Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Patente

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.

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).

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.

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.

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).

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 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).

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).

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.

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.

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

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.

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).

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 mixing unit (1) comprising: a vessel (2) for containing a product to be mixed; a shaft (4) extending longitudinally inside the vessel (2) and configured for rotating around a rational axis (16) to be used for mixing the product inside the vessel (2), the shaft (4) having a first portion (5) and a second portion (6) separated from the first portion (5), wherein the mixing unit (1) further comprises a flexible member (7) connecting the first portion (5) to the second portion (6) of the shaft (4) for compensating a displacement between the first portion (5) and the second portion (6) due to thermal expansion of the vessel (2).

A continuous in-line method for manufacturing a laminated packaging material (100), comprising:providing a paperboard layer (110),adding (S20) a reflective layer (130)to the paperboard layer (110), said reflective layer (130) being configured to reflect infrared radiation (IR),ink-jet printing (S40) a décor layer (150) such that the reflective layer (130) is at least to some extent arranged between the paperboard layer (130) and the décor layer (150), anddrying (S50) the décor layer (150) by exposing the décor layer (150) to infrared radiation (IR).

A method for quality inspection of a series of printed images, the method comprising: feeding (S2) a printed paperboard web (100) continuously in a machine direction (MD), capturing (S4a) a first test image of a first subsection (110) of the paperboard web (100), capturing (S4b) a second test image of a second subsection (120) of the paperboard web (100), the second subsection (120) being arranged remote from to the first subsection (110), determining (S6) the quality of the series of printed images by comparing the first and second test image with at least one master image.

A web (10) of a multilayer packaging material (12) that comprises a layer of fibrous material (14), wherein the web (10) comprises a plurality of repeat units (16, 16') successively arranged and continuously connected to each other in a first direction (18), each of the repeat units comprising a plurality of holes (20a-h) through the multilayer packaging material, wherein each of the holes has a base (22a-h), the holes being arranged such that the bases are mutually aligned and extend along a common a line (23), the line extending substantially in a second direction (24) perpendicular to the first direction, the line comprising line segments (26b-h) that extend between a respective pair of the bases (22a-h) to delimit the repeat unit (16) from a successive repeat unit (16'), and wherein, for each repeat unit, the web has at least one cut-out (28-1, 28-2, 28-3, 28-4, 28-4', 28-4", 28-5, 28-6) through the multilayer packaging material, each of the cut-out(s) being provided at a respective line segment (26c, 26g) of said line segments.

A method (500) for filling a package (114, 114a-b) with a liquid food product (FP) using a filling device (100) is provided. The filling device comprises a filling pipe (102) having an outlet valve (104) placed in a lower end (106), a pump (108, 108a-b) arranged to feed the liquid food product into the filling pipe (102), and a servomotor (110) for controlling the outlet valve (104). The method comprises placing (502) the package (114, 114a-b) below the filling device (100), feeding (504) the liquid food product (FP) into the filling pipe (102) using the pump (108), opening (504) the outlet valve (104), using the servomotor (110), such that the liquid food product (FP) is allowed to pass the lower end (106) of the filling pipe (102) into an interior space of the package (114), and closing (506) the outlet valve (104), using the servomotor (110), such that the liquid food product (FP) is hindered from passing the lower end (106) of the filling pipe (102) and surrounding air is hindered from being sucked into the filling pipe (102).

A method for control of a plurality of nozzles (22) in an ink-jet print module (20), the method comprising:forwarding (S1) a paperboard web (10) continuously in a machine direction (MD),printing (S2) a décor layer (30) on a first section (11) of the paperboard web (10) using the ink-jet print module (20), andprinting (S3) a control layer (40) on a second section (12) of the paperboard web (10) by activating the plurality of nozzles (22),wherein the first and second sections (11, 12) are distinct from each other.

A method (400) for controlling a hydraulic oil pressure pump (212) for generating a hydraulic pressure in a movement cylinder or an injection cylinder of an injection moulding station (102) of a packaging machine (100) is illustrated. The method comprises obtaining (402) shape data (206) pertaining to a shape of a package (104) produced by the packaging machine (100), determining (404) a setpoint oil pressure value based on the shape data (206), obtaining (406) an actual oil pressure value (218) by using a pressure sensor (312), determining (408) control data (210) pertaining to a speed of the hydraulic oil pressure pump (212) based on the set point oil pressure value and the actual oil pressure value (218), and transmitting (410) the control data to the hydraulic oil pressure pump (212).

Method for quality inspection of a printed paperboard web (10), the method comprising: feeding (S2) a printed paperboard web (10) continuously in a machine direction (MD), providing (S3) a master image (01a) using a first device (23a), generating (S40) a color managed master image (01b) by performing color management of the master image (01a), capturing (S5) a test image (12a) of a subsection (12) of the paperboard web (10) using a second device (23b), determining (S6) the print quality of the paperboard web (10) by comparing the test image (12a) with the color managed master image (01b).

A continuous in-line method for manufacturing a laminated packaging material (100), comprising: ink-jet printing (S20) a décor layer (130) on a paperboard layer (110), applying (S30) a transparent layer (140) on the paperboard layer (110), and drying (S40) the décor layer (130) and the transparent layer (140) by exposing the paperboard layer (110) to infrared radiation (IR).

