EP3397561A1

EP3397561A1 - Device and method for sterilisation in the filling, preferably, of liquid foodstuff into packing containers

Info

Publication number: EP3397561A1
Application number: EP16805844.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rudolf FLÖRKE
Original assignee: SIG Technology AG
Current assignee: SIG Services AG
Priority date: 2015-12-28
Filing date: 2016-12-05
Publication date: 2018-11-07
Also published as: CN108473220A; US20190016493A1; DE102015122876A1; JP2019501086A; WO2017114640A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a device for sterilisation in the filling, preferably, of liquid foodstuffs into packing containers, comprising a pre-heating zone (A), a sterilisation zone (B), a drying zone (C), a filling zone (D) and a closing zone (E), which form a sterile space and are arranged directly adjacent to one another and are closed in the upward direction by a hood (1), which accommodates the necessary supply elements and lines. In order to reliably prevent a penetration of germs into the packages which are open at the top and passing through the treatment zones and into the sterile space formed by the treatment zones, according to the invention, substantially horizontal air-guiding elements (18, 22, 26) having a plurality of openings are provided in the sterile space below the hood (1) and sterile air is supplied to same from above via the hood (1) so that a laminar flow running uniformly downwards is formed below the air-guiding elements (18, 22, 26).

Description

Device and method for sterilizing the filling of preferably liquid food in packing containers

The invention relates to a device and a method for sterilizing in the filling preferably liquid food in packing containers with a

Preheating zone, a sterilization zone, a drying zone, a filling zone and a closure zone, which form a sterile room and are arranged immediately adjacent to each other and are closed at the top by a hood which receives the necessary supply elements and lines. When filling in particular liquid foodstuffs in packing containers, there must always be a special one for reasons of hygiene and durability

Attention to sterilization. The actual sterilization takes place according to known methods in which the surfaces to be sterilized of the still open packages, preferably cardboard / plastic composite packages, a predetermined period of time must come into contact with a disinfectant, which then, ie before the actual filling process, again from the

Packing surface must be removed (DE 30 36 972 C2).

In order to make this sterilization process as economical as possible, it has begun to use as disinfectant H2O2, ie hydrogen peroxide. An optimal effect is achieved when the packages to be filled are heated in a first zone (preheating zone) in order to be able to carry out the sterilization as quickly and efficiently as possible. The continuously moving

Packages are transported from the preheating zone into the downstream sterilization zone, where the wetting with the disinfecting agent, preferably H2O2, takes place. The liquid H2O2 is atomised by means of hot compressed air or superheated steam to a H202 aerosol, so that no larger and heavier droplets themselves can precipitate on the packaging surface, which could not be easily removed during the subsequent rinsing process.

It has been shown that short-term wetting with the H ₂ O ₂ aerosol under a hot atmosphere is sufficient to reliably kill existing germs. By preheating the open packs condensation of aerosol droplets is reliably excluded. In order to remove the H ₂ O ₂ aerosol from the packs again, the packs pass through another zone, the

so-called drying zone. The packs are included in this zone

Atmospheric pressure flushed with hot sterile air. Subsequently, in a filling zone, the actual filling of the packs with likewise known means. Finally, the filled packages are sealed immediately after the filling process in a Verschließzone. Since sterile conditions must prevail in all the above-mentioned five zones, the individual zones are largely sealed off to the outside in order to be able to transport the packages within a germicidal atmosphere. Although the use of H2O2 for sterilization has proven itself, the used

Filling machines are taken to ensure that, on the one hand for economic reasons and on the other hand for health reasons (hydrogen peroxide is a strong Ox ^y dationsmittel) of the H ₂ 02 atmosphere nothing in the room in which the filling machine is located.

Since the individual zones can always be insufficiently sealed downwards and, in particular, in the transport direction of the packages, because the packages open at the top are moved continuously through the apparatus by means of these receiving cell chains, it is not possible to close the inlet and outlet in a sluice-like manner. In the generic device for

Sterilization (EP 0 726 203 B1) has therefore already been proposed to combine all five said zones into a single sterile room and to close this with a common removable lid, which has a cavity possesses, in which the distribution and supply elements are housed. The basic problem of constantly fed endlessly

However, packages also subject to this known device. The invention is therefore based on the object, the above-mentioned and previously described in detail for sterilizing device to design and

to further develop that the penetration of germs in the open zones running through the treatment zones and in the sterile space formed by the treatment zones is reliably precluded. In addition, a structurally simple construction of the device is desired to minimize the ever-necessary effort for cleaning and maintenance.

