17. The packages 2 are successively filled there, in particular with a foodstuff. The filled packages 2 are then closed with a closing device 27 by folding the upper region of the package 2 and sealing. The closed packages 2 are subsequently transported by means of the transport device 13 from the aseptic chamber 15 and the filling machine 14. The packages 2 are removed from the cells 12 of the transport device 13 in a removal position 28. The now empty cells 12 are moved further in the direction of the transfer position 11 with the transport device 13 in order to receive further packages 2 there.

(15) The previously described device 1 is operated in the likewise previously described manner until a product change is imminent. The filling machine 14 depicted and preferred in this respect detects when the amount of product held in a product tank, not depicted in greater detail, for filling falls below a predetermined minimum amount and/or when a product change is required. Such a blank 6 is then removed from a bundle 4 of blanks 6 for outlet means and inserted into the bundle 3 of package blanks 5 and preferably at the end of the bundle 3 of package blanks 5. The blank 6 for the outlet means is manufactured from the same package material as the usual packages 2 and also from a package material cutting, which is sealed at the overlapping longitudinal edges to form a blank 6. Unlike the usual packages 2, the blank 6 of the outlet means comprises at least one recess in the base region.

(16) The blank 6 of the outlet means is gripped by the feeding device 10, unfolded and pushed onto the mandrel wheel 7. Subsequently, as has been already previously described for the packages 2, a base is formed. As a result of the recess of the base region of the blank 6 of the outlet means, the base of the thus formed outlet means 30 is not completely closed. In fact, at least one opening remains. If the corresponding outlet means 30 arrives at the filling position 24 of the packages 2 below the filling outlet 25 and thus into the emptying position 29 of the outlet means 30, the residue of the product in the product tank is introduced into the outlet means 30, at least substantially via the filling outlet 25, from said outlet means 30 the product then leaves via the opening at the base and is directed into the collection trough 19 below the transport device 13. If the product tank is emptied, the filling outlet 25 can be connected to a product tank of a second product or the product tank can be filled with a second product. If required, the filling device 26 can also, alternatively or in addition, be rinsed with a rinsing medium or with the second product after the emptying so that at least substantially pure second product can subsequently be filled.

(17) Since the inner sides of the outlet means 30 have been sterilised and the cross-section of the opening is not too large, the outlet means 30 prevents contamination of the environment through splashing product such as from the collection trough 19. The outlet means 30 also ensures via the opening that the product is dispensed in a controlled manner. After the emptying, the head region of the outlet means 30 can be closed before the outlet means 30 leaves the filling machine 14 and is removed in the removal position 28 from the corresponding cell 12 of the transport device 13. The outlet means is subsequently preferably disposed of. After the emptying, as has been previously described, further package blanks 5 are also formed into packages 2, which are transported into the filling position 24 and filled there.

(18) In the case of an alternative design of the method not depicted, an outlet means, which, if required, is not foldable, can be used for emptying. This is then inserted into a cell of the transport device 13 prior to emptying, for example when a determined amount of residual product in the transfer position 11 is reached, instead of a package 2 taken off the mandrel wheel 7. The outlet means then in turn passes through the filling machine 14, as the usual packages 2. If the outlet means arrives in the filling position 24 of the package 2 and thus in the emptying position 29 of the outlet means, the product to be emptied is emptied through the outlet means as previously described. Subsequently, however, closing of the outlet means in the head region preferably does not take place, either because the closing device 27 for closing the head region of the packages 2 is briefly deactivated at the correct time and/or not activated or because the outlet means is designed and/or is received in the corresponding cell such that the outlet means projects less further upwards from the cell 12 in contrary to the usual packages 2 and is thus not gripped by the closing device 27.

(19) A further alternative method for carrying out the product change of a filling machine 14 is depicted in FIG. 2. This is based on the fact that the outlet means 30 adopts a rest position 31 in the sterile region, i.e. the aseptic area 18, of the filling machine 14. In this position, the filling of a product via the filling outlet 25 of the filling device 26 is not hindered. In order to empty, the outlet means 30 can then be moved from this rest position 31 into a lower-lying emptying position 29. This emptying position 29 is depicted in FIG. 2 by a dotted line. Furthermore, provision is made for the depicted alternative method that the outlet means 30 is immersed into the cell 12 located in the filling position 24 in order to arrive into the emptying position 29 and preferably substantially up to the contact area for the packages. The outlet means 30 is preferably designed in a sleeve shape. In this regard, the outlet means 29 can comprise a round or square cross-section corresponding to the cross-section of the cell 12, if required. Alternatively or in addition, the lower region of the outlet means 30 can be partially closed in order to obtain a controlled outlet of product. When the outlet means 30 has reached the lower emptying position 29, the emptying takes places via the filling outlet 25 as in principle previously described. If the emptying has concluded, the outlet means 30 can be moved again upwards into the rest position 31. The transport device 13 subsequently rotates further and then packages are filled with the second product, as has been already previously explained.

