Food packaging method and packaging machine

Abstract

A method (600) of packaging a food product is provided. The method may include receiving (602) at least one sheet of packaging material (PM) in a packaging machine (500), the packaging material (PM) including a cellulose-based middle layer (400), an inner layer (404) disposed to face the food product (FP), and an outer layer (402), where ink-based printing is provided on the outer layer (402), curing (604) the inner layer (404) of the at least one sheet of packaging material (PM), and curing (605) the at least one sheet of packaging material (PM). The outer layer (402) comprises ink particles (302) released from the outer layer (402) to the inner layer (404) such that the ink particles (302) released from the outer layer (402) to the inner layer (404) are bonded to the inner layer (404), thereby preventing the ink particles (302) from being released into the food product (FP), processing (606) at least one piece of packaging material (PM) into a package (110), and filling (608) the package (110) with the food product (FP).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates generally to liquid food packaging technology and more particularly to a method for reducing the risk of ink particles being transferred into food associated with the printing of packaging materials. Background Art

[0002] Today, roll-feed packaging machines are common. TM ) Tetra Pak TM The A3 is an example of such a packaging machine (sometimes also called a filling machine). In short, in a roll-feed packaging machine, a rolled-up roll of packaging material is received. The packaging material is unwound and the web of packaging material is fed into the machine. To ensure that no, or at least very few, unwanted microorganisms are transmitted from the packaging material to the food, the web is treated using a hydrogen peroxide bath or a low-voltage electron beam (LVEB) device. Once the microorganisms on the web have been killed, the web can be processed into vertically positioned tubes. The food is loaded into the tube from above and the tube is continuously sealed and cut at its lower end, allowing the production of packages at amazing speeds, such as 30,000 packages per hour.

[0003] Before the packaging material is supplied to the packaging machine, the packaging material is printed. Usually, the packaging material is produced and printed in a so-called converting plant. In short, in such a plant, a laminate comprising different layers is produced and a printing, sometimes also called a decorative pattern, is provided on the outer layer of the packaging material.

[0004] When the packaging material is rolled up on a roll, the printed outer layer is placed against the inner layer. This allows the possibility of ink particles transferring from the outer layer to the inner layer, which faces the food after the package is formed. In order to reduce the impact of ink particles on the inner layer, food-grade inks have been developed that are safe for consumers, i.e., if ink particles end up in the food, they will not be harmful to the consumer. Alternatively or additionally, a cover layer can also be provided on top of the printing, which can eliminate or at least reduce the risk.

[0005] Another possible solution is to print in the packaging machine after the packaging material has been unwound from the roll, i.e. by changing the order of the steps and not printing while the packaging material is on the roll, thus eliminating the risk of transfer of printed particles from the outer layer to the inner layer.

[0006] Although there are some solutions on how to avoid or at least reduce the negative impact of ink particles transferred from the outer layer to the inner layer during the transportation of packaging materials, the problem of ink particle migration still exists. Therefore, a solution is needed to reduce the negative impact of ink particles transferred between the outer layer and the inner layer without affecting the cost-effectiveness and versatility of the packaging machine. Summary of the invention

[0007] The object of the present invention is to at least partially overcome one or more limitations of the above-mentioned prior art. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a safe, low-cost, universal method to reduce the effect of ink particles transferring from the outer layer of the packaging material carrying the printing to the inner layer of the packaging material facing the food once the package is formed.

[0008] According to a first aspect, a food packaging method is provided, the method comprising

[0009] receiving in a packaging machine at least one sheet of packaging material, said packaging material comprising a cellulose-based middle layer, an inner layer arranged to face said food product and an outer layer, wherein ink-based printing is provided on said outer layer,

[0010] curing the inner layer of the at least one piece of packaging material so that ink particles released from the outer layer to the inner layer are bound to the inner layer, thereby preventing the ink particles from being released into the food,

[0011] processing the at least one piece of packaging material into a package, and

[0012] The packaging is filled with the food product.

