Package seal management system and method for monitoring longitudinal seal of packaging material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a package seal management system (300) comprising a management unit (308) and a data recording means (306) adapted to be communicatively connected to the management unit, said data recording means (306) adapted to monitor longitudinal seals (302) extending in a direction corresponding to a flow direction of packaging material (e.g., manufactured by Tetra Pak) in a packaging and filling machine (100). The present invention further relates to the use of the package seal management system (300) and to methods for monitoring and optionally managing longitudinal seals (302) of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine (100).

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of packaging technology, such as food packaging technology. More particularly, a method and apparatus for managing the longitudinal sealing of cardboard-based packaging material for packages holding pourable food products is presented. [Background technology]

[0002] Today, it is common to use roll-fed packaging machines for various types of food products, such as milk. Roll-fed packaging machines, also known as filler machines, offer several advantages. One is that continuous production of packages allows for faster speeds compared to blank-fed packaging systems. Another advantage is that by continuously filling a tube of packaging material and forming the package at the bottom of the tube, the risk of introducing unwanted microorganisms into the package is reduced.

[0003] The packaging material is provided with a longitudinal seal to form a tube. The tube-shaped packaging material is then filled with the liquid food product and finally transversely sealed to provide the final food package. The package formation speed is very fast and production is continuous. Therefore, if something goes wrong in the longitudinal sealing process, for example, the number of packages that need to be discarded can be very high. Also, the production line may need to be stopped, adjusted, cleaned, and sanitized before production can resume. This has a significant impact on product supply from an economic, environmental, safety, and time standpoint.

[0004] Thus, there is a need to find better ways to ensure adequate package performance. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] It is an object to at least partially overcome one or more of the above-mentioned limitations of the prior art. In particular, it is an object to provide a method for managing the longitudinal sealing of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine. The solution provided herein can minimize a lot of time and resources and increase process control. Packaging machine downtime is minimized and waste, such as waste of final product due to longitudinal seal defects, can be significantly reduced. Furthermore, product safety and durability are better guaranteed by the solution. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] According to a first aspect, there is provided a package seal management system comprising a management unit and a data recording means adapted to be communicatively connected to the management unit, said data recording means 306 being adapted to monitor longitudinal seals extending in a direction corresponding to a flow direction of packaging material.

[0007] According to a second aspect, there is provided a package seal management upgrade kit for application on a packaging and filling machine comprising a management unit and a data recording means communicatively connected to the management unit, said data recording means adapted to monitor longitudinal seals extending in a direction corresponding to the direction of flow of packaging material in the packaging and filling machine.

[0008] When applying a package seal management upgrade kit on a packaging and filling machine in accordance with this second aspect, a package seal management system in accordance with the first aspect can be realized.

[0009] According to a third aspect, there is provided a method for monitoring and optionally controlling the longitudinal sealing of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine, comprising: providing longitudinal seals in the packaging material using a sealing device, the seals being provided on opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material relative to forming the packaging material into a tubular form, the longitudinal seals extending in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material; monitoring the longitudinal sealing of the tubular form of packaging material using a data recording means; optionally managing the longitudinal seal of the tubular form of packaging material using a management unit, the management unit receiving data from the data recording means, correlating the received data with at least predetermined set point values ​​to provide output data determining the status of the longitudinal seal, and optionally displaying the output data for a user, who may be connected to a network; A method is provided which includes:

[0010] According to a fourth aspect, there is provided the use of a package seal management system for monitoring and optionally managing the longitudinal seal of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine.

[0011] Further objects, features, aspects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description and drawings.

[0012] Embodiments will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a general explanatory diagram of a roll-fed packaging machine. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic diagram of a piping system 200 including a receiving pipe 204 and a filling pipe 104, 202. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 illustrates a method for monitoring and managing vertical sealing. [Figure 4] 1 illustrates a quality control system configured to perform quality control of longitudinal sealing according to one example. [Figure 5] We show how sequences of data can be compared in a quality control system. [Figure 6] 1 shows another example of a quality control system. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring to Figure 1, a packaging machine 100, sometimes referred to as a filler, is generally shown as an example. The packaging machine 100 is a roll-fed packaging machine used to package liquid food products in cardboard-based packages. As early as the 1940s, this type of packaging machine was introduced by Tetra Pak, and today it is a well-known approach for packaging milk and other liquid food products in a safe and economical manner. The general approach can also be used for non-liquid food products such as potato chips.

