Filling machine with hygienic chamber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12060187-B2
Application number	US-202017762171-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2020
Priority date	Oct 4, 2019
Publication date	Aug 13, 2024
Grant date	Aug 13, 2024

Abstract

A filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages is provided. The filling machine comprises a disinfection station and a hygienic chamber downstream the disinfection station, which hygienic chamber is configured to reduce the risk for re-contamination of the packages after passing the disinfection station. An inner hygienic zone is formed inside the hygienic chamber, whereby a positive air flow is established from the inner hygienic zone to the hygienic chamber outside the inner hygienic zone.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages, comprising
a disinfection station and a hygienic chamber, which hygienic chamber is configured to reduce the risk for re-contamination of the packages after passing the disinfection station,
an inner hygienic zone formed by a plurality of separation plates inside said hygienic chamber, whereby a positive air flow is established from the inner hygienic zone to the hygienic chamber outside the inner hygienic zone,
the separation plates being distributed in an U-shape, such that at least two longitudinal separation plates extend in a machine direction, and at least one transversal separation plate extends perpendicular to the machine direction, connecting the at least two longitudinal separation plates.

2. The filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the separation plates is moveable such that the inner hygienic zone can be opened and accessed.

3. The filling machine according to claim 2 , wherein the separation plates extend from a ceiling towards a floor, leaving a slit between a bottom end of the respective separation plates and the floor.

4. The filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the separation plates is moveable in order to increase or reduce a size of the inner hygienic zone.

5. The filling machine according to claim 4 , wherein the filtered air unit is a HEPA filter unit.

6. The filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein the inner hygienic zone is open towards the upstream disinfection station.

7. The filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein the inner hygienic zone is provided with a filtered air unit.

8. The filling machine according to claim 7 , wherein the filtered air unit is arranged at a ceiling of the inner hygienic zone.

9. The filling machine according to claim 7 , wherein the positive air flow from the inner hygienic zone is controlled by controlling the air flow of the filtered air unit.

10. The filling machine according to claim 1 , wherein the hygienic chamber comprises an air evacuation unit arranged outside the inner hygienic zone.

11. The filling machine according to claim 10 , wherein the air evacuation unit is arranged at a ceiling of the hygienic chamber.

12. A method for a filling machine configured to form, fill, and seal individual packages, whereby the filling machine comprises a disinfection station and a hygienic chamber, which hygienic chamber is configured to reduce the risk for re-contamination of the packages after passing the disinfection station, the method comprising:
providing an inner hygienic zone inside said hygienic chamber, and establishing a positive air flow from the inner hygienic zone to the hygienic chamber outside the inner hygienic zone,
wherein the inner hygienic zone is formed by a plurality of separation plates inside said hygienic chamber, the separation plates being distributed in an U-shape, such that at least two longitudinal separation plates extend in a machine direction, and at least one transversal separation plate extends perpendicular to the machine direction, connecting the at least two longitudinal separation plates.

Assignees

• Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance

Inventors

• Lindblad Ulf
• Regner Mårten
• Lindblad Jenny
• Runnberg Bo

Classifications

• B65B9/06

  Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, in a longitudinally-folded web, or in a web folded into a tube about the articles or quantities of material placed upon it · CPC title

• B65B55/027 Primary

  Packaging in aseptic chambers · CPC title

• B65B55/025 Primary

  Packaging in aseptic tunnels · CPC title