[0013] The advantage of curing the packaging material after it has been received in the packaging machine is that even if ink particles are transferred from the outer layer to the inner layer, for example during transport from the printing press to the packaging machine, these particles are bound to the inner layer and cannot be transferred from the inner layer to the food at a later time. By placing the curing device in this way, it is not necessary to take different measures to prevent ink particles from eventually entering the inner layer, which is more cost-effective.

[0014] Curing may be performed by ultraviolet (UV) lamps, electron beam devices, and / or light emitting diode (LED) equipment.

[0015] While curing the inner layer, the method may further include,

[0016] Use ultraviolet light, electron beam devices and / or light emitting diode devices to reduce the number of microorganisms on the inner layer.

[0017] The energy (usually in the form of light) used to cure the ink particles on the inner layer can also be used to kill microorganisms on the inner layer. Thus, the energy emitted to the inner layer can achieve a dual purpose: curing the ink particles so that they do not end up in the food and killing microorganisms so that they cannot be transferred to the food.

[0018] The packaging material may be provided with a light blocking layer, the light blocking layer being arranged to allow light of a transmission wavelength to pass through, and the method may further include

[0019] emitting light of a transmission wavelength from a UV lamp, an electron beam device, and / or an LED device, and

[0020] By transmitting light of a transmission wavelength through the packaging material, the number of microorganisms on the outer layer of the web is reduced.

[0021] The benefit of a light-blocking layer that allows light of a transmissive wavelength to pass through is that it protects the food from sunlight, thereby reducing the risk of food spoilage, while allowing light of a limited wavelength to pass through the packaging material, thereby allowing the energy from the UV lamp, LED lamp and / or electron beam device to reduce the number of microorganisms not only on the inner layer, but also on the outer layer.

[0022] The light emitted by the LED device has an ink-specific wavelength adapted to the characteristics of the ink used.

[0023] The packaging material may be free of a cover layer arranged outside the printed outer layer.

[0024] Since the ink particles transferred on the inner layer are restrained by the curing device, the risk of ink particles transferring from the outer layer to the inner layer is reduced. Therefore, there is no reason or at least less reason to take measures to hinder the transfer of ink particles from the outer layer to the inner layer. Since the cover layer can be omitted, a more cost-effective packaging material can be provided, and the printing press device does not have to provide a cover layer after printing.

[0025] The packaging material may be free of an ink migration preventing layer, thereby allowing ink particles to migrate through the packaging material from the outer layer to the inner layer.

[0026] The transfer of ink particles from the outer layer to the inner layer is not necessarily due to the web of packaging material being rolled up on a reel so that the inner layer is adjacent to the outer layer, but can also be due to the ink particles penetrating the packaging material. In order to avoid this transfer, it is common practice to use an ink migration prevention layer. However, since ink particles on the inner layer can be processed in the packaging machine, the need for such an ink migration prevention layer is not required or at least reduced. Therefore, this layer can be omitted, making the packaging material more cost-effective.

[0027] The curing step can be divided into a first stage curing and a second stage curing, wherein the first stage curing uses a first range of wavelengths and the second stage curing uses a second range of wavelengths, wherein the second range of wavelengths is wider than the first range of wavelengths.

[0028] The first stage of curing can be done by LED equipment, and the second stage of curing can be done by UV lamps.

[0029] The benefit of using an LED device followed by a UV lamp is that the first step can use light with a specific range of wavelengths to suit the characteristics of the ink being used, while the second step can use light with a wide range of wavelengths to ensure that ink particles that were not properly bonded by the LED device are firmly bonded after passing through the UV lamp.

[0030] The packaging machine may be a roll-fed packaging machine and the packaging material is provided to the packaging machine in the form of a web wound up on a reel such that the outer layer is adjacent to the inner layer.

[0031] After the printing press unit has finished printing and before the packages are processed and filled in the packaging machine, the printed packaging materials can be stored on rolls, which makes the storage of packaging materials more efficient and improves the supply chain.