(20) In the case of a further alternative method depicted in FIG. 3, an outlet means 30 in the form of a receptacle is brought laterally into the emptying position 29 below the filling outlet 25 of a filling machine 14 and partially into the aseptic area 18. The product to be emptied and, if required, the medium used for rinsing, where appropriate, can then be collected from the outlet means 30. Subsequently, the outlet means 30 is again laterally removed from the emptying position 29 and can be emptied and/or discarded. If required, the transport device 13 can be stopped prior to introducing the outlet means 30 into the emptying position 29 in a position, in which no cell 12 and no package 2 is positioned directly under the filling outlet 25, i.e. for example not in the filling position 24 in order to provide space for a simple lateral introduction of the outlet means 30.

(21) A further alternative method for carrying out a product change is depicted in FIG. 4. Only an outlet means 30 in the form of a channel, if required, a pipe, a funnel or the like would also be conceivable, is pushed into the emptying position 29 under the filling outlet 25 when the product tank has to be emptied for the purpose of the product change. The outlet means 30 can be positioned between two packages 2 held in cells 12 and partially in the aseptic area 18. The product then emptying out of the filling outlet 25 can be guided slightly to the side and collected there and/or discarded. To this end, it lends itself if the outlet means 30 is inclined downwards to the side in order to utilise the force of gravity.

(22) A package blank 5 from a package material cutting 34 sealed along overlapping longitudinal edges 33 is depicted in FIG. 5. The head region 35 and the base region 36 at the opposing longitudinal ends of the package blank 5, which are distanced from a, for example rectangular or square cover region 37 of the package 2, are still unclosed. The head region 35 and the base region 36 are closed by folding and subsequent sealing, wherein the base 38 is formed prior to filling and the head 39 of the package 2 is formed after filling. This could also alternatively take place in reverse sequence. Furthermore, the head region 35 can, if required, still be provided with a pouring element. In addition, the head region 35 can be folded flat or folded around in a gable shape.

(23) The base region 36 is preferably folded flat, which is sufficiently known from the prior art.

(24) As it is depicted in FIG. 6, in order to form an outlet means 30 from a package material laminate, in the form of a package material cutting 34, at least one recess 40 can be provided, in particular punched out, in the base region 36 of a package blank 6 from the package cutting 34, unlike in the package blanks 5 provided for filling in a known manner and depicted in FIG. 5. The package material laminate of the packages 2 and the outlet means 30 can, in this regard, be constructed in the same manner.

(25) After closing the correspondingly pretreated base region 36, the base 38 consequently comprises at least one opening 41, as is also depicted only by way of example in FIG. 7. Alternatively, an outlet means can be manufactured from a different material to a package material laminate. In this regard, it can be, for example a plastic, which can be converted into the form of the outlet means, for example in the course of the injection moulding. The outlet means then comprises, if required, a similar form to the outlet means formed from a package material laminate depicted in FIG. 7, wherein a base could also be entirely dispensed with.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(26) 1 Device 2 Package 3,4 Bundle 5,6 Package blanks 7 Mandrel wheel 8 Mandrel 9 Press 10 Feeding device 11 Transfer position 12 Cell 13 Transport device 14 Filling machine 15 Aseptic chamber 16 Sterilisation area 17 Filling and sealing area 18 Aseptic area 19 Collection trough 20 Sterile air connections 21 Preheating device 22 Sterilising device 23 Drying device 24 Filling position 25 Filling outlet 26 Filling device 27 Closing device 28 Removal position 29 Emptying position 30 Outlet means 31 Rest position 33 Longitudinal edges 34 Package material cutting 35 Head region 36 Base region 37 Cover region 38 Base 39 Head 40 Recess 41 Opening