EP1468959B1 - Aseptic filling machine - Google Patents
Aseptic filling machine Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP1468959B1 EP1468959B1 EP04005910A EP04005910A EP1468959B1 EP 1468959 B1 EP1468959 B1 EP 1468959B1 EP 04005910 A EP04005910 A EP 04005910A EP 04005910 A EP04005910 A EP 04005910A EP 1468959 B1 EP1468959 B1 EP 1468959B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- room
- filling machine
- aseptic filling
- machine according
- bottles
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
- B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C2003/228—Aseptic features
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
- B67C2003/2688—Means for filling containers in defined atmospheric conditions
- B67C2003/2694—Means for filling containers in defined atmospheric conditions by enclosing a set of containers in a chamber
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
- B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
- B67C3/00—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C3/02—Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus
- B67C3/22—Details
- B67C3/26—Filling-heads; Means for engaging filling-heads with bottle necks
- B67C2003/2688—Means for filling containers in defined atmospheric conditions
- B67C2003/2697—Means for filling containers in defined atmospheric conditions by enclosing the container partly in a chamber
Definitions
- This invention introduces a new aseptic filling technology for plastic bottles made of PET, PE, PEHD, polypropylene or other hygienically compatible plastics, which is applied to aseptic product packing machines with a rotary or carousel-based concept.
- Aseptic product packing in plastic bottles is a fairly recent technology. It has developed in the last years especially for products like fruit juices, tea, soft drinks, milk and its byproducts, going hand in hand with companies offering their new technological solutions for this field and, of course, with the market's interest for them to be applied.
- This kind of packing is a complex technology, which implies several stages and depends on the type, shape and condition of the original bottle, as well as on the product itself. It requires interventions by machine operators to be reduced to the lowest possible degree and to be carried out under the safest conditions in order to preclude the possibility of contamination of the machine, in particular of its internal microclimate and, as a consequence, of the product.
- An aseptic filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from JP 11115902 .
- Bottles belonging to the first group can be produced aseptically (i.e. completely closed) or else not hermetically (their inner part is open to the surrounding air). PET bottles are produced from preforms that are open to the ambient air, and therefore they are always blown under non-sterile conditions. In both cases, the bottles can be either produced at the product packing factory or bought from a specialized producer, who will deliver them arranged on pallets or in bulk within proper containers. Regardless of their delivery format, however, all bottles destined to aseptic packing undergo one of two different procedures, depending on their production:
- Procedure no. 1 non-aseptically produced bottles (all bottles described under "b") and non-hermetic bottles (described under "a"):
- First solution The whole machine is positioned inside a cleanroom, where sterile air (filtered in Class 1000 or Class 100) flows into; a slight overpressure is to be found in this environment.
- sterile air filtered in Class 1000 or Class 100
- the machine operator is part of the microclimate and integrates the operational cycle of the machine.
- Second solution - Proper laminar flows are generated in order to protect each machine's section (mini-cleanrooms in each section) enclosed by an upper wall (purposely built to support the filters), a lower wall (machine base) and a rigid side wall (sheet steel and/or glass) or alternatively a flexible side wall (transparent plastic material for the food industry).
- the machine operator can intervene from outside, working on the machine through openings dislocated in strategically optimal positions in the side walls, his arms covered by long flexible gloves (“sleeves”): they are fixed to the openings and thus always inside the aseptic environment, therefore a part of the internal microclimate. Although they cannot be contaminated from outside, they restrict intervention possibilities for the machine operator.
- the most critical sections in the machine are the dosing and cap application sections, where both the bottle and the product are most exposed to possible environmental contamination.
- the sterilization section instead, the chemical agents' vapours protect the microclimate against bacteria possibly coming from outside.
- the first two sections are also more frequently subject to intervention by the machine operator, for instance in case of wrong measuring up of the product, loss of closures or aluminium caps, stuck bottles and caps and so on. A wrong intervention in this area determines severe problems and may make it necessary to carry out a new sanitization cycle of the whole machine.
- This invention aims at obtaining an easier and safer process of aseptic filling for plastic bottles, regardless of their specific material, without using standard traditional cleanrooms or else laminar flows, but by making use of a room enclosing the critical area and consisting of two sections; both sections are purposely developed in order to best serve their functional purpose, minimizing the sterile room's volume, that is to say reducing it to the critical area comprising the bottle's neck and the lower part of the nozzles and of the closer.
