EP4368525B1 - Sterilisationsvorrichtung, verpackungsmaschine mit einer sterilisationsvorrichtung und verfahren zur sterilisation - Google Patents

Sterilisationsvorrichtung, verpackungsmaschine mit einer sterilisationsvorrichtung und verfahren zur sterilisation

Info

Publication number
EP4368525B1
EP4368525B1 EP23207844.4A EP23207844A EP4368525B1 EP 4368525 B1 EP4368525 B1 EP 4368525B1 EP 23207844 A EP23207844 A EP 23207844A EP 4368525 B1 EP4368525 B1 EP 4368525B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
web
sterilization apparatus
sterilizing
advancement
sterilizing device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
EP23207844.4A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP4368525A1 (de
Inventor
Andrea Donati
Eugenio Sighinolfi
Luca Poppi
Filippo Ferrarini
Davide VERNAZZA
Enrico Gasparini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Original Assignee
Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA filed Critical Tetra Laval Holdings and Finance SA
Publication of EP4368525A1 publication Critical patent/EP4368525A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP4368525B1 publication Critical patent/EP4368525B1/de
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B65B57/10—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged
    • B65B57/14—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged
    • B65B57/145—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices responsive to absence, presence, abnormal feed, or misplacement of articles or materials to be packaged and operating to control, or stop, the feed of articles or material to be packaged for fluent material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B41/00—Supplying or feeding container-forming sheets or wrapping material
    • B65B41/12—Feeding webs from rolls
    • B65B41/16—Feeding webs from rolls by rollers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/08—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by irradiation
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
    • B65B55/10—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by liquids or gases
    • B65B55/103—Sterilising flat or tubular webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B57/00—Automatic control, checking, warning, or safety devices
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
    • B65B9/10—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in preformed tubular webs, or in webs formed into tubes around filling nozzles, e.g. extruded tubular webs
    • B65B9/12—Subdividing filled tubes to form two or more packages by sealing or securing involving displacement of contents
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H26/00—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms
    • B65H26/02—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms responsive to presence of irregularities in running webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H26/00—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms
    • B65H26/06—Warning or safety devices, e.g. automatic fault detectors, stop-motions, for web-advancing mechanisms responsive to predetermined lengths of webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
    • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
    • B65H2301/511—Processing surface of handled material upon transport or guiding thereof, e.g. cleaning
    • B65H2301/5115—Cleaning
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/19—Specific article or web
    • B65H2701/1944—Wrapping or packing material

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a web of packaging material, in particular a web of packaging material for the production of sealed packages of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
  • the present invention also relates to a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, having a sterilization apparatus.
  • the present invention also relates to a method for sterilizing a web of packaging material, in particular a web of packaging material for the production of sealed packages of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product.
  • liquid or pourable food products such as fruit juice, UHT (ultra-high-temperature treated) milk, wine, tomato sauce, etc.
  • UHT ultra-high-temperature treated milk
  • wine tomato sauce
  • etc. are sold in packages made of sterilized packaging material.
  • a typical example is the parallelepiped-shaped package for liquid or pourable food products known as Tetra Brik Aseptic (registered trademark), which is made by sealing and folding laminated strip packaging material.
  • the packaging material has a multilayer structure comprising a base layer, e.g. of paper, covered on both sides with layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
  • the packaging material also comprises a layer of oxygen-barrier material (an oxygen-barrier layer), e.g. an aluminum foil, which is superimposed on a layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with another layer of heat-seal plastic material forming the inner face of the package eventually contacting the food product.
  • Packages of this sort are normally produced on fully automatic packaging machines, which advance a web of packaging material from a magazine unit through a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the web of packaging material and to an isolation chamber (a closed and sterile environment) in which the sterilized web of packaging material is maintained and advanced.
  • an isolation chamber a closed and sterile environment
  • the web of packaging material is folded and sealed longitudinally to form a tube having a longitudinal seam portion, which is further fed along a vertical advancing direction.
  • the tube is filled with a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable product, in particular a pourable food product, and is transversally sealed and subsequently cut along equally spaced transversal cross sections within a package forming unit of the packaging machine during advancement along the vertical advancing direction.
  • a sterilized or sterile-processed pourable product in particular a pourable food product
  • Pillow packages are so obtained within the packaging machine, each pillow package having a longitudinal sealing band, a top transversal sealing band and a bottom transversal sealing band.
