Internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines

Abstract

A system (100, 200) for automatic internal washing of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines for solid products, comprising: at least one fixed collector (102, 202); at least one washing device (101, 201) placed in correspondence with each vacuum chamber, configured to inject and / or diffuse water or cleaning solution or air; at least one system comprising pipes configured to inject and discharge water and / or a cleaning solution and / or air; at least one valve (103, 203) able to ensure the vacuum seal of the at least one vacuum chamber.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] " Internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines"

[0003] The present invention relates to an internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , in particular an automatic washing system for packaging machines comprising vacuum chambers and able to package solid products in preformed bags having an open side .

[0004] As is known, vacuum packaging of a product stored inside one or more bags involves the steps of evacuating air from such one or more bags ; sealing the bag; and releasing the air into the atmosphere i f the packaging machine has one or more vacuum chambers or, alternatively, freeing the mouth of the bag, in case of external machines . There are various packaging systems that implement such a technique .

[0005] The patent document EP1403187A1 describes a washing system applied externally to a thermoforming machine . A thermoforming machine is a packaging machine that works with two reels of film, i . e . , an upper film and a lower film . After being unwound and inserted into the machine itsel f , the lower film is gripped by special Gripper chains that advance it inside the machine , keeping it taut . The machine is divided into zones ; at each movement , the chains advance the film in a " step" of one zone at a time . The film enters the first station, which is the forming station, where it is heated and formed using a mold, becoming a rigid or flexible tray of the desired si ze and / or shape of the product to be packaged . All the trays , still j oined in a single lower film, proceed to the loading area, where one or two operators or an automatic loading system fill the trays with the products . The film with the filled trays then passes to the packaging station where , after the vacuum cycle, is sealed with the corresponding upper film .

[0006] There are several types of packaging : vacuum only packaging where the entire upper and lower film adapts closely to the product , vacuum packaging followed by the introduction of a gas mixture ( called MAP or modi fied atmosphere ) where the package normally maintains its shape , or a "Skin" type packaging where the lower tray remains flat becoming a "tray" and the upper film adapts to the product as i f it were a second skin . At this point the f ilm with the sealed but still j oined trays passes to the cutting station where it is divided and subsequently the excess part is wrapped or recovered as processing waste . The trays separated from the film are normally conveyed onto a chute or a motori zed belt and led to exit the machine body ready to be packaged and shipped . The cleaning system described requires that the machine has an opening system for the forming- packaging-cutting stations that allows the washing head to access the inside of them with the freedom also to move to perform the cleaning cycle ; that the thermoforming machine does not have a conveyor belt along the entire machine since is the film itsel f advancing together ; that the washing head is single and mounted on a system that moves laterally to the machine , able to move automatically both vertically and hori zontally .

[0007] A further washing system is described by the patent document EP0374586A1 which is speci fic for filling machines for liquids , milk or fruit j uices . The described system does not include vacuum stations . The packages are prepared and filled inside the machine itsel f . The cleaning system described includes a head with noz zles that is mounted on a mobile guide and that moves along an internal belt of the machine spraying detergent able to saniti ze . There are also other fixed noz zles only in the sealing area of the packages after filling with the product .

[0008] The known vacuum packaging systems suf fer from the limitation that , during the air evacuation step, antistatic powders present in the composition of the bags or some parts of the product , solid, liquid or semi-liquid, could be extracted from inside the bag, so contaminating internal parts of the machine itsel f , whether they are structural parts , such as the fixed parts of the chambers , or moving parts , such as tapes , belts , rollers , gears and others , with the consequence of possible / eventual damage to the machine .

[0009] Washing systems for vacuum packaging machines that are particularly bulky or require complex processing, assembly and monitoring steps , in addition to the need to assemble and disassemble the system perform out cleaning and restore the machine to the conditions preceding the cleaning phase , are also known .

[0010] The purpose of the present invention is to provide an automatic internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines that is free from contaminants and safe , practical to use and space-saving, having therefore characteristics that overcome the limitations that still af fect the current internal washing systems of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , with reference to the known technique .

[0011] According to the present invention, an automatic internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines is provided, as defined in claim 1 .

