EP3127859B1 - Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine - Google Patents

Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine Download PDF

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Publication number
EP3127859B1
EP3127859B1 EP15180161.0A EP15180161A EP3127859B1 EP 3127859 B1 EP3127859 B1 EP 3127859B1 EP 15180161 A EP15180161 A EP 15180161A EP 3127859 B1 EP3127859 B1 EP 3127859B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
filling
sterile
container
mouth
cap
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.)
Active
Application number
EP15180161.0A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP3127859A1 (en
Inventor
Rolf Harth
Frank Lechert
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Pouch Partners GmbH
Original Assignee
INDAG Pouch Partners GmbH
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by INDAG Pouch Partners GmbH filed Critical INDAG Pouch Partners GmbH
Priority to EP15180161.0A priority Critical patent/EP3127859B1/en
Priority to ES15180161T priority patent/ES2817777T3/en
Priority to US15/750,802 priority patent/US20180244510A1/en
Priority to PCT/EP2016/068755 priority patent/WO2017025465A1/en
Publication of EP3127859A1 publication Critical patent/EP3127859A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP3127859B1 publication Critical patent/EP3127859B1/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • 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
    • B67C7/0086—Sterilisation being restricted to the area of application of the closure
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B3/00—Packaging plastic material, semiliquids, liquids or mixed solids and liquids, in individual containers or receptacles, e.g. bags, sacks, boxes, cartons, cans, or jars
    • B65B3/04—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
    • B65B3/045—Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles for filling flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/12—Feeding flexible bags or carton blanks in flat or collapsed state; Feeding flat bags connected to form a series or chain
    • B65B43/14—Feeding individual bags or carton blanks from piles or magazines
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/50—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation using rotary tables or turrets
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B43/00—Forming, feeding, opening or setting-up containers or receptacles in association with packaging
    • B65B43/42—Feeding or positioning bags, boxes, or cartons in the distended, opened, or set-up state; Feeding preformed rigid containers, e.g. tins, capsules, glass tubes, glasses, to the packaging position; Locating containers or receptacles at the filling position; Supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/54—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation
    • B65B43/60—Means for supporting containers or receptacles during the filling operation rotatable
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/022—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages of flexible containers having a filling and dispensing spout, e.g. containers of the "bag-in-box"-type
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
    • B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
    • B65B55/027—Packaging in aseptic chambers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
    • B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
    • B65B7/02—Closing containers or receptacles deformed by, or taking-up shape, of, contents, e.g. bags, sacks
    • 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
    • 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

