DE102011119657B4 - Packaging machine for germ-free packaging - Google Patents

Abstract

Packing machine for a germ-free in Erstverpackungen (1) packaged product, comprising - a supply station (2) for feeding the Erstverpackungen (1), - a grouping station (3) for grouping the Erstverpackungen (1), - a filling station (5) for Filling the primary packaging (1), - a closing station (6) for closing the filled primary packaging (1), - an application station (7) for dispensing the sealed primary packaging (1), characterized by - a transport device (8) for linking the stations (8) 2-7) with a plurality of independently movable carriages (9), which carry the first packs (1), - by means of a carriage (9) movable transport container (20) for receiving the Erstverpackungen (1), wherein the transport container (20) be sterilized by a germ-tight closing device (16), - a sterilizing station (4) for sterilizing the transport container (20), including inserted therein ten, empty first packs (1).

Description

I. Field of application

The invention relates to a packaging machine for germ-free packaging.

II. Technical background

Such packaging machines for a germ-free packaging in Erstverpackungen product must ensure that both the Erstverpackung - for example, a syringe body, a bottle or a tube - as well as the product to be introduced into it - usually a liquid - either germ-free or prepared before packaging a germ-free Reach state, and bottled in this and germ-proof.

For the purposes of the present application, the term "germ-free" is understood to mean the degree of sterility desired by the respective user, and the term "sterilizing" is understood to mean the process for achieving this level of sterility.

Accordingly, the usually not germ-free first packaging produced after introduction into the packaging machine and optionally inserted into a transport container or an outer packaging in a sterilization and then - within the sterile room of the sterilization - filled the product in the sterilized primary packaging and this locked. Since this is usually done on separate successively arranged workstations, the sterile room that surrounds all these stations, relatively large dimensions, and above all it is penetrated by a large number of poorly accessible and complicated to be cleaned components, such as conveyors, ducts in the form of cables and hoses, joints, passports etc.

Since a sterile room never remains permanently sterile, it must be repeatedly cleaned and re-sterilized at intervals.

The effort for this increases exponentially depending on how big the room is and how complicated the existing components are to be cleaned.

A typical case of a production process therefore looks like that the packaging machine is in continuous use for 72 hours and then a cleaning is required that takes at least a full shift.

III. Presentation of the invention

a) Technical task

It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose a packaging machine and a method for its operation, in which the space to be kept sterile is as small as possible and as easy to clean.

b) Solution of the task

This object is solved by the features of claims 1 and 8. Advantageous embodiments will be apparent from the dependent claims.

What is new about the procedure according to the invention is that preferably only the interior of the transport containers, at best even the smallest possible space around the transport containers, is kept sterile from the first sterilization until the completion of the filling of the filled primary packaging.

Especially if only the interior of the transport container is kept sterile inside the transport container but after sterilization several steps, such as filling and closing must be performed, which usually take place at separate workstations, the transport container must be germ-tight closed and for performing these steps can be reopened for a limited period of time in a germ-proof environment produced there.

This can also be realized in a particularly simple manner by arranging the transport containers on carriages which can be moved independently of one another, for example along one or more guideways, and are not strictly linked to one another, since the transport containers can be shorter depending on the type of instantaneous processing step or longer, fast, slow, or not moving at all. Especially the sterilization may require more time than the cycle time of the other processing steps. In this case, the transport containers can be supplied to a plurality of sequential or parallel sterilizing stations, where they are then sterilized for more than one cycle time.

Buffering of the arriving transport containers before and / or behind the sterilization stations is also possible for this purpose.

The sterilization of the interior of the transport container - which are generally formed trough-shaped with closable top - is preferably carried out by tightly connecting to a Sterilization device, for example, a patch from above the trough-shaped transport container sterilization hood.

The germ-proof closure, for example a cover, of the transport container must be designed so that it can be opened after the tight connection of the sterilization device, for example the sterilization hood, and can also be closed again.

