PH26528A - Aseptic filling station - Google Patents

Description

ASEPTIC FILLING STATION | : 1 Thins on Lumsedridirm robalates Lobo a a syagtamem o fof ageptic f£i1ling particularly for flexible containers made of synthetic plastic films. !

Synthetic plastic flexible containers are useful for storing and diepensing wine, fruit juice and other liquid foodstuffs. Aseptic filling ie a desirable mode of operation to ensure that the possibility of contamination or 19 deterioration of the liquid product does not : occur. :

Generally aseptic filling 1s carried out by . : ~ sterilizing the flexible containers internally i and externally and maintaining the filling - : . equipment in a sterile room. It is very . ) . : difficult to ensure that the "equipment and ' i . containers are maintained in aseptic conditions and the time and expense involved is high.

USA Patent 2761,603 (Fairchild) dieclosed a . —_ 3 — .

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: method of aseptically filling rigid containers Co : in which rigid containers are pre sterilized and sealed with a rupturable seal or membrane. : { The Fairchild filling machine incorporates a filling tube and a sterilizing head within the oo filling tube which pierces the rupturable geal

E ~ and providee eterilizing fluid axially of the ) fillling tube to sterilize the internal } © 8urfaceg of the filinng head and the | ‘ 19 rupturable geal prior to its rupture.

USA patent 3926,229 (Scholle) discloses an aseptic filling head in which the valve member :

CT ‘for the product ¢utlet incorporated an axial steriliaing fluid conduct. In similar manner . 15 to the Fairchild epecification the sterilizing fluid ie flushed into the product outlet of the filling head and the containers inlet after the filling operation. . Ce Tt is an object of ‘this ‘invention to ‘provide 4 method and apparatus for aseptic : £i1ling of flexible containers with liquids. oo , : 5 A BE

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To this end the present invention provides ’ a system for aseptically filling and storing oC . degradable liquid contents which comprises: a) a flexible container having a sealed inlet, sald inlet being capable of being opened and resealed; b) a fluid dispenser which incorporates a sterilizable product conduit : comprising (1) two openings for allowing ingress or egress of degradable liquid contents (11) one of said openings being adapted to abut a container inlet (iil) a valve member adapted for reciprocal movement within sald conduit for closing the other of said openings (iv) said valve member carrying means for rupturing a sealing membrane located over sald container inlet (v) resilient sealing oo means providing a seal between the conduit and , i said valve members between said two openings (vi) at least one sterilizing fluid inlet and at least one sterilizing fluid outlet opening onto said conduit adjacent the opening which abuts the container inlet, said inlets and ‘outlets being disposed laterally of produced *

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LL flow; «¢) means for sterilizing the containers : while said inlet is closed; d) container support means for bringing sald container inlet : into engagement with said filling head such . : 5 that sald recess is closed by the container : inlet; e) means for injecting said sterilizing fluld into said recess; ff) means to open sald container inlet ; g) means to actuate said valve to allow liquid to pass

L 19 through said recess, and fill said container; and h) means located external to said fixed } fillling head to reseal sald inlet,

In another aspect of this invention there is provided a method of aseptically filling containers characterized in the eteps of: a) sterilizing sealed contdlners which have a . reseable inlet; b) maintaining the internal surfaces of the filling dispenser in a sterille state; ©) bringing the closed inlet of the 28 container into abutment with the outlet nozzle : of the filling dispenser by means of a movable container support; d) introducing sterilizing fluid into the space between said nozzle and : said closed inlet in a direction laterally of product. flow from said outllet nozzle into said container inlet and withdrawing it laterally. e) opening said inlet and filling said container; £) regsealing eald inlet; g) introducing sterilizing fluid in to the gpace . between said nozzle and sald closed inlet in a direction lateral to product flow from sald 19 outlet nozzle and withdrawing sald etabllizing fluid; bh) removing said container from said dispenser.