  • sterilization apparatuses have become available, which are configured to sterilize the web of packaging material by means of the application of physical irradiation, in particular electromagnetic irradiation, even more particular electron beam irradiation.
  • solutions are known of sterilization apparatus exploiting hydrogen peroxide, wherein the web of packaging material is sterilized by means of the introduction thereof in a hydrogen peroxide bath.
  • packaging machine operation has to be interrupted.
  • An operator then manually cuts and extracts a lower portion of the packaging material, connects a cleaning pipe for cleaning the filling means, cleans the sterilization apparatus and repositions the packaging material in the correct position.
  • a further sterilization is then performed before resuming the normal packaging machine operation.
  • Packaging machines with a sterilization apparatus are known e.g. from EP 3 009 362 A1 and EP 1 759 998 A1 .
  • Number 1 indicates as a whole a packaging machine for producing sealed packages 2 of a pourable product, in particular a pourable food product such as pasteurized milk, fruit juice, wine, tomato sauce, etc., from a tube 3 formed from a web 4 of packaging material.
  • tube 3 extends along a longitudinal axis, in particular having a vertical orientation.
  • Web 4 at least comprises a layer of fibrous material, in particular paper, covered on both sides with respective layers of heat-seal plastic material, e.g. polyethylene.
  • web 4 also comprises a layer of gas- and light-barrier material, e.g. aluminum foil or ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) film, and at least a first layer and a second layer of heat-seal plastic material.
  • the layer of gas- and light-barrier material is superimposed on the first layer of heat-seal plastic material, and is in turn covered with the second layer of heat-seal plastic material.
  • the second layer of heat-seal plastic material forms the inner face of package 2 eventually contacting the filled pourable food product.
  • a typical package 2 obtained by packaging machine 1 comprises a longitudinal seam portion and a pair of transversal sealing bands, in particular a transversal top sealing band and a transversal bottom sealing band.
  • packaging machine 1 is configured to advance web 4 along a web advancement path P, to sterilize web 4 during advancement along path P, to form tube 3 from web 4 and to fill tube 3 and to form single packages 2 from the filled tube 3.
  • the packaging machine 1 comprises:
  • the sterilization apparatus 9 may receive the web 4 of packaging material from a host station (not visible in the figures).
  • the plurality of conveyors may be configured to advance the web 4 of packaging material from the host station to the sterilization apparatus 9 and/or from the sterilization apparatus 9 to the tube forming device 17.
  • the plurality of conveyors may be configured to advance the tube 3 from the tube forming device 17 to the sealing device 19 and/or from the sealing device 19 to the filling unit 20 and/or from the filling unit 20 to the package forming unit 21.
  • packaging machine 1 also comprises pressure control means configured to control the pressure within at least isolation chamber 14 and within at least portions of sterilization apparatus 9.
  • the sterilization apparatus 9 may comprise an outlet 92.
  • the outlet 92 may be positioned downstream with respect to the first sterilizing device 10 along the web advancing path P.
  • the sterilized web 4 may advance through the outlet 92 towards the isolation chamber 14.
  • the isolation chamber 14 may comprise an inlet 140, wherein the inlet 140 of the isolation chamber 14 may be connected to the outlet 92 of the sterilization apparatus 9.
  • the isolation chamber 14 may comprise an outlet 142, wherein the tube 3, filled with pourable product, may exit the isolation chamber 14 at the outlet 142.
  • the package forming unit 21 may be arranged downstream of isolation chamber 14 and tube forming device 17 along path Q.
  • the sterilization apparatus 9 comprises:
  • the first sterilizing device 10 may comprise an irradiation device configured to sterilize at least the first face 5, preferably also the second face 6, of the advancing web 4 by directing a sterilizing irradiation onto at least the first face 5 (and optionally second face 6).
  • a typical sterilization apparatus of this kind comprises an irradiation device typically having a pair of electron beam emitters spaced apart from one another.
  • An advancement channel, through which, in use, the web 4 of packaging material advances, is interposed between the electron beam emitters.
  • Each one of the electron beam emitters is configured to direct the respective electron beam onto one respective face of the web of packaging material advancing through the advancement channel.
  • a drawback of this type of sterilizing device 10 is that electric arc events may occur.
  • an electric discharge i.e. an electric arc
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to detect whether a change occurs in a dose of irradiation directed to the first face 5 (and optionally second face 6) of the web 4.
  • the first sterilizing device 10 is depicted as an irradiation device as described previously, however it will be appreciated that a different kind of first sterilizing device 10 may be employed, e.g. a hydrogen peroxide bath.
