Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Patente

The present invention relates to an impeller (100) for a rotary positive displacement pump (1) for pumping a liquid food product (F). The impeller (100) includes a base portion (102) having a front side (FS) and a back side (BS). A set of impeller teeth (104) protrude from the front side (FS) and are distributed about a rotational axis (A1) of the impeller (100). The impeller (100) includes a channel (120) having a front side opening (122) at the front side (FS) and a back side opening (124) at the back side (BS), such that the channel (120) extends through the base portion (102). The front side opening (122) and the back side opening (124) are arranged with an angular offset (β) relative to each other about the rotational axis (A1). A rotary positive displacement pump (1) for pumping a liquid food product (F), is also disclosed.

There is described a packaging blank (2) for forming a package (1) filled with a pourable product, the packaging blank (2) comprising a top crease pattern (44), a bottom crease pattern (45) and an intermediate crease pattern (46) interposed between the top crease pattern (44) and the bottom crease pattern (45). The intermediate crease pattern (46) comprises a plurality of center panels (55) and a plurality of lateral panels (56). Each center panel (55) and each lateral panel (56) is delimited by a respective first crease line (57) and a respective second crease line (58). Each first crease line (57) and/or its imaginary extension intersects with the respective second crease line (58) and/or its imaginary extension at a respective first intersection point (59) and a respective second intersection point (60) spaced apart from the respective first intersection point (59). Each first intersection point (59) and the respective second intersection point (60) define a respective axis (G). Each center panel (55) and each lateral panel (56) is asymmetric with respect to the respective axis (G).

The present invention relates to a method (200) for providing print to an at least semi-finished packaging material (10) comprising a cellulose-based bulk layer (20) and an outside layer (50) intended to face outside of a packaging container (2) to be formed by the at least semi-finished packaging material (10). The method comprises providing (203) a film (60) on the outside layer (50), wherein the film (60) comprises a coating (64) and ink (62) printed on the coating (64), transferring (206) the ink (62) and the coating (64) from the film (60) to the outside layer (50) of the at least semi-finished packaging material (10), and separating (208) the film (60) from the at least semi-finished packaging material (10) after transferring (206) the ink (62) and the coating (64) from the film (60) to the outside layer (50); wherein the ink is transferred to the outside layer (50) and the coating (64) is transferred to the outside layer (50) as a coating on the ink (62).

There is described an inspection system (13) for a straw applicator device (10) configured to apply drinking straws (11) onto respective packages (2) containing a pourable product, the inspection system (13) is configured to sequentially inspect an inspection area (14) of each package (2) which includes a wall (2b) of the package (2) and the drinking straw (11) applied thereon, the inspection system (13) comprises: an imaging device configured to acquire an image of the inspection area (14) of each package (2); a control unit configured to analyze the acquired images for detecting or determining a feature representative of each straw (11); the control unit is configured to control a discard of the respective packages (2) as a function of the detected or determined feature .

A blank (10) configured to be folded into a package (200) for holding a food product, the blank (10) being made of a multilayer packaging material (12) comprising a layer of fibrous material (14), the blank (10) comprising a main section (22), a bottom section (24), and a top section (26); the top section (26) comprising a plurality of flaps (31-38) extending from the main section (22), each flap (35) having lateral edges (35a-b) arranged to be joined with lateral edges (34b, 36a) of adjacent flaps (34, 36) to thereby form a top portion (204) of the package (200), wherein each lateral edge (35a-b) of every second flap (35) has a convex curvature (42), and each lateral edge (36a-b) of every other second flap (36) has a concave curvature (44) shaped to complement the convex curvature (42), to facilitate the joining of the lateral edges (35b, 36a).

A cap arrangement (100) configured to close a neck (11) for a food package (10) containing a liquid or semi-liquid food product is disclosed. The cap arrangement (100) comprising a cap (110) having a top (111) configured to close an upper part of the neck (11) and a cap wall (112) extending from the top (111) along a first axis (A1), wherein the top (111) has an inner surface (111a) surrounded by the cap wall (112), and a gasket (130) being engaged with and covering the inner surface (111a) of the top (111), wherein the cap (110) is made with a natural fiber-based material. It is also disclosed a food package (10) for holding a liquid or semi-liquid food product.

