The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 23, 2003
Filed:
Apr. 22, 2002
Yuzo Otsuka, Tokyo, JP;
Kazuya Ono, Tokyo, JP;
Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A., Pully, CH;
Abstract
A filling machine for producing containers containing liquid food product includes a series of rollers for forming a web-shaped packaging material into a tubular packaging material, a filling tube for introducing a liquid food product into the tubular packaging material while the tubular packaging material is being conveyed downwardly, a heat sealing bar providing with a heating mechanism and engageable with a cutting bar to produce a seal area forming a transverse seal across the tubular packaging material below a level of the liquid food product, and a cutter provided on the cutting bar to cut the tubular packaging material in the seal zone to form a preformed container containing the liquid food product. At least one nozzle is positioned to direct a sterilizing flushing liquid towards the outside surface of the tubular packaging material and/or the cutter. The flushing liquid advantageously cleans and sterilizes the outer surface of the tubular packaging material, and is able to flow downwardly to wash and sterilize the sealing bar and the cutter. Also, the flushing liquid can cool the packaging material after the formation of the transverse seal and so the plastic or resin material of the packaging material is relatively rapidly hardened. It is thus less likely that the plastic or resin material will be stained or soiled. As a result, the appearance of the packaging material is improved.