The sterility of the interior of the closed transport container can be facilitated by the interior of the transport container is kept under pressure.

The same applies to the other sterile steps to be performed, such as filling or closing the filled primary packaging:
Again, the sterilized and sealed transport container must first be connected germ-tight to the appropriate sterile held tool, and then only the cover of the transport container can be opened.

Also for this purpose, a corresponding tool, for example, filling tool, be arranged in a hood, after the dense placement on the still closed, sterile inside, transport container first the exterior of the cover and thus the inner of the hood are sterilized, so afterwards the Opened cover inside and the Erstverpackungen can be filled and finally the cover of the transport container is closed again before the hood of the filling tool lifts.

In the same way, it is also possible to proceed when closing in the closing station. Preferably, however, the filling and sealing is carried out in the same work station, preferably by the same tool.

If one of the tools which is to be sterile, for example the filling tool or the closing tool, is to be sterilized during the operation of the machine, these tools can be present redundantly, so that one is sterilized while the other is in use.

If the room kept sterile is to be not only the interior of the transport container, but a space containing the entire transport container, this space will usually not only have to contain the transport container, but also the carriage carrying it. If this carriage is movable along a guideway and / or a track body, this guideway and this track body.

Nevertheless, there is an advantage if then such a sterile-held space only in each case the short range of one or a few successive workstations comprises, as this sterile space to be kept is achieved, which is much smaller and contains much fewer components, as in the previously known aseptic filling plants.

In this case, on the one hand at the beginning and end, ie inlet and outlet, of the sterile space for the transport containers each have a lock whose contents can be sterilized to prevent the ingress of germs through the lock in the sterile room. In this case, the carriage with the transport container preferably passes over at the transition from the non-sterile to the sterile area and vice versa in each case a gap in the guideway and in particular in the guideway bearing track body, so arranged in the gap of the guideway or the track body a bulkhead of the sterile room can be, which can be completely closed until the carriage is retracted with the transport container across the gap in the example lock chamber from the non-sterile space.

If the first packages are plastic tubes made of a heat-sealable material or at least a heat-sealable coating, the plastic tubes are usually filled upside down, ie the closure, filled with the rear end open and then the rear end sealed. According to the invention, the sealing of the rear, upwardly projecting end of the filled plastic tubes by means of ultrasound, wherein in particular the anvil pressing on the sonotrode not only contains a sealing edge, but also a punching edge, which simultaneously trimmed the ultrasonically sealed seam.

The problematic, resulting waste is blown away by horizontally flowing compressed air to the side in a collecting container after the anvil and sonotrode have moved upwards away.

The packaging machine according to the invention for carrying out this procedure thus comprises a transport device for linking the workstations of this packaging machine with movable carriages carrying, for example, a transport container into which the open and to be filled primary packs are inserted in a defined position, and at least one sterilization station for sterilization the transport container, in particular together with the empty primary packaging inserted therein.

In addition, the tools of the other stations, which are to work sterile on the primary packaging, in particular the filling tool and the closing tool, must be equipped with a sterilization device which can be connected tightly to the transport containers, so that the filling and sealing can take place under sterile conditions ,

The transport container preferably has a germ-tight closing closure device, in particular on its upper side, which is designed in particular such that it does not hinder the placement of the sterilization device in the opened state and can be opened and closed in particular when the sterilization device is attached.

This can be a fold-up or even into the transport container hineinbewegbarer, for example, segmented, lid, or even a completely removable lid.

In order to reduce the possibility of contamination, the moving components of the transport container, in particular its cover, can be moved without contact from the outside, ie from the carriage or the tool acting on the transport container, for example by means of magnetic force.

In order to maintain the sterility in the interior of the transport container as safe and long as possible, the interior of the transport container can be kept under an overpressure, possibly even under a negative pressure.

