EP3755652B1 - Filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and method for sterilizing such apparatus - Google Patents
Filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and method for sterilizing such apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3755652B1 EP3755652B1 EP19726496.3A EP19726496A EP3755652B1 EP 3755652 B1 EP3755652 B1 EP 3755652B1 EP 19726496 A EP19726496 A EP 19726496A EP 3755652 B1 EP3755652 B1 EP 3755652B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- vhp
- tank
- filling
- filling apparatus
- contamination
- 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
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 16
- 230000001954 sterilising effect Effects 0.000 title claims description 11
- MHAJPDPJQMAIIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Hydrogen peroxide Chemical compound OO MHAJPDPJQMAIIY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 36
- 238000011109 contamination Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 16
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 claims description 4
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000002955 isolation Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000011012 sanitization Methods 0.000 description 3
- 235000013361 beverage Nutrition 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 235000013339 cereals Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000011869 dried fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 235000013399 edible fruits Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000945 filler Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 235000021374 legumes Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 239000000825 pharmaceutical preparation Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229940127557 pharmaceutical product Drugs 0.000 description 1
- 230000000284 resting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004659 sterilization and disinfection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003206 sterilizing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012815 thermoplastic material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009424 underpinning Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000013311 vegetables Nutrition 0.000 description 1
Images
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
- 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
- B67C3/001—Cleaning of filling devices
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
- B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
- B08B9/08—Cleaning containers, e.g. tanks
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and a method for sterilizing such apparatus.
- the pressure of the generated vaporized hydrogen peroxide is comprised between 100 mbar and 1 bar.
- the filling apparatus 1 comprises:
- first VHP supplying duct 12 puts the VHP generator 11 in fluid communication with the tank 2.
- At least one valve 13 is operatively active on the first duct 12 in order to establish a selective communication between the VHP generator 11 and the tank 2.
- a second VHP supplying duct 14 (hereinafter briefly indicated as “second duct”) starts from the VHP generator 11 and opens into the contamination-controlled environment 4.
- This second duct 14 thus defines an additional path for the VHP without passing through the tank 2.
- valve 13 is closed, therefore the flow of VHP is interrupted from the VHP generator 11 to the tank 2.
- the SIP cycles are carried out by introducing only VHP and not water vapour into the tank of the filling apparatus. Since the temperature of the VHP is approximately 70°-80°C, there is no longer a need to cool the components crossed by VHP (as instead occurred in the solutions using water vapour).
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
- Supplying Of Containers To The Packaging Station (AREA)
- Basic Packing Technique (AREA)
Description
- The present invention relates to a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and a method for sterilizing such apparatus.
- The term "Sterilization-In-Place" (acronym SIP) is to be intended as a sterilization method or cycle of the internal surfaces of closed systems that avoids the disassembly of the latter.
- Within the field of an apparatus for filling containers, sanitization systems are known of the "dummy bottle" type. When the apparatus is in use, the filling fluid (e.g. a beverage or a pharmaceutical product) coming from a supply line is sent to the dispensing nozzles. During filling, the dummy bottles are in a resting position whereby they do not interfere with the corresponding nozzle.
- When a SIP cycle must be carried out, the dummy bottles are positioned below the corresponding nozzles. Water vapour (possibly with the addition of a sterilizing agent) is supplied through the supply line and dispensed by the nozzles to flow into the dummy bottles before being evacuated through specific ducts. The passage of the vapour allows sterilizing the various components.
- Apart from the variants available today, the dummy bottle sanitization systems are structurally complex and bulky in that they envisage a dummy bottle (and relative actuation means) for each nozzle of the filler.
- In addition, the components are heated due to the flow of high-temperature water vapour (up to 120°). For this reason, these systems envisage a cooling step of the components, subsequent to the SIP cycle, which is carried out by sending a cooled fluid (e.g. sterile inert gas or air).
- Furthermore, the use of water vapour requires maintaining an overpressure with respect to the clean chamber in which the filling is performed.
-
EP 3 199 488 A1claim 1. - In this context, the technical task underpinning the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and a method for sterilizing such apparatus, which obviate the drawbacks of the prior art cited above.
- In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions, which is sanitized and also have a simplified and more compact structure with respect to the prior art.
- Another object of the present invention is to propose a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and a method for sterilizing such apparatus, in which there is no need to cool the components after the execution of a SIP cycle.
- The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions, comprising:
- a tank for containing a filling fluid;
- a plurality of dispensing nozzles in fluid communication with the tank, the nozzles being located in a contamination-controlled environment that is isolated from an external environment;
- a VHP or vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator,
- Preferably, a valve is operatively active on the first VHP supplying duct in order to establish a selective communication between the vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator and the tank.
- In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a second VHP supplying duct which extends from the vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator to the contamination-controlled environment.
- In accordance with one embodiment, the tank is located externally to the contamination-controlled environment.
- In accordance with another embodiment, the tank is placed within the contamination-controlled environment.
- In particular, no dummy bottles are envisaged in the apparatus.
