An apparatus (100) for measuring the volume (VOL) of a sterilizing solution (102) used per unit time in a roll
packaging machine (104), the apparatus (100) comprising: a metering tank (106) in fluid communication with a sterilizing solution bath (108); a metering tank level detection device (110) configured to generate metering tank
level data (112) representing the metering tank level (MT-L); a level tank (114) in fluid communication with the sterilizing solution bath (108) at at least two points (116, 118), such that the level tank (114) and the sterilizing solution bath (108) constitute a communicating vessel; and a level tank level detection device (120) configured to... The
system generates liquid
level data (122) representing the liquid level (LT-L) of the liquid level tank; a metering tank valve (124) is provided on the lower metering tank
pipe (126) connecting the metering tank (106) to the bath (108), wherein in the open state (OS), the sterilizing solution in the metering tank (106) is allowed to enter the bath (108), and in the
closed state (CS), the sterilizing solution in the metering tank (106) is prevented from entering; and a
control unit (128) is configured to: retrieve the liquid
level data (122) in the case where the liquid level (LT-L) is equal to or lower than the lower
reference level (LOW-REF). Next, the metering tank valve (124) is opened, allowing at least a portion of the
disinfectant solution (102) in the metering tank (106) to be transferred to the bath (108), and the time point at which the metering tank valve (124) is opened is recorded as the filling
start time point. If the liquid level in the level tank (LT-L) is equal to or higher than the upper
reference level (UPP-REF), the metering tank valve (124) is closed, preventing the
disinfectant solution (102) from the metering tank (106) from being transferred to the bath (108), and the time point at which the metering tank valve (124) is closed is recorded as the filling end time point. The filling
start time is then retrieved. The metering tank level at the start of filling is determined by the level of the metering tank (LT-L) at the point of filling end, and the metering tank level at the end of filling end (MT-L) is determined by retrieving the metering tank level data (112) for the point of filling end. The volume of sterilizing solution used between the point of filling start and the point of filling end is determined by using the metering tank level data (112) for the point of filling start and the point of filling end and the cross-sectional area of the metering tank (106). The volume of sterilizing solution used per unit time is determined by dividing the determined volume of sterilizing solution by the number of time units between the point of filling start and the point of filling end.