Filling Machine and Method for the Sterile Filling of a Foodstuff Containing a Main Component and an Additive Component

Abstract

A filling machine the sterile filling of a foodstuff into a plurality of containers comprising at least one least one main component and at least one additive component with a conveying device for conveying the at least one main component from at least one feed unit to at least one filling outlet of a filling valve. Therefore, foodstuffs comprising at least one main component and at least one additive component can be handled more easily. It is envisaged that there are provided a holding container for the at least one additive component, a metering device Connected to the holding container for the metering of the additive component into the containers and/or to the main component, and an electrical heating device in the metering device for the pasteurisation or sterilisation of the additive component before the metering into the containers and/or to the main component.

Claims

1. A filling machine for the sterile filling of a foodstuff into a plurality of containers, the filling machine comprising at least one main component, at least one additive component, and a convyeing device for conveying the at least one main component from at least one feed unit to at least one filling outlet of a filling valve, wherein there are provided a holding container for the at least one additive component, a metering device connect to the holding container for the metering of the additive component into at least one of the containers or the main component, and an electrical heating device in the metering device for the pasturisation or sterilisation of the additive component before the metering into at least one of the containers or the main component, wherein the heating device is an electrical heating device configured to pass an electric current through the additive component to be metered so as to directly heat the additive component, and wherein a plant control is provided for the discontinuous heating of the additive component to be metered, so if the additive component is transported through the heating device or a plant control is provided for interrupting the heating of the additive component to be metered in, then the additive component can only heated by passing through the additive component.

2. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the electrical heating device is configured to pass an electric current through the additive component to be metered so as to directly heat the additive component by dispensing with hot heat transfer surfaces.

3. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the metering device for metering the additive component to the main component is connected to at least one of the conveying device or to a storage container for the main component.

4. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the metering device for metering the additive component separately from the main component into a plurality of containers is connected to a filling valve comprising a filling outlet.

5. A filling machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one filling valve, the at least filling outlet for the sterile filling of the main component, for the additive component is associated with an aspetic zone.

6. (canceled)

7. A system comprising a filling machine according to claim 1 and a processing plant configured for the pasteurisation or sterilisation of the main component and for conveying the pasteurised or sterilised main component to the feed unit of the filling machine.

8. A method for the sterile filling of a foodstuff into a plurality of containers, wherein the foodstuff comprises at least one main component and at least one additive component using at least one filling machine according to claim 1, the method comprising: conveying at least one main component from at least one feed device to at least one filling valve comprising a filling outlet, filling the main component into the plurality of containers via the at least one filling valve, storing the at least one additive component in a holding container, metering the additive component from the holding container and via a metering device into at least one of the containers or the main component, flowing electric current through and directly heating the additive component to be metered in the electrical heating device, and heating the additive component discontinously, so that, if the additive component is transported through the heating device or the heating of the additive component is interrupted, then the additive component can then only be heated by passing current through the additive component.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising flowing electric current through and directly heating the additive component to be metered in the electrical heating device dispensing with hot heat transfer surfaces.

10. (canceled)

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein between 0.1 vol. % and 2 vol. % of the overall filled foodstuff is metering in as additive component.

12. The method according to claim 8, in which at least 2 vol. % of the overall filled foodstuff is metered in as additive component.

13. The method according to claim 8, in which at least one of at least one aroma substance, at least one colorant, at least one component containing particulate fractions, or at least one component with a viscosity that, at 20 C., is at least ten times greater than that of the main component, is metered in as additive component.

14. The component according to claim 8, in which a highly acidic component with a pH of at most 4.5 is used as additive component, wherein the additive component is pasteurised or heated in the heating device to at most 100 C.

15. The method according to claim 8, in which a slightly acidic component with a pH of at least 4.5 is used as additive component, wherein the additive component is sterilised or heated in the heating device to at least 121 C.

16. The method according to claim 8, in which, after the mixing of at least one main component with at least one additive component, the temperature of the foodstuff is less than 30 C.