Above all, an overpressure can be generated either by closing the transport container by means of a movable into the transport container in dense membrane, or by the transport container is acted upon by the carriage with pressure, but preferably not by pumped and purified ambient air, but by pumping a germ-free Inertgases, which is stored in a pressure vessel as an overpressure source in the carriage.

Both the sterilization station and the sterile working tools preferably have a hood which can be placed on the transport containers in a manner that is shaped and dimensioned in cooperation with the transport container such that the closing device of the transport container only after the hood has been sealed and sterilizes the outside of this closing device the closure device is opened and the interior of the transport container for processing by the tool - for example, the filling tool or closing tool - is accessible.

In order to keep the sterilization effort low, the filling tool additionally contains a closing tool for the filled primary packaging, so that both working steps can be carried out together in one and the same working position and in the same sterilized room.

If not only the interior of the transport container is kept germ-free, but at the corresponding workstations, the space around the entire transport container around, has the guideways having web body of the transport device on a gap at the transition between the non-sterile and the sterile space in which a is tightly closable sterile bulkhead, which is only opened to pass a carriage with a transport container.

Although the space around the transport container around is kept sterile, a sterilizable lock is usually necessary at the inlet and outlet in the sterile room.

c) embodiments

Embodiments according to the invention are described in more detail below by way of example. Show it:

1a , b, c: the transport container in different versions,

2 : a filling line from above in a first version,

3 : A bottling line in side view in a second version, and

4 : the detailed representation of a sterile lock.

The 1c shows first the trough-shaped transport container 20 in a sectional view, which has four peripheral, drawn up to about the same height side walls and in the already to be filled first packaging, here in the form of bottles 1 , are used.

So that the bottles 1 at predetermined positions in the transport container 20 can be used, in these - if possible form-fitting - a raster grid 27 used, which fits exactly to insert the bottles 1 having. In defined positions next to the bottles 1 already can the caps 22 for later closing the bottles 1 be stored. The open top of the transport container 20 can germ-proof by means of a closing device 16 in this case in the form of a one- or multi-part, for example, articulated on the transport container 20 attached, container lid 23 be closed.

The transport containers 20 sit - usually positioned positively - on each slide 9 a transport device 8th , along the guide track 18a a railway body 18 can be moved through the machine.

The 1a and b - for already inserted bottles 1 in the transport container 20 - One also germ-tight on the transport container 20 attachable hood 13 which may be differently equipped inside, but in both cases serves the purpose of that the inside of the hood 13 and transport containers 20 included a sterile room inside 19 can be, at least if the connection between the two subspaces of hood 13 and transport containers 20 is open, such as in 1a shown in the left half and in the hood 13 a sterilizer is present.

Because both the hood 13 is at its open bottom by means of a one or more parts, preferably hinged to the hood 13 attached hood lid 24 germ-proof sealable as well as the transport container 20 by means of the mentioned container lid 23 as a closing device 16 ,

The two lids 23 . 24 are positionable so in the open state that you are editing the in the transport container 20 standing bottles 1 , So for example, their filling or closing, not hinder.

In 1a is inside the hood 13 a filling head 14 arranged, each with a filler neck over each of the bottles 1 which are in the filling position and which are up to the bottles 1 can be lowered down.

Inside the hood 13 are also two sterilizing devices 25 arranged, which are capable of the interior of the hood 13 and optionally the connected transport container 20 to sterilize and thus to a sterile room 19 close.

• – Der mit leeren, unsterilen Flaschen 1 bestückte Transportbehälter 20 fährt in die in 1a dargestellte Füllposition und spätestens dort wird der Behälter-Deckel 23 geöffnet, wenn er nicht schon offen war,
• – die Haube 13 wird auf den Transportbehälter 20 abgesenkt und keimdicht mit ihm verbunden,
• – sofern die Haube 13 einen Haubendeckel 24 besitzt, wird dieser spätestens nun geöffnet,
• – die Sterilisiervorrichtung 25 der Haube 13 wird in Gang gesetzt und der gemeinsame Innenraum 19 von Haube 13 und Transportbehälter 20 sterilisiert, und damit auch die leeren, offenen Flaschen 1 sterilisiert,
• – der Füllkopf 14 wird vorzugsweise auf die Flaschen 1 abgesenkt und die Flaschen 1 gefüllt.

