US 11,912,448 B2
Method and a packaging apparatus for forming sealed partially-filled packages
Daniele Anzaldi, Eindhoven (NL); Nicola Garuti, Scandiano (IT); Yutaka Kaneko, Tokyo (JP); and David Arturo Fuga Martin, Bologna (IT)
Assigned to TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., Pully (CH)
Appl. No. 17/296,911
Filed by TETRA LAVAL HOLDINGS & FINANCE S.A., Pully (CH)
PCT Filed Nov. 7, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/080531
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 25, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/108944, PCT Pub. Date Jun. 4, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 18208330 (EP), filed on Nov. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0394941 A1, Dec. 23, 2021
Int. Cl. B65B 31/04 (2006.01); B65B 31/02 (2006.01); B65B 9/12 (2006.01); B65B 57/10 (2006.01)
CPC B65B 31/045 (2013.01) [B65B 9/12 (2013.01); B65B 31/02 (2013.01); B65B 57/10 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming sealed partially-filled packages filled with a pourable product comprising at least:
forming a tube from a web of packaging material;
filling the pourable product into the tube for forming a product column within the tube;
directing a sterile gas into the product column for forming and/or maintaining a gas cushion within the product column which divides the product column into an upper portion and a lower portion;
forming and transversally sealing the tube, for obtaining the packages containing the pourable product and a gas space formed from a defined volume of the sterile gas originating from the gas cushion.