Multi-stage unit for processing a web packaging material in a food product packaging and pasteurizing machine

IS 2 274 151 T3

DESCRIPTION

Multi-stage unit for processing a web of packaging material in a food product packaging and pasteurization machine.

The invention relates to a device and methods of packaging with bands that transport a band through a series of stations, for example by forming a lower band into a component of a package that receives a food product and that is closed by an upper band. .

Band packaging machines and methods are known in the prior art, for example US Patent 5,170,611. In it, the device packages a food product between the upper and lower bands. A belt conveyor transports the lower belt through a series of stations that make up the lower belt into a component of a package at a forming station, and receive the food product at a loading station, and close the package with the top band in a closing station.

A known band packaging machine (EP 0 261 929 A2) includes a pasteurization station for pasteurizing the food product to be packaged. Again the device packs the food product between the upper and lower bands. After the food product has been placed in a corresponding container, the package is heat sealed between the upper and lower bands and then pasteurized by heat treatment. In some cases, the efficiency of such a pasteurization process is not satisfactory.

The invention is based on the technical problem of optimizing the pasteurization process with comparatively low construction effort.

The above-mentioned technical problem is solved by a packaging device according to claim 1 and by a method according to claim 14.

The present invention provides a packaging device including a specialized pasteurization station that pasteurizes the food product. In the preferred form, the pasteurization station is between the loading station and the closing station and pasteurizes the food product in an effective simple manner easily and uncomplicatedly incorporated into the packaging line.

Details of preferred embodiments can be obtained in the dependent claims which define particularly interesting details of the invention.

Preferred non-limiting embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to the drawings. Other advantages and aspects of the invention are described during this discussion. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an isometric view of the band packaging device according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a partially cutaway side view of a portion of the device of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 and illustrates the sequential operation.

Figure 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is similar to Figure 6 and illustrates the sequential operation.

Figure 8 is a partially folded enlarged isometric view of a portion of the frame of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is an isometric view of a part of Figure 3.

Figure 10 is similar to Figure 9 and illustrates the sequential operation.

Figure 1 illustrates a packaging machine 10. This packaging machine 10 is a packaging machine very similar to the packaging machine of US 5,170,611.

In Figure 1 the packaging machine 10 includes a lower web supply station 12 for supplying a lower web 14 of flexible packaging material from a supply roll 16, a forming station 18, a loading station 20, a upper web supply station 22 for supplying an upper web of flexible packaging material 25, and a downstream station 26 closing the pack. The belt conveyor provided by the machine 10 transports the lower belt 14 through the aforementioned series of stations that make up the lower belt into a component of a package at the forming station 18, and receive the food product such as hot dogs. P in the loading station 20, and they close the package with the upper band 25 in the closing station 26. The bands are advanced by an indexing device such as that described in the US patent, controlled by control modules 250 and 278, also as described in the US patent, to which additional references may be made. The conveyor proceeds from upstream to downstream, where closing station 26 is downstream of loading station 20, and loading station 20 is downstream of forming station 18.

The present invention provides a pasteurization station 300 that pasteurizes the food product P. Pasteurization station 300 is between loading station 20 and closing station 26, downstream of loading station 20 and upstream of loading station. closing 26.

The forming station 18 forms a box with a cavity downwards depending on the product hanging downwards 302, Figures 1, 9, 3, in the lower band 14 in which the food product P is loaded.

The pasteurization station 300 includes an upper chamber 304, Figure 8, which has an upside down pasteurization cavity 306 facing the box with the product cavity 302, Figure 3, and which pasteurizes the food product P, to be described . Upper chamber 304 is on band 14. The pasteurization station includes a lower chamber 307 provided by a shape inverter 308, Figures 8, 3, below the belt and movable upwards, Figure 4, to engage the lower side of the belt 14 and push the food product P towards up into the pasteurization cavity 306 in the upper chamber 304. In a different way, however, the upper and lower chambers 304; 307 can be formed by a mere cavity in the respective position.

IS 2 274 151 T3

Here and in accordance with a preferred embodiment the shape inverter 308 is moved up and down by the servo motors to raise and lower the forming box in the forming station 18 to form said box with the cavity for the product ( for example as shown in Figures 2, 4, 5 of the US patent). The servo motors 310, 312, Figure 2, rotate the respective shafts 314, 316 which in turn rotate the respective lift arms 318 and 320 from the lower position shown in dashed line in Figure 2 to the upper position shown in solid line in Figure 2 which in turn moves the inverter 308 upward as shown by arrows 322, 324 (compared to the upward movement provided by the lift arms 128 and 216 in Figures 2 and 5 of the US patent). The roller members 326, 328 at the ends of the respective arms 318, 320 roll along the respective cam grooves 330, 332 along the underside of the shape reverser 308 (compared to the roller member 132 in Figure 5 of the US patent rolling along the cam slot 134). The shape reverser is guided for alternate up-down motion by plastic bearing blocks 334, 336 which slide along vertical guides 338, 340 of frame 12 (compared to plastic bearing blocks 140 and guides 144 of US patent).

Upper and lower chambers 304 and 307 are coupled, Figures 4-7, to form a pressure-containing vessel that encloses cavity 306 sealed along its periphery in a manner similar to a gasket by band 14 engaged between members 304 and 307 as shown in part 341.