In this embodiment of the hood 13 It is thus possible to proceed as follows:

• - The one with empty, unsterile bottles 1 equipped transport containers 20 goes to the in 1a shown filling position and at the latest there is the container lid 23 opened, if he was not already open,
• - the hood 13 gets on the transport container 20 lowered and germ-tightly connected to it,
• - provided the hood 13 a hood cover 24 this is opened at the latest,
• - The sterilizer 25 the hood 13 is set in motion and the common interior 19 from hood 13 and transport containers 20 sterilized, and thus the empty, open bottles 1 sterilized,
• - the filling head 14 is preferably on the bottles 1 lowered and the bottles 1 filled.

Now the container lid 23 of the transport container 20 closed - possibly after closing the bottles 1 by screwing on the caps 22 also in this state - before the hood 13 is lifted so that the transport container 20 Thereafter maintaining the sterility in its interior in the capping station 6 or another necessary workstation continues, as in 1e shown.

So that in the sterilized and sealed interior of the transport container 20 an overpressure can be generated, which further complicates the entry of germs, without air sterilized and inside the transport container 20 must be placed on the inside of the transport container 20 a tightly connected to this overpressure membrane 26 be arranged after closing the lid 23 from the outside pressurized, so inflated, and in this way inside the closed transport container 20 produces a persistent overpressure for some time.

During the time of waiting for the next transport container 20 can the hood lid 24 the hood 13 be closed, if it exists at all, and in this state again a sterilization of the interior of the hood 13 be performed.

In 1b owns the hood 13 However, no own hood cover, so after lifting from the transport container 20 not sterilized separately, but after the germ-tight fitting of the hood 13 is by means of the sterilizers 25 sterilized, either before opening the container lid 23 or after, or both.

In contrast to 1a consists of the container lid 23 in 1b not from two articulated parts, but from two individual, from the transport container 20 Liftable container lids 23 , for example by means of a hood 13 arranged seized mechanics and lifted, and in an open position within the hood 13 can be spent.

The driving force to open the container lid 23 and / or the hood lid 24 is preferably from outside the hood 13 and / or the transport container 20 without mechanical Realized implementation through the walls through, for example by means of electromechanical forces or magnetic forces.

The 2 and 3 show now two possible solutions of a filling plant using this germ-tight sealable transport container 20 :

• – einer Zufuhrstation 2 für die Flaschen 1 und gegebenenfalls auch die Verschlusskappen 22,
• – einer Gruppierstation 3 zum richtigen Positionieren der Flaschen 1 in den Transportbehältern 20, die ihrerseits wieder in definierter Position auf den Schlitten 9 ruhen,
• – einer Sterilisierstation 4 zum Sterilisieren unter anderem der Flaschen 1 in den Transportbehältern 20,
• – einer Füllstation 5 zum Füllen der Flaschen 1,
• – einer Verschließstation 6 zum Verschließen, in diesem Fall dem Aufschrauben der Kappen 22 auf die gefüllten Flaschen 1 und
• – einer Austragstation 7 zum Entfernen der gefüllten und verschlossenen Flaschen 1 aus dem Transportbehälter 20, z. B. in eine Umverpackung 28.

In 3 If the bottling plant is in the direction of flow 10 separately arranged in succession machine stations, namely

• - a feed station 2 for the bottles 1 and optionally also the caps 22 .
• - a grouping station 3 for correct positioning of the bottles 1 in the transport containers 20 , in turn, in a defined position on the sled 9 rest,
• - a sterilization station 4 for sterilizing, among other things, the bottles 1 in the transport containers 20 .
• - a filling station 5 to fill the bottles 1 .
• - a closing station 6 for closing, in this case screwing on the caps 22 on the filled bottles 1 and
• - a discharge station 7 to remove the filled and sealed bottles 1 from the transport container 20 , z. B. in an outer packaging 28 ,

This extends below the Gruppierstation 3 to the discharge station 7 a transport device 8th one in the direction of transport 10 running railway body 18 has, on its top and bottom guideways 18a for the sledges running there 9 are present, each of which has a transport container 20 can wear in a defined position.

