Method and Filling Machine for Filling Packages Open on One Side via an Elongated Nozzle Slot

Abstract

A method is described and illustrated for filling packages open on one side, in particular cardboard composite packages, with flowable products, in particular foodstuffs, in a filling machine. So that the packages can be impinged sufficiently and reliably with hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent simply, quickly and with a small space requirement, it is provided that hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent is introduced into the packages 2 open on one side from above via at least one nozzle as they are transported past under the nozzle and in that the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent are directed towards the packages from at least one elongated nozzle slot extending transverse to the transport direction.

Claims

1.-14. (canceled)

15. A method for filling packages open on one side, with flowable products, in particular foodstuffs, in a filling machine comprising the steps of: introducing hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent from above via at least one nozzle into the packages open on one side, which are transported past under the nozzle; and directing the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent from at least one elongated nozzle slot, extending transverse to a transport direction of the at least one nozzle towards the packages, wherein the nozzle slot extends obliquely to the transport direction of the packages.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: directing the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent in a direction of the packages open on one side via an elongated nozzle slot, which extends transverse to the transport direction, over at least substantially the entire width of the packages transported past underneath.

17. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: extending the nozzle slot obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 25 and 65.

18. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: emerging the drying air and/or the sterilising agent out of the at least one nozzle at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the packages and/or vertically.

19. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: adjusting the flow direction of the hot air, the drying air, and/or the sterilising agent as it exits the nozzle parallel and/or transverse to the transport direction of the packages while a package is transported past under the nozzle.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of: adjusting the flow direction of the hot air, the drying air, and/or the sterilising agent towards the transport direction of the packages as it exists the nozzle while a package is transported past under the nozzle.

21. The method according to claim 15, further comprising the step of: transporting the packages continuously past under the at least one nozzle.

22. A filling machine for filling packages open on one side according to claim 15, wherein at least one nozzle is provided for introducing hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent from above into the packages open on one side, wherein a transport device is provided for transporting the packages open on one side through the filling device and under the at least one nozzle and wherein the at least one nozzle has at least one elongated nozzle slot, extending transverse to the transport direction, for directing the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent in the direction of the packages open on one side, wherein the nozzle slot is arranged oblique to the transport direction of the packages.

23. The filling machine according to claim 22, wherein the nozzle slot extends transverse to the transport direction of the packages at least substantially over the entire width of the packages transported past underneath.

24. The filling machine according to claim 22, wherein the nozzle slot is arranged obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 25 and 65.

25. The filling machine according claim 22, wherein the nozzle is configured to direct the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent in the direction of the packages open on one side at least substantially perpendicular to the transport direction of the packages and/or vertically.

26. The filling machine according to claim 22, wherein the at least one nozzle is configured such that it displaces the flow direction of the hot air, the drying air and/or the sterilising agent as it exits the nozzle parallel to the transport direction of the packages, in the transport direction of the packages and/or transverse to the transport direction of the packages, while a package is transported past under the nozzle.

27. The filling machine according to claim 22, wherein the transport device has cells and/or carriers for respectively receiving the packages open on one side and for transporting the packages open on one side past under the at least one nozzle.

28. The filling machine according to claim 22, wherein the transport device is configured to transport the packages open on one side continuously past under the at least one nozzle.

29. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of: extending the nozzle slot obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 35 and 55.

30. The method according to claim 17 further comprising the step of: extending the nozzle slot obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 41 and 50.

31. The filling machine according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle slot is arranged obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 35 and 55.

32. The filling machine according to claim 24, wherein the nozzle slot is arranged obliquely to the transport direction of the packages at an angle between 41 and 50.

Description

[0028] The invention will subsequently be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing depicting only exemplary embodiments. The following are shown in the drawings:

[0029] FIG. 1 A filling machine according to the invention for carrying out the method according to the invention in a schematic side view,

[0030] FIG. 2 A detail of the filling machine in a schematic side view,

[0031] FIG. 3A-B The introduction of hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent into a package in a schematic side view and a schematic plan view at three different times and

[0032] FIGS. 4A-C An alternative introduction of hot air, drying air and/or sterilising agent into a package in a schematic side view at three different times.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a filling machine 1 for filling packages 2, in particular with flowable foodstuffs, which in this case comprises a device 3 for shaping the packages 2 to be filled. In principle, however, it is also possible for the filling machine to be supplied with packages 2 open on one side, already prepared to be filled. The illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1 also has a number of parallel processing lines, of which only one processing line is shown in FIG. 1. Each processing line is associated with a bundle 4 of package blanks 5, whose longitudinal edges are sealed to each other and so form packaging sleeves 6 open on both sides. By a feed device 7, the packaging sleeves 6 are unfolded and pushed onto a mandrel 8 of a mandrel wheel 9.

