Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance Patente

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 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 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).

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.

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 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.

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a material for a laminated packaging material, the method comprising the steps of (A1) providing a liquid dispersion comprising cellulosic material; (A2) providing a liquid dispersion comprising at least one carbon-based material chosen from the group consisting of graphite, graphene, graphene oxide and reduced graphene oxide; (B1) mixing the dispersion provided in step A1 with the dispersion provided in step A2 to obtain a mixture; (C1) subjecting the mixture obtained step (B1) to draining of liquid through a porous substrate, followed by an initial compression to obtain a compressed cellulosic material; (D1) subjecting the compressed cellulosic material obtained in step (C1) to pressing to obtain a pressed cellulosic material; and, optionally, a step of (E1) heating the cellulosic material before, during and/or after step (D1); to obtain a cellulose-based sheet material for a laminated packaging material. The present disclosure also relates to a laminated packaging material and to the heat sealing of packages formed from the laminated packaging material, as well as a packaging container for food products and to the use of the laminated packaging material forming a packaging container.

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.

An arrangement (100) for processing a food product (P) comprises a heat treatment unit (10), a processing unit (20), a valve system (30) configured to fluidly connect the processing unit (20) to the heat treatment unit (10). The valve system (30) includes a non-aseptic inlet (32), a non-aseptic outlet (34), an aseptic inlet (36), an aseptic outlet (38), a processing outlet (22), and a processing inlet (24). A control unit (40) is configured to control the valve system (30) to operate in a first operational mode (O1), in which the product (P) is passed through the heat treatment unit (10) prior to being passed to the processing unit (20), and a second operational mode (O2), in which the product (P) is passed through the processing unit (20) prior to being passed to the heat treatment unit (10).

An arrangement (100) for folding an ice cream wrapping material (10), comprising a main body (30) having a first end (32) and a second end (34) extending from the first end (32) along a first direction (D1), an edge (39) arranged at the first end (32) to receive the wrapping material (10) moving along a second direction (D2), for forming the wrapping material (10) over the edge (39), the second direction (D2) having an angle (A) to the first direction (D1), a support surface (30') extending from the edge (39) to the second end (34) and configured to receive the wrapping material (10) thereon, and a biasing element (50, 50') arranged at the first end (32) to face the support surface (30') for creating a space (S) through which the wrapping material (10) may pass and configured to apply a force (F) in a direction towards the support surface (30') onto the wrapping material (10).

System (1) of fault prediction for a packaging line (2) including a planar motor system (3); the planar motor system (3) comprises planar base element (10) as well as independently movable carriers (4) configured to manipulate packaging containers (5) and movable over the planar base element (10). The system (1) comprises: a sensory system (6) configured to output data relative to physical quantities associated with operation of the independently movable carriers (4); and electronic processing resources (7) in communication the sensory system (6). The electronic processing resources (7) and configured to: receive the data outputted by the sensory system (6); and process the data outputted by the sensory system (6) to determine the occurrence of a possible anomaly in the operation of the independently movable carriers (4).

The present invention relates to a quality control apparatus for quality control of packages. The quality control apparatus comprising: a memory storing a machine learning model being trained to identify defects in 3D representations of packages; and circuitry. The circuitry is configured to execute: an image obtaining function configured to, from an image capturing device, obtain a plurality of images depicting a package from a plurality of view angles; a 3D rendering function configured to render a 3D representation of the package having as input the plurality of images; and a quality control function configured to perform quality control of the package by inputting the rendered 3D representation of the package into the machine learning model. A method of generating a training dataset for a machine learning model is also presented.

An ejection arrangement (1) for removing misaligned carton sheets (2) from a conveyor (10) transporting sheets in a specified direction (D). The arrangement includes an ejection opening (11) positioned below the conveying surface and comprises a sensor (30) that generates signals (S1) indicating the presence of carton sheets (2). An air expulsion unit (40), mounted above the ejection opening (11), is configured to direct air bursts (42) onto the sheets. A control unit (50) receives signals (S1), determines sheet misalignment by analyzing rotation or overlap, and activates the air expulsion unit (40) to divert misaligned sheets (2d, 2e) into the ejection opening (11). This arrangement efficiently removes misaligned sheets to ensure smooth conveyor operations.

A support device (20) for use with a membrane filtration apparatus that includes an elongate membrane housing (11). The device facilitates loading and/or unloading of a membrane element (12) through an opening (11C) in an end portion (11A) of the housing (11). It comprises an end flange portion (28) abutting the end portion (11A) and a platform portion (22) projecting from the end flange portion (28) to support the membrane element (12). The device further includes an engagement portion (21) with a first clamp part (26) fixedly connected to the end flange portion (28) and a second clamp part (29) that clamps against a lower side (11H) of the membrane housing (11). The first clamp part (26) includes an adjustment element (37) configured to adjust the vertical position of a support surface (24) relative to the opening (11C) in the membrane housing (11).