- In accordance with one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a fixed base and a rotary carousel. The tank and the dispensing nozzles are integral to the rotary carousel.
- In accordance with another embodiment, the apparatus is of a linear type.
- The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a method for sterilizing the above described filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions, comprising the following steps:
- generating vaporized hydrogen peroxide or VHP;
- supplying the vaporized hydrogen peroxide to a tank of the filling apparatus;
- distributing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide from the tank to dispensing nozzles of the filling apparatus;
- dispensing the vaporized hydrogen peroxide by means of the dispensing nozzles.
- Preferably, the step of generating the vaporized hydrogen peroxide is carried out externally to the contamination-controlled environment.
- Preferably, no other compound is supplied to the tank during the step of supplying the vaporized hydrogen peroxide to the tank.
- Preferably, the temperature of the generated vaporized hydrogen peroxide is comprised between 50°C and 100°C.
- More preferably, the temperature of such vaporized hydrogen peroxide is comprised between 70°C and 80°C.
- Preferably, the pressure of the generated vaporized hydrogen peroxide is comprised between 100 mbar and 1 bar.
- More preferably, the pressure of this vaporized hydrogen peroxide is comprised between 200 mbar and 300 mbar.
- Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will more fully emerge from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and a method for sterilizing such apparatus, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
-
figure 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions, according to the present invention; -
figure 2 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of the apparatus offigure 1 , according to the present invention. Thereference number 1 is used to indicate a filling apparatus for fillingcontainers 100 in aseptic conditions. - In particular, the
containers 100 are made of a thermoplastic material, for example PET or HDPE. - The
filling apparatus 1 comprises: - a
tank 2 for a filling fluid; - a plurality of dispensing
nozzles 3 in fluid communication with thetank 2. - For example, the filling fluid is a beverage or a pharmaceutical compound. In certain cases, the filling fluid could contain solid pieces. For example, these solid pieces can be pieces of fruit or vegetables, or grains, or legumes, or dried fruit.
- The dispensing
nozzles 3 are located in a contamination-controlled environment 4 that is isolated from anexternal environment 5. - The contamination-controlled environment 4 is isolated, i.e. physically separated, with respect to the external (contaminated)
environment 5 through anisolation device 6. Such isolation device is not the subject matter of the present invention, therefore it will not be further described. By way of example, an isolation device similar to that described and illustrated in patentEP2246176 can be used. - The
tank 2 can be located outside of the contamination-controlled environment 4 (seefigure 1 ) or inside such environment (seefigure 2 ). - In the embodiment described herein, the
filling apparatus 1 is preferably of the rotary carousel type. -
Such filling apparatus 1 comprises a fixed base and a rotary carousel. Thetank 2 is integral with the rotary carousel and in fluid communication with a rotary distributor from which the supply ducts of the dispensingnozzles 3 depart. - In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the
filling apparatus 1 is of the linear type. - The filling
apparatus 1 comprises a vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator indicated with thenumber 11. - Vaporized hydrogen peroxide is usually denoted by the abbreviation VHP, therefore the
generator 11 is briefly indicated in the following description as "VHP generator". The VHP generator is located in theexternal environment 5. - Originally, a first VHP supplying duct 12 (hereinafter briefly indicated as "first duct") puts the
VHP generator 11 in fluid communication with thetank 2. At least onevalve 13 is operatively active on thefirst duct 12 in order to establish a selective communication between theVHP generator 11 and thetank 2. - Preferably, a second VHP supplying duct 14 (hereinafter briefly indicated as "second duct") starts from the
VHP generator 11 and opens into the contamination-controlled environment 4. Thissecond duct 14 thus defines an additional path for the VHP without passing through thetank 2. - More preferably, other ducts (not shown) are present that convey the VHP from the
VHP generator 11 to the contamination-controlled environment 4. - The operation of the filling apparatus in aseptic conditions is described here below, as well as the method for sterilizing such an apparatus, in accordance with the present invention.
- When the filling
apparatus 1 is in operation, i.e. it is performing the filling of thecontainers 100, the latter are located below the dispensingnozzles 3 which receive the filling fluid from thetank 2 through the rotary carousel 9. - In this case, the
valve 13 is closed, therefore the flow of VHP is interrupted from theVHP generator 11 to thetank 2. - When the
tank 2 has been emptied of all the filling fluid, a SIP cycle is generally run. In this case, thevalve 13 opens that enables the fluid communication between theVHP generator 11 and thetank 2 through thefirst duct 12. - The dispensing
nozzles 3 are in an open configuration, thus they dispense the VHP coming from thetank 2. - Throughout the step wherein the
tank 2 is supplied with VHP, no other compound is introduced. In particular, water vapour is not introduced. - Additional VHP can possibly be introduced directly into the contamination-controlled environment 4 through the
second duct 14. - Once the SIP cycle has ended, the
valve 13 is closed again, thetank 2 is supplied again with the filling fluid and the normal operation of the apparatus resumes. - From the above description, the characteristics of the filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and the method for sterilizing such apparatus, according to the present invention, are clear, as are the advantages.