The present invention in a preferred - embodiment is concerned with aseptically hast filling containers in which the container inlet has a heat sealable flap on one side of said inlet and 1s covered on the other side of said : inlet by a rupturable closure which is ruptured to allow filling of the container and the container ie finally sealed by heat sealing ~ said flap. . oo

This invention also provides in its preferred embodiment a system for aseptically filling and storing degradable liquid contents which comprises: a) a flexible container having an inlet, said inlet being capable of being sealed by heat sealing a heat sealable flap onto one eide of the inlet opening and incorporating over its other inlet opening a rupturable closure; b) a fluid dispenser which 19 incorporates & saterlizable product conduit = . comprising (1) two openings for allowing ingress or egress of degradable liquid contents (ii) one of sald openings being adapted to abut a container inlet (iii) a valve member adapted } 15 for reciprocal movement within eaid conduit for closing the other of said openings (iv) said valve member carrying means for rupturing a sealing membrane located over sald container inlet (v) resilient sealing means providing a | : . 20 seal between the conduit and eald valve members . between said two openings 9vi) at least one sterilizing fluid inlet and at least oe ) sterilizing fluid outlet opgning onto sald > i ’

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conduit adjacent the opening which abuts the container inlet, said inlets and outlets being : disposed laterally of produced flow; ¢) means ’ ] for sterilizing the containers while closed with said rupturable closure; d) container gupport means for bringing said container inlet into engagement with said filling head such that sald recess is closed by said rupturable closure; e) means for injecting said sterilizing fluid into sald recess; f) means to actuate said valve to allow liquid to pass through sald recess, and fill said container; and g) heat sealing meane located external to and below the fixed filling head.

This invention is particularly applicable to the apparatus described in European patent specification 56781 and 72699. This disclosure ) of those two specifications are incorporated ‘ herein by reference.

It can be seen that the need to sterilize the filling station environment and the ’ . 9

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exterior of the flexible container is | : eliminated by ensuring that the interior of the : machine i.e., the fluid conduits and filling head and the interior of the container are sterile, Consequently only the exterior of the inlet geal and the external surface of “the nozzle and the space between the nozzle and the inlet need be sterilized and this can be : : achieved ag a preliminary etep prior to . 19 filling. : Further, the provision of a simply valve member reciprocating within a conduit to serve the dual functions of closing the product ~ outlet and puncturing a membrane on the container inlet simplifies the valve and . filling head as’ proposed in European . ©. specificstions @56701 and 072699 wherein the - | : geal is a valve seat which resticts movvement : So Co of the valve member. Co

The sterilizable product conduit of this’ ’ invention preferably includes as the resilient oo Co Ca - 10 - Co sealing meane a palr of annular edge seals projecting from the conduit wall and including between the pair of seals a sterilizing fluid inlet which maintains the annular sealing space bounded by the valve member, conduit and seals © in a sterile state. '

The filling head of this invention can be used as such or if connected to an extraction 18 ~~ pump can be used to extract product from sealed containers under aseptic conditions by bringing a filled and sealed container into abutment . with the head, sterilizing the recess and the container geal, rupturing the seal extracting - 15 product and closing the conduit.

An important aspect of this invention ie ’ the provision of sterilizing fluid inlets disposed laterally of product flow through the . i recess. Preferably the inlets are tangential . 20 to the circular recess wall to provide a swirling motion of the sterilizing fluid within thr recess. This provides a much better : cleaning action on the surface of the recess,

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J : Taye the surface of the valve head and piercing tool ” ! and the surface. of the rupturable membrane than Co ~ can be provided by axial flow of the sterilizing fluid as taught in US patents 2761,6@3 (Fairchild) and 3926,229 (Scholle). : Similarly lateral extraction of sterilizing fluid is also more efficient than the reverse axial extraction as taught in the Prior art by : Scholle and Fairchilld. : 19 Either heat, a permeable gas, or radiation such as electron beam, u.v. or preferably Gamma radiation is used to sterilize the sealed containers prior to £illing. Hydrogen peroxide ’ or steam is used to sterilize the surfaces and

Epace between the outlet nozzle and the container closure.

When using the flexible. container according “to the above mentioned patent applications it 1s possible to improve the ease of ensuring sterility of the interior of the container by providing "a rupturable membrane cover over the outer opening of the collar. ,This ensures ) ro Ce = fol - 12 -

Cy ’ } that the interior of the collar remains : - sterile. However, it is not essential to provide such a cover if the membrane geal on the inner end of the collar is adequate.

