EP2285685A1

EP2285685A1 - Device for producing and filling containers

Info

Publication number: EP2285685A1
Application number: EP09765559A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Bernd Hansen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-06-17
Filing date: 2009-06-10
Publication date: 2011-02-23
Anticipated expiration: 2029-06-10
Also published as: EP2285685B1; KR20110017386A; US20110076355A1; CA2725907C; BRPI0915322A2; PT2285685E; AU2009259653B2; RU2503595C2; ES2425376T3; CN102066199B; CN102066199A; MX2010013376A; US8480390B2; DE102008028754A1; AU2009259653A1; KR101498517B1; RU2010153051A; PL2285685T3; JP2011524840A; CA2725907A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for producing and filling containers, in which at least one tube made of a plasticised material can be extruded in an open form (17). A filling device (9) comprising several individual functional channels (21, 39) enables at least the filling material to be introduced into the respective container by means of a filling mandrel (11) associated with a related form (17). Said device is characterized in that it comprises a mandrel cover (27) that has at least one functional space (31, 35), establishes a media-guiding connection between the respective functional space (31, 35) thereof and the respectively associated functional channel (21, 39) of the filling device (9) for cleaning and/or sterilizing and/or drying, in its functional position, and is removed from the functional position thereof during the production and filling of the container.

Description

Bernd Hansen, Talstr. 22-30, 74429 Sulzbach-Laufen

Device for producing and filling containers

The invention relates to a device for producing and filling containers in which at least one tube of plasticized plastic material is extrudable into an open mold, wherein by means of a filling device having a plurality of separate functional channels, at least the filling by means of a filling mandrel associated with a respective shape respective container can be introduced.

In the related art, a system under the trademark indication bottelpack ^® known, the (form bubbles or vacuum) an automated forming, filling and sealing containers allows an economical manner. If highly sensitive products are to be introduced into the containers mentioned, for example pharmaceuticals, the international standards for aseptic packaging must be met. To satisfy this, in known solutions the mold, when placed in the filling position, is under a so-called sterile filling chamber (ASR) in which sterile air flows over the open filling opening of the containers and provides effective protection against the ingress of Germination forms until after completion of the filling process, movable mold parts are closed to form the desired head closure of the container by a combined vacuum welding operation. Such filling sterile rooms and their facilities are required for sterile filling of Containers are known in the art, for example in the form of DE 196 48 087 A1 or US 5,862,840.

As a further measure to ensure sterility during manufacture, which conforms to Class 100 international classification, careful and, in any case, at the beginning of a manufacturing period, will carefully clean and sterilize both the filling device and its functional channels performed cooperating parts.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type considered available, in the cleaning and sterilizing operations can be carried out very easily and with respect to the state of improved efficiency.

According to the invention this object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1 in its entirety.

Thereafter, the peculiarity of the invention is that a mandrel shielding hood is present, which has at least one functional space, in its functional position produces a media-leading connection for cleaning and / or sterilization and / or drying between their respective functional space and the respective assignable functional channel of the filling device , and is removed from its functional position during container manufacture and filling. This opens up the possibility, via a respective functional channel of the filling device, to introduce those media into the functional space or the functional spaces within the shielding hood which are suitable for cleaning, sterilization, cooling / drying, etc. In other words, the screening hood forms part of a cleaning, sterilizing and / or drying device, which via appropriate media supply from the Filler forth operable to bring the device for the start of a production period in an aseptic state.

In the case of designs designed for rational production of the device, the at least one filling mandrel is adjustable by longitudinal displacement into selected operating positions and accommodated in the operating position cooperating with the shielding hood with a longitudinal section in at least one functional space of the shielding hood located in the functional position. As a result, the medium provided for a cleaning, sterilization or drying / cooling operation to be carried out can be flowed directly into the relevant space within the shielding hood via relevant function channels which run within or along the respective filling mandrel. As a result, not only is the cleaning, sterilization and drying of the functional channels of the system through which the media flows effected, but the corresponding media also act on the outside of the filling mandrel located in the functional area of the screening hood, so that the processes of cleaning, sterilization and drying occur also on the outer surfaces of the respective Fülldornabschnitte that are included in the Abschirmhaube affect.

