AU727925B2

AU727925B2 - A continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant

Info

Publication number: AU727925B2
Application number: AU71878/96A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Leo Bonetti; Camillo Catelli
Original assignee: Tetra Pak Plastics Ltd
Current assignee: Tetra Pak Plastics Ltd
Priority date: 1995-08-11
Filing date: 1996-11-20
Publication date: 2001-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-20
Also published as: DE69622800D1; AU7187896A; EP0758624A1; ITMO950120A1; ES2180724T3; DE69622800T2; EP0758624B1; ATE221855T1; JPH10157797A; ITMO950120A0; IT1279846B1

Abstract

The bottling plant of the invention comprises a bottle (3) feed line and a plurality of operative groups (10, 20, 30, 40) each of which is provided with mobile organs which on command act on the bottles (3) transiting on the feed line. Each operative group is provided with a motor for commanding the mobile organs, and comprises a sterile chamber (10a, 20a, 30a, 40a) which is crossed by the bottles (3) and which has walls (4), which is kept slightly pressurized and which constitutes a sterile zone containing part of a relative operative group. At least one wall (4a, 4b) of each sterile chamber sealedly separates the relative sterile zone from the motors for moving the bottles and from the means for commanding the mobile organs of the relative operative group. <IMAGE>

Description

S F Ref: 359151

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name and Address of Applicant: Roest Catelli S.P.A.

Via Traversetelo, 2/A I 43100 Parma Q~cAc~~CLry Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Camillo Catelli and Leo Bonetti Spruson Ferguson, Patent Attorneys Level 33 St Martins Tower, 31 Market Street Sydney, New South Wales, 2000, Australia A Continuous-Cycle Sterile Bottling Plant The following statement is a best method of performing it full description known to me/us:of this invention, Including the 5845 2 A Continuous-Cycle Sterile Bottling Plant BACKGROUND of the INVENTION.

The invention relates to a continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant.

The plant in question is mainly used with plastic bottles, with special reference to'bot'tles made in PET (polyethylene terephthalate).

This kind of plant is already known, and comprises operative groups acting on bottles transiting along a feed line. In general these plants are provided with a number of successive operative groups, including a sterilizing group, a washing group, a filler group and a capping group.

To guarantee sterile functioning conditions, the whole plant is located in a slightly pressurized atmosphere, in which operators follow and check the operativity of the plant. Obviously the operators wear special garb to prevent contamination of the sterile environment.

At each plant start-up, the environment, or chamber, housing the plant has to be sterilized carefully, while the bottling plant itself has to •be completely and scrupulously sterilized both ooooo: internally and externally. The external parts are cleaned with sterilizing fluids while the internal .i 3 parts are subject to a mock functioning cycle during which sterilizing fluid instead of product is circulated.

As during a normal plant cycle the filler group heads are opened by the bottle necks and mouths, in order to complete this mock cycle dummy bottles are used, whose function is to open the filler heads. The dummy bottles are loaded by hand by one or more operators; this operation therefore involves considerable preparation time as there is a considerable number of dummy bottles to be loaded.

The main drawbacks exhibited by known-type plants are represented, apart from the obvious irritation of the operators at having to wear overalls, by the complexity and lengthiness of the sterilizing "operations at machine start-up, and the difficulty and expense incurred at having to keep the ooooo ~environment (of considerable size) containing the plant in conditions of sterility.

Owing to these difficulties, in known-type plants, in order not to introduce polluting elements which would compromise in a very short time the sterility of the environment, it is necessary to introduce completely sterile bottles, both inside o. o and outside, into the sterile chamber.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.