  • the invention relates to a method for aseptic filling of a container according to claim 1, a sterile filling device according to the preamble of claim 3, an aseptic machine according to the preamble of claim 8 and a method for aseptic filling according to claim 12.
  • EP 2 607 242 A2 discloses an aseptic wrapping bag filling machine having a fill opening that is closable by a removable cap located on one side of the bag.
  • the filling machine comprises an empty bag feeding means; a means for removing filled bags; and a carousel device with a rotating platform which has a continuous movement, on which at least two peripherally equidistant filling stations are arranged, each of which has a support plane for bags and a filling group.
  • Each filling group includes a sterile chamber; means for lifting the opening of the empty pouch lying on the support plane within the sterile chamber; Means for causing overpressure in the chamber; means for removing the cap from the opening and positioning it on one side of the opening and vice versa, the means for removing being located within the sterile chamber; and a dispensing meter that is vertically slidable into the sterile chamber and adapted to engage the opening.
  • the object of the invention is to provide methods for aseptically filling a container, a sterile filling device and an aseptic machine, which enable efficient and safe aseptic filling of containers with filling product.
  • the object is achieved by the method according to claim 1, the sterile filling device according to claim 3, the aseptic machine according to claim 8 and the method according to claim 12.
  • a method for aseptically filling a container with filling product the container is transported into an area of a sterile room that is assigned to the container, and then a mouth region of the container with a cap for filling is placed in a mouth opening of the sterile room.
  • This method makes it possible to keep a sterile space assigned to the container comparatively small, since only the mouth region of the container is introduced into the sterile space for filling.
  • the container can be a PET bottle or a glass bottle with a threaded pouch or a spout foil pouch.
  • the mouth opening of the sterile room is at most 5% larger than the mouth area of the container. It is also advantageous if the shapes of the mouth opening and the mouth region with the cap are at least approximately to match. With a round cross section of the mouth region or the cap of the container, the cross section of the mouth opening of the sterile room is preferably also round.
  • the part of a container that does not belong to the mouth area is not introduced into the sterile room. So only the mouth area of the container is brought into the sterile room.
  • the volume of the sterile room can therefore be chosen to be smaller in comparison to sterile rooms of the prior art.
  • An associated sterile room is preferably provided for each container. If a problem occurs in the sterile room during the filling process, so that sterility is no longer guaranteed, it is sufficient in the following only to remove those containers which have been filled in this sterile room. In addition, to fix the problem, only the individual sterile room that showed the problem needs to be serviced or checked. In a filling machine that has several sterile rooms for filling several containers, it can thus be ensured that the sterile rooms that have shown no problem can continue to be used for filling containers. Accordingly, it is not necessary for a filling machine to be stopped completely.
  • sterile room refers to such a room or volume that can be placed in a sterile state.
  • the sterile room does not therefore have to be sterile at all times, but can only be returned to a sterile state by sterilization or at all.
  • the method can be provided in the food processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid foods, such as drinks or porridge, and / or in the animal feed processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid feed, such as cat milk or wet food.
  • the sterile space and the introduced mouth region of the container with the cap can be sterilized. After the mouth area has been introduced into the mouth opening of the sterile room, the sterile room and the introduced mouth area are sterilized so that the container can be filled with the filling product under aseptic or sterile conditions. Sterilization can be carried out, for example, by introducing a sterile gas into the sterile room and / or by externally irradiating it with electrons and / or X-rays.
  • the cap is removed after placing the mouth area in the mouth opening and before filling. Especially when filling spout plastic bags Hand over the spout foil pouch with an applied cap to the sterile room or place the mouth area in the mouth opening to avoid contamination of the open spout foil pouch when the spout foil pouch is transported to the sterile space. The cap is then removed before the container is filled.
  • a capper can be provided in the sterile room, ie a device which is designed to remove a cap from a mouth region of a container, for example by gripping and then unscrewing the cap.
  • the container is filled.
  • the container is filled by means of a filling valve which is arranged in the sterile room and can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening of the sterile room and thus with the mouth region of the container.
  • the cap After filling, the cap is again applied to the mouth region of the container placed in the mouth opening.
  • the kapper is used, which is arranged in the sterile room.
  • the mouth region of the container is removed again from the mouth opening of the sterile room. This makes it possible to use the filled containers for further work processes.
  • a sterile filling device for the aseptic filling of a container in particular for carrying out a method as described above or further below, comprises a sterile room which comprises a mouth opening in the bottom for a mouth region of a container and a filling valve and a capper in the lid, the filling valve or the kapper in Alignment with the mouth opening can be brought.
  • the mouth opening of the sterile room is a maximum of 5% larger than the mouth area of the container.
  • the shapes of the mouth opening and the mouth region match at least approximately.
  • the cross section of the mouth opening of the sterile room is preferably also round.
  • the size of the mouth opening it also makes sense to take into account whether the mouth area of the container includes a cap / closure or not.
  • a cap is removed from a container by means of the capper, so that the container can be filled. At the end of the filling process, this cap is applied to this container again by means of the cap.
  • the capper can be a device which is designed to remove or apply a cap from a mouth region of a container, for example by gripping the cap and unscrewing or unscrewing the cap.
  • the sterile room also includes a cleaning nozzle which can be brought into alignment with the filling valve.
  • the filling valve can be cleaned with the cleaning nozzle. Dried filler residues or residues of the previous product when changing the filler product can thus be removed by cleaning.
  • the sealing device can be a holding clip of the spout foil pouch, by means of which it is transported into the area of the sterile room and by means of which the mouth area, i.e. the spout in which the mouth of the sterile room is placed.
  • a stopper of the mouth area can serve as a sealing device.
  • a sealing ring or the like to be provided on the bottom of the sterile space, which surrounds the mouth opening and with which the mouth area can be brought into contact in order to create a sterile condition.
  • the bottom and / or the cover can include an access for sterile gas, for example H 2 O 2 . Since the sterility of the sterile room is no longer ensured due to contact with the outside environment during a placement of the mouth area of a container in the mouth opening of the sterile room or during and / or during removal of the mouth area from the mouth, the sterile room is preferably given before a filling process and / or (again) sterilized before removing a cap from a container. This can be done, for example, by introducing sterile gas into the sterile room.
  • sterile gas for example H 2 O 2
  • the sterile filling device can comprise a material which is permeable to electrons and / or X-rays for sterilizing the sterile room. Since only the sterile room and a mouth area of a container located in it are sterilized, but not the filling product or filling product that has already been filled in, sterilization can also be carried out with electrons and / or X-rays. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the material of the sterile filling device is permeable to electrons and / or X-rays.
  • An overpressure of at least 0.2 bar compared to an ambient pressure can be provided in the sterile room.
  • the floor of the sterile room is designed as a stator and the cover is designed as a rotor, the rotor being designed to be rotatable relative to the stator. It is thus possible to bring the filling valve, which is arranged in the cover, into alignment with the mouth opening, which is arranged in the bottom, so that a container whose mouth region is placed in the mouth opening can be filled.
  • the rotor is designed to be rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the stator.
  • elements which are in the cover i.e. Rotor
  • elements located in the ground i.e. Stator
  • the container is arranged with its mouth region in the mouth opening, which is located in the bottom, unnecessary movement of the container during the filling process or also during removal of a cap from the container is avoided.
  • the filling valve and / or the kapper can be moved parallel to the axis of rotation. This movability enables the filling valve to be simply introduced into the mouth region of the container or an arrangement of the filling valve above the mouth region for carrying out a filling process. After the filling process, the filling valve can be removed from the mouth area by an upward movement. In addition, it is then possible for the filling valve to be removed from alignment with the orifice opening by rotating the rotor cover about the axis of rotation.
  • the movability makes it possible for the kapper to be lowered after it has been brought into alignment with the mouth opening or the mouth area in order to remove a cap from a container before a filling process or a cap after the filling process back onto the container to apply.
  • the aseptic machine comprises a rotary carousel with a plurality of sterile filling devices arranged thereon, each with a sterile space, each of which is provided for aseptically filling a container with filling product and an irradiation device arranged in the periphery of the rotary carousel for irradiating at least the sterile filling device with electrons and / or X-rays before a filling process.
  • the aseptic machine can be used in the food processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid foods, such as drinks or porridge, and / or in the animal feed processing industry for the filling of at least approximately liquid feed, such as cat milk or wet feed.
  • the aseptic machine can further comprise an evaluation and control device for determining and evaluating status data of the sterile filling devices and for creating and forwarding control data based on the status data.
  • the status data can include or relate to the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling.
  • the determined status data can be compared with reference data in order to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met.
  • These reference data can be known to the evaluation and control device, but they can also be entered and / or read from a data memory.
  • the aseptic machine can further comprise at least one deflection star for deflecting filled containers, which can be controlled by the control data. It is thus possible to reject containers that do not meet the required conditions for sterile or aseptic handling, especially during the filling process.
  • a first of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way to deflect filled containers to a printing device, a second of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way to deflect filled containers to an output and / or a third of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way, in order to discharge filled containers. It is thus possible for filled containers to be treated differently after filling and closing, depending on the status data of the corresponding sterile filling device associated with them, in that they are deflected in different ways.
  • a method for aseptically filling a container in the aseptic machine comprises the steps: transporting the container into an area of a sterile room which is assigned to the container; Placing the mouth region of the container for filling in the mouth opening of the sterile room; Sterilizing the sterile room and the introduced mouth area; Remove the cap after placing the muzzle area in the muzzle opening and before filling.
  • the method may further comprise the following steps: aligning the filling valve with the orifice; Moving the filling valve parallel to the axis of rotation; Inserting the filling valve into the mouth opening; Filling the container with filling product; Putting on the cap after filling; Deploying the fill valve from the orifice and removing the orifice area from the orifice.
  • the method can further comprise the following steps: determining and evaluating status data of the sterile filling device and creating and forwarding control data based on the status data.
  • the method can comprise at least one of the following steps: deflecting the filled container to a printing device; Redirecting the filled container to an output; Rejecting the filled container.
  • FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional side view of a first embodiment of a sterile filling device 1.
  • This sterile filling device 1 is designed for filling spout foil bags 2 with a cap 3.
  • the mouth opening 4 in the base 5 of the sterile room 6, ie in the stator 5 is designed for receiving the spout 7 with a cap 3.
  • the bottom 5 there is also a cleaning nozzle 8, which is provided for cleaning the filling valve 9 and the cap 10.
  • the filling valve 9 and the kapper 10 are provided in the lid 11 of the sterile room 6, ie in the rotor 11.
  • Both the filling valve 9, the mouth opening 4 and the kapper 10 are arranged in such a way that the kapper 10 and the filling valve 9 can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening 4.
  • the cleaning nozzle 8 is arranged such that it can be brought into alignment with the filling valve 9 and the kapper 10.
  • the rotor / cover 11 is arranged such that it can rotate relative to the stator / base 5 about an axis of rotation 14, so that the kapper 10 or the filling valve 9 is positioned above the orifice 4, i.e. can be brought into alignment with it.
  • a cap 3 of the spout foil bag 2 can be removed, the filling valve 9 can then be positioned above the mouth opening 4 by rotating the rotor / lid 11, and can be introduced into the mouth opening 4 and thus into the mouth region 7 by a method parallel to the axis of rotation 14 , so that the spout foil bag 2 can be filled.
  • the filling valve 9 is removed again from the mouth opening 4 or from the mouth region 7 by a method parallel to the axis of rotation 14 and the cap 10 is arranged above the mouth opening 4 or the mouth region 7 by rotating the rotor / cover 11, so that the cap 3 can be applied or placed on the spout film bag 2.
  • a tight closure of the sterile room 6 from the outside environment is achieved by a retaining clip 12 together with a sealing ring 13, which is arranged outside the sterile room 6 on the floor / stator 5.
  • Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the sterile filling device 1.
  • the filling valve 9, the orifice 4, the capper 10 and the cleaning nozzle 8 have the same radial distance R to the axis of rotation 14.
  • R the radial distance
  • FIGS Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a method for aseptically filling a container with a cap, such as a spout foil pouch, with the first embodiment of the sterile filling device as in FIGS Figures 1 and 2 described.
  • step 100 the container is transported to the sterile filling device.
  • a holding clip can be provided for a spout foil pouch, which engages in an upper region of the spout foil pouch.
  • step 101 the mouth region of the container is placed in the mouth opening of the sterile room of the sterile filling device. Sterilization of the sterile room takes place in step 102, it being possible to sterilize with sterile gas and / or with irradiation with electrons and / or X-rays.
  • step 103 the kapper is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus the mouth area.
  • step 104 the kapper is lowered parallel to the axis of rotation by a method so that it is positioned such that it removes the cap from the container can remove.
  • step 105 the cap is removed from the container.
  • step 106 the kapper is raised parallel to the axis of rotation by a method.
  • step 107 the filling valve is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus also into alignment with the mouth area of the container, for which purpose, for example, the cover is rotated about an axis of rotation with respect to the base or the rotor with respect to the stator of the sterile room.
  • step 108 the filling valve is introduced into the mouth region of the container by moving parallel to the axis of rotation or the filling valve is arranged above the mouth region.
  • step 109 the container is filled with filling product.
  • step 110 the filling valve is brought out of the mouth region of the container by moving parallel to the axis of rotation.
  • step 111 the kapper is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus the mouth region, for which purpose, for example, the lid is rotated about an axis of rotation with respect to the base or the rotor with respect to the stator of the sterile room.
  • step 112 the kapper is lowered by moving parallel to the axis of rotation.
  • step 113 the cap is applied to the container.
  • step 114 the kapper is raised by moving parallel to the axis of rotation.
  • step 115 the mouth region of the container is removed from the mouth opening of the sterile room, for which purpose, for example, the holding clip which holds the spout foil bag is lowered.
  • the filled, capped container can then be used for further work processes.
  • Figure 4 shows a schematic view of an aseptic machine 15, which is suitable for creating, filling and forwarding filled spout foil bags.
  • the foil bags are provided in a magazine 16, from where they are transferred to a device 17, which welds spouts into the foil bags and applies caps to the spouts.
  • the spout film bags are transferred to a rotary carousel 20 by means of two deflection stars 18, 19.
  • a plurality of sterile filling devices, not shown, are arranged on the rotary carousel 20.
  • the transfer of the spout film bags to the rotary carousel 20 takes place in a first area 21 of the rotary carousel 15.
  • a sterile filling device is assigned to a spout film bag, the sterile filling device having a mouth opening in the bottom for a mouth area, ie here for the spout, the spout foil bag and in the lid includes a filling valve which can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening.
  • the spout is placed in the mouth opening and the cap is subsequently removed in a second region 22 of the carousel 15.
  • the sterile space of the sterile filling device is then sterilized in a third area 23 of the carousel 20 together with the cap and the mouth area placed in the mouth opening. At the same time, that area of the spout foil pouch which is arranged outside the sterile space can also be sterilized.
  • the sterilization is carried out by means of electrons and / or X-rays, which are emitted by an irradiation device 26 arranged in the periphery of the rotary carousel 20.
  • the spout foil bag is then filled in a fourth area 24 of the rotary carousel 20 by means of the filling valve of the sterile filling device. After the filling process has ended, the cap is again applied to the spout film bag in this fourth region 24.
  • a fifth area 25 of the rotary carousel 15 the mouth areas of the filled and closed spout foil bags are removed from the mouth openings of the sterile filling devices.
  • status data of the sterile filling device which Foil bag was assigned, determined and evaluated.
  • the status data can include the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling.
  • the determined status data can be compared with reference data in an evaluation step to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met.
  • control data can be created by the evaluation and control device and forwarded to the deflection stars 27, 28, 29, which are arranged downstream of the rotary carousel 20.
  • control data is based on the fact that the status data match the reference data, the deflection star 27, which redirects the filled spout foil pouch to a printing device, or the deflection star 29, which directs the filled spout foil pouch to an output 31, can be controlled redirected.
  • the deflection star 28 can be controlled, which deflects the filled spout film bag to a discharge 30, so that this spout film bag is rejected.
  • FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method for deflecting a filled container.
  • a filled container can from the in the Figure 3 shown procedures result.
  • status data of the sterile filling device are ascertained and evaluated.
  • the status data can include or relate to the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling.
  • the determined status data can be compared with reference data in order to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met.
  • reference data can be known to the evaluation and control device, but they can also be entered and / or read from a data memory.
  • control data is created based on the status data and forwarded.
  • the filled container is redirected to a printing device, for example when the control data are based on the fact that the status data match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflection star 27 can be controlled, which then deflects the filled spout film bag to the printing device.
  • step 204 the filled container is redirected to an output, for example when the control data are based on the fact that the status data match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflection star 29 can be controlled, which deflects the filled spout film bag to the outlet 31.
  • the filled container is discharged in step 205, for example when the control data are based on the fact that all or some of the status data do not match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflecting star 28 can be controlled which deflects the filled spout film bag to a discharge 30, so that this spout film bag is discharged.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Basic Packing Technique (AREA)

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses gemäß Anspruch 1, eine Sterilfüllvorrichtung gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 3, eine Aseptikmaschine gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 8 und ein Verfahren zum aseptischen Abfüllen gemäß Anspruch 12.The invention relates to a method for aseptic filling of a container according to claim 1, a sterile filling device according to the preamble of claim 3, an aseptic machine according to the preamble of claim 8 and a method for aseptic filling according to claim 12.