[0015] Currently, packaging materials are often printed and produced at packaging production centers, also known as converting plants, and then sent to a location, such as a dairy company, where a packaging machine 100 is located. Typically, the packaging material is loaded onto reels before being transported. After arriving at the location, the reels are placed into the packaging machine, as shown in FIG.

[0016] During production, a web 102 of packaging material can be fed from a reel through a packaging machine in a web feed direction A. Although not shown in FIG. 1 , the packaging material can pass through a sterilization device, such as a hydrogen peroxide bath or an LVEB (low voltage electron beam) station, to ensure that the web 102 is free of undesirable microorganisms. Prior to serving the food product, a tube can be formed from the web 102 by forming a longitudinal seal. The food product can be fed into the tube via a fill pipe 104, and a valve 106 can be used to regulate the flow through the fill pipe 104. A lower end 108 of the tube can be fed to a folding device 110 where a transverse seal is created, and the tube is folded according to fold lines, also called lines of weakness, and cut to form a package 112. While the folding device 110 is shown as a single device, the folding device 110 can comprise multiple different devices.

[0017] The present invention relates to a package seal management system 300.

[0018] The system 300 includes: a management unit 308; a data recording means 306 adapted to be communicatively connected to a management unit 308; Equipped with Said data recording means 306 is adapted to monitor a longitudinal seal 302 extending in a direction that coincides with the machine direction, also considered as the web feed direction A, of the packaging material.

[0019] The system 300 includes: a management unit 308; a data recording means 306 adapted to be communicatively connected to a management unit 308; and Said data recording means 306 is adapted to monitor the longitudinal seals 302 extending in a direction corresponding to the flow direction, also considered as the web feed direction A, of the packaging material exiting a longitudinal sealing device adapted to seal the opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material into a tubular form.

[0020] A data recording means 306 adapted to monitor the longitudinal seal 302 may be positioned downstream of the longitudinal sealing device in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the packaging material. The data recording means 306 may be positioned near the longitudinal sealing device, for example above any liquid-level sealed packaging material in tubular form, or before any transverse sealing device. The data recording means 306 may be positioned within an aseptic chamber containing the longitudinal sealing device or outside the aseptic chamber of the packaging and filling machine 100.

[0021] The data recording means 306 may preferably comprise a camera or vision system adapted to record color and / or images as spectral and spatial data of the longitudinal seal on the packaging material in tubular form. As a non-limiting example, color may be directly related to temperature. As yet another non-limiting example, the data recording means 306 may comprise a thermal camera, which will be discussed in further detail in connection with Figures 4 and 5.

[0022] The data recording means 306 may be communicatively connected to the management unit 308 using wireless and / or wired communication.

[0023] The data recording means 306 may be positioned near the vertical sealing device to monitor the vertical seal 302 provided to the packaging material. However, depending on the conditions at and near the vertical sealing device where the vertical seal 302 is provided to the packaging material, it may be advantageous not to position the data recording means 306 near it. The available space around the vertical sealing device may be very limited. Furthermore, the processing conditions and safety requirements around the vertical sealing device may make it difficult to position the data recording means 306 there. Temperatures may be very high in the area of ​​vertical seal monitoring which may cause problems for the data recording means.

[0024] The data recording means 306 may be connected to a fiber optic cable 304. The fiber optic cable 304 may be positioned to inspect the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form of packaging material.

[0025] The optical fiber cable 304 may be connected at one end to the data recording means 306 and adapted at the opposite end to monitor the longitudinal seal 302 extending in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the packaging material. This means that the data recording means 306 adapted to monitor the longitudinal seal 302 extending in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the packaging material may be positioned outside the aseptic chamber. At its other end, the optical fiber cable 304 connected to the data recording means 306 may be positioned near the longitudinal sealing device to monitor the longitudinal seal 302 provided in the packaging material. The optical fiber cable 304 may be adapted to handle and withstand conditions at and near the longitudinal sealing device.