  • the anomaly may comprise e.g. a change in a temperature of a peroxide bath.
  • control unit 12 may be configured to interrupt operation of the packaging machine 1.
  • control unit 12 may interrupt operation of the first sterilizing device 10, the tube forming device 17, the sealing device 19, the filling unit 20, the package forming unit 21 and/or the plurality of conveyors, preferably at the same time.
  • the traveled distance D is smaller than a distance D1 between the first sterilizing device 10 and the outlet 92. That is, the traveled distance D may be smaller than the distance D1 traveled by the web 4 between the first sterilizing device 10 and the outlet 92 during normal operation.
  • the portion P1, P2, P3 being associated (e.g. substantially corresponding) to the traveled distance D may comprise the portion of the web 4 that passes at (e.g. through) the first sterilization device 10 between detection of the anomaly and interruption of advancement.
  • the portion P1 , P2, P3 may include a first portion P1-P2 that exits the first sterilizing device 10 between detection of the anomaly and interruption of advancement and a second portion P2-P3 present at (e.g. in) the first sterilizing device 10 when the web advancement is interrupted.
  • the step of sterilizing at least the portion P1, P2, P3 associated to the traveled distance D may comprise sterilizing at least the first portion P1-P2 substantially corresponding to the distance D and/or sterilizing the second portion P2-P3 at the first sterilizing device 10 during interruption of web advancement.
  • the advancement of the web 4 may be interrupted before the first portion P1-P2 of the web 4 reaches the outlet 92 of the sterilization apparatus 9. This way the first portion P1-P2 does not proceed into the isolation chamber 14.
  • control unit 12 may be configured to (exactly and efficiently) identify the portion P1, P2, P3 that passes through the first sterilizing device 10 when a deviation from normal operation thereof is detected.
  • the portion P1, P2, P3 of the web 4 of packaging material that may be affected by the anomaly can be (accurately and precisely) identified.
  • the movement sensor 11 may transmit a first sensor signal, e.g. indicative of speed of and/or position of and/or distance traveled by the web 4 of packaging material.
  • the web 4 of packaging material and the tube 3 present in the isolation chamber 14 and the sterilization apparatus 9 at the detection of the anomaly may be present (i.e. remain) in the packaging machine 1 before, during and after the sterilization by means of the second sterilizing device 7.
  • the identification of the traveled distance D and/or the portion P1, P2, P3 affected by the anomaly it is possible to significantly reduce the downtime due to such anomaly.
  • the sterilization that ensues may be localized to the affected area and optionally to the neighboring area.
  • Figure 3 depicts the sterilization apparatus 9 according to one or more embodiments when an anomaly occurs.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to receive a second sensor signal from the monitoring device 8, e.g. indicative of sterilization of the web 4 of packaging material.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to detect the anomaly if the second sensor signal reaches (and optionally exceeds) a predetermined threshold.
  • the second sensor signal may be indicative of an irradiation dose emitted by the first sterilizing device 10.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to detect the anomaly if the dose of emitted radiation reaches (e.g. becomes lower than) the threshold, e.g. a lower dose value of radiation.
  • control unit 12 may be configured to detect the anomaly when the second sensor signal reaches (or exceeds) the predetermined threshold for a predetermined time period.
  • the predetermined time period may be between 50 ms and 120 ms, preferably between 70 and 110 ms, even more preferably 80 and 100 ms.
  • the predetermined time period may be dependent on the advancement speed of the web 4 of packaging material.
  • the predetermined time period may be indirectly proportional to the advancement speed, i.e. if the advancement speed lowers the predetermined time period can increase.
  • control unit 12 may be configured to detect the anomaly when the second sensor signal continuously reaches (or exceeds) the predetermined threshold for the predetermined time period. That is, the second sensor signal reaches (or exceeds) the threshold for the entire predetermined time period.
  • the predetermined time period may facilitate detecting real anomalies and filtering out false anomalies, e.g. fluctuations of the sensor signal due to electrical disturbances.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to start identifying (e.g. calculating) the distance D at the beginning of the predetermined time period.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to interrupt advancement of the web 4 at the end of the predetermined time period.
  • Figure 4 depicts the sterilization apparatus 9 according to one or more embodiments when operation of the sterilization apparatus 9 (and packaging machine 1) is interrupted.
  • the first portion P1-P2 may (substantially) correspond to the traveled distance D.
  • the second portion P2-P3 may comprise the portion present at (e.g. within) the first sterilizing device 10 during interruption of advancement.