- this invention aims at creating a protection room for the dosing and cap application area that facilitates interventions by the machine operator, ensuring highest sterility and aseptic conditions at the same time, and reducing the need for intervention from outside - but above all also making it possible to clean and sterilize the machine in its dosing and cap application sections with chemical cleaning and sterilization solutions every time that the machine is to be prepared for production.
- the filling and closing room is regularly sterilized by means of traditional methods every time that the cleaning and sterilization phases of the main dosing unit and of the dosing nozzles are started. This ensures that the most critical environment is completely sanitized at every production start.
- this invention enables the operator to have direct access to stuck bottles through passages purposely planned in the room: wearing only a protective glove, he will be able to extract the bottle/cap without contaminating the environment.
- a third benefit given by this invention is the stationary part of the room, that makes it possible to create a safe and rigid connection between the room and the sterile air generation system, as well as the cleaning solution infeed and recovery systems. This concept makes the room independent of the other sections of the machine as a whole.
- An aseptic filling machine according to the invention is defined by claim 1.
- the invention is the special configuration of the enclosing room containing the dosing and cap application sections, which can be applied to any machine with a rotary or carousel-based concept for bottling products destined to the food industry and/or to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. It is made of two sections and a series of accessories: the room contains two smaller rooms, the first room protecting the filling and cap application area, the second room enclosing the bottle's body. This concept may include two additional rooms to enable sterile air to be taken in.
- first and second rooms C1 and C2 are pipe circuits, valves and instruments of the first and second (letters E, F and G) used for feeding the cleaning and sterilization solutions during the machine's preparation stages and for feeding and maintaining the room under sterile air overpression conditions during all production phases.
- these circuits are connected to the stationary part.
- this invention also makes it possible to intervene directly on all mechanical parts of the machine without altering the microclimate in the filling area; thanks to this solution, any intervention becomes simpler and safer.
- Further benefits come from the new sterile air distribution: sterile air is no more top-down distributed only through the filters, but it is now fed through opposite pipes and circuits, resulting in a better flow distribution and a more accurate control of the positive pressure, and offering better guarantees in terms of functionality.
- the aseptic filling machine for especially plastic, bottles comprises a carousel, an enclosing room apt to protect the product dosing and / or bottles closing consisting of at least a first room C1, and an intake room C3, each of the rooms C1, C3 comprising a stationary part, a rotating part and accessories which make it possible to maintain an aseptic condition in the enclosing room, wherein at least the intake room C3 is provided for the purpose of intaking the sterile air flow coming out of the first room C1.
- the upper surface of the first room C1 consists of a plate supporting dosing nozzles / closing heads.
- the volume of the first (upper) room C1 is kept to a minimum, that is to say to the volume existing between the dosing nozzles / closing heads and bottle's neck position.
- the sealing between the stationary and the rotating parts is guaranteed by suitable sliding surfaces and /or labyrinth surfaces for sterile use in order to enclose the inner microclimate.
- the lower surface of the first room C1 consists of a plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices.
- the upper surface of a second room C2 consists of the plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices and of the fixed surface, and where the lower surface consists of a stationary plate and of a rotating plate.
- At least one second intake room C3 is provided for the purpose of taking the sterile air flow coming out of the second room C2.
- sterile air is fed into the enclosing room through proper pipelines.
- the first room can be cleaned and sterilized through proper pipelines, independently of the machine and without any human intervention, using traditional chemical agents.
- suitable nozzles for dosing /vaporizing chemical agents on the first room's surface can be installed in the inside without any prejudice to the first room's sterile conditions.
- the stationary part is made of rigid plastic material or, alternatively, of flexible plastic material.
- the enclosing room is also used in the bottles' sterilization and rinsing phases.
- the first and second rooms (the main rooms) C1, C2 comprise accessories to sanitize it using sterilizing agents when the machine undergoes its preparation phases.