This object is achieved in that under the hood substantially horizontally extending and a plurality of openings having air guide elements are provided and that this is supplied from above through the hood sterile air, so that below the air guide evenly downwardly running laminar flow [" In this way, it is ensured that dust or germs, which could reach the interior of the device via the transport chains, have no opportunity there to rise up against the laminar flow, thus remaining or becoming at the bottom of the device from there further down out of the device transported.

According to a preferred teaching of the invention, the air guiding elements are arranged at least in the region of the drying zone, filling zone and sealing zone. In this case, the air guide elements can be designed differently in zones. On the one hand, an adaptation to the already predetermined size of the respective zone can take place on the one hand, and on the other hand, however, a concrete orientation of the laminar flow can also be effected as a function of the zone and the lines located therein. According to a further embodiment of the invention are at the zone boundaries from the hood down to the respective air guide vertically

extending partition walls are provided, which isolate the individual zones in the upper region of the sterile room from each other and thus exclude a horizontal exchange of air, whereby the formation of a uniform downward laminar flow is further improved. In this way, a sterile air chamber can be formed for each individual zone.

Experiments have shown that it is particularly useful if, according to a further teaching of the invention, at least one pre-distributor element spanning the entire width of the device is arranged in each sterile air chamber, to which the sterile air is supplied via supply tubes extending vertically through the hood. In this case, each pre-distributor element at least at its horizontal bottom having a plurality of openings to pass the supplied air down into the respective sterile air chamber. The pre-distributor element can for example consist of a U-shaped metal sheet.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that in each pre-distributor element below the feed pipes a non-apertured structure acting as a baffle zone, such as a baffle plate, is provided. Such a baffle zone ensures that the sterile air supplied to the pre-distribution chamber with a slight overpressure initially spreads horizontally within the pre-distributor and then uniformly over the entire width of the

Device is delivered to the sterile air chamber.

Another embodiment of the invention provides that the openings in the

Air guide elements and / or the pre-distributor elements on and / or output side are chamfered to minimize turbulence in the sterile air when passing through these openings or to avoid as completely as possible. According to another teaching of the invention, all openings in the

Arranged air guide elements and / or pre-distributor evenly distributed. This allows a particularly simple production of these elements. However, it is also possible that the openings are made smaller or larger in certain areas or else they may also be arranged more or less concentrated in order to be able to take account of the geometric relationships in the individual zones (through internals, etc.).

A further preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the

Air guide elements and / or pre-distributor elements are designed as perforated plates. However, it is also possible to use honeycomb sheets or the like. The air-guiding elements or pre-distributor elements are preferably made of stainless steel.

Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the air guide elements and / or

Pre-distribution elements are designed as grid structures or the like.

Another teaching of the invention provides that the air guide elements and / or pre-distributor elements are releasably secured by means of brackets or clips on the hood. For this purpose, the air guide elements and / or pre-distributor elements can be provided with eyelets or hooks, which correspond with the retaining clips or clips. By appropriate arrangement of the holding elements on the spoiler elements or pre-distributor can be ensured that they can be fixed only in the correct orientation in the device. According to a further preferred teaching of the invention, it is provided that the parallel to the transport direction of the packs walls of the

Device are designed as transparent discs and that in each disc and / or on the housing of the device, a circumferential groove is present, which is in communication with at least one of the pre-distributor elements. In this way, the resulting between the hood and Vorverteilerelement Vorverteilerkammer, which is open at both ends, take over the further task, the circulating annular groove with sterile air under slight overpressure. In this way, a barrier is created, which effectively prevents the penetration of germ-laden air into the interior of the device. The invention further relates to a method for sterilizing the filling of preferably liquid foods in packing containers, comprising the following steps:

a) providing a device for sterilization during filling

preferably liquid food in packing containers with a

Preheating zone, a sterilization zone, a drying zone, a filling zone and a closure zone, which form a sterile space and are arranged immediately adjacent to each other and are closed at the top by a hood, the necessary supply elements and

pick up lines;

b) providing at least one blank or package sheath which can be formed into a package.

