GB1016360A - A method and apparatus for bottling completely sterile liquids particularly milk - Google Patents

Abstract

1,016,360. Sterilizing and filling bottles. GRAHAM ENOCK MANUFACTURING CO. Ltd. June 17, 1964 [June 20, 1963], No. 24536/63. Heading B8T. A method of bottling a completely sterile liquid e.g. milk comprises subjecting partially sterile bottles to external steam treatment, whilst they are sealed to steam but open for the release of air, until the bottles are completely sterile internally, and then admitting the completely sterile liquid. The bottles 5 are passed singly from a conveyer to one of a series of pedestals 8 continuously rotating on a rotary table, the pedestal then being in its lower position. When the pedestal is raised together with the bottle 5 which is to be sterilized, the bottle is lifted into a steam chamber 3, a surface 11 of the pedestal sealing the bottom of the steam chamber whilst the top is sealed by a filling valve 4. There is one valve device 4 with depending chamber 3 for each pedestal and bottle. When the bottle is lifted into this position and engages a rubber seal 29 a spring loaded slideable cup 27 is lifted and the lower end of a sleeve 24 slideable on a container 18 projects into the neck of the bottle, the sleeve being forced by a spring 25 against a relatively fixed mushroom valve 23 in order to prevent milk from leaving the container 18. Thus the valve device seals the bottle interior to steam but allows release of air through a passage 30 with a non-return valve 31. On continuing the rotation of the turntable, a steam inlet valve 13 is opened and steam supplied, a steam outlet valve 16 being closed after a few moments so that a steam pressure builds up and the bottle interior is completely sterilized. When the sterilization is completed a cam follower 32 engages a stationary cam 33 to lift the valve sleeve 24 away from the mushroom head 23 and thus fill the bottle with a measured quantity of milk. Immediately after filling is initiated, the steam inlet valve 13 is closed and at some point during filling the steam exhaust valve 16 is opened. After filling, the sleeve 24 lowers to close the passage around the mushroom head 23 of the valve 4 and the pedestal 8 together with the bottle 5 is lowered and the cup 27 returns to its lower position. After leaving the steam chamber and until it reaches the capping section, the bottle neck passes under a hood into which sterile air under pressure is continuously introduced.