There is described a splicing device (20) for a strip application apparatus (7) configured to splice a new sealing strip (21) onto a sealing strip (8) in use, each one of the new sealing strip (21) and the sealing strip (8) in use being made of a heat-sealable material; the splicing device (20) comprises a sealing unit (22) configured to seal the new sealing strip (21) onto the sealing strip (8) in use; the sealing unit (22) comprises a first sealing group (23) configured to execute a first sealing operation so as to seal a first sealing portion (31) of the sealing strip (8) in use and a second sealing portion (32) of the new sealing strip (21) to one another; a cutting group (27) configured to cut the sealing strip (8) in use after the first sealing operation downstream of the first sealing portion (31) along the strip advancement path (S) thereby obtaining a combined sealing strip (25) comprising protruding portions (28) projecting from the combined sealing strip (25) ; and a second sealing group (29) distinct from the first sealing group (23) and configured to seal the protruding portions (28) onto the combined sealing strip (25) during a second sealing operation.

A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages (2) partially-filled with a pourable product, comprises: a tube forming and sealing device (3), configured to form a tube (4) from an advancing web (5) of packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube (4); a filling device (6), including a product feeding pipe (60) extending from an inlet (61) to an outlet (62) and comprising a first portion (63), proximal to the inlet (61), and a second portion (64), proximal to the outlet (62), and configured to direct the pourable product into the tube (4) for obtaining a product column (7) within the tube (4); a gas feeding device (8), comprising a gas feeding duct (80) configured to direct a sterile gas into the product column (7), so that a gas cushion (71) is formed and/or maintained within the product column (7); a package forming unit (9), for forming and transversally sealing the tube (4) for obtaining the packages (2), so that each package (2) is filled with the pourable product and contains a gas space (10) containing a defined volume of the sterile gas present within the gas cushion (71). The gas feeding duct (80) includes an inner portion (81) at least partially positioned inside the product feeding pipe (60) .

A damper arrangement (1) for reducing pressure pulsations in a fluid line (9) filled with a liquid product (LP) is disclosed. The arrangement comprises a vessel (7) in fluid communication with the fluid line (9), an air supply (21) configured to provide air, and a regulation valve (41) for controlling the passage of air into the vessel (7) to form an air pocket (71). A pressure sensor (5) generates pressure data (P1) indicative of the pressure in the fluid line (9). A control unit (80) is configured to receive the pressure data (P1), determine, based on the received pressure data (P1), a feed pressure (Pf1) at which air is to be supplied, control the air supply (21) to supply air at the feed pressure (Pf1), and control the regulation valve (41) to regulate the passage of air into the vessel (7).

There is described a packaging machine (1) for producing packages (2) starting from a web (4) of packaging material and comprising: a plurality of folding rollers (6) configured to interact with the web (4) to fold the web (4) into a tube (3); a heating device (13) for heating the packaging material at a heating station (H); a presser roller (14) designed to be located inside the tube (3) arranged downstream of the heating station (H) and configured to press the heated packaging material against the folding roller (6); the heating device (13) and the folding roller (6) are configured to be moved selectively in: a first position, in which the heating device (13) faces, a first section (52) of the tube (3) at the heating station (H) and upstream of the presser roller (14), and in which the folding roller (6) cooperates in abutment with the presser roller (14); a second position, in which the folding roller (6) is spaced from the presser roller (14) and in which the heating device (13) faces a second section (53) of the tube (3) arranged downstream of the heating station (H); a third position, in which the folding roller (6) is spaced from the presser roller (14) for allowing a distancing of the packaging material away from the presser roller (14), and in which the heating device (13) is inoperative.