For this method, the object underlying the invention is achieved in that the at least one formed from a moldable blank or packing jacket open-top packing is transported discontinuously or continuously through the preheating zone, the sterilization zone, the drying zone, the filling zone and the Verschließzone and thereby is continuously applied with a uniform downward laminar flow of sterile air. Preferably, an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18 is provided for the method in step a).

According to another teaching of the invention, the laminar sterile air flow at least in sections an overpressure of 0.12 bar to 0.55 bar, preferably from 0.18 bar to 0.32 bar, on. The above-mentioned overpressure is measured within the sterile chamber, for example with the aid of a Prandtl's pitot tube. Finally, according to a further embodiment of the invention, it is envisioned that the at least one packing has a transport speed of 0.8 m / s to 3.0 m / s, preferably 1.2 m / s to 1.8 m / s the zones is transported.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a drawing showing only one embodiment. In the drawing show

1 shows a hood of a device according to the invention in side view,

2, the hood of FIG. 1, open at the top, in a perspective view,

Fig. 3, the preheating zone of the device in vertical section along the line

III-III in Fig. 1,

Fig. 4A, the drying zone of the device in vertical section along the

Line IV-IV in Fig. 1,

4B shows the article from FIG. 4A in perspective view,

Fig. 5, the filling zone of the device in vertical section along the line V-V in

Fig. 1,

Fig. 6, the Verschließzone of the device in vertical section along the line

VI-VI in Fig. 1 and in a schematic representation of a side of the device

attached cover. In Fig. 1 is a hood 1 of the device according to the invention for sterilization in the filling preferably liquid food in packing container in Side view shown. There, one after the other, from left to right, the individual zones to be filled of packages P to be filled, namely preheating zone A, sterilizing zone B, drying zone C, filling zone D and closing zone E are shown. The sterile space formed by individual zones A, B, C, D, E is from a

circumscribed housing, not shown limited. Upwards, according to the invention, the sterile room is delimited by the hood 1, of which only a peripheral frame 2 and a cover 3 can be seen. As already known from the generic state of the art, all supply elements are contained within the hood 1. The 'sterile room' is not structurally limited downwards, its lower one

However, expansion must extend below the packages P open at the top and is indicated in FIG. 1 by the dot-dash line SH.

According to the invention is now by sterile air pipes, which extend through the hood 1 and of which only outstanding above sterile air nozzle. 4

can be seen, sterile air supplied to the sterile room below the hood 1. The sterile air nozzles 4 are supplied with sterile air via hoses (not shown). The supply elements comprise - in Fig. 1 from left to right - a manifold 5 for hot sterile air, a H202 distributor 6, a sterile air distributor 7, two

Filling 8 with arranged below filling nozzles 9 and a

Hot steam distributor 10.

The aforementioned supply elements are clearly better visible in the perspective view in Fig. 2, in which the hood 1 is shown open at the top. Here are also (unspecified) supply lines to recognize. The device according to the invention is used to sterilize open-top packages P, which the device along six parallel lines LI to L6 by a

Outside wall 11 are supplied with six cuts 12 in the embodiment. Preheat ports 13 are in communication with respective preheat nozzles 14 through which the open top packs P are purged with hot air or superheated steam to heat them to reliably prevent condensation of sterilant liquid inside the pack P.

It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that among the three, in each case, for two lines LI, L2; L3, L4 and L5, L6, H202 distributors 6 are each arranged with H202 aerosol distributors 15, from which H202 aerosol nozzles 16 pass through the hood 1 into the interior of the sterile room, as shown in FIG. The H ₂ O 2 aerosol nozzles 16 reach down to just above the packs P. The H ₂ O ₂ aerosol nozzles 16 terminate in a tunnel plate 17 to prevent unnecessary spreading of the H ₂ O ₂ aerosol nozzles 16

Minimize hydrogen peroxide in the sterile room.

According to the invention, a plurality of air guide elements for producing a downwardly oriented laminar sterile air flow are now arranged below the hood 1. In the drying zone C can be seen in Fig. 1, a first air guide 18, which has an L-shaped cross-section and together with the bottom of the hood 1, a sterile chamber 19 is formed. In the interior of the sterile chamber 19 can be seen left above a pre-distributor 20, the function will be described in more detail below. The sterile chamber 19 is separated to the right by a partition wall 21 of the subsequent filling zone D. The filling zone D is also equipped with an air guiding element 22, which forms a sterile chamber 23 together with the dividing wall 21 and the underside of the hood 1. In it is in the top right in cross section

Pre-distribution element 24 to recognize, which will be described in more detail. To the right, the sterile chamber 23 is bounded by the partition 25.

