EP2475609B9 - System for the sterile filling of products, especially beverages into bottles or similar receptacles - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a system according to the preamble of claim 1

Equipment for the sterile filling of products, in particular beverages in bottles or in the same containers are known, wherein the containers in these systems, at least during filling and the subsequent closing. but are also received on intermediate transport paths at least with their respective container opening having area in a sterile room, which is acted upon during operation of the system with a sterile vapor and / or gaseous medium, for example with sterile air.

The publication EP 1 561 722 A1 discloses a plant for the aseptic filling of a liquid filling material. The containers to be filled are fed via a container task of the system, sterilized on a rinser and fed to the filler after sterilization. A capper is then provided on the filler to close the containers. in the closed state, the containers are then removed via the outlet. The rinser, the filler and the capper are housed in a housing. Subsequent to the enclosure sections, a further housing is provided, via which the bottle feed or bottle removal takes place.

The publication EP 0 893 397 A1 discloses a method and apparatus for high purity bottling of beverages. The system has a Tauchbadsterilisator whose outlet opens into a room bounded by walls or a ceiling. Inside the room there is a rotary pen and a capper. The area of the inlet starter, the capper and the peripheral area of the rotary filler in the area of the filling valves are enclosed by a wall.

The publication DE 10 2008 007 428 A1 discloses a plant according to the preamble of claim 1. The plant, which is essentially formed of a sterilizer, a filling machine and a closing machine, has an enclosure which is spatially formed and accommodates all the aforementioned elements in itself. Furthermore, a channel is provided in which the bottles are moved from the outlet of the sterilizer until it is closed.

The object of the invention is to show a system with which improved quality and reliability in sterile filling and sealing of containers are guaranteed. To solve this problem, a system according to claim 1 is formed.

In the system, the enclosure forming the actual sterile room is enclosed, at least in one subarea, by a further enclosure, which forms the container task and the container dispenser and into which the sterile room opens with a container inlet and a container outlet. If the sterile room is delimited by wall elements, between which is a relative movement during operation of the system, the transitions between such wall elements or provided there seals are preferably added to the interior of the other housing.

Further developments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures.

Fig. 1

in vereinfachter Darstellung und in Draufsicht eine Anlage zu sterilen Füllen von Behältern in Form von Flaschen mit einem flüssigen Füllgut sowie zum anschließenden Verschließen der Behälter;

Fig. 2

in vereinfachter schematischer Teildarstellung einen Vertikalschnitt durch den die Füllmaschine bzw. das Füllaggregat aufweisenden Teil der Anlage der Figur 1;

Fig. 3

eine Darstellung ähnlich Figur 2, bei einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

Fig. 1

in a simplified representation and in plan view attachment to sterile filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid product and for subsequent closure of the container;

Fig. 2

in a simplified schematic partial representation of a vertical section through the filling machine or the filling unit having part of the system FIG. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a representation similar FIG. 2 in a further embodiment of the invention.

The plant generally designated 1 in the figures is used to fill containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid product and to close the filled bottles 2, in each case under sterile conditions. The bottles 2 to be filled are fed into the system 1 or a container task 1.1 of the system via an external conveyor 3. The filled and sealed bottles 2 are fed to a container delivery 1.2 of the system 1 via an external conveyor 4 for further use, for example a labeling machine following the installation 1. The bottles 2 are in the illustrated embodiment, those made of plastic, such as PET, in the manner known to those skilled u.a. are formed at their bottleneck below the respective bottle mouth 2.1 with a protruding mouth flange 2.2

For the sterile filling as well as for the closure of these bottles under sterile conditions, the plant 1 comprises, inter alia, three units in the form of a sterilizer 5, an activator 6 and a filler 7, which are sequentially provided in this order in a container transport direction A through the system 1 , Furthermore, the system comprises several plant-internal container transport elements, including a bottle or container inlet of the sterilizer 5 forming transport star 8, a bottle or container transfer between the sterilizer 5 and the activator 6 forming the transport star 9, a bottle or container transfer between the activator 6 and the filler 7 forming transport star 10 and a plurality of the container outlet forming transport stars 12 and 13 with subsequent feed dog 14th

The sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and the filler 7 are in the illustrated embodiment, each machine or units of rotating design. Accordingly, the sterilizer 5 includes i.a. a circumferentially driven about a vertical axis MA5 rotor 5.1, at the periphery of a plurality of treatment, stations are formed at which the sterilization of the container task 1.1 and the transport star 8 supplied and oriented with its bottle axis in the vertical direction bottles 2.

