WO2004011335A1

WO2004011335A1 - Method and machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products

Info

Publication number: WO2004011335A1
Application number: PCT/IT2003/000453
Authority: WO
Inventors: Stefano Rolleri
Original assignee: Levati Food Tech S.R.L.
Priority date: 2002-07-26
Filing date: 2003-07-23
Publication date: 2004-02-05
Also published as: AU2003253265A1; ITPR20020039A1

Abstract

A method for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, of the type comprising the steps of: opening the pouch; filling the pouch with selected products; closing the pouch. The method is characterised in that all the aforesaid steps take place in a single environment, isolated from the exterior environment. A machine (1) for filling pouch packages (3) or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, comprising at least a filling station 82) provided with means for opening the pouch, means for filling it with selected products and means for closing it. The filling station (2) provided with means for opening the pouch, means for filling it with selected products and means for closing it. The filling station (2) comprises a containment body (4), or bell, so shaped as to house the pouch (3) during the opening, filling and closing thereof. In particular, the bell preferably comprises means for aspirating air from the interior of the bell, at least before closing the pouch, in order to create a predetermined degree of vacuum to facilitate the closing of the pouch and to reduce product deterioration thanks to the elimination of the oxygen.

Description

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FILLING POUCH PACKAGES OR ENVELOPES, IN PARTICULAR FOR FOOD AND/OR PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTS.

TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND ART.

The present invention relates to a method for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, of the type comprising the steps of opening the pouch, filling the pouch with the selected products and closing the pouch. The present invention also relates to a machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, of the type comprising at least a filling station provided with means for opening the pouch, means for filling it with selected products and means for closing it again. The method and the machine of the invention find particular application in the food and or pharmaceutical industry to fill envelops or pouch packages, preferably of the flexible type, with products of any nature, i.e. in liquid, solid and powder form.

Currently, the filling of envelopes or pouches partially takes place in a controlled environment and partially in an unprotected environment.

In particular, the opening and the filling of the packages take place in uncontrolled environment by means of grip elements, typically suction cups or mechanical hands, which grip two opposite surfaces of the same package, in order to open it and allow the insertion of a filling valve which dispenses the product inserting itself directly inside the package.

Vice versa, the package is closed in a protected environment, within which is created a predetermined degree of vacuum. Specifically, the closing operation is currently performed by means of hot sealing achieved with a pair of bars which press, superposing them, two edges of the pouch positioned opposite to each other and in correspondence with a mouth thereof.

In accordance with the prior art, rotary machines exist for filling envelopes or pouches. Said rotary machines are provided with a first carousel, whereon the pouches are opened and filled with the selected product, and with a second carousel, whereon the pouches are closed, normally in a protected environment.

The rotary machines and the method that provide only for opening and filling in an unprotected environment have the important drawback of not being able to assure, in case of need, an aseptic filling of the packages. In particular, it is not possible to operate a sterilisation of the pouch, since the filling cycle does not completely take place inside a controlled environment, but the pouch undergoes manipulations (in particular, opening and filling) also in an unprotected environment. In the second place, rotary machines provided with a pair of carousels, are complex to construct and require a considerable amount of space for their installation. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the aforesaid drawings making available a machine and a method for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, which allow to perform the entire treatment cycle of the pouch in a controlled environment and/or an environment that is protected against outside agents.

A further object is to obtain the results expressed above, within the context of a simple, rational and reliable constructive solution. In particular, an object of the present invention is also to propose a machine for filling pouches or envelopes, which is compact and requires a reduced installation space. Said objects are fully achieved by the method and by the machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, of the present invention, which are characterised by the contents of the claims set out below and in particular in that the filling station of the machine comprises a containment body, or bell, so shaped as to house the pouch during its opening, filling and closing. In particular, the machine preferably comprises means for aspirating air from the interior of the bell, at least before the closing of the pouch, in order to create a predetermined degree of vacuum to ^' facilitate the closing of the pouch and reduce deterioration of the product thanks to the elimination of the oxygen. The method is characterised in that the steps of opening, filling and closing the pouch take place in a single environment, isolated from the exterior environment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION.

These and other objects shall become more readily apparent from the description that follows of a preferred embodiment illustrated, purely by way of non limiting example, in the accompanying drawing tables, in which: - Figure 1 shows a global front view of a machine according to the invention;

- Figure 2 shows a sectioned view of the machine of Figure 1 according to the trace I-I;

- Figure 3 shows a partially sectioned front view of a constructive detail of a containment body, or bell, installed on the machine of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 shows a side view of the constructive detail of Figure 3. With reference to the figures, the machine for filling pouch packages or envelopes is globally designated by the number 1 and comprises at least a filling station 2 provided with means for opening a pouch 3, means for filling it with the selected products and means for closing it again. The filling station 2 originally comprises a containment body 4, or bell, so shaped as to house the pouch during its opening, filling and closing. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the containment body is constituted by a bottom wall 4a, an upper wall 4b opposite to the bottom wall and by a plurality of lateral walls 4c, one of which, designated by the number 4d, defines a door which is movable between a closed position (shown with solid lines in Figure 4) of the bell and an open position (shown in dashed lines in Figure 4) thereof, to allow the insertion and extraction of the pouch into and out of the bell 4.