The present invention relates to a spray dryer device (200) with a vessel (202). A spray nozzle (208) is arranged in the vessel (202) for forming a stream of liquid droplets (141) from a liquid material (140). Heated gas is supplied to the vessel (202) to, from the stream of liquid droplets (141), form a particulate material (150) by drying the liquid droplets (141). The device (200) includes a temperature sensor arrangement (120) with spatially distributed temperature sensing elements (122) that sense a spatial temperature distribution at an exterior wall (204) of the vessel (202). A processing device (130) acquires a time series of these temperature distributions and analyzes the time series to determine if fouling (152) of the particulate material (150) has occurred at an inside of the exterior wall (204). If fouling has occurred, the processing device (130) generates a signal indicating a fouling condition within the vessel (202). A method (300) of monitoring a spray dryer device (200) is also disclosed.

Method for closed loop calibration of a digital print module (20), the method comprising: feeding (S2) a printed paperboard web (10) continuously in a machine direction (MD), capturing (S3) actual measured Lab values (32) of a test subsection (12) of the paperboard web (10), wherein the test subsection (12) forms part of a final décor of the paperboard web (10) and of a packaging container being produced by the paperboard web (10), determining (S4) a delta between the actual measured Lab values (32) and a targeted Lab set (31), calibrating (S5) the digital print module (20) based on the delta between the actual measured Lab values (32) and the targeted Lab set (31).

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a packaging material. The method comprises laminating (206) a bulk layer (20) comprising paper or paperboard or other cellulose-based material to a barrier substrate (30) coated with a protective coating (40).

It is described a conveying device (15) for a web (4) fed along a conveying path (P), comprising a plurality of electroadhesive elements (18) comprising an outer electroadhesive gripping surface (19) configured to adhere to the web (4), wherein at least two electroadhesive elements (18) of the plurality of electroadhesive elements (18) are activatable to generate at least a first electric field (E1) and a second electric field (E2).

A delaminable laminated packaging material (10) for packaging of liquid or semi-liquid food products comprises as layers of a layer sequence: - an outermost protective material layer (16); - a bulk layer (11) of paper or paperboard or other cellulose-based material; - a releasable adhesive coating (12) comprising a water-dispersible polymer selected from ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, acrylic copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer and ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer coated onto the inner surface of the bulk layer (11); - a gas barrier layer (14) comprising a barrier substrate (14a) and a barrier material layer (14b), or comprising a gas barrier polymer, the gas barrier layer being bonded to the releasable adhesive coating (12); and - an innermost liquid-tight material layer (19), which is optionally comprised in the barrier substrate (14a). A packaging container comprising the material and methods of making and recycling the material and container are also described.

A scraper assembly (1) for a mixing unit (2) having a vessel (4) with internal walls (8), the scraper assembly (1) comprising an elongated supporting rod (3) configured to be mounted inside the vessel (4) and a scraper body (5) having a first edge (6) and a second edge (7) opposite to the first edge (6), the scraper body (5) being pivotally mountable in a removable way to the supporting rod (3) at the first edge (6) and being configured to scrape the internal walls (8) of the vessel (4) at the second edge (7), wherein the scraper assembly further comprises a spring member (9) fixable to the supporting rod (3) and coupled to the scraper body (5) to make the scraper body (5) spring-loaded.

A transversal ultrasonic sealing device (1) for a packaging machine configured to produce packages from a multi-layered packaging material, the device (1) comprising:- a body (3) having opposite lateral walls (3a, 3b);- a plurality of ultrasonic oscillating elements (2) configured to oscillate at ultrasonic frequencies;- a clamping element (6) configured to secure the plurality of oscillating elements (2) to the body (3),wherein the body (3) comprises a coupling region (8) configured to receive the clamping element (6), wherein the coupling region (8) is a reinforced region.

A computer-implemented method (800) for identifying defects in a package (102a,b) is disclosed. The method (800) comprises placing (802) the package in an apparatus for delaminating the package (102a,b), attaching (804) the first side (302a) to a first clamping device (402a) of the apparatus (400) and the second side (302b) to a second clamping device (402b) of the apparatus (400), tearing (806) apart the weld (104a,b,106a,b) by moving the first clamping device (402a) and second clamping device (402b) away from each other, obtaining (808) a first image (600b), depicting the weld (104a,b, 106a,b), at a first point of time (t1), obtaining (810) a second image (600c), depicting the weld (104a,b,106a,b), at a second point of time (t2), wherein the second point of time (t2) is subsequent to the first point of time (t1), processing (812) the first image (600b) by identifying a sealing line (404)at the first point of time, processing (814) the second image (600c) by identifying the sealing line (404) between the first and second side (302a,b) of the laminate at the second point of time, wherein the first and second image (600b,600c) input to the machine learning model (414) comprise the sealing line (404) identified, applying (816) a machine learning model (414), wherein the machine learning model receives as inputs the first and second image (600b,c), and outputs a prediction of the defects, wherein the machine learning model (414) has been trained by means of reference first and second reference images indicative of the defects for reference packages associated with the first and second reference images.