The filler 7 includes i.a. a rotatably drivable around a vertical axis MA7 rotor 7.1, at the periphery of a plurality of filling positions are formed, for example, where volume or quantity controlled filling the bottles 2 with the liquid contents and which the bottles 2 individually and continue with their bottle axis in oriented in the vertical direction over the transport star 10 are supplied.

The capper 11 includes i.a. a circumferentially driven about a vertical axis of the machine rotor, at the periphery of a plurality of Verschließpositionen are formed, where the filled bottles 2 individually and also with their bottle axis oriented in the vertical direction for closing supplied and removed the sealed bottles 2 after each other with the transport star 12 become.

In the illustrated embodiment, the rotors 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 are each formed substantially circular, so that the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and 7 filler results in a mid-free construction, which makes it possible within the respective rotor 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 enclosed space to provide further, not rotating with the rotor functional elements.

It is understood that the rotors 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 as well as all transport stars 8 - 13 during the operation of the system 1 are synchronously and driven so that the over the outer Transporter 3 supplied bottles 2 after the transfer to the sterilizer 5 sterilized on the angular range of rotation of the rotor 5.1 between the transport star 8 and the transport star 9.

Again FIG. 1 can be seen, the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and the filler 7 are arranged such that the machine axes MA5, MA6 and MA7 in plan view of the Appendix 1 define the vertices of a triangle (triangle configuration). Following this, the capper 11 is shown. In variants not shown, in more than three treatment machines, a partial circle or Teilvieleck configuration should be selected. Within this triangle, but at least withinhallb of an angular range of two vertical planes E1 and E2 all transport stars 8 - 13 are arranged. The plane E1 is defined by the two machine axes MA5 and MA6 and the plane E2 by the two machine axes M6 and MA7. The planes E1 and E2 include an angle significantly less than 180%, preferably less than 120 °. By this arrangement of the transport stars 8 - 10 with respect to the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and the filler 7 results inter alia optimal clarity and accessibility of the system 1 and in particular the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and filler 7, namely among other things, for an optical monitoring of the operation of the system 1 as well as for maintenance and repair purposes.

For the sterilization of the bottles 2 and for filling and closing of these bottles under sterile conditions, the system 1 is formed with an inner housing 15, which forms an outwardly closed interior or sterile room 16. In this sterile room 16 include the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and filler 7, but at least accommodated with the bottles 2 directly interacting functional elements of these units and all FlaschenTransport- and guide elements, which are provided in the container transport direction A between the container inlet of the sterilizer 5 formed by the transport star 8 and the 12 formed by the transport star 12 container outlet of the filler 7 or capper 11, ie in particular the transport stars are 9 - 10 arranged in the sterile room 16, at least but the directly interacting with the bottles 2 functional elements of these transport stars.

The FIG. 2 shows the formation of the housing 15 in the area of the filler 7 or in the region of the filling positions there. The housing 15 consists there among other things of a 7.1 formed by the rotor wall element 17, which with a machine axis MA7 concentrically enclosing circular cylindrical wall portion 17.1 the sterile room 16 relative to this machine axis radially inwardly and with an upper, the machine axis concentrically enclosing annular wall portion 17.2 the sterile room 16 closes at its top, as well as from a non-rotating with the rotor 7.1 wall element 18, which closes with a machine axis MA7 enclosing wall section 18.1 the sterile room 16 relative to this machine axis radially outboard and a wall section 18.2 the sterile room 16 at the bottom. The wall section 18.1 is designed to be transparent, at least in some areas, ie it consists of panes or windows 19 made of glass or of a crystal-clear plastic. Through the window 19, the operation of the filler 7 can be monitored optically. At the transitions between the wall elements 17 and 18, a labyrinth seal 20 is provided in each case.

