Apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film

An apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film comprising:

• an exhaust tube having an inlet and an outlet, the web of film passing through the exhaust tube from said inlet through the outlet, the exhaust tube being under a negative pressure;
• two air knives located above the outlet of the exhaust tube, one air knife being located on a first side of the film and a second air knife being located on a second side of the film, the air knives including a plurality of holes for directing a gas for removing the liquid and residue onto the web of film;
• and
• the outlet of the exhaust tube being so constructed and arranged that the exhaust tube cooperates with the air knives to capture at least a portion of the removed liquid and residue that is blown off the web of film.

An apparatus for removing liquid and other residue in a packaging machine comprising:

• an exhaust tube having an inlet and an outlet, the web being received by the exhaust tube through the inlet and exiting the exhaust tube through the outlet, the exhaust tube being under a negative pressure and exerting a vacuum force;
• two elongated air knives located downstream of the exhaust tube along the film path of the web of film, one of the air knives being located on a first side of the web of film and the second air knife being located on a second side of the web of film, each air knife including an air inlet means and a plurality of holes along its length for blowing air onto the web of film for removing liquid and residue;
• the exhaust tube and air knives cooperating so that at least a portion of the removed liquid and residue is captured by the exhaust tube;
• and
• the elongated air knives and exhaust tube being enclosed within an internal chamber located within a cabin in the packaging machine, the cabin is under a positive pressure and the internal chamber is under a positive pressure greater than the positive pressure of the cabin.

In aseptic form, fill and seal packaging machine, an apparatus for removing liquid and residue from a web of film, the apparatus being located within a sterile cabin, comprising:

• a first exhaust tube having a film inlet and a film outlet, the web of film passing through the exhaust tube, the exhaust tube including an interior under a negative pressure and exerting a vacuum force;
• a first set of elongated air knives located downsteam of the exhaust tube along the film path, one of said air knives being located on a first side of the web of film and a second of said air knives being located on a second side of the web of film and the air knives including an air inlet and a plurality of holes for blowing air onto the web of film;
• the exhaust tube cooperating with the air knives so that at least a portion of the removed residue and liquid is captured by the exhaust tube;
• and
• the exhaust tube and air knives being at least partially enclosed by a first internal chamber having a film inlet and a film outlet.