Landscapes
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
- Auxiliary Devices For And Details Of Packaging Control (AREA)
- Formation And Processing Of Food Products (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This invention introduces a new aseptic filling technology for plastic bottles made of PET, PE, PEHD, polypropylene or other hygienically compatible plastics, which is applied to aseptic product packing machines with a rotary or carousel-based concept. Aseptic product packing in plastic bottles is a fairly recent technology. It has developed in the last years especially for products like fruit juices, tea, soft drinks, milk and its byproducts, going hand in hand with companies offering their new technological solutions for this field and, of course, with the market's interest for them to be applied. This kind of packing is a complex technology, which implies several stages and depends on the type, shape and condition of the original bottle, as well as on the product itself. It requires interventions by machine operators to be reduced to the lowest possible degree and to be carried out under the safest conditions in order to preclude the possibility of contamination of the machine, in particular of its internal microclimate and, as a consequence, of the product.
- An aseptic filling machine according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from
JP 11115902 - There are basically two main families of bottles which can serve this packing purpose:
- a) bottles produced by means of the blow-extrusion process from virgin resins (polyethylene - polypropylene family);
- b) bottles produced by means of the blowing process from a preform produced per injection (PET family).
- Bottles belonging to the first group can be produced aseptically (i.e. completely closed) or else not hermetically (their inner part is open to the surrounding air). PET bottles are produced from preforms that are open to the ambient air, and therefore they are always blown under non-sterile conditions. In both cases, the bottles can be either produced at the product packing factory or bought from a specialized producer, who will deliver them arranged on pallets or in bulk within proper containers. Regardless of their delivery format, however, all bottles destined to aseptic packing undergo one of two different procedures, depending on their production:
- Procedure no. 1: non-aseptically produced bottles (all bottles described under "b") and non-hermetic bottles (described under "a"):
- 1. The bottles are fed into the packing machine on a pneumatic or chain conveyance system.
- 2. The bottles enter the first section, where their inner and outer surfaces undergo chemical sterilization by use of chemical agents like hydrogen peroxide (peroxide), combinations of media based on peracetic acid and peroxide (oxonia) or similar media.
- 3. The bottles are introduced into the bottle drying section: here all traces of chemical agents are removed by a sterile water stream (or sterile air only, if the sterilization has been carried out using only peroxide).
- 4. After their treatment and sterilization, the bottles enter the aseptic filling section: here they are filled with a preset quantity of product through special dosing nozzles. In order to control this process, a volumetric or a weight-measuring system is used, i.e. by flow-meters, pre-calibrated chambers or weighting cells.
- 5. The bottles enter the closing section and are closed with pre-sterilized plastic caps or sterilized pre-cut aluminium foils.
- 6. Now the bottles leave the aseptic product packing machine and enter the packaging and post-packaging sections on conveyors: when the labelling and final packaging processes are over, they are pallettized.
- Procedure no. 2) aseptically produced bottles (described under "a") by means of the aseptic extrusion process:
- In this case there is no need for sterilization. The extrusion process guarantees that the bottles' inner surfaces are already sterile. As a consequence the cycle is different.
- 1. The bottles are fed into a section where only their external surface is washed and sterilized.
- 2. The bottles enter a cutting section: here the plastic part which preserved their closed condition (and at the same time their above mentioned sterility) is cut away.
- 3. The bottles enter the aseptic filling section: here they are filled with a preset quantity of product through special dosing nozzles. In order to control this process, a volumetric or a weight-measuring system is used, i.e. by flow-meters, pre-calibrated chambers or weighting cells.
- 4. The bottles enter the closing section and are closed with pre-sterilized plastic caps or sterilized pre-cut aluminium foils
- 5. Now the bottles leave the aseptic product packing machine and enter the packaging and post-packaging sections on conveyors: when the labelling and final packaging processes are over, they are pallettized.
- In both cases it is necessary to preserve the aseptic condition in the whole inner part of the product packing machine: if the microclimate is not perfectly sterile, the bottle and/or its content might be contamined. It is also to be considered that a machine cannot always work optimally and that bottles do not always comply with perfect standards. As a consequence, sometimes it happens that a stuck bottle blocks the operating cycle of the machine. It is therefore necessary for the machine operator to intervene and remove the stuck bottle and/or the machine's block: in order to do so, the machine operator has to work within the machine's microclimate and, consequently, there is a risk of contamination from the outside environment.
When an intervention is needed, traditional technology offers two solutions, the one deriving actually from the other. - First solution - The whole machine is positioned inside a cleanroom, where sterile air (filtered in Class 1000 or Class 100) flows into; a slight overpressure is to be found in this environment. The machine operator wearing a sterilized overall, facial mask, gloves and all pre-sterilized accessories controls the machine functioning from inside the cleanroom and directly intervenes to solve the problem. The machine operator is part of the microclimate and integrates the operational cycle of the machine.
