Packaging production machines and sterile rooms used for packaging production machines

Abstract

A sterile chamber (100) for a packaging production machine (10) is provided. The sterile chamber includes: an inlet portion (110) for allowing a roll of packaging material (20) to enter the sterile chamber (100); and at least one electron beam emitter (152) disposed downstream of the inlet portion (110) for processing the roll of packaging material (20) as it passes through the sterile chamber (100). The inlet portion (110) includes an inlet chamber (125) disposed between a feed gasket (120) and an inner gasket (130).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a packaging production machine, specifically a machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages. In particular, this invention relates to a sterile chamber for such a packaging production machine. Background Technology

[0002] In the food industry, beverages and other products are typically packaged using paper or cardboard base materials. Packaging for liquid foods is usually made of a packaging laminate consisting of a paper or cardboard core and an outer layer of liquid-impermeable thermoplastic material, at least on the side of the core that will form the interior of the packaging.

[0003] One type of packaging is produced from so-called ready-to-fill packaging. This ready-to-fill packaging is provided as a sleeve of packaging laminate material similar to the packaging described above, sealed at its bottom end before filling. Another type of ready-to-fill packaging is produced by providing an open sleeve of packaging laminate material, and, for example, by injection molding, arranging a plastic top at the upper end of the sleeve, thus leaving the bottom end open for filling. An alternative packaging production machine is one that produces a series of continuous packages from packaging material rolls, which are formed into tubular shapes and filled, sealed, and cut to separate the produced packages from the upstream tube.

[0004] To improve packaging, packaging materials can be equipped with opening / closing devices, such as screw caps. These screw caps, pre-applied to the packaging material and protruding from its originally flat surface, are thus handled by various stations of the packaging production machine before the final package is formed.

[0005] Before filling, packaging materials are sterilized or sterilized at least internally to extend the shelf life of the product to be stored in the package. The degree of sterilization / sterilization required varies depending on the desired shelf life and whether the packaging is distributed and stored under refrigeration or at room temperature. In recent years, sterilization / sterilization systems using electron beam irradiation have entered the market. One or more electron beam emitters are arranged in a sterile chamber, which forms part of the packaging production machine. Packaging materials enter the sterile chamber and pass through one or more electron beam emitters to be exposed to a sufficient dose of electrons. After sterilization, the packaging materials can be filled with the desired contents, shaped, and sealed to form safe and hygienic packaging.

[0006] During sterilization, it is preferable to apply positive pressure within the sterile chamber and to have a ventilation system that works in conjunction with the positive pressure. This is necessary for safety purposes. For example, ozone is typically generated during sterilization and should not be allowed to leave the sterile chamber. Furthermore, at the entrance to the sterile chamber, emissions from the packaging production machinery may be drawn towards the electron beam emitter, adversely affecting the sterilization process and potentially causing defects in the packaging materials. Such machine emissions may include, for example, water vapor, gaseous emissions, or hot air.

[0007] While providing the necessary ventilation for the sterile room is important, providing a proper seal for the entrance portion of the sterile room is also crucial. Although this is generally a relatively easy task to accomplish with perfectly flat packaging material by using suitable gaskets, the inventors have recognized the need for improvement when the packaging material has localized protruding features, such as the pre-applied closures described above.

[0008] Therefore, an improved sterile room is needed to prevent unwanted emissions from leaking out, especially through the entrance portion of the sterile room. Summary of the Invention

[0009] One object of the present invention is to overcome, at least in part, one or more of the aforementioned limitations of the prior art. In particular, one object is to provide a sterile room that reduces emissions entering or leaving the sterile room.

[0010] According to a first aspect, a sterile chamber for a packaging production machine is provided. The sterile chamber includes: an inlet portion for allowing a roll of packaging material to enter the sterile chamber; and at least one electron beam emitter disposed downstream of the inlet portion for processing the packaging material as it passes through the sterile chamber. The inlet portion includes an inlet chamber disposed between a feed gasket and an inner gasket.