In the preferred embodiment, the means for opening the pouch 3 comprise at least a pair of suction cups 8 which act on two mutually facing surfaces of a same pouch 3, in order to move them away to allow the insertion of the filling means into the pouch. In particular, the filling means comprise a filler head 6 constituted by a nozzle so shaped as to be inserted into the pouch, dispensing a predetermined quantity of product directly into the pouch. The nozzle is known and can dispense products in solid, liquid or powder form. The means for closing the pouch 3 preferably comprise at least a pair of heat sealing bars 5 so shaped as to press two edges of the pouch positioned in correspondence with its filling mouth.

Li alternative embodiments not shown herein, the pouch 3 can be closed by means of other known sealing techniques, such as high frequency sealing. In the preferred embodiment, the machine 1 comprises means for aspirating air from the interior of the bell 4, at least before the closing of the pouch 3, in order to create a predetermined degree of vacuum, to facilitate closing the pouch and reduce product deterioration thanks to the elimination of the oxygen, hi the illustrated example, the aspirating means are connected to the bell 4 via a valve 7. The machine 1 is also provided with means for feeding the pouches to the filling station 2 and means for transferring the filled pouches from the filling station to other processing stations, if any are provided. hi the preferred embodiment, the pouches are fed by means of a mobile cursor 9 which draws the pouches from a storage device 10 and brings them directly in correspondence with each bell 4.

Subsequently, the filled pouches are collected and sent to other processing stations, if any are provided, by means of a conveyor 11, preferably of the belt type.

The machine illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 is of the linear type and has its bells 4 arranged along a single row. hi an alternative embodiment, not shown herein, a rotary machine provided with a carrousel can be constructed, in which each station is provided with a bell, suitably dimensioned according to the size and velocity of rotation of the machine.

The method of the present invention is of the kind comprising the following steps: opening the pouch; filling the pouch with selected products; closing the pouch, and it is characterised in that all the aforesaid steps take place in a single environment, isolated from the exterior environment.

The method further comprises a step of aspirating air from the isolated environment, at least before the step of closing the pouch, in order to create a predetermined degree of vacuum.

The step of closing the pouch takes place by means of heat sealing of edges of the pouch positioned in correspondence with a filling mouth thereof.

The method in question further comprises a step of sterilising the isolated environment, before and/or during the step of opening the pouch. In this way, it is possible to assure the filling of the sack in a completely aseptic environment and in a single filling station.

The invention achieves other important advantages.

First of all, the machine of the invention allows to complete the entire cycle for processing the pouch, or the envelope, inside a containment body, or bell, and therefore assures a manipulation of the pouch in a controlled environment or one that is, in any case, protected from external agents, hi particular, the capability to sterilise the bell, or in any case to create a predetermined degree of vacuum in its interior, allows to fill the pouches in a controlled atmosphere. Therefore, a machine in accordance with the invention can advantageously be used to process products which are particularly sensitive to oxygen and/or to contaminants.

Another advantage is represented by the fact that such a machine for filling pouches or envelopes is very compact and can be installed even in small facilities.

Claims

1. A method for filling pouch packages or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, of the type comprising the steps of: opening the pouch; filling the pouch with selected products; closing the pouch, characterised in that all the aforesaid steps take place in a single environment, isolated from the exterior environment.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a step of aspirating air from the isolated environment at least before the step of closing the pouch, in order to create a predetermined degree of vacuum.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the pouch is closed by sealing edges of the pouch positioned in correspondence with its filling mouth.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that the seal is a hot seal performed by means of a pair of bars that press the aforesaid edges of the pouch.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a step of sterilising the isolated environment, before and/or during the step of opening the pouch.

6. A machine (1) for filling pouch packages (3) or envelopes, in particular for food and/or pharmaceutical products, comprising at least a filling station (2) provided with means for opening the pouch, means for filling it with selected products and means for closing it, characterised in that the filling station (2) comprises a containment body (4), or bell, so shaped as to house the pouch (3) during the opening, filling and closing thereof.

7. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the containment body (4) comprises a bottom wall (4a), an upper wall (4b) opposite to the bottom wall (4a) and a plurality of lateral walls (4c), at least one of which defines a door (4d) which is movable between a closed position of the bell (4) and an open position thereof, to allow the insertion and extraction of the pouch (3) into and out of the bell (4).

8. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the means for opening the pouch (3) comprise at least a pair of suction cups (8) operatively active on opposite surfaces of a same pouch (3) to move them away from each other.

9. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the means for filling the pouch (3) comprise at least a filler head (6) having a nozzle so shaped as to be inserted into the interior of the pouch (3), to dispense the product directly in its interior.

10. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that the means for closing the pouch (3) are so shaped as to seal edges of the pouch (3) positioned in correspondence with its filling mouth.

11. A machine as claimed in claim 10, characterised in that the means for closing the pouch (3) comprise at least a pair of heat sealing bars (5) so shaped as to press edges of the pouch (3) positioned in correspondence with its filling mouth.

12. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that it comprises means for aspirating air from the interior of the bell (4), at least before closing the pouch (3), to create a predetermined degree of vacuum inside the bell (4).

13. A machine as claimed in claim 6, characterised in that it comprises: means: (9; 10) for feeding the pouches to the filling station (2); means (11) for transferring the filled pouches (3) from the filling station (2) to other processing stations, if any are provided.

14. Installation for processing pouch packages or envelopes, characterised in that it implements a method as claimed in any of the claims from 1 through 5 or in that it comprises a machine (1) as claimed in any of the claims from 6 through 14.