- Second solution - Proper laminar flows are generated in order to protect each machine's section (mini-cleanrooms in each section) enclosed by an upper wall (purposely built to support the filters), a lower wall (machine base) and a rigid side wall (sheet steel and/or glass) or alternatively a flexible side wall (transparent plastic material for the food industry). In this case the machine operator can intervene from outside, working on the machine through openings dislocated in strategically optimal positions in the side walls, his arms covered by long flexible gloves ("sleeves"): they are fixed to the openings and thus always inside the aseptic environment, therefore a part of the internal microclimate. Although they cannot be contaminated from outside, they restrict intervention possibilities for the machine operator.
- In both solutions it is therefore assumed that a condition of laminar flow and air sterility is maintained inside the machine as a whole, also in the event of an interruption or stop of the production process. Both sterility and microclimate have to be continuously preserved all round the clock, with no interruption - otherwise it will be necessary to sterilize the whole environment once again, a complex procedure requiring a long treating time (even 48-60 hours) before all surfaces and filters are brought back to their safety conditions.
- Situations of this kind occur anyway in the event of major maintenance works on the machine, when the use of the "sleeves" is not sufficient to carry out the operation, in the event of a sudden break with leaking of product and/or oil or other fluids due to a mistake made by the operator.
- It should be highlighted that the most critical sections in the machine are the dosing and cap application sections, where both the bottle and the product are most exposed to possible environmental contamination. In the sterilization section, instead, the chemical agents' vapours protect the microclimate against bacteria possibly coming from outside. The first two sections are also more frequently subject to intervention by the machine operator, for instance in case of wrong measuring up of the product, loss of closures or aluminium caps, stuck bottles and caps and so on. A wrong intervention in this area determines severe problems and may make it necessary to carry out a new sanitization cycle of the whole machine.
- This invention aims at obtaining an easier and safer process of aseptic filling for plastic bottles, regardless of their specific material, without using standard traditional cleanrooms or else laminar flows, but by making use of a room enclosing the critical area and consisting of two sections; both sections are purposely developed in order to best serve their functional purpose, minimizing the sterile room's volume, that is to say reducing it to the critical area comprising the bottle's neck and the lower part of the nozzles and of the closer.
- Furthermore, this invention aims at creating a protection room for the dosing and cap application area that facilitates interventions by the machine operator, ensuring highest sterility and aseptic conditions at the same time, and reducing the need for intervention from outside - but above all also making it possible to clean and sterilize the machine in its dosing and cap application sections with chemical cleaning and sterilization solutions every time that the machine is to be prepared for production.
In other words, the filling and closing room is regularly sterilized by means of traditional methods every time that the cleaning and sterilization phases of the main dosing unit and of the dosing nozzles are started. This ensures that the most critical environment is completely sanitized at every production start.
As a second benefit, this invention enables the operator to have direct access to stuck bottles through passages purposely planned in the room: wearing only a protective glove, he will be able to extract the bottle/cap without contaminating the environment.
A third benefit given by this invention is the stationary part of the room, that makes it possible to create a safe and rigid connection between the room and the sterile air generation system, as well as the cleaning solution infeed and recovery systems. This concept makes the room independent of the other sections of the machine as a whole. - An aseptic filling machine according to the invention is defined by claim 1.
- The invention is the special configuration of the enclosing room containing the dosing and cap application sections, which can be applied to any machine with a rotary or carousel-based concept for bottling products destined to the food industry and/or to the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. It is made of two sections and a series of accessories: the room contains two smaller rooms, the first room protecting the filling and cap application area, the second room enclosing the bottle's body. This concept may include two additional rooms to enable sterile air to be taken in.
- Please see the drawing.
-
- A) Rotating part of the room (supporting the bottle, dosing devices and closers)
- B) Stationary part of the room (supporting the infeed of the utilities)
- C) Axis of rotation
- D) Product dosing device or closer (depending on the section in which it is positioned)
- E) Infeed of sterile air under pressure into the room
- F) Extraction of sterile air from the room
- G) Spray balls and sanitizer infeed
- H) PE or PET bottle with neck-handling
- S) Sliding sealing surfaces and /or labyrinth seals
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- C1: First room (packing and closing area)
- C2: Second room (bottle's body enclosing area)
- C3: Intake room (sterile air intake area)
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- C1:First room (upper room), consisting of:
- 1. One section (built on the rotating part) obtained on the moving part of the filler and consisting of:
- an upper side, i.e. a plate thick enough to support the dosing system, comprising a certain number of dosing nozzles and the sealing /closing heads;
- a vertical side as an enclosure for the room and its microclimate;
- a lower side where the neck-handling clamp devices are to be found. The space left between each clamp device can be closed using sheet steel or plastic material.