[0011] The feed gasket and / or internal gasket may be provided with slits to allow the passage of a pre-applied opening device for the packaging material. The gasket will thus allow such a pre-applied opening device (e.g., in the form of a screw cap) to pass through without damaging the gasket.

[0012] The width of the inlet chamber can be set to accommodate the pre-applied opening device for the packaging material. Because the pre-applied opening device is installed inside the inlet chamber, the feed gasket and the internal gasket will never open simultaneously, thus improving the sealing of the inlet section.

[0013] The inlet section may also include an outlet chamber disposed between the inner gasket and the outlet gasket. The inlet section can therefore be provided with three gaskets and two chambers, thereby increasing the pressure inside the sterile chamber and interrupting the flow into the sterile chamber.

[0014] The volume of the entrance chamber can be larger than that of the exit chamber. This further reduces the flow rate into the sterile chamber from the entrance.

[0015] The outlet gasket may be provided with a slit to allow pre-applied opening devices for packaging material to pass through. Furthermore, the outlet gasket will thus allow pre-applied opening devices to pass through without the risk of damaging the outlet gasket.

[0016] The width of the outlet chamber can be set to accommodate the pre-applied opening device for the packaging material. Because the pre-applied opening device is installed inside the outlet chamber, the inner gasket and the outlet gasket will never open simultaneously, thus improving the sealing of the inlet section.

[0017] The sterile room may also include an exhaust pipe connected to the entrance room. By venting the entrance room, the potential risk of exhaust materials entering the sterile room is further reduced.

[0018] The discharge pipe can be connected to the inlet chamber at a location below the feed gasket and the inner gasket. When the packaging material is oriented such that the pre-applied opening device points downwards, evacuation of emissions around the pre-applied opening device is improved.

[0019] The sterile room may also include a ventilation duct that connects to the sterile room downstream of the entrance section. Therefore, a controlled environment can be maintained within the sterile room.

[0020] The discharge pipe can be connected to the discharge pipe via a Y-connector. This ensures that there are no large flow separation and recirculation zones, causing only a very small increase in turbulent kinetic energy.

[0021] According to a second aspect, a packaging production machine is provided. This packaging production machine includes a sterile chamber according to the first aspect.

[0022] According to a third aspect, a method for a packaging production machine is provided, comprising: feeding a roll of packaging material into a sterile chamber, allowing the packaging material to enter the sterile chamber through an inlet portion gasket disposed between a feed gasket and a downstream inner gasket, and emptying the inlet chamber.

[0023] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0024] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams, wherein...

[0025] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of a packaging manufacturing machine according to an implementation plan.

[0026] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional view of a sterile room according to one implementation plan.

[0027] Figure 3 This is a perspective view of the entrance portion of a sterile room according to one implementation plan.

[0028] Figure 4a -c is a cross-sectional view of the entrance portion of a sterile room according to one embodiment;

[0029] Figure 4d yes Figure 4a A three-dimensional view of the cross-section of the entrance portion shown in -c; and

[0030] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of a method according to an implementation plan. Detailed Implementation Plan

[0031] from Figure 1 The diagram beginning shows a schematic representation of the general principle of the packaging production machine 10. (As shown...) Figure 1 As shown, the packaging production machine 10 is configured to transform packaging material rolls 20 into a series of individual packages 30.

[0032] Packaging material roll 20 is provided, for example, on reel 22 and continuously fed through packaging production machine 10, where packaging material roll 20 passes through several different stations. Although packaging production machine 10 may include many different stations, Figure 1 The example specifically describes a sterile room 100, a filling station 40, and a sealing and forming station 50.

