EP3225560A1 - Food packaging device - Google Patents

Abstract

Shown and described is a device for filling liquid to pasty food in prefabricated individual containers that form a sealing edge, with support elements which are endlessly guided by a drive through the device and having receiving openings for the individual containers, with workstations, in the effective range of the support elements pass on their endless circulation through the device, with at least one designed as a sealing workstation, which defines a sealing film on the sealing edge of each cup by means of a sealing tool, with a web-like, the support elements in their measured transversely to the preferred width width sealing film between the Sealing edge of the individual container and the sealing head is guided, with a deflecting device, which is arranged upstream of the sealing device in the preferred direction and the sealing film in a preferred direction parallel, sealed alignment over leads, with one of the sealing device in the preferred direction upstream gassing, which filled an unfilled head portion of the individual containers with an oxygen-reduced to oxygen-free gas, wherein in the region of the sealing device at least one sealing foil-down device is arranged, the sealing foil down device is aligned vorzugsrichtungsparallel, the sealing film down device holds the sealing film between itself and a support element at a defined distance from the support element.

Description

The invention relates to a device for filling liquid to pasty food in prefabricated individual containers that form a sealing edge, with support elements which are guided by a drive endlessly through the device and having receiving openings for the individual containers, with workstations, in the effective range of the support elements reach their endless circulation through the device, with at least one designed as a sealing workstation, which defines a sealing film on the sealing edge of each cup by means of a sealing tool, with a web-like, the support elements in their measured transversely to the preferred width width sealing film between the sealing edge the individual container and the sealing head is guided, with a deflection device, which is arranged upstream of the sealing device in the preferred direction and converts the sealing film into a preferred direction parallel, sealable orientation, with a sealing device upstream of the sealing device in the preferred direction, which fills an unfilled head region of the individual containers with an oxygen-reduced to oxygen-free gas.

Generic filling devices are for example off EP 1 134 182 A1 or EP 2 527 260 A1 the applicant known. Generic devices have a plurality of support elements, which in turn have a plurality of receiving openings for individual containers. The support elements are guided endlessly through an upper run and a lower run by filling. In this case, the support elements are arranged directly adjacent to one another, at least in that strand which has the workstations treating the containers.

In this way, the receiving openings in this strand in the direction of passage one behind the other are arranged in rows and transversely to the passage direction next to each other in webs.

The work stations of the filling lead to individual cups, put them in receiving openings, perform a sterilization of the cups and support elements, then fill the individual containers with food, such as yogurt, a drink, a spread fat, etc .. Then the individual cups in a sealing station with a Sealing film is covered and sealed, if necessary subjected to a leak test and then combined into containers and packaged. As far as perishable foods such as yogurt are bottled, such a filling device is usually housed in a sterile area. Sterile air is blown into this enclosure so that there is an overpressure that prevents the entry of germs through the air.

The main difference between the two mentioned as prior art Abführfüllvorrichtungen is in the drive. In the first-mentioned prior art, the cell boards are mounted on an endless conveyor, usually a chain, and are transported by means of this circulating through the device. The second-mentioned prior art dispenses with the endless drive means, which can bring serious disadvantages under certain conditions.

Basically, when filling foodstuffs, it is necessary to comply with high standards of hygiene, which vary somewhat depending on the nature of the product. More particularly, the present invention relates to a device for bottling low acid foods in single cups, such as for filling sauces for ready meals, snacks or finger foods. Such products are usually very sensitive, so that even low bacterial load, which are unproblematic, for example, in products with higher acid content, lead to a rapid spoilage of food.

In order to keep the germ burden low and in particular to keep the proliferation of germs below a problematic threshold, it is known in the prior art to fill the head region of the individual containers with an oxygen-reduced or oxygen-free gas. As a rule, for this purpose, nitrogen is injected into the headspace of the container, which displaces the air existing there after the filling process and thus considerably reduces the oxygen of the gas mixture. The aim is to reduce oxygen levels in the headspace below 3% for low-acid foods.