The first and last part of this railway body 18 in this case this is the part under the grouping station 3 as well as under the discharge station 7 , are about their longitudinal direction, the transport direction 10 , swiveling 180 °, allowing the top slide 9 to the underside of the track body 18 can be pivoted and from there along the lower guideway 18b back to the beginning of the transport device 8th can be moved, in the open state at a cleaning station 12 roughly from the bottom of liquid and solid residues can be cleaned.

The sledges 9 are individually and independently along the transport device movable with separate speed, independent holding times, also forward and reverse mobile, controlled by the control of the entire system.

It will be in the direction of passage 10 at the beginning of the filling line as a feed station 2 the bottles 1 upright, but mostly disorderly, on a z. B. conveyor belt 30 fed into the gripping area of a so-called picker 29 , So one on a in the horizontal plane as well as the height movable robot arm with a gripper, which - together with an optical recognition of the bottles - on the conveyor belt 30 is capable of the bottles 1 Remove from the conveyor belt and in the designated positions in the designated grid grid 27 , which fits for the respective application in the transport container 20 is inserted, put into it.

Also the removal of the container caps 22 on this grid on intended positions is possible in this way, which are supplied simultaneously with the bottles or separately elsewhere.

It goes without saying that for this purpose the corresponding slide 9 with the transport container 20 at a defined position within the grouping station 3 However, this applies to all workstations and is caused by the control of the plant.

The ones with bottles 1 equipped transport container 20 drive along the upper guideway 18a then continue to the sterilization station 4 ,

• – zwischen den einzelnen Arbeitsstationen längere Transportstrecken als eingezeichnet, insbesondere auch als Pufferstrecken für Schlitten 9 und damit Transportbehälter 20 vorgesehen werden können,
• – von den dargestellten Arbeitstationen der gleichen Art mehrere seriell hintereinander oder auch parallel nebeneinander vorhanden sein können, die allesamt von den Schlitten 9 über entsprechende Gestaltung der Transportvorrichtung 8 erreichbar sind.

The juxtaposed representation of the 3 should not obscure that, depending on the time required for the individual work processes

• - Longer transport distances between the individual workstations as shown, in particular as buffer lines for carriage 9 and thus transport containers 20 can be provided
• - Of the illustrated workstations of the same kind several serially in succession or parallel to each other may be present, all of the slide 9 via appropriate design of the transport device 8th are reachable.

In the sterilizer 4 become the used, still empty bottles 1 sterilized, preferably by a hood 13 , inside which the sterilizing device 25 is arranged and the like the picker 29 is attached to the overlying trusses of the machine frame, this time by means of a lifting linkage 31 on the transport container 20 be lowered germ-tight and then put into operation by means of the sterilizer 25 be sterilized.

Subsequently, the container lid 23 closed so that the inside of the transport container 20 remains sterile, and after lifting the hood 13 inside sterile transport containers 20 in the filling station 5 method.

Before lifting the hood 13 can also its hood lid 24 be closed in the hood 13 to maintain sterility.

In the filling station 5 will turn one on the transport container 20 germ-proof mountable hood 13 put on this, in contrast to the sterilization station 4 inside a filling head 14 with snorkelling for lowering in the bottles 1 and filling the bottles.

For this purpose, after the germ-proof placement of this hood 13 the container lid 23 opened, z. B. to the side within the hood 13 folded up and possibly on the hood 13 existing hood lid 24 also, so after putting on the hood and before opening the container lid 23 , open.

