HOT-AIR EXTRACTION DUCT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a filling machine and a method handling hot air supplied at a station within the filling machine. The filling machine provides a working chamber with a clean zone for filling containers while the containers are conveyed through the working chamber. The clean zone is provided by introducing HEPA-filtered air into the working chamber through fluid inlets.

Claims

1. A filling machine comprising a working chamber comprising side walls, a ceiling and a floor, wherein containers comprising container top ends facing the ceiling, and container bottom ends facing the floor are conveyed through the working chamber by a conveyer, from an inlet side to an outlet side, wherein the working chamber comprises a station within the working chamber configured to execute a working step on the containers, wherein the station comprises a hot air supply for executing a work step on the containers, wherein the working chamber further comprises an extraction duct for extracting hot air supplied by the hot air supply to the outside of the working chamber.

2. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the extraction duct is located at a vertical level below the container top ends, when the containers are conveyed.

3. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the filling machine further comprises a fan configured for extracting the hot air through the extraction duct.

4. The filling machine according to claim 3, wherein the fan is configured with speed control for balancing the volume of hot air extracted through the extraction duct with the volume of hot air supplied via the hot air supply.

5. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the working chamber comprises a heating station, wherein the heating station comprises at least one hot air nozzle for directing hot air at the container top ends, and at least one heating station deflector configured for guiding the hot air towards the extraction duct.

6. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the working chamber comprises a side deflector arranged between the side wall and the heating station on side of the working chamber opposite to the extraction duct, and wherein the side deflector is configured to guide the hot air towards the extraction duct.

7. The filling machine according claim 6, wherein the side deflector comprises guiding plates protruding towards the conveyor, wherein hot air supply is configured to supply hot air between the side deflector and the guiding plates for guiding the hot air towards the extraction duct.

8. The filling machine according to claim 1 comprising at least one fluid inlet, wherein said at least one fluid inlet comprises a convex fluid inlet surface facing the working chamber and displaying a plurality of through openings configured to supply the working chamber with a fluid for creating a clean zone around at least one station (140a, 140b, 140c), and wherein said at least one fluid inlet is fluidly connected to a supply conduit for supplying the fluid to the working chamber.

9. The filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the working chamber is divided into a filling region and a closing region by a wall extending transversely within the working chamber, wherein the filling region is proximal to the inlet side and the closing region is proximal to the outlet side.

10. The filling machine according to claims 8 and 9, wherein the filling region comprises a at least one fluid inlet, and wherein the closing region comprises at least one fluid inlet.

11. A method for handling hot air in a filling machine comprising the steps of: A. Providing a filling machine comprising: a working chamber comprising side walls, a ceiling and a floor, wherein containers comprising container top ends facing the ceiling, and container bottom ends facing the floor are conveyed through the working chamber by a conveyer, from an inlet side to an outlet side, wherein the working chamber comprises a station within the working chamber configured to execute a working step on the containers, wherein the station comprises a hot air supply for executing a work step on the containers, wherein the working chamber further comprises an extraction duct for extracting hot air supplied by the hot air supply to the outside of the working chamber, and B. extracting said hot air supplied by the hot air supply by using the extraction duct.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: C. providing the filling machine according to claim 11, wherein the filling machine comprises a fan configured for extracting the hot air through the extraction duct, D. operating the fan for extracting hot air from the working chamber through the extraction duct to the outside.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises the steps of: E. providing the filling machine according to claim 12, wherein the fan is configured with a speed control, F. controlling the speed to the fan for balancing the volume of hot air extracted through the extraction duct with the volume of hot air supplied via the hot air supply by operating the speed control.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] FIG. 1 Illustrates a frontal view of the filling machine having a working chamber with containers on a conveyor, a filing region, closing region with a heating station comprising a hot air supply. 20

[0038] FIG. 2 Shows details of the filling region with a filling station.

[0039] FIG. 3 Shows a side view of the closing region with a pre-heating station and a closing station.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows an isolated supply conduit with a convex fluid inlet surface and a plurality of openings. 25

[0041] FIG. 5 Shows a rear view of the filling machine with hot air supplies to the heating station and an extraction duct located below the heating station.

[0042] FIG. 6 Shows a cross-sectional side view of the heating station, the hot air supply, the heating station deflector and the side deflector. It is also shown containers on the conveyer and the arrows represents the flow of hot air from hot air nozzles towards the extraction duct to the outside of the working chamber. A suction fan is shown in the extraction duct.