Description

[0046] The invention is described in more detail hereinafter with the aid of drawings simply illustrating exemplary embodiments, and in which:

[0047] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a first filling machine according to the invention,

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a second filling machine according to the invention,

[0049] FIG. 3A-B shows a schematic representation of a detail of a third filling machine according to the invention, and

[0050] FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of a detail of a fourth filling machine according to the invention.

[0051] In FIG. 1 a filling machine 1 is illustrated for filling containers 2 in the form of packagings, preferably cardboard/plastic composite packagings, in particular with flowable foodstuffs, comprising a device 3 for forming and shaping the containers 2. Alternatively these or other containers could however also be produced in a different way and conveyed to the filling machine 1. The illustrated and in this respect preferred filling machine 1 has a series of parallel processing lines, simply one processing line of which is illustrated in FIG. 1. A bundle 4 of packagings preforms in the form of packagings blanks is associated with each processing line, the longitudinal edges of the blanks being sealed to one another and thereby forming packaging sleeves 6, which are delivered folded together. The packaging sleeves 6 are unfolded by means of a feed device 7, wherein an application device can also be provided if necessary for applying pouring means, not illustrated, to the packaging sleeves 6.

[0052] The device 3 for forming and shaping the containers 2 has a mandrel wheel 8, which in the illustrated and in this respect preferred case comprises six mandrels 9 and rotates cyclically, i.e. stepwise, in an anti-clockwise direction. In the first mandrel wheel position I a packaging preform in the form of a packaging sleeve 6 is slid onto the mandrel 9. The mandrel wheel 8 is then turned to the next mandrel wheel position II, in which the end region of the packaging sleeve 6 projecting beyond the mandrel 9 is heated with hot air by means of a heating unit 11. In the next mandrel wheel position III the heated end region of the packaging sleeve 6 is pre-folded by a press 12 and in the following mandrel wheel position IV is tightly sealed in the folded position by a sealing device, not identified in more detail, to form in particular a base. A container closed on one side is obtained in this way, which in the following mandrel wheel position V is removed from the mandrel 9 and is transferred to a cell 13 of a circularly guided, endless transporting device 14. No work step is associated with the mandrel 9 in the next mandrel wheel position VI. The number of mandrel wheel positions and mandrels and the processing steps envisaged there can if necessary vary from the representation according to FIG. 1 and the relevant description.

[0053] The container 2 is transported with the open end pointing upwards in an associated cell 13 of the transporting device 14 in the form of a transport chain through the filling machine 2. If necessary also the containers 2 could be filled through the upwardly pointing base region, if the downwardly pointing head region is closed for this purpose. The container 2 passes to an aseptic chamber 15, which includes a sterilisation zone 16 and a filling and sealing zone 17, through which the container 2 is transported from left to right in the transporting direction symbolised by the arrows.

[0054] The illustrated and in this regard preferred filling machine 1 is formed as so-called long runner, since the containers 2 are conveyed at least substantially rectilinearly through the filling machine. The transportation of the containers 2 need not take place rectilinearly, but can also take place in at least one arc or even circularly. Such filling machines are also termed carousels, since the containers are then for example moved at least over some sections along a circular path. In this case at least some parts of the filling machine can rotate about a central axis, which can coincide with the axis of the circular path of the containers.

[0055] Sterile air is fed to the aseptic chamber through corresponding sterile air connections 20. The containers 2 are preheated in succession by a preheating device 21 that blows in hot sterile air. The containers 2 are then sterilised by means of a sterilisation device 22, preferably by means of hydrogen peroxide, following which the containers 2 are dried by blasting with sterile air via a drying device 23, and after being transferred from the sterilisation zone 16 to the filling and sealing zone 17 are brought to a filling position 24 underneath a filling outlet 25. There the containers 2 in the form of packagings are filled in succession with a specific amount of an additive component 26 of a foodstuff. The partially filled containers 2 are then transported to a further filling position 27 underneath a further filling outlet 28, where a main component 29 of the foodstuff is filled in the already partially filled containers 2 in the form of packagings. The containers 2 now filled with the foodstuff are then closed with a closing device by folding and sealing an upper region of the containers 2. The containers 2 are then removed from the cells 13 of the transporting device 14. The now empty cells 13 are moved with the transporting device 14 further in the direction of the mandrel wheel 8, in order to receive further containers 2 there.