The box with the cavity for the product 302 of the band 14 has a first condition, Figures 9, 3, in the pasteurization station 300, with the box with the cavity down depending on the product 302 that has a lower central wall 342 and a plurality of side walls 344 extending upwardly therefrom. The box with the cavity for the product 302 has a second condition, Figures 10, 4, in the pasteurization station, with the shape inverter 308 pushing the central wall 342 up to a pushed up position, Figure 10, with the side walls 344 extending downwardly therefrom. The shape reverser 308 has an upper center wall 346, Figure 9, and a plurality of side walls 348 extending downwardly therefrom. The box with the product cavity 302 in the second mentioned condition, Figure 10, is covered and supported by the shape inverter 308, with the center wall 342 at the center wall 346, and the side walls 344 extending along the side walls 348. The box with the cavity for the product 302 has an initial condition as shown in Figure 9 that receives the food product P. The package is inverted as shown in Figure 10 to better expose the food product P to pasteurization. Upper chamber 304 has an upper center wall 350, Figure 8, and a plurality of side walls 352 extending downwardly therefrom. In the first mentioned condition, Figures 9, 3, of the box with the cavity for the product 302, the food product P is supported on the central wall 342 of the box with the cavity for the product 302 and retained by the side walls 344 of the box with the cavity for the product. In the second mentioned condition, Figures 10, 4, 5, of the box with the cavity for the product 302, the food product P is supported on the central wall 342 of the box with the cavity for the product and retained laterally by the walls sides 352 of the upper chamber 304.

Pasteurization chamber 304, Figure 6, has a set of one or more ports 354, and a set of one or more ports 356. Ports 354 here introduce a pasteurization medium, preferably steam, and ports 356 evacuate and discharge the pasteurization medium, such that the pasteurization medium flows through the food product P as shown by arrow 358 between ports 354 and 356. Here, ports 356 are in a gravitationally low section of pasteurization cavity 306 and also preferably discharge liquid vapor condensate. The vapor can be evacuated and discharged additionally or alternatively in another set of one or more ports 360.

In a preferred form, the pasteurization station 300 has a pasteurization cycle that alternates between the first and second modes that provides to alternate the direction of flow of the pasteurization medium, preferably steam, through the food product P. In the first mode , steam is introduced through ports 354, and in the second mode steam is introduced through ports 360. In the first mode, steam can be discharged through ports 356 and / or ports 360. In the second mode, steam can be discharged through ports 356 and / or ports 354, the last discharge being shown at arrow 362 in Figure 7.

In another embodiment, steam is introduced simultaneously from both sets of ports 354 and 360. Pressure and / or temperature sensing is provided at pressure and / or temperature transducer ports 361, 363, for monitoring purposes. and better control of the process if desired.

In a preferred embodiment, the pasteurization station is provided by a module 364, Figures 1,8, having at least one pair laterally spaced attached chambers 304 and 366, Figure 6, and further preferably a plurality of such pairs, for example one each of which is shown in Figure 8 at 304,368,370 in series along the conveyor direction of the belt. The other chamber in each pair has a similar set of ports; for example chamber 366, Figure 6, has one set of one or more ports 372 and another set of one or more ports 374 and may have another set of one or more ports 376. The pasteurization station may include one or more modules 364 Each module 364 has flow passages 378, 380, 382, ​​and may have additional flow passages 384 and 386. During the first mode of the pasteurization cycle, Figure 6, steam is introduced through flow passage 378 and ports 354 and 372 into respective chambers 304 and 366 and is discharged through respective ports 356 and 374 through the respective flow passages 380 and 382, ​​and may additionally or alternatively be discharged through the respective ports 360 and 376 through the respective flow passages 384 and 386. Liquid vapor condensate is discharged through respective ports 356 and 374 through

ES 2 274 151 T3 the respective passages 380 and 382. During the second mode of the pasteurization cycle, Figure 7, steam is introduced through the flow passages 384 and 386 and the respective ports 360 and 376 in the respective chamber 304 and 366, and is discharged at respective ports 356 and 374 through respective flow passages 380 and 382 and additionally or alternatively can be discharged at ports 354 and 372 through passage 378. Once pasteurization is finished, the package is reinverted to its initial condition mentioned, Figure 9, lowering the inverter 308. Then the package is advanced and closed with the upper band 25 in the closing station 26 as in US patent mentioned.

The term pasteurization is used here in accordance with its normal dictionary definition, which includes the partial sterilization of a substance at a temperature and during a period of exposure that destroys objectionable organisms without significant chemical alteration of the substance, including the destruction of the substances. pathogenic and / or waste organisms to extend shelf life.

The invention can be used with various band packaging devices known in the prior art, including continuous motion type band packaging machines and index type band packaging machines.

It is preferred that several packages of the food product are processed simultaneously in the pasteurization station, Figures 8-10, although the invention is not limited to any particular number, ie the invention includes the pasteurization of one or more packages of the product.

In addition, additional pasteurization stations can be added, and the invention includes one or more pasteurization stations, each having one or more pasteurization chambers. Reversal of the food product for those additional pasteurization stations is preferred, for example via the shape inverter 308, but is not necessary, and can be suppressed if desired.

The pasteurization medium is preferably steam, or alternatively hot air or superheated steam, although other types of pasteurization medium can be used.