Stand der TechnikState of the art

Es ist bekannt, für vorgefertigte Gebinde große Sterilräume für die Abfüllung von Füllprodukten in Behälter vorzusehen. Es ist schwierig, den Sterilstatus solch großer Sterilräume aufrecht zu erhalten. Nach einem Störfall, bei dem ein Verlust der Sterilität des Sterilraums festgestellt wird, dauert es lange, bis der große Sterilraum wieder einen Sterilstatus erreicht hat, so dass der Füllprozess neu aufgenommen werden kann, ohne eine Sekundärverkeimung der Behälter und/oder des Füllprodukts zu begünstigen.It is known to provide large sterile spaces for filling products into containers for prefabricated containers. It is difficult to maintain the sterile status of such large sterile rooms. After an accident in which a loss of sterility in the sterile room is determined, it takes a long time for the large sterile room to return to a sterile status so that the filling process can be started again without promoting secondary contamination of the container and / or the filling product .

EP 2 607 242 A2 offenbart eine aseptische Füllmaschine für umhüllende Beutel mit einer Füllöffnung, die durch eine entfernbare Kappe verschließbar ist, die auf einer Seite des Beutels angeordnet ist. Die Füllmaschine umfasst ein Zuführmittel für leere Beutel; ein Mittel für das Entfernen gefüllter Beutel; und eine Karussellvorrichtung mit einer rotierenden Plattform, die eine kontinuierliche Bewegung aufweist, auf der mindestens zwei peripher abstandsgleiche Füllstationen angeordnet sind, die jeweils eine Auflageebene für Beutel und eine Füllgruppe aufweisen. Jede Füllgruppe umfasst eine sterile Kammer; ein Mittel für das Anheben der Öffnung des leeren Beutels, der auf der Auflageebene innerhalb der sterilen Kammer liegt; Mittel für das Bewirken eines Überdrucks in der Kammer; ein Mittel für das Entfernen der Kappe von der Öffnung und deren Positionierung an einer Seite der Öffnung und umgekehrt, wobei das Mittel für das Entfernen innerhalb der sterilen Kammer angeordnet ist; und eine Abgabe-Dosiervorrichtung, die vertikal in die sterile Kammer verschiebbar und für einen Eingriff mit der Öffnung geeignet ist. EP 2 607 242 A2 discloses an aseptic wrapping bag filling machine having a fill opening that is closable by a removable cap located on one side of the bag. The filling machine comprises an empty bag feeding means; a means for removing filled bags; and a carousel device with a rotating platform which has a continuous movement, on which at least two peripherally equidistant filling stations are arranged, each of which has a support plane for bags and a filling group. Each filling group includes a sterile chamber; means for lifting the opening of the empty pouch lying on the support plane within the sterile chamber; Means for causing overpressure in the chamber; means for removing the cap from the opening and positioning it on one side of the opening and vice versa, the means for removing being located within the sterile chamber; and a dispensing meter that is vertically slidable into the sterile chamber and adapted to engage the opening.

Aufgabetask

Die Aufgabe der Erfindung besteht darin, Verfahren zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses, eine Sterilfüllvorrichtung und eine Aseptikmaschine zur Verfügung zu stellen, die ein effizientes und sicheres aseptisches Füllen von Behältnissen mit Füllprodukt ermöglichen.The object of the invention is to provide methods for aseptically filling a container, a sterile filling device and an aseptic machine, which enable efficient and safe aseptic filling of containers with filling product.

Lösungsolution

Die Aufgabe wird gelöst durch das Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, die Sterilfüllvorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, die Aseptikmaschine nach Anspruch 8 und das Verfahren nach Anspruch 12.The object is achieved by the method according to claim 1, the sterile filling device according to claim 3, the aseptic machine according to claim 8 and the method according to claim 12.

Bevorzugte Ausführungsformen und Weiterbildungen sind in den Unteransprüchen offenbart. In einem Verfahren zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses mit Füllprodukt wird das Behältnis in einen Bereich eines Sterilraums, der dem Behältnisses zugeordnet ist, transportiert und dann wird ein Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses mit einer Kappe zum Füllen in einer Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums platziert. Durch dieses Verfahren ist es möglich, einen dem Behältnis zugeordneten Sterilraum vergleichsweise klein zu halten, da nur der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses zum Füllen in den Sterilraum eingebracht wird. Bei dem Behältnis kann es sich um eine PET-Flasche oder Glasflasche mit Gewinde- oder einen SpoutFolienbeutel handeln.Preferred embodiments and further developments are disclosed in the subclaims. In a method for aseptically filling a container with filling product, the container is transported into an area of a sterile room that is assigned to the container, and then a mouth region of the container with a cap for filling is placed in a mouth opening of the sterile room. This method makes it possible to keep a sterile space assigned to the container comparatively small, since only the mouth region of the container is introduced into the sterile space for filling. The container can be a PET bottle or a glass bottle with a threaded pouch or a spout foil pouch.

Es kann vorgesehen sein, dass die Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums maximal 5 % größer ist als der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses. Zudem ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die Formen der Mündungsöffnung und des Mündungsbereichs mit der Kappe zumindest annähernd übereinstimmen. Bei einem runden Querschnitt des Mündungsbereichs bzw. der Kappe des Behältnisses ist der Querschnitt der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums vorzugsweise auch rund ausgebildet.It can be provided that the mouth opening of the sterile room is at most 5% larger than the mouth area of the container. It is also advantageous if the shapes of the mouth opening and the mouth region with the cap are at least approximately to match. With a round cross section of the mouth region or the cap of the container, the cross section of the mouth opening of the sterile room is preferably also round.

Bei dem Verfahren zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses wird der Teil eines Behältnisses, der nicht zu dem Mündungsbereich gehört, nicht in den Sterilraum eingebracht. Es wird also nur der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses in den Sterilraum eingebracht. Das Volumen des Sterilraums kann daher im Vergleich zu Sterilräumen des Stands der Technik kleiner gewählt werden.In the method for aseptically filling a container, the part of a container that does not belong to the mouth area is not introduced into the sterile room. So only the mouth area of the container is brought into the sterile room. The volume of the sterile room can therefore be chosen to be smaller in comparison to sterile rooms of the prior art.

Vorzugsweise ist für jeweils ein Behältnis ein zugeordneter Sterilraum vorgesehen. Sollte während der Füllung ein Problem in dem Sterilraum auftreten, so dass die Sterilität nicht mehr gewährleistet ist, ist es ausreichend, im Folgenden nur solche Behältnisse auszuschleusen, die in diesem Sterilraum gefüllt worden sind. Zudem muss für eine Behebung des Problems nur der einzelne Sterilraum, der das Problem gezeigt hat, gewartet bzw. überprüft werden. In einer Füllmaschine, die mehrere Sterilräume für das Füllen von mehreren Behältnissen aufweist, kann somit gewährleistet werden, dass die Sterilräume, die kein Problem gezeigt haben, weiter für die Befüllung von Behältnissen verwendet werden können. Es ist dementsprechend nicht notwendig, dass eine Füllmaschine komplett gestoppt wird.An associated sterile room is preferably provided for each container. If a problem occurs in the sterile room during the filling process, so that sterility is no longer guaranteed, it is sufficient in the following only to remove those containers which have been filled in this sterile room. In addition, to fix the problem, only the individual sterile room that showed the problem needs to be serviced or checked. In a filling machine that has several sterile rooms for filling several containers, it can thus be ensured that the sterile rooms that have shown no problem can continue to be used for filling containers. Accordingly, it is not necessary for a filling machine to be stopped completely.

Die Bezeichnung "Sterilraum" bezieht sich auf einen solchen Raum bzw. ein solches Volumen, der bzw. das in einen sterilen Zustand versetzt werden kann. Der Sterilraum muss also nicht zu allen Zeiten steril sein, sondern kann erst durch ein Sterilisieren wieder oder überhaupt in einen sterilen Zustand versetzt werden.The term "sterile room" refers to such a room or volume that can be placed in a sterile state. The sterile room does not therefore have to be sterile at all times, but can only be returned to a sterile state by sterilization or at all.

Das Verfahren kann in der lebensmittelverarbeitenden Industrie für das Abfüllen von zumindest näherungsweise flüssigen Lebensmitteln, wie Getränken oder Brei, und/oder in der tierfutterverarbeitenden Industrie für das Abfüllen von zumindest näherungsweise flüssigen Futtermitteln, wie Katzenmilch oder Nassfutter, vorgesehen sein.The method can be provided in the food processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid foods, such as drinks or porridge, and / or in the animal feed processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid feed, such as cat milk or wet food.