There is described a packaging blank (2, 2', 2", 2‴) comprising an intermediate section having an intermediate crease pattern (47) interposed between a top crease pattern (44) and a bottom crease pattern (46) and being configured to define at least a side wall (5) of a package (1, 1', 1", 1‴). The intermediate crease pattern (47) comprises two pairs of front crease lines (52), each pair delimiting a respective front edge panel (53) and two pairs of back crease lines (54), each pair delimiting a respective back edge panel (55). Each pair of front crease lines (52) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first front intersection point (58) and a second front intersection point (59) and each pair of back crease lines (54) and/or their imaginary extensions intersect at a first back intersection point (60) and a second back intersection point (61). The first front intersection points (58) define a first imaginary linear line (L1) and the first back intersection points (60) define a second imaginary linear line (L2). The first imaginary linear line (L1) is interposed between the second imaginary linear line (L2) and the top crease pattern (44).

Screw cap (200), loading piston (300), method for aligning the screw cap (200) and the loading piston (300) in relation to each other and a method for screwing a screw cap (200) onto a threaded neck portion of a packaging container. The screw cap (200) comprises a base portion (210) comprising a top (212) and a bottom surface (214);- an annular portion (220) raised from the base portion (210), the annular portion having an inner (222) and an outer surface (224);- at least one first threaded portion (252) arranged on the inner surface (222) of the annular portion, whereinthe base portion (210) comprises engagement means (240), such that the screw cap (200) is configured to engage a tool (300) with at least one complementary engagement means in a process of screwing the cap onto the container with the complementary threaded neck portion.

The present invention relates to a fluid bed device (100) with a vessel (102) for fluidizing particulate food material (150). The device (100) includes a temperature sensor arrangement (120) with spatially distributed temperature sensing elements (122) that monitor the spatial temperature distribution (TD1-TD7, TD1'-TD7') of the material (150). A processing device (130) acquires a time series (TS, TS') of these temperature distributions, analyzing each sensing element's (122) temporal variation (SV, SV') in temperature readings. If any temporal variation (SV, SV') exceeds a defined threshold (T), the device (100) generates a signal indicating an abnormal condition within the vessel (102). A method (300) of monitoring a fluid bed device (100) is also disclosed.

A piston membrane pump (100) for pumping a liquid, comprising: housing (101) with a chamber (106) having an inlet (107) and outlet (108); a piston (102) in the housing, reciprocating along a longitudinal axis (111) to pump liquid by changing the chamber's volume; a membrane element (103a) sealing the piston (102) to the housing (101); and an actuator (104) driving the piston (102) between a rear (R1) and front end position (F1); and a control unit (105) configured to: control the actuator to drive the reciprocating motion of the piston by using, at different points in time, each of multiple, different sets of end positions (R1,F1; R2,F2; Rn,Fn) for the piston along the longitudinal axis, wherein each set of end positions comprises a rear end position (R1-Rn) and a front end position (F1-Fn) where the distance (L) between the rear end position and the front end position of each set corresponds to a predetermined, full stroke length (L) of the piston.

A method (S100) for operating an actuator (102) in a packaging machine (100) producing food-filled packages is disclosed. The actuator moves a package precursor (106) along a motion axis (M-A) based on a movement profile (200). The method involves: obtaining (S102) package-specific data (400), including package status (402), from a connected database (112); obtaining (S104) a start position (300a-306a, 702a) on the motion axis; determining (S106) an end position (300b-306b, 702b) based on package status (402); defining (S108) a package precursor-adjusted movement profile by scaling (S110) the movement profile according to the start and end positions; and initiating (S112) actuator movement from start to end along the motion axis according to the adjusted movement profile.

There is described a sealing device (14) for sealing a tube of packaging material (3) containing a pourable product to obtain sealed packs (2a) filled with the pourable product, the sealing device (14) including a sealing member (14a) and a counter-sealing member (14b) configured to interact with the tube (3) for sealing a transversal section of the tube (3), thereby defining a transversal sealing band on the tube (3), the sealing device (14) comprising: a support frame (12) for supporting the sealing member (14a); a power transfer system (15) for powering the sealing member (14a) and comprising a conductive member (16) connected to the sealing member (14a) and configured to feed electrical energy to the sealing member (14a); a stop member (17) carried by the support frame (12) and arranged to cooperate with the conductive member (16) for at least limiting a movement of the conductive member (16).