Summary of the Invention There is firstly disclosed herein a continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant, comprising: a plurality of specific function groups, each of which is provided with selectively :i "operable devices for performing its specific function on bottles and a motor for activating S" 10o said operable devices; a feed line of bottles passing through each of said plurality of specific function groups; each of said plurality of specific function groups including a wall structure defining a sterile chamber; means for maintaining each of said sterile chambers slightly pressurized; and each of said sterile chambers containing at least a portion of the selectively operable devices for one of said specific functions; each of said sterile chambers including an independent inlet of sterile fluid and a closable outlet to the environment, the closable outlet of the chamber most upstream with respect to said bottle feed line being normally open during operations, the closable outlets of the remaining chambers being normally closed during operations; and each of said wall structures separating its respective sterile zone from its respective motor.

The present invention at least in a preferred embodiment provides a sterile bottling plant which is rapidly and easily sterilisable and which can be kept sterile in a sure but relatively simple and economical way.

The invention, preferably relieves operators of the need to wear protective garb.

The invention further preferably provides that non-sterile bottles can be used and can be stocked, prior to use, in normal ways.

The invention, yet further preferably provides a sterilising method for the bottle filler group which is both simple and economical, as well as a filler group for using with said method.

Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 shows a schematic plan view of the plant of an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a schematic side view of Figure 1; Figure 3 is shows a detailed view of the filler group of Figure 2 in enlarged scale; and .o sale Figure 4 shows a detailed view of the capping group of Figure 2 in enlarged 10 scale.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety a continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant comprising a feed line 2 of bottles 3. The bottles 3 are fed one after another to a plurality of operative groups 10, 20, 30, 40, each of which is provided with commandable mobile organs, for oo* o [R:ALIBLL] 10131 .doc:KEH 6 acting on the transiting bottles 3. Further, each operative group is provided with motorization for moving the bottles 3 as well as means for commanding the movement of the mobile organs. In the example the plant 1 comprises a sterilizing group 10, a washing group 20, a filler group and a capping group 40. The motors, of known type, for each group are indicated by 5, 6, 7 and 8. Two tilting devices 6' are provided for tilting the bottles 3. The mobile organs of the various groups are also of known type and are denoted by 11, 21, 29 and 44. 11 denotes a vertical pipe for the passage of the sterilizing liquid and 21 denotes a further vertical pipe for the passage of the washing fluid. Each pipe 11 and 21 is vertically slidable with respect to a respective hub 12 and 22 with a sterile barrier. Each pipe 11 and 21 superiorly bears a nozzle which can be inserted ooooo into a bottle, and through which the relative sterilizing or washing fluid is injected thereinto by spraying.

Each operative group comprises a respective •sterile chamber 10a, 20a, 30a, 40a which is .ooo.i crossed by the bottles 3. Each sterile chamber is enclosed by walls 4 and is kept slightly oo pressurized, and constitutes a sterile zone containing part of the relative operative group.

At least one wall 4a of the walls 4 of each sterile chamber sealedly separates a relative sterile zone from the motor for the movement of the bottles 3 as well as the means'for' commanding the movement of the bottles 3 and the means for commanding the mobile organs of the relative operative group. The motor and the means for commanding are thus outside the sterile zone. The various sterile chambers for each operative group are interconnected. The sterile chamber 10a of the sterilizing group 10 is kept at a slightly lower pressure than the sterile chambers of the other operative groups. An aperture 13 is provided for placing the sterile chamber 10a for sterilizing in ~communication with the external atmosphere.

The various chambers are each provided with an ooooo independent inlet of sterile fluid which keeps the relative chamber sterile and above normal pressure. Each chamber is further provided with an outlet towards the outside environment, normally closed; these outlets are not indicated in the figures, but thanks to the structure of the plant can easily be made and located.

Further, for reasons that will become clear, the aperture 13 can be incepted in case of necessity.

The filler group 30 is rotary and comprises an entrance 31 and an exit 32 for the bottles 3. The filler group 30 is provided with a vertical-axis rotating shaft 25 which rotates a plurality of support organs 33, each of which transports, at each rotation, a bottle 3 from the entrance 31 to the exit 32. Each support organ 33 is vertically mobile on command. A filler head 34 is associated to each support organ 33, which filler head 34 is connected to means for dispensing the product destined to fill the bottles 3. The means for dispensing comprise a plurality of product dispensing pipes 35. Each filler head 34 opens, dispensing the product, by means of upwards pressure thereon. An annular cam 36 acts on the support organs 33, following a rotation of the oo oi latter, to command vertical displacements thereof.