A preferred form of the invention will now be described, with reference to the drawings in which figure 1 is a schematic view of the container and collar, figure 2 is a sectional view of the filling nozzle, figure 3 is a cross-section through the head during the filling cycle, figure 4 is a cross-section showing the sealing operation while the container is still in position at the filling head, and figure 5 is a plan view of the filling head taken along the line 5-5 of figure 2. | : . oo . Referring to Figure 1, the bag - generally designated as 1 - comprises a wall 2 heat sealed at the periphery 3 to the lower wall 4. . 20 The fllap 5 extends across an opening 7 in the flexible container wall 2 into which fits a « ¢ pean RTE PP :

«0 collar 8. The flange 9 of collar 8 is heat sealled to the periphery 18 of the opening and . the fllap 5 is partly sesled to the flange of collar 8. As mentioned above the collar 8 can easily be secured to wall 2 by suitable machinery. the surface of flap 5 which faces ' ’ the internal surface of wall 4 is non heat sealable therewith but the surface of flap 5 : which faces flange 9 is heat sealable with that 13 flange. Preferably flap 5 is a laminate of a t heat sealable and a non heat sealable material.

Across the outlet opening of collar 8 is a rupturable membrane 41 which is either integrally formed during the moullding of collar 8 or is heat sealed thereto during the operation of attaching the collar 8 "to. the container wall 2. Apart from the membrane 41 the container and collar ie ae described in USA patent no. 4257535.

Co 20 The filling apparatus is a modified version oo of that described in European patent application B2 372 1 468. a . ' y . : ; "8uT7A2 0 Hall TRAOL 14

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The filling head comprises a general body section 280 which includes a liquid inlet channel 21 closed by the valve member 22. Thie : valve member 22 extends within the body section : 5 20 and serves the dual function of valve member and riercing tool. the valve member 22 eeals . the product outlet when in contact with the : double elastomeric seals 49 and 5@. In order to ensure an aseptic seal a positive steam pressure 1s maintained in the annullar space 53 . through steam from inlet 61. Steam’les removed Co : from space 53 through outlet 5Z. a piercing : tool 25 ie attached to the lower portion of the valve head 22. :

When the valve member 22 is in its closed : | position the liquid outlet channel 21 is sealed t } ‘and ‘the seals 29, 38, 49 and 50 ensure that no © liquid can escape once the valve member 22 is © closed. i - . 20 The sterilizing fluid inlet 44 and outlet 45 are connected to the nozzle recess 46 below , . *

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: | the seals 49 and 58. The number of inlets 44 and outlets 45 can be varied. By positioning several inlets tangentially about the periphery ‘ of recess 46 an efficient cleaning action can ‘ 5 .be achieved. One large exhaust port 45 is i usually sufficient. ”

In figure 3 the complete flexible container ie illlustrated being held against the body

J section 20 by clamps 33. These clamps 33 grip ‘ ., 18 the collar 8 and a trapdoor 36 supports the flexible "container but provides a sufficient. : gapo to enable liquid to flow through collar 8 : - past flap 5 and into the body of the flexible container 1, The support of trapdoor 36 is required to ensure that the pressure of the : oo liquid during the filling ‘does not rupture the

N oo container, or heat sealable flap. | o - : | ' The sequence of operations is that initially a flexible container 1, is taken by clamps 33 and lifted into alignment with the filling head such that collar 8 and membrane 41

Co abut tightly against the seal 31 on the body

B section 20. After contact is made between } body section 27 and membrane 41 sterilizing fluid (either gas or liquid such as steam) is passed in to the recess 46 via inlet 44 and sterilizes the inner surfaces of the recess the valve member 22, piercing member 25 and the . surface of membrane 41. Subsequently the ’ } sterilizing fluid ie withdrawn through outlet 12 45. . After completion of the sterilization step . oo valve member 22 rises to open the product inlet » . ’ 21 .to enable filling of the fllexible container to occur. A positive steam pressure is maintained in steam inlet 51 to outllet 52 to keep them clear to the product. The membrane 41 is ruptured during £111ing by the pressure of the liquid and is subsequently nit needed since flap 5 will provide the permanent seal 2¢0 for the filled container. Alternatively the oo * membrane 41 may be ruptured by piercing member prior to the opening of liquid inlet 21 by : ’

Co - - 17 - | oo lowering valve member 22.