[0032] According to a second aspect, there is provided a packaging machine for packaging food, the packaging machine comprising

[0033] a packaging material receiver arranged to receive a packaging material, the packaging material comprising a cellulose-based middle layer, an inner layer arranged to face the food, and an outer layer, wherein ink printing is provided on the outer layer,

[0034] a curing device configured to cure the inner layer so that ink particles disposed on the inner layer are bonded to the inner layer, thereby preventing the ink particles from being released into the food,

[0035] a package former arranged to process the packaging material into packages, and

[0036] A product filling device arranged to fill food products into packages.

[0037] The features and advantages of the first aspect described above are also applicable to the second aspect.

[0038] The curing device may include an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, an electron beam device, and / or a light emitting diode (LED) device.

[0039] The curing device may be a curing and microbial reduction device for simultaneously curing and reducing the number of microorganisms on the inner layer.

[0040] The packaging material may have a light blocking layer that allows light of a transmission wavelength to pass through, wherein the UV lamp, electron beam device and / or LED device may be arranged to emit light of the transmission wavelength, thereby allowing light of the transmission wavelength to pass through the packaging material to reduce microorganisms on the outer layer of the web.

[0041] The packaging material receiver is a packaging material roll receiver arranged to receive packaging material in the form of a roll having a rolled-up packaging material roll, wherein the packaging machine further comprises a roll feeder arranged to unwind the roll from the roll and feed the roll downstream in the packaging machine.

[0042] Other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which

[0044] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a roll-feed packaging machine.

[0045] Figure 2 A general view of the printer assembly is shown.

[0046] Figure 3 Detail of a coil of packaging material rolled up on a reel.

[0047] Figure 4A -C shows three cross-sections of different packaging materials.

[0048] Figure 5 A general representation of a packaging machine with built-in curing unit.

[0049] Figure 6 A flow chart showing the method of food packaging. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Figure 1 A packaging machine 100 is schematically shown. In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging machine 100 is a roll-feed carton packaging machine. The general principle of such a machine is that, starting from a roll of packaging material PM, a web 102 is formed. Although not illustrated, if required to meet food safety regulations, the web 102 can be sterilized using a hydrogen peroxide bath, a low-pressure electron beam (LVEB) device, or any other device capable of reducing the number of undesirable microorganisms. After sterilization, the web 102 can be processed into a tube 106 by means of a longitudinal sealing device 104. When processed into a tube, a food product FP (e.g., milk) can be fed into the tube 106 via a product conduit 108 located at least partially inside the tube 106.

[0051] In order to process the tube 106 filled with the food product FP into a package 110, a transverse seal may be provided at the lower end of the tube using a transverse sealing device 112. Generally, the transverse sealing device 112 has two main functions: 1) to provide a transverse seal, i.e., to weld the two opposite sides of the tube together, so that the product in the lower portion of the tube (located below the seal) is separated from the product in the tube (located above the seal); and 2) to sever the lower portion of the tube in the transverse seal portion 114, so that the package 110 is formed. Alternatively, the step of severing the lower portion may be performed in a subsequent step by a different part of the apparatus, rather than performing the transverse sealing and severing the lower portion in the same device 112 as shown, or if the package is intended to be sold in multiple packs, the step of severing the lower portion may be performed by the consumer.

[0052] Figure 2 A printer device 200 is shown. This device can be installed in a food production base, such as a dairy product production base, so that packaging materials PM without printing or with certain printed parts can be provided to the production base. The advantage of this arrangement is that it can be decided at a later stage what products to produce. Another advantage is that the required storage of packaging materials PM is less, especially for production bases that produce multiple products. In other words, the supply chain can be improved.

[0053] In the illustrated embodiment, a roll 202a containing unprinted packaging material PM is provided to the printer device 200. After unwinding, the packaging material PM is sent to a printing device 204 along a feeding direction FD. The device 204 provides ink Ink on the packaging material PM. Downstream of the printing device 204, a curing device 206 is placed. In order to make the ink Ink harden and properly adhere to the packaging material PM, it is necessary to emit energy E (usually in the form of light) to the packaging material PM. After printing and curing, the packaging material PM is rolled up onto the roll 202b with printed PM.