[0026] The package seal management system 300 may include an optical fiber cable 304 having one end attached to a data recording means 306 and the other end positioned downstream of the longitudinal sealing device in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material to enable monitoring of the longitudinal seal 302.

[0027] The package seal management system 300 may include a containment pipe 204 adapted to enclose a fiber optic cable 304 .

[0028] The fiber optic cable 304 may be adapted to fit inside the containment pipe 204. The containment pipe 204 may be attached to the fill pipes 104, 202 of the packaging and filling machine 100. The containment pipe 204 may be welded or glued to the fill pipes 104, 202. Figure 2 discloses a schematic diagram of the piping 200 including the containment pipe 204 and the fill pipes 104, 202.

[0029] The optical fiber cable 304 may be positioned within the containment pipe 204 to protect it from, for example, conditions within the sterile chamber and / or conditions near the vertical sealing device. In this way, the contact area of ​​the optical fiber cable with conditions within the sterile chamber and / or conditions near the vertical sealing device is minimized. For example, only the ends, preferably the very ends, of the optical fiber cable 304 may be exposed to said conditions. Using the optical fiber cable 304, the data recording means 306 can monitor the status of the provided vertical seal 302. The containment pipe 204 may have many purposes, one of which is to protect the optical fiber cable. Another purpose of the containment pipe 204 may be to facilitate sterilization of equipment surrounding the vertical sealing device, or to facilitate sterilization of the entire sterile chamber surrounding the vertical sealing device.

[0030] The end of the optical fiber cable 304 that is not attached to the data recording means 306 may be attached to or inserted into a hole in the receiving pipe 204, the hole being located downstream of the vertical sealing device in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the packaging material, preferably near the vertical sealing device. The hole in the receiving pipe 204 may be positioned above the liquid level of the packaging material to be vertically sealed.

[0031] The hole in the receiving pipe 204 may be positioned upstream of the outlet of the filling pipe 104, 202 in a direction that coincides with the flow direction of the packaging material.

[0032] The hole in the containing pipe 204 may be positioned near the vertical sealing device, for example above any liquid level in the tubular form of vertically sealed packaging material, or before any horizontal sealing device.

[0033] The package seal management system 300 may include a light source adapted to illuminate the area of ​​the packaging material being longitudinally sealed that is being monitored by the data recording means. The light source may be provided to allow for better visual recognition of the longitudinal seal being provided. The light source may be positioned so that light is applied to the longitudinal seal being monitored by the data recording means. The light source may be incorporated into the data recording means 306. If a light source is incorporated into the data recording means 306, any fiber optic cable 304 connected to said data recording means 306 for monitoring the longitudinal seal may also be capable of transmitting light from the data recording means 306 to the other end of the fiber optic cable 304 to allow light to be applied to the longitudinal seal 302 being monitored.

[0034] The light source may use visible light, infrared (IR) light, ultraviolet (UV) light, or any combination thereof. The light source may provide visible light with a wavelength of about 380 to 740 nanometers (nm). The light source may provide IR light with a wavelength of about 740 nm to 1 mm. The light source may provide UV light with a wavelength of about 1 to 380 nm.

[0035] The light provided by the light source may be polarized. The polarization may be selected from linearly polarized light, circularly polarized light, elliptically polarized light, or any combination thereof. When the packaging material includes a metal foil, such as aluminum foil, the use of polarized light can make it easier to monitor the longitudinal seal for non-compliance detection.

[0036] The data recording means 306 is capable of detecting and recording the color and image, i.e., shape and position, of the longitudinal seal, which color and image are based on spectral and spatial data collected during the production of the longitudinal seal of the packaging material.

[0037] The management unit 308 may have databases, files, data processors for receiving data and may associate the received data on visual color and / or image (spectral and spatial data) with at least predetermined set point color and / or image (spectral and / or spatial data) values ​​and display them for a user, who may be connected to a network.