The cam 36 acts by means of a plurality of vertical-axis shafts 29, one for each support .9 o9 organ 33, which slide vertically in a hub 28 with S• a sterile barrier. Each shaft 29 is superiorly emo solidly connected to a respective support organ 33 and is coupled inferiorly with the cam 36 by means 9 9 9 9 9* 9 of a wheel 27.

Means for positioning 37 are provided for positioning (on command) the cam 36 in a vertical direction. Further, fixed superiorly to each support organ 33 a contact element 39 is arranged such as to exert an upward pressure on the respective filler head 34 when contact is made there-between, which upward pressure is sufficient to cause the filler head 34 to open. The contact element 39 is preferably forked, and a bottle neck of a bottle to be filled is inserted into the fork. The means for positioning comprise one or more vertical-axis jacks 37 arranged below the cam 36 externally of the sterile zone 30a. Each jack 37 is provided with a vertical-axis rack and a command mechanism, not illustrated. The mechanism can be operated by hand using a gripping organ or crank 38. The upper end of the rack presses on the base of the cam 36 to be lifted. The cam 36 acts on the support organs 33 and consequently on the contact element 39 provided for interacting with the respective filler head 34, opening same.

some•: S• The capping group 40 comprises a vertical-axis central drive shaft 41 and a disc 42 which latter is fixed coaxially to the drive shaft 41 and is provided at a periphery thereof with means for sealing 43 with an upper wall 4b of the relative sterile chamber 40a. The capping group comprises a plurality of rods 44 inferiorly provided with a chuck 45 for-capping a respective bottle 3. Each rod 44 is set in rot'ation by the drive shaft 41 and is mobile on command in a vertical direction passing sealedly through a respective hub 48 with sterile barrier solidly mounted on the disc 42. The capping group 40 is further provided with a cap feed line 46 along which the caps 47 undergo a sterilization operation.

To sterilize the filler group 30, when it is restarted after a pause, the following procedure is observed. The filler heads 34 are supplied with 0 a sterilization fluid. The cam 36 is lifted in order to raise the relative support organs 33 and, e*sos.

consequently, the contact elements 39 which latter exert an upwards pressure against the filler heads s*e: e 34 which is sufficient to open the filler heads 000 34. The group is operated in this manner for the length of time necessary for sterilizing the "dispensing pipes 35 through which during normal 25 functioning the product to be bottled passes. The o

SO

11 sterilization fluid flows into the chamber 30a and is collected at the bottom thereof. If necessary more than one sterilization and washing liquid can be dispensed. During the course of normal functioning of the filler group 30 the jacks 37 are brought into a lowered position so.that the contact elements 39 do not interact with the filler heads 34.

The operators stay out of the sterile zones and can thus gain easy access to the motor and the mobile organs of the plant without having to don protective garb.

Thanks to the fact that the sterile chamber 10a of the sterilizing group is kept at a slightly lower 15 temperature with respect to the other sterile chambers, the eventuality of passage of gas into the other chambers can be precluded. This prevents the sterilization fluids injected into the sterile S"chamber 10a from spreading into the adjacent chambers.

During normal fucntioning, the fluid keeping the various chambers sterile flows in a contrary direction to the advancement direction of the bottles, towards the outlet 13.

Should it for any reason become necessary to

I

intervene inside one of the chambers, the outlet 13 is closed, supply of sterile fluid to the adjacent chambers (to the one being operated in) is increased, and the chamber to be operated in is opened so as to enable an external operator to work inside. In this way the steril'ity of the other chambers is compromised.

When the work operation is over, the chamber is reclosed and its outlet to the outside environment is opened, so that the sterile fluid entering all of the chambers through the previously-opened chamber is reclosed and exits from the relative aperture. This functioning is kept up until conditions of sterility have been re-established ooooo: 15 in the chamber in which work has been carried out.