If this procedure is not sufficient to maintain sufficient sterility, then besides the filling head 14 also in this hood 13 one or more additional sterilizing devices may be present.

After filling and retracting the snorkel of the filling head 14 becomes the transport container 20 by closing the container lid 23 again sealed, so that the inside of the transport container 20 should continue to be germ-free, then the hood 13 lifted off to the top and the transport container 20 with the now filled, but still open bottles with germ-tight closed container lid 23 proceed to the closing station 6 :
The closing tool is there again in a lowerable, close to the transport container 20 attachable hood 13 arranged so that after putting on the hood 13 , in turn, through a hood cover 24 can be closed or opened, the container lid 23 is opened and the closing tool 15 the caps 22 grabs and on the bottles 1 germ-proof screwed on.

This completes the part of the filling process to be carried out under sterile conditions and after lifting off this hood 13 with the closing tool 15 can the transport container 20 continue to be moved to the discharge station 7 without leaving the container lid 23 to have to close again germ-proof.

Accordingly, in the discharge station 7 a gripping tool without germ-tight surrounding hood lowered onto the bottles 1 , take these and put them in groups, eg. B. in an outer packaging 28 , which is located in the working area of this gripping device and, for example, on a conveyor belt 30 can stand.

Once the transport container 20 that is on the top of the railway body 18 is empty, this section pivots the track body 18 about its longitudinal axis by 180 °, so that the slide 9 with the corresponding empty transport container 20 hanging down at the lower guideway 18b of the railway body 18 located.

From there, this transport container 20 along the lower guideway 18b hanging back to the beginning of the transport device and on the way to a cleaning station 12 in the downwardly open state by means of liquid or gas from in the transport container 20 remaining liquid or solid deposits cleaned.

At the beginning of the transport device 8th So in this case in the area of the grouping station 3 , arrived, swings the local section of the railway body 18 again by 180 ° with the transport container 20 upwards, which thus again to fill the empty bottles 1 is ready. Of course, there are enough sledges 9 with transport containers 20 at the same time in the plant on the way, that at the same time at all stations can be worked.

Around the interior of the transport container 20 at the required workstations after opening the container lid 23 To keep sterile or even to sterilize, instead of the germ-tight sealable container lid 23 also in the individual workstations or several workstations across, sterile rooms 19 be provided in the carriage 9 with the transport containers located thereon 20 and the primary packaging contained therein, ie bottles 1 , alternately in and out.

For this purpose must be at the entrance and exit of the sterile room 19 a sterile lock may be present in the transport container 20 with the sledge 9 into it and after closing the sterile lock 32 the interior of the sterile lock 32 including the transport container located therein 20 sterilized for this purpose, of course, must be open.

For this purpose, on both sides, ie at the entrance and exit, the sterile lock 32 a sterile bulkhead 17 provided - as in 4 shown - which is tightly closed, by itself as a sliding gate or flap in the closed state through a gap in the railway body 18 the transport device 8th but the gap on the other hand is so short that the sledges 9 can go over it.

For example, if the transport carriage 9 along the guideway 18a or b be moved by in the carriage 9 a drivable Pinion is mounted, which is the carriage 9 along one in the guideway 18d Moving the rack is moved along, so is the crossing of the gap 21 by two synchronously driven drive pinions 33 at the beginning and end of the sled 9 possible.

It goes without saying that this design due to the necessary locks 32 an extension of the bottling plant in the direction of flow 10 pulls.

2 shows - in the top view of the bottling plant - another design:
The transport device 8th , along the means of from the 1 known slide 9 the transport containers 20 with bottles in it 1 Moving from one workstation to the next begins in the grouping station 3 in which the on a z. B. conveyor belt 30 unordered standing delivered empty bottles 1 from a picker 29 in the defined positions within the transport containers 20 are used and preferably also the required caps 22 next to the bottles 1 be stored in it.

For reasons of clarity, the corresponding tools and robots are not shown in the other workstations.