[0054] Even though it is not shown, printing can also be performed directly on the web 102, that is, the web 102 is fed directly from the production plant into the printing press device 200, without first being rolled up on the reel 202a.

[0055] like Figure 3 As shown, energy E is applied to the ink Ink by the curing device 206, forming cured ink particles 300, which are attached to the outer layer, and also placing the transferred ink particles 302 on the inner layer. As shown in the figure, the transfer of ink particles may be due to the rolled-up web, but the transfer may also occur in other ways. For example, in some cases, although not shown, due to the airflow in the printer device 200, the ink particles may enter the inner layer of the packaging material. This may occur. Figure 2This is shown on the web, but can also occur on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles.

[0056] Figure 4A The cross-sectional view of the packaging material PM is generally illustrated, and the packaging material PM includes a cellulose-based middle layer 400, an outer layer 402 provided with ink Ink, an inner layer 404 arranged to face the food FP, a cover layer 406 disposed outside the outer layer 402, a light blocking layer 408, and an ink migration prevention layer 410. As shown in the figure, the light blocking layer 408 and the ink migration prevention layer 410 can be placed between the inner layer 404 and the cellulose-based middle layer 400, but other configurations can also be used.

[0057] Placing the cover layer 406 on top of the outer layer 402 can reduce the risk of ink migration. However, providing such a layer not only increases cost and makes the packaging material more complex, but the printer device 200 must also have the ability to add additional layers after printing. Therefore, in order to achieve cost-effectiveness and versatility, that is, to make in-place printing attractive to more food manufacturers, it is beneficial to omit the cover layer 406.

[0058] As shown in the figure, the ink migration prevention layer 410 can be a layer itself, but can also achieve its function through a combination of different layers, rather than just existing to prevent ink migration. Even if the ink migration prevention layer 410 is not added to the printer device 210, the cost of the packaging material will increase. If this layer can be omitted, the cost-effectiveness can be improved.

[0059] Figure 4B The packaging material PM is shown without the cover layer 406, but with Figure 4A The packaging material PM shown is consistent. One way to overcome the increased risk of ink migration due to the absence of the cover layer 406 is to not roll up the web on the roll, but this has a drawback in terms of versatility as it requires the printer device to be placed close to the packaging machine.

[0060] Figure 4C The packaging material PM is generally shown without the covering layer 406 and the ink migration prevention layer 410. If the ink migration prevention layer 410 is not used, part of the ink Ink may migrate through the packaging material PM. Figure 4C When the packaging material PM shown in FIG. 4 is rolled, there is a risk that the ink Ink migrates from the outer layer 402 to the inner layer 404 when rolled, but there is also a risk that the ink Ink passes through the packaging material PM. The benefit of omitting the ink migration prevention layer 410 is that a more cost-effective packaging material PM can be obtained.

[0061] exist Figure 4CIn the packaging material PM shown, the light blocking layer 408 is replaced by a light blocking layer 412, which is arranged to allow light 414 of a transmission wavelength to pass through. In other words, the light blocking layer 412 does not block all light, but allows light 414 of certain transmission wavelengths to pass through. The advantage of this arrangement is that the food can be fully shielded from sunlight, thereby reducing the risk of microbial growth in the food FP, but the light 414 allowed to pass through the packaging material PM is used to kill microorganisms on the outer layer 402 when the packaging material PM is treated before filling the food FP.

[0062] To use Figure 4B and Figure 4C The packaging material PM shown can be used Figure 5 The packaging machine 500 shown in FIG. 5 may include a packaging material receiver 502, which is illustrated in the form of a roll receiver. Figure 2 After the roll 202b for printing (printed) is placed in the printer device 200 shown, the packaging material can be unwound and the roll 102 is fed in a feeding direction FD by the roll feeder 504. The roll feeder 504 generally includes a plurality of components for feeding and guiding the roll 102.