A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages (2) partially-filled with a pourable product, comprises: a tube forming and sealing device (3), configured to form a tube (4) from an advancing web (5) of packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube (4); a filling device (6), including a product feeding pipe (60) extending from an inlet (61) to an outlet (62) and presenting an inner surface (67) and a pipe axis (A2), and configured to direct the pourable product into the tube (4) for obtaining a product column (7) within the tube (4); a gas feeding device (8), comprising a gas feeding duct (80) configured to direct a sterile gas into the product column (7) so that a gas cushion (71) is formed and/or maintained within the product column (7); a package forming unit (9), for forming and transversally sealing the tube (4) for obtaining the packages (2), so that each package (2) is filled with the pourable product and contains a gas space (10) containing a defined volume of the sterile gas present within the gas cushion (71). The apparatus (1) includes a channel (68) that develops around the pipe axis (A2) and provides the outlet (62) of the product feeding pipe (60), and is configured to convey the product at the outlet (62) of the product feeding pipe (60) in an ejecting direction (D1) having a component radially diverging with respect to the pipe axis (A1).

There is described a packaging machine (1) comprising a conveying device for advancing a web (4) of packaging material; a web folding device (5) including a plurality of folding rollers (6) configured to fold the web (4) into a tube (3) by superimposing a first longitudinal edge (4a) of the web (4) onto a second longitudinal edge (4b) of the web (4) thereby defining a superimposing region (50) of the tube (3); a heating device (13) configured to heat the tube (3); a presser roller (14) located inside the tube (3) and configured to press the superimposing region (50) against one folding roller (6) for providing the tube (3) with a longitudinal seal (11); a resting member (16) located inside the tube (3) and configured to receive in abutment said folding roller (6) with the interposition of the packaging material of the tube (3), so that, in use, the packaging material is pressed between said folding roller (6) and the resting member (16).

A packaging apparatus for forming sealed packages (2) partially-filled with a pourable product, comprises: a tube forming and sealing device (3), configured to form a tube (4) from an advancing web (5) of packaging material and to longitudinally seal the tube (4); a filling device (6), including a product feeding pipe (60) extending from an inlet (61) to an outlet (62) and presenting a pipe axis (A2), and configured to direct the pourable product into the tube (4) for obtaining a product column (7), within the tube (4), extending primarily along a vertical direction; a gas feeding device (8), comprising a gas feeding duct (80) extending from a first end (87) to a second end (88) and having a duct axis (A3) , and configured to direct a sterile gas into the product column (7) so that a gas cushion (71) is formed and/or maintained within the product column (7); a package forming unit (9), for forming and transversally sealing the tube (4) for obtaining the packages (2), so that each package (2) is filled with the pourable product and contains a gas space (10) containing a defined volume of the sterile gas present within the gas cushion (71). The gas feeding device (8) includes a nozzle (100), defining a gas outlet (89), placed at a lower quote with respect to the outlet (62) of the product feeding pipe (60), along the product column (7), and configured to eject the gas into the product column (7).

There is described a packaging blank (2, 2', 2", 2‴, 2ʺʺ, 2ʺ‴) comprising a top crease pattern (44) having a first transversal crease line (48) with a front portion (51), one or more back portions (52) and two auxiliary crease lines (73), each auxiliary crease line (53) being interposed between one respective back portion (52) and the front portion (51). Each auxiliary crease line (53) and/or its respective linear imaginary extension intersects with the front portion (51) at a respective front intersection point (54) and with one respective back portion (52) at one respective back intersection point (55). Each auxiliary crease line (53) is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis (E) and/or the one or more back portions (52). The front portion (51) comprises two straight lateral portions (56) and a straight center portion (57). Each straight lateral portion (56) and/or its imaginary linear extension intersects with one respective front intersection point (54). Each straight lateral portion (56) and/or its imaginary linear extension intersects with the straight center portion (57) and/or its linear imaginary extension at a respective connection point (58). The connection points (58) are interposed between a bottom section of the packaging blank and the front intersection points (54).

Packaging line (1) for producing packages (5) comprising pourable product, each package (5) comprising a main body (5a) formed from a multilayered packaging material (3) having a first surface (4A) in contact with the product and a second surface (4B) opposite to the first surface (4A) and configured to form an outer surface of the package (5), each package (5) having a designated pour opening (5b), each package (5) further comprising an opening device (7) positioned at the pour opening (5b). The packaging line (1) comprises a printing apparatus (11) comprising a laser source (20) configured to print a marking pattern (16) on at least one between the first surface (4A) and/or the opening device (7).