[0038] The visual color and / or image values ​​provided from the data recording means 306 for the spectral and spatial data of the vertical seal may be compared in the management unit 308 and may be associated with at least predetermined set point color and / or image values ​​whose values ​​are the predetermined set point spectral and / or spatial data of the vertical seal. The management unit 308 may further include further data to be used, such as data for the type of equipment, temperature range, type of seal, and package, which may provide further accuracy in the evaluation of the vertical seal.

[0039] The management unit 308 may be connected to a remote management unit 310 via a network, and the remote management unit 310 has a user interface function, whereby data of the vertical sealing process may be transferred via the network from the management unit 308 to the remote management unit 310, where it is displayed for the connected user.

[0040] The remote management unit 310 may be located in a cloud-based computing environment. The remote management unit 310 may be a virtual management unit. The remote management unit 310 may have a database, files, a data processor for receiving data, and may associate the received data on visual color and / or image (spectral data and spatial data) with at least predetermined setpoint color and / or image (spectral data and / or spatial data) values, which may be displayed for users connected to the network.

[0041] The management unit 308 has a user interface function, whereby data of the vertical sealing process may be displayed for a user connected to the management unit 308 via a network.

[0042] The management unit 308 may be adapted to manage the vertical sealing device to adjust the amount of heat and / or electricity to create the vertical seal, for example by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity.

[0043] The management unit 308 may be adapted to manage the packaging and filling machine, for example to shut down and optionally restart the packaging and filling machine, to enable the vertical sealing device to adjust the amount of heating and / or electricity to create the vertical seal by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity.

[0044] The package seal management system 300 may also include a disposal device.

[0045] The management unit 308 may be adapted to manage a rejection device, which is adapted to remove from the packaging and filling machine a quantity of finished filled packages produced during a time period of a defective longitudinal seal indicated by the management unit 308 based on received data associated with said at least predetermined set point value.

[0046] The management unit 308 may contain a number of data about the materials and equipment used, including the positioning of the equipment, etc. The management unit 308 assists the data recording means 306 in determining the monitored results. The management unit 308 may contain predetermined or pre-set input data regarding the type of packaging material and its components, the positioning of the longitudinal seal, the positioning of the edges of the longitudinally sealed packaging material, the power and electrical input for the longitudinal seal, the type of light used, e.g., wavelength and / or optional polarization, etc. Such predetermined input data are then used together and correlated as continuous monitoring input data to values ​​obtained from continuous monitoring of the longitudinal seal. The resulting output data from the correlation of the various input data may then be used to manage the package sealing system.

[0047] It should be noted that machine learning algorithms may be included in the management unit 308 to enable improved accuracy in the over-the-counter evaluation of the spectral and spatial data of the vertical seals and to improve the location, condition, and performance of the vertical seals.

[0048] This package seal management system 300 includes: a longitudinal sealing device adapted to seal opposite longitudinal side edges of the packaging material into a tubular form, and a longitudinal seal 302 extending in a direction corresponding to the flow direction A of the packaging material; a receiving pipe 204 attached to the filling pipes 104, 202 of the packaging and filling machine 100; a fiber optic cable 304 adapted to be fitted into the receiving pipe 204 attached to the fill pipe 104, 202; a data recording means 306 attached to said fiber optic cable 304, preferably including a light source; Management unit 308 and and The optical fiber cable 304 is attached at one end to the data recording means 306 and at the other end to or inserted into a hole in the receiving pipe 204, the hole being located downstream of the vertical sealing device in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material, preferably near the vertical sealing device.

[0049] The present invention provides a package seal management upgrade kit for application on a packaging and filling machine, comprising: a management unit 308; a data recording means 306 communicatively connected to the management unit; Equipped with The package seal management upgrade kit relates to a packaging seal management system in which the data recording means 306 is adapted to monitor a longitudinal seal 302 extending in a direction corresponding to a flow direction of packaging material in the packaging and filling machine 100, as the packaging material exits a longitudinal sealing device adapted to seal opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material into a tubular form. The data recording means 306 may preferably comprise a camera or vision system adapted to record color development and / or images as spectral and spatial data of the longitudinal seal on the packaging material in tubular form. As a non-limiting example, color may be directly related to temperature. As yet another non-limiting example, the data recording means 306 may comprise a thermal camera, which will be discussed in further detail in connection with FIGS. 4 and 5.

