OXYBABY

Checking the Pack at the Machine

Modified atmosphere packaging works by replacing the air inside a pack with a gas mixture that slows spoilage. Usually that means displacing oxygen, often with carbon dioxide or nitrogen.

The whole approach depends on the mixture being right, and staying right. A leaking seal, a short gas flush or a mixer drifting out of specification all produce packs that look correct, but fail early.

The OXYBABY draws a sample through the pack wall with a needle, using its integrated pump, and reports the residual oxygen, or oxygen and carbon dioxide, within seconds. It’s cordless and handheld, so the check happens at the packaging machine while the line is running, not as a laboratory exercise afterwards.

Sample gas requirement is the specification that matters most here. The less gas the test takes, the smaller the pack you can test without the measurement emptying the headspace. The 6.0 works from under 2 mL for oxygen.

Which Version

The decision usually comes down to one line. If you need to export measurement records, you need the 6.0. The M+ logs results for review on the instrument, but has no interface for transferring data to a PC.

For a HACCP programme where pack quality has to be demonstrated, not just checked, that makes the 6.0 the right choice. For a processor who tests to satisfy themselves and records results manually, the M+ does the measurement job for less.

Documentation and Traceability

On both versions, measurements are assigned to product names or line numbers, which makes a reading traceable to a batch, rather than a floating number.

On the 6.0, the optional OBCC software takes it further. Results transfer by USB, and the software documents them for complete traceability. That’s what turns a day of spot checks into a quality record.

An integrated barcode scanner is available as an option on the 6.0, for a faster workflow when selecting product data. Bluetooth is optional too, for connecting a Bluetooth printer, which suits a processor who wants a printed ticket attached to a batch record.

Practical

Both versions are cordless, running on three integrated rechargeable batteries, with simple one hand operation, a large illuminated display and a multilingual menu. Each weighs about 600 grams, and works from 5 to 40°C.

Sample flow control warns if the needle is blocked, so a bad sample isn’t mistaken for a good reading. An integrated needle cover protects the needle in transit and the operator in use, which matters more than it sounds on an instrument that lives beside a packaging line.

Calibration is a simple two point process. The oxygen sensor lasts about two years, and the CO2 sensor uses IR absorption for a long life.

Accessories

Both versions come as a complete kit: a charging device and adapter set, a CD-ROM with operating instructions, two spare needles, two spare filters, a set of 100 rubber seals and a calibration certificate, all in a carry case of about 325 x 380 x 115 mm and 1.7 kg.

A stainless steel table stand suits all OXYBABY models, converting the instrument into a benchtop analyser for laboratory use. A hose with a Luer-Lok connection allows measurement by hose instead of needle. On the 6.0, a can and bottle piercer is also available.

Where It’s Used

Modified atmosphere packaging lines in meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, bakery and fresh produce. Quality assurance laboratories. Retail and distribution spot checking. Packaging machine commissioning and validation. HACCP verification programmes. Contract packers demonstrating pack quality to a client.