The present invention relates to a method for producing a laminated packaging material (10) for packaging of liquid or semi-liquid food products wherein a transfer film (20) is laminated to a bulk layer (12) by polymer melt extrusion. The invention further relates to a laminated packaging material made according to the method, to a packaging container (58a; 58b; 58c; 58d) comprising the laminated packaging material and to a method of forming such a packaging container.

The present invention relates to a sterilization arrangement for sterilization of packaging material within a packaging machine configured to fill packages formed from the packaging material with a food product. The packaging material comprising specific areas that occur repetitively upon the packaging material being fed through the packaging machine. The sterilization arrangement comprises a UV-light irradiation station comprising a plurality of UV-LED units arranged along a feeding direction of the packaging material. The plurality of UV-LED units are configured to be individually controllable. The sterilization arrangement further comprises a control circuitry configured to individually adjust an UV-light irradiation intensity of the plurality of UV-LED units as a specific area among the specific areas that occur repetitively upon the packaging material being fed through the sterilization arrangement passes through the UV-light irradiation station. A packaging machine configured to fill packages with a food product, the packaging machine comprising the sterilization arrangement, is also presented.

Method for monitoring the operation of a packaging line (200) configured to output packages (300), the method comprising the steps of: acquiring (S400) data relative to the production process of one or more packages carried out by the packaging line; processing (S401) the acquired data to determine the occurrence of a possible deviation in one or more steps of the production process carried out by the packaging line (200); determining (S402) a number of checks to be performed on a respective package (300) as a function of the possible deviation determined; and printing (S403) a unique identification code (500) on the respective package (300), the unique identification code (500) integrating at least a portion (501, 502) of the data acquired as well as the number of checks.

A laminated packaging material (10) is provided. The laminated packaging material comprises a cellulose based base layer (20) and a polymer multilayer (34), wherein at least a first polymer layer (36) of the polymer multilayer (34) comprises recycled polymer. Further, a packaging container (2), a method (200) for producing a laminated packaging material (10), and a lamination system (100) are provided.

A blank (100) configured to be folded into a retortable package (200) is disclosed. The blank (100) is made of a multilayer packaging material (101) comprising an outer protective layer (300), a fiber-based mid-layer (302), and an inner protective layer (304). A first set of perforations (102) is provided in a top section (109) as tear-guiding perforations to facilitate opening. A second set of perforations (104a-e) extends through the outer protective layer (300) into or in contact with the fiber-based mid-layer (302) and is provided in at least one of a covering section (110c), a covered section (112c), a second covering section (115c), or a second covered section (116c). A web (702) comprising multiple blanks and a method (600) for producing a package from the blank are also disclosed.

There is described a folding apparatus (16) for forming finalized packages (2) from semi-finalized packs (5) filled with a pourable product. The folding apparatus (16) comprises a manipulation assembly comprising a plurality of engagement assemblies (44), each engagement assembly (44) having a respective pair of engagement elements (45) configured to laterally engage the respective semi-finalized packs (5) from opposite sides thereof. Each engagement element (45) is movable between an idle position and an active position in which the engagement element (45) is, respectively, disengaged from and engaged to the respective semi-finalized packs (5). The conveying device (31) also comprises a cam mechanism (47) configured to control the engagement elements (45) between the respective idle positions and active positions. The cam mechanism (47) comprises an active section (58) having a first portion (62) and a second portion (64). The first portion (62) and the second portion (64) are movable with respect to one another.

Method for monitoring the status of a jaw system (8) in a packaging machine (1), the jaw system (8) being configured to transversally seal a web of packaging material (3) in the form of a tube (2) to form a transverse seal (TS) in the tube (2); the method comprises the steps of: acquiring (S200) a signal (S_p) indicative of the variation over time of a pressure exerted by at least one jaw (9) of the jaw system (8) during operation of the same jaw system (8); processing (S201) the acquired signal (S_p) to determine one or more indicators (I) indicative of the occurrence of possible anomalies in the operation of the jaw system (8) of the packaging machine (1); and adjusting (S202) the operation of the jaw system (8) based on the determined one or more indicators (I).

