Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Par J Svensson

Hisami Mitsuishi

Stefan Annehed

Dean C Skonieczny

Erik Schott

Olof Stark

Gunnar Drevfors

Peter Giacomelli

Anders Andren

Robert Muns

A filling system of a packaging machine is set forth that reduces the mixing of product and air during the filling of the container with a flowable material such as low fat milk. The fill pipe of the filling system has an elliptical cross-section which provides for a reduced velocity of the flowable material entering the container while allowing for an increased production time of the packaging machine. The fill system is especially adopted to fill containers having a rectangular cross-section. Connected to the fill pipe is a nozzle with flaps designed to substantially conform and engage with the sidewalls of a container. When the flaps are urged to an open position, the mixing of air and product is inhibited as the flowable material is dispensed into the container through the nozzle and as a moving mechanism is operated to relatively move the container and nozzle from a first to a second position. The fill pipe has an elongate body, an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is in flow communication with the fill pump and may have a circular cross-section. The outlet end is in flow communication with the nozzle and has an elliptical cross-section. The cross-section of the elongate body gradually transforms from a circular cross-section at the inlet end to an elliptical cross-section at the outlet end.

Fill system including a flexible nozzle for reducing the mixing of

Ultrasonic sealing apparatus, including at least one anvil and at least one transducer opposed to the anvil to transmit ultrasonic energy to a workpiece clamped between them, is disclosed. The anvil and sealing horn each are reciprocated between an open position allowing a carton to pass and a closed position for sealing a closure. A biasing element is connected between the anvil or the horn and its drive to define the sealing pressure developed between the anvil and the horn. The biasing force can be adjusted without stopping the machine, by using an externally applied pneumatic force. The anvil has a backing element, a facing member, a body, and a resilient pad separating the body from the facing member. The backing element has a curved front surface facing the transducer. The back surface of the anvil pad is curved similarly to and bears against the curved front surface of the backing element. A fastener is provided for selectively fixing the anvil pad and the backing element together or allowing the anvil pad to shift along the curved surface of the backing element for aligning the anvil with respect to the transducer. The apparatus may also include cooling fluid passages within the facing member and extending through the anvil body and the resilient pad for carrying fluid from the source of cooling fluid through the facing member of the anvil. A method for aligning the anvils and transducers of a ultrasonic sealing apparatus as described above is also disclosed.

Ultrasonic carton sealer

An ultrasonic transducer assembly for hygienic ultrasonic sealing is disclosed. The assembly includes a hygienic ultrasonic sealing area and a non-hygienic area, separated by a barrier wall. The barrier wall has an opening which allows an ultrasonic converter to move back and forth ('reciprocate') through the opening. The ultrasonic converter is also vibrated at an ultrasonic frequency by machinery located in the non-hygienic area of the machine, and transmits those vibrations to the hygienic area of the machine. The converter has a null area at which the converter is vibrated substantially minimally and other areas which are much more vigorously vibrated. A generally cylindrical sealing surface is fixed with respect to the null area of the transducer. The sealing surface is wiped by a wiping seal mounted to the edge of the opening. These two parts may also be reversed. Other details of the anvils, ultrasonic transducers, their drives and assemblies, and other aspects of an ultrasonic gable carton sealing machine are also disclosed.

Ultrasonic piston converter

Growing community of inventors

Palatine, IL, United States of America

Par J Svensson