In particularly advantageous embodiments, the Abschirmhaube on a first and a second functional space, which are offset in the direction of the longitudinal displacement of the respective Fülldornes each other and of which the first receives those end portion of the respective Fülldornes, at which the outlet of the Fülldorn is centrally extending function channel , which serves as a filling channel during filling. Therefore, the end section of the filling mandrel is immediately surrounded by the media flowing through the filling channel and flowing out of the product outlet, so that in the production of the aseptic state of the filling channel itself the same the outside of the end portion of the respective Fülldomes is treated in time.

Preferably, the second functional space of the screening hood is intended to accommodate the longitudinal section of the respective filling mandrel adjoining the end section and has an inlet opening through which the respective filling mandrel extends through the corresponding operating position and in the functional position of the screening hood the connection between the second functional space and a further functional channel of the filling device can be produced. Such channels can be provided, for example, for the supply of sterile air, which serves as support air in the process of tube formation, or as a supply channel for cooling media. Because a connection is established between the longitudinal section of the filling mandrel accommodated in the second functional space of the shielding hood and the at least one such media supply channel, the supply of cleaning, sterilizing and drying media not only leads to the corresponding treatment of the media supply channels, but in turn has an effect on the in the second function space of the screening hood outside of the respective filling mandrel.

In constructions in which the respective Fülldorn extends through an extruder head, which preferably has an elongated design with arranged in a row hose-forming Extruderaustrittsdüsen, which is associated with a corresponding row of Fülldornen, the extruder head preferably has an end face on which the the inlet opening The cover wall of the shielding hood having the respective second functional space rests planar in its functional position. In particularly advantageous embodiments, the arrangement here is such that the further functional channel extends along the outside of the Fülldornes through the extruder head and opens at the end face such that via the input opening in the adjacent top wall the screening hood is formed the connection to the second functional space, namely by the further function channel continues along the outside of the Fülldornes through the input opening into the interior of the shielding hood.

Each functional space of the shielding hood preferably has a media outlet, via which respective media, for example cleaning and / or sterilizing media and / or cooling / drying media supplied by the connection to functional channels of the filling device, can be discharged to the outside.

In advantageous embodiments, the arrangement may be made such that the shielding hood forms a shielding body, at the respective input port of which the second functional space connects, which is separated from the coaxially following first functional space by a sealing insert, which forms a central passage for the entry of the product outlet , filling needle-like end portion of the Fülldornes forms into the first functional space into it.

The screening hood can be movably arranged in and out of the functional position by displacing its cover wall along the end face of the extruder head, which allows a simple design in that only one linear drive is required for a displacement movement of the shielding hood.

In embodiments, which are characterized by a particularly compact design, the filling device in addition to the central Füllgutkanal the respective Fülldornes associated metering device on the supply devices through which both the Füllgutkanal and the other functional channels with the desired treatment and / or working media optionally be supplied, so for example with cleaning media, sterilizing media, drying media or cooling media.

In particularly advantageous embodiments, at least one outside of the Fülldornes along the outside extending Funktionskana! can be supplied with a sterile, gaseous medium, which can be flowed out in the course of the extrusion process forming the tube at the end face of the extruder head and serves as stabilizing support air on the inner side of the tube as the tube. This not only prevents collapse of the tube before the molding process of the container, but the sterile air forms a sterile room in Schlauchinnem. More specifically, the interior of the tube, as well as the mold when placed in the filling position, are in a so-called sterile filling chamber (ASR) in which sterile air flows over the open filling opening of the respective container and effective protection against penetration germinating until, after completion of the filling operation, movable head jaws of the mold are closed to form the desired head closure of the container by a combined vacuum welding operation.