It is provided a temperature control system (2) for enabling a pasteuriser (1) to process a liquid product (8) by heating the liquid product (8) in a heating phase (50) and subsequently cooling the liquid product (8) in a cooling phase (52). The temperature control system (2) comprises: a hot water circuit (6, 6a-b) configured to circulate hot water; a cold water circuit (7, 7a-b) configured to circulate cold water; a controller (19); a heat pump (3) controllable by the controller (19) to simultaneously heat the hot water in the hot water circuit (6, 6a) and cool the cold water in the cold water circuit (7, 7a); a heating section (4) configured to transfer heat from the hot water of the hot water circuit (6, 6b) to the liquid product (8) in the heating phase (50); and a cooling section (5) configured to transfer heat from the liquid product (8) to the water of the cold water circuit (7, 7b) in the cooling phase (52).

There is described a method for monitoring the quantity of packaging material accumulating in a buffer device (10) of a packaging material processing unit, the method comprises the steps of:- detecting a distance between a predetermined section (S) of a web (4) of packaging material loop (11) in the buffer device (10) during the accumulation therein and a fixed reference point of the buffer device (10);- receiving a first sensor signal (S1) indicative of said distance;- calculating the quantity of packaging material accumulated in the buffer device (10) as a function of the first sensor signal (S1).

A method for producing a liquid oat base (7) for human consumption is disclosed. The method comprises processing (12, 34) oat raw material, water (2), and one or more enzymes (5) into a slurry, followed by hydrolyzing (18) the slurry for a defined period using the one or more enzymes (5). The hydrolyzed slurry undergoes high-pressure homogenization in a first homogenization step (20), followed by a second homogenization step (22) to achieve a uniform consistency. The one or more enzymes are deactivated (24), and the liquid oat base (7) is obtained (33) from the two-step homogenized slurry. The disclosure also includes a system for producing the liquid oat base and a method for producing an oat product from the base. The two-step homogenization enhances the textural properties, stability, and overall quality of the oat base while optimizing energy efficiency and resource utilization in the production process.

There is described an electron beam emitting device (11) configured to sterilize a packaging material (4) for the production of packages (2) containing a pourable product, the emitting device (11) comprises: a generation chamber (14); an elongated generation member (15) arranged within the generation chamber (14), extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and configured to be supplied with electrical energy from a power supply source (100) and to convert the electrical energy into an electron beam; an electric connector (20) coupled to an axial end portion (15b) of the generation member (15) and configured for transferring electrical energy between the power supply source (100) and the generation member (15); the electric connector (20) comprises a main body (21) made of electrically conductive material, extending around said axial end portion (15b) and having a symmetrical configuration with respect to the longitudinal axis (A) and/or with respect to the axial end portion (15b).

There is described a conveyor device (1) comprising cart assemblies (7) movably coupled to an endless track (6). Each cart assembly (7) comprises a housing seat (15) for housing at least one package (2), a supporting group (16), operatively coupled to the endless track (6) and a holding group (17), carried by the supporting group (16) and carrying, in turn, the housing seat (15). Each supporting group (16) comprises at least one first roller (18) and at least one second roller (19), a first portion (20) carrying the at least one first roller (18), a second portion (21) carrying the at least one second roller (19), a coupling assembly (22) coupling the first portion (20) and the second portion (21) with one another and pushing the first portion (20) and the second portion (21) towards each other with a defined preload and a locking assembly (23) locking the holding group (17) onto the first portion (20) and the second portion (21) such to impede a relative movement between the first portion (20) and the second portion (21).

