Abstract: A packaging material comprising a core layer, an outermost layer arranged to face the exterior of a packaging container made of the packaging material, and an innermost layer arranged to face the interior of the packaging container is provided. The outermost layer and the innermost layer are laminated to the core layer. The laminated packaging material further comprises a locally distributed heat sealable material portion arranged on the innermost layer.

Abstract: A sheet packaging material for producing a sealed package containing a food product, comprising crease lines that have sections that are angled towards each other such that at least two sides panels of the sealed package are given a trapezoidal shape.

Abstract: A rail-guided wagon for transporting a carrier carrying a package in a form and seal machine is provided. The wagon comprises: a set of spaced-apart wheels to be distributed on each side of the rail, wherein a first subset of the wheels to be arranged on a first side of the rail is spring-biased towards a second subset of the wheels to be arranged on an opposite side of the rail.

Abstract: There is described a packaging apparatus for forming a plurality of sealed packages-comprising conveyor for advancing a web of packaging material along an advancement path, an isolation chamber, a tube forming device adapted to form a tube from the, in use, advancing web of packaging material, a sealing device adapted to longitudinally seal the tube, a support structure carrying at least the tube forming device, a filling device for continuously filling the tube formed by the tube forming device, a package forming unit adapted to form and seal the packages from the, in use, advancing tube formed by the tube forming device and filled by the filling device. The support structure comprises at least one support column at least indirectly carrying the tube forming device and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the tube forming device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for tracking food data transactions in a network data processing system comprising the steps of reading a network storage devices a packaged food production data hash tree, receiving a food data transaction from a hardware data processor in a food packaging machine, appending the food data transaction to the packaged food production data hash tree, and causing decentralised storage of identical instances of the appended packaged food production data hash tree in the plurality of network storage devices. The present invention further provides a network data processing system and a computer program for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A non-foil packaging laminate for liquid food packaging comprises a layer of paper or other cellulose-based material, outermost liquid tight, heat sealable layers of polyolefin-based polymers and, vapour-deposition coated onto the inner side of the layer of paper or cellulose-based material, an induction heat susceptible metal coating. Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing of the packaging laminate, a packaging container that is made from the packaging laminate and a method of induction heat sealing the packaging laminate into packaging containers.

Abstract: There is described a magazine unit for a packaging machine comprising an inlet opening configured to allow for the introduction of a spindle carrying a wound-up web of packaging material into the magazine unit, at least one pair of housing seats configured to rotatably support the spindle carrying the wound-up web of packaging material, the respective housing seats being arranged side-by-side and distanced from the inlet opening, and a pair of guide rails, the guide rails being arranged side-by-side and each one extending from the inlet opening to one respective housing seat and being configured to guide the spindle from the inlet opening to the pair of housing seats.

Abstract: A method of applying a sealing strip onto a web of packaging material comprising advancing the web along a web advancement path; applying a first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto a longitudinal edge of the web, sealing the first longitudinal portion of the sealing strip onto the longitudinal edge, detecting and/or determining a correct alignment of the sealing strip with respect to the web. The detecting and/or determining of the correct alignment comprises acquiring an image of a second longitudinal portion of the sealing strip and a reference marker of a strip application apparatus, analyzing the acquired image to determine at least a first transversal distance between the reference marker and a longitudinal border of the second longitudinal portion; and evaluating the correct alignment/misalignment as a function of at least the first transversal distance.

Abstract: A method of heat-treatment of a product in a sealed container of a packaging material is described. The method includes placing the container in a treatment environment having a pressure (P) and a temperature (T), the pressure and the temperature having a ratio (P/T), and adjusting the temperature and/or pressure in the treatment environment to decrease the ratio over a duration in a time period. The time period starts at a time of cooking onset of the product and extends over a time of cooling onset at which time a temperature decrease is started, the time of cooking onset being preceded by a first time period of temperature ramping during which the temperature is increased. An apparatus for controlling heat-treatment of a product in a sealed container of a packaging material is also described.

Abstract: A packaging material is provided, comprising a core layer and one or more layers of a heat sealable material laminated thereto, and at least one carbon-based layer being configured to form a workpiece of an associated sealing system.