[0056] The main component 29, which in particular is a highly acidic component in the form of a fruit juice or a yoghurt, is temporarily stored in the filling machine in a storage container 31. In this connection the main component is previously pasteurised or sterilised in a processing plant, not illustrated. The then pasteurised or sterilised main component 29 is next dispensed from the processing plant to the filling machine 1 and is held there in the storage container 31, from where the main component 29 is filled in portions into the containers 2. For this purpose the filling machine 1 has a feed unit 32 for feeding pasteurised or sterilised main component 29. This feed unit can be a line connection, a connecting piece or the like. The main component 29 is conveyed from the feed unit 32 via a conveying device 33 to a filling valve 34, which comprises the filling outlet 28 for filling the containers 2 with the main component 29.

[0057] The additive component 26, which together with the main component 29 forms the filled foodstuff, is conveyed separately via a further feed unit 35 to a holding container 36, where the additive component 26 is temporarily stored before it is filled into the containers 2. The additive component 26 passes from the holding container 36 through a metering device 37 to a filling valve 38, which comprises the filling outlet 25, in order to fill the additive component 26 separately from the main component 29 into the containers. On the path from the holding container 36 to the filling valve 38 the additive component 29 passes through an electrical heating device 39 for heating the additive component 26 before the filling of the additive component 26 into the containers 2. By means of the heating in the heating device 39 the additive component 26, which is held unpasteurised or unsterilised in the holding container 36, is then pasteurised or sterilised.

[0058] The heating device 39 is connected to a voltage supply 40, which applies a potential difference to at least two electrodes, not illustrated. The electrodes are in conductive contact with the additive component 26, so that the current path between the electrodes is closed by the additive components 26. In other words, an electric current flows from at least one electrode to at least one other electrode of the heating device 39, the additive component 26 acting as a heating resistor. The electric current flowing through the additive component 26 leads to a direct heating without the need for heated heat transfer surfaces to release the heat to the additive components.

[0059] The filling of the containers 2 with additive components 26 and main component 29 can be carried out in a different way. If the additive components 26 and main components 29 do not contain any particulate fractions, a plunger can be integrated in the filling valve 34, 38, which by a corresponding displacement forces at intervals a predetermined volume from the filling valve. If the additive component 26 and/or the main component 29 contains particulate fractions, then preferably a piston pump, membrane pump or the like is used in order to dispense the predetermined volume into the containers 2 in a reproducible regular manner. Against this background, here for the sake of simplicity only the filling valves are shown since the additive component 26 as well as the main component 29 can contain particulate fractions and can also be free from particulate fractions. The heating of the additive component 26 for the purposes of pasteurisation or sterilisation in the heating device 39 is envisaged independently of any particulate fractions.

[0060] The illustrated filling machine 1 can be designed so that multiple, in particular parallel, rows of containers 2 are transported through the filling machine 1 in order to fill multiple containers 2 in parallel simultaneously. Then multiple filling valves 34, 38 for the additive component 26 and/or the main component 29 are preferably provided, which can be arranged next to one another transversely to the transporting direction of the containers 2. The filling valves 34, 38 are then preferably connected to the same holding container 36 and/or to the same storage container 31. Furthermore a single heating device 39 can be provided, which pasteurises or sterilises the additive component 26 for the filling by the filling valves 38. It can also be envisaged that a separate heating device 39 is associated with each filling valve 38 for filling the additive component 26. Each heating device 39 then pasteurises or sterilises the additive component 26 filled from a filing valve 38.