The invention with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing will be explained in detail. Show it:

1 shows a highly schematically simplified and partially vertically cut away overall view of an embodiment of the manufacturing device according to the invention, wherein an operating state is shown within a manufacturing process in which the only visible Fülldorn extends with its filling needle-like end in a mold with movable moldings; 1 slightly enlarged and partly in vertical section drawn representation of only the extruder head and a Filling mandrel with associated filling device, wherein the Fülldorn is shown in an operating position in which it is received with a length in a Abschirmhaube which is located on the end face of the extruder head in its operating position; FIG. 3 is a representation corresponding to FIG. 2, but with the filling dome retracted into an operating position into the extruder head, wherein the shielding hood can be moved out of its functional position; FIG. FIG. 4 shows a vertical partial section drawn greatly enlarged and partially broken away from FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the operating and functional positions shown in FIG. 2 are shown; and FIG. 5 shows a schematically simplified vertical section in which, as in FIG Fig. 1, the filling position of the single, visible Fülldornes is shown and extending along the outer side between the extruder head and form within the hose extending sterile space is illustrated.

In Fig. 1, a device frame as a whole is denoted by 1. An extrusion head 5 is mounted on its base frame 3 and has at least one extrusion die (50 in FIGS. 4 and 5) in such devices, from which a hose (52) is provided on an end face 7 of the extruder head 5 during operation in Fig. 5), which is formed from the extruder head 5 supplied plasticized plastic material. Since such extruder devices, for example in the form of after bottel- pack ^® process working devices are known per se, a more detailed explanation of the details of the extruder head 5. It should be pointed that a filling device 9 is provided with at least one filling mandrel 11 is unnecessary is that extends in the extruder head 5 in a longitudinal direction. While only one filling device 9 with a filling mandrel 11 is shown in the figures, it is understood that the extruder head 5 is preferably elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing is, and that a plurality of in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the row arranged filling 9 with Fülldornen 11 may be present.

In the usual manner with such devices, the respective Fülldorn 1 1 in the longitudinal direction in different selected operating positions can be moved, for example in such a way that it is mounted with its filling device 9 on the frame carrier 13 movable. In any case, the filling mandrels 1 1 clock-controlled in the necessary for manufacturing and filling and cleaning, sterilization and drying operating positions are clock-controlled adjustable.

1 and 5 show the filling mandrel 11 in an advanced operating position for a filling process, wherein the filling needle-like tapered end portion 15 is advanced into a not yet closed mold 17 on the head side. In a kind of carousel arrangement in this case individual moldings 19 are moved in pairs on a fictitious circular arc to each other to form a closed manufacturing form, and moved apart to open the mold again. For a metered delivery of filling material from the end section 15, each filling mandrel 11 has a centrally located functional channel in the form of the filling channel designated 21 in FIGS. 4 and 5. Controllable metering units 25 of each filling device 9 can be supplied with the product to be filled from a central filling material line 23. The metering units 25 deliver the dose quantities required in each case for each filling operation to the associated filling channel 21 in a clock-controlled manner.

In contrast to FIGS. 1 and 5, FIGS. 2 to 4 show operating positions which the filling mandrel 11 in question assumes while preparatory measures are carried out before a production operation is commenced. In this regard, Figs. 2 and 4 show an operating position in which the Fülldorn 1 1, which is withdrawn from the area of the mold 17 out, is received with a length range within a shielding hood 27. It is, as best seen in Fig. 4, to the filling needle-like end portion 15 with the Füllgutaustritt and an adjoining length section 29 (Fig. 4). The end section 15 is located in a first functional space 31 within the screening hood 27, wherein an outlet channel 33 forms a media outlet from the space 31. The adjoining the end portion 15 longitudinal portion 29 is received in the shielding hood 27 in a second functional space 35, from which also allows a (not shown) output channel media removal to the outside. The spaces 31 and 35 are separated by a sealing insert 37, through which the filling needle-like end portion 15 extends into the first space 31 when the Fülldorn 11 assumes the operating position shown in Fig. 2 and 4. In addition to the functional channels running in the filling mandrel 11 in such a known manner, such as the central filling channel 21, at least one further functional channel serving as a media supply channel is provided, as can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 4 and 5. where this channel is designated 39. This further functional channel 39 extends along the outside of the respective filling mandrels 11, as can be seen from FIGS. 4 and 5, starting from an inflow supply connection 41 (FIG. 5), continuously up to an exit opening 40 on the end face 7 of the extruder head 5 For possibly existing additional functional channels provided connections, such as for Dornkühlung input and Dornkühlung- output, are designated in Fig. 5 with 42 and 44.