It can also be seen in FIG. 1 that the closure zone E also has an air guide element 26 and a pre-distributor element 27. The exact arrangement and function of the air guide elements 18, 22, 26 and pre-distributor elements 20, 24, 27 will be described below with reference to the other figures. In the perspective view in Fig. 2, below the air guide elements 18, 22, 26 adjusting laminar sterile air flow is indicated by arrows. Fig. 3 shows first a vertical section through the device according to the invention along the line III-III in the preheating A in the transport direction of the packages P. Here you can see first that the hood according to the invention, of the in Figs. 1 and 2, only the outer frame 2 was visible, down through a

continuous sheet is completed, which is formed integrally with the frame 2 in the illustrated and so far preferred embodiment.

Overlying it can be seen a cover 3, which rises from the outside to the center of the device. Before (not yet relevant in this zone)

Sterilluftstutzen 4 can be seen (in a sectional view) the already mentioned sterile air distributor 5, from which a plurality of supply lines go out to lead the hot sterile air to the consumers.

The section in Fig. 3 passes exactly through the two provided on this side of the hood 1 ports 13, of which lead the three preheating 14 to immediately above the open-topped packs P to heat them with superheated steam or with hot air. 3 also shows three tunnel plates 17, which extend above the lines L4 to L6 shown in the region of the subsequent degermination zone D above the clear opening of the packs P in order to minimize unnecessary spreading of the H2O2 in the interior of the sterile room. Finally, one recognizes in Fig. 3 nor the vertically upwardly bent wall of the air guide 18, which represents the boundary to the drying zone C.

Fig. 4A shows a vertical section through the drying zone C along the line IV-IV in Fig. 1. Here you can see the two hot air manifolds 7, of which three hot air nozzles 7 'down to over the mouth region of the open packages P are performed. From the spoiler 18 here is the horizontal floor can be seen. This is with a variety of unspecified holes provided and preferably formed as a perforated plate, which represents the lower boundary of the sterile chamber 19. In the upper region of the sterile chamber 19 is below the hood 1, the pre-distributor 20 can be seen, which is designed as a U-shaped profile sheet and is also provided with a plurality of rows of holes. In this, however, no holes are present immediately below the sterile air nozzle 4 to there, as already described, corresponding impact zones PZ

train. Finally, one recognizes still the sterile chamber 19 to the rear final partition 21, which represents the boundary to the subsequent filling zone D. The arrangement of the aforementioned construction elements can be seen even more clearly in the perspective view of FIG. 4B. This applies in particular to the air guide element 18 and the pre-distributor element 20.

5 now shows a section along the line V-V in FIG. 1 in the region of the filling zone D. Here, the packs P are already filled. The above from the top of the sterile air nozzle 4 via the Vorverteilelement 24 with corresponding impact zone PZ the

Air guide element 22 supplied sterile air fills the entire sterile chamber 23 and leads through the evenly-perforated bottom of the air guide 22 to form a "sterile air curtain" underneath, which is to prevent germs approaching from below the openings of the packs P or internals inside the sterile room In order also to close off the filling zone D as far as possible downwards, cover panels 28 extending in the transport direction of the packs P are visible, which are fastened with hooks 29 to the partition wall 25 extending vertically behind it. VI in Fig. 1, ie in the region of the closure zone E. Also in this area provide sterile air nozzle 4 for the supply of sterile air, first in the pre-distributor 27 and from there - evened on the entire width of the device - in the arranged below the air guide element 26th Again, the air guide 26 ensures that the hot sterile air is evenly directed downwards and leads to a laminar flow. The Closing devices themselves are not shown, you can see here already closed packages P '.

From Fig. 7 finally shows that the parallel to the transport direction of the packs P extending walls of the device whose housing is shown here schematically as a rectangle 30, as, preferably transparent, discs 31 are formed and that in each disc 31 and / or on the housing 30 of the device, a circumferential groove 32 is present, which communicates with at least one pre-distributor 20 in connection. In this way, it is reliably achieved that no germs in any leaks between the housing 30 and disc 31 can penetrate through the pressure prevailing in the annular groove 32 overpressure.

