Abstract: A packaging unit (1) for continuously producing aseptic sealed packages (2), containing a pourable food product, from a tube (14) of packaging material filled with the food product; the unit (1) has a first and second chain conveyor (10, 11) respectively having a number of jaws (12) and a number of counter-jaws (13), which interact with and grip the tube (14) to heat-seal the tube at successive cross sections by means of induction heating elements (29) on the jaws (12); and each counter-jaw (13) has a push bar (35) fitted to a main body (20) of the counter-jaw via the interposition of springs (75) defining the gripping pressure exerted on the packaging material.

Abstract: An induction sealing device is utilized to seal a closure to a container on a packaging machine. The induction sealing device has a recess area for receiving a spout of a closure during the application process. A current is induced in a metal medium that generates heat to melt and chemically bond a closure to a container. The metal medium may be found in either the closure or the container.

Abstract: An opening arrangement for packaging containers which is manufactured from a flexible packaging laminate and includes a prefabricated outlet opening which is covered by a tear-off strip or pull-tab. To facilitate pouring of the contents and permit reclosure of the packaging container, the container also displays a prefabricated pouring device surrounding the outlet opening, the pouring device being applied on the outside of the packaging container and comprising a reclosable lid. In order to ensure satisfactory function and facilitate application of the pouring device onto the packaging container, the pull-tab extends, according to the present invention, in beneath the pouring edge of the pouring device and is fixedly sealed between the pouring device and the upper side of the packaging container.

Abstract: Packaging containers for liquid contents, for example milk, are normally manufactured from laminated packaging material including a carrier or core layer of fiber material which is coated on each side with plastic layers. In order to facilitate folding of the material, this is normally provided with a pattern of weakening crease lines which facilitate the reforming into the desired packaging container configuration. A method of retroforming or calibrating a packaging container for realizing more accurate final configuration, sharper fold lines and thereby for imparting to the packaging container improved steadiness and stability comprises the steps of surrounding the packaging container (1) with a forming device (11) adapted to the final configuration of the packaging container, and of displacing parts (12, 13) of the forming device towards one another so that the free space for the packaging container is briefly reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus (1) for continuously mixing two flows (3, 5)., in particular, a first larger flow (3) and a second smaller flow (5). The mixing operation is carried out in a throttle (6) which is placed in the conduit (2) of the first flow. A bent conduit (4) discharges the second flow in the throttle of the conduit. The conduit (4) of the second flow (5) is terminated with a pipe bend (8) and a mouth (9) with a washer (10) such that the two flows (3,5) face towards one another. Additionally, a gap (11) is provided between the washer 10 and the mouth (9) in order to spread the 2.sup.nd flow uniformly around the mouth (9) of the pipe bend (8) and out into the counter-flowing first flow (3).

Abstract: Apparatus for loading carton blanks into a packing machine comprises a magazine containing a stack of flattened, tubular blanks, a dog chain driving the blanks out of the magazine into the nip of rollers and then into the nip of overdriven rollers which accelerate the blanks into respective pockets defined in transport holders carried on a wheel conveyor. The blanks are driven at a speed sufficient to carry them into their respective pockets which are moving away from the magazine on the wheel conveyor. A slipping clutch in the drive to roller allows the blanks to decelerate without damage when fully home in their pockets. Arms bearing suction heads travelling with the wheel conveyor open the carton blanks in the pockets and the opened blanks are transferred in their transport holders for bottom closing, filling and top closing operations on respective wheel conveyors.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a laminated packaging material (10) comprising a core layer (11) of paper or paperboard and a layer (12) of polyvinyl alcohol serving as oxygen gas barrier on one side of the core layer. In order to avoid excessively large quantities of polyvinyl alcohol on application of the oxygen gas barrier layer (12), a layer (13) is applied which serves as a binder and consists of a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol and a gel-forming substance, for example agar, between the polyvinyl alcohol layer (12) and the core layer (11), with the aid of which excessive penetration of polyvinyl A alcohol into the core layer (11) is effectively counteracted, at the same time as the applied binder layer (13) smoothes and evens out the coarse surface structure of the core layer (11) and forms a smooth substrate for the polyvinyl alcohol layer (12). The quantity of gel-forming substance in the binder layer (13) may amount to between 1 and 20 per cent of the total weight of the mixture.