In the operating state shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the hood body 45 of the shielding hood 27 lies with its cover wall 47 level with the end face 7 of the extruder head 5. In this case, the edge of the inlet opening 51 in the top wall 47 of the hood body 45 is aligned with the mouth 40 of the functional channel 39, so that the functional channel 39 via the inlet opening 51 into the interior of the second functional space 35th into it continues. At the same time, the first functional space 31 of the screening hood 27 is connected to the filling channel 21 via the filling material opening at the end section 15.

In the state shown in Fig. 2 and 4, the hood body 45 of the shielding hood 27 is located with its top wall 47 planar on the end face 7 of the extruder head 5, and indeed within the edge of the respective extrusion nozzle opening 50, with respect to which he in the top wall 47th received seal assembly 49 is sealed. Within the sealing arrangement 49, the cover wall 47 of the body 45 has an inlet opening 51, through which the longitudinal section 29 of the filling dome 1 1 extends into the screening hood 27. The size of the inlet opening 51 is dimensioned such that the mouth 40 of the media supply channel 39 at the edge of the inlet opening 51 communicates with the second functional space 35 in the screening hood 27. At the same time, the first functional space 31 of the screening hood 27 is connected to the filling channel 21 via the filling material opening at the end section 15.

In this operating state, all measures associated with cleaning and sterilization can be carried out via the connection between the channels 21, 39 of the filling dome 11 with the spaces 31 and 35 of the screening hood 27. In this case, it is possible to proceed in such a way that, via the supply connection 23 and the metering device 25 connected to a flow state, cleaning liquid which cleans the filling channel 21 is flowed into the functional space 31, from which the liquid exits via the channel 33. Via the connection between the media supply channel 39 and the second functional space 35, a further media supply is possible from the supply connection 41 of the filling device 9, whereby the longitudinal section 29 of the filling dome 11 is cleaned or sterilized on the circumference. In the same operating position of the Fülldomes 11 and located in working position Abschirmhaube 27 can then to the cleaning of the filling channel 21 of the sterilization be initiated by 9 hot steam flows through the filling device of at least 121 ⁰ C via the filling channel 21, not only the inside of the filling channel 21 but within the space 31 of the shielding hood 27 and the outside of the End section 15 sterilized. In a corresponding manner 39 sterilizing superheated steam can be flowed into the space 35 of the shielding hood 27 via the Medienzuführkanal so that the outside of the section 29 is sterilized. ,

In customary in cleaning and sterilization procedures, the corresponding TrocknungsVKühlverfahren can then be performed on the same media connections, condensate of the previous sterilizing steam is blown out by supplying sterile air.

Subsequent to the drying, the filling mandrel 11 in question is withdrawn into the operating position shown in FIG. 3, so that the screening hood 27 is moved out of the functional position shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, with the screening hood 27, for example, to the plane of the drawing. vertical direction on the end face 7 of the extruder head 5 is moved.

After removing the shielding hood 27 from the functional position, the device is ready for the beginning of a manufacturing period. As a result of the fact that, during the production phase shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the mouth 40 of the functional channel 39 extending along the outside of the filling mandrel 11 is located within the tube 52 (FIG. 5) emerging from the extrusion nozzle opening 50, this flows via the delivery channel 39 Medium into the interior of the tube 52. This forms in its course from the extruder head 5 into the mold 17 thus a abgeschlos- space. When sterile air flows in via the functional channel 39, a filling sterile chamber 53 is thus formed, within which the entire product tion operation is carried out, that is, until the formation of the head closure on the filled container, which is carried out by closing the respective head jaws of the mold 17. Since corresponding mechanisms of the form are known per se, in the drawing the designated as a whole with 17 form only schematically simplified, ie reproduced without separate representation of main moldings and head moldings. Thanks to the formation according to the invention, therefore, not only stabilization of the hose by means of supplied support air is achieved via the exit orifice 40, but, by injecting sterile air, the formation of a sterile zone, so that the device complies with international standards in terms of aseptic (class 100) to a particular degree.

