Method for presterilizing a tubular pouch packing machine

• US 20040011004A1
• Filed: 11/06/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH (TB Tauris Italia SRL)
• Original Assignee: Hassia Verpackungsmaschinen GmbH (TB Tauris Italia SRL)
• Inventors: Kurth, Gunter
• Granted Patent: US 6,804,936 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 53/426
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2220/22 Interconnected packages concurrently produced from the same web, the packages not being separated from one another
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/027 Packaging in aseptic chambers
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 55/103 Sterilising flat or tubular webs
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 9/213 the web having intermittent motion B65B9/22 takes precedence

Abstract

For pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine to be operated under sterile conditions after the pre-sterilization phase, following the steam sterilization of the device metering the loading material and forming part of the machine, and of the forming pipe simultaneously serving as a filling pipe, the subsequent supply of sterile air to the meter, to the forming pipe and to the sterile chamber will be maintained. The longitudinally sealed tube of packing material formed on the forming pipe from the web of packing material is kept open underneath the opening of the sterile chamber in order to allow both the sterile air and the mixture of steam and sterilization agent conducted after pre-sterilization of the metering device into the sterile chamber to be discharged through the forming pipe and the tube of packing material open at the bottom.

Claims

1. A method of pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine wherein, in permanent operation, at least one tubular strip (3) is formed from a web of packing material (PB) supplied in timed sequence from a magazine roll (1), with the said tubular strip moving past a sterilizing means (2), and wherein the said tubular strip (3) underneath a forming and filling station (4) is cross-sealed, filled via a loading material meter (5) through the forming and filling pipe (4′

) of the forming and filling station (4), withdrawn by a bag length and again cross-sealed and filled, with the advance of the web of packing material (2) taking place behind the magazine roll (1) within a pre-sterilized sterile chamber (6) under excess pressure of sterile air, with the pre-sterilization being carried out in the following steps;

1.1 sterilizing the loading material meter (5) by means of saturated steam;

1.2 upon completion of the vapour supply, supplying sterile air to the meter (5) and into the sterile chamber (6) and maintaining the sterile air supply during the subsequent steps;

1.3 withdrawing the web of packing material (PB) from the magazine roll (1) through the sterile chamber (6), partially kept open for the withdrawal of the web while forming a tube down to underneath the forming station (4);

1.4 closing the sterile chamber (6) and supplying a mixture of sterile agent and steam to the sterile chamber, with the tube of packing material (3) being kept open or being opened at the bottom;

1.5 upon completion of the sterilization by the mixture of sterile agent and steam, the sterile chamber (6) and all elements contained therein are dried by the flow of air maintained sterile;

1.6 upon completion of the drying process, the supply of sterile air to the meter (5) is discontinued, yet maintained to the sterile chamber (6); and

1.7 subsequently, the tube end formed by cross sealing and respectively withdrawn by a bag length is filled via meter (5).

2. A method according to claim 1,

characterized in

that the sterile air, for the drying phase (1.5), is blown into the sterile chamber (6) at an increased temperature.

3. A method according to claims 1 or 2,

characterized in

that opening of the tube (3), after manufacture of a plurality of empty bags from the strip, is effected shortly above the last-applied cross-sealing joint.

4. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 3,

characterized in

that the tube (3) formed from the web of packing material (PB), relative to the outer diameter of the forming and filing pipe (4′

), is slightly over-dimensioned.

5. A method according to any one of claims 1 through 4,

characterized in

that, during the purification and sterilization phase of the meter (5), the cleansing fluid mixed up with contaminants as well as the sterilizing steam condensate, at the end of the forming pipe (4′

), subsequently, are separately discharged through a collector (14) mounted for these phases on the forming pipe (4′

).

6. A method according to claim 1

characterized in

that opening of the tube (3), after manufacture of a plurality of empty bags from the strip, is effected shortly above the last-applied cross-sealing joint.

7. A method according to claim 1,

characterized in

that the tube (3) formed from the web of packing material (PB), relative to the outer diameter of the forming and filing pipe (4′

), is slightly over-dimensioned.

8. A method according to, claim 1,

characterized in

that, during the purification and sterilization phase of the meter (5), the cleansing fluid mixed up with contaminants as well as the sterilizing steam condensate, at the end of the forming pipe (4′

), subsequently, are separately discharged through a collector (14) mounted for these phases on the forming pipe (4′

).