Abstract: A high barrier, multilayer laminate is disclosed that is suitable for forming packages that contain oxygen sensitive products. The laminate material has a coextruded multilayer material that includes from exterior to interior: i) an outside sealing and decorative layer, ii) a light barrier layer including an adhesive disposed interior to the outside sealing and decorative layer, iii) a barrier polymer layer disposed interior to the light barrier layer, iv) an oxygen scavenger layer including an adhesive disposed interior to the barrier polymer layer, and v) an inside sealing layer disposed interior to the oxygen scavenger layer. A further laminate structure suitable for forming a package containing an oxygen sensitive product is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fill system for use in a packaging machine for filling a container with a primary product and a secondary product is provided. The fill system includes a primary intermediate storage tank. The storage tank has an inlet connected to a source of the primary product and an outlet. The fill system also has a primary fill pipe having an inlet and an outlet, the outlet overlying a container processing path along which containers are filled and sealed by the packaging machine. A primary pump is also provided for pumping a predetermined amount of the primary product from the outlet of the primary intermediate storage tank to the inlet of the primary fill pipe. Similarly, a secondary intermediate storage tank having an inlet connected to a source of the secondary product is provided. The secondary fill pipe is concentrically disposed in the primary fill pipe and has an outlet overlying the container processing path.

Abstract: The ultrasonic sealing device (50) may be integrated on a packaging machine (20) such as a TETRA REX.RTM. packaging machine and used for sealing one end of a carton (200). The ultrasonic sealing device (50) includes a frame (52), an anvil (56), a horn (54) and a plurality of adjustable shafts (60-65). The anvil (56) is disposed on one side of a carton pathway (32) and moveably attached to the frame (52). The ultrasonic horn (54) is disposed on another side of the carton pathway (32) opposite the anvil (56) and moveably attached to the frame (52). The plurality of adjustable shafts (60-65) includes a first plurality of adjustable shafts (60,61) connected to the frame (52), and allowing for vertical adjustment of the frame (52) relative to the carton pathway (32). It also includes a second plurality of adjustable shafts (62,63) connected to the frame (52) and allowing for transversal adjustment of the frame (52) relative to the carton pathway (32).

Abstract: In the manufacture of packaging containers, for example blown plastic bottles, a circular material blank is, in certain cases, fixedly welded to the end of a sleeve-shaped casing portion. It is advantageous from amongst other energy viewpoint if the welding can take place using ultrasound, but in this instance it has been proved that the central region to the circular blank absorbs ultrasonic energy to such an extent that it is deformed or breaks. A method of using ultrasound to fixedly weld a circular material blank without such drawbacks occurring is proposed according to the present invention in that the oscillations caused by the ultrasound are reduced by a mechanical stabilization of the central region of the circular blank, which is put into effect with the aid of a vacuum and a relief pattern provided in the central region of the circular blank.

Abstract: An infeed sterilizer for a packaging machine that allows for the entire sterilization of an erected carton blank prior to bottom forming. The infeed sterilizer includes a nip roller, a carousel, sterilization means and a sterilization chamber. The carousel has a plurality of carriers for temporarily holding a plurality of erected carton blanks wherein each erected carton blank has both the top and bottom ends open and unfolded or sealed. The sterilization means may be hydrogen peroxide, ultraviolet energy, hot air, electron beams, any combination thereof. The sterilization chamber may be pressurized with sterile air to reduce contamination/recontamination of the erected carton blanks. The sterilized cartons may be transferred to a form and fill carousel disposed above the infeed sterilizer for bottom forming and filling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a double-seat valve, particularly for aseptic applications, having at least two line connections (3, 4, 7), between which two annular valve seats (11, 12) are disposed coaxially with one another and in series, having two closers (8, 9), which are axially closable independently of one another and which in the closed state cooperate sealingly with the valve seats (11, 12) and between them enclose a hollow chamber (34), and having at least one cleaning connection (35, 36), discharging into the hollow chamber (34), for introducing a cleaning medium.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for sterilizing cartons with vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation on a packaging machine. A partially formed carton is first sprayed at a bottom forming station with a sterilant. Then, the carton is transported to a sterilization station where the carton is sprayed with gaseous hydrogen peroxide thereby allowing the gas to condense on the packaging material. The carton is then conveyed to a UV radiation source for irradiation of the packaging material. The carton is then dried with heated air to flush/remove any residual hydrogen peroxide. The present invention sterilizes the carton allowing for filling of the packaging material with a desired product such as milk, juice or water. 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: A packaging system having a multiple magazine for providing different carton blanks to a single form, fill and seal packaging machine is disclosed in the present invention. The packaging system has the multiple magazine apparatus, the packaging machine, a carton opener and optionally an automatic carton loader. The present invention also discloses the multiple magazine apparatus having a plurality of magazines, and means for retrieving blanks therefrom.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method in the forming of packaging containers (1) which have sealing fins in which the packaging material is sealed inside-to-inside, and also projecting, double-walled corner flaps (8). In order to form a parallelepipedic packaging container, the corner flaps are folded down and sealed to the outside of the packaging container, which subjects a sealing fin running between the corner flaps to stresses which may entail untightness in the packaging container. This is avoided in that the sealing fin, prior to the downward folding operation, is deformed in that at least a portion of the fin (4) is laterally displaced in relation to adjacent portions of the fin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fastening a barrier layer to an adjacent laminate layer in a package material. The fastening is performed by a partial adhesive being achieved in a first step and is completed by means of heat treatment in a subsequent step.