EP1067089B1 - Method for transferring aseptic products between two enclosures and transport container for implementing the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The system uses a cubical transport container (10) with a sterile interior. There are one or more projecting fittings (16) on one or more faces of the cube. They are each closed by a stopper (24). A flexible hose (26) is fitted into the neck of a bag (28) on the inside of the fitting, and has a control valve (30) and a telescopic part (32) adjacent to the lid. The projection fitting may engage a socket (44) containing a transparent tube (52) surrounded by e.g. UV (Ultraviolet Radiation) lamps to kill microorganisms. The socket is attached to a sterile enclosure (43), and has a removable plug (42). After the two enclosures have been coupled together, the UV lamps ore used to sterilize the interior of the connecting tube, the stoppers can be removed, and the transfer hose may be used.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a transfer method aseptic products between two enclosures such that a production enclosure and an enclosure of use of these products.

The term "aseptic products" means here, as in the rest of the text, any type of sterile or quality products microbiological that we do not want to degrade by a external contamination, whatever their state (liquid, gaseous, solid, powder, etc.) and what whatever their nature (food products, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, packaging components, etc.).

The invention also relates to a container for transport of aseptic products, designed to implements such a transfer process.

State of the art

In a number of industries, such that the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, etc., the places of production and consumption of products are located on sites distinct, sometimes very distant from each other.

Thus and only by way of example, the places of production and consumption of juice fruits are frequently found on continents different. The technique usually used for such products is to pasteurize these products on their production sites, to condition them in large transport containers, then to bring them to their places of consumption so to repackage them in small packaging size suitable for sale. Given the conditions precarious in which transfers are made products both at the place of production and at the place of consumption, we are generally called to carry out a second pasteurization of these products before repackaging them. This results in a loss of taste and therefore of quality for the product finally put on sale.

To transport products between the place of production and the place of consumption, most often uses containers with a unique interface for both filling and filling emptying. However, some containers have two separate accesses assigned respectively to filling and emptying.

Most often, transport containers have flexible walls and they are placed in rigid boxes when filling and transport. There are also some containers including semi-rigid walls have resistance mechanical enough that they don't need to be placed in crates.

In the case of transport containers equipped with a single interface serving both filling and emptying, some solutions have were proposed in order to preserve the quality microbiological of the products transported, during transfers made to the places of production and of use of these products.

A first solution, proposed by the company TETRA PAK (Registered trademark) under the name "Tetra StarAsept "(registered trademark), consists in equipping a flexible pocket container with a rigid sleeve delimiting an access opening. The rigid sleeve is linked to a wall of the container and normally closed by a plug carried by the wall opposite this same container. To fill, the sleeve is approached on an opening made in a production enclosure and initially closed by a plug. The intermediate volume between the two caps is sterilized by a flow of steam. We open then the two plugs so as to fill the container. New steam sterilization of the next to the top of the container, before it closes.

After transporting the container to the place use of the product, similar operations allow the product to be drained in an enclosure adapted use.

In such a device, as illustrated by document EP-A-0 685 398, the seal between the container cap and the sleeve is obtained by a O-ring seal. The decontamination of this attached during sterilization is random. This phenomenon is accentuated by a risk of fouling of the joined by the transferred product (for example, the pulp fruit juice), which can even lead to loss sealing. Since the product to be transferred passes twice through this area in which the decontamination is questionable, it is not possible to guarantee that there is no degradation of the product between the place of production and place of use.

ASTEPO offers an installation of aseptic filling using a principle similar to the device proposed by the company TETRA PAK. This installation has the same disadvantages as the previous.

Statement of the invention

The subject of the invention is precisely a process for transferring aseptic products between two enclosures, whose original design allows it practically avoid any deterioration in quality microbiological products, using a container particularly simple and inexpensive transport Disposable.

