Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.a.

Robert D Massey

Olof Stark

Ashok Singh

Arde Kirka

Gunnar Drevfors

Johan Hegardt

Anders Ek

Sevugan Palaniappan

Karl Frei

Ken Pokusa

A defoaming apparatus ( ) defoams a foamable product that is dispersed into a container such as a TETRA REX gable-top carton ( ). The defoaming apparatus ( ) creates a sonic shock wave ( ) that destroys most if not all of the bubbles of the foamable product. The defoaming apparatus ( ) has a body ( ) that defines a recessed cavity ( ). A pair of electrodes ( ) is located within the recessed cavity ( ). The opening to the cavity ( ) can include a radio frequency filter ( ) covering to absorb radio waves created from the sonic shock wave ( ). The defoaming apparatus ( ) is preferably disposed immediately after the filling of the container ( ).

Defoaming device for a packaging machine

A packaging machine under control of an electronic control system is set forth. The packaging machine includes a plurality of servo driven packaging stations that execute the processes required to fill and seal a carton. Each of the packaging stations is driven by one or more servomotors associated therewith. A plurality of servo amplifiers are connected to the servomotors to control the rotational movement of the servomotors thereby to effect control of the motion of the various components associated with each if the packaging stations. The packaging machine further includes at least two programmable devices connected for communication over a common bus. A programmable axis manager (PAM) is connected to control the plurality of servo amplifiers and, thus, the motion profiles of the servomotors and components of the respective processing station. A programmable logic controller (PLC) is connected to receive and transmit input/output signals associated with the plurality of packaging stations. The PAM and the PLC communicate data variable values over the common bus using predetermined fingerprints assigned to each variable value. Use of the fingerprint/variable value protocol allows high speed communication between the PLC and PAM thereby allowing the PLC and PAM to be viewed as a single control unit.

Control system for a packaging machine

A conveyor system for transporting a plurality of liquid-filled containers each having an open top is set forth. The conveyor system comprises a conveyor for supporting the plurality of liquid-filled containers. The conveyor is driven by a servomotor. A programmable servomotor control system is connected to control movement of the servomotor in indexed steps in accordance with a programmed motion profile. The programmed motion profile includes a move portion and a dwell portion, the move portion being substantially non-jerk limited. The non-jerk limited motion profile may take on many different characteristics. Preferably, the non-jerk limited profile is selected from the group consisting of a non-jerk limited constant acceleration profile having cosinuous acceleration transitions at beginning and end portions thereof, a non-jerk limited ramping acceleration profile, a non-jerk limited, pure cosine acceleration profile, and a non-jerk limited hybrid ramping acceleration profile with a subtractive cosine acceleration component. A method for selecting a motion profile for use in a packaging machine is also set forth herein.

Servo-controlled conveyor system for carrying liquid filled containers

A servomotor driven machine under control of a control system which compensates for the slip and other errors associated with indirectly driving a movable component of the machine with a servomotor is set forth. The control system includes a servomotor that is connected through an intermediate drive mechanism to drive the movable component from a start position to an end position. A sensing system is disposed on the apparatus for generating an output signal indicative of at least one motion characteristic of the movable component. A controller drives the servomotor in accordance with a predetermined motion profile. The predetermined motion profile defines the motion characteristics of the movable component as the movable component moves from the start position to the end position within a predetermined time frame. The controller is responsive to the output signal of the sensing system to compensate for movement errors caused by the intermediate drive mechanism by deviating from the predetermined motion profile.

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Paddock Lake, WI, United States of America

Robert D Massey