[0033] The packaging material roll 20 enters the sterile chamber 100 through the inlet portion 110. It then passes through a sterilization unit 150 in the form of one or more electron beam emitters 152. After exposure to electron beam irradiation, the packaging material roll 20 exits the sterile chamber 100 through the outlet portion 160. In the filling station 40, the packaging material roll 20 is formed into a tube 24. The tube 24 is filled with the desired contents, preferably a liquid food product, through a filling tube 42, and then a sealing and forming portion 50 laterally seals the tube 24, cutting the front portion of the tube 24 from the upstream tube at the laterally sealed position, and forming the separated package 30 into the desired shape.

[0034] An embodiment of the sterile room 100 is further shown in Figure 2 In the sterile chamber 100, an outer casing 102 is enclosed. An entrance portion 110 (schematically shown) is arranged at the outer casing 102, allowing the packaging material roll 20 to enter the interior of the outer casing 102. A sterilization unit 150 is arranged within the outer casing 102 and is surrounded by a protective shield 154. In the example shown, two electron beam emitters 152 are arranged within the protective shield 154 and on opposite sides of the packaging material roll 20. Therefore, as the packaging material roll 20 passes through the sterilization unit 150, both sides of the packaging material roll 20 are sterilized by electron beam irradiation.

[0035] The sterile room 100 is provided with a ventilation system 170. The ventilation system 170 includes a compressor 172 configured to control the environment within the sterile room 100. For this purpose, the compressor 172 is connected to a ventilation duct 173, the ventilation duct 173 being connected at its opposite end to a housing 102. As will be explained further below, the ventilation system 170 also includes an exhaust pipe 174 branching from the ventilation duct 173 and connected to an inlet portion 110 of the sterile room 100.

[0036] Turn now Figure 3 This further shows details of the entrance portion 110 of the sterile room 100. As previously described, the packaging material roll 20 enters the sterile room 100 through the entrance portion 110. Although in Figure 3 Only a portion is shown, but the packaging material roll 20 is preferably provided with pre-applied opening devices, such as screw caps 26. The opening devices 26 should be distributed on the packaging material roll 20 such that each formed package 30 has one and only one opening device 26 when produced by the associated packaging production machine 10.

[0037] The inlet portion 110 is provided with a slit 112 through which the packaging material roll 20 is fed. The slit 112 is formed in the outer plate 114 and has a width sized to allow the packaging material roll 20 to pass through. In addition, the height of the slit 112 is designed to allow any pre-applied opening device 26 of the packaging material to pass through.

[0038] The discharge pipe 174 is connected to the center of the inlet portion 110, below the slit 112. From Figure 3 As can be further seen, ventilation duct 173 is connected to the outer shell 102 of the sterile room 100, and exhaust duct 174 is connected to ventilation duct 173 via Y-shaped connector 176. Although in Figure 3 Although not shown, the Y-shaped connector 176 is positioned relatively close to the compressor 172, preferably with the distance between the compressor 172 and the Y-shaped connector 176 being less than the length of the discharge pipe 174.

[0039] The central connection of the discharge pipe 174 to the inlet portion 110 is particularly advantageous for the packaging material roll 20 in which the pre-applied opening device 26 is arranged centrally. In such an embodiment, the discharge port is aligned with the pre-applied opening device 26.

[0040] exist Figure 4a In Figure -c, the inlet portion 110 is shown in cross-section together with the packaging material roll 20. In these figures, the packaging material roll 20 is provided with a pre-applied opening device 26 in the form of a threaded nozzle extending away from the originally flat surface of the packaging material roll 20. The packaging material roll 20 is oriented such that the threaded nozzle 26 points downwards.

[0041] For clarity, it should be noted that the threaded nozzle 26 is typically fitted with a cap or closure before filling. Optionally, the threaded nozzle 26 extends from the sealing film of the packaging material roll 20, allowing the cap or closure to be added after filling.

[0042] from Figure 4a Initially, the packaging material roll 20 is positioned relative to the inlet portion 110, such that the threaded nozzle 26 has passed through the slit 112. Feed washers 120 are provided immediately inside the slit 112. These are typically paired, vertically aligned feed washers 120a-b (see [link to product description]). Figure 4b The feed washer 120 is in Figure 4a The packaging material roll 20 (especially the threaded nozzle 26) pushes the feed washer 120 inward along the moving direction of the packaging material roll 20, causing it to partially deflect inward.

