Abstract: A packaging container or blank therefor, suitable for carrying out quality control of the packaging container or packaging container blank, includes a package or blank having one or more poles (12) for interconnection with electric quality control equipment (24). The packaged product (20) will be directly or indirectly accessible, whereby both the quality of the packed product and the tightness of the surrounding packaging container (1) may be determined in a rational and partly automated manner. This is of particular importance in the production of aseptic packaging containers for, for instance, ready-made, heat-treated soups or similar foods.

Abstract: The invention relates to a water-free alcohol disinfectant capable of destroying spores. Preferably, the disinfectant also contains an additional chemical sterilization agent, e.g., hydrogen peroxide, in very low concentrations within the range of between 0.5 and 3.0 percent of the weight of the alcohol solution. The disinfectant is usable in industrial contexts for bacteriological cleaning of surfaces, for example, inner walls in pipelines, conduits, reaction vessels, and other process equipment, without corroding or chemically attacking the material in such surfaces.

Abstract: A three-way antimix valve (1) for a pourable food product packaging machine, the valve having a casing (2) in turn having a lateral wall (4) which defines a cavity (6) having an axis of symmetry (A) and communicating with a bottom drain opening (7), and has three gates (10, 11, 12) spaced 90° apart; and a rotary shutter (3) housed inside the cavity (6), rotating about the axis (A), and having a lateral surface (20) in which are formed two openings (22, 23) spaced 90° apart and communicating with each other via an inner passage (24) for connecting respective pairs (10,12; 11,12) of gates in two respective work positions (a, b) of the shutter (3); the casing (2) has two recesses (17, 18) spaced 90° apart and each located in an intermediate position between a respective pair (10,12; 11,12) of gates; and the shutter (3) has four recesses (25, 26, 27, 28) spaced 90° apart, and one (25) of which is located between the two openings (22, 23) to connect the passage (24) and the three gates (10, 11, 12)

Abstract: The device (1) for heat sealing a tube (3) of packaging sheet material filled with a pourable food product, has first and second jaws (8, 9) movable towards each other to grip the tube (3) under pressure and heat seal the tube. The first jaw (8) has a heating element (14) having a pair of substantially straight active surfaces (17), which extend on opposite sides of and parallel to an intermediate plane (&pgr;). The second jaw (9) has a pair of pressure pads (22), which are housed in respective seats (23) and cooperate with the active surfaces (17) of the heating element (14). Each of the pads has a first longitudinal portion (24) supported rigidly in a seat (23), and a second longitudinal portion (25) supported pliably in the seat (23) and located adjacent to and on the opposite side of the first longitudinal portion (24) with respect to the intermediate plane (&pgr;).

Abstract: A closure for a container and a method of producing the same is set forth. The closure is a single integrally-molded spout, cap, hinge assembly joining the spout and the cap, and a tamper evident structure. The closure may also have a membrane and pull-ring, also integrally molded as one piece. The cap may have at least one prop for preventing interference from the cap with the pouring of the contents of the container. Additionally, the spout may have a step for assisting in the prevention of interference from the cap during pouring, and for providing a predetermined sound every time that the cap is opened. Still further, the closure may have an orienting peg for properly orienting the closure on a container.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method of producing crease-lined packaging material with a high degree of accuracy as regards the placing and forming of longitudinal crease lines. A web-shaped starting material (1) is provided, in connection with the laminate production, with a pattern of crease lines (6) extending at an angle to the longitudinal direction of the web, whereafter the material is divided into part webs (9). In connection with the conversion of each part web (9) into individual packaging containers in a filling machine, each part web is provided with complementary, longitudinal crease lines (17, 18).

Abstract: A post processing fitment applicator for applying a fitment to a formed, filled and sealed carton is disclosed herein. The post processing fitment applicator may be utilized in conjunction with a linear form, fill and seal packaging machine such as a TETRA REX® packaging machine. The post processing fitment applicator includes a supply of fitments, a plurality of fitment carriers, a conveyor system and a hot melt dispenser. The plurality of fitment carriers are disposed on a continuous track that partially parallels the movement of a series of formed, filled and sealed cartons on the conveyor system. The plurality of fitment carriers is capable of applying a fitment to a formed, filled and sealed carton as it is moving along the conveyor system. Each of the plurality of fitment carriers may include a fitment holder and a fitment displacement mechanism.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing tops onto openings of packs arranged at a distance (m) from each other. The apparatus includes a first conveying means, e.g. a first conveyor, for intermittently conveying the packs in a first direction of travel through a row of at least three sealing stations spaced a machine pitch (m) from each other, and a transport apparatus, e.g. a second conveyor, for transporting the tops in a row behind each other and transversely to the first direction of travel, intermittently over the openings of packs located in the row of sealing stations. The transport apparatus includes a tops belt guided over drive rollers to which the tops are detachably attached behind each other using holding bridges. The tops are spaced a belt pitch (t) from each other and the tops belt is provided with positioning apparatus for properly positioning the tops over the openings.