The economy of generic filling devices for food depends in particular on the per unit time fillable containers, so that there is a constant tendency to increase the speed of operation of generic bottling plants. For some time, it has been common for various types of installations to provide 60 strokes per minute, but this is particularly the case with devices which can cause fumigation of the headspace with low-oxygen gas in a housing contaminated with sterile air. The sterile air pressure in conjunction with the high cycle rates can lead to air turbulence in the region of the sealing station, which flush out that oxygen-poor filling gas from the headspace. As a result, the oxygen content in the headspace rises above the permissible levels, which can result in excessive germ multiplication and premature spoilage of the food.

The object of the invention is to ensure the filling of the headspace with oxygen-poor gas even at high processing speeds generic filling devices.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1, in particular with its characterizing features, according to which in the region of the sealing device at least one sealing film downholder is arranged, the sealing film down device is aligned in the preferred direction parallel, the sealing film down device, the sealing film between them and holds a support element at a defined distance from the support element.

The equipment of the filling device with the sealing foil down device according to the invention results in that the sealing film in the region of the sealing device and thus immediately behind the filling of the cup head space with oxygen-poor gas, in particular nitrogen, can be kept at a defined distance to the support element top. Interfering air currents, which are caused by the sterile air pressure and / or high operating speeds of the device, can no longer engage under the sealing foil. As a result, the intrusion of the interfering air streams into the area of the arranged under the sealing film, filled with the food and the oxygen-poor gas tank is safely avoided. Rinsing the oxygen-poor or oxygen-free filling gas from the headspace before the sealing process is no longer possible.

It is envisaged that the sealing film hold-down comprises at least one rotatably mounted wheel, on which the sealing film is guided substantially frictionless during the passage between hold-down and support member, in particular it is provided that the sealing film hold-down comprises a plurality of wheels arranged behind one another in the preferred direction.

In particular, at the high operating speeds of the filling and the web-like sealing film with high Speed introduced into the sealing device. The rotatably mounted wheels allow a frictionless sliding along the sealing film on the sealing foil-down device, so that a sealing process disturbing, caused by tension wrinkling of the sealing film is safely avoided. The arrangement of several wheels in the preferred direction one behind the other has the significant advantage of being able to ensure the defined gap between the sealing film and the support element over a region which is long in the preferred direction.

The sealing film hold-down can be significantly improved when a belt endlessly revolves around the wheel assembly and the sealing film is guided substantially frictionless along the rotating belt.

On the one hand, the belt, which revolves endlessly around the wheel arrangement, also ensures the friction-free passage of the sealing film under the sealing film hold-down device. In addition, a uniform contact pressure between the sealing film and the downholder is ensured over the entire stretch spanned by the belt and viewed in the preferred direction. This improves the guarantee of a defined gap between the sealing foil and the supporting element.

It is envisaged that a respective sealing film holder is arranged above each preferred direction parallel edge region of the sealing elements passing through the sealing device.

It is further provided that the sealing tools are surrounded by a frame, under which the sealing film is guided along and which carries the sealing film-down device.

The main advantage of this embodiment is that with the addition of the sealing device to a surrounding the sealing heads frame not only a simple and cost-effective mounting for the Sealing film lowers was created. At the same time, especially when the sealing film protrudes outwards, the frame allows the working area of the sealing heads not to be kept sterile. This makes it possible to use simpler sealing heads that do not have to meet the sterility requirements.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung in vereinfachter, schematischer Darstellung in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 1A

eine Schnittdarstellung eines mit einem Lebensmittel gefüllten Einzelbechers,

Fig. 2

die Darstellung eines Tragelementes,

Fig. 3

die Siegelvorrichtung der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung gemäß Figur 1 in vereinfachter Seitenansicht,

Fig. 4

eine vereinfachte Aufsicht auf die Siegelvorrichtung gemäß Figur 3

Fig. 5

die Darstellung gemäß Figur 4 mit eingezeichnetem Sterilbereich

Fig. 6

eine Schnittdarstellung der Siegelvorrichtung gemäß Schnittlinie A-A in Figur 4

A better understanding of the invention and further advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

a device according to the invention in a simplified, schematic representation in side view,