Upon the completion of filling the valve : : member 22 clloses inlet 21 at the seals 49 and 54. ’ f At this point the trapdoor 36 18 withdrawn 0 and the heat sealing member a5 is brought into E - contact with the flexible container and results in the-welding of flap 5 to the fliange 9 of : . the collar 8 to geal the flexible container. 19 After scaling sterilizing fluid is introduced "through inlet 44 into recess 46 and collar 8 to remove all product from those areas and from ) the valve member 22 and piercing member 25. 1f desired this flushing cycle could commence ’

Co 15 prior to the heat sealing step and end after heat sealing is completed. \ i . subsequent, to sealing, the filled flexible container is withdrawn from the filling head and if desired the tap can be inserted Anto ’ p@ - collar 8. Co . » puis © eT } ci i C18 -

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Conventional pneumatics can be used to operate the movements of the valve member 22 and the clamps 33. the trapdoor 36 and sealing member 35. The timing and control of these . 5 components is gimilarly capable of being carried out by conventional control circuitry.

The filling machine head as contained in body 2@ may also be utilised for the extraction of product from the gealed containers. Where

C10 large bulk containers are used for dispensing emaller quantities, an extraction pump connected to the product inlet 21 and the seal can be broken by the piercing member 25 and product removed by evacuation through recess 46 and conduit 21. A sterilizing step can take place prior to breaking the seal 5.

From the above it can be seen that this ' invention provides a simple means of ensuring

Co © aseptic filling of liquids. ‘ ) ,

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Claims (4)

CLAIMS: :

1. A method of aseptically filling

: . containers characterized in the steps of: a) sterilizing sealed containers which have a resealable. inlet: b) maintaining the internal © surfaces of the filling dispenser in a : sterile state; c¢) bringing the closed inlet : Co of the container into abutment with the outlet nozzle of said filling dispenser by means of a - 12 movable container support; d) introducing sterilizing fluid tangentiallly into the space . between sald nozzle and said closed inlet in a : direction lateralllly of product flow and withdrawing it laterally; e) opening said inlet and filling said container; f) resealing sald inlet; g) introducing sterilizing fluid tangentially in “to the space between said nozzle and sald closed inlet in a direction lateral to product flow and withdrawing said : 20 sterilizing fluid; h) removing said container : from said dispenser. Co fb wo ~ n : Po wo pk - 20 - . & 0

2. A method of aseptically filling containers as claimed in claim 1 characterized 0 in that in etep a) the container inlet has a heat sealable flap on one side of said inlet and is covered on the other side of said inlet : ’ by a rupturable closure.

3. ‘A system for aseptically filling and storing degradable liquid contents which comprises: a) a flexible container having a 19 sealed inlet, sald inlet being capable of being ' ’ opened and resealed; Db). & fluid . dispenser which incorporates (1) a filling head having an internally dieposed valve for regulating the flow of said liquid (ii) a sterilizable recess "15 adjacent said valve (iii) a tangentially sterilizing fluid inlet and outlet in said recess dlieposed laterally to product flow ! | through said recess; c) ‘radiation meane for sterilizing the containers while said inlet is 29 closed; d) container support means for } oo bringing said container inlet into engagement . with said filling head such that eaid recess is IEE \ Co BR o.

closed by the container inlet; e) means for injecting said sterilizing fluid into said recess; f) means to open said container . inlet; g) means to actuate said valve to allow liquid to pass through said recess, and fill said containers; and h) means located external to sald fixed filling head to reseal said inlet.

4, A sterilizable product conduit : : 10 | comprising (i) two openings for allowing ingress or egress of degradable liquid contents - : (1i) one of said openings being adapted to abut a container inlet (111) a valve member adapted . for reciprocal movement within said conduit for Co © 15 closing the other of said openings (iv) said . | valve member carrying means for rupturing a sealing membrane located over said container : | inlet (v) resilient sealing means providing a i seal between the conduit and said valve members between said two openings (vi) at ‘least one * sterilizing fluid inlet and at least one : ¢ sterilizing fluid outlet opening onto sald } ‘ . » } ny A aT po J vested erat : SAE - 22 - oo

. conduit adjacent the opening which abuts the i container inlet, gaid inlets and outllets being ] disposed laterally of produced flow. i JG 6 A product conduit as claimed in claim 5 wherein the resilient gealing means comprises a pair of annular edge seals projecting from the conduit wall and including between the pair of seals a sterilizing fluid inlet which maintains : the annular sealing space bounded by the valve } . 12 member, conduit and geals in a sterile state. : Ian McArthur Anderson , ee — : Inventor -

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