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the closing region with the heating station and the side deflector with guiding plates arranged facing the conveyor at the side of the side deflector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] In the following, specific embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. However, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and illustrations contained herein. It is specifically intended that the invention includes modified forms of the embodiments, including portions of the embodiments and combinations of elements of different embodiments. It should be appreciated that in the development of any actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, specific decisions must be made to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with system and/or business-related constraints. Moreover, it should be appreciated that such a development effort might be complex and time consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of design, fabrication and manufacture for the skilled person having the benefit of this disclosure.

[0045] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, the filling machine 100 as shown, includes a working chamber 110 suitable for providing a clean atmosphere. The working chamber 110 is defined by side walls 111, a ceiling 112 and a floor 113. The working chamber 110 has a hollow cuboid shape. The working chamber 110 comprises a conveyer 115 which is configured to convey containers 130 from an inlet side 114a to an outlet side 114b of the working chamber 110. The working chamber 110 has a longitudinal direction from the inlet side 114a to the outlet side 114b. The containers 130 are designed to hold liquid foodstuff such as a beverage.

[0046] Proceeding from the inlet side 114a to the outlet side 114b, the working chamber 110 is divided into a filling region 117 and a closing region 118 by a wall 119. The wall 119 extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the working chamber 110.

[0047] The filling region 117 is located proximal to the inlet side 114a and the closing region 118 is located proximal to the outlet side 114b.

[0048] The filling machine 100 comprises a decontamination tunnel 150 located outside the working chamber 110 in connection with the inlet side 114a. Prior to entering the filling region 117 the containers 130 is conveyed by the conveyor 115 through the decontamination tunnel 150 and subjected to decontamination therein. The decontamination includes exposure of the containers 130 to UV-light.

[0049] The containers 130 enters the working chamber 110 by means of the conveyor 115 in an open state. The filling of liquid foodstuff into the containers 130 takes place in the filling region 117 by means of a filling station 140a located in the filing region. Still in an open state, the filled containers 130 are conveyed into the closing region 118 where the container top ends 131 are heated by means of a heating station 140b.

[0050] The containers 130 are then conveyed to a sealing station 140c located in the closing region 118. The containers 130 are closed and sealed by the sealing station 140c which forms a gable by folding of the container top ends 131. Finally, the containers 130 exit the working chamber 110 through the side wall 111 at the outlet side 114b by means of the conveyer 115.

[0051] It is necessary to maintain a clean atmosphere in the working chamber 110, in particular above the open containers 130 in order to obtain filled containers 130 without contamination from particles, bacteria or viruses which would severely compromise the quality and the shelf life of the liquid food product in the filled containers 130. The clean atmosphere is obtained by supplying the working chamber 110 with HEPA-air.

[0052] As used herein the term HEPA-air relates to air that is filtered through a HEPA filter. A HEPA-filter is a high efficiency particulate air filter. HEPA filters, as defined by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) standard adopted by most American industries, remove at least 99.97% of aerosols 0.3 micrometers (?m) in diameter. HEPA filters capture pollen, dirt, dust, moisture, bacteria (0.2-2.0 ?m), virus (0.02-0.3 ?m). Per definition HEPA-air is suitable for creating a clean zone when introduced into a working chamber.

[0053] The working chamber 110 comprises a plurality of fluid inlets 120. Each of the said fluid inlets 120 comprises a convex fluid inlet surface 121 that faces the working chamber 110. Each of the fluid inlet surface 121 is located at the ceiling 112 and displays a plurality of through openings 122. Each of the fluid inlets 120 is fluidly connected to a supply conduit 125 which supplies HEPA-air to each respective fluid inlet 120. The HEPA-air is introduced to the working chamber through the through openings 122.

[0054] The through openings 122 are configured to aim a continuous laminar and uniform flow of HEPA-air from the fluid inlet surface 121 at least down to below the vertical level of the container top ends 131 when the containers 130 are being conveyed. The laminar and uniform HEPA-air flow provides a clean zone that extends from the fluid inlet surfaces 121 to belove the vertical level of the container top ends 131 when the containers 130 are being conveyed, throughout the working chamber 110, and thereby prevents any contaminants from entering into the containers 130 while being conveyed through the working chamber 110. The working chamber is configured with cleaning nozzles 123b for cleaning the surfaces within the working chamber 110.

[0055] As shown in FIG. 4 the fluid inlet surface 121 has a convex ellipsoidal shape facing the working chamber 110, where the radius of the curvature of the fluid inlet surface 121 is greater distal from the ceiling 112 than the radius of the curvature of the fluid inlet surface 121 proximal to the ceiling 112. Said ellipsoidal shape of the fluid inlet aids in equalizing the pressure of the HEPA-air over the through openings 122. Said ellipsoidal shape also provides a surface suitable for the through openings 122 produce a laminar and uniform HEPA-air flow to be aimed directly at the container top ends 131 while they are conveyed in the working chamber.

