EP2285685B1 - Device for producing and filling containers - Google Patents

Description

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 is known under the trademark indication bottelpack ^®, which allows an automated forms (blowing or vacuum molding), filling and closing containers in 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 moldings are closed to form the desired head closure of the container by a combined vacuum welding operation. Such filling sterile rooms and their facilities for the 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, at regular intervals, and in any event at the beginning of a manufacturing period, thorough cleaning and sterilization of both the filling device and its functional channels as well as the parts interacting therewith carried out.

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.

According to the invention, the screening hood has a first and a second functional space, which are offset from one another in the direction of the longitudinal displacement of the respective filling mandrel and of which the first accommodates that end section of the respective filling mandrel on which the outlet of the functional channel running centrally in the filling mandrel is located the filling serves as a filling channel. The end section of the filling mandrel is therefore surrounded by the media flowing through the filling channel and flowing out of the product outlet, so that the outside of the end section of the respective filling mandrel is treated simultaneously during the production of the aseptic state of the filling channel.

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 process to be carried out can be flowed directly into the respective space within the shielding hood via relevant functional channels which run within or along the respective filling mandrel. As a result, not only the cleaning, sterilization and drying of the flowed through by the media function channels of the system is effected, but the corresponding media act on the outside of the Fülldornes located in the functional space of the screening hood, so that the processes of cleaning, sterilization and drying also on the outer surfaces of the respective Fülldornabschnitte that are included in the Abschirmhaube affect.

Preferably, the second functional space of the screening hood for receiving the adjoining the end portion of the respective Fülldornes is determined and has an input opening through which the respective filling mandrel extends through the respective operating position and in the functional position of the shielding hood and over which the connection between second functional space and another 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.

Preferably, each functional space of the screening hood 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 functional channel with a sterile gaseous medium can be supplied, which in the course of the tube forming extrusion process on the front side of the extruder head can flow and on the inside of the hose as the hose stabilizing supporting air. This not only prevents collapse of the tube before the molding process of the container, but the sterile air forms a sterile room inside the tube. 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 nucleation 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.

• Fig. 1 eine stark schematisch vereinfacht und teilweise vertikal aufgeschnitten gezeichnete Gesamtdarstellung eines Ausführungsbeispieles der erfindungsgemäßen Herstellvorrichtung, wobei ein Betriebszustand innerhalb eines Herstellungsvorganges gezeigt ist, bei dem sich der einzige sichtbare Fülldorn mit seinem füllnadelartigen Ende in eine Form mit beweglichen Formteilen erstreckt;
• Fig. 2 eine gegenüber Fig. 1 leicht vergrößert und teilweise im Vertikalschnitt gezeichnete Darstellung lediglich des Extruderkopfes und eines Fülldornes mit zugehöriger Fülleinrichtung, wobei der Fülldorn in einer Betriebsstellung gezeigt ist, in der er mit einem Längenabschnitt in einer Abschirmhaube aufgenommen ist, die sich an der Stirnfläche des Extruderkopfes in ihrer Funktionsstellung befindet;
• Fig. 3 eine der Fig. 2 entsprechende Darstellung, wobei jedoch der Fülldorn in eine Betriebsstellung in den Extruderkopf hinein zurückgezogen ist, wobei die Abschirmhaube aus ihrer Funktionsstellung heraus bewegt werden kann;
• Fig. 4 einen gegenüber Fig. 2 und 3 stark vergrößert und teilweise abgebrochen gezeichneten, vertikalen Teilschnitt, wobei die in Fig. 2 dargestellten Betriebs- und Funktionsstellungen gezeigt sind, und
• Fig. 5 einen schematisch vereinfacht gezeichneten Vertikalschnitt, in dem wie in Fig. 1 die Füllposition des einzigen, sichtbaren Fülldornes gezeigt ist und ein sich längs dessen Außenseite zwischen Extruderkopf und Form innerhalb des Schlauches erstreckender Sterilraum verdeutlicht ist.