• on raccorde l'interface et l'enceinte correspondantes, de façon étanche ;
• on stérilise un volume clos délimité entre la porte et l'obturateur correspondants ;
• on ouvre la porte et l'obturateur correspondants ;
• on raccorde sur l'enceinte correspondante un flexible initialement fermé, interne au conteneur et relié à celui-ci de façon étanche autour de l'obturateur correspondant ; et
• on ouvre ledit flexible ;

et caractérisé en ce que, après avoir effectué le premier transfert, on referme le flexible associé à l'interface de remplissage.In accordance with the invention, this result is obtained by a process for transferring aseptic products between a first enclosure and a second enclosure, both equipped with a normally closed door, according to which a first transfer of the products of the first enclosure in a sterile container, by a filling interface thereof, provided with a shutter, the container is transported to the second enclosure, and a second transfer of the products from the container to the second enclosure is carried out, by a container emptying interface, provided with a shutter, process characterized in that, before carrying out each of the first and second transfers:

• the interface and the corresponding enclosure are connected in a sealed manner;
• a closed volume demarcated between the door and the corresponding shutter is sterilized;
• the corresponding door and shutter are opened;
• an initially closed hose, internal to the container and connected to the latter in a sealed manner around the corresponding shutter, is connected to the corresponding enclosure; and
• said hose is opened;

and characterized in that, after having carried out the first transfer, the hose associated with the filling interface is closed.

Here as in the rest of the text, the term "flexible" should be taken in its broadest sense, as designating any pipe, conduit, sleeve, etc., flexible or articulated, capable of being folded up inside the container during transport and to be deployed in the enclosure to allow the passage of the products to be transferred, without them being in contact with the sealed connection area of the container and enclosure.

Thanks to the presence of two access interfaces the transport container is emptied by a different interface from the one used for its filling. Furthermore, since each of the interfaces has a flexible through which products are transferred, these products are never in contact with decontaminated walls during sterilization closed volume. Thanks to these combined features, any degradation, by external contamination, of the microbiological quality of the transferred products becomes practically impossible. In the case of products food, a new pasteurization on the spot of use is therefore no longer necessary, which leads to a significant improvement in quality taste of these products. In addition, in the case of transfer of aseptic components, we avoid new decontamination which is generally difficult and expensive.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each of the airlock enclosures provided with sterilization means and normally separated from the interior of the enclosure by the corresponding door, and we connect the interface corresponding of the container on this airlock, to delimit the enclosed volume inside of it.

In this case, the sterilizer is advantageously sterilized. closed volume by implementing means of pulsed light sterilization, placed around a transparent tube defining this closed volume.

In order to improve the efficiency of the sterilization, preferably using shutters with the side facing the outside of the container is reflective.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, each airlock is advantageously connected to the corresponding enclosure via a sealed transfer device with double door materializing the corresponding door.

Furthermore, preferably, tear-away shutters, which can be cut from the interior of the corresponding enclosure, after having opened the door of this enclosure.

The subject of the invention is also a container for transporting aseptic products between a first enclosure and a second enclosure, this container comprising a filling interface and a drain interface, both comprising a opening normally closed by a shutter, characterized in that each of the interfaces of filling and emptying additionally includes a hose initially closed, tightly connected to the corresponding opening, inside the container, the filling interface hose being suitable for be closed after opening.

Advantageously, the flexible interface of the filling is provided with a valve means, allowing to close it after opening.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the container comprises a flexible wall in which the filling interface is integrated and the drain interface.

Each of the interfaces can then be delimited either by an elastic part of the wall, either by a semi-rigid part of the wall.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective, représentant schématiquement un conteneur de transport conforme à l'invention, avec arrachement partiel, ainsi que la partie attenante, en coupe, d'une enceinte de production sur laquelle peut être raccordée l'interface de remplissage du conteneur ; et
• les figures 2A à 2D sont des vues en coupe schématiques illustrant différentes étapes de mise en oeuvre du procédé de transfert selon l'invention, utilisant le conteneur de la figure 1.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view, schematically showing a transport container according to the invention, with partial cutaway, as well as the adjoining part, in section, of a production enclosure to which the filling interface can be connected container; and
• FIGS. 2A to 2D are schematic sectional views illustrating different stages of implementation of the transfer method according to the invention, using the container of FIG. 1.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In FIG. 1, the reference 10 designates generally a sterile transport container according to the invention. The dimensions and shape of this container 10 can be any and depend essentially the intended application, in particular the nature of the aseptic products that one desires to transfer. The cubic shape illustrated in Figure 1 is therefore only given as an example and should not be seen as limiting the scope of the invention.

The container 10 comprises a sealed wall 12, internally delimiting a closed volume 14. Nature and the characteristics of the material constituting the wall 12 can be any. In the mode of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the wall 12 is a flexible wall. In this case, the container 10 must be placed inside a rigid box (not shown) when filling and transport.

