# US 2014/0196407 A1 · Packaging machine and method for producing sealed packages of a food product from a web of a packaging material > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196407 A1 - Document ID: US20140196407A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/238,387 - Filed: 2012-08-29 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-03 - Assignees: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. - Inventors: Roberto Ghirardello; Danilo Veroni; Massimo Melotti; Cesare Bertacchini; Alessandro Veronesi; Simone Maini; Renzo Bellei - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196407A1 ## CPC - B65B 55/027: {Packaging in aseptic chambers} - B65B 9/20: the webs being formed into tubes in situ around the filling nozzles - B65B 43/10: by folding the material - B65B 51/30: Devices, e.g. jaws, for applying pressure and heat, e.g. for subdividing filled tubes - B65B 55/103: {Sterilising flat or tubular webs} - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract There is described a packaging machine for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from a web of packaging material, comprising: an aseptic chamber through which web is fed and within which a sterilizing agent is applied onto web; a station which is arranged downstream from said aseptic chamber and in which a tube formed by web is, in use, fed; and a sealing device which separate chamber and station; packaging machine also comprise a conveyor fluidically connected with station and adapted to convey away residues of sterilizing agent from station. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A packaging machine for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from a web of packaging material, comprising: an aseptic chamber through which said web is fed and within which a sterilizing agent is applied onto said web; a station arranged downstream from said aseptic chamber and in which a tube formed by said web is, in use, fed; sealing means which separate said chamber and said station; and conveying means fluidically connected with said station and adapted to convey away residues of said sterilizing agent from said station. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The packaging machine of claim 1 wherein said conveying means comprise: a circuit fluidically interposed between said station and an area of said packaging machine; and separating means interposed along said circuit and adapted to separate said residues from said air current; said circuit receiving, in use, said air current with said residues by said station and feeding, in use, a current of cleaned air to said area. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The packaging machine of claim 2, wherein said separating means comprise a source of a scrubbing fluid and means for ejecting said scrubbing fluid onto said current of air containing said residues. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The packaging machine of claim 1, wherein said conveying means comprise pumping means interposed along said circuit for pumping away a current of air containing said residues from said station. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The packaging machine of claim 2, comprising a tank fluidically connected with said separating means and fed, in use, by said separating means with a mixture containing said residues. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The packaging machine of claim 1, comprising a hood fluidically connected with said conveying means, arranged within said station and surrounding, in use, at least one part of said tube. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The packaging machine of claim 6, wherein said hood comprises at least one body and a compartment radially protruding from said body on the opposite said of said conveying means. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The packaging machine of claim 7, wherein said at least one first body extending about a first axis which is, in use, parallel to and distinct from a second axis of said tube; and in that said hood further comprises a second body fluidically connected to said conveying means and defining said compartment; said second body extending about a third axis which is parallel to and distinct, in use, from both said first and second axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The packaging machine of claim 2, comprising a forming and folding unit for forming, in use, a plurality of packs from said tube and for folding said packs to form relative packages; said forming and folding unit being accessible from a human operator, and being arranged downstream from said first station, with reference to the advancing sense of said packaging material; said forming and folding unit being arranged, in use, above said area. ### Claim 10 A method for producing sealed packages of pourable food products from a web of packaging material, the method comprising: feeding said web through an aseptic chamber of a packaging machine; applying a sterilizing agent onto said web within said aseptic chamber; feeding a tube formed by said web within a station of said packaging machine; interposing sealing means between said aseptic chamber and said first station; and conveying away residues of said sterilizing agent from said station. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said conveying comprise: feeding a circuit with an air current together with said residues; separating said air current from said residues; and feeding an area of said packaging machine with a current of cleaned air. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein said separating comprises ejecting a scrubbing solution onto said air current containing said residues. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein said ejecting comprises ejecting scrubbing solution at a lower temperature than the temperature of the air current. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein said conveying comprises pumping away said air current with said residues from said first station. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising the steps of forming and folding a plurality of said packages in a second station of said packaging machine which is accessible by a human operator and is arranged downstream from said first station, proceeding according the advancing sense of said tube; said first station being arranged, in use, above said area.