- 2. One stationary section closing the room by means of proper sliding surfaces (S), and a second horizontal fixed surface closing the room at the same level with the clamp devices supporting the bottles, in order to guarantee the maintenance of the inner overpressure; the inner volume is kept to a minimum, just enabling the upper part of the bottle's neck to pass.
- 1. One section (built on the rotating part) obtained on the moving part of the filler and consisting of:
- C2: Second room (lower room), consisting of:
- an upper side, comprising the (rotating) clamp devices supporting the bottles and the fixed surface plate at the same level (fixed);
- a vertical side (rotating, obtained on the moving part of the closer) as an enclosure for the room and its microclimate;
- a lower side consisting of one rotating surface and one stationary surface, built in order to support a sliding surface or a labyrinth surface for sterile air containment;
- C3: Intake rooms (compensation rooms):
- Rooms for the intake of sterile air consisting of a room created between the stationary part and the rotating part by means of two sliding surfaces; they enable the sterile air to be taken in from the first and second rooms (main rooms) C1 and C2 and to better control the pressure level in the sections.
- While the first room (C1) is absolutely essential, the second room (C2) and the intake rooms (C3) are useful but not strictly necessary, as the internal microclimate is maintained by the internal room with proper overpressure.
- Accessories of the first and second rooms C1 and C2: these are pipe circuits, valves and instruments of the first and second (letters E, F and G) used for feeding the cleaning and sterilization solutions during the machine's preparation stages and for feeding and maintaining the room under sterile air overpression conditions during all production phases. For reasons of structural and functional simplicity, these circuits are connected to the stationary part.
- Besides the advantages presented above, this invention also makes it possible to intervene directly on all mechanical parts of the machine without altering the microclimate in the filling area; thanks to this solution, any intervention becomes simpler and safer. Further benefits come from the new sterile air distribution: sterile air is no more top-down distributed only through the filters, but it is now fed through opposite pipes and circuits, resulting in a better flow distribution and a more accurate control of the positive pressure, and offering better guarantees in terms of functionality.
- In one embodiment, the aseptic filling machine for especially plastic, bottles comprises a carousel, an enclosing room apt to protect the product dosing and / or bottles closing consisting of at least a first room C1, and an intake room C3, each of the rooms C1, C3 comprising a stationary part, a rotating part and accessories which make it possible to maintain an aseptic condition in the enclosing room, wherein at least the intake room C3 is provided for the purpose of intaking the sterile air flow coming out of the first room C1. The upper surface of the first room C1 consists of a plate supporting dosing nozzles / closing heads.
- In a second embodiment, the volume of the first (upper) room C1 is kept to a minimum, that is to say to the volume existing between the dosing nozzles / closing heads and bottle's neck position.
- In a third embodiment, the sealing between the stationary and the rotating parts is guaranteed by suitable sliding surfaces and /or labyrinth surfaces for sterile use in order to enclose the inner microclimate.
- In a fourth embodiment, the lower surface of the first room C1 consists of a plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices.
- In a fifth embodiment, the upper surface of a second room C2 consists of the plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices and of the fixed surface, and where the lower surface consists of a stationary plate and of a rotating plate.
- In a sixth embodiment at least one second intake room C3 is provided for the purpose of taking the sterile air flow coming out of the second room C2.
- In a seventh embodiment, sterile air is fed into the enclosing room through proper pipelines.
- In an eighth embodiment, the first room can be cleaned and sterilized through proper pipelines, independently of the machine and without any human intervention, using traditional chemical agents.
- In a ninth embodiment, suitable nozzles for dosing /vaporizing chemical agents on the first room's surface can be installed in the inside without any prejudice to the first room's sterile conditions.
- In a tenth embodiment, the stationary part is made of rigid plastic material or, alternatively, of flexible plastic material.