According to the invention, the container 10 is equipped with two access ports constituted by a filling interface 16 and a drainage interface 18. The filling interface 16 is preferably placed on an upper face of the wall 12 of the container 10. The drain interface 16 can be placed at the bottom of a lateral face of the wall 12, as illustrated in Figure 1, or on the face top of this wall, next to the interface of filling 16. In the first case, emptying the container is made by gravity, while the second case concerns a container whose emptying is done by pumping (in the case of a liquid or powder product).

For the most part, the interfaces of filling 16 and drain 18 have identical characteristics. Therefore, except contrary indication, the description which will be made applies equally to either these interfaces.

So each of interfaces 16 and 18 includes an opening 20, generally shaped circular, delimited by a part 22, elastic or semi-rigid, from the wall 12 of the container. The opening 20 is normally closed by a shutter 24 produced in a material capable of being torn or cut, as we will see later. When the shutters 24 are intact they close the openings 20 tightly.

In the embodiment using the decontamination by pulsed light, each of shutters 24 is coated with a reflective material, on its face facing the outside of the container 10.

Each of interfaces 16 and 18 includes also, inside the container 10, a flexible 26. This flexible hose 26 is tightly connected by a cuff 28, at part 22 of the flexible wall of the container, delimiting the opening 20. In its part located between the cuff 28 and the shutter 24, the flexible 26 includes sealing means 30, 30 ' closed when container 10 has not yet been used, as well as a possibly extendable part 32.

It should be noted that the sealing means 30 which equip the flexible 26 interface of filling 16 must be closed after they open. Therefore, these means shutter are advantageously constituted by valve means such as a valve integrated in the hose or a clamp that can be placed on a flexible part of the hose, to ensure the closing by elastic deformation or by welding.

On the other hand, the closing means 30 'which equip the drain interface 18 do not need to be closed after opening. So they can be constituted in the same way as the means shutter 30 of the filling interface 16, or simply by an initially closed end of the flexible, able to be cut or perforated.

The assembly formed here by the flexible 26 and by cuff 28 can take very forms different from those shown in the figure 1, depending on the type of product you want to transfer. So the small diameter hose illustrated in Figure 1, suitable for the transfer of fluid products, will be replaced by one more flexible large diameter in case the products to be transferred are solid products such as components packaging. In this case, the sleeve 28 can even be removed and the hose 26 connected directly to the part 22 of wall 12.

In Figure 1, there is also shown a part of a first enclosure 34, constituted by example by a product production enclosure at transfer, on which the container 10 can be connected by its filling interface 16.

In this part of the enclosure 34, its wall watertight 36 has a circular opening 38 delimited by a flange 40. The opening 38 is normally sealed by a door 42, so as to preserve the confinement of the closed volume 43 delimited inside the enclosure 34.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the figures, an airlock of sterilization 44 is mounted on the access port as well formed on the enclosure 34, outside of the latter.

More specifically, the airlock 44 comprises at one from its ends a flange 46 which delimits internally a circular opening 48, normally tightly closed by a door 50. The end opposite of airlock 44 is open and dimensioned in such a way so that part 22 of the fill interface 16 container 10 can be connected to it so waterproof. This can be obtained either by a deformation elastic of part 22, when it is elastic, either by an interlocking of this part on or in the corresponding end of the airlock 44, when it is semi-rigid.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the flanges 40 and 46 and the doors 40 and 52 form a device well known double door waterproof transfer technical specialists. In such a device, the connection of the flange 46 on the flange 40 and the connection of door 50 to door 42, are carried out simultaneously by systems with bayonet. Doors 42 and 50 then form a double door, can be opened from inside the enclosure 34. This device connection is also characterized by the use of annular seals 45, 47 of triangular section, which effectively protect them from contamination surfaces of openings 38 and 48.

The airlock 44 is internally delimited by a transparent tube 52, around which are regularly distributed lamps 54, materializing means of pulsed light sterilization. These lamps 54 are surrounded by a protective cover 56.

The assembly which has just been described constitutes an interface 57, by which products produced or stored in enclosure 34 can be transferred to inside the container 10, by its interface filling 16, without risk of contamination of these products.