Fig. 1A

a sectional view of a filled with a food single cup,

Fig. 2

the representation of a support element,

Fig. 3

the sealing device of the device according to the invention according to FIG. 1 in a simplified side view,

Fig. 4

a simplified view of the sealing device according to FIG. 3

Fig. 5

the representation according to FIG. 4 with marked sterile area

Fig. 6

a sectional view of the sealing device according to section line AA in FIG. 4

In the figures, a device according to the invention is designated overall by the reference numeral 10 and in FIG. 1 presented in their entirety. The device has an upper run 11 and a lower run 12, which are connected by two end, not shown side debris with each other. Support elements 13, also referred to as cell boards pass through the debris 11 and 12 circumferentially and endlessly. For their propulsion is in the embodiment shown here in FIG. 1 invisible, endlessly circulating drive chain used. Workstations 14 are located above the upper run 11 in the feed direction V of the upper strand 11 arranged one behind the other.

Starting from the in FIG. 1 At the right beginning and left-ending upper strand is first a cup inserter 15, a sterilization device 16, a filling device 17 and a sealing device 18. The sealing device 18 is divided into a sealing foil 19 and the actual, the sealing film 34 on the individual containers 20 applying seal station 21st

An incoming at the beginning of Obertrums 11 support member 13 moves along the feed direction V through the upper strand 11. It is initially loaded in the cup inserter 15 with individual containers 20, then passes to sterilize the support member 13 and the cup 20 used in the sterilization device 16 at a further feed in the direction of filling device 17, the support member 13 is dried together with inserted individual containers 20. Then, the individual containers 20 are filled in the filling device 17 with a liquid to pasty food, specifically here with a low-acid food 22. The unfilled head space 28 of the single container 20 is purged with nitrogen to reduce the oxygen content to the desired level of <3% and is then transferred in the feed direction V to the sealing device 18. In the sealing station 21, the sealing film is fixed over the container opening 23 via corresponding sealing heads. Subsequently, the container 20 are removed from the support member 13 and the support member 13 changes at the end of the upper run 11 via a not shown side center in the lower strand 12th

The lower strand 12 passes through the support element 13 in the return direction R until it is transferred back into the upper strand 11 at the end of the lower run 12.

Figure 1A shows a single cup 20 in sectional view. The cup 20 is a so-called single cup, which is supplied prefabricated and removed for insertion into the support members 13 a stock. The individual cups 20 used in the device according to the invention are to be seen insofar as in contrast to deep-drawn containers. Although such are often used for filling with food. However, these thermoforming containers are formed immediately before the filling process and separated from each other after the sealing of the container.

The type of cup used has considerable differences with regard to the filling process. In thermoforming cups, the support members 13 are completely covered by the thermoforming sheet, whereas in individual cups, the support member surface is openly accessible via the spaces between the individual cups 20. As a result, the use of thermoforming containers does not provide the same degree of support element sterilization.

Single cups are increasingly used in high quality products to provide quality food 22 with attractive packaging.

The in Figure 1A illustrated single cup 20 is filled with a food product 22 and forms in the area of the cup opening 23 a circumferential support edge 24. The underside 25 of the supporting edge serves to rest on the support element 13 in order to prevent slippage through the receiving opening 26. The top 27 of the supporting edge 24 forms the contact surface between the cup 20 and a sealing film.

In that regard, the supporting edge 24 also serves as a sealing edge and is also referred to below as the sealing edge 24.

Above the food 22 to the supporting edge 24 or with closed cup 20 to the sealing film is the so-called head space 28 of the cup 20, which is basically gas-filled. In particular, in the case of low-acid, perishable foods, nitrogen is generally blown in to minimize the oxygen content.

FIG. 2 shows a support member 13, which forms receiving openings 26, which are partially occupied for illustration with individual cups 20. The receiving openings 26 form rows of containers 29, viewed in the preferred direction V one behind the other, and are arranged next to one another in preferred directional parallel paths 30. As FIG. 2 can be seen, the cups 20 sit in the receiving openings 26, wherein the supporting edge 24 of the cup rests on the top 31 of the support member 13. The supporting edge 24 of each cup 20 thus covers a surface area of the upper side 31.