- In particular, the SIP cycles are carried out by introducing only VHP and not water vapour into the tank of the filling apparatus. Since the temperature of the VHP is approximately 70°-80°C, there is no longer a need to cool the components crossed by VHP (as instead occurred in the solutions using water vapour).
- Finally, the pressures involved during SIP cycles with only VHP are very low (about 200-300 mbar), for which the components are less subject to wear and a tank with walls of reduced thickness can be used, with obvious advantages in terms of weight and thermal efficiency.
- The presence of other ducts that supply the VHP to the contamination-controlled environment (without passing through the tank) allow speeding up the SIP cycle.
- Finally, the solution proposed herein does not use dummy bottles, thus its structure is simpler and more compact compared to the known solutions.
Claims (15)
- Filling apparatus (1) for filling containers (100) in aseptic conditions, comprising:a tank (2) for containing a filling fluid;a plurality of dispensing nozzles (3) in fluid communication with said tank (2), said nozzles (3) being located in a contamination-controlled environment (4) that is isolated from an external environment (5);a VHP or vaporized hydrogen peroxide generator (11),characterized in that it comprises at least one first VHP supplying duct (12) that goes from the VHP generator (11) to said tank (2).
- Filling apparatus (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a valve (13) that is operatively active on said first VHP supplying duct (12) in order to establish a selective communication between the VHP generator (11) and the tank (2).
- Filling apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a second VHP supplying duct (14) that goes from the VHP generator (11) to said contamination-controlled environment (4).
- Filling apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the tank (2) is located externally to said contamination-controlled environment (4).
- Filling apparatus (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 3, wherein the tank (2) is located within said contamination-controlled environment (4).
- Filling apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, where no dummy bottles are present.
- Filling apparatus (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a fixed base and a rotary carousel, said tank (2) and said dispensing nozzles (3) being integral to the rotary carousel.
- Filling apparatus (1) according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is of the linear type.
- Method for sterilizing a filling apparatus (1) for filling containers (100) in aseptic conditions according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:generating vaporized hydrogen peroxide or VHP;supplying the VHP to the tank (2) of the filling apparatus (1);distributing the VHP from the tank (2) to the dispensing nozzles (3);dispensing the VHP by means of said dispensing nozzles (3).
- Method according to claim 9, wherein the step of generating VHP is carried out externally to the contamination-controlled environment (4).
- Method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein no other compound is supplied to the tank (2) during the step of supplying the VHP to said tank (2).
- Method according to any of the claims 9 to 11, wherein the temperature of the generated VHP is comprised between 50°C and 100°C.
- Method according to claim 12, wherein the temperature of the generated VHP is comprised between 70°C and 80°C.
- Method according to any of the claims 9 to 13, wherein the pressure of the generated VHP is comprised between 100 mbar and 1 bar.
- Method according to claim 14, wherein the pressure of the generated VHP is comprised between 200 mbar and 300 mbar.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT102018000005582A IT201800005582A1 (en) | 2018-05-22 | 2018-05-22 | ASEPTIC CONTAINER FILLING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR STERILIZING THIS APPARATUS |
PCT/IB2019/053235 WO2019224625A1 (en) | 2018-05-22 | 2019-04-18 | Filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and method for sterilizing such apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3755652A1 EP3755652A1 (en) | 2020-12-30 |
EP3755652B1 true EP3755652B1 (en) | 2021-12-29 |
Family
ID=63244783
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19726496.3A Active EP3755652B1 (en) | 2018-05-22 | 2019-04-18 | Filling apparatus for filling containers in aseptic conditions and method for sterilizing such apparatus |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3755652B1 (en) |
IT (1) | IT201800005582A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019224625A1 (en) |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7157046B2 (en) * | 2001-02-16 | 2007-01-02 | Steris Inc. | High capacity flash vapor generation systems |
WO2010024165A1 (en) * | 2008-08-28 | 2010-03-04 | 東洋製罐株式会社 | Compression-molding mold of preform and preform, and aseptic filling system for food or drink and method for producing blow-molded container using the same |
DE102010027077A1 (en) * | 2010-07-13 | 2012-01-19 | Krones Aktiengesellschaft | Aseptic filling line |
DE102013102516A1 (en) * | 2013-03-13 | 2014-09-18 | Krones Ag | Device and method for treating at least one container |
JP5920433B2 (en) * | 2014-09-25 | 2016-05-18 | 大日本印刷株式会社 | Method and apparatus for sterilizing filling nozzle |
-
2018
- 2018-05-22 IT IT102018000005582A patent/IT201800005582A1/en unknown
-
2019
- 2019-04-18 EP EP19726496.3A patent/EP3755652B1/en active Active
- 2019-04-18 WO PCT/IB2019/053235 patent/WO2019224625A1/en unknown
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2019224625A1 (en) | 2019-11-28 |
EP3755652A1 (en) | 2020-12-30 |
IT201800005582A1 (en) | 2019-11-22 |
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