Claims

claims

Device for sterilizing during filling, preferably liquid

Food in packing containers with a preheating zone (A), one

A sterilization zone (B), a drying zone (C), a filling zone (D) and a closure zone (E), which form a sterile room and are immediately adjacent to each other and are closed at the top by a hood (1), the necessary supply elements and Receives lines, characterized in that

in the sterile space below the hood (1) substantially horizontally extending and a plurality of openings having air guide elements (18, 22, 26) are provided and that these from above through the hood (1) sterile air is supplied, so that below the air guide elements ( 18, 22, 26) forms a uniform downward laminar flow.

Device according to claim 1,

characterized in that

the air guide elements (18, 22, 26) are arranged at least in the region of the drying zone (C), filling zone (D) and closing zone (E).

Device according to claim 2,

characterized in that

the air guide elements (18, 22, 26) are formed zonally different.

Device according to claim 2 or 3,

characterized in that

at the zone boundaries (B / C, C / D, D / E) vertically extending from the hood (1) downwardly extending partitions (21, 25) are provided. Device according to claim 4,

characterized in that

for each zone (C, D, E) a sterile chamber (19, 23, 26) is formed.

Device according to claim 5,

characterized in that

in each sterile chamber (19, 23, 26) at least one the entire width of

Device spanning pre-distributor element (20, 24, 27) is arranged, in which the sterile air over the hood (1) vertically extending feed tubes is supplied.

Device according to claim 6,

characterized in that

each pre-distributor element (20, 24, 27) has a multiplicity of openings at least on its horizontal base.

Device according to claim 7,

characterized in that

in each pre-distributor element (20, 24, 27) immediately below the feed pipes a non-apertured structure acting as a baffle zone (PZ) is provided.

Apparatus according to claim 1 or 7,

characterized in that

the openings are chamfered on and / or output side.

Device according to one of claims 7 to 9,

characterized in that

the openings are arranged evenly distributed.

11. The device according to claim 9,

characterized in that

the openings are made smaller or larger in certain areas or are arranged more or less concentrated.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11,

characterized in that

the air guide elements (18, 22, 26) and / or pre-distributor elements (20, 24, 27) are designed as perforated plates.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11,

characterized in that

the air guide elements and / or pre-distributor elements are designed as honeycomb sheets.

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13

characterized in that

the air guide elements (18, 22, 26) and / or pre-distributor elements (20, 24, 27) made of stainless steel.

15. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11,

characterized in that

the air guide elements and / or pre-distributor elements are designed as grid structures.

16. Device according to one of claims 1 to 15,

characterized in that

the air guide elements (18, 22, 26) and / or pre-distributor elements (20, 24, 27) are releasably secured by means of retaining clips on the hood (1).

17. Device according to one of claims 1 to 16,

characterized in that

the air guide elements [18, 22, 26) and / or pre-distributor elements (20, 24, 27) are releasably secured by means of clips on the hood.

18. Device according to one of claims 6 to 17,

characterized in that

the parallel to the transport direction of the packs (P) extending walls of the device are formed as discs (31) and that in each disc (31) and / or on the housing (30) of the device, a circumferential groove (32) is present, with at least a pre-distributor element (20) is in communication.

19. Method for sterilizing during filling, preferably liquid

Food in packing containers comprising the following steps:

a) providing a device for sterilization during filling

preferably liquid food in packing containers with a preheating zone (A), a degermination zone (B), a drying zone (C), a filling zone (D) and a closing zone (E), which form a sterile space and are immediately adjacent to each other and upwards from a hood (1) are closed, which receives the necessary supply elements and lines;

b) providing at least one packable blank or package sheath;

characterized in that

the at least one open-top package (P) formed from a moldable blank or package jacket is transported intermittently or continuously through the preheating zone (A), the sterilizing zone (B), the drying zone (C), the filling zone (D) and the sealing zone (E) will and will

continuous with a uniform down-going laminar

Flow from sterile air is applied.

20. The method according to claim 19,

characterized in that

in step a) an apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18 is provided.

21. The method according to claim 19 or 20,

characterized in that

the laminar flow, at least in some sections, has an overpressure of 0.12 bar to 0.55 bar, preferably 0.18 bar to 0.32 bar.

Method according to one of claims 19 to 21,

characterized in that

the at least one packing (P) having a transport speed of 0.8 m / s to 3.0 m / s, preferably 1.2 m / s to 1.8 m / s, through the zones (A, B, C , D, E) is transported.