As the FIG. 2 also shows, the respective filling position of the filler 7 is formed, inter alia, of a filling element 21 and a container carrier 22, on which the respective bottle 2 is held hanging at its mouth flange 2.2, below a filling or dispensing tube 21.1 extending into the sterile room 16 Filling element 21, which is with the exception of this filling or dispensing tube above the wall portion 17.2 and thus outside of the sterile room 16. In an analogous manner, the inner housing 15 is also formed in the region of the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and the capper 11, ie, there is the sterile room 16 each formed by the rotor 5.1 and 6.1 and the wall element 17 corresponding wall element and limited by the non-rotating with the rotor 5.1 and 6.1 and the wall element 18 corresponding wall element. Instead of the filling element 21, the treatment positions of the sterilizer 5 or activator 6 have, for example, a treatment head, via which the media used for the sterilization are introduced into the bottles 2, which are also suspended there at their mouth flange 2.2. Instead of the filling element 21, the closing positions of the closer 11 have corresponding closing elements for closing the bottles 2. As well as in the area of the filler 7, the outer wall elements, which do not revolve around the rotor 5.1 or 6.1, are also designed as transparent panes 19 in the region of the sterilizer 5 and the activator 6, at least in some areas. The system-internal transport elements (in particular transport stars 8-13) are also formed, at least for the most part, for a suspended receiving of the surfaces 2.

In the area of the activator 6, the sterile room 16 is formed with an inner vertical dividing wall 23, which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends radially from the wall element 17 to the machine axis MA6 up to an outer wall section 24 of the enclosure 15. The partition wall 23, which of course is not connected to the wall element 17 but only reaches the vicinity of this conversion element, extends through the space between the two transport stars 9 and 10.

In addition to the inner enclosure 15, the installation 1 has an outer enclosure 25 which encloses the inner enclosure 15 at a distance (room-in-space concept) and forms an interior space 26 in which the inner enclosure 15 is at the top the housing 15 arranged functional elements (eg filling elements 21), the transport stars 8, 12 and 13 and the feed dog 14 are added. The outer housing 25 further forms the container task 1.1 and the container delivery 1.2 and preferably forms there each a lock-like chamber.

Furthermore, the outer transporters 3 and 4 extend into the inner space 26, the transporter 3 preferably being designed as a container guide, on which the bottles 2 are kept hanging with their mouth flange 2.2 and moved on by conveying or blowing air. This design has the advantage, inter alia, that moving, mechanical transport elements with which additional germs could be carried off through the container inlet 1.1 into the interior 26 are avoided.

At least at the part which surrounds the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and filler 7 on its side facing away from the transport stars 8 - 10, the enclosure 25 and the outer wall of windows or windows 27 made of glass or a clear plastic, so through the window 27, the operation of the system 1 and their aggregates can be visually observed or controlled. On the top of the housing 25, an assembly 28 is provided for the production of sterile air, the outlet opens in the region of the partition wall 23 in the sterile room 16 and with the sterile room 16 is acted upon with sterile air, with a pressure P1 of the above Ambient pressure or normal pressure PN is. Through the partition wall 23 results in a two-part flow of the generated by the unit 28 sterile air through the sterile room 16, on the one hand, a flow starting approximately from the partition wall 23 and the transport star 10 along the activator 6 and the sterilizer 5 enclosing part of the sterile room 16 (arrow B), this air flow then at least partially exits the container task 1.1. A second flow of the sterile air (arrow C), in turn, proceeds from the dividing wall 23 or the transport star 10 along the part of the sterile room 16 enclosing the capper 11 and emerges at least partially at the container outlet 1.2 into the atmosphere. Since the Elekesereinlass and the container outlet of the inner housing 15 within the outer housing 25 and within the interior 26 and also a absolutely tight conclusion of the sterile room 16 in particular on the labyrinth seals 20 to the interior 26 by the room-in-room concept not is mandatory, the interior 26 is also supplied with sterile air from the unit 28, with a pressure P2, which is indeed smaller than the pressure P1 in the sterile room 16, but greater than the ambient pressure PN.

As the FIG. 2 shows the outer housing 25 with an upper wall portion 25.1 from the plant 1 on its entire top from, in particular in the area of the filler 7, but also in the area of the sterilizer 5 and activator 6 and the capper 11, so that the filling elements 21 and the corresponding functional elements of the treatment positions or closing positions of the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and capper 11 are located within the interior space 26 of the housing 25.

The FIG. 3 shows in a representation similar FIG. 2 a modified embodiment in which the outer housing 25a is formed so that it reaches with its the inner space 26 bounding at the top wall portion 25a.1 only to the formed by the rotor wall member 17, the provided at the top of the inner housing 15 functional elements the filler 7, but also the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and the capper 11 are located outside the interior 26 of the outer housing 25 a.