Ein Sterilisieren des Sterilraums und des eingebrachten Mündungsbereichs des Behältnisses mit der Kappe kann erfolgen. Nach Einbringen des Mündungsbereichs in die Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums erfolgt ein Sterilisieren des Sterilraums und des eingebrachten Mündungsbereichs, so dass eine Füllung des Behältnisses mit dem Füllprodukt unter aseptischen bzw. sterilen Bedingungen möglich ist. Das Sterilisieren kann beispielsweise durch ein Einbringen eines Sterilgases in den Sterilraum erfolgen und/oder durch eine von außen erfolgende Bestrahlung mit Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen.The sterile space and the introduced mouth region of the container with the cap can be sterilized. After the mouth area has been introduced into the mouth opening of the sterile room, the sterile room and the introduced mouth area are sterilized so that the container can be filled with the filling product under aseptic or sterile conditions. Sterilization can be carried out, for example, by introducing a sterile gas into the sterile room and / or by externally irradiating it with electrons and / or X-rays.

Die Kappe wird nach dem Platzieren des Mündungsbereichs in der Mündungsöffnung und vor dem Füllen entfernt. Vor allem bei der Befüllung von Spout-Folienbeuteln werden die Spout-Folienbeutel mit einer aufgebrachten Kappe an den Sterilraum übergeben bzw. der Mündungsbereich in der Mündungsöffnung platziert, um zu vermeiden, dass bei dem Transport des Spout-Folienbeutels zu dem Sterilraum hin eine Verunreinigung des offenen Spout-Folienbeutels erfolgt. Die Kappe wird dann vor der Befüllung des Behältnisses entfernt. Für die Entfernung der Kappe kann in dem Sterilraum ein Kapper vorgesehen sein, d.h. eine Vorrichtung, die dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Kappe von ein Mündungsbereich eines Behältnisses zu entfernen, beispielsweise durch ein Greifen und anschließendes Abdrehen der Kappe.The cap is removed after placing the mouth area in the mouth opening and before filling. Especially when filling spout plastic bags Hand over the spout foil pouch with an applied cap to the sterile room or place the mouth area in the mouth opening to avoid contamination of the open spout foil pouch when the spout foil pouch is transported to the sterile space. The cap is then removed before the container is filled. To remove the cap, a capper can be provided in the sterile room, ie a device which is designed to remove a cap from a mouth region of a container, for example by gripping and then unscrewing the cap.

Ein Füllen des Behältnisses erfolgt. Das Füllen des Behältnisses erfolgt mittels eines Füllventils, das in dem Sterilraum angeordnet ist und in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums und somit mit dem Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses gebracht werden kann.The container is filled. The container is filled by means of a filling valve which is arranged in the sterile room and can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening of the sterile room and thus with the mouth region of the container.

Nach dem Füllen wird die Kappe wieder auf den in der Mündungsöffnung platzierten Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses aufgebracht. Dafür wird der Kapper verwendet, der in dem Sterilraum angeordnet ist. Mit dem Wiederaufbringen der Kappe auf den Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses wird vermieden, dass es zu einem Verlust des Sterilstatus des gefüllten Behältnisses kommt.After filling, the cap is again applied to the mouth region of the container placed in the mouth opening. For this, the kapper is used, which is arranged in the sterile room. When the cap is replaced on the mouth area of the container, it is avoided that the sterile status of the filled container is lost.

Nach dem Füllen eines Behältnisses und dem Wiederaufbringen der Kappe wird der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses wieder aus der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums entfernt. So ist es möglich, die befüllten Behältnisse für weitere Arbeitsprozesse zu verwenden.After a container has been filled and the cap has been replaced, the mouth region of the container is removed again from the mouth opening of the sterile room. This makes it possible to use the filled containers for further work processes.

Eine Sterilfüllvorrichtung zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses insbesondere zum Durchführen eines Verfahrens wie oben oder weiter unten beschrieben umfasst einem Sterilraum, der im Boden eine Mündungsöffnung für einen Mündungsbereich eines Behältnisses und im Deckel ein Füllventil und einen Kapper umfasst, wobei das Füllventil bzw. der Kapper in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung bringbar ist.A sterile filling device for the aseptic filling of a container, in particular for carrying out a method as described above or further below, comprises a sterile room which comprises a mouth opening in the bottom for a mouth region of a container and a filling valve and a capper in the lid, the filling valve or the kapper in Alignment with the mouth opening can be brought.

Dazu kann vorgesehen sein, dass die Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums maximal 5 % größer ist als der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses. Zudem ist es vorteilhaft, wenn die Formen der Mündungsöffnung und des Mündungsbereichs zumindest annähernd übereinstimmen. Bei einem runden Querschnitt des Mündungsbereichs des Behältnisses ist der Querschnitt der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums vorzugsweise auch rund ausgebildet. Für die Größe der Mündungsöffnung ist es zudem sinnvoll, zu berücksichtigen, ob der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses eine Kappe/einen Verschluss umfasst oder nicht.For this purpose it can be provided that the mouth opening of the sterile room is a maximum of 5% larger than the mouth area of the container. In addition, it is advantageous if the shapes of the mouth opening and the mouth region match at least approximately. With a round cross section of the mouth area of the container, the cross section of the mouth opening of the sterile room is preferably also round. For the size of the mouth opening, it also makes sense to take into account whether the mouth area of the container includes a cap / closure or not.

Mittels des Kappers wird eine Kappe von einem Behältnis entfernt, so dass eine Füllung des Behältnisses möglich ist. Nach Ende des Füllprozesses wird mittels des Kappers diese Kappe wieder auf dieses Behältnis aufgebracht. Der Kapper kann eine Vorrichtung sein, die dazu ausgelegt ist, eine Kappe von einem Mündungsbereich eines Behältnisses zu entfernen bzw. aufzubringen, beispielsweise durch ein Greifen der Kappe und Abdrehen bzw. Aufdrehen der Kappe.A cap is removed from a container by means of the capper, so that the container can be filled. At the end of the filling process, this cap is applied to this container again by means of the cap. The capper can be a device which is designed to remove or apply a cap from a mouth region of a container, for example by gripping the cap and unscrewing or unscrewing the cap.

Der Sterilraum umfasst im Boden weiter eine Reinigungsdüse, die in Ausrichtung mit dem Füllventil bringbar ist. Mit der Reinigungsdüse kann eine Reinigung des Füllventils vorgenommen werden. Somit können getrocknete Füllproduktreste oder bei einem Wechsel des Füllprodukts Reste des Vorgängerprodukts durch eine Reinigung entfernt werden.In the floor, the sterile room also includes a cleaning nozzle which can be brought into alignment with the filling valve. The filling valve can be cleaned with the cleaning nozzle. Dried filler residues or residues of the previous product when changing the filler product can thus be removed by cleaning.

Ist das Behältnis ein Spout-Folienbeutel, so kann die Abdichtvorrichtung eine Halteklammer des Spout-Folienbeutels sein, mittels der er in den Bereich des Sterilraums transportiert wird und mittels der der Mündungsbereich, d.h. der Spout, in der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums platziert wird.If the container is a spout foil pouch, the sealing device can be a holding clip of the spout foil pouch, by means of which it is transported into the area of the sterile room and by means of which the mouth area, i.e. the spout in which the mouth of the sterile room is placed.

Ist das Behältnis eine PET-Flasche oder eine andersartige Flasche mit Gewinde, so kann ein Stopper des Mündungsbereichs als Abdichtvorrichtung dienen.If the container is a PET bottle or another type of bottle with a thread, a stopper of the mouth area can serve as a sealing device.

In diesen beiden beispielhaften Fällen kann zudem vorgesehen sein, dass außerhalb des Sterilraums an seinem Boden ein Dichtungsring oder dergleichen vorgesehen ist, der die Mündungsöffnung umgibt und mit dem der Mündungsbereich für die Erzeugung einer sterilen Bedingung in Kontakt gebracht werden kann.In both of these exemplary cases, provision can also be made for a sealing ring or the like to be provided on the bottom of the sterile space, which surrounds the mouth opening and with which the mouth area can be brought into contact in order to create a sterile condition.

Der Boden und/oder der Deckel können einen Zugang für Sterilgas, z.B. H2O2, umfassen. Da während eines Platzierens des Mündungsbereichs eines Behältnisses in der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums bzw. beim und/oder während eines Entfernen des Mündungsbereichs aus der Mündungsöffnung die Sterilität des Sterilraums durch Kontakt mit der Außenumgebung nicht mehr gegeben ist, wird vorzugsweise der Sterilraum vor einem Füllprozess und/oder vor dem Entfernen einer Kappe eines Behältnisses (wieder) sterilisiert. Dies kann beispielsweise durch das Einbringen von Sterilgas in den Sterilraum erfolgen.The bottom and / or the cover can include an access for sterile gas, for example H 2 O 2 . Since the sterility of the sterile room is no longer ensured due to contact with the outside environment during a placement of the mouth area of a container in the mouth opening of the sterile room or during and / or during removal of the mouth area from the mouth, the sterile room is preferably given before a filling process and / or (again) sterilized before removing a cap from a container. This can be done, for example, by introducing sterile gas into the sterile room.

Die Sterilfüllvorrichtung kann ein Material umfassen, das für Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen zur Sterilisierung des Sterilraums durchlässig ist. Da nur der Sterilraum und ein in ihm befindlicher Mündungsbereich eines Behältnisses sterilisiert wird, nicht jedoch das einzufüllende Füllprodukt bzw. Füllprodukt das bereits eingefüllt wurde, kann eine Sterilisierung auch mit Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen vorgenommen werden. Dementsprechend ist es vorteilhaft, wenn das Material der Sterilfüllvorrichtung durchlässig für Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen ist.The sterile filling device can comprise a material which is permeable to electrons and / or X-rays for sterilizing the sterile room. Since only the sterile room and a mouth area of a container located in it are sterilized, but not the filling product or filling product that has already been filled in, sterilization can also be carried out with electrons and / or X-rays. Accordingly, it is advantageous if the material of the sterile filling device is permeable to electrons and / or X-rays.

