Filling machine comprising airflow system8

Abstract

A paperboard container filling machine (10) comprising an aseptic chamber (30, 40), the aseptic chamber having: an upper air distribution chamber (35, 45); a lower processing chamber (36, 46) housing processing equipment (32, 42, 49) configured for interacting with paperboard containers passing through the processing chamber; a throughflow plate (37, 47) separating the air distribution chamber and the processing chamber; a paperboard container transport sub-system (12) configured for transporting the paperboard containers through the processing chamber along a container transport path (14) from an inlet opening (31, 41) to an outlet opening (33, 43) of the processing chamber; and an elongated air distribution duct (50, 53) configured for receiving air from an air supply channel and comprising a plurality of throughflow holes (51) configured for distributing the air in the air distribution chamber. The air distribution duct displays a semi-tubular convex surface (52) facing the throughflow plate and comprising a rectilinear duct axis (A) extending orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the container transport path. A related method is also disclosed.

1 . A paperboard container filling machine comprising an aseptic chamber, the aseptic chamber comprising:
 an upper air distribution chamber;   a lower processing chamber housing processing equipment configured for interacting with paperboard containers passing through the processing chamber;   a throughflow plate separating the air distribution chamber and the processing chamber;   a paperboard container transport sub-system configured for transporting the paperboard containers through the processing chamber along a container transport path from an inlet opening to an outlet opening of the processing chamber; and   an elongated air distribution duct configured for receiving air from an air supply channel and comprising a plurality of throughflow holes configured for distributing the air in the air distribution chamber;   wherein the air distribution duct displays a semi-tubular convex surface facing the throughflow plate and comprising a rectilinear duct axis extending orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the container transport path.   
     
     
         2 . The paperboard container filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the throughflow holes are circular. 
     
     
         3 . A method of establishing an airflow in an aseptic chamber of a paperboard container filling machine, the aseptic chamber comprising:
 an upper air distribution chamber;   a lower processing chamber housing processing equipment configured for interacting with paperboard containers passing through the processing chamber;   a throughflow plate separating the air distribution chamber and the processing chamber; and   a paperboard container transport sub-system configured for transporting the paperboard containers through the processing chamber along a container transport path from an inlet opening to an outlet opening of the processing chamber,   the method comprising the step of distributing air in the air distribution chamber by bringing the air from an air supply channel to the air distribution chamber through an air distribution duct comprising a plurality of throughflow holes configured for distributing the air in the air distribution chamber, the air distribution duct displaying a semi-tubular convex surface facing the throughflow plate and comprising a rectilinear duct axis extending orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the container transport path.