Abstract: A reject device (1) for a high-speed packaging machine (2), the device having an input opening (23) for a succession of packages (3) containing pourable food products and traveling along a supply path (A); a first guide surface (18) for guiding the packages (3) along a transfer path (B) to an output station (13, 30); a second guide surface (19) for guiding the packages (3) along an expulsion path (C) intersecting the supply and transfer paths (A, B); and a selecting member (22) located at the intersection of the supply, transfer and expulsion paths (A, B, C), and which has a first and a second wall (32, 33) facing and connected integrally to each other, and rotates, about a fixed hinge axis (E) crosswise to the supply path (A), between a first operating position wherein the first wall (32) is substantially aligned with the first guide surface (18) to direct the packages (3) along the transfer path (B), and a second operating position wherein the second wall (33) is substantially aligned with the second guide

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying and applying cap bodies (51) to a packaging container includes a gas supplying device (11) which supplies a hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture obtained by electrolyzing water, a burner unit (22) that is connected to the gas supplying device (11) for receiving hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture from the gas supplying device (11) and burning the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture and a pickup apparatus (80) which transports a cap body (51) to a heating position above the burner unit (22). The burner unit (22) is provided with a plurality of nozzles (31) that are arranged in a pattern that corresponds in shape to the shape of the underside periphery of the cap body (51). A shield plate (57) is positionable above the nozzles (31) to deflect the hydrogen-oxygen gas mixture emitted from the nozzles (31), and an igniter (32) is disposed adjacent one of the nozzles (31), to ignite the mixture emitted from the nozzle (31).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a polyethylene coated paperboard material with a mirror-pocket finish and a predetermined Dyne level is disclosed herein. The apparatus and method utilizes a double corona treatment on a single polyethylene surface to create the material with the predetermined Dyne level. Such paperboard material is often used for fabrication of cups, and the like. The predetermined Dyne level is required for printing requirements. The method and apparatus allow for the production of the predetermined Dyne level material at standard laminator operating speeds.

Abstract: A container having a resealable closure thereon is produced by a method including the steps of providing a closure having a spout and a flange and a stem projecting therefrom, placing the closure about an access area of the container and welding the closure to the container body thereby bonding at least one portion of a hinge to the spout. The closure stem defines an aperture and the cap has a lid and skirt projecting therefrom. The skirt is configured to prevent interference during pouring of the contents of the container. The hinge assembly connects the cap to the spout and allows for reclosable opening of the cap from the spout while maintaining the attachment of the cap with the spout. A tamper-evident structure is formed integrally with the cap including a removable portion secured to the closure by a breakable joint. The closure further includes an orienting projection for orienting the closure on the container at a predetermined location and position.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing packaging with vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation on a packaging machine. A partially formed packaging material is sprayed with gaseous hydrogen peroxide thereby allowing the gas to condense on the packaging material. The packaging material is then conveyed to a UV radiation source for irradiation of the packaging material. The packaging material is then dried with heated air to flush/remove any residual hydrogen peroxide. The present invention sterilizes the packaging material allowing for filling of the packaging material with a desired product such as milk, juice or water. The packaging material may be any number of possibilities such as gable top cartons, parallelepiped containers, flexible pouches, and the like. The invention allows for the efficacious use of hydrogen peroxide having a concentration of up to 53% while providing a packaging material having less than 0.5 ppm hydrogen peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention is a carton having a forty-five degree off-set seal from its bottom and a blank therefor. The carton may have a square cross-section or an octagonal cross-section. The forty-five degree off-set seal allows for a stiffer package and material savings of up to seven percent over a traditional gable top carton. A method and apparatus for fabricating the forty-five degree off-set seal are also disclosed herein.

Abstract: A package with an extended top panel has a front wall, a rear wall and a pair of parallel side walls. The package includes at least one top panel that seals to the package at a sealing region. A plane through the sealing region is spaced from a central vertical plane through the package. The extended top panel can extend to the rear wall at the sealing region. A second lesser top panel can extend from the rear wall and can seal with the extended front panel at an off-center top fin. A closure is accommodated on the top panel that has a cap having a diameter greater than the diameter of an aperture disposed through the extended top panel. A blank for the package is also disclosed herein. The package can include a handle attached to its top fin for carrying and displaying the package.

Abstract: A closure for a package that is adapted for mounting to a surface of the package includes a mounting flange having substantially planar upper and lower surfaces that define a thickness and define a flange plane. A spout extends from the upper surface of the flange and has an inner wall defining a dispensing opening. A membrane has a central portion and a circumferential edge region and is formed in the spout so as to extend to the inner wall to define a spout seal. The membrane is severable from the spout at the edge region. The edge region is selectively thinned and has a pair of first thickness regions and a pair of second thickness regions interposed between the first thickness regions. The second thickness regions have a thickness that is greater than a thickness of the first thickness regions.

Abstract: A method is described for sterilizing a fiber based container that contains a food product without damaging the container. The method involves placing the filled container in an autoclave, and supplying steam into the closed autoclave to raised the temperature to a sterilization temperature and at a pressure above atmospheric. The temperature required for sterilizing the food product is greater than the critical temperature for the container. The cooling phase involves introducing cooling air into the autoclave to reduce the temperature below the critical temperature without introducing moisture, and then supplying cool water to lower the temperature of the container rapidly. The use of this method provides effective sterilization in a reduced cycle time.

Abstract: A three part package of polymer coated aluminum for fill-goods under pressure includes a for example frusto-conical barrel, a top and a bottom. The bottom includes a central, circular dome facing inwardly in the package, outside thereof a circular portion, which is inwardly curved and extends toward the barrel, and a rim, which extends downwardly from the curved portion and is intended for sealing to the barrel.