In dem Sterilraum kann ein Überdruck von mindestens 0,2 bar gegenüber einem Umgebungsdruck vorgesehen sein. Durch das Vorsehen eines Überdrucks in dem Sterilraum kann eine Gefahr der Kontamination des Sterilraums durch eindringende Umgebungsluft reduziert werden.An overpressure of at least 0.2 bar compared to an ambient pressure can be provided in the sterile room. By providing an overpressure in the sterile room, a risk of contamination of the sterile room by penetrating ambient air can be reduced.

Der Boden des Sterilraums ist als Stator und der Deckel ist als Rotor ausgebildet, wobei der Rotor gegenüber dem Stator drehbar ausgebildet ist. So ist es möglich, das Füllventil, das im Deckel angeordnet ist, in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung, die im Boden angeordnet ist, zu bringen, so dass eine Füllung eines Behältnisses, dessen Mündungsbereich in der Mündungsöffnung platziert ist, erfolgen kann.The floor of the sterile room is designed as a stator and the cover is designed as a rotor, the rotor being designed to be rotatable relative to the stator. It is thus possible to bring the filling valve, which is arranged in the cover, into alignment with the mouth opening, which is arranged in the bottom, so that a container whose mouth region is placed in the mouth opening can be filled.

Der Rotor ist gegenüber dem Stator um eine Drehachse drehbar ausgebildet. Durch diese Anordnung ist es möglich, dass Elemente, die in dem Deckel, d.h. Rotor, angeordnet sind durch eine Drehung um die Drehachse in eine Ausrichtung mit Elementen, die im Boden, d.h. Stator, angeordnet sind, bringbar sind. Da das Behältnis mit seinem Mündungsbereich in der Mündungsöffnung angeordnet ist, die sich im Boden befindet, wird eine unnötige Bewegung des Behältnisses während des Füllvorganges oder auch während einer Entfernung einer Kappe von dem Behältnis vermieden.The rotor is designed to be rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to the stator. With this arrangement it is possible that elements which are in the cover, i.e. Rotor, are arranged by rotation about the axis of rotation into alignment with elements located in the ground, i.e. Stator, are arranged, can be brought. Since the container is arranged with its mouth region in the mouth opening, which is located in the bottom, unnecessary movement of the container during the filling process or also during removal of a cap from the container is avoided.

Das Füllventil und/oder der Kapper können parallel zu der Drehachse verfahrbar sein. Durch diese Verfahrbarkeit ist ein einfaches Einbringen des Füllventils in den Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses bzw. eine Anordnung des Füllventils oberhalb des Mündungsbereichs für die Vornahme eines Füllvorganges möglich. Nach dem Füllvorgang kann das Füllventil durch ein nach oben Verfahren wieder aus dem Mündungsbereich entfernt werden. Zudem ist es dann möglich, dass das Füllventil durch eine Drehung des Rotordeckels um die Drehachse aus der Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung entfernt werden kann.The filling valve and / or the kapper can be moved parallel to the axis of rotation. This movability enables the filling valve to be simply introduced into the mouth region of the container or an arrangement of the filling valve above the mouth region for carrying out a filling process. After the filling process, the filling valve can be removed from the mouth area by an upward movement. In addition, it is then possible for the filling valve to be removed from alignment with the orifice opening by rotating the rotor cover about the axis of rotation.

Durch die Verfahrbarkeit ist es möglich, dass der Kapper, nachdem er in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung bzw. dem Mündungsbereich gebracht wurde, abgesenkt wird, um eine Kappe von einem Behältnis vor einem Füllprozess zu entfernen bzw. eine Kappe nach dem Füllprozess wieder auf das Behältnis aufzubringen.The movability makes it possible for the kapper to be lowered after it has been brought into alignment with the mouth opening or the mouth area in order to remove a cap from a container before a filling process or a cap after the filling process back onto the container to apply.

Die Aseptikmaschine umfasst ein Drehkarussell mit mehreren daran angeordneten Sterilfüllvorrichtungen mit jeweils einem Sterilraum, die jeweils zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses mit Füllprodukt vorgesehen sind und eine in der Peripherie des Drehkarussells angeordnete Bestrahlungsvorrichtung zur Bestrahlung zumindest der Sterilfüllvorrichtung mit Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen vor einem Füllprozess.The aseptic machine comprises a rotary carousel with a plurality of sterile filling devices arranged thereon, each with a sterile space, each of which is provided for aseptically filling a container with filling product and an irradiation device arranged in the periphery of the rotary carousel for irradiating at least the sterile filling device with electrons and / or X-rays before a filling process.

Die Aseptikmaschine kann in der lebensmittelverarbeitenden Industrie für das Abfüllen von zumindest näherungsweise flüssigen Lebensmitteln, wie Getränken oder Brei, und/oder in der tierfutterverarbeitenden Industrie für das Abfüllen von zumindest näherungsweise flüssigen Futtermitteln, wie Katzenmilch oder Nassfutter, vorgesehen sein.The aseptic machine can be used in the food processing industry for filling at least approximately liquid foods, such as drinks or porridge, and / or in the animal feed processing industry for the filling of at least approximately liquid feed, such as cat milk or wet feed.

Die Aseptikmaschine kann weiter eine Auswerte- und Steuerungsvorrichtung umfassen zum Ermitteln und Auswerten von Zustandsdaten der Sterilfüllvorrichtungen und zum Erstellen und Weiterleiten von Steuerungsdaten basierend auf den Zustandsdaten. Die Zustandsdaten können den im Sterilraum vorgesehenen Unterdruck, die Sterilisierung des Sterilraums und eventuell auch des Spout-Folienbeutels und/oder das Füllen umfassen bzw. betreffen. In der Auswertung können die ermittelten Zustandsdaten mit Referenzdaten verglichen werden, um herauszufinden, ob die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung erfüllt sind, oder ob alle oder einige der Zustandsdaten nicht mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung zumindest teilweise nicht erfüllt sind. Diese Referenzdaten können der Auswerte- und Steuerungseinrichtung bekannt sein, sie können aber auch eingegeben und/oder aus einem Datenspeicher eingelesen werden.The aseptic machine can further comprise an evaluation and control device for determining and evaluating status data of the sterile filling devices and for creating and forwarding control data based on the status data. The status data can include or relate to the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling. In the evaluation, the determined status data can be compared with reference data in order to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met. These reference data can be known to the evaluation and control device, but they can also be entered and / or read from a data memory.

Zudem kann die Aseptikmaschine weiter mindestens einen Umlenkstern zum Umlenken von gefüllten Behältnissen umfassen, der durch die Steuerungsdaten ansteuerbar ist. So ist es möglich, solche Behältnisse auszuleiten, die nicht den geforderten Bedingungen einer sterilen bzw. aseptischen Handhabung, insbesondere während des Füllprozesses, entsprechen.In addition, the aseptic machine can further comprise at least one deflection star for deflecting filled containers, which can be controlled by the control data. It is thus possible to reject containers that do not meet the required conditions for sterile or aseptic handling, especially during the filling process.

Dabei kann ein erster des mindestens einen Umlenksterns derart angeordnet sein, um gefüllte Behältnisse zu einer Druckvorrichtung umzulenken, ein zweiter des mindestens einen Umlenksterns derart angeordnet sein, um befüllte Behältnisse zu einer Ausgabe umzulenken und/oder ein dritter des mindestens einen Umlenksterns derart angeordnet sein, um befüllte Behältnisse auszuleiten. So ist es möglich, dass befüllte Behältnisse je nach den ihnen zugehörigen Zustandsdaten der entsprechenden Sterilfüllvorrichtung nach dem Befüllen und Verschließen unterschiedlich behandelt werden, in dem sie auf verschiedene Arten umgelenkt werden.A first of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way to deflect filled containers to a printing device, a second of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way to deflect filled containers to an output and / or a third of the at least one deflecting star can be arranged in such a way, in order to discharge filled containers. It is thus possible for filled containers to be treated differently after filling and closing, depending on the status data of the corresponding sterile filling device associated with them, in that they are deflected in different ways.

Ein Verfahren zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses in der Aseptikmaschine, wie oben oder weiter unten beschrieben, umfasst die Schritte: Transportieren des Behältnisses in einen Bereich eines Sterilraums, der dem Behältnis zugeordnet ist; Platzieren des Mündungsbereichs des Behältnisses zum Füllen in der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums; Sterilisieren des Sterilraums und des eingebrachten Mündungsbereichs; Entfernen der Kappe nach dem Platzieren des Mündungsbereichs in der Mündungsöffnung und vor dem Füllen.A method for aseptically filling a container in the aseptic machine, as described above or further below, comprises the steps: transporting the container into an area of a sterile room which is assigned to the container; Placing the mouth region of the container for filling in the mouth opening of the sterile room; Sterilizing the sterile room and the introduced mouth area; Remove the cap after placing the muzzle area in the muzzle opening and before filling.

Weiter kann das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte umfassen: in Ausrichtung Bringen des Füllventils mit der Mündungsöffnung; Verfahren des Füllventils parallel zu der Drehachse; Einbringen des Füllventils in die Mündungsöffnung; Füllen des Behältnisses mit Füllprodukt; Aufsetzen der Kappe nach dem Füllen; Ausbringen des Füllventils aus der Mündungsöffnung und Entfernen des Mündungsbereichs aus der Mündungsöffnung.The method may further comprise the following steps: aligning the filling valve with the orifice; Moving the filling valve parallel to the axis of rotation; Inserting the filling valve into the mouth opening; Filling the container with filling product; Putting on the cap after filling; Deploying the fill valve from the orifice and removing the orifice area from the orifice.