[0012] For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is now described, purely by way of non- limiting example , with reference to the attached drawings , in which :

[0013] - figure 1 shows a schematic view of an internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , according to a first embodiment of the invention ;

[0014] - figure 2 shows a detailed view of a component of the internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines of figure 1 , according to the invention ; figure 3 shows a schematic view o f the internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , according to a second embodiment of the invention .

[0015] With reference to figure 1 , the system 100 , 200 for internal washing of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines is shown, in particular a first embodiment of the system 100 , in which the system 100 is mounted as a factory and integrated equipment of a packaging machine at the time of its construction and therefore managed by the machine itsel f or manually .

[0016] In a second embodiment , the system 200 can be mounted plug & play for speci fic vacuum packaging machines , managed manually or with an external electrical panel . The second embodiment is shown in figure 3 . The system 100, 200 is able to be applied to evacuation stations comprising at least one vacuum chamber, wherein the system 100, 200 for automatic internal washing comprises:

[0017] - at least one fixed manifold 102, 202;

[0018] - at least one washing device 101, 201, configured to inject and / or diffuse water or a cleaning solution or air, the washing device 101, 201 is mounted on the manifold 102, 202, installed on a specific support and is placed in each vacuum chamber.

[0019] Each washing device 101, 201 is mounted on a manifold 102, 202, which consists of a fixed manifold 102, 202 when it is arranged inside a potential vacuum chamber present in the evacuation station, in the case of the plug & play embodiment 200 using connections with which a packaging machine is already provided.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the washing device 101, 201 comprises an ejector or nozzle, fixed and placed inside the washing chamber, chosen within the group consisting of:

[0021] - specific ejectors for water,

[0022] - specific ejectors for cleaning solution;

[0023] - ejectors for air;

[0024] - fixed nozzles; - ejectors able to be adjusted or moved independently or by means of an external movement (e.g., electrical motors , etc . ) ,

[0025] - washing balls or heads.

[0026] Each ejector or nozzle is mounted on a fixed manifold 102, 202 equipped with a specific support or specific hermetic fixing (in the case of manifolds 102, 202) .

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 100, 200 comprises at least one pressure regulator 104, 204 able to supply the at least one washing device 101, 201 and a filter 105, 205 placed before the pressure regulator 104, 204 and a ball valve 106, 206.

[0028] According to a first and a second embodiment of the system 100, 200 if the evacuation station is fixed, the system 100, 200 comprises at least one valve 103, 203 able to ensure the vacuum seal of the chambers.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one ejector, or washing device 101, is supplied by a pressure regulator 104 with a filter 105 placed upstream and a ball valve 106.

[0030] In the system 100, the entry of the cleaning water will be software-managed by the packaging machine itself which will be able to activate the entry by activating a specific electro-valve 107, 207, managing the times and the potential activation of rollers , belts , carpets for their total saniti zation and cleaning based on the model of the packaging machine .

[0031] The electro-valve 107 , 207 can be activated automatically to allow water or cleaning solution to enter the system 100 , 200 .

[0032] Advantageously according to the invention, the system 100 , 200 can work with water only i f connected to a tap or with water mixed with detergents , based on the needs of the environment and the type of dirt to be cleaned . In some applications the system 100 , 200 can also work dry, with air only . A parallel compressed air system ( filtered or not i f the product requires it ) can also be added to the "water" system with the dual function of emptying the pipes from the washing liquid and "draining" most of the residue in the chamber by making it flow into the drain, i f present , or outside the chamber .

[0033] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 100 comprises a water system for washing and a compressed air system, mutually connected .

[0034] According to another aspect of the invention, the system 100 , 200 includes a non-return valve 108 , 208 able to separate the water / air systems . According to an aspect of the invention, the system 100 , 200 further comprises a pressure regulator 109 , 209 and a valve 110 , 210 for turning on and of f the automatic air intake .

[0035] According to another aspect of the invention, the system 100 comprises a non-return valve 108 able to separate the water / air systems , a pressure regulator 109 and a tap 111 , for turning on and of f the manual air supply .

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 100 comprises a speci fic computer program product configured to control the start , stop and management of washing / drying times and movement of the parts and / or components requiring a cleaning .

[0037] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 optionally comprises an additional electrical panel able to manage the timing and switching on of the system .

[0038] In the second embodiment , the system 200 comprises at least one washing device 201 each mounted on a mani fold 202 optimi zed for the model of the vacuum packaging machine for which the system 200 is intended, so as to be a plug & play system keeping the flow of clean water or detergent solution separate from the dirty water .