The so equipped transport container 20 becomes in transport direction 10 moved on towards Sterilisierstation 4 , of which in this case two consecutively in the transport direction 10 are present since sterilization often requires a long cycle time.

For this purpose is between the grouping station 3 and the sterilization station 4 a buffer line 34 for intermediate buffering of transport containers 20 with bottles 1 intended.

Inside the sterilization stations 4 can the transport containers 20 with bottles inserted in it 1 either sterilized by means of tight fitting a hood 13 on the transport container 20 - As explained with reference to the remaining figures, in which case only the space within the hood 13 and the transport container 20 sterilized - or without putting on such a hood 13 by getting the entire transport container 20 including the sledge carrying it 9 and the underlying track body 18 the transport device 8th in this area within a sterile room 19 are located. Then, however, for the inlet and outlet as a rule, however, a sterile lock 32 necessary in 2 is not shown separately, but based on the 4 is explained in a possible design.

Also in the design according to 2 own the transport containers 20 a germ-tight sealable lid 23 Preventing sterilization in the sterilization stations 4 closed, so that afterwards on the transport device 8th further transported and optionally at another buffer line 34 cached transport containers 20 under the closed lid 23 the still empty and open bottles are kept germ-proof.

These transport containers 20 then drive to the filling station 5 where the bottles are filled and then into the capping station 6 where they are by barely screwing the caps 22 be closed.

Both must be done under sterile environmental conditions, such as. B. explained with reference to the other figures by germ-proof placement of a hood 13 within which then the filling and closing takes place, or again in which without putting a hood this filling and / or closing in a sterile room 19 takes place, which in turn the retraction and extension of the transport container 20 by means of a sterile lock 32 requires.

After the bottles 1 filled and sealed, sterile environmental conditions are no longer necessary, so in the discharge station 7 the groupwise discharge z. B. on a conveyor belt 30 without such measures is possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

First-time packaging, bottle

2

Supply station

3

Arraying station

4

Sterilization Station

5

Filling station

6

Occlusive station

7

Carry-out station

8th

transport device

9

carriage

10

Transport direction, passage direction

11

transversely

12

Cleaning Station

13

Hood

14

filling head

15

A closure

16

Closing device, cover

17

sterile Schott

18

roadbed

18a, b

guideway

19

sterile room

20

transport container

21

gap

22

cap

23

container lid

24

Haubendeckel

25

Sterilization

26

Overpressure membrane

27

grid grid

28

overpack

29

Picker

30

conveyor belt

31

lifting linkage

32

sterile lock

33

pinion

34

buffer zone

Claims (12)