[0056] To further aid the provision of a uniform and laminar HEPA-air flow in the working chamber 110 the pressure of the HEPA-air is equalized over the through openings 122. The supply conduit 125 has the shape of a circular pipe with a cross section that is suitable for providing a slow HEPA-air flow velocity. The cross section of the supply conduit 125 increases towards the end proximal to the fluid inlet surface 121. This further slows the HEPA-air flow velocity and aids in equalizing the pressure of the HEPA-air over the through openings 122, which in turn provides a uniform and laminar HEPA-air flow. When the pressure of the HEPA-air is equalized over the plurality of through openings 122 the risk of undesired backflow of air from the working chamber 110, which may lead to contamination is reduced.

[0057] The configuration of the filling machine 100 with the supply conduits 125 allows for a more compact design than when using one plenum for equalizing pressure over the through openings 122. This is due to that a plenum needs to have a much larger volume for slowing the HEPA-air flow velocity than what is needed when using the supply conduits 125 as describe herein.

[0058] As shown in FIGS. 5-6 the filling machine includes an extraction duct 160 that is located directly belove the heating station 140b. The heating station 140b comprises a hot air supply 171 that directs hot air at the containers 130 by means of a hot air nozzle 172. The hot air is used for preparing the containers 130 for closing and scaling at the sealing station 140c.

[0059] Introduction of hot air into the working chamber 110 represents a risk for disrupting the laminar flow of HEPA-air. The hot air supplied has a higher flow velocity and a higher temperature than the HEPA-air. Turbulence and mixing of air in the clean zone with air from potentially unclean zones inside the working chamber are avoided by means of the extraction duct 160 which is configured for extraction of hot air supplied by the hot air supply 171.

[0060] The extraction duct 160 is a duct that allows the hot air to be extracted from the inside of the working chamber 110 to the outside ambient air.

[0061] The filling machine 100 comprises a fan 161 disposed within the extraction duct 160. The fan 161 is a suction fan that is configured to suck air from within the working chamber 110, through the extraction duct 160 to the outside ambient air.

[0062] The fan 161 is fitted with a speed control that enables variation of the speed of the fan and thus, variation of the volume of air that the fan 161 sucks from the working chamber 110.

[0063] The hot air supply 171 is configured to supply a variable volume of hot air to the heating station 140b via the hot air nozzle 172.

[0064] The speed of the fan 161 is regulated by means of the speed control to balance the volume of air extracted through the extraction duct 160 with the volume of hot air supplied by the hot air supply 171. In this manner the hot air supplied at the heating station 140b will have minimal impact on the laminar flow of HEPA-air in the clean zone within the working chamber 110, in particular within the closing region 118.

[0065] The heating station 140b comprises a heating station deflector 173 located adjacent to the hot air nozzle 172. The heating station deflector 173 has a bend for directing the hot air coming from the hot air nozzle 172 down towards the floor 113.

[0066] A side deflector 174 is arranged between the heating station 140b and the side wall 111 on the side of the working chamber 110 that is opposite to the extraction duct 160. The side deflector 174 extends vertically from the level of the container top ends 131 when they are conveyed and down towards the floor 113. The side deflector 174 comprises a comprises bend proximal to the floor 113 for directing the hot air towards the extraction duct 160.

[0067] The black arrows in FIG. 6 illustrates the direction of flow for the hot air from the hot air nozzle 172, via the heating station deflector 173 and the side deflector 174 towards the extraction duct 160.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 7 the filling machine further comprises guiding plates 175 that extends from each vertical side of the side deflector 174 towards the conveyor 115 and the heating station 140b. Together, the side deflector 174 and the guiding plates 175 forms channel within the closing region 118 which is suitable for guiding hot air towards the floor 113, towards the extraction duct 160 and subsequently to the outside ambient air.

[0069] It is appreciated that certain features of the invention, which, for clarity, have been described above in the context of separate configurations, may also be provided in combination in a single configuration. Conversely, various features of the invention, which, for brevity, have been described in the context of a single configuration, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

TABLE-US-00001 List of references: 100 Filling machine 110 Working chamber 111 Side walls 112 Ceiling 113 Floor 114a Inlet side 114b Outlet side 115 Conveyor 117 Filling region 118 Closing region 119 Wall 120 Fluid inlet 121 Fluid inlet surface 122 Through openings 123b Working chamber cleaning nozzle 125 Supply conduit 130 Container 131 Container top end 132 Container bottom end 140a Filling station 140b Heating station 140c Sealing station 150 Decontamination tunnel 160 Extraction duct 161 Fan 171 Hot air supply 172 Hot air nozzle 173 Heating station deflector 174 Side deflector 175 Guiding plates