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises a valve 203 configured to ensure the vacuum seal of the at least one vacuum chamber with which the evacuation station is provided .

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises at least one pressure regulator 204 able to supply the at least one washing device 201 , a filter 205 placed before the pressure regulator 204 .

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises a ball valve 206 , configured to control the cleaning cycle manually .

[0042] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises an electro-valve 207 able to be automatically activated to allow water or cleaning solution to enter the system 200 .

[0043] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises a water or cleaning solution system for washing and a compressed air system connected to each other but separated by a non-return valve 208 .

[0044] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises a tap 211 for turning on and of f the manual air supply .

[0045] According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises a pressure regulator 209 and a valve 210 for turning on and of f the automatic air intake . According to one aspect of the invention, the system 200 comprises an electrical panel , able to manage the opening / closing of the valves in order to create an automatic cleaning program, establishing timings and water / air flow rates . The electrical panel in the system 200 , di f ferently from system 100 , does not manage the movements of portions of the packaging machine , but only the entry of the water and any draining by means of air flow .

[0046] Therefore , the system for automatic internal washing of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , according to the invention, can be integrated into packaging machines , or used as an optional kit able to be applied on existing packaging machines .

[0047] Finally, the system for automatic internal washing of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines according to the invention is ef ficient and allows washing of vacuum chambers and mechanical components , rollers and belts , in an automatic and practical way, with mechanical parts in motion achieving a deep cleaning and avoiding encrustations .

[0048] Furthermore , advantageously the system according to the invention allows a reduction in costs and washing times related to vacuum packaging machines .

[0049] It is finally clear that the internal washing system of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines , described and illustrated herein, may be subj ect to modi fications and variations without departing from the protective scope of the present invention, as defined in the attached claims .

Claims

CLAIMS1. System (100, 200) for automatic internal washing of evacuation stations for vacuum packaging machines for solid products in vacuum packaging bags having an open side, wherein said evacuation stations comprise at least one vacuum chamber, characterized in comprising: at least one fixed manifold (102, 202) ;- at least one washing device (101, 201) , placed in correspondence with each vacuum chamber and centrally with respect to said vacuum chamber, configured to inject and / or diffuse water or a cleaning solution or air, mounted on a fixed manifold (102, 202) ;- at least one system comprising piping able to inject, into each vacuum chamber, and discharge, from each vacuum chamber to a waste sump, water and / or cleaning solution and / or air;- at least one valve (103, 203) able to ensure the vacuum seal of the at least one vacuum chamber with which the evacuation station is provided; wherein said washing device (101, 201) comprises at least one fixed ejector, chosen within the group consisting of: specific ejectors for water, specific ejectors for cleaning solution, ejectors for air, nozzles, washing spheres or heads.

2. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising at least one pressure regulator (104, 204) able to supply the at least one washing device (101, 201) , a filter (105, 205) placed before the pressure regulator (104, 204) and a ball valve (106, 206) configured to manually control the cleaning cycle.

3. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a washing water or cleaning solution plant and a compressed air plant mutually connected but separated by means of a non-return valve (108, 208) .

4. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that said at least one washing device (101, 201) is mounted over a hermetic fixed manifold (102) which keeps the flow of clean water or detergent solution separate from dirty water, or on a manifold (202) optimized depending on the vacuum packaging machine model for which the system (200) is intended so as to be plug & play, keeping the flow of clean water or detergent solution separate from the dirty water .

5. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising an electro-valve (107, 207) able to be activated automatically to inject water or cleaning solution into the system (100, 200) .

6. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a tap (111, 211) for turning the manual air supply on and off.

7. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in comprising a pressure regulator (109, 209) and a valve (110, 210) able to switch on and off the automatic air supply.

8. System (100, 200) according to claim 1, characterized in that said system (100, 200) is able to be activated manually or automatically and comprises a specific computer program product configured to perform the control of start, stop and management of washing / drying times and movement of the organs and / or components that require cleaning, said computer program product being able to manage and control said nozzles, valves, control and supply systems and discharge of water and / or detergent solution and / or air.

9. System (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that said system (200) is able to be activated manually or automatically and comprises a specific electrical panel controlling start, stop and management of washing / drying times, that is, the injection of water and / or detergent solution and / or air and the discharge of the related outgoing fluids .

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