Packaging machine for germ-free in primary packaging ( 1 ) product to be packaged, with - a supply station ( 2 ) for feeding the primary packaging ( 1 ), - a grouping station ( 3 ) for grouping the primary packaging ( 1 ), - a filling station ( 5 ) for filling the primary packaging ( 1 ), - a capping station ( 6 ) for closing the filled primary packaging ( 1 ), - an application station ( 7 ) for dispensing the sealed primary packaging ( 1 ), characterized by - a transport device ( 8th ) for linking the stations ( 2 - 7 ) with a plurality of independently movable carriages ( 9 ) containing the primary packaging ( 1 ), - by means of a carriage ( 9 ) movable transport containers ( 20 ) for receiving the primary packaging ( 1 ), the transport containers ( 20 ) by means of a germ-tight closing device ( 16 ) can be closed in a germ-proof manner, - a sterilization station ( 4 ) for sterilizing the transport containers ( 20 ), including empty, primary packaging inserted therein ( 1 ). Packaging machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the packaging machine has a cleaning station ( 12 ) for removing solid or liquid deposits in the transport containers ( 20 ). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the sheet body ( 18 ) Comprises sections that are displaceable, in particular around the course direction ( 10 ) are rotatable, and the railway body ( 18 ) a guide track ( 18a , b) both on the top and on the bottom, and / or - the cleaning station ( 12 ) below the track body ( 18 ) and the on the carriage ( 9 ) of the lower guideway ( 18a , b) hanging transport containers ( 20 ) getting cleaned. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the sterilization station ( 4 ) a sterilizing device ( 25 ) close to the transport container ( 20 ), in particular as a hood ( 13 ) is formed and on the trough-shaped transport container ( 20 ) tightly seated, - the filling head ( 14 ) a closing tool ( 15 ) for closing the primary packaging ( 1 ). Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the packaging machine several successive or parallel juxtaposed sterilization stations ( 4 ), and / or - the transport containers ( 20 ) the germ-tight closing device ( 16 ) on its upper side, which in particular is designed such that in the opened state the placement of a sterilizing device ( 25 ) and / or - the carriages ( 9 ) along the guide path of a railway body ( 18 ) are movable. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - Sterilization station ( 4 ), Filling station ( 5 ) and capping station ( 6 ) a common sterile room ( 19 ) provided by the transport containers ( 20 ) and the carriage carrying them ( 9 ) and in particular the railway body ( 18 ) at the entrance and exit into the sterile room a gap ( 21 ) provided by the carriages ( 9 ), and a sterile bulkhead ( 17 ), which is in the gap ( 21 ), and / or - the carriage ( 9 ) has an overpressure source and / or a vacuum source and thus the transport container carried by him ( 20 ) is maintained under overpressure or underpressure, and in particular the overpressure source is a pressure vessel with an inert gas together with a pump. Packaging machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the transport container ( 20 ) as a closing device a fold-up, in particular segmented, lid ( 16 ) and / or a completely removable lid ( 16 ), and / or - the moving components of the transport container ( 20 ), in particular its lid ( 16 ), contactless, in particular by magnetic force, from outside the transport container ( 20 ), in particular caused by the carriage ( 9 ) or on the transport container ( 20 ) acting tool, are triggered. Process for the germ-free filling of a product into a primary packaging, comprising the following steps: - supplying the primary packaging ( 1 ), - insertion of the primary packaging ( 1 ) in transport containers ( 20 ) - Sterilizing the primary packaging ( 1 ) in the transport container ( 20 ), - filling the primary packaging ( 1 ) with the product, - closing the filled primary packaging ( 1 ), - delivering the filled and sealed primary packaging ( 1 ), where - the transport containers ( 20 ) independently of each other with the help of a carriage ( 9 ), characterized in that - the primary packaging ( 1 ) are kept sterile from sterilization to capping by - the transport containers ( 20 ) with the sterilized primary packaging ( 1 ) are closed in a germ-proof manner and - for filling and closing the primary packaging ( 1 ) are reopened in a germ-proof environment for a limited time. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that - the transport containers ( 20 ) are sterilized by tightly connecting to a sterilizing device, and / or - the filling and sealing is carried out in the same workstation. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that - the sterilization in several sterilization stations ( 4 ) takes place simultaneously and in particular before the sterilization stations ( 4 ) the incoming transport containers ( 20 ) and / or between the sterilization stations ( 4 ) and the subsequent workstation, in particular the filling station ( 5 ), the transport containers ( 20 ), and / or the carriages ( 9 ) along one or more guideways ( 18a , b). Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that - the sterilized, closed transport containers ( 20 ) are kept under pressure, and / or - the filling head ( 14 ) and / or the closing tool ( 15 ) is sterilized during operation of the machine, in particular by having these tools redundantly so that one is sterilized while the other is working. Method according to one of the preceding method claims, characterized in that - in plastic tubes as primary packaging ( 1 ) the filled tubes are closed by means of ultrasonic sealing and simultaneously punched out with the ultrasonic sealing protruding areas, and / or - the ultrasonic sealing and / or ultrasonic punching upright tube with the seal seam is done up, and the separated tube waste by means of compressed air is transported horizontally to the side in a collecting container.

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