  • the second sterilization device 7 may comprise a hydrogen peroxide spray tank 70 configured to spray vaporized hydrogen peroxide at least at the portion P1, P2, P3 of the web 4 associated to the traveled distance D between detection of the anomaly and interruption.
  • the spray tank 70 may be connected to a tube 72 configured to convey the vaporized hydrogen peroxide at the first sterilizing device 10, in particular at an outlet thereof with respect to the web advancement path P.
  • the spray tank 70 may be configured, by means of the tube 72, to sterilize the portion P1-P3 of the web 4.
  • Air (e.g. gas flow) exiting the tube 72 may pass through the first sterilizing device 10 and may be collected through tube 74 (only partially shown). Such air may thus flow through the first sterilizing device in an opposite direction with respect to a web advancement direction along the web advancement path P.
  • the second sterilizing device 7 may be configured to sterilize the portion P1, P2, P3 of the web 4 as well as the first sterilizing device 10 and/or generally the sterilization apparatus 9.
  • the spray tank 70 may be connected to a further tube 76 configured to convey the vaporized hydrogen peroxide at the isolation chamber 14, in particular the tube 76 may end downstream with respect to the tube forming device 17.
  • the spray tank 70 may be configured, by means of the further tube 76, to sterilize the isolation chamber 14. Air (e.g. gas flow) exiting the further tube 76 may pass through the isolation chamber 14, the first sterilizing device 10 and may be collected through tube 74.
  • Air e.g. gas flow
  • the second sterilizing device 7 may be configured to spray sterilizing air comprising hydrogen peroxide the first sterilizing device 10 and preferably through the isolation chamber 14.
  • the second sterilizing device 7 can be actioned only if the web advancement is interrupted and/or the first sterilizing device 10 is deactivated.
  • the movement sensor 11 may comprise a rotative encoder, e.g. integrated within a conveyor, preferably upstream of the sterilization apparatus 9, in the plurality of conveyors configured to advance the web 4.
  • the first conveyor 22 may comprise the movement sensor 11, however any conveyor upstream of the sterilization apparatus 9 may comprise the movement sensor 11.
  • the conveyor comprising the movement sensor 11 may be free from actuating forces.
  • the conveyor may include a free roller that rotates only thanks to the movement of the web 4. No external forces are applied to such conveyor for influencing the rotation thereof. This way, in the example, if the web 4 advances the first conveyor 22 rotates in a first direction, e.g. anticlockwise in the figures, and if the web 4 recedes the first conveyor 22 rotates in a second direction opposite to the first direction, e.g. clockwise.
  • this may permit an even more accurate reading of the distance D, insofar as also possible backward movement of the web 4 of packaging material is taken into consideration.
  • a second conveyor may be in contact with the web 4 at the conveyor comprising the movement sensor 11, on an opposite side of the web 4 with respect to such conveyor comprising the movement sensor 11. This way, the web 4 of packaging material does not slide on the conveyors and a more accurate reading is performed.
  • one or more conveyors may comprise an actuator configured to control a brake velocity of the advancing web 4.
  • an actuator configured to control a brake velocity of the advancing web 4.
  • the actuator may be configured to control a tensioning of the advancing web 4.
  • the web 4 of packaging material is kept in tension also when the packaging machine 1 stops, which facilitates sterilization and reduces a risk of damages on the web 4.
  • the first conveyor 22 may comprise the movement sensor 11 and the actuator.
  • further conveyor(s) e.g. (immediately) upstream of the first conveyor 22 may comprise the actuator.
  • the control unit 12 may be configured to resume advancement of the web 4 of packaging material after the step of sterilizing by means of the second sterilizing device 7 is completed. That is, before, during and after the anomaly detection the web 4 of packaging material remains within the packaging machine 1.
  • At least the packages 2 formed with the packaging material present within the sterilization apparatus 9 and isolation chamber 14 during the step of sterilizing by means of the second sterilizing device 7 may be discarded.
  • control unit 12 may be configured to transmit an alarm signal, e.g. to an user interface, if the traveled distance D is greater than a predetermined distance, e.g. the distance D1 between the first sterilizing device 10 and the outlet 92 of the sterilization apparatus 9. A cleaning and resterilization process is then performed to the isolation chamber 14, filling unit 20 and sterilization apparatus 9.
  • a predetermined distance e.g. the distance D1 between the first sterilizing device 10 and the outlet 92 of the sterilization apparatus 9.