As will be seen below, the process of transfer according to the invention also implements a second enclosure 58 (Figures 2C and 2D) called "enclosure This second enclosure 58 is equipped an interface 59 on which the drain interface 18 of container 10 can be connected, to ensure the transfer of products to the enclosure of use. The interface 59 equipping this latter enclosure 58 is, preferably identical or similar to interface 57 which equips the production enclosure 34. Consequently, no detailed description will be given and the comparable elements of the two interfaces 57 and 59 will be designated later by the same numbers reference.,

We will now describe, with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D, the transfer method according to the invention using container 10 of the figure 1, applied to the transfer of liquid products such as fruit juices.

When you wish to ensure such a transfer between a first enclosure 34 (FIG. 2A) and a second enclosure 58 (FIG. 2C) which can be very distant from each other and, for example, located on different continents, we sterilize one or more containers 10 in their original state, i.e. closed valves and closed shutters, protected by a waterproof packaging. This sterilization can in particular be made by gamma irradiation, using techniques known.

Furthermore, a sterilization airlock 44 is connected to the production enclosure 34 (FIG. 2A) and an identical sterilization airlock 44 is connected to the use enclosure 58 (FIG. 2C) as we have previously described with reference to Figure 1. On then sterilizes the interior volume 43 of the enclosure 34 and the interior volume 61 of the enclosure 58 and the internal components to these two volumes. It goes without saying that the operations concerning the production enclosure and the enclosure of use are carried out completely dissociated, especially when the distance between these pregnant is very important.

When you want to transfer aseptic products between chambers 34 and 58, the protective packaging of the container (s) 10 is open and the fill interface 16 of one of these containers is tightly connected to the open end of the airlock 44 fitted to the first enclosure 34 (Figure 2A). If the mechanical strength of the wall 12 of container 10 requires it, it is placed in a case 60.

The closed volume 62 is then sterilized then defined inside the airlock 44, between the shutter 24 the filling interface 16 and the double door 42, 50 separating the airlock 44 from the closed volume 43. For this purpose, the sterilization means are used materialized by the lamps 54 which equip the airlock 44. The reflecting external surface of the cover 24 improves the quality of sterilization of the closed volume 62.

When the closed volume 62 is sterilized, opens the double door materialized by doors 42 and 50, from inside the production enclosure 34. The handling means 64 are used for this purpose. that equip this enclosure.

Then, the operator opens the shutter 24, by tearing or cutting, from inside the production area 34.

As illustrated in Figure 2B, we proceed then at the connection of the end of the hose 26 on a system such as a tube 66, placed inside the first enclosure 34 and capable of delivering the product to to transfer. This connection is also made from inside the enclosure, using the handling means 64 which equip it. For make this connection, we extend the part extensible 32 from flexible 26.

When the connection is made, the operator opens the closing means 30 which equip the flexible 26, so as to introduce the product to be transferred, such as liquid L, into the container 10.

When this first transfer is complete, the operator closes the shutter means 30, then disconnect the hose 26 from the delivery tube 66 of the product.

The double door materialized by doors 42 and 50 is then replaced and part 22 of the interface 16 of the container 10 is disconnected from the open end of the airlock 44. Transporting the container 10 to the place of use of the liquid L can then be carried out, for example in the cash register 60.

As schematically illustrated in the figures 2C and 2D, we then proceed to the connection of the emptying interface 18 of the container 10 on the open end of the airlock 44 which equips the second enclosure 58, then transfer of the liquid L into this pregnant, by operations comparable to those which have been described previously with reference to Figures 2A and 2B.

More specifically, part 22 of the interface drain 18 is tightly connected to the open end of the airlock 44 which equips the second use enclosure 58. The volume is then sterilized closed 62 delimited inside airlock 44, between the shutter 24 of the drain interface 18 and the double door 42, 50 separating the airlock from the second enclosure 58. To this end, the lamps 54 are used forming the sterilization means which equip the airlock 44.

The operator then opens from the inside enclosure 58, the double door materialized by doors 42 and 50. It also opens, by tearing or by cutting from inside the enclosure 58, the shutter 24 of the drain interface 18.

The next operation (figure 2D) consists in tightly connect the end of the hose 26 equipping the drain interface 18 to a system for internal use in enclosure 58, such as system capable of delivering liquid L to packages distribution 70 placed in enclosure 58.

After opening the sealing means 30 ' equipping the hose 26 with the drain interface 18, the container 10 is emptied, on request, within packaging 70.