- In an eleventh embodiment, the enclosing room is also used in the bottles' sterilization and rinsing phases.
- In a twelfth embodiment, the first and second rooms (the main rooms) C1, C2 comprise accessories to sanitize it using sterilizing agents when the machine undergoes its preparation phases.
Claims (12)
- Aseptic filling machine for, especially plastic, bottles comprising dosing nozzles and / or closing heads (D), a carousel, an enclosing room apt to protect the product dosing and/or bottles closing and consisting of at least a first room (C1), and an intake room (C3), each of the rooms (C1, C3) comprising a stationary part (B), a rotating part (A) and accessories which make it possible to maintain an aseptic condition in the enclosing room, wherein the intake room (C3) is provided for the purpose of intaking the sterile air flow coming out of the first room (C1).
characterized in that
the upper surface of the first room (C1) consists of a plate supporting the dosing nozzles and / or closing heads (D). - Aseptic filling machine according to claim 1, wherein the volume of the first room (C1) is kept to the volume existing between the dosing nozzles and/or closing heads (D) and the bottle's neck position.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 or 2, wherein a sealing between surfaces of the stationary (B) and the rotating (A) part is guaranteed by suitable sliding surfaces (S) of the stationary and the rotating part and /or labyrinth surfaces of the stationary and the rotating part for sterile use.
- Aseptic filling machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lower surface of the first room (C1) consists of a plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices and of a fixed surface with suitable sliding points for guaranteeing tightness for the maintenance of the inner pressure.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claim 4, wherein an upper surface of a second room (C2) consists of the plate supporting the bottle neck handling clamp devices and of the fixed surface, and where the lower surface of the second room (C2) consists of a stationary plate and of a rotating plate with suitable points for guaranteeing tightness for the maintenance of inner pressure.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claim 5, wherein at least one second intake room (C3) is provided for the purpose of intaking the sterile air flow coming out of the second room (C2).
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 to 6, wherein proper pipelines are provided for feeding sterile air into the enclosing room.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 to 7, wherein the first room (C1) can be cleaned and sterilized through proper pipelines, independently of the machine and without any human intervention, using traditional chemical agents.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 to 8, wherein suitable nozzles for dosing /vaporizing chemical agents on the first room's (C1) surfaces can be installed in the inside without any prejudice to the first room's (C1) sterile conditions.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 to 9, wherein the stationary part (B) is made of rigid plastic material or, alternatively, of flexible plastic material.
- Aseptic filling machine according to claims 1 to 10, wherein the enclosing room is also used in the bottles' sterilization and rinsing phases.
- Aseptic filling machine according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the first and the second room (C1, C2) comprise accessories to sanitize it using sterilizing agents when the machine undergoes its preparation phases.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP02008930A EP1357081B1 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-04-22 | Aseptic filling machine |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02008930A Division EP1357081B1 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-04-22 | Aseptic filling machine |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1468959A2 EP1468959A2 (en) | 2004-10-20 |
EP1468959A3 EP1468959A3 (en) | 2004-11-03 |
EP1468959B1 true EP1468959B1 (en) | 2007-09-19 |
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ID=28685869
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP02008930A Expired - Lifetime EP1357081B1 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-04-22 | Aseptic filling machine |
EP04005910A Expired - Lifetime EP1468959B1 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-04-22 | Aseptic filling machine |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP02008930A Expired - Lifetime EP1357081B1 (en) | 2002-04-22 | 2002-04-22 | Aseptic filling machine |