[0034] The mandrel 9 is cyclically, that is incrementally, rotated counterclockwise. The packaging sleeves 6 are processed in different positions. First, an edge is heated with a heating unit 10 using hot air and then pre-folded in a prefold 11 to then seal the prefolded edge to form a base using a press 12. Thus a package 2 is obtained, which is open at one end and sealed at the other end and is transferred to a cell 13 of a transport device 14. In the illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1, the cells are transported continuously, i.e. without stopping in specific positions, through the filling machines. If necessary, the cells are thereby accelerated and/or decelerated or the transport of the cells through the filling machine 1 is carried out at a constant speed.

[0035] The package 2 is transported by means of the transport device 14 through an aseptic chamber 15, which is successively subdivided into a sterilisation zone 16 and a filling and sealing zone 17. The transport of the packages 2 does not have to be straight, but can also take place in at least one arc or even in a circle, depending on whether the filling machine 1 is an inline filling machine or a rotary unit. The aseptic chamber 15 is rinsed with sterile air via corresponding sterile air connections 18 in order to prevent the entry of germs.

[0036] Sterile hot air is first blown into the open-topped packages 2 by a preheating device 19 in order to preheat the packages 2. Subsequently, in a sterilising device 20, a sterilising agent is injected into the packages, which reacts more strongly in the preheated packages 2 and condenses less. Hydrogen peroxide is particularly suitable as a sterilising agent. The hydrogen peroxide may be introduced together with steam and/or air into the package 2 open on one side. After sterilising the packages 2, the interior of the packages 2 is dried in a drying device 21 by impinging with drying air. The drying air is preferably hot and sterile.

[0037] After passing from the sterilisation zone 16 into the filling and sealing zone 17, the packages open on one side 2 are positioned below a filling device 22 and filled with a foodstuff. The filled packages 2 are then closed with a closing device 23 by folding the upper open area of the package 2 and sealing it. The sealed packages 2 are then removed from the cells 13 of the transport device 14 and further processed if needed. The now empty cells 13 of the transport device 14 are moved further towards the mandrel wheel 9 in order to receive more packages 2 there.

[0038] In FIG. 1, the preheating device 19, sterilising device 20, drying device 21 and filling device 22 are shown only schematically for the sake of better clearness and clarity. Therefore, in FIG. 2, the aseptic chamber 15 is shown again in detail. The illustration of FIG. 2 is also very schematic, but in particular the nozzles of the preheating device 19, sterilising device 20 and drying device 21, with which the hot air, the drying air or the sterilising agent is directed towards the packages, are shown larger.

[0039] In the aseptic chamber 15 of FIG. 2, a preheating device 19, which has a nozzle 24 for introducing hot air into the packages 2, is initially provided in the sterilisation zone 16. The hot air is suctioned in the illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1 via a compressor 25 from the environment and filtered by means of a filter 26, in order to separate microorganisms and so to sterilise the air. Subsequently, the sterile air is heated in a heating device 27. The packages 2 open on one side are transported past continuously under the stationary nozzle 24 of the preheating device 19.

[0040] Thereafter, the packages 2 arrive in a sterilising device 20, in which a sterilising agent, which is an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution in the illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1, is supplied via a pump 28 and vaporised in a vaporiser 29. The mixture of hydrogen peroxide and steam, which still can be supplied with air, is introduced via a nozzle 30 into the packages 2 transported past underneath.

[0041] In the area downstream of the sterilising device 20, sterile air is directed via sterile air connections 18 into the sterilisation zone 16, which can alternatively or additionally also take place at other locations of the aseptic chamber 15. For this purpose, air is suctioned in via a compressor 31 from the environment and pressed through a filter 32, in which all microorganisms are separated to sterilise the air. In the subsequent drying device 21, the sterile packages are dried with hot drying air, which is also suctioned in via a compressor 33 and sterilised in a filter 34. The air sterilised thus is heated in a heating device 35 and directed into the packages 2.

[0042] The dried packages 2 are then transferred to the filling and sealing zone 17, where the packages 2 are filled with the product in the form of a foodstuff in the next two positions of the transport device 14. The product is supplied in the filling device 22 via a reservoir 37 and is directed into the packages 2 via a nozzle 39. The filled packages 2 are then closed by a closing device 23 by sealing the upper edge and transported out of the aseptic chamber 15.

[0043] In the illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1, so called empty positions are provided between individual processing positions along which packages 2 are transported without being processed, while other packages 2 are processed in one of the previously described ways. The arrangement and the number of empty positions can be chosen in different ways, without this being of particular importance. Incidentally, alternative preheating devices 19, sterilisation devices 20, drying devices 21 and/or filling devices 22 may also have additional nozzles in order to process the packages 2 with the corresponding media and/or to fill them with product. Then, the processing and/or filling of the packages 2 is carried out successively with at least two nozzles in order to extend the processing time or to make the processing more reliable.

[0044] In FIGS. 3A-B, the introduction of hot air, drying air, sterilising agent or product to be filled is shown in a side view opposite to the transport direction T and in a plan view at three quickly succeeding points in time. The transport direction T of the packages 2 is indicated by arrows. The package 2 is held in a cell 36 of a transport device 14, with which the package 2 is passed continuously under the corresponding nozzle 38, while hot air, drying air or sterilising agent is introduced into the package 2 via the nozzle 38.

