FI94331B - Method and apparatus for sterilizing a container provided with a filling opening - Google Patents

Description

94331

Method and apparatus for sterilizing containers with a filling opening. - Förfarande och anordning för steri-5 lisering av en med med päfyllningsöppning försedd behällare.

The invention relates to a device according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method according to the preamble of claim 8 for sterilizing containers provided with a filling opening.

In one device of this type (EP publication 342 690 A1), a bacteria-free chamber is constructed as a longitudinal tunnel of the machine, through which the goblet-like containers to be filled are conveyed by a chain. In such a device, the tunnel must be constantly filled with bacteria-free air in order to maintain a higher pressure in the filling chamber than in the pre-connected sterilization chamber and the environment. The operating costs of such a device are therefore high.

• "In another device of a similar type (DE publication 3 809 853 A1), which is specially designed for the bacterial-free filling of bottles, the bottles are conveyed by rotor to each filling station. A special, bacteria-shaped chamber in the form of a container then encloses each individual container, which chamber is placed on top of the tank and in which there is an overpressure, although in such a device the consumption of bacterial-free air can be kept low, but the handling of such equipment 30 is complicated.

The object of the invention is to design the device mentioned at the beginning. as simple as possible and in such a way that operating costs, in particular for the sterilized medium, are kept to a minimum.

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The object is achieved according to the invention and the device according to the invention is characterized in that the cabinet is cylindrical and the bottom of the bacterial-free chamber is formed as a rotatable, step-by-step, container-conveying, plate-like synchronous work table with retainers is tightly guided against the surrounding cabinet so that the bacteria-free chamber acts to simultaneously sterilize the interior of the container, the lid and the closure.

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Thus, when sterilizing, for example, a cardboard can with not only a base placed in a cardboard shell but also a can lid already in place, which still has an open filling opening, it is only necessary to sterilize the inside of the can and the can lid. At the same time, only those parts of the outside of the can that are in the immediate vicinity of the filling opening and the lid are sterilized. In this case, it is possible to design a closure already placed in the filling opening before sterilization, eg a so-called gripping strip, and seal it upright. This gripping strip can then be sterilized at the same time as the inside of the can, eliminating the need for a special operation step. According to the invention, the advantage is achieved that both elements can be sterilized together in the same chamber and without excessive mechanical uses.

li 3 94331 When using a cylindrical cabinet, it is then advantageous 5 for the support to be a synchronous work table rotating about a vertical axis and reciprocating stepwise, the circumference of which is tightly guided to the surface of the cabinet surrounding it. This type of synchronous desk allows, for example, compared to chain transport, that the transactions and the accuracies of the setting 10 are very accurate. In addition, such a synchronous desk can be placed in a relatively limited space, resulting in a rather compact design.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bacterial-free chamber is divided into barrier-separated container inlet and outlet sterilization and filling and sealing zones. In this case, the amount of sterile air and aspiration can be kept small.

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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the bacterial-free chamber is designed to be at atmospheric pressure.

This reduces potential sealing problems.

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The method according to the invention is characterized by the features set forth in the characterizing part of claim 8.

Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the subclaims and from the following description of an embodiment. The drawings show: Fig. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a device according to the invention, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device according to Fig. 1, shown only schematically, with some components omitted, Fig. 3 shows a container holder when transported through the bacteria-free chamber and Figure 4 shows the container holder when transported to the bacteria-free chamber.

The device according to Figures 1 and 2 consists essentially of a basic machine 1 with a transport unit 2 for feeding refillable containers 3 and a transport unit 4 for moving them out. The basic machine 1 is housed in a cabinet 6, which contains the sterilization and filling devices 5 of the containers 3 and other equipment for achieving and maintaining the sterility of the entire device 15.