Abstract: A sealing device for forming a transversal seal to a tetrahedral packaging container is provided. The sealing device comprises a sealing element and an imprint ruler arranged at a longitudinal distance from the sealing element. The sealing element is configured to provide a top transversal seal to a packaging container while the imprint ruler is configured to provide a transversal imprint to the same packaging container.

Abstract: A sterilization apparatus for sterilizing a web of packaging material advancing along a web advancement path-comprises an irradiation device for sterilizing the advancing packaging material web, a main shielding chamber housing the irradiation device and comprising an advancement channel having an inlet opening and an outlet opening and through which, in use, the packaging material web advances along the sterilization portion, an auxiliary shielding chamber upstream of the advancement channel along the web advancement path, the auxiliary shielding chamber having an inner space in fluid connection with the advancement channel and comprising an extraction opening allowing gas extraction from the auxiliary shielding chamber. An aspiration device generates a first flow of gas within the advancement channel from the outlet opening to the inlet opening and a second flow of gas from the inlet opening to the extraction opening.

Abstract: A packaging machine for producing sealed packages of a pourable product from a packaging material web advancing along a web advancement path comprises an isolation chamber separating inner and outer environments, and a sterilization apparatus for sterilizing the packaging material web and in fluid connection with the isolation chamber. The sterilization apparatus comprises a main shielding chamber housing an irradiation device and comprising an advancement channel having inlet and outlet openings, and through which, in use, the packaging material web advances, and first and second auxiliary shielding chambers having respectively first and second inner spaces fluidically connected to the advancement channel.

Abstract: An induction sealing device for induction welding of a packaging material is disclosed. In some embodiments, the induction sealing device comprises an inductor coil configured to induce an alternating current in a metal foil of the packaging material for inductive heating thereof. The induction sealing device can further comprise a magnetic insert encapsulating the inductor coil apart from an outer portion of the inductor coil, and the outer portion can be arranged towards the packaging material to be sealed. In some embodiments, the magnetic insert is configured to interact with the packaging material to be sealed via at least one interactive surface. In some embodiments, the induction sealing device comprises a connection unit. The connection unit can comprise a parallel connection configured to connect to the inductor coil and to an AC power source. A corresponding method of manufacturing an induction sealing device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for printing a web of packaging material for packages holding liquid food products is provided. The method comprises receiving a web of packaging material, identifying a first register mark using a first sensor, determining a first register mark position based on the first register mark, determining a second register mark position area based on the first register mark position, identifying a second register mark within the second register mark position area using a second sensor and determining a second register mark position for the second register mark, determining a second area position of the second area based on the second register mark position, adjusting the web in relation to printer bars in accordance with the second area position, determining a second area position of the second area based on the second register mark position, and printing the second area by using the printer bars.

Abstract: A monitoring system implements a method for versatile and efficient training of a machine learning-based model for subsequent detection and grading of deviations in packaging containers for liquid food in a manufacturing plant. The method comprises creating a virtual model of a packaging container or of a starting material for use in producing the packaging container; obtaining probability distributions for features that are characteristic of a deviation type; producing reproductions of the virtual model with deviations included among the reproductions in correspondence with the probability distributions; associating gradings with the reproductions; and inputting the reproductions and the associated gradings for training of the machine learning-based model for subsequent detection and grading of an actual deviation in image data acquired in the manufacturing plant.

Abstract: A packaging machine comprises a conveying device for advancing a web along a web advancement path at least to a tube forming station where the web is formed into a tube and for advancing the tube along a tube advancement path, a tube forming and sealing device configured to form and to longitudinally seal the tube, a tensioning device upstream of the tube forming station and configured to control the tension of the tube and a control unit configured to control packaging machine operation. The tensioning device comprises a main drive roller rotatable around a main rotation axis and a main drive motor configured to actuate rotation of the main drive roller around the main rotation axis. The control unit is configured to control the main drive motor such that angular speed and/or angular acceleration of the main drive roller is cyclically varied to control the tension of the tube.