  • One or more embodiments may relate to a method of sterilizing a web 4 of packaging material performed by a sterilization apparatus 9 according to one or more embodiments.
  • the method may comprise:
  • sterilization apparatus 9 may minimize operative downtimes of the packaging machine 1 with respect to what is known in the art. Even more in particular, the operative downtime may be reduced from several hours to tens of minutes.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Toxicology (AREA)
  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
  • Containers And Plastic Fillers For Packaging (AREA)
  • Advancing Webs (AREA)

Claims (15)

  1. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) zur Sterilisation einer Bahn (4) eines Verpackungsmaterials, die sich entlang eines Vorschubwegs (P) vorwärts bewegt, wobei die Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) umfasst:
    - eine erste Sterilisationseinrichtung (10), die dazu ausgelegt ist, mindestens eine erste Seite (5) der Bahn (4), die sich durch die erste Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) vorwärts bewegt, zu sterilisieren,
    - eine zweite Sterilisationseinrichtung (7),
    - eine Überwachungseinrichtung (8), die dazu ausgelegt ist, den Betrieb der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) zu überwachen,
    - einen Bewegungssensor (11), der dazu ausgelegt ist, den Vorschub der Bahn (4) entlang des Vorschubwegs (P) zu überwachen, und
    - eine Steuereinheit (12), die mit der Überwachungseinrichtung (8) und dem Bewegungssensor (11) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinheit (12) dazu ausgelegt ist, falls eine Anomalie im Betrieb der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) erkannt wird:
    - den Vorschub der Bahn (4) zu unterbrechen,
    - eine Entfernung (D) zu identifizieren, die die Bahn (4) zwischen der Erkennung der Anomalie und der Unterbrechung des Vorschubs zurückgelegt hat, und
    - mindestens einen Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn (4) mittels der zweiten Sterilisationseinrichtung (7) zu sterilisieren, wobei der Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn der zurückgelegten Entfernung (D) zugeordnet ist.
  2. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach Anspruch 1, umfassend einen Auslass (92), wobei die zurückgelegte Entfernung (D) kleiner als eine Entfernung (D1) zwischen der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) und dem Auslass (92) ist.
  3. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei der Schritt des Erkennens einer Anomalie im Betrieb der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) umfasst:
    - Empfangen eines Sensorsignals aus der Überwachungseinrichtung (8), und
    - Prüfen, ob das Sensorsignal für eine vorbestimmte Zeitdauer, vorzugsweise fortwährend, einen vorbestimmten Schwellenwert erreicht.
  4. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die erste Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) eine Bestrahlungseinrichtung umfasst, die dazu ausgelegt ist, mindestens die erste Seite (5) der sich vorwärts bewegenden Bahn (4) durch gerichtete sterilisierende Strahlung auf mindestens die erste Seite (5) zu sterilisieren, und wobei die Anomalie ein Lichtbogenereignis ist.
  5. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach Anspruch 4, wobei die Überwachungseinrichtung (8) einen Strahlungssensor umfasst, der dazu ausgelegt ist, eine durch die erste Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) emittierte Strahlendosis zu erfassen, und wobei die Steuereinheit (12) dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Anomalie zu erkennen, wenn die abgegebene Strahlendosis einen vorbestimmten Schwellenwert erreicht.
  6. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die zweite Sterilisationseinrichtung (7) einen Wasserstoffperoxid-Sprühbehälter (70) umfasst, der dazu ausgelegt ist, verdampftes Wasserstoffperoxid mindestens auf den Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn (4) zu sprühen.
  7. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei der Bewegungssensor (11) einen Drehcodierer umfasst, der in eine Fördereinrichtung (22) integriert ist, die dazu ausgelegt ist, die Bahn (4) vorwärts zu bewegen.
  8. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach Anspruch 7, wobei die Fördereinrichtung (22) frei von Betätigungskräften ist.
  9. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Steuereinheit (12) dazu ausgelegt ist, ein Alarmsignal zu senden, wenn die zurückgelegte Entfernung (D) größer als eine vorbestimmte Entfernung ist,
    wobei die vorbestimmte Entfernung vorzugsweise einer Entfernung (D1) zwischen der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) und einem Auslass (92) der Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) entspricht.
  10. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die Steuereinheit (12) dazu ausgelegt ist, den Vorschub der Bahn (4) des Verpackungsmaterials wieder aufzunehmen, nachdem der Schritt der Sterilisation mittels der zweiten Sterilisationseinrichtung (7) abgeschlossen ist.