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EP (2) | EP1357081B1 (en) |
AT (2) | ATE373621T1 (en) |
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WO2009146823A1 (en) * | 2008-06-04 | 2009-12-10 | Khs Ag | Closing machine |
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JP4182280B2 (en) * | 2002-06-07 | 2008-11-19 | 四国化工機株式会社 | Rotary aseptic filling equipment |
DE10326618A1 (en) * | 2003-06-13 | 2005-01-05 | Khs Maschinen- Und Anlagenbau Ag, Patentabteilung | Container handling machine |
DE10358265A1 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2005-07-28 | Pöpplau, Jens H., Dr.-Ing. | Container treatment device with gas curtain |
DE102006007367B4 (en) * | 2006-02-17 | 2016-03-24 | Khs Gmbh | Plant or device for treating bottles. |
DE102006053193A1 (en) * | 2006-11-09 | 2008-05-15 | Krones Ag | Apparatus and method for producing plastic containers |
DE102008030292A1 (en) | 2008-06-30 | 2009-12-31 | Khs Ag | filling system |
DE102008038141A1 (en) | 2008-08-18 | 2010-02-25 | Krones Ag | Device for forming plastic preforms with sterile space |
DE102009040924A1 (en) * | 2009-09-11 | 2011-03-24 | Khs Gmbh | Plant for the sterile filling of products, in particular of drinks in bottles or similar containers |
DE102010054788A1 (en) * | 2010-12-16 | 2012-06-21 | Krones Aktiengesellschaft | Device for sterilizing containers |
CN102408088B (en) * | 2011-11-08 | 2016-05-11 | 金坛市新鑫包装机械有限公司 | The Multichannel synchronous filling device of liquid-filling machine |
DE102012009206A1 (en) * | 2012-05-10 | 2013-11-14 | Khs Gmbh | filling Machine |
CN104370257A (en) * | 2014-10-29 | 2015-02-25 | 广州达意隆包装机械股份有限公司 | Closed filling machine |
EP3240753B1 (en) * | 2014-12-30 | 2018-09-19 | Gea Procomac S.p.A. | Apparatus for filling containers |
CN107107449B (en) | 2014-12-30 | 2019-06-07 | Gea普洛克玛柯股份公司 | Equipment, production and the production of packing container of the processing station, processing parison or container of parison or container made of thermoplastic material and baling line and the method for production and packing container |
DE102015118671A1 (en) * | 2015-10-30 | 2017-05-04 | Krones Ag | Device for filling containers with a filling product |
CA3100075A1 (en) * | 2017-12-18 | 2019-06-27 | S.I.P.A. Societa' Industrializzazione Progettazione E Automazione S.P.A. | System and process for producing thermoplastic material containers |
IT201800007667A1 (en) | 2018-07-31 | 2020-01-31 | Gea Procomac Spa | APPARATUS AND PROCEDURE FOR DECONTAMINATION OF THE INLET OF A PREFORM OR A CONTAINER IN THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL |
EP3757024A1 (en) * | 2019-06-25 | 2020-12-30 | Andreas Kunzmann | Apparatus for filling and sealing containers under hygienic conditions |
DE102019120303A1 (en) * | 2019-07-26 | 2021-01-28 | Khs Gmbh | Treatment device and method for the treatment of containers and / or preforms under aseptic conditions |
CN116553463A (en) * | 2023-06-30 | 2023-08-08 | 中科圣杰(深圳)科技集团有限公司 | Sterile filling isolation system |
CN117342075B (en) * | 2023-12-06 | 2024-02-13 | 正当年医药科技(广州)有限公司 | Efficient synchronous intelligent filling, sterilizing and packaging equipment and process |
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IT1279846B1 (en) * | 1995-08-11 | 1997-12-18 | Rossi & Catelli Spa | CONTINUOUS ASEPTIC BOTTLING SYSTEM |
DE29713155U1 (en) * | 1997-07-24 | 1998-09-10 | Krones Ag Hermann Kronseder Maschinenfabrik, 93073 Neutraubling | Rotary filler |
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- 2002-04-22 EP EP04005910A patent/EP1468959B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-22 ES ES04005910T patent/ES2289376T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-22 DE DE60222588T patent/DE60222588T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-22 AT AT04005910T patent/ATE373621T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2002-04-22 ES ES02008930T patent/ES2233737T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-22 DE DE60202995T patent/DE60202995T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-04-22 AT AT02008930T patent/ATE289278T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
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WO2009146823A1 (en) * | 2008-06-04 | 2009-12-10 | Khs Ag | Closing machine |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1357081B1 (en) | 2005-02-16 |
DE60222588T2 (en) | 2008-01-31 |
DE60202995D1 (en) | 2005-03-24 |
EP1468959A2 (en) | 2004-10-20 |
ATE373621T1 (en) | 2007-10-15 |
EP1468959A3 (en) | 2004-11-03 |
ES2233737T3 (en) | 2005-06-16 |
ES2289376T3 (en) | 2008-02-01 |
EP1357081A1 (en) | 2003-10-29 |
ATE289278T1 (en) | 2005-03-15 |
DE60222588D1 (en) | 2007-10-31 |
DE60202995T2 (en) | 2005-07-07 |
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