The transport unit 2, which feeds the containers 3 in the arrow direction B to the cabinet 6, initially has a position 7, in which the group of three containers 3 is pushed transversely from only one major transfer device to the transport unit 2. The transport unit 2 is followed by a next station 8 container 3. This alignment may involve, for example, the correct positioning of the filling opening 9 located in the can lid 16 of the jacket shell 14 (see Figures 3 ', 25 and 4). During alignment, these containers 3 are on a fixed rail 10, which is held laterally in place by the two retaining jaws 11 and 12 forming the press apparatus (Fig. 4). Once the alignment has taken place in position 8, the containers 8 remain permanently in the presses. would not disappear. This is done by; that in position 8 take another pair of retaining jaws in the tanks

3 and hold the jaws 11 and 12 back to the open position. The retaining jaws 11, 12 move back and forth by the arrows K and L

35 in the direction in which the group of three containers 3 is always transportable in the arrow direction B. Each holding jaw 11, 12 can be moved on the other hand in the transverse direction, i. in the direction of the arrows M and N or P and Q. When the group of three containers 3 is transported, the jaws 11, 12 open in the direction of arrows M and Q, after which they are retracted in the direction of arrow K and engage the next group of three containers 3, while moving in the direction of arrows N and P.

Finally, the alignment station 8 of the containers 3 is followed by the position 13, which is indicated in Fig. 2 only by a dotted line, and which has a closure piece 17 belonging to the filling opening 9, which is locally sealed to the can lid 16 and raised vertically (see also Fig. 3). . The closure piece, the so-called gripping strip, 15 remains open and in a vertical position so that the container 3 can finally be cleaned and filled. The adhesive strip is fed and cut from a film roll (not shown).

After the position 13, the tank entry 18 follows the cabinet 6, whereby the group 20 of the three tanks 3 is initially moved 20 to an intermediate table 19 which can be moved in the direction of arrows D and E, and which moves the three tanks 3 around the vertical axis. In this case, three containers 3 are always fed from below through each stop 24 or 24 'of the work stroke table 21 from below (Fig. 3). Figure 3 shows two possible embodiments of the detent. To the right of the center line M of the container 3 is shown a weakly conical retainer 24 placed in a corresponding hole in the work stroke table 21; on the left side of the center line, on the other hand, a cylindrical retainer 24 'is shown as an alternative, the diameter of which is reduced from the compression area. In either case, the containers 3 are always pressed into place at their top by means of the detents 24 or 24 '.

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Underneath the bottom 15 of the clamped containers 3, there are fixed annular rails 23 which do not normally contact the containers 3, but are there only for safety, if the pressure exerted by the detents 5 or 24 'on the containers 3 would sometimes be insufficient in individual cases. The rails 23 are constructed as pipes to which a washing system is connected, which will be explained further below.

The basic machine 1 mechanically drives the transport unit 10, whereby all important movements of the individual stations are effected mechanically by means of a cam mechanism. The fixed ring 23, which is designed to secure the containers 3, can be adjusted to the height shape of each container 3 by means of a support pin 22 in the direction of the arrows F or G 15. When a certain size of the tanks 3 is used, the support pins 22 are in a way fixed.

The transport unit 4, which always transports a group of three containers 3 away from the cabinet 6 in the direction of arrow C, moves the sterilized, filled and closed containers 3 away from the work table 21. There may be other stations here for possible additional work, eg for marking. The outlet of the tanks is indicated by reference 25. The basic machine 1 also mechanically drives the transport unit 4, whereby also here all important movements of the individual stations are mechanically effected by means of a cam mechanism.

‘’ * The basic machine 1, which includes a base 26 for all mechanical actuators, has a synchronous desk 21 with a total of three rows 81 of the tanks 3 to be treated (Fig. 2). The multi-row synchronous desk 21 switches on step by step. It has the so-called. lifting. a beam 27 with a plate 28 for attaching tools, e.g. hot air blowing nozzles 40 or liquid filler filling heads 41 (Fig. 1).