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

• Fig. 1 a highly schematically simplified and partially cut vertically drawn 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;
• Fig. 2 one opposite Fig. 1 slightly enlarged and partially drawn in vertical section representation only of 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 one of the Fig. 2 corresponding representation, but with the Fülldorn is retracted into an operating position in the extruder head inside, the Abschirmhaube can be moved out of its functional position;
• Fig. 4 one opposite FIGS. 2 and 3 strongly enlarged and partially broken drawn, vertical partial section, the in Fig. 2 shown operating and functional positions are shown, and
• Fig. 5 a schematically simplified drawn vertical section, in which as in Fig. 1 the filling position of the single, visible Fülldornes is shown and a along the outer side between the extruder head and form within the hose extending sterile space is illustrated.

In Fig. 1 a device frame is designated as a whole with 1. At the base frame 3, an extruder head 5 is mounted, which in known manner in such devices at least one extrusion nozzle (50 in Fig. 4 and 5 ), from which at an end face 7 of the extruder head 5 in operation a hose (52 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 method worked devices are known per se, a more detailed explanation of the details of the extruder head is not required 5. It should be pointed that a filling device 9 is provided with at least one filling mandrel 11 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 11 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 Fülldorne 11 are clock-controlled in the required for manufacturing and filling and cleaning, sterilization and drying operating positions clock-controlled adjustable.

The Fig. 1 and 5 show the filling mandrel 11 in an advanced operating position for a filling operation, wherein the filling needle-like tapered end portion 15 is advanced in a form not yet closed on the head side 17. 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 contents from the end portion 15, each filling mandrel 11 has a centrally located functional channel in the form of in Fig. 4 and 5 with 21 designated Füllkanales on. 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 for each filling cycle in a clock-controlled manner to the associated filling channel 21.

In contrast to Fig. 1 and 5 show the Fig. 2 to 4 Operating positions occupied by the Fülldorn 11 in question while preparatory actions are performed before a manufacturing company is included. In this regard, the show Fig. 2 and 4 an operating position in which the Fülldorn 11, which is withdrawn from the area of the mold 17 out, is received with a length range within a shielding hood 27. This is how best of all Fig. 4 can be seen to the filling needle-like end portion 15 with the Füllgutaustritt and an adjoining length portion 29 (Fig. 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, the in Fig. 2 and 4 shown operating position occupies. In addition to the functional channels running in the filling mandrel 11, such as the central filling channel 21, which are known per se in such devices, at least one further functional channel, which serves as a media supply channel, is provided, as it is merely in FIG Fig. 4 and 5 is more clearly recognizable, where this channel is designated 39. This further functional channel 39 extends along the outside of the respective filling mandrels 11, as shown Fig. 4 and 5 can be seen starting from an inflow supply port 41 (FIG. Fig. 5 ), up to an exit port 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 in Fig. 5 labeled 42 and 44.

At the in Fig. 2 and 4 shown operating state of the hood body 45 of the shielding hood 27 with its top wall 47 planar on the end face 7 of the extruder head 5 at. 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.

At the in Fig. 2 and 4 In the state shown, 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, namely within the edge of the relevant extrusion nozzle opening 50, with respect to which it is sealed by a seal arrangement 49 received in the cover wall 47. 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 mandrel 11 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 is in communication 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 mandrel 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 mandrel 11 is cleaned or sterilized on the circumference. In the same operating position of the Fülldornes 11 and located in working position Abschirmhaube 27 can then to the cleaning of the filling channel 21 of the sterilization process are initiated by 9 superheated steam flows through the filling device of at least 121 ° 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 portion 15th 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 sterilizing procedures, the corresponding drying / cooling process can then be carried out via the same media connections, wherein condensate of the preceding sterilizing steam is blown out by the supply of sterile air.

Subsequent to the drying of the respective Fülldorn 11 is in the in Fig. 3 shown operating position withdrawn, so that the shielding hood 27 from the in Fig. 2 to 4 shown function position is moved out, wherein the shielding hood 27 is displaced, for example, in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing on the end face 7 of the extruder head 5.