The disclosure relates to a device (1) for shaping the tip (11) of tubular straws (10) in a continuous production, the device comprising: a first body (20) that may be substantially cylindrical and arranged to rotate around a rotation axis (26); a plurality of support members (21), wherein each support member may be configured to support one tubular straw (10) in a fixed position, wherein the plurality of support members (21) is attached the first body (20); a second body (30) comprising a first clamp (31) and a second clamp (32) for receiving, compressing and shaping a tip portion (12) of a straw (10); and a cutting element for removing a part (13) of the compressed tip portion (12) of the straw (10), wherein the cutting element may be arranged to cut the tip portion (12) of the straw (10) in a predefined angle to the length direction of the straw (10). The disclosure further relates to a method for shaping the tip (11) of tubular straws (10) in a continuous production.

There is described a packaging machine (1) and a method for producing sealed packages from a web (3) of packaging material gradually folded and sealed into a tube (7) fed along a conveying path (P) with the steps of receiving a web width (WW) indicative of a width of the web (3) of packaging material; receiving an overlap width (OW) indicative of a width of an overlapping area (OA) of the tube (7) of packaging material; wherein the overlapping area (OA) comprises an area wherein a first edge (3A) of the web (3) of packaging material partially overlaps a second edge (3B) of the web (3) of packaging material; and adjusting a dimension of the overlapping area (OA) based on both the web width (OW) and the overlap width (OW).

There is described an electron beam emitting device (11) comprising: a generation member (12) configured to be supplied with electrical energy and to emit an electron beam; a hollow casing (14) housing at least the generation member (12), the casing (14) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and including an aperture (14a) at one axial end portion (16) thereof; and a thermally and/or electrically insulating cover (17) coupled with the casing (14) at said axial end portion (16) for closing said aperture (14a); the emitting device (11) further includes a cooling device (18) configured for cooling the insulating cover (17), the cooling device (18) comprising a hollow flange (19) coupled with the casing (14) at said axial end portion (16), extending at least in part around the longitudinal axis (A) and delimiting, together with an outer surface (16a) of the axial end portion (16), an inner chamber (20) which defines a flow channel for a cooling medium; the flange (19) is welded to said casing (14) at said axial end portion (16).

There is described a package forming apparatus (1) comprising a first operative unit (4) and a second operative unit (5) each of which comprises a plurality of operative devices (7) and a conveyor device (8) configured to advance the plurality of operative devices (7). Each operative device (7) comprises a cart (10) moveably coupled to the conveyor device (8) and an operative group (11). Each conveyor device (8) comprises a control unit (12) configured to advance the carts (10) along an advancement path (Q) and a braking device (18) configured to interact with a respective braking pad (19) of each operative device (7) and configured to allow and to impede advancement of the operative devices (7). Each braking device (18) comprises a first plate assembly (20) and a second plate assembly (21) spaced apart from one another, forming a space (22) therebetween and being movable between a release position and a clamping position. The actuator assembly (23) comprises at least one actuator (30) connected to the first plate assembly (20) and configured to induce a movement of the first plate assembly (20). The at least one actuator (30) comprises a piston (31) and a ball joint assembly (35) connected to the piston (31) and the first plate assembly (20).

The present disclosure relates to a method (400) for producing a tea-based beverage precursor (208). The method comprises obtaining (402) brew spent tea leaves (BSTL) (201) from a tea extraction system (102) used in the production of tea. These BSTL (201) are then subjected to a wet grinding process (404) to form a BSTL slurry (704). Subsequently, the BSTL slurry (704) is processed (406) using enzymatic treatment to convert it into the tea-based beverage precursor (208). Related products, processes and processing lines are also disclosed.

A method (200) for producing a diary product (P1). The method (200) comprising: feeding (S202) a dairy material (DM) to a first filtration stage (101); filtering (S204) the dairy material (DM), in the first filtration stage (101), into a first permeate stream (P1) and a first retentate stream (R1); feeding (S206) the first retentate stream (R1) to a second filtration stage (102); filtering (S208) the first retentate stream (R1) into a second permeate stream (P2) and a second retentate stream (R2); recirculating (S210) the second permeate stream (P2) by feeding it to the first filtration stage (101); and collecting (S212) the first permeate stream (P1) as the dairy product. The disclosure further relates to a system (100) configured to produce a dairy product.

