Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Jonathan P Buesing

Kenneth M Eno

Paul C Sundby

John N Lees

John L Cicha

A top panel pre-folder for a form, fill and seal packaging machine for forming, filling and sealing an extended top panel gable top carton includes an mandrel positioned along the machine processing path that is movable from above the carton to the interior of the carton as the carton moves along the processing path. A pair of spaced apart pivotal arms, each disposed on opposing sides of the mandrel and transverse to the processing path, is pivotal about an axis toward and away from the mandrel. Each arm includes a flap mounted thereto having a raised portion extending from a face of the flap. The arms pivot to contact the flaps with gable side panels of the carton to infold the gable side panels inwardly over the mandrels. The flap raised portions contact the gable side panels at about gable side panel/vertical side panel junctures.

Top pre-folding apparatus for an extended top panel gable top carton

A gas supply system connected to vent a tank of a product filling system is set forth. The gas supply system comprises a high pressure/low pressure gas supply having a common outlet. The high pressure/low pressure gas supply is operable in a first mode of operation in which high pressure gas is supplied at the common outlet and a second mode of operation in which low pressure gas is supplied at the common outlet. A sterile filter having an inlet and an outlet is also provided. A steam supply system is disposed in-line between the common outlet of the high pressure/low pressure gas supply and the sterile filter. A tank valve system is provided having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the sterile filter. The tank valve system also has first and second outlets and is operable in a first mode of operation in which the inlet is placed in fluid communication with the first outlet and a second mode of operation in which the inlet is placed in fluid communication with the second outlet. A product tank having a vent in fluid communication with the second outlet of the tank valve system is also provided. The product tank is used to provide a supply of product for use in the fill system when the fill system is in a production cycle of operation. The gas supply system is operable in an autoclaving mode of operation in which steam is supplied by the steam supply system and in which the high pressure/low pressure gas supply and the tank valve system are operated in their respective first modes of operation to autoclave the sterile filter. The gas supply system is also operable in a production mode of operation in which the high pressure/low pressure gas supply and the tank valve system are operated in their respective second modes to thereby vent the product tank.

Sterile tank venting system for a filling machine

An integrated valve assembly including a valve body defining at least two separate valves is disclosed. The valve assembly can be used, for example in an interface between an aseptic or pasteurized product supply vessel, one or more product dispensing machines, and a cleaning liquid supply vessel. The valve body can optionally be made in one piece, as by casting and machining a block of suitable metal such as stainless steel. Optionally, all of the interior surfaces of the valve body can be non-pooling surfaces which self-drain through at least one of the first, second, and third ports when the valve body is in the normal orientation and the necessary valves are open. The second face of the second weir optionally can be merged with the surfaces defining the second passage. Dead-legs and discontinuities in the valves which can collect undesired deposits are minimized, the size and weight of the valve assemblies are reduced, and the respective orientations of the integrated valves are fixed so the valves will operate and drain properly.

Aseptic valve assembly

A pump mechanism for a fill system of a packaging machine is set forth. The pump mechanism is utilized to pump a product that is dispensed by the fill system and includes a pump chamber for conducting the product therethrough. A further chamber is disposed proximate the pump chamber and a piston is disposed in the further chamber. The piston has at least one first opening in fluid communication with the further chamber and at least one second opening disposed at a head portion of the piston. The piston further includes at least one channel for providing fluid communication between the first and second openings. A first diaphragm is secured on the head portion of the piston and against the at least one second opening. As such, the first diaphragm is secured to the head portion using suction forces resulting from an underpressure communicated through the first opening to the at least one second opening via the at least one channel. The piston and first diaphragm are reciprocally movable within the further chamber and pump chamber between a first position in which the pump chamber has a first volume and a second position in which the pump chamber has a second volume that is greater than the first volume.

Fill pump with rolling diaphragms attached by vacuum to the piston

A system for disconnecting the pump mechanism of the fill system that allows for the removal of the pump mechanism or access to the internal components thereof without removing the supply and dispensing components from the fill system. The disconnect mechanism allows for a valve assembly to be separated from an inlet or outlet to the pump mechanism while the pump mechanism is supported by the mechanism. One disconnect mechanism includes a base, a lifting plate, a cam to move the lifting plate with respect to the base in order to separate the valve assembly from the pump mechanism. Another disconnect mechanism employs a pivot arm having a first end connected to the pump mechanism and a second end in fixed engagement with the valve assembly thereby allowing for the separation of the valve assembly from the pump mechanism.

Fill system including a fill pump disconnect system

An apparatus for use in a filling system is provided. The apparatus includes a product filling machine having a top portion and a base portion. A conveyor is also provided for transporting containers to be filled in a conveying direction. The conveyor is arranged on the base portion of the filling machine. A fill pump system is arranged at the top of the filling machine above the conveyor. An adjustable mounting mechanism for connecting the fill pump system at the top of the filling machine and for adjusting the location of the fill pump system in the conveying direction is also provided.

Fill system including a fill pump positioning system

An interface between an aseptic or pasteurized product supply vessel, one or more product dispensing machines, and a cleaning liquid supply vessel is disclosed. The interface can be used for directing milk and other foods from a process line to a packaging or other machine. In one variation, the interface has first and second spaced liquid supply valves, arranged in series, between the cleaning liquid inlet and the product dispensing machine outlet. The piping between the two valves can be drained, and optionally filled with steam or other sterilizing fluid, to provide a barrier between the cleaning fluid upstream of one valve and the food located downstream of the other valve which is en route to the packaging machine. In another variation, the interface has a product supply valve, a drain isolation valve, a drain between those two valves and itself controlled by a drain valve, and a cleaning liquid supply valve. The interface is versatile, and can be used for meeting the 3A standard for pasteurized dairy products, as well as the different standards for aseptic and near-aseptic packaging.

Growing community of inventors

Maplewood, MN, United States of America

Jonathan P Buesing