Das Verfahren kann weiter die folgenden Schritte umfassen: Ermitteln und Auswerten von Zustandsdaten der Sterilfüllvorrichtung und Erstellen und Weiterleiten von Steuerungsdaten basierend auf den Zustandsdaten.The method can further comprise the following steps: determining and evaluating status data of the sterile filling device and creating and forwarding control data based on the status data.

Zudem kann das Verfahren mindestens einen der folgenden Schritte umfassen: Umlenken des befüllten Behältnisses zu einer Druckvorrichtung; Umlenken des befüllten Behältnisses zu einer Ausgabe; Ausleiten des befüllten Behältnisses.In addition, the method can comprise at least one of the following steps: deflecting the filled container to a printing device; Redirecting the filled container to an output; Rejecting the filled container.

Die beigefügten Figuren stellen beispielhaft zum besseren Verständnis und zur Veranschaulichung Aspekte der Erfindung dar. Es zeigt:

  • Figur 1 eine schematische seitliche Schnittansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Sterilfüllvorrichtung,
  • Figur 2 einen schematischen Querschnitt der ersten Ausführungsform der Sterilfüllvorrichtung,
  • Figur 3 ein Flussdiagram eines Verfahrens zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses mit Kappe mit der ersten Ausführungsform der Sterilfüllvorrichtung,
  • Figur 4 eine schematische Ansicht einer Aseptikmaschine und
  • Figur 5 ein Flussdiagram eines Verfahrens zum Umlenken eines gefüllten Behältnisses.
The accompanying figures represent examples of aspects of the invention for better understanding and illustration. It shows:
  • Figure 1 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of a first embodiment of a sterile filling device,
  • Figure 2 2 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the sterile filling device,
  • Figure 3 1 shows a flowchart of a method for aseptically filling a container with a cap with the first embodiment of the sterile filling device,
  • Figure 4 a schematic view of an aseptic machine and
  • Figure 5 a flowchart of a method for deflecting a filled container.

Figur 1 zeigt eine schematische seitliche Schnittansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Sterilfüllvorrichtung 1. Diese Sterilfüllvorrichtung 1 ist für das Füllen von Spout-Folienbeuteln 2 mit einer Kappe 3 ausgelegt. Hierzu ist die Mündungsöffnung 4 im Boden 5 des Sterilraums 6, d.h. im Stator 5, für die Aufnahme des Spouts 7 mit einer Kappe 3 ausgelegt. Im Boden 5 ist des Weiteren eine Reinigungsdüse 8 vorgesehen, die für eine Reinigung des Füllventils 9 und des Kappers 10 vorgesehen ist. Das Füllventil 9 und der Kapper 10 sind im Deckel 11 der Sterilraums 6, d.h. im Rotor 11, vorgesehen. Sowohl das Füllventil 9, die Mündungsöffnung 4 als auch der Kapper 10 sind hierbei derart angeordnet, dass der Kapper 10 und das Füllventil 9 in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung 4 bringbar sind. Die Reinigungsdüse 8 ist derart angeordnet, dass sie in Ausrichtung mit dem Füllventil 9 und dem Kapper 10 bringbar ist. Figure 1 shows a schematic sectional side view of a first embodiment of a sterile filling device 1. This sterile filling device 1 is designed for filling spout foil bags 2 with a cap 3. For this purpose, the mouth opening 4 in the base 5 of the sterile room 6, ie in the stator 5, is designed for receiving the spout 7 with a cap 3. In the bottom 5 there is also a cleaning nozzle 8, which is provided for cleaning the filling valve 9 and the cap 10. The filling valve 9 and the kapper 10 are provided in the lid 11 of the sterile room 6, ie in the rotor 11. Both the filling valve 9, the mouth opening 4 and the kapper 10 are arranged in such a way that the kapper 10 and the filling valve 9 can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening 4. The cleaning nozzle 8 is arranged such that it can be brought into alignment with the filling valve 9 and the kapper 10.

Der Rotor/Deckel 11 ist gegenüber dem Stator/Boden 5 um eine Drehachse 14 drehbar angeordnet, so dass der Kapper 10 bzw. das Füllventil 9 über der Mündungsöffnung 4 positioniert, d.h. in Ausrichtung mit ihr gebracht, werden können. So kann eine Kappe 3 des Spout-Folienbeutels 2 entfernt, durch eine Drehung des Rotors/Deckels 11 danach das Füllventil 9 über der Mündungsöffnung 4 positioniert und durch ein Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse 14 in die Mündungsöffnung 4 und somit in dem Mündungsbereich 7 eingebracht werden, so dass der Spout-Folienbeutel 2 befüllt werden kann. Danach wird durch ein Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse 14 das Füllventil 9 wieder aus der Mündungsöffnung 4 bzw. aus dem Mündungsbereich 7 entfernt und durch eine Drehung des Rotors/Deckels 11 der Kapper 10 oberhalb der Mündungsöffnung 4 bzw. dem Mündungsbereich 7 angeordnet, so dass die Kappe 3 auf den Spout-Folienbeutel 2 aufgebracht bzw. aufgesetzt werden kann.The rotor / cover 11 is arranged such that it can rotate relative to the stator / base 5 about an axis of rotation 14, so that the kapper 10 or the filling valve 9 is positioned above the orifice 4, i.e. can be brought into alignment with it. For example, a cap 3 of the spout foil bag 2 can be removed, the filling valve 9 can then be positioned above the mouth opening 4 by rotating the rotor / lid 11, and can be introduced into the mouth opening 4 and thus into the mouth region 7 by a method parallel to the axis of rotation 14 , so that the spout foil bag 2 can be filled. Thereafter, the filling valve 9 is removed again from the mouth opening 4 or from the mouth region 7 by a method parallel to the axis of rotation 14 and the cap 10 is arranged above the mouth opening 4 or the mouth region 7 by rotating the rotor / cover 11, so that the cap 3 can be applied or placed on the spout film bag 2.

Ein dichtes Verschließen des Sterilraums 6 gegenüber der Außenumgebung wird durch eine Halteklammer 12 zusammen mit einem Dichtungsring 13, der außerhalb des Sterilraums 6 am Boden/Stator 5 angeordnet ist, erreicht.A tight closure of the sterile room 6 from the outside environment is achieved by a retaining clip 12 together with a sealing ring 13, which is arranged outside the sterile room 6 on the floor / stator 5.

Figur 2 zeigt einen schematischen Querschnitt der ersten Ausführungsform der Sterilfüllvorrichtung 1. In dieser Ausführungsform haben das Füllventil 9, die Mündungsöffnung 4, der Kapper 10 und die Reinigungsdüse 8 einen gleichen radialen Abstand R zu der Drehachse 14. Somit kann durch eine Drehung des Rotors/Deckels 11 relativ zu dem Stator/Boden 5 erreicht werden, dass diese Elemente durch die Drehung übereinander angeordnet, d.h. in Ausrichtung gebracht, werden können, so das ein Füllen des Spout-Folienbeutels 2 bzw. eine Reinigung des Füllventils 9 oder des Kappers 10 erreicht werden können. Figure 2 shows a schematic cross section of the first embodiment of the sterile filling device 1. In this embodiment, the filling valve 9, the orifice 4, the capper 10 and the cleaning nozzle 8 have the same radial distance R to the axis of rotation 14. Thus, by rotating the rotor / lid 11 can be achieved relative to the stator / bottom 5 that these elements can be arranged one above the other, ie brought into alignment, by the rotation, so that a filling of the spout foil bag 2 or a cleaning of the filling valve 9 or the cap 10 can be achieved .

Figur 3 zeigt ein Flussdiagram eines Verfahrens zum aseptischen Füllen eines Behältnisses mit einer Kappe, wie beispielsweise eines Spout-Folienbeutels, mit der ersten Ausführungsform der Sterilfüllvorrichtung wie in den Figuren 1 und 2 beschrieben. Figure 3 shows a flowchart of a method for aseptically filling a container with a cap, such as a spout foil pouch, with the first embodiment of the sterile filling device as in FIGS Figures 1 and 2 described.

Im Schritt 100 wird das Behältnis zu der Sterilfüllvorrichtung transportiert. Für einen Spout-Folienbeutel kann hierzu eine Halteklammer vorgesehen sein, die in einem oberen Bereich des Spout-Folienbeutels angreift. Im Schritt 101 wird der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses in die Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums der Sterilfüllvorrichtung platziert. Im Schritt 102 erfolgt ein Sterilisieren des Sterilraums, wobei das Sterilisieren mit Sterilgas und/oder mit einer Bestrahlung mit Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen erfolgen kann.In step 100, the container is transported to the sterile filling device. For this purpose, a holding clip can be provided for a spout foil pouch, which engages in an upper region of the spout foil pouch. In step 101, the mouth region of the container is placed in the mouth opening of the sterile room of the sterile filling device. Sterilization of the sterile room takes place in step 102, it being possible to sterilize with sterile gas and / or with irradiation with electrons and / or X-rays.

Im Schritt 103 wird der Kapper in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung und somit dem Mündungsbereich gebracht. Im Schritt 104 wird der Kapper durch ein Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse abgesenkt, so dass er derart positioniert ist, dass er die Kappe vom Behältnis entfernen kann. Im Schritt 105 wird die Kappe von dem Behältnis entfernt. Im Schritt 106 wird der Kapper durch ein Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse hochgefahren.In step 103 the kapper is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus the mouth area. In step 104, the kapper is lowered parallel to the axis of rotation by a method so that it is positioned such that it removes the cap from the container can remove. In step 105, the cap is removed from the container. In step 106, the kapper is raised parallel to the axis of rotation by a method.