After removing the shielding hood 27 from the functional position, the device is ready for the beginning of a manufacturing period. Due to the fact that during the in Fig. 1 and 5 production phase shown the mouth 40 of the running along the outside of the Fülldornes 11 Funktionskanales 39 within the emerging from the extrusion nozzle opening 50 tube 52 (FIG. Fig. 5 ), the medium supplied via the functional channel 39 flows into the interior of the tube 52. This forms in its course from the extruder head 5 into the mold 17 thus into a closed space. When sterile air flows in via the functional channel 39, a filling sterile chamber 53 is thus formed, within which the entire production process 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 meets international standards with regard to aseptic (class 100) to a particular extent does justice.

Claims (9)

1. A device for producing and filling containers in which at least one tube of plasticised plastic material can be extruded into an open mould (17), by means of a filling device (9) comprising several function channels (21, 39) which are separate from one another at least the filling material being able to be delivered into respective containers by means of a filling mandrel (11) assigned to a respective mould (17),

   - characterised in that there is a mandrel protective cover (27) which

   - has at least one functional space (31, 35),

   - in its function position produces a media-carrying connection for purposes of cleaning and/or sterilisation and/or drying between its respective functional space (31, 35) and the respectively assignable function channel (21, 39) of the filling device (9), and

   - during container production and filling is moved out of its function position,

   - that the protective cover (27) has a first (31) and a second functional space (35) which are offset to one another in the direction of longitudinal displacement of the respective filling mandrel (11) and of which the first (31) accommodates the end section (15) of the respective filling mandrel (11) at which the outlet of the function channel running centrally in the filling mandrel (11) and which serves as the filling channel (21) during filling is located.
2. The device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the at least one filling mandrel (11) can be set at selected operating positions by longitudinal displacement and, in the operating position which interacts with the protective cover (27), is accommodated with a longitudinal section (15, 29) in at least one functional space (31, 35) of the protective cover (27) which is in the function position.
3. The device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the second functional space (35) of the protective cover (27) is intended to accommodate the longitudinal section (29) of the respective filling mandrel (11) which is connected to the end section (15) and has an input opening (51) through which in the corresponding operating position and in the function position of the protective cover (27) the respective filling mandrel (11) extends and via which the connection between the second functional space (35) and another function channel (39) of the filling device (9) can be established.
4. The device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the respective filling mandrel (11) extends through an extruder head (5) which has a face (7) which is adjoined flat by the cover wall (47) of the protective cover (27) in its function position, which wall has the input opening (51) of the respective second functional space (35) and that the other function channel (39) extends along the outer side of the filling mandrel (11) through the extruder head (5) and ends on its face (7) such that by means of the input opening (51) in the adjoining cover wall (47) of the protective cover (27) the connection to its second functional space (35) is formed.
5. The device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, characterised in that each functional space (31, 35) of the protective cover (27) has a media output (33) via which the respective media supplied by the connection to the function channels (21, 39) of the filling device (9), for example cleaning and/or sterilisation media and/or cooling/drying media, can be discharged to the outside.
6. The device according to Claim 5, characterised in that the protective cover (27) forms a protective body (45) the respective input opening (51) of which is adjoined by the second functional space (35) which is separated from the coaxially following first functional space (31) by a seal insert (37) which forms a central passage for the entry of the filling needle-like end section (15) of the filling mandrel (11) which forms the outlet for the filling material into the first functional space (31).
7. The device according to Claim 6, characterised in that the protective cover (27) can be moved by displacing its cover wall (47) along the face (7) of the extruder head (5) into and out of the function position.
8. The device according to any of Claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the filling device (9), in addition to the dosing system (25) assigned to the central filling material channel of the respective filling mandrel, also has the supply devices (23, 41) by means of which both the filling material channel (21) and also the other function channels (39) can be optionally supplied with cleaning media, sterilising media, drying media or cooling media.
9. The device according to Claim 8, characterised in that at least one function channel (39) which is located outside of the filling mandrel (11) and which forms a flow path which is routed along the outer side of the filling mandrel (11) can be supplied with a sterile, gaseous medium which in the course of the extrusion process forming the tube (52) can be discharged on the face (7) of the extruder head (5) and which on the inside of the tube is used both as support air which stabilises the tube (52) and also forms a sterile zone in it.

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