[0045] The illustrated and in this respect preferred nozzle 38 has an elongated nozzle slot 39 which extends obliquely to the transport direction T of the packages 2 below the nozzle 38, and at an angle of approximately 46. The elongated nozzle slot 39 extends transversely to the transport direction T over a length which exceeds the width of the packages 2 transversely to the transport direction T. The nozzle slot 39 is also arranged such that the nozzle slot 39 protrudes outwards to both sides of the package 40, 41 transversely with respect to the transport direction T. The middle of the packages 2 is thereby guided at least substantially beneath the centre of the illustrated nozzle slot 39.

[0046] The individual views of FIG. 3B illustrate, from left to right, the conditions at three different points in time when a package 2 is being transported past the nozzle 38. Due to the inclination of the nozzle slot 39, the package 2 first arrives under the nozzle slot 39 on its left side of the package 40, as seen in the transport direction T, where the appropriate medium, namely hot air, drying air or sterilising agent, first enters the package 2. The impinging of the packages 2 with the illustrated and in this respect preferred nozzle 38 takes place at least substantially in the vertical direction. A short time later, the nozzle slot 39 extends over the entire width of the package 2 and therefore is applied with the appropriate medium over the entire width of the package 2. Somewhat later, the left side of the package 40 has already passed completely under the nozzle slot 39, while the right side of the package 2, as seen in the transport direction T, is still located below the nozzle slot 39 and is therefore still impinged with the appropriate medium.

[0047] The appropriate medium can flow out continuously from the at least one nozzle slot 39. This is particularly simple and leads to a reliable process. However, this tends to consume more medium than would be absolutely necessary for the treatment or processing of the packages 2. To reduce this excess, the spacing of the packages 2 when passing under the at least one nozzle 38 can be reduced.

[0048] In FIGS. 4A-C, alternative impinging of the packages 2 with hot air, drying air or sterilising agent by an alternative nozzle 42 is shown in a side view at three different times. The peculiarity of the nozzle 42 is that the nozzle 42 or the elongated nozzle slot 43 is provided to be pivotable via an adjustment device 44 not shown in detail. First, as shown in FIG. 4A, the nozzle 42 is inclined obliquely with respect to the transport direction T in order to introduce the medium into the package 2 at a time when the package 2 is not yet arranged below the nozzle 42 and to more intensively process a the back of a package 45 downstream in the transport direction. As the package 2 is transported further in the transport direction T, the nozzle 42 also pivots in the transport direction T of the package 2. At a later time, in which the package 2, as shown in FIG. 4B, is provided approximately centrally below the nozzle 42, the nozzle 40 is accordingly directed approximately vertically downwards, in order to inject the medium comprehensively into the package 2 open on one side. Thereafter, the package 2 again moves away from the nozzle 42, wherein the nozzle 42 continues to pivot with the package 2 in its transport direction T. Thus, the time is reached when the package 2, as shown in FIG. 4C, has already been transported away from the nozzle 42, wherein the nozzle 42 is however still administering medium into the package 2 due to its inclination, and in particular directs against the front side 46 of the package 2 in the transport direction. Before the next package 2, as shown in FIG. 4A, approaches the nozzle 42, the nozzle 42 is pivoted against the transport direction T of the packages 2 back to a starting position, in order to then be pivoted again with the transport direction T of the packages 2 into an end position.

[0049] The pivoting of the nozzle 42 could alternatively or additionally also take place transversely to the transport direction T. Likewise, the nozzle 42 could be stationary and not adjustable, but the flow direction of the medium could be deflected by a movable flow guide into the respectively desired direction.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0050] 1 Filling machine

[0051] 2 Package

[0052] 3 Device

[0053] 4 Bundle

[0054] 5 Package blank

[0055] 6 Packaging sleeves

[0056] 7 Feed device

[0057] 8 Mandrel

[0058] 9 Mandrel wheel

[0059] 10 Heating unit

[0060] 11 Pre-folding

[0061] 12 Press

[0062] 13 Cells

[0063] 14 Transport device

[0064] 15 Aseptic chamber

[0065] 16 Sterilisation zone

[0066] 17 Filling and sealing zone

[0067] 18 Sterile air connection

[0068] 19 Preheating device

[0069] 20 Sterilising device

[0070] 21 Drying device

[0071] 22 Filling device

[0072] 23 Closing device

[0073] 24 Nozzle

[0074] 25 Compressor

[0075] 26 Filter

[0076] 27 Heating device

[0077] 28 Pump

[0078] 29 Vaporiser

[0079] 30 Nozzle

[0080] 31 Compressor

[0081] 32 Filter

[0082] 33 Compressor

[0083] 34 Filter

[0084] 35 Heating device

[0085] 36 Cell

[0086] 37 Reservoir

[0087] 38 Nozzle

[0088] 39 Nozzle slot

[0089] 40 Package side

[0090] 41 Package side

[0091] 42 Nozzle

[0092] 43 Nozzle slot

[0093] 44 Adjustment device

[0094] 45 Package back

[0095] 46 Package front