Process for Aseptic Filling of Beverage Packaging Comprising an Interior Drinking Straw

Abstract

A method for filling of a beverage packaging includes in-line microwave assisted pasteurizing a beverage, vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a packaging, vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a drinking straw, positioning the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated drinking straw in the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated packaging, fixing the drinking straw inside the packaging, adjusting a temperature of the pasteurized beverage and cold filling the pasteurized beverage into the packaging with the fixed straw, and sealing the packaging.

Claims

1. A method for filling of a beverage packaging, comprising: in-line microwave assisted pasteurizing a beverage; vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a packaging; vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating a drinking straw; positioning the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated drinking straw in the vaporized hydrogen peroxide treated packaging; fixing the drinking straw inside the packaging; adjusting a temperature of the pasteurized beverage and cold filling the pasteurized beverage into the packaging with the fixed straw; and sealing the packaging.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating the packaging and vaporized hydrogen peroxide treating the drinking straw are performed in-line with a hydrogen peroxide dry gas process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hydrogen peroxide dry gas process is performed for a time period of no less than five seconds and no greater than one hundred seconds.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein hydrogen peroxide dry gas is directed at least partly into the drinking straw by active convection.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the microwave assisted pasteurizing is performed at a temperature of no less than seventy degrees Celsius and no greater than one hundred degrees Celsius for a time period of no less than twenty seconds and no greater than one hundred and fifty seconds.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein energy obtained adjusting a temperature of the pasteurized beverage is used to adjust a temperature of the beverage prior to microwave assisted pasteurizing the beverage.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a temperature of the pasteurized beverage while the pasteurized beverage is cold filled into the packaging with the fixed straw is no less than five degrees Celsius and no greater than twenty-five degrees Celsius.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging is one of a pouch, a flexible stand-up pouch, a bottle, a jar, a sachet and a can.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the packaging is a pouch.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the pouch is made from a laminated film structure, at least one film layer of the laminated film structure is a polyethylene film, a polypropylene film, an ethylene vinyl alcohol film, a linear low density polyethylene film, a metallocene linear low density polyethylene film, a very low density polyethylene film, or a metallocene very low density polyethylene film.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the beverage is one of water, flavored water, milk, juice, fruit juice and a smoothie.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the drinking straw is fixed inside the packaging by a dynamic induction heating process.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the drinking straw is made from polyethylene, polypropylene or a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the drinking straw comprises a polyethylene layer, the pouch is made from a laminated film structure, and the laminated film structure comprises a polypropylene layer, an ethylene vinyl alcohol layer and a polyethylene layer.

15. A system for filling of beverage packaging, comprising: a microwave assisted pasteurization unit configured for pasteurization of a beverage; a vaporized hydrogen peroxide sterilization unit for sterilization of a packaging material and a straw; a heat exchange unit for temperature adjustment of the pasteurized beverage before filling; a cold filling unit; and an induction sealing unit for sealing of the packaging.

Description

FIGURES

[0054] A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0055] FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a possible pouch packaging (1) including a straw (2), which can be used within the inventive packaging process;

[0056] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a pouch packaging (1) including a straw (not shown), which can be used within the inventive packaging process;

[0057] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the inventive process;

[0058] FIG. 4 is a schematic front view of a possible pouch packaging (1) including a drinking straw (2), which can be used within the inventive packaging process; and

[0059] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a possible film material (5) sealing pattern to produce a straw (2) from a film material (4) by heat sealing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

[0060] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0061] FIG. 1 exhibits a pouch packaging (1) including a drinking straw (2). The drinking straw (2) is integrated within the pouch packaging (1) and extends into the beverage (3), which is included in the pouch packaging. The pouch (1) is made from film material (4). This packaging enables a safe and convenient application.

[0062] FIG. 2 displays a side view of the drinking pouch (1). The drinking straw (2) inside the packaging is not shown.

[0063] FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the inventive process. In a first step, the beverage is pasteurized using microwave assisted pasteurization. The output of the pasteurization step is fed into a thermal adjustment step, wherein the temperature of the beverage is adjusted by heat exchange means. The temperature controlled, pasteurized beverage is either directly guided to the cold-fill process or the pasteurized liquid may be transferred to a buffer. Both possibilities are able to assure a continuous production process. The beverage packaging and the straw are each independent and independently from the beverage treated with hydrogen peroxide VHP dry gas in order to achieve a sterilization effect on the packaging material and the straw. The packaging material and the straw are assembled and the straw is fixed in the assembled position. This step is followed by cold-filling of the pasteurized and thermally adjusted beverage into the assembled packaging. In the last process step the packaging including the straw and the beverage is sealed.

[0064] FIG. 4 displays another front view of a possible pouch (1) packaging which can be processed according to the invention. The packaging (1) comprises a drinking straw (2) inside of the packaging (1). The straw is in direct contact with the beverage (3), complicating the microbiological safety situation. It is additionally displayed, that after the packaging is partially teared open at the straw (2) some part of the cap may still remain at the packaging. Such design helps reducing the number of waste material for disposal.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows a possible folding pattern (5) for heat sealing a straw (2) from a film material (4). The folded film creates a figure eight straw (2) and can be heat-sealed in the center into this conformation. Such straw set-up (2) enables processing of the complete packaging (1) from one film material (4), only. This creates a packaging which is easier to recycle. It is possible for instance to use a PE-film or a PE-film laminate to fold and create a straw and heat seal the film.

[0066] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0067] 1 Pouch packaging
2 Drinking straw

3 Beverage

4 Material

[0068] 5 drinking straw in a figure eight configuration