When the emptying of the container 10 is hose 26 is disconnected from the system internal use in enclosure 58 and double door materialized by doors 42 and 50 is returned in place to close enclosure 58. Part 22 of the drain interface 18 is then disconnected from the open end of the airlock 44 and the container 10 is discarded.

The above description shows that the transfer process according to the invention, as well as the transport container for handling this process, ensure the transfer of products initially aseptic between two enclosures, without the microbiological quality of this product is not degraded by external contamination. This property is independent of the distance between speakers. In the case of food products such only fruit juices, this allows in particular to avoid a second pasteurization of these products on their places of use, which significantly improves their taste quality when they reach the consumer.

These advantages are obtained in particular by the the container emptying interface is separate from its filling interface and by the fact that the product is transferred, both during filling only when emptying, without ever being at direct contact with walls likely to be contaminated by the outside atmosphere.

Of course, the invention is not limited to embodiment which has just been described as example. In particular, the nature of the products transferred can be arbitrary and determines the form and the dimensions of the container. Furthermore, if the pulsed light sterilization technique is particularly advantageous, other means of sterilization of enclosed volumes trapped between container shutters and enclosure doors can be used. Among these other processes, cite in particular sterilization techniques or chemical decontamination, by vapor flow, by plasma, etc.

Claims (13)

1. Process for the transfer of aseptic products (L) between a first enclosure (34) and a second enclosure (58), both equipped with a normally closed door (42, 50), according to which a first transfer of products takes place from the first enclosure (34) into a sterile container (10) by a filling interface (16) thereof and equipped with a seal (24), the container (10) is transported to the second enclosure (58) and a second transfer of products takes place from the container (10) into the second enclosure (58) by a container emptying interface (18) equipped with a seal (24),
   characterized in that, prior to carrying out each of the first and second transfers:

   a tight connection takes place of the corresponding interface (16, 18) and enclosure (34, 58),

   a closed volume (62) defined between the corresponding door (42, 50) and seal (24) is sterilized,

   the corresponding door (42, 50) and seal (24) are opened,

   to the corresponding enclosure (34, 58) is connected an initially closed flexible hose (26), which is within the container (10) and connected tightly thereto about the corresponding seal (24) and

   said flexible hose (26) is opened,

   and characterized in that after carrying out the first transfer the flexible hose (26) associated with the filling interface (16) is closed again.
2. Process according to claim 1, wherein each of the enclosures (34, 58) is externally equipped with a lock (44) provided with sterilization means (54) and normally separated from the interior of the enclosure by said door (42, 50) and the corresponding container interface (16, 18) is connected to said lock in order to define said closed volume (62) within the same.
3. Process according to claim 2, wherein the closed volume (62) is sterilized by using intermittent light sterilization means (54) placed around a transparent tube (52) defining said closed volume.
4. Process according to claim 3, wherein use is made of seals (24), whose face turned towards the outside of the container (10) is reflecting.
5. Process according to any one of the claims 2 to 4, wherein each lock (44) is connected to the corresponding enclosure (34, 58) by means of a tight transfer device equipped with a double door forming the said door (42, 50).
6. Process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein use is made of tearable seals (24), which are cut from the interior of the corresponding enclosure (34, 58), after opening its door (42, 50).
7. Container for transporting aseptic products between a first enclosure (34) and a second enclosure (58), said container (10) comprising a filling interface (16) and an emptying interface (18), both having an opening normally closed by a seal (24), characterized in that each of the filling and emptying interfaces (16, 18) also comprises an initially closed flexible hose (26) tightly connected to the corresponding opening (20) within the container, the filling interface (16) flexible hose (26) being reclosable after opening.
8. Container according to claim 7, wherein each seal (24) is tearable.
9. Container according to either of the claims 7 and 8, wherein each seal (24) comprises a reflecting face turned towards the outside of the container.
10. Container according to any one of the claims 7 to 9, wherein the filling interface (16) flexible hose (26) is equipped with a means (30) forming a valve.
11. Container according to any one of the claims 7 to 10, comprising a flexible wall (12) into which are integrated the filling interface (16) and emptying interface (18).
12. Container according to claim 11, wherein the opening (20) of each interface is defined by an elastic part (22) of the wall (12).
13. Container according to claim 11, wherein the opening (20) of each interface is defined by a semi-rigid part (22) of the wall (12).

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