[0050] The package seal management upgrade kit may include a light source adapted to illuminate the area of ​​the longitudinally sealed packaging material that is being monitored by the data recording means 306 .

[0051] The package seal management upgrade kit may comprise a fiber optic cable 304 adapted to be attached at one end to a data recording means 306, the other end being positioned downstream of the longitudinal sealing device of the packaging and filling machine in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material to enable monitoring of the longitudinal seal.

[0052] The package seal management upgrade kit may include a containment pipe adapted to enclose the fiber optic cable and preferably adapted to be attached to the fill pipe 104 , 202 of the packaging and filling machine 100 .

[0053] The present invention provides a method for monitoring and optionally controlling the longitudinal seal 302 of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine 100, comprising: providing longitudinal seals 302 in the packaging material using a sealing device, said seals being provided on opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material relative to forming the packaging material into a tubular form, the longitudinal seals extending in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material; monitoring the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form of packaging material using a data recording means 306; optionally managing the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form packaging material using a management unit 308, wherein the management unit 308 receives data from the data recording means 306, correlates the received data with at least predetermined set point values ​​to provide output data determining the status of the longitudinal seal, and optionally displays the output data for a user, who may be connected to a network; The present invention relates to a method comprising:

[0054] The management unit 308 may further manage the vertical sealing device to adjust the amount of heat and / or electricity to create the vertical seal, for example by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity.

[0055] The management unit 308 may manage the packaging and filling machine 100 to shut down and optionally restart the packaging and filling machine 100 to enable the vertical sealing device to adjust the amount of heating and / or electricity to create the vertical seal 302, for example, by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity.

[0056] The management unit 308 may also manage a disposal device that removes from the packaging and filling machine 100 a quantity of finished filled packages that were produced during a time period of the defective longitudinal seal indicated by the management unit 308 based on received data associated with at least the predetermined set point value.

[0057] A fiber optic cable 304 may be used to monitor the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form of packaging material, along with a data recording means 306. The method for monitoring and optionally controlling the longitudinal seal 302 of the packaging material in the packaging and filling machine 100 comprises: providing longitudinal seals 302 in the packaging material using a sealing device, said seals being provided on opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material relative to forming the packaging material into a tubular form, the longitudinal seals extending in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material; monitoring the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form of packaging material using a fiber optic cable 304 and a data recording means 306 attached to said fiber optic cable 304; optionally managing the longitudinal seal 302 of the tubular form packaging material using a management unit 308, wherein the management unit 308 receives data from the data recording means 306, correlates the received data with at least predetermined set point values ​​to provide output data determining the status of the longitudinal seal, and optionally displays the output data for a user, who may be connected to a network; may also be provided.

[0058] The predetermined input data that provides the predetermined set point value may be based on experience with the type of packaging material and its components, the positioning of the vertical seal, the positioning of the edges of the vertically sealed packaging material, the power and electrical input for the vertical seal, the type of light used, e.g., wavelength and / or optional polarization, and the spectral and spatial data of the vertical seal measurements, such as previously measured values.

[0059] The data received by the management unit 308 from the recording means 306 and the predetermined set point values ​​may be based on visual colors and / or images. The received data on visual colors and / or images (spectral and spatial data) may be associated with at least predetermined set point color and / or image (spectral and / or spatial data) values.

[0060] The fiber optic cable 304 may be located downstream of the longitudinal sealing device in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material.

[0061] The present invention provides providing a longitudinal seal in the packaging material; monitoring a longitudinal seal of the packaging material to determine if the seal is defective relative to a predetermined value / threshold; A method for evaluating the quality of a longitudinal seal of a pourable food packaging material, comprising: The defects, if present, increase the likelihood of spoilage of the pourable food product contained in the package of packaging material.

[0062] The package seal management system may be used to monitor and optionally manage the longitudinal seal of packaging material in the packaging and filling machine 100 .

[0063] The package seal management upgrade kit may be installed in a packaging and filling machine 100 to monitor and optionally manage the longitudinal seal of packaging material in said packaging and filling machine 100 .