Claims

Patent claims

1. A device for producing and infesting containers, in which at least one tube plasticized plastic material in an open mold (17) is extruded into it, wherein by means of a filling device (9) having a plurality of separate functional channels (21, 39), at least the Filling material by means of a respective shape (17) associated Fülldornes (1 1) can be introduced into respective containers, characterized in that a mandrel Abschirmhaube (27) is present, which has at least one functional space (31, 35) in their Functional position a media-leading compound for the purpose of cleaning and / or sterilization and / or drying between their respective functional space (31, 35) and the respective assignable function channel (21, 39) of the filling device (9) produces, and removed during the container manufacture and filling from its functional position is.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one Fülldorn (11) by longitudinal displacement in selected operating positions is adjustable and cooperating with the Abschirmhaube (27) operating position with a longitudinal section (15, 29) in at least one functional space (31 , 35) of the shielding hood (27) located in the functional position.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the screening hood (27) has a first (31) and a second functional space (35) which are offset in the direction of the longitudinal displacement of the respective filling mandrel (11) to each other and of which the first ( 31) receives those end portion (15) of the respective Fülldornes (1 1), at which the outlet of the Fülldorn (11) centrally extending function tion channel is located, which serves as a filling channel (21) during filling.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that the second functional space (35) of the shielding hood (27) for receiving the at the end portion (15) adjoining the longitudinal section (29) of the respective Fülldornes (11) is determined and an input port (51 ), through which the respective filling mandrel (11) extends through the corresponding filling position and in the functional position of the screening hood (27) and via which the connection between the second

Functional space (35) and a further functional channel (39) of the filling device (9) can be produced.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the respective Fülldorn (11) by an extruder head (5) which has a

End face (7), on which the the input opening (51) of the respective second functional space (35) having top wall (47) of the Abschirmhaube (27) abuts flat in its functional position, and that the further functional channel (39) along the outside of the Filling mandrel (11) through the extruder head (5) and at the end face (7) opens such that on the input opening (51) in the adjacent top wall (47) of the shielding hood (27) the connection to the second functional space (35) is.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that each functional space (31, 35) of the Abschirmhaube (27) has a media outlet (33), via the respective, by the connection with functional channels (21, 39) of the filling device (9) supplied media, such as cleaning and / or sterilizing and / or cooling / drying media, are discharged to the outside.

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the screening hood (27) forms a shielding body (45), at the respective inlet opening (51) adjoins the second functional space (35) of the coaxially following first functional space (31) by a Seal insert (37) is separated, which is a central passage for the

Entry of the Füllgutaustritt forming, filling needle-like end portion (15) of the Fülldornes (11) into the first functional space (31) into it.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that the shielding hood (27) by moving its top wall (47) along the

End face (7) of the extruder head (5) into and out of the functional position is movable.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized marked, that the filling device (9) in addition to the central Füllgutkanal of the respective Fülldornes associated metering device (25) and the supply means (23, 41) through which both the Füllgutkanal (21) and the other functional channels (39) are optionally supplied with cleaning media, sterilizing media, drying media or cooling media.

10. The device according to claim 9, characterized in that at least one outside of the Fülldornes (1 1) befindlicher function channel (39) which forms along the outside of the Fülldornes (1 1) guided flow path, can be supplied with a sterile gaseous medium , which in the course of the extrusion process forming the tube (52) can flow out on the end face (7) of the extruder head (5) and serves as support air stabilizing the hose inside both as the hose (52) and forming a sterile zone therein.