The essential component of the cabinet 6 placed on top of the basic machine 1 is a substantially round-shaped bacterial chamber 29 with a rectangular cross-section and an upper partition wall 75 through which each tool is passed. The synchronous desk 21 forms the lower boundary wall 5 of the bacterial-free chamber 29, which has the shape of a circular plate and the circumference of which is tightly guided against the surface of the peripheral wall of the cabinet 6, The bacteria-free chamber 29 thus basically consists of the side walls 10 of the cabinet 6, both the roof and the bottom, which consists of a synchronous work table 21 and the inner side of the containers 3 to be sterilized. In the bacteria-free chamber 29, located in the cabinet 6, the actual sterilization of the important parts of the containers 3 is carried out, and this cabinet, in turn, is extensively hermetically sealed outwards. Extending into the bacteria-free chamber 29 (see Figures 1 and 3) are only the can lid 16 and the gripping strip 17 (Figure 3) coming through the synchronous desk 21, i.e. the filling openings 9 of the container 3 built primarily as a cardboard can contain 20 areas. This means that only these mentioned areas outside the can need to be sterilized. Re-entry of Tau din seeds is negligible with this arrangement. The inner container 3, the can lid 16 and the gripping strip 17 are sterilized at the same time, i.e. no separate equipment is required to sterilize the closure-25 pieces 17. The sterilization operation is carried out at atmospheric pressure. The described internal shape of the bacterial-free chamber 29 has concrete technical advantages. Prior to sterilization, the necessary heating 30 of the surface of the containers 3 can be carried out at a substantially lower temperature, since it is now possible for the containers 3 to be heated from the inside with sterile hot air, but from the outside with ordinary heating elements. The sterile hot air which heats the inside of the tanks 3 can be kept at a low temperature level because the heating is facilitated from the outside. For equipment up to this point, a temperature reduction of 80 ° C to 120 ° C could be achieved. The containers 3, which are normally coated on the inside with polyester, are thus treated more sparingly. And besides, expensive sterile air is saved.

The bacteria-free chamber 29 consists, as shown in Fig. 2, of a first zone 30 in which the tank inlet 18 and the tank outlet 25 are placed, a cleaning zone 31 of the tank 3 and finally a filling and closing zone 32 of the tank 3. The three zones 30, 31, 32 are separated by parentheses 33, 34, 35. The closures 33, 34, 35 are then constructed in such a way that the containers 3 themselves form a seal with respect to the zones 15 adjacent in each case. They are also shaped so that when the containers 3 are driven into the bacterial-free chamber 29, the container 3 is always in each closure 33, 34, 35. Thus avoiding increased ventilation with the environment, leading to lower consumption of sterile air 20 in the bacterial-free chamber 29 and reduced access to foreign bacterial seeds. chamber 29.

The cabinet 6 is provided with suction devices 36, 37, 38 (Fig. 1) which are connected both to the bacterial-free chamber 29 and to the areas above and below it. In particular, one suction device 36 is also placed in the space 6 of the cabinet 6 above the bacteria-free chamber 29. The tools of each of the workstations 42 to 71 described below are attached to a lifting beam 27, which 30 can be raised and lowered in the direction of the arrows H and I, whereby the tools can be placed in the containers 3.

The first position 42 of the synchronous table 21 is located in the tank inlet 18 and pushes the group 20 of the three tanks 3 from below into the retainers 24 of the synchronous table 21. Each tank 3 of the three groups 20 94331 is then in the same row 81.

Subsequent stations 43, 44 form a barrier 33 between the zones 30, 31 already described. An empty station 45 then follows. In the subsequent zone 46, the containers 3 are preheated with hot air so that, during subsequent sterilization, no excessive droplets form on the inner wall of the containers 3. At the next station 47, steam is then introduced from an aqueous solution of about 65% water and about 35% hydrogen peroxide 10 into the tanks 3 through the filling openings 9, whereby the area above the synchronous table 21 around the filling opening 9 of the tanks 3 is also sterilized. . Then follows the empty station 48 again.

At the next eight stations 15 49-56 in zone 31, hot air is blown to completely dry the tanks 3. In the enclosure 34 between the zones 31, 32, at the stations 57, 58, there is a sterile air blowing apparatus.

In the next zone 32, the sterilized containers 3 are filled and sealed. It has two filling heads 59, 61 and an empty station 60 between them, which is free for other customer wishes. The incoming station 62 is then followed by the removal of foam, and the station 63 can be blown in if desired.

. Subsequent stations 64, 65 are then heat sealed and then cold post-sealed on the sole adhesive strip 17. After this, the empty station 66 is preferred.

Stations 67, 68 again form a barrier 35 between zones 32, 30. This is followed by a position 69 • for removing the group 20 of three containers 3 from the synchronous table 21. This is done by the support bar mounted on the lifting beam 27 pulling the containers 3 from above from the stops 24 or 24 'of the synchronous table 21. Stations 70, 35 71 may be for marking containers, e.g., date xo 94331 markings or the like.

