Method for presterilizing a tubular pouch packing machine

A method of pre-sterilizing a tubular bag packing machine wherein, in permanent operation, at least one tubular strip is formed from a web of packing material supplied in timed sequence from a magazine roll, the said tubular strip moving past a sterilizing means, and wherein the said tubular strip underneath a forming and filling station is cross-sealed, filled via a loading material meter through a forming and filling pipe of the forming and filling station, withdrawn by a bag length and again cross-sealed and filled, the advance of the web of packing material taking place behind the magazine roll within a pre-sterilized sterile chamber under excess pressure of sterile air, and the pre-sterilization being carried out in the following steps:

• sterilizing the loading material meter by means of saturated steam;
• upon completion of the sterilization, supplying sterile air to the meter and into the sterile chamber, and maintaining the sterile air supply during the subsequent steps;
• withdrawing the web of packing material from the magazine roll through the sterile chamber, partially kept open for the withdrawal of the web while forming a tube down to underneath the forming station;
• closing the sterile chamber and supplying a mixture of sterile agent and steam to the sterile chamber, the tube of packing material being kept open or being opened at the bottom;
• upon completion of the sterilization by the mixture of sterile agent and steam, the sterile chamber and all elements contained therein are dried by the flow of air maintained sterile;
• upon completion of the drying process, the supply of sterile air to the meter is discontinued, yet maintained to the sterile chamber;
• and
• subsequently, the tube end formed by cross sealing and withdrawn by a bag length is filled via the meter.