[0043] The feed gasket 120 forms the upstream boundary of the inlet chamber 125. The inlet chamber 125 is sealed downstream by the inner gasket 130. The inner gasket 130 is also preferably formed as a pair of vertically aligned inner gaskets 130a-b. The presence of the packaging material roll 20 causes a small separation between the pair of inner gaskets 130a-b, which will increase as the pre-applied opening device 26 comes into contact with and is forced through the inner gaskets 130.

[0044] When the inner gasket 130 forms the downstream boundary of the inlet chamber 125, the inner gasket 130 also forms the upstream boundary of the outlet chamber 135. The outlet chamber 135 extends in the machine direction between the inner gasket 130 and the outlet gasket 140. The outlet gasket 140 is preferably the same as the inner gasket 130 and / or the feed gasket 120, i.e., formed as a pair of vertically aligned outlet gaskets 140a-b.

[0045] Therefore, as the packaging material roll 20 travels through the packaging production machine 10, it will enter the inlet section 110 and pass through the inlet chamber 125 and the outlet chamber 135 before it further enters the sterile chamber 100.

[0046] exist Figure 4b In this position, the packaging material roll 20 has been moved so that the opening device 26 is located downstream of the inlet chamber 125, immediately following the inner gasket 130. At this position, the feed gasket 120 and the inner gasket sealing gasket 130 are closed, thus sealing the inlet chamber 125. As the discharge pipe 174 continuously draws air from the inlet chamber 125, any discharge carried by the opening device 26 and the adjacent packaging material roll 20 will be effectively removed before the opening device 26 reaches the interior of the sterile chamber 100.

[0047] exist Figure 4cThe image shows a further downstream position of the opening device 26 as it moves into the interior of the sterile chamber 100. In this position, the opening device 26 has reached the inner gasket 130, forcing it to open to allow the opening device 26 to pass through and enter the outlet chamber 135, while the inner gasket 130 is partially open, as... Figure 4c As shown, due to the outlet gasket 140, emissions from inside the sterile chamber 100 are prevented from leaking. The outlet sealing gasket 140 completely seals the boundary between the interior of the sterile chamber 100 and the external environment outside the inlet portion 110.

[0048] like Figure 4a As shown in -c, the distance between the inner gasket 130 and the outlet gasket 140 is greater than the width of the opening device 26. This means that the opening device 26 will only cause one of the inner gasket 130 and the outlet gasket 140 to open, while the other remains closed. Therefore, from Figure 4c As shown, the inner gasket 130 will be allowed to close completely before the opening device 26 reaches the outlet gasket 140, thus forcing it to open.

[0049] The opening device 26, with its inlet chamber 125, outlet chamber 135, feed seal 120, internal seal 130, and outlet seal 140, achieves a highly controlled environment as it passes through the inlet portion 110. The inlet chamber 125 allows the discharge of any emissions brought into the inlet portion 110 by the opening device 26, while the outlet chamber 135 prevents these emissions from being further conveyed into the sterile room. Simultaneously, the outlet chamber 135 prevents any emissions from inside the sterile room 100 from reaching the external environment.

[0050] Input section 110 in Figure 4d Further illustrated below. The discharge pipe 174 terminates at the discharge port 178 of the inlet chamber 125. The discharge port 178 is located on the same side of the packaging material roll 20 as the opening device 26. However, the width of the inlet chamber 125 and the width of the outlet chamber 135 are preferably greater than the width of the packaging material roll 20, such that air is discharged from both the entire inlet chamber 125 and the outlet chamber 135. Figure 4d As further indicated, each gasket 120, 130, 140 is provided with slits 122, 132, 142 to allow the pre-applied opening device 26 to pass through and thereby avoid the risk of mechanical impact and damage. While the necessity of having these slits 122, 132, 142 increases machine emissions during different phases of machine operation, the provision of the inlet chamber 125, outlet chamber 135, and discharge pipe 174 greatly reduces such emissions.