The narrow gaps in the bacterial-free chamber 29 and the closures 33, 34, 35 between the individual zones 30, 31, 32 maintain the flow conditions important for the sterility of the machine inside the bacterial-free chamber 29 in connection with the suction devices 36, 37, 5 38 and the blowing devices 39. For example, additional sterile cooling air is introduced into the zone 32 of the bacterial-free chamber 29 by means of a blower device, whereby a slight overpressure is generated with respect to the end zones 30, 31 and no contaminated air can enter the filling area. But the relatively small cross-section and zoning of the bacterial-free chamber results in the fact that the amount of air required is only quite small. Li-15 is sucked from other zones of the bacterial-free chamber 29, which improves flow conditions. Due to the good placement of the bacterial-free chamber 29, in which only the areas containing the filling opening 9 of the container 3 protrude into the chamber, sterile air and removal volumes remain small. The cleaning, filling and closing of the container 3 takes place inside the cabinet 6, which is hermetically sealed and has openings only in the inlet area of the container and in the exit area of the container.

At certain intervals, e.g. once a day, the entire machine is washed, including cleaning and sterilization. To this end, the machine has separate conduit systems, e.g., a washer 76, which includes a blower port (not shown) and a sterile air device 72 with blower devices 73 directed into both the bacterial-free chamber 29 and the space 74 above it. During this time, the • transport unit 2 and the transport unit 4 are automatically switched off from the basic machine, whereby the tank inlet 18 and the tank outlet 25 can also be hermetically closed. In this mode, the li 94331 11 machine is washed. The washing device includes a conduit system for feeding, sealing and dispensing washing media, not shown in more detail here, as well as heating equipment. The apparatus includes, in a broader sense, apparatus for generating sterile hot air, as well as apparatus for sterilizing and feeding a product to be filled, and apparatus for preparing, feeding, and discharging detergents.

Figure 1 further shows a hot air supply 77 connected to the blow nozzles 40 by flexible lines 78. In addition, the filling heads 41 are connected to the tank 80 of liquid product to be filled by means of wooden lines 79.

The bacteria-free chamber 29 is sealed downwards, as already mentioned, by means of a plate-shaped synchronous table 21. The entire interior of the cabinet 6 is already sufficiently sterile, so that the actual bacteria-free chamber remains sterilized to a special extent.

t

Claims (8)

94331 A device for sterilizing, filling and closing containers (3) 5 with a filling opening (9), the device comprising a cabinet (6) with an inlet (18) and an outlet (25) for the containers and a bacteria-free chamber (29) in which the container can be fed by means of a transport device (21), the bacterial-free chamber (29) 10 being located relative to the transport device (21) so that only the areas containing the filling openings (9) of the containers (3) enter the bacteria-free chamber (29), characterized in that the cabinet (6) is cylindrical and the bottom of the bacteria-free chamber (29) is formed as a rotating, stepwise reciprocating, plate-like synchronous work table (21) rotating about a vertical axis 15, having detents (3) which compress the container (3) from its outer circumference. 24; 24 ') and the circumference of which is tightly guided against the surrounding cabinet (6) so that the bacteria-free chamber 20 (29) ) serves to simultaneously sterilize the interior, lid (16) and closure (17) of the container (3). Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the bacteria-free chamber (29) is divided into zones for the inlet (18) and outlet (25), sterilization and filling and closing of the containers (3), separated by closures 25 (33, 34, 35). (30, 31, 32). Device according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the tools (40, 41) attached to the lifting beam (27), both the suction devices (37) and the blowing devices (73), project into the bacterial-free chamber (29). Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the bacterial-free chamber has a plurality of rows (81) of adjacent containers (3). li 94331 Device according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bacteria-free chamber (29) has an atmospheric pressure of 5. Device according to one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the closures (33, 34, 35) are designed in such a way that the closure (33, 34, 35) always has one container (3). 10 Device according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the bacteria-free chamber (29) consists essentially of an upper partition wall (75), an outer circumferential wall on the side of the cabinet (6), an inner circumferential wall, a bottom-forming synchronous table (21) and containers ( 3) from the inside. A method for sterilizing, filling and sealing cardboard containers made of cardboard, the containers having a lid (16) with a filling opening (9) and a closure (17) arranged in the filling opening (9), characterized in that the closure (17) is attached to the container (3) before sterilization, in order to simultaneously sterilize the inner part of the container (3), the closure body (17) of the lid (16), only a part of the container (3) containing the filling opening (9) is introduced into the bacterial-free chamber (29), and that the closure body (17) (3) after filling in the same bacteria-free chamber (29) to close the filling opening (9) is sealed with the lid (16). 94331