GB1375472A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1375472 Packaging machines ALPURAKORECO AG 10 July 1972 [9 July 1971] 32256/72 Heading B8C A packaging machine arranged to form a tube from a web of packaging material 52, and having a filling pipe 12 arranged to project generally downwardly into the tube, comprises supply and distribution means, 18, 19, arranged to apply sterilizing liquid to the outer surface of the filling pipe 12 which is provided with an outwardly-projecting annular dish 16 at its lower end for collecting the sterilizing liquid, means 11, 20, 21 being arranged to heat the dish 16 to vaporize the sterilizing liquid. As shown, a jacket 11 encloses the lower end of the feed pipe 12, Fig. 1, to define an annular space 13, the lower wall 15 of the jacket being extended outwardly to form the receiver dish 17 for collecting sterilizing liquid. In order to sterilize the pipe about 20 c.c. of sterilizing liquid such as a 20-40% concentration solution of hydrogen peroxide, which may be preheated, is supplied, through a pipe 19, to a set of nozzles 18 which spray the solution, as a film, on to the outside of the jacket 11, the solution being caught by the dish 17. A supply of heating medium, such as superheated steam, or hot air, is then supplied, for a period of about four minutes, to the annular space 13 through a pipe 20 to evaporate the sterilizing liquid, the heating medium being discharged through a pipe 21. In a modification, Fig. 2, a perforated distribution partition 31 and an overflow dish 35 are located between the nozzles 18 and the dish 17. In a further modification, Fig. 3, when a vertically-movable pipe 45, closed by end walls at both ends, is in its lowermost position to close the outlet of an enclosing jacket 41, sterilizing liquid is supplied by the nozzles 44, to the dish 42 and then heating medium is supplied, by a pipe 47, to an upper isolated space 48 within the jacket 41 to pass through an opening 49 and into the interior of the movable pipe 45, the heating medium circulating within the filling pipe, as shown by the arrow 50, and being discharged through a pipe 51. After sterilization the heating medium is switched off, the supply pipe for the sterile material to be packaged is connected to the pipe 47, the pipe 45 is raised, and a flexible tube of packaging material 52, which is travelling downwards, is subsequently transversely sealed to form tetrahedral packs 56. The heating medium may be supplied to the filling pipe before the sterilizing liquid is supplied to the nozzle 18.