[0051] The inlet section 110 provides an improved solution related to the packaging material roll 20 entering the aseptic chamber 100. The aforementioned inlet section 110 concept has been shown to reduce emissions by approximately 50%. A particular advantage is attributed to the Y-shaped connection 176 between the discharge pipe 174 and the compressor 172 to increase emissions within the inlet chamber 125. Furthermore, by allowing the discharge pipe 174 to connect to the inlet chamber 125 in a funnel shape, the airflow generated by the cut 122 of the feed gasket 120 is interrupted. Additionally, the presence of three gaskets 120, 130, and 140 within the inlet section 110, with a total distance less than the package repeat length, will prevent the gaskets 120, 130, and 140 from opening three times during the production of each package.

[0052] Turn now Figure 5 The diagram schematically illustrates a method 200 for a packaging production machine. Method 200 includes a step 202 of feeding a roll of packaging material 20 into a sterile chamber 100 and a step 204 of allowing the roll of packaging material 20 to enter the sterile chamber 100 via an inlet portion 110 passing through an inlet chamber 125 disposed between a feed gasket 120 and a downstream inner gasket 130. Method 200 further includes a step 206 of evacuating the inlet chamber 125.

[0053] Optionally, method 200 may also include step 208, namely, conveying the packaging material roll 20 through an exit chamber 135 arranged downstream of the entrance chamber 125 before reaching the interior of the sterile chamber 100.

[0054] As can be seen from the above description, although various embodiments of the present invention have been described and shown, the present invention is not limited thereto, but may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sterile chamber (100) for a packaging production machine (10), comprising: An inlet section (110) is provided for allowing the roll of packaging material (20) to enter the sterile chamber (100); And at least one electron beam emitter (152), arranged downstream of the inlet portion (110), for treating the packaging material roll (20) as it passes through the sterile chamber (100). The inlet portion (110) includes an inlet chamber (125) disposed between a feed washer (120) and an inner washer (130). The feed gasket (120) and / or the inner gasket (130) are provided with slits to allow the pre-applied opening device (26) of the packaging material roll (20) to pass through.

2. The sterile room (100) according to claim 1, wherein, The width of the entrance chamber (125) is set to accommodate the pre-applied opening device (26) of the packaging material roll (20).

3. The sterile room (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The inlet portion (110) also includes an outlet chamber (135) disposed between the inner gasket (130) and the outlet gasket (140).

4. The sterile room (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The volume of the entrance chamber (125) is greater than the volume of the exit chamber (135).

5. The sterile room (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The outlet gasket (140) is provided with a slit to allow the pre-applied opening device (26) of the packaging material roll (20) to pass through.

6. The sterile room (100) according to claim 3, wherein, The width of the outlet chamber (135) is set to accommodate the pre-applied opening device (26) of the packaging material roll (20).

7. The sterile room (100) according to any one of claims 1, 2, 4, 5 or 6 further includes an exhaust pipe (174) connected to the entrance chamber (125).

8. The sterile room (100) according to claim 7, wherein, The discharge pipe (174) is connected to the inlet chamber (125) at a position below the feed gasket (120) and the inner gasket (130).

9. The sterile room (100) according to claim 7, further comprising a ventilation duct (173) connected downstream of the inlet portion (110) to the sterile room (100).

10. The sterile room (100) according to claim 9, wherein, The discharge pipe (174) is connected to the ventilation pipe (173) via a Y-shaped connector (176).

11. A packaging production machine (10) comprising a sterile chamber (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A method for using a packaging production machine, comprising: The packaging material roll is fed into the sterile chamber according to any one of claims 1 to 10. The packaging material is allowed to enter the entrance portion of the sterile chamber through the entrance chamber arranged between the feed gasket and the downstream inner gasket, and the entrance chamber is emptied.

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