FIG. 4 shows a simplified plan view of the sealing station 21. The not shown here, filled with a food 22 cup 20 loaded support members 13 pass through the sealing station 21 in the preferred direction V. The sealing station 21 comprises a plurality of sealing heads 32, each receiving opening 26 of a in the sealing station 21 located support member 13 is associated with exactly one sealing head 32. In FIG. 4 a part of the sealing heads is not shown for explanatory purposes.

The sealing heads 32 are in a working area above the in FIG. 4 not shown, web-like sealing film 34 which is surrounded by a frame 36. The web-like sealing film 34 itself becomes fed in the preferred direction V in front of the sealing heads of the sealing station 21 and spans the support elements 13 in their transverse to the preferred direction V measured width completely.

FIG. 3 now shows the side view of the sealing device 21, also referred to as sealing station 21, in a simplified representation in side view. Support elements 13, the receiving openings 26 are occupied with individual cups 20 are moved in the preferred direction V by the sealing station 21. The sealing station 21 has sealing heads 32, which can be moved vertically up and down via an actuating linkage 33.

In the preferred direction V of the sealing station 21 is fed directly in front of the sealing heads 32, the web-like sealing film 34 via a deflecting device 35. The deflecting device 35 is arranged from a above the support members 13 arranged, not shown here storage memory removed sealing film 34 their tragelementoberseitenparallel alignment. The sealing film 34 is then guided between the support member 13 and the sealing edge 24 of the cup 20 and the sealing heads along.

On a frame 36, which surrounds the working area of the sealing heads 32 located above the sealing film 34, the sealing foil hold-down device 37 according to the invention is arranged. The sealing foil hold-down device 37 comprises a plurality of wheels 38/40, which are arranged one behind the other in the preferred direction V and around which a belt 39 is guided endlessly circulating. The wheels 38 have an identical diameter and are arranged in the preferred direction V one behind the other. A wheel 40 in the preferred direction V upstream wheel 40 with a considerable smaller diameter closes the space between the first in the preferred direction V 38 and the deflector 35. The belt 39 is also performed by this initiating wheel 40. The wheels 38 and 40 are rotatably mounted on the frame 36, so that a circumferential movement of the belt 39 is possible.

The sealing foil-down device 37 is aligned in the preferred direction parallel. The sealing film runs along the belt 39 and is guided by the latter at a constant distance above the support element 13. The sealing film hold-down device 37 is adjustable in the vertical direction, so that the distance gap between the sealing film 34 and the support element 13 is adaptable.

By means of the sealing foil blank holder 37, the gap between the sealing film 34 and the support element 13 can be reduced to an unimpeded passage of the sealing film 34 enabling minimum technical dimension. Thanks to the circulating belt, a virtually friction-free running off of the sealing film 34 on the sealing film holding-down device 37 is ensured so that a drape of the sealing film 34 obstructing the sealing process is avoided.

The defined and minimized by the sealing film-down device 37 gap between sealing film 34 and support member 13 effectively prevents the ingress of air currents in the area between the sealing film 34 and support member 13. This ensures that the oxygen content in the head space 28 of the cup 20 minimizing nitrogen through External air flows is flushed out. In this way it is ensured that the food 22 does not spoil prematurely.

In the device 10 according to the invention, two sealing film hold-downs 37 are used. These are at the in FIG. 4 shown frame 36 attached. For attachment serve the preferred direction parallel frame legs. Thus, each hold-down device 37 is assigned to a preferred edge-parallel edge region of the respective support element 13 passing through the sealing device 18.

In reference to FIG. 5 and 6 Now, another advantage of the device 10 according to the invention will be explained. FIG. 5 corresponds essentially to the illustration according to FIG. 4 , However, it is supplemented by a hatching 41, which represents the sterile area 41 of the device 10 in the sealing station 21. In principle, it is necessary for the sterile area of a generic device 10 to extend from the sterilization device 16 to the sealing device 18, more precisely beyond the sealing station 21, since penetration of germs or other contaminants into the filled containers only after the sealing of the containers 20 20 is excluded.