[0064] 4 , a quality control system 400 configured to perform quality control of vertical sealing is shown as an example. The quality control system 400 may include a data recording means 306, a management unit 308, and a database 402. The data recording means 306 may be configured to send image data to the management unit 308. The data recording means 308 may be configured to receive commands from the management unit 308. The management unit 308 may be configured to send information, for example, image data, to the database 402. Furthermore, the database 402 may be configured to store the information received from the management unit 308.

[0065] The packaging material is heated to seal it both lengthwise and widthwise. The heating process can be carried out in a variety of ways. If the material has an aluminum layer, electromagnetic induction techniques may be used. Additionally, whatever material is used, hot air may be used. The packaging material may have an outer plastic layer that may function to protect the product from the cardboard material, but which may also function to seal the packaging material.

[0066] Sealing packaging materials can require two surfaces to fuse together. At least one of the surfaces is heated to a specific temperature to melt the plastic and allow it to bond to the other surface under pressure. There may be various critical factors in this process. By way of non-limiting example, critical factors may be the temperature to which the material is heated, the area to which the material is heated, the rate of the heating process, and the ambient air temperature.

[0067] By way of yet another non-limiting example, important factors that may affect the quality of the seal may preferably be the temperature and the area that is heated. By controlling these two parameters, the sealing process can be made more reliable.

[0068] In conventional systems, neither the temperature to which the plastic surface of the packaging material is heated nor the area to which it is heated is centrally controlled in the filling machine. There is only control over the energy transferred to the material (in the case of aluminum materials) or the temperature of the air used to heat the plastic surface. Furthermore, quality control is often carried out manually by an operator at regular intervals.

[0069] The present disclosure provides the ability to measure the temperature of the plastic of the packaging material not just at one point, but in the entire area to be heated, as well as in its surroundings. As disclosed above, the data recording means 306 may comprise a heat camera. The heat camera may be placed near the packaging material and after the heating element. By way of non-limiting example, the heat camera may be based on IR technology. The camera may be positioned to focus on the area that must be sealed. The area may be rectangular, 4-5 times wider than the area to be heated and 2-3 times longer than the area to be heated. Thus, the heat camera may be configured to monitor the area of ​​the packaging material that may be heated, as well as the area surrounding the heated area.

[0070] The thermal camera may be configured to measure the temperature of the packaging material. The area to be viewed may be divided into small portions that can be called pixels. Each pixel may be an individual temperature sensor. The temperature value represents the average temperature of that pixel area. The overall area has a width and length of a certain number of pixels. According to one non-limiting example, the width and length of a pixel may be 80 x 60 pixels.

[0071] The camera may be placed at a specific distance from the packaging material, which may be important for calculating and calibrating the size of the focused area, which is calculated by the following formula: W = D × tan(25) × 2, where W is the width and D is the distance from the camera to the surface. H = D × tan(19.5) × 2, where H is the height and D is the distance from the camera to the surface.

[0072] Each portion of a pixel may then have a particular dimension, which is calculated by: Wp=W / 80, where Wp is the pixel width, Hp=H / 60, where Hp is the pixel height.

[0073] Depending on the type of packaging material and the machine that can be used, there may be a specific area that may be important to be heated to a specific temperature. This area is rectangular and has specific dimensions. By mapping the area section by section with a thermal camera, it may be possible to monitor the temperature of the entire area.

[0074] The quality control system 400 shown in FIG. 4 may have a measurement interval of as little as 27 milliseconds. With each capture, the reading of each pixel may be updated. The system may make a copy of all values ​​and store them as an array of data, along with the capture time. This array may then be transferred to the database 402. For each package volume and machine setting, a predefined sealing area and temperature may be required for a quality seal. The predefined area and temperature parameters may be stored in the memory of the management unit 308. When the quality control system 400 is ready to run the management unit 308, it may select the correct recipe of parameters and transfer the correct recipe to the array of data. This array may then be compared to the current parameters when the material is to be sealed, and the management unit 308 may calculate the temperature deviation for every pixel. This comparison is further illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5.

