STERILIZATION SYSTEM FOR THE PRODUCTION OF GERM-FREE CONTAINERS

Description

[0001] The present invention falls within the technical field of the machines for producing aseptic containers. In particular, the invention relates to a sterilization system for an aseptic containers production machine.

[0002] The aseptic containers (for example used for pourable food products such as fruit juices, sauces of various kinds, etc.) are obtained starting from a continuous band of packaging material formed by a plurality of layers of different materials coupled one to another (generally paper, aluminium and heat-seal plastic material, for example polyethylene), that is processed in a dedicated automatic machine.

[0003] A machine intended for making such containers comprises a feeding station, wherein a band of packaging material is fed, and in particular is unwound from a reel.

[0004] The machine comprises, downstream with respect to the feeding station, a sterilization station at which the band is contacted with a sterilization substance (generally hydrogen peroxide), for example by supplying the latter on the band.

[0005] For this purpose, the machine comprises a sterilization system comprising in turn a chamber containing a first group of filters and a second group of filters, which are disposed in cascade, at which airflow is passed. The system further comprises supplying means that supply the sterilization substance on the second group of filters. Thus, the airflow containing the sterilization substance, exiting from the second group of filters, is contacted with the packaging material band.

[0006] The packaging material band is then closed to form a continuous tube, which is filled with the product to be contained.

[0007] Finally, individual filled and sealed wrappers that will be handled in dedicated stations conferring their final shape (generally a parallelepiped shape) are obtained from the continuous tube.

[0008] However, the sterilization system described above shows some drawbacks.

[0009] In fact, the supply is made in a localized part of the second group of filters: in this way, a uniform distribution of the sterilization substance in the airflow is not obtained. This can lead to poor efficiency of the sterilization system itself. Furthermore, such a supply of the sterilization substance on the second group of filters can involve damaging the latter.

[0010] Documents WO 2004 / 016988, EP 3 034 151 A1, EP 0 815 919 A2 and DE 10 2007062475 A1 disclose certain prior art of possible interest as technical background. It is an object of the present invention to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks. Such an object is achieved by providing a sterilization system in accordance with the attached claims.

[0011] Advantageously, the sterilization system provided by the invention avoids damaging the filters and ensures a uniform distribution of the sterilization substance in the airflow.

[0012] Further advantages of the invention will be made apparent in the following description, with the aid of attached figure 1, depicting in a schematic and exemplary manner a section of a sterilization system according to the invention.

[0013] With reference to attached figure 1, with the numeral reference 1 has been depicted a sterilization system for a machine for the production of aseptic containers according to the present invention.

[0014] The system 1 comprises: an airflow inlet section 2 for the entrance of an airflow; a first filtering group 3 disposed downstream with respect to the airflow inlet section 2 and communicating with the latter for receiving the airflow; and a second filtering group 4 disposed downstream with respect to the first filtering group 3 for receiving the airflow exiting from the first filtering group 3.

[0015] The system 1 further comprises: a connection zone 5 connecting the first filtering group 3 to the second filtering group 4; supplying means 6 for supplying a sterilization substance; and an airflow exiting section 7 disposed downstream with respect to the second filtering group 4 and communicating with the latter for allowing the exit of the airflow containing the sterilization substance.

[0016] In particular, the connection zone 5 defines an airflow passage conduit comprising: a first section 51 communicating with the first filtering group 3; a second section 52 communicating with the second filtering group 4; and a third section 53 interposed between the first section 51 and the second section 52; in detail, the third section 53 is smaller than the first section 51 and the second section 52. In other words, the airflow passage conduit defined by the connection zone 5 has a constriction along the relative development (indeed, at the mentioned third section 53).

[0017] Furthermore, the supplying means 6 (e.g. supplying nozzles / injectors) are designed for supplying the sterilization substance at the third section 53 of the connection zone 5 (i.e. in the part interested by the mentioned constriction), optimizing the sterilization substance distribution in the airflow.

[0018] Advantageously, the sterilization system 1 according to the invention allows a uniform distribution of the sterilization substance in the airflow. In fact, the connection zone 5 defines an airflow passage conduit along which the airflow exiting from the first air-filtering group 3 is intended to pass, i.e. it defines a path for the airflow itself.

[0019] Along such a path, and in particular at the third section 53 of the connection zone 5, constricted with respect to the first section 51 and the second section 52 among which is interposed, the sterilization substance is supplied. Consequently, advantageously, the supply of the sterilization substance is necessarily taking place in the airflow uniformly, the latter inevitably passing at the third section 53.

[0020] In other words, the shape of the airflow passage conduit formed by the connection zone 5 (i.e. the relative first section 51, second section 52 and third section 53) is fluid-dynamically designed to optimize the uniform diffusion of the sterilization substance in the airflow.