A method of adjusting an alignment of an injection molding module in relation to a web of packaging material is presented. The injection molding module being configured to injection mold opening devices onto the web of packaging material. The method comprises: capturing an image of an already injection molded opening device on the web of packaging material; determining an offset of a center position of the already injection molded opening device on the web of packaging material in relation to positions of features in the web of packaging material by analyzing the captured image; and adjusting the alignment of the injection molding module in relation to the web of packaging material based on the determined offset, thereby adjusting a position of a future injection molded opening device in relation to the web of packaging material. An injection molding system for injection molding opening devices onto a web of packaging material having the above alignment functionality as well as a packaging machine comprising such injection molding system are also presented.

The present invention relates to a laminated packaging material (20) for heat-sealable packaging of oxygen-sensitive products, comprising a high-quality, barrier-coated cellulose-based substrate (23;10). The invention further relates to packaging containers made from the laminated packaging material.

The present invention relates to a method for, within a packaging machine configured to fill packages with a food product, sterilization of a web of packaging material comprising 3D structures. The method comprising: subjecting, at a first UV-light irradiation station, the 3D structures in the web for UV-light irradiation; and subjecting, at an electron beam irradiation station, both the 3D structures in the web and a surface of the web of packaging material for electron beam irradiation. A sterilization arrangement comprising a UV-light irradiation station and an electron beam irradiation station is also presented. Moreover, a packaging machine configured to fill packages with a food product, the packaging machine comprising the sterilization arrangement, is also presented.

The present invention relates to a heat sealable laminated packaging material (20) for packaging of oxygen-sensitive food products, comprising a high-quality, barrier-coated cellulose-based substrate (23;10) with long-term oxygen barrier packaging capability. The invention further relates packaging containers made from the laminated packaging material.

The present invention relates to a method for sterilization of packaging material within a packaging machine configured to fill packages with a food product. The method comprising: subjecting, at a UV-light irradiation station, a surface of the packaging material for UV-light irradiation; and subjecting, at an electron beam irradiation station, the surface of the packaging material for electron beam irradiation. A sterilization arrangement comprising a UV-light irradiation station and an electron beam irradiation station is also presented. Moreover, a packaging machine configured to fill packages with a food product, the packaging machine comprising the sterilization arrangement, is also presented.

A package (100) comprising a main body (104) for holding a food product (FP), and an electronics arrangement (106) configured to determine remaining shelf life of the food product (FP) based on thermal history is provided. The electronics arrangement (106) comprises a power source (410) arranged to power the arrangement (106), a timing circuit (408) arranged to provide clock signals, a counter (402) arranged to hold a counter number correlating to the remaining shelf life, wherein the counter number is changed over time based on the clock signals provided by the timing circuit (408), wherein the timing circuit (408) is arranged such that a frequency with which the clock signals are provided depends on temperature.

There is described a sealing anvil device (28) comprising a main structure (35) having an engagement surface (36) extending along a longitudinal axis (A) and being configured to engage a tube (4) filled with a pourable product for compressing the tube (4) along a transversal portion, the sealing anvil device (28) further comprising a carrier device (37) carrying the main structure (35). A center portion (38) of the main structure (35) is angularly moveably coupled to a coupling group (39) of the carrier device (37) such that the main structure (35) is angularly moveable about a rotation axis (B). The rotation axis (B) is transversal to the longitudinal axis (A).

A packaging material is provided, comprising a core layer (104) and one or more layers of a heat sealable material (106, 108, 110) laminated thereto, and at least one carbon-based layer (112) being configured to form a workpiece (60) of an associated sealing system (30).

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a gasbarrier coated substrate material (10a; 10b), coated with a layer of reduced graphene oxide.The invention further relates to laminated packaging materials (20a; 20b) comprising the barrier-coated substrate material (10a; 10b), in particular intended for liquid carton food packaging, and to liquid carton packaging containers comprising the laminated packaging material.

There is described an inductor device (21) for inducing a current in a web (3) of packaging material with an electrically conductive layer having a number of coils (23) configured to induce a current in the electrically conductive layer, a first electrical coupling element (25) for receiving electrical power from a connector device (22), and a first mechanical coupling element (26) which is mechanically connectable to the connector device (22) and is structurally distinct from the first electrical coupling element (25). There is also described a connector device (22) configured for inductively inducing a current in the web (3) of packaging material having a second electrical coupling element (34) configured for transmitting electrical power to the inductor device (21) and a second mechanical coupling element (35) configured for mechanically connecting with the inductor device (21) and structurally distinct from the second electrical coupling element (34).