[0075] The concepts presented above may be explained in a general manner as follows.

[0076] 1. A method for performing quality control of longitudinal seals of packaging material, the method comprising: mapping an area of ​​the packaging material portion by portion using a thermal camera; generating a global region by combining portions of the mapped region; Dividing the entire region into a plurality of pixels; measuring a temperature of each pixel of the plurality of pixels using a thermal camera and a temperature sensor; generating a total temperature by combining the respective temperatures of the plurality of pixels; Comparing the total area to a predetermined sealed area and the total temperature to a predetermined temperature; Including, If the two comparisons agree, the quality control of the longitudinal seal is approved.

[0077] The method may further include storing the overall area and the overall temperature in a database 402 .

[0078] Although generally described above, the various specific features described above with respect to Figure 4 may be used singly or together in a general manner, and the same applies to other aspects and advantages described with respect to other figures.

[0079] Following the general method above, the concept may be described as a general system as follows.

[0080] A quality control system 400 configured to perform a quality control of a longitudinal seal of a packaging material, the quality system 400 comprising: Mapping the area of ​​the packaging material piece by piece, Measuring the temperature of a mapped area of ​​packaging material A heat camera configured as follows: Receive measured temperatures and mapped areas from the thermal camera 306 a management unit 308 configured to: Save the measured temperature and mapped area Database 402 configured as Equipped with.

[0081] Preferably, the thermal camera may be configured to measure the temperature of the entire heated area. Preferably, the thermal camera may be configured to measure the temperature of the surroundings associated with the heated area.

[0082] As with the general method, this general system may be combined with other features described with reference to Figure 4 or any other figure. The general method and system may also be combined with features presented in the accompanying claims.

[0083] Referring to FIG. 6 , a quality control system 600 configured to perform quality control of the longitudinal seal of packaging material is shown as an example. The quality control system 600 may include a data recording means 306, a machine controller 602, and a sealing process 604. The recording means 306 may be configured to send a temperature sequence transmission to the machine controller 602. The machine controller 602 may be configured to send a sealing power control to the sealing process 604. The sealing process may be configured to send a temperature reading to the recording device 306. By way of non-limiting example, the results of the calculation can be used in three different ways. Thus, the controller can issue an alarm and stop the machine if the sealing of the material is not proper, or it can simply issue a warning and waste packages that do not have the correct sealing quality. The results can be used as process control parameters, and power settings can be adjusted to correct and minimize deviations from a predetermined temperature. It may be possible to verify whether the heating zone is positioned in the correct location. If not, there may be an adjustment device to move the inductor or heating element the necessary distance to move it to the correct position. The above concept may be expressed as a method as follows:

[0084] 1. A method for performing quality control of a longitudinal seal of a packaging material, the method comprising: heating a region of the packaging material, the heated region being configured to be sealed; measuring the temperature of the heated area of ​​the packaging material using a data recording means 306; communicating the temperature to the machine controller 602; determining, in the machine controller 602, a sealing power management configured to adjust the sealing power; Communicating the sealing power management to the sealing process 604; Including, The sealing process 604 may be adjusted based on the sealing power management.

[0085] The method is: generating a temperature array based on the monitored temperatures, where the monitored temperatures may comprise one or more monitored temperatures; comparing the temperature sequence with a predetermined temperature sequence; may further comprise If the temperature sequence matches the predetermined temperature sequence, the quality control may be accepted; A mismatch may signal an alert from the machine controller 602, which may indicate that quality control may be rejected.

[0086] The method is that if the quality control is rejected, Adjusting the power settings to compensate and minimize deviations between the temperature sequence and the predetermined temperature sequence. It may further include:

[0087] The method is: monitoring the heated area of ​​the packaging material using a data recording means 306; communicating the heated area to the machine controller 602; generating an area array based on the monitored area of ​​the heated area; Comparing the region sequence to a predetermined region sequence; may further comprise If the region sequence matches the predetermined region sequence, the quality control may be accepted; If there is no match, the heating element with the inductor is adjusted so that the deviation between the area arrangement and the predetermined area arrangement may be minimized.