At 29 are in the FIG. 1 Blower refers to which excess air is discharged from the interior 26 into the environment. Due to the arrangement of the blower 29 on the housing 25 or 25a between the container task 1.1 and the container delivery 1.2, in the illustrated embodiment in the middle or approximately in the middle of the housing 25 or 25a is an optimal or even distribution of sterile air from the sterile room 16 in the interior 26 reaches. By the room-in-room concept so the sterile room 16 is so far separated by the housing 15 from the interior 26 that the sterile room 16 only in the area of the transport stars 8 and 12 or in the area there container inlet or -auslässe and possibly by leakage in the region of the seals 20 with the interior 26 and the interior 26 substantially only via the container task 1.1 and the container delivery 1.2 forming openings or container inlet or -auslässe with the outside space 30, ie the environment in connection.

By the blower 29 ensures that also in the interior 26 a directed gas flow is formed and thus the very high-quality seals and Bearings, drives etc. remain protected from the outside atmosphere. In particular, protection also remains in maintenance and cleaning work when the sterile room 16 has to be opened.

In a variant, not shown, gas is sucked from the interior 26 at the level of the transport stars (analogous to version Fig. 1 ) and subsequently introduced into the interior 26 on the opposite side of the

The use of the inner housing 15 and the outer housing 25 or 25a, or of the space-in-space concept realized with these housings, results in a particularly high quality of the sterile or aseptic filling of products. The burden of seals, bearings and other functional elements of the entire enclosed by the housing 25 or 25a part of the system 1, especially within the sterile room 16 by dirt, temperature change and / or passage in a production hall, etc. is substantially reduced. As a result, such components are subject to little wear or can be produced with lower quality, in particular also with regard to the materials used.

Specifically, when the interior 26 is at least partially accessible, a direct influence of the outside atmosphere or the atmosphere of a production hall on the sterile room 16 is also avoided if the enclosure is closed 25 or 25a opening the sterile room 16, for example, for maintenance or repair purposes is required. By using the windows 19 and 27 as well as by the special arrangement of the aggregates and transport stars in the triangle formation or configuration further results in improved transparency and clarity.

Due to the room-in-room concept so the sterile room 16 is so far separated by the housing 15 from the interior 26 that the sterile room 16 only in the area the transport stars 8 and 12 or in the area there container entrances or outlets and possibly by leakage in the region of the seals 20 with the interior 26 and the interior 26 substantially only on the container task 1.1 and the container delivery 1.2 forming openings or container insertion. or outlets related to the environment.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that sensors, sensors or similar means for detecting a fluid flow are arranged on the Elehälteraufgabe 1.1 and / or on the container dispensing 1.2, said means detect a leaking from the container task 1.1 and / or container delivery gas flow should. In this case, these means generate a signal which gives information about whether a fluid flows out of the container treatment machine or not. By connecting to a suitable, preferably electronic or computer-technical evaluation device can thus be ensured that a constant, emerging from the machine fluid flow is present, whereby the penetration of outside air, germs or other harmful influences or foreign substances in the container treatment machine is reliably avoided.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Attachments

2

bottle

1.1

container infeed

1.2

container discharge

2.1

bottle mouth

2.2

Mündungsflansch

3, 4

external transporter

5

sterilizer

5.1

rotor

6

Activator and dryer

6.1

rotor

7

ink pen

7.1

rotor

8 - 10

transport star

11

capper

12 - 13

transport star

14

carrier

15

inner enclosure

16

Clean room

17

wall element

17.1, 17.2

wall section

18

wall element

18.1, 18.2

wall section

19

window

20

labyrinth seal

21

filler

21.1

filling pipe

22

container carrier

23

partition wall

24

wall section

25, 25a

outer enclosure

25a.1

wall section

26

inner space

27

window

28

Aggregate for the production of sterile air

29

fan

30

outer space

A

Transport direction of the bottles 2

B, C

Flow direction of the sterile air

E1, E2

level

MA5, MA6, MA7

machine axis

Claims (11)