[0061] It is not shown furthermore that the main component 29 can also be filled in multiple individual portions successively into the containers 2 via multiple filling valves 34 arranged one after the other. This is recommended in particular with main components 29 that tend to exhibit foam formation. Due to the filling of the main component 29 in portions less foam is produced and/or the foam has more time so as to break down again. The foam formation does not really play a role in the filling of the additive component 26, since the additive component 26 forms only a minor proportion of the foodstuff filled into the containers 2. This is all the more the case if the additive component is filled before the main component into the still empty containers 2. Specifically then the foam formation can be considerably reduced compared to the foam formation to be expected if the main component and additive component are simultaneously filled. In principle the additive component can however also be filled after the main component 29 into the containers 2. In the case of the portion-wise filling of the containers 2 with the main component 29 it may also be envisaged that the additive component 26 is filled into the containers 2 between two portions of the main component 29.

[0062] A detail of an alternative filling machine 40 is illustrated in FIG. 2, in which the additive component 26 from the holding container 36 together with the main component 29 from the storage container 31 are filled via a common filling valve 41 and a common filling outlet 42 into the containers 2. In this case the metering device 43 is connected to the corresponding filling valve 41. The metering device 43 has however an electrical heating device 39 as described above. On passing through the electrical heating device 39 the additive component 26 is pasteurised or sterilised depending on the corresponding requirements, in order then to be mixed with the already pasteurised or sterilised main component 29, wherein the additive component is strongly cooled so that the heating of the additive component 26 in the heating device 39 leads to only a slight loss of quality. The filling valve 41 is designed so that the additive component 26 and the main component 29 are always mixed with one another in the correct ratio. If necessary at least one metering pump can be used for this purpose, which if necessary can be integrated into the filling valve. It is not shown that also in the case of this filling machine 40 multiple filling valves 41 of the aforementioned type can be arranged in a row, in order to fill simultaneously multiple containers 2 and/or to fill the containers 2 in succession portion-wise with the main component 29.

[0063] The illustrated filling valves pass through a perforated metal sheet 44, which closes off the aseptic zone upwardly, through which however a curtain of sterilised air can be conveyed downwardly through the holes into the aseptic zone in the filling and sealing zone 17. An in particular laminar and downwardly directed flow of sterilised air is thereby produced, which prevents microorganisms being able to penetrate the filling and sealing zone 17 or the aseptic zone, so that these would no longer be aseptic.

[0064] A detail of a further filling machine 50 is illustrated in FIG. 3A-B, in which the main component 29 is taken from the storage container 31 and is distributed via a distributor 51 into various partial streams. For this purpose the conveying device 52 branches from the distributor 51 into a series of partial lines 53, in order to convey the main component 29 to multiple separate filling valves 54, which respectively fill other containers 2. The filling valves 54 are arranged adjacent to one another in a row. Different rows of containers 2 are arranged underneath the filling valves 54 in the transporting direction of the transporting chain 14. In the illustrated and in this regard preferred filling machine 50 five containers 2 are thus simultaneously filled in each filling cycle. Alternatively also more or fewer containers 2 can be simultaneously filled or more or fewer filling valves 54 can be arranged adjacent to one another. The additive component 26 is removed from the holding container 36 via the metering device 55 and is passed through the electrical heating device 39, whereby the additive component 26 is pasteurised or sterilised. The pasteurised or sterilised additive component 26 is then metered in the distributor 51 via a metering pump 56 in a predetermined ratio into the main components 29, wherein the additive component 26 and the main component 29 mix and thereby form the foodstuff to be filled. The foodstuff is then filled as described above via the filling valves 54 and their filling outlets 57 into the containers 2.

[0065] A filling machine 60 is illustrated in FIG. 4, in which the additive component 26 is metered from the holding container 36 via a metering device 61 comprising an electrical heating device 39, whose electrodes are connected to a voltage supply 40, into the storage container 31 for the main component 29. The main component 29 is fed, already pasteurised or sterilised, via a feed unit 32. The additive component 26 is pasteurised or sterilised on flowing through the heating device 39. A metering pump 62 is provided in order to meter the additive component 26 in the correct ratio into the main component 29.