  11. Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei die zweite Sterilisationseinrichtung (7) dazu ausgelegt ist, den Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn (4) und die erste Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) zu sterilisieren.
  12. Verpackungsmaschine (1) zur Herstellung versiegelter Verpackungen (2) eines schüttfähigen Produkts aus einer Bahn (4) eines Verpackungsmaterials, wobei die Verpackungsmaschine (1) mindestens umfasst:
    - eine Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche,
    - eine Isolationskammer (14), die mit der Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) verbunden ist und eine Innenumgebung (15) von einer Außenumgebung (16) trennt,
    - eine Röhrenbildungsvorrichtung (17), die zumindest teilweise in der Isolationskammer (14) angeordnet ist und dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Röhre (3) aus der Bahn (4) des Verpackungsmaterials zu bilden,
    - eine Versiegelungsvorrichtung (19), die mindestens teilweise innerhalb der Isolationskammer (14) angeordnet und dazu ausgelegt ist, die durch die Röhrenbildungsvorrichtung (17) gebildete Röhre (3) in Längsrichtung zu versiegeln,
    - eine Fülleinheit (20), die dazu ausgelegt ist, die Röhre (3) mit dem schüttfähigen Produkt zu befüllen,
    - eine Packungsbildungseinheit (21), die dazu ausgelegt ist, die Röhre (3) zum Bilden der Packungen (2) zu bilden und in Querrichtung zu versiegeln, und;
    - eine Vielzahl von Fördereinrichtungen (22, 23), die dazu ausgelegt sind, die Bahn (4) des Verpackungsmaterials entlang eines Bahnvorschubwegs (P) und die Röhre (3) entlang eines Röhrenvorschubwegs (Q) vorwärts zu bewegen.
  13. Verpackungsmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 12, umfassend eine Fördereinrichtung (22) stromaufwärts der Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9), wobei der Bewegungssensor (11) einen Drehcodierer umfasst, der in die Fördereinrichtung (22) integriert ist.
  14. Verpackungsmaschine (1) nach Anspruch 12 oder 13, wobei die Vielzahl von Fördereinrichtungen mindestens eine Fördereinrichtung umfasst, die stromaufwärts der Sterilisationsvorrichtung (9) angeordnet ist und einen Aktuator umfasst, der dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Bremsgeschwindigkeit der sich vorwärts bewegenden Bahn (4) und/oder eine Spannung der sich vorwärts bewegenden Bahn (4) zu steuern.
  15. Verfahren zur Sterilisation einer Bahn (4) eines Verpackungsmaterials, umfassend die Schritte:
    - Vorwärtsbewegen der Bahn (4) des Verpackungsmaterials entlang eines Bahnvorschubwegs (P),
    - Sterilisieren mindestens einer ersten Seite (5) der sich vorwärts bewegenden Bahn (6) mittels einer ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10),
    - Überwachen des Betriebs der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10),
    - Überwachen des Vorschubs der Bahn (4) entlang des Vorschubwegs, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass
    - wenn eine Anomalie im Betrieb der ersten Sterilisationseinrichtung (10) erkannt wird:
    - der Vorschub der Bahn (4) unterbrochen wird,
    - eine Entfernung (D) identifiziert wird, die die Bahn (4) zwischen der Erkennung der Anomalie und der Unterbrechung des Vorschubs zurückgelegt hat, und
    - mindestens ein Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn (4) mittels der zweiten Sterilisationseinrichtung (7) sterilisiert wird, wobei der Abschnitt (P1, P2, P3) der Bahn der zurückgelegten Entfernung (D) zugeordnet ist.
EP23207844.4A 2022-11-10 2023-11-06 Sterilisationsvorrichtung, verpackungsmaschine mit einer sterilisationsvorrichtung und verfahren zur sterilisation Active EP4368525B1 (de)

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EP1759998A1 (de) * 2005-08-30 2007-03-07 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance SA Verpackungsverfahren und -maschine zum Herstellen versiegelter Packungen mit giessfähigen Lebensmitteln
CN101596953B (zh) * 2008-06-02 2015-04-15 利乐拉瓦尔集团及财务有限公司 用于填充机中消毒室的系统和方法
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EP3009362A1 (de) * 2014-10-17 2016-04-20 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Erkennungsvorrichtung zum Nachweis von UV-Strahlung
US20210061507A1 (en) * 2018-02-19 2021-03-04 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Sterilization apparatus, packaging machine having a sterilization apparatus for producing sealed packages and method for sterilizing
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