However, the frame 36, which encloses the working area of the sealing heads 32, allows the boundary between the sterile area 41 and the non-sterile area to be drawn into the working area of the sealing heads 32, in cooperation with the sealing foil 34 which spans the width of the support elements 13. Laterally of the frame 36 in the hatched sterile area 41 is consistently flushed with sterile air, so that there is a Fremdluftverdrängender overpressure. The sealing film 34 covers the support elements 13 with the cups 20 which are located there and also extends into the areas outside the frame 36. In this way it is ensured that the product-filled cups 20 are securely covered below the sealing heads and dominate the side of the frame Sterile air pressure can not penetrate any existing in the workspace of the sealing heads 32 germs in the sterile area.

As a result of this drawing in of the sterile area boundary into the working area of the sealing heads 32, it is possible to dispense with the complex adaptation of the sealing heads 32 to the sterility requirements, without neglecting food safety. Thus, the complexity of the device 10 in the area of the sealing device 18 is substantially reduced by a simple measure.

The invention initially shows in an advantageous manner how a device 10 can be effectively improved by means of a sealing foil blank holder 37 in the region of the sealing device 18. The sealing film hold-down device 37 creates defined and minimized gap dimensions between the sealing film 34 and the support element 13. This effectively prevents the penetration of sterile air flows into the sealing area. As a result, the flushing of the immediately before the sealing station 21 in the head space 28 of the container 20 input, oxygen-minimized gas, in particular nitrogen, is avoided. The shelf life of the filled food 22 is ensured. The use of a frame 36 surrounding the working area of the sealing heads 32, which according to the described embodiment carries the sealing foil blank holder 37, moreover has the significant advantage that the sterile area can be guided around the working area of the sealing heads 32 and a complex adaptation of the sealing heads 32 the sterility requirements are not required.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

contraption

11

obertrum

12

strand

13

Support element / cell board

14

workstation

15

Bechereinsetzrichtung

16

sterilization device

17

filling

18

sealer

19

Seal film feed

20

Single container / single cup

21

sealing station

22

Food

23

container opening

24

Tragrand / Siegelrand

25

Bottom of 24

26

receiving opening

27

Top of 24

28

Headroom of 20

29

string

30

train

31

Top of 13

32

sealing head

33

operating linkage

34

sealing film

35

deflecting

36

frame

37

Seal foil hold-down

38

Wheel of 37

39

belt

40

wheel

41

Hatching / sterile area of 21

R

Return direction

V

preferred direction

Claims (6)

Device for filling liquid to pasty food in prefabricated individual containers, which form a sealing edge, - With support elements which are guided by a drive endlessly through the device and having receiving openings for the individual containers, - With workstations, in the effective range, the support elements arrive on their endless circulation through the device, with at least one workstation designed as a sealing device which, by means of a sealing tool, defines a sealing film on the sealing edge of each individual cup, with a web-like sealing film which spans the carrying elements in its width measured transversely to the preferred direction and which is guided between the sealing edge of the individual containers and the sealing head, with a deflection device, which is arranged upstream of the sealing device in the preferred direction and converts the sealing film into a preferred direction parallel, sealable orientation, with a fumigation device upstream of the sealing device in the preferred direction, which fills an unfilled head region of the individual containers with an oxygen-reduced to oxygen-free gas, characterized in that in the area of the sealing device at least one sealing film hold-down is arranged, the sealing foil hold-down is oriented in a preferred direction parallel, - The sealing film-down device holds the sealing film between itself and a support member at a defined distance from the support element. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing foil-down device comprises at least one rotatably mounted wheel on which the sealing film is guided along the passage between hold-down and support element substantially without friction. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the sealing foil-down device comprises a plurality of wheels arranged one behind the other in the preferred direction. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that a belt endlessly revolves around the wheel assembly and the sealing film is guided along the circulating belt substantially frictionless. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective sealing film downers are arranged above each preferred direction parallel edge region of the sealing device passing through the sealing elements. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that the sealing tools are surrounded by a frame, under which the sealing film is guided along and which carries the sealing foil-down device.

Images