Im Schritt 107 wird das Füllventil in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung und somit auch in Ausrichtung mit dem Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses gebracht, wozu beispielweise der Deckel gegenüber dem Boden bzw. der Rotor gegenüber dem Stator des Sterilraums um eine Drehachse gedreht wird.In step 107, the filling valve is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus also into alignment with the mouth area of the container, for which purpose, for example, the cover is rotated about an axis of rotation with respect to the base or the rotor with respect to the stator of the sterile room.

Im Schritt 108 wird das Füllventil durch Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse in den Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses eingebracht bzw. wird das Füllventil oberhalb des Mündungsbereichs angeordnet. Im Schritt 109 erfolgt ein Füllen des Behältnisses mit Füllprodukt. Im Schritt 110 wird das Füllventil durch Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse aus dem Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses ausgebracht.In step 108, the filling valve is introduced into the mouth region of the container by moving parallel to the axis of rotation or the filling valve is arranged above the mouth region. In step 109, the container is filled with filling product. In step 110, the filling valve is brought out of the mouth region of the container by moving parallel to the axis of rotation.

Im Schritt 111 wird der Kapper in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung und somit dem Mündungsbereich gebracht, wozu beispielweise der Deckel gegenüber dem Boden bzw. der Rotor gegenüber dem Stator des Sterilraums um eine Drehachse gedreht wird. Im Schritt 112 wird der Kapper durch Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse abgesenkt. Im Schritt 113 wird die Kappe auf das Behältnis aufgebracht. Im Schritt 114 wird der Kapper durch Verfahren parallel zu der Drehachse hochgefahren.In step 111, the kapper is brought into alignment with the mouth opening and thus the mouth region, for which purpose, for example, the lid is rotated about an axis of rotation with respect to the base or the rotor with respect to the stator of the sterile room. In step 112, the kapper is lowered by moving parallel to the axis of rotation. In step 113, the cap is applied to the container. In step 114, the kapper is raised by moving parallel to the axis of rotation.

Im Schritt 115 wird der Mündungsbereich des Behältnisses aus der Mündungsöffnung des Sterilraums entfernt, wozu beispielsweise die Halteklammer, die den Spout-Folienbeutel hält, nach unten abgesenkt wird. Das gefüllte, mit einer Kappe verschlossene Behältnis kann dann für weitere Arbeitsprozesse verwendet werden.In step 115, the mouth region of the container is removed from the mouth opening of the sterile room, for which purpose, for example, the holding clip which holds the spout foil bag is lowered. The filled, capped container can then be used for further work processes.

Figur 4 zeigt eine schematische Ansicht einer Aseptikmaschine 15, die zur Erstellung, zum Füllen und Weiterleiten von befüllten Spout-Folienbeuteln geeignet ist. Die Folienbeutel werden in einem Magazin 16 bereitgestellt, von wo aus sie an eine Vorrichtung 17 übergeben werden, die Spouts in die Folienbeutel eingeschweißt und Kappen auf die Spouts aufbringt. Figure 4 shows a schematic view of an aseptic machine 15, which is suitable for creating, filling and forwarding filled spout foil bags. The foil bags are provided in a magazine 16, from where they are transferred to a device 17, which welds spouts into the foil bags and applies caps to the spouts.

Die Spout-Folienbeutel werden in der dargestellten Ausführungsform der Aseptikmaschine 15 mittels zweier Umlenksterne 18, 19 an ein Drehkarussell 20 übergeben. An dem Drehkarussell 20 sind mehrere, nicht dargestellte Sterilfüllvorrichtungen angeordnet. Die Übergabe der Spout-Folienbeutel an das Drehkarussell 20 findet in einem ersten Bereich 21 des Drehkarussells 15 statt.In the illustrated embodiment of the aseptic machine 15, the spout film bags are transferred to a rotary carousel 20 by means of two deflection stars 18, 19. A plurality of sterile filling devices, not shown, are arranged on the rotary carousel 20. The transfer of the spout film bags to the rotary carousel 20 takes place in a first area 21 of the rotary carousel 15.

Jeweils einem Spout-Folienbeutel ist eine Sterilfüllvorrichtung zugeordnet, wobei die Sterilfüllvorrichtung im Boden eine Mündungsöffnung für einen Mündungsbereich, d.h. hier für den Spout, des Spout-Folienbeutels und im Deckel ein Füllventil umfasst, das in Ausrichtung mit der Mündungsöffnung bringbar ist.A sterile filling device is assigned to a spout film bag, the sterile filling device having a mouth opening in the bottom for a mouth area, ie here for the spout, the spout foil bag and in the lid includes a filling valve which can be brought into alignment with the mouth opening.

Das Platzieren des Spouts in der Mündungsöffnung und ein anschließendes Entfernen der Kappe finden in einem zweiten Bereich 22 des Karussells 15 statt.The spout is placed in the mouth opening and the cap is subsequently removed in a second region 22 of the carousel 15.

In einem dritten Bereich 23 des Karussells 20 wird dann der Sterilraum der Sterilfüllvorrichtung zusammen mit der Kappe und dem in der Mündungsöffnung platzierten Mündungsbereich sterilisiert. Es kann gleichzeitig auch eine Sterilisierung desjenigen Bereichs des Spout-Folienbeutels erfolgen, der außerhalb des Sterilraums angeordnet ist. Die Sterilisierung erfolgt mittels Elektronen und/oder Röntgenstrahlen, die von einer in der Peripherie des Drehkarussells 20 angeordneten Bestrahlungsvorrichtung 26 ausgesandt werden.The sterile space of the sterile filling device is then sterilized in a third area 23 of the carousel 20 together with the cap and the mouth area placed in the mouth opening. At the same time, that area of the spout foil pouch which is arranged outside the sterile space can also be sterilized. The sterilization is carried out by means of electrons and / or X-rays, which are emitted by an irradiation device 26 arranged in the periphery of the rotary carousel 20.

Danach findet ein Befüllen des Spout-Folienbeutels in einem vierten Bereich 24 des Drehkarussells 20 mittels des Füllventils der Sterilfüllvorrichtung statt. Nach Beenden des Füllvorganges wird die Kappe in diesem vierten Bereich 24 wieder auf den Spout-Folienbeutel aufgebracht.The spout foil bag is then filled in a fourth area 24 of the rotary carousel 20 by means of the filling valve of the sterile filling device. After the filling process has ended, the cap is again applied to the spout film bag in this fourth region 24.

In einem fünften Bereich 25 des Drehkarussells 15 werden die Mündungsbereiche der befüllten und verschlossenen Spout-Folienbeutel aus den Mündungsöffnungen der Sterilfüllvorrichtungen entfernt.In a fifth area 25 of the rotary carousel 15, the mouth areas of the filled and closed spout foil bags are removed from the mouth openings of the sterile filling devices.

Um festzustellen, ob ein befüllter und verschlossener Spout-Folienbeutel unter Bedingungen befüllt wurde, die den Erfordernissen einer aseptischen Befüllung in der lebensmittel- und/oder tierfutterverarbeitenden Industrie entsprechen, können mittels einer nicht dargestellten Auswerte- und Steuervorrichtung Zustandsdaten der Sterilfüllvorrichtung, die dem Spout-Folienbeutel zugeordnet war, ermittelt und ausgewertet werden. Die Zustandsdaten können den im Sterilraum vorgesehenen Unterdruck, die Sterilisierung des Sterilraums und eventuell auch des Spout-Folienbeutels und/oder das Füllen umfassen.In order to determine whether a filled and sealed spout film bag has been filled under conditions that meet the requirements of aseptic filling in the food and / or animal feed processing industry, status data of the sterile filling device, which Foil bag was assigned, determined and evaluated. The status data can include the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling.

Die ermittelten Zustandsdaten können in einem Auswerteschritt mit Referenzdaten verglichen werden, um herauszufinden, ob die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung erfüllt sind, oder ob alle oder einige der Zustandsdaten nicht mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung zumindest teilweise nicht erfüllt sind.The determined status data can be compared with reference data in an evaluation step to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met.

Basierend auf den Zustandsdaten können durch die Auswerte- und Steuerungsvorrichtung Steuerungsdaten erstellt und an die Umlenksterne 27, 28, 29 weitergeleitet werden, die dem Drehkarussell 20 nachfolgend angeordnet sind.Based on the status data, control data can be created by the evaluation and control device and forwarded to the deflection stars 27, 28, 29, which are arranged downstream of the rotary carousel 20.

Wenn die Steuerungsdaten darauf basieren, dass die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, kann der Umlenkstern 27 gesteuert werden, der den befüllten Spout-Folienbeutel zu einer Druckvorrichtung umgelenkt oder es kann der Umlenkstern 29 gesteuert werden, der den befüllten Spout-Folienbeutel zu einer Ausgabe 31 umgelenkt.If the control data is based on the fact that the status data match the reference data, the deflection star 27, which redirects the filled spout foil pouch to a printing device, or the deflection star 29, which directs the filled spout foil pouch to an output 31, can be controlled redirected.

Wenn die Steuerungsdaten darauf basieren, dass alle oder einige der Zustandsdaten nicht mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, kann der Umlenkstern 28 gesteuert werden, der den befüllten Spout-Folienbeutel zu einer Ausschleusung 30 umgelenkt, so dass dieser Spout-Folienbeutel ausgeleitet wird.If the control data are based on the fact that all or some of the state data do not match the reference data, the deflection star 28 can be controlled, which deflects the filled spout film bag to a discharge 30, so that this spout film bag is rejected.