[0088] Following the above method, the concept may be represented as a system as follows:

[0089] A quality control system 600 configured to perform quality control of longitudinal seals of packaging material, the quality system 600 comprising: data recording means 306 configured to measure the temperature of the longitudinal seal of the packaging material to monitor the area of ​​the packaging material; a machine controller 602 configured to determine sealing power management for the longitudinal seal based on the measured temperature; a sealing process 604 configured to be adjusted based on the sealing power management; Equipped with.

[0090] An advantage of the disclosed quality control system 400, 500 is that it allows for improved knowledge of the quality of the vertical and horizontal seals. Thus, the quality control system 400, 500 may perform quality control of the horizontal seals as well as the vertical seals of the packaging material. A further advantage is that it allows for improved control of the quality of the vertical and horizontal seals.

[0091] The benefit of improved knowledge and control of longitudinal and transverse seals is that only packages that do not meet the seal requirements can be discarded. Additionally, the amount of package checking performed by operators can be reduced and the time interval between checks can be increased.

[0092] Yet another advantage is that it is possible to have a closed loop control of the sealing power and / or sealing temperature, where the feedback of the surface temperature is a key parameter in managing the energy transferred to the packaging material, thus avoiding machine stoppages.

[0093] Yet another advantage is that it is possible to have closed loop control of the position of the sealing element, thereby making immediate corrections to avoid machine stalls.

[0094] The methods and systems described above with respect to FIG. 6 may be combined with various features presented with respect to other figures or claims.

[0095] From the foregoing description, while various embodiments of the present invention have been described and illustrated, the present invention is not limited thereto and may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject matter defined in the following claims.

Claims

1. 1. A method for monitoring a longitudinal seal (302) of packaging material in a packaging and filling machine (100), the packaging and filling machine (100) comprising: using a sealing device to form the packaging material into a tubular form and provide longitudinal seals (302) on opposing longitudinal side edges of the packaging material, the longitudinal seals extending in a direction consistent with the flow direction of the packaging material; monitoring the longitudinal seal (302) of the tubular form of the packaging material using a data recording means (306) located outside the aseptic chamber and a fiber optic cable (304) attached at one end to the data recording means (306) and adapted at an opposite end to monitor the longitudinal seal (302) of the tubular form of the packaging material; managing the longitudinal seal (302) of the packaging material in tubular form using a management unit (308); Equipped with the management unit (308) receives data from the data recording means (306), correlates the received data with at least predetermined set point values ​​to provide output data for determining the status of the longitudinal seal, and displays the output data for a user. Monitoring method.

2. managing the sealing device via the management unit (308) to adjust the amount of heat and / or electricity for creating the longitudinal seal by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity. further comprising: The monitoring method of claim 1 .

3. managing, via the management unit (308), the packaging and filling machine (100) to shut down and optionally restart the packaging and filling machine (100) to allow the sealing device to adjust the amount of heat and / or electricity to create the longitudinal seal (302) by increasing or decreasing the heating temperature and / or increasing or decreasing the amount of electricity; further comprising: The monitoring method of claim 1 .

4. managing, via the management unit (308), a disposal device that removes from the packaging and filling machine (100) a quantity of completed, filled packages that were produced during a time period of a defective longitudinal seal indicated by the management unit (308) based on received data associated with at least the predetermined set point value; further comprising: The monitoring method of claim 1 .

5. The packaging and filling machine (100) comprises a vertical sealing device, the data recording means (306) is positioned downstream of the longitudinal sealing device in a direction corresponding to the flow direction of the packaging material; the opposite end of the fiber optic cable (300) is positioned downstream of the longitudinal sealing device; The monitoring method of claim 1 .

6. the management unit (308) has a database, a file, a data processor for receiving data, and relating the received data on visual color and / or image to at least predetermined set point color and / or image values, which are displayed for a user, the user being connected to a network; The monitoring method of claim 1 .

7. The management unit (308) is connected to a remote management unit (310) via a network, and the remote management unit (310) has a user interface function, whereby data of the vertical sealing process is transferred from the management unit (308) to the remote management unit (310) via the network, where the data is displayed for a connected user. The monitoring method of claim 1 .

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