1. System for the sterile or aseptic filling of bottles or similar receptacles (2), with a receptacle supplying mechanism (1.1), by means of which the receptacles (2) to be filled are supplied to the system (1), with a receptacle discharge mechanism (1.2) by means of which the filled and closed receptacles (2) are removed from the system (1), with at least one device configured as a filler (7) for the filling of the receptacles (2) and with a device configured as a closing device (11) for closing the filled receptacles (2), and with a housing (15), which forms at least one sterile space (16), in which the receptacles (2) are in each case taken up by a receptacle region exhibiting a receptacle opening (2.1) during the filling and closing, and which can be subjected to a sterile gaseous and/or vaporous medium, wherein at least one further housing (25, 25a) is provided for, which surrounds the housing (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16) on at least one part region and forms the receptacle supplying mechanism (1.1) and the receptacle discharge mechanism (1.2), wherein the at least one sterile space (16) opens at a receptacle inlet and at a receptacle outlet into the interior (26) of the second housing (25, 25a), and wherein the sterile space (16) is configured for a complete take-up of the receptacles (2), wherein at least one device comprises a transport element in the form of a rotor (5.1, 6.1, 7.1) which can be driven such as to rotate about a vertical machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), formed at which are treatment positions (21, 22) for the receptacles (2), wherein the sterile space (16) is delimited in the region of this device by at least one wall element (17), formed by the rotor and moved with the transport element, as well as by at least one wall element (18) of the housing (15), not moved with the transport element, wherein a device (28) is configured for subjecting the at least one sterile space (16) to the sterile gaseous and/or vaporous medium, in such a way that the pressure of this medium in the sterile space (16) is greater than the ambient pressure (PN), and wherein the sterile space (16) is configured for a flow of the sterile gaseous and/or vaporous medium in a first flow direction (B) from a medium inlet in the direction to the receptacle supplying mechanism (1.1), and in a second flow direction (C) from a medium inlet to the receptacle discharge mechanism (1.2), characterised in that
   the wall element (17), which is moved, closes off with a circular cylindrical wall section (17.1), concentrically surrounding the machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), the sterile space (16) radially inwards related to this machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), and closes off the sterile space (16) on its upper side with a ring-shaped upper wall section (17.2), concentrically surrounding the machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), and the wall element (18), which does not circulate, closes off the sterile space (16) with a wall section (18.1) surrounding the machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), radially outwards in relation to this machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), and closes off the sterile space (16) with this wall section (18.2) on the under side, wherein, at the transition points between the wall element (17) with moves with the transport element and the wall element (18) which is not moved with the transport element, in each case a seal (20) is provided, configured as a labyrinth seal, and wherein the at least one seal (20) is accommodated in the interior (26) of the further housing (25, 25a), and that a part flow of the first flow direction (B) and/or a part flow of the second flow direction (C) is formed in the direction of at least one central suction device (29).
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that two central suction devices (29) are provided, which are arranged opposite one another.
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that at least one central suction device removes gas or air from the space between the sterile space (16) and the housing (25), and introduces it at another location, in particular at a location opposite of the adjacent treatment machine, into the space between the sterile space (16) and the housing (25).
4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in a transport direction (A), devices configured as a steriliser (5) and at least one activator (6) are provided upstream of the device configured as the filler (7), that the devices (5, 6, 7, 11) are arranged in a triangular or part-circle formation or configuration, and that the receptacle transport elements (9,10) connecting the devices 5, 6, 7 of the system (1) are arranged inside a common angle range of the triangular or part-circle formation.
5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that the container transport elements (9,10,12,13) of the system (1) are arranged inside a common angle region of the triangular or part-circle formation.
6. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the further housing (25, 25a) surrounds the housing (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16) at the part region with a spacing interval.
7. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the housing (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16), or the wall elements (17, 18) forming this housing, are completely accommodated in the further housing (25).
8. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the further housing (25a) surrounds the housing (15), forming the sterile space (16), only in a part region, in such a way that the housing (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16) is located partially outside the interior (26) of the further housing (25a).
9. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the interior (26) of the further housing (25, 25a) can be subjected to the sterile gaseous or vaporous medium, preferably with sterile air, and preferably in such a way that the pressure (P2) in this interior (26) is lower than the pressure (P1) in the sterile space (16) but greater that the ambient or surrounding pressure (PN)
10. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the wall elements delimiting the at least one sterile space (16) and/or the interior (26) of the further housing (25,25a) are formed at least in part regions with windows (19, 27) of a transparent material, preferably of glass or a glass-clear plastic.
11. System according to any one of the foregoing claims, characterised in that the further housing (25, 25a) forms, in the region of the receptacle supplying mechanism (1.1) and/or in the region of the receptacle discharge mechanism (1.2), in each case a fore-chamber or sluice lock chamber, into which the outer transporter (3, 4) extends in order to supply or discharge the receptacles (2).

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