[0021] According to a shown preferred embodiment, the sterilization system 1 according to the invention further comprises a first channel group 8 at the connection zone 5, to distribute the airflow containing the sterilization substance toward the second filtering group 4.

[0022] Advantageously, the first channel group 8 optimizes the distribution of the sterilization substance, the latter being uniformly distributed in the airflow, toward the second filtering group 4. Thus, the first channel group 8 has the collector function.

[0023] The system 1 can further comprise a second channel group 9 disposed between the airflow inlet section 2 and the first filtering group 3, to distribute the airflow toward the first filtering group 3 (see figure 1 attached). Such a second channel group 9 optimizes the distribution of the airflow inside the first filtering group 3.

[0024] Preferably, the first filtering group 3 and the second filtering group 4 are mutually aligned.

[0025] For example, with reference to the figure, the first filtering group 3 and the second filtering group 4 are placed side by side one to other. Alternatively, the first filtering group 3 and the second filtering group 4 can be positioned in a different way.

[0026] In accordance with the depicted embodiment, the airflow passage conduit defined by the connection zone 5 substantially has a "C profile" development. Such a configuration ensures a particularly compact overall footprint to the whole system 1. Furthermore, the system 1 can comprise: a fan (not shown) for feeding the airflow and disposed upstream with respect to the airflow inlet section 2; and a heater 10 interposed between the fan and the airflow inlet section 2, for heating the airflow fed by the fan so that the latter reaches the conditions suitable for sterilizing the packaging material band and for ensuring its drying.

[0027] Preferably, the first filtering group 3 and / or the second filtering group 4 comprise a plurality of HEPA filters and / or ULPA filters (with high efficiency).

[0028] For example, the sterilization substance supplied by the supplying means 5 is hydrogen peroxide.

[0029] The invention further relates to a machine (not shown) for producing aseptic containers, for example for pourable food products such as fruit juices, sauces of various kinds, etc.

[0030] The machine comprises: a feeding station, which feeds a packaging material band, and a sterilization station disposed downstream with respect to the feeding station, in which the packaging material band is sterilized, the sterilization station comprising a sterilization system 1 according to any one of the embodiments described above. The machine further comprises: at least a welding station disposed downstream with respect to the sterilization station, in which the packaging material band is closed to form a continuous tube of packaging material; and a filling station, in which the tube of packaging material is filled with a product.

Claims

1. A sterilization system (1) for an aseptic containers production machine, comprising: an airflow inlet section (2) for the entrance of an airflow; a first filtering group (3), disposed downstream with respect to the airflow inlet section (2) for receiving the airflow; a second filtering group (4), disposed downstream with respect to the first filtering group (3) for receiving the airflow exiting from the first filtering group (3); a connection zone (5), connecting the first filtering group (3) to the second filtering group (4); supplying means (6) for supplying a sterilization substance; and an airflow exiting section (7), disposed downstream with respect to the second filtering group (4) for allowing the exit of the airflow containing the sterilization substance; characterized in that: the connection zone (5) defines an airflow passage conduit comprising: a first section (51) communicating with the first filtering group (3); a second section (52) communicating with the second filtering group (4); and a third section (53) interposed between the first section (51) and the second section (52), having a flow section smaller compared to the first section (51) and the second section (52); and in that the supplying means (6) are designed for supplying the sterilization substance at the third section (53) of the connection zone (5), optimizing the sterilization substance distribution in the airflow.

2. The sterilization system (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a first channel group (8) at the connection zone (5), to distribute the airflow containing the sterilization substance toward the second filtering group (4).

3. The sterilization system (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising a second channel group (9) disposed between the airflow inlet section (2) and the first filtering group (3), to distribute the airflow toward the first filtering group (3).

4. The sterilization system (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the first filtering group (3) and the second filtering group (4) are mutually aligned.

5. The sterilization system (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the airflow passage conduit defined by the connection zone substantially has a "C profile" development.

6. The sterilization system (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, further comprising: a fan, disposed upstream with respect to the airflow inlet section (2), for supplying the airflow; a heater (10) interposed between the fan and the airflow inlet section (2), for heating the airflow supplied by the fan.

7. The sterilization system (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, in which the first filtering group (3) and / or the second filtering group (4) comprises a plurality of HEPA filters and / or ULPA filters.

8. A machine for producing aseptic containers comprising: a feeding station, which feeds a packaging material band; a sterilization station, disposed downstream with respect to the feeding station, in which the packaging material band is sterilized; said sterilization station comprising a sterilization system (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims; at least one welding station, disposed downstream with respect to the sterilization station, in which the packaging material band is closed to form a continuous tube of packaging material; and a filling station in which the tube of packaging material is filled with a product.