Figur 5 zeigt ein Flussdiagram eines Verfahrens zum Umlenken eines befüllten Behältnisses. Solch ein befülltes Behältnis kann aus dem in der Figur 3 dargestellten Verfahren resultieren. Im Schritt 201 erfolgt ein Ermitteln und Auswerten von Zustandsdaten der Sterilfüllvorrichtung. Die Zustandsdaten können den im Sterilraum vorgesehenen Unterdruck, die Sterilisierung des Sterilraums und eventuell auch des Spout-Folienbeutels und/oder das Füllen umfassen bzw. betreffen. In der Auswertung können die ermittelten Zustandsdaten mit Referenzdaten verglichen werden, um herauszufinden, ob die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung erfüllt sind, oder ob alle oder einige der Zustandsdaten nicht mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen, was bedeutet, dass die Erfordernisse einer aseptischen Befüllung zumindest teilweise nicht erfüllt sind. Diese Referenzdaten können der Auswerte- und Steuerungseinrichtung bekannt sein, sie können aber auch eingegeben und/oder aus einem Datenspeicher eingelesen werden. Figure 5 shows a flowchart of a method for deflecting a filled container. Such a filled container can from the in the Figure 3 shown procedures result. In step 201, status data of the sterile filling device are ascertained and evaluated. The status data can include or relate to the negative pressure provided in the sterile room, the sterilization of the sterile room and possibly also the spout foil pouch and / or the filling. In the evaluation, the determined status data can be compared with reference data in order to find out whether the status data match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are met, or whether all or some of the status data do not match the reference data, which means that the requirements for aseptic filling are at least partially not met. These reference data can be known to the evaluation and control device, but they can also be entered and / or read from a data memory.

Im Schritt 202 werden Steuerungsdaten basierend auf den Zustandsdaten erstellt und weitergeleitet. Im Schritt 203 erfolgt ein Umlenken des befüllten Behältnisses zu einer Druckvorrichtung, beispielsweise dann, wenn die Steuerungsdaten darauf basieren, dass die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen. Dementsprechend kann der Umlenkstern 27 gesteuert werden, der den befüllten Spout-Folienbeutel dann zu der Druckvorrichtung umlenkt.In step 202, control data is created based on the status data and forwarded. In step 203, the filled container is redirected to a printing device, for example when the control data are based on the fact that the status data match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflection star 27 can be controlled, which then deflects the filled spout film bag to the printing device.

Im Schritt 204 erfolgt ein Umlenken des befüllten Behältnisses zu einer Ausgabe, beispielsweise dann, wenn die Steuerungsdaten darauf basieren, dass die Zustandsdaten mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen. Dementsprechend kann der Umlenkstern 29 gesteuert werden, der den gefüllten Spout-Folienbeutel zu der Ausgabe 31 umlenkt.In step 204, the filled container is redirected to an output, for example when the control data are based on the fact that the status data match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflection star 29 can be controlled, which deflects the filled spout film bag to the outlet 31.

Im Schritt 205 erfolgt ein Ausleiten des befüllten Behältnisses, beispielsweise dann, wenn die Steuerungsdaten darauf basieren, dass alle oder einige der Zustandsdaten nicht mit den Referenzdaten übereinstimmen. Dementsprechend kann der Umlenkstern 28 gesteuert werden, der den befüllten Spout-Folienbeutel zu einer Ausschleusung 30 umlenkt, so dass dieser Spout-Folienbeutel ausgeleitet wird.The filled container is discharged in step 205, for example when the control data are based on the fact that all or some of the status data do not match the reference data. Accordingly, the deflecting star 28 can be controlled which deflects the filled spout film bag to a discharge 30, so that this spout film bag is discharged.

Claims (14)

  1. Method for aseptic filling of a container (2) with filling product, with a sterile filling device according to any of the claims 3 to 8, wherein the container is transported (100) to an area of a sterile space (6) that is assigned to the container and subsequently a mouth area (7) of the container with a cap (3) is placed (101) in the mouth opening (4) of the sterile space (6) for filling,
    after placing the mouth area (7) in the mouth opening (4) and prior to the filling, the cap (3) is removed (105) by the capper (10),
    filling (109) of the container (2) is performed by the filling valve (9),
    after the filling, the cap (3) is reattached (113) to the mouth area (7) placed in the mouth opening (4),
    after the reattaching of the cap (3), the mouth area (7) of the container (2) again is removed from the mouth opening (4) of the sterile space (6),
    wherein cleaning of the filling valve (9) and the capper (10) takes place with the cleaning nozzle (8) being located in the bottom of the sterile space (6).
  2. Method of claim 1, wherein the sterile space and the introduced mouth area with the cap are sterilised (102).
  3. Sterile filling device (1) for aseptically filling a container (2) with a sterile space (6) that comprises in the bottom (5) a mouth opening (4) for a mouth area (7) of the container (2) and comprises in the lid (11) a filling valve (9) and a capper (10), wherein the filling valve (9) and the capper (10), respectively, are configured to enable alignment with the mouth opening (4),
    characterised in that
    the bottom (5) further comprises a cleaning nozzle (8) that can be brought into alignment with the filling valve (9) and with the capper (10) and wherein the bottom (5) is configured as a stator (5) and the lid (11) is configured as a rotor (11), wherein the rotor (11) is configured to be rotatable with respect to the stator (5) around a rotation axis (14).
  4. Sterile filling device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the bottom (5) and the lid (11) comprises an access for sterile gas.
  5. Sterile filling device of claim 3 or 4, comprising a material that is transparent for at least one of electrons and X-rays for sterilising the sterile space (6).
  6. Sterile filling device of any of claims 3 to 5, wherein an overpressure of 0.2 bar with respect to an ambient pressure is provided in the sterile space (6).
  7. Sterile filling device of claim 3, wherein at least one of the filling valve (9) and the capper (10) is movable parallel to the rotation axis (14).
  8. Aseptic machine (15) with a rotating carousel (20)
    characterised by
    a plurality of sterile filling devices (1) according to at least one of the claims 3 to 7 attached thereto, each with a sterile space (6) provided for aseptic filling of a container (2) with filling product, and
    with an irradiation apparatus (26) at the periphery of the rotating carousel (20) for irradiating at least the sterile filling device (1) with at least one of electrons and X-rays prior to a filling process.
  9. Aseptic machine of claim 8, further comprising an evaluation and control device for determining and evaluating state data of the sterile filling devices (1) and for establishing and forwarding control data based on the state data.
  10. Aseptic machine of claim 9, further comprising at least one redirecting star (27, 28, 29) for redirecting filled containers (2), wherein the redirecting star is controllable by the control data.
  11. Aseptic machine of claim 10, wherein a first one (27) of the at least one redirecting star is arranged such to redirect filled containers (2) to a printing device, a second one (29) of the at least one redirecting star is arranged such to redirect filled containers (2) to an output (31) and/or a third one (28) of the at least one redirecting star is arranged such to redirect filled containers to a discharge point (30).
  12. Method for aseptic filling of a container in an aseptic machine (15) of at least one of the claims 8 to 11, the method comprising the steps:
    - transporting (100) the container into an area of the sterile space being assigned to the container,
    - placing (101) the mouth area of the container in the mouth opening of the sterile space for filling,
    - sterilising (102) the sterile space and the introduced mouth area,
    - after placing the mouth area in the mouth opening and prior to the filling, removing (105) the cap by the capper (10),
    - aligning (107) the filling valve (9) with the mouth opening,
    - moving the filling valve parallel to the rotation axis (14),
    - introducing (108) the filling valve into the mouth opening,
    - filling (109) the container with filling product,
    - removing (110) the filling valve from the mouth opening,
    - attaching (113) the cap after the filling,
    - removing (115) the mouth area from the mouth opening, and
    - cleaning the filling valve (9) and the capper (10) with the cleaning nozzle (8) being arranged in the bottom of the sterile space (6).
  13. Method of claim 12, further comprising the steps:
    - determining and evaluating (201) state data of the sterile filling device and
    - establishing and forwarding (202) control data based on the state data.
  14. Method of claim 13, further comprising at least one of the following steps:
    - redirecting (203) the filled container to a printing device,
    - redirecting (204) the filled container to an output,
    - diverting (205) the filled container.
EP15180161.0A 2015-08-07 2015-08-07 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine Active EP3127859B1 (en)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15180161.0A EP3127859B1 (en) 2015-08-07 2015-08-07 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine
ES15180161T ES2817777T3 (en) 2015-08-07 2015-08-07 Procedure for aseptic filling of a container, sterile filling device for this, aseptic machine
US15/750,802 US20180244510A1 (en) 2015-08-07 2016-08-05 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for said method, and an aseptic machine
PCT/EP2016/068755 WO2017025465A1 (en) 2015-08-07 2016-08-05 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for said method, and an aseptic machine

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP15180161.0A EP3127859B1 (en) 2015-08-07 2015-08-07 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP3127859A1 EP3127859A1 (en) 2017-02-08
EP3127859B1 true EP3127859B1 (en) 2020-07-08

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP15180161.0A Active EP3127859B1 (en) 2015-08-07 2015-08-07 Method for aseptic filling of a container, a sterile filling device for same, an aseptic machine

Country Status (4)

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US (1) US20180244510A1 (en)
EP (1) EP3127859B1 (en)
ES (1) ES2817777T3 (en)
WO (1) WO2017025465A1 (en)

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IT202100005594A1 (en) * 2021-03-10 2022-09-10 Ali Group S R L FEED CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING PROCEDURE.

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Publication number Publication date
WO2017025465A1 (en) 2017-02-16
ES2817777T3 (en) 2021-04-08
US20180244510A1 (en) 2018-08-30
EP3127859A1 (en) 2017-02-08

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