[0063] In the filling machine 500, a curing device 506 may be provided for emitting energy E to cure the transfer ink particles 302 located on the inner layer 404 of the packaging material PM, i.e., to adhere to the packaging material PM. The curing device 506 may include a light emitting diode (LED) device, an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, and / or an electron beam device. Figure 5 As shown, the curing device 506 may include a combination of an LED device and an ultraviolet lamp. With this combination, the web 102 may first be exposed to the energy E emitted by the LED device and then to the energy E emitted by the ultraviolet lamp downstream in the feeding direction FD. With this arrangement, a first range of wavelengths may be provided first and then a second range of wavelengths may be provided, wherein the second range of wavelengths is wider than the first range of wavelengths. The first range may be adjusted according to the characteristics of the ink Ink used, thereby providing reliable and efficient curing.

[0064] By curing the inner layer 404 of the packaging material PM in the filling machine 500, the transferred ink particles 302 (which may eventually risk entering the food FP) are cured and attached to the packaging material PM. In other words, the curing device 506 will solve this problem instead of avoiding the generation of transferred particles 302 as has been done so far. FIG. 4A to FIG. 4CThe description of different packaging materials in not only has advantages in how to handle the packaging material PM between the printer device 200 and the packaging machine 500, but also allows the use of more cost-effective packaging materials PM, such as packaging materials without the covering layer 406 and / or packaging materials without the ink migration prevention layer 410.

[0065] After the web 102 is cured, the package is processed in a package former 508 (e.g. Figure 1 As shown), the package 110 is filled with food FP in the product filling device 510 (also as shown Figure 1 Although the illustration shows a roll-fed cartoner, the same principles can be applied to other food packaging where ink particles could end up in the food.

[0066] Although the curing device 506 is shown as being integrated with other components of the packaging machine 500, other embodiments are possible. For example, the packaging material receiver 502, the partial web feeder 504, and the curing device 506 may be installed in a separate component connected to the packaging machine 500. This embodiment may be useful when upgrading an existing packaging machine that does not have a curing device.

[0067] Figure 6 is a flow chart illustrating a food FP packaging method 600. In a first step 602, at least one piece of packaging material PM may be received in a packaging machine 500. The packaging material PM may include a cellulose-based middle layer 400, an inner layer 404 arranged to face the food FP, and an outer layer 402, wherein an ink-based printing is provided on the outer layer 402.

[0068] In a second step 604, the inner layer 404 of the at least one piece of packaging material PM may be cured so that the ink particles 302 released from the outer layer 402 to the inner layer 404 are bonded to the inner layer 404, thereby preventing the ink particles 302 from being released into the food FP.

[0069] In a third step 606 , at least one piece of packaging material PM may be processed into a package 110 .

[0070] In a fourth step 608 , the package 110 may be filled with food product FP.

[0071] Optionally, the second step 604 can be divided into a first stage curing 610 and a second stage curing 612 , wherein a first range of wavelengths can be used in the first stage curing 610 and a second range of wavelengths can be used in the second stage curing 612 , wherein the second range of wavelengths can be wider than the first range of wavelengths.

[0072] Optionally, in a fifth step 614, which may be performed in parallel with the second step 604, the number of microorganisms on the inner layer 404 may be reduced by using an ultraviolet lamp, an electron beam device, and / or an LED device. In other words, the transferred ink particles may be combined with the inner layer 404 at the same time, thereby reducing the risk of these particles eventually entering the food and reducing the number of microorganisms on the inner layer 404.

[0073] Optionally, in a sixth step 616 , the UV lamp, electron beam device and / or LED device may emit light at a transmission wavelength 414 , and in a seventh step 618 , the transmission wavelength light 414 passes through the packaging material PM, thereby reducing the number of microorganisms on the outer layer 402 of the web 102 .