There is described a method for producing sealed packages (2) containing a pourable product, the method comprises the steps of: a) advancing a web (4) of packaging material along an advancing path (P); b) folding the web (4) into a tube (3); c) filling the tube (3) with the pourable product by means of a filling device (7); d) detecting a deviation or anomaly at the web (4) indicative of the state of the packaging material; e) adjusting the operation of the filling device (7) as a function of the detection.

The present invention relates to training a machine learning model to predict a relative crack index, RCI, map for a candidate fiberboard patterning design to be used in patterning of fiberboard packaging material. The training comprises: generating a training dataset for the machine learning model by, for each of a plurality of training fiberboard patterning designs, performing a finite element method simulation resulting in a respective training RCI map; and training the machine learning model by adjusting weights of the machine learning model using the training fiberboard patterning designs of the training dataset as input and the training RCI maps of the training dataset as ground truth. A training apparatus for training the machine learning model is also presented as well as use of the machine learning model to predict a RCI map for a candidate fiberboard patterning design.

A method for monitoring a transversal sealing process 200 involves receiving measurement data 304 from a packaging line 100. A trained machine-learning model 302, which is fed with the measurement data 304, generates a quality indicator 306 that reflects the status of at least one package 102's transversal sealing 104. This approach allows real-time quality control and enhances productivity by identifying potential issues or deviations from the standard sealing process.

The present invention relates to training a machine learning model to predict a relative crack index, RCI, map for a candidate combination of a paperboard patterning design and a paperboard material having a set of paperboard material model parameters, the candidate combination to be used in patterning of paperboard packaging material. The training comprises: generating a training dataset for the machine learning model by, for each training combination of one or more training paperboard patterning designs and one or more paperboard materials having a respective set of paperboard material model parameters, performing a finite element method simulation resulting in a respective training RCI map; and training the machine learning model by adjusting weights of the machine learning model using the training combinations of the training dataset as input and the training RCI maps of the training dataset as ground truth. A training apparatus for training the machine learning model is also presented as well as use of the machine learning model to predict a RCI map for a candidate paperboard patterning design.

A computer-implemented method (900) for identifying packages (116) to be discarded and sample packages (302) for quality assessment in a package flow (300) is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining (902) a package ID related to one of the packages of the package flow (300), obtaining (904) sensor data (810) associated to the package ID, applying (906) a multi-output model designed for multitask learning on the sensor data (810), wherein the multi-output model is configured to output a discarding prediction as well as a sampling prediction, forming (908) a decision whether to remove the package from the package flow (300), pull the package from the package flow (300) to conduct quality assessment, or allow the package to proceed in the package flow (300) based on the discarding prediction and the sampling prediction, in case the decision (910) is to remove the package or pull the package from the package flow (300), generating (912) control data (816, 818) reflecting the decision, wherein the control data (816, 818) comprises command signals, and transmitting (914) the control data (816, 818) to a reject mechanism (820) arranged for removing the package from the conveyor system (308) or to a sampling mechanism (824) arranged for pulling the package from the package flow (300) to a quality assessment station (814).

The present invention relates to the use of a paper substrate (11) in a high-quality, barrier-coated paper substrate (10) for providing good toughness, flexibility and oxygen barrier properties to a laminated packaging material and to packaging containers comprising the laminated packaging material. The barrier-coated paper substrate may also provide heat sealing capability to a laminated packaging material comprising it. The barrier-coated paper substrate (10; 23), is suitable in packaging of oxygen-sensitive food products.

The present invention relates to a cleaning system (10) for cleaning a filling machine configured to fill packages with a liquid food product. The cleaning system comprises a cleaning module (100), a foam supply module (200), a water supply module (300) and a water pump (400). The water pump is configured to pressurize the water supplied to the cleaning module or to the foam supply module from the water supply module. The cleaning system further comprises a control unit (500) configured to control an operational state of the water pump based on a reading from a water flow meter (310) in the water supply module or on a reading from an air flow meter (230) of the foam supply module. Figure elected for publication: Fig. 1