In general, given the relatively modest volume of the chambers, this phase will be very brief. It is obvious, then, that this plant offers considerable advantages with respect to the "sterile chamber" mmm i in which operations of the above-described type are very much longer and more complex.

.i.

Claims

1. A continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant, comprising: a plurality of specific function groups, each of which is provided with selectively operable devices for performing its specific function on bottles and a motor for activating said operable devices; a feed line of bottles passing through each of said plurality of specific function groups; each of said plurality of specific function groups including a wall structure defining a sterile chamber; means for maintaining each of said sterile chambers slightly pressurized; and each of said sterile chambers containing at least a portion of the selectively operable devices for one of said specific functions; each of said sterile chambers including an independent inlet of sterile fluid and a closable outlet to the environment, the closable outlet of the chamber most upstream with respect to said bottle feed line being normally open during operations, the closable outlets s15 of the remaining chambers being normally closed during operations; and each of said wall structures separating its respective sterile zone from its respective motor.

2. A plant as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said specific function groups comprises a group for sterilising bottles, the sterile chamber of said group for sterilising bottles being maintained at a slightly lower pressure than said sterile chambers for other specific function groups.

3. A plant as defined in claim 2, wherein one of said specific function groups is a filler group comprising: dispensing means for carrying a product destined to fill said bottles; 25 a plurality of bottle support devices selectively moveable vertically; a filler head connected to said dispensing means and disposed above each of said support devices; said filler head being opened for dispensing said product in response to an upwardly-directed force thereon; cam means for urging said support devices vertically; a filler head actuating element disposed on each of said support devices and configured to exert an upwardly-directed force on a respective filler head sufficient to cause opening thereof and means for positioning on command said cam in a vertical direction. ~I [R:\LIBLL]1013 I.doc:KEH L

4. A plant as defined in claim 3, wherein said filler head actuating element is fork-shaped and adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle to be filled.

A plant as defined in claim 3, wherein said means for positioning comprise at least one lifter responsive to said cam means.

6. A plant as defined in claim 5, wherein said filler head actuating element is fork-shaped and adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle to be filled.

7. A plant as defined in claim 1, wherein one of said specific function groups is a filler group comprising: dispensing means for carrying a product destined to fill said bottles; a plurality of bottle support devices selectively moveable vertically; a filler head connected to said dispensing means and disposed above each of said support devices; said S. filler head being opened for dispensing said product in response to an upwardly-directed force thereon; cam means for urging said support devices vertically; a filler head actuating element disposed on each of said support devices and oow configured to exert an upwardly-directed force on a respective filler head sufficient to cause opening thereof and means for positioning on command said cam in a vertical direction.

8. A plant as defined in claim 7, wherein said filler head actuating element 20 is fork-shaped and adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle to be filled.

9. A plant as defined in claim 7, wherein said means for positioning comprise at least one lifter responsive to said cam means.

A plant as defined in claim 9, wherein said filler head actuating element is fork-shaped and adapted to receive the mouth of a bottle to be filled.

11. A plant as in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein one of said special function groups is a capping group comprising:' a central vertical-axis drive shaft; a disc fixed coaxially to said drive shaft; and sealing means disposed between the periphery of said disc and said wall structure of said capping group; a plurality of hubs, each having with a sterile barrier, mounted solidly to said disc; a plurality of rods each being provided, at its lower end, with a chuck for capping a bottle and which is rotated in response to rotation of said drive shaft; each of said NUS [R:IBLL) 1013 I.doc:KEH plurality of rods being selectively moveable in a vertical direction through one of said hubs.

12. A continuous-cycle sterile bottling plant, substantially as herein described with reference to any one of the embodiments of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Dated 12 October, 2000 Tetra Pak Plastics Limited Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON FERGUSON [R:\LIBLL]1013 .doc:KEH