[0074] From the above it can be seen that, although various embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, the invention is not restricted thereto but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. A method (600) for packaging food, the method comprising: receiving (602) in a packaging machine (500) at least one piece of packaging material (PM), said packaging material (PM) comprising a cellulose-based middle layer (400), an inner layer (404) arranged to face said food product (FP) and an outer layer (402), wherein an ink-based printing is provided on said outer layer (402), curing (604) the inner layer (404) of the at least one piece of packaging material (PM) such that ink particles (302) released from the outer layer (402) to the inner layer (404) are bonded to the inner layer (404) to prevent the ink particles (302) from being released into the food (FP), processing (606) the at least one piece of packaging material (PM) into a package (110), and The package (110) is filled (608) with the food product (FP).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the curing (604) is accomplished by an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, an electron beam device, and / or a light emitting diode (LED) device.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising, while curing (604) the inner layer (404), The number of microorganisms (614) on the inner layer (404) is reduced by utilizing the ultraviolet lamp, the electron beam device and / or the LED device.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the packaging material (PM) is provided with a light blocking layer (412), the light blocking layer (412) being arranged to allow light (414) of a transmission wavelength to pass therethrough, the method (600) further comprising emitting (616) said light (414) at said transmission wavelength from said ultraviolet lamp, said electron beam device and / or said LED device, The light (414) at the transmission wavelength passes through the packaging material (PM), thereby reducing the number of microorganisms (618) on the outer layer (402) of the web (102).

5. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein: The light emitted by the LED device has an ink-specific wavelength adapted to the characteristics of the ink used.

6. Method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the packaging material (PM) is not provided with a covering layer (406) outside the outer layer (402) providing the printing.

7. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the packaging material (PM) is free of an ink migration prevention layer (410), thereby allowing ink particles to migrate from the outer layer (402) to the inner layer (404) through the packaging material (PM).

8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the curing (604) step is divided into a first stage curing (610) and a second stage curing (612), wherein a first range of wavelengths is used in the first stage curing (610) and a second range of wavelengths is used in the second stage curing (612), wherein the second range of wavelengths is wider than the first range of wavelengths.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first stage curing (610) is performed by the LED device and the second stage curing (612) is performed by the UV lamp.

10. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the packaging machine (500) is a roll-feed packaging machine and the packaging material (PM) is provided to the packaging machine in the form of a web (102) rolled up on a reel so that the outer layer (402) is adjacent to the inner layer (404).

11. A packaging machine (500) for packaging food (FP), the packaging machine (500) comprising a packaging material receiver (502) arranged to receive a packaging material (PM), the packaging material comprising a cellulose-based middle layer (400), an inner layer (404) arranged to face the food (FP), and an outer layer (402), wherein ink printing is provided on the outer layer (402), a curing device (506) configured to cure the inner layer (404) so ​​that the ink particles (302) on the inner layer (404) are bonded to the inner layer (404), thereby preventing the ink particles (302) from being released into the food (FP), a package former (508) arranged to process the packaging material (PM) into a package (110), and A product filling device (510) is configured to fill the food product into the package (110).

12. The packaging machine (500) according to claim 10, wherein the curing device (506) comprises an ultraviolet (UV) lamp, an electron beam device and / or a light emitting diode (LED) device.

13. The packaging machine (500) according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the curing device (506) is a curing and microbiological reduction device arranged to simultaneously cure and reduce the number of microorganisms on the inner layer (404).

14. The packaging machine (500) according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein: The packaging material (PM) is provided with a light blocking layer (412), which is configured to allow light of a transmission wavelength to pass through, wherein the ultraviolet lamp, the electron beam device and / or the LED device are configured to emit the light (414) of the transmission wavelength, thereby allowing the light (414) of the transmission wavelength to pass through the packaging material (PM) to reduce the microorganisms on the outer layer (402) of the web (102).

15. A packaging machine (500) according to any one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the packaging material receiver (502) is a packaging material roll receiver, and the packaging material roll receiver is arranged to receive the packaging material (PM) in the form of a roll having a rolled-up packaging material (PM) roll (202b), and wherein the packaging machine (500) also includes a roll feeder (504), which is arranged to unwind the roll (102) from the roll (202b) and feed the roll (102) downstream in the packaging machine (500).

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