WO1988004260A1 - Method for making a sterile pressure pack - Google Patents
Method for making a sterile pressure pack Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1988004260A1 WO1988004260A1 PCT/SE1987/000575 SE8700575W WO8804260A1 WO 1988004260 A1 WO1988004260 A1 WO 1988004260A1 SE 8700575 W SE8700575 W SE 8700575W WO 8804260 A1 WO8804260 A1 WO 8804260A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- product
- container
- pressure
- propellant gas
- filling
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/12—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging
- B65B55/14—Sterilising contents prior to, or during, packaging by heat
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B55/00—Preserving, protecting or purifying packages or package contents in association with packaging
- B65B55/02—Sterilising, e.g. of complete packages
- B65B55/04—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging
- B65B55/06—Sterilising wrappers or receptacles prior to, or during, packaging by heat
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to a method ,. for making a pressure pack comprising a sealed pressure container which contains a propellant gas and a pressur ⁇ ized product and has a discharge valve. 5 More particularly, the invention is concerned with a method for making such a sterile pressure pack.
- Prior art methods for the sterile packaging of products are basically of two types. 20
- the entire packag ⁇ ing operation is conducted in a sterile space, use being made of a sterile container, a sterile propellant gas, and a product which has been sterilized beforehand.
- the actual filling 25 of the product and the propellant gas into the container is carried out first, whereupon the sealed container, with the propellant gas and the product contained therein, is heated to the requisite sterilization temperature for a period of time sufficient to sterilize the product, 30- the propellant gas and the container.
- the containers are first sterilized in some suitable manner and then filled with the product sterilized beforehand and fitted with valves also sterilized beforehand, before the sterile propellant in a final step is introduced automatically through the valve of the pack.
- an empty aerosol container provided with a valve is first sterilized and then filled with a sterile propellant gas and a liquid product sterilized beforehand.
- One example of the prior art method of the second type mentioned above is the filling of a sterile product into an aerosol container.
- This technique may include, in a first stage, the cleaning of the open aerosol con ⁇ tainer with, for example, air, whereupon the product is introduced into the open container and a valve is fitted. After that, a propellant gas is usually supplied through the fitted valve, whereupon the aerosol can and its contents are heated for sterilization and leakage testing.
- a second long-term heating to high temperature is frequently carried out to ensure complete sterilization. After the second heating, the aerosol container is cooled and then is ready for storage.
- the requisite heating of the filled aerosol containers may take place in an autoclave or in a hot bath of, for example, oil, glycerol or some other indifferent solution.
- the heating is intended to impart to the con ⁇ tainers and their contents a temperature of, for example, 100-121°C during the requisite sterilization time which is, for example, at least 20 minutes.
- this object is achieved in that the pressure pack is sterilized by heating the product, prior to said introduction, to such a high temperature, and by introducing the propellant gas and the product in such a time sequence, that the product, after the said introduction, is sterilized itself and also sterilizes the propellant gas and the interior of the said pressure container.
- sterilization of the product proper can be initiated, or even fully completed, before the introduction.
- the final phase of the steriliza ⁇ tion of the product preferably occurs simultaneously with the sterilization of the container inside and of the propellant gas.
- the extent of the sterilization carried out before the product is introduced into the container depends on the product as such and on the construction of the filling equipment utilized.
- the contemplated sterilization of the product, the propellant gas and the container inside is achieved if the propellant gas is introduced before the product.
- the propellant gas may also be introduced imme ⁇ diately after the product, when the product temperature is still sufficiently high to enable sterilization also of the propellant gas.
- the propellant gas employed is a gas substantially insoluble in the product, and prefe- rably an inert gas, i.e. a gas which does not react chemically with the product.
- a substantially insoluble gas is preferred because the method according to the invention is intended primarily for pressure packaging of such products as are not in ⁇ tended to be discharged from the pressure container in aerosol form, but in a form in which the product is not mixed with the propellant gas.
- the propellant gas only is used for discharging the product and stays in the pressure container until substantially the entire product quantity therein has been discharged.
- the cooling of the pressure container after filling preferably should be delayed.
- the pressure container can either be heat- insulated or introduced into a hot medium, such as a heating tunnel or a heated liquid bath.
- the pressure container may be heated before it is filled with the product.
- it may be suitable to change the position of the pressure container after it has been filled with the propellant gas and the product so that the product is repeatedly brought into contact with all of the inner surfaces of the container, thereby ensuring the requisite sterilization.
- the method according to the invention also affords the advantageous possibility that gas filling can be carried out in connection with the sealing of the con ⁇ tainer r and that product filling can be carried " out separately from the gas filling and the sealing in respect of both time and space r for example much later and in an entirely different location.
- the characteristic features of the method according to the invention are as follows: the propellant gas is filled prior to or immediately after the product; a heated product is used to satisfy the sterilization requirement; filling is effected via the discharge valve; filling is carried out while the product is under pres ⁇ sure; filling is carried out with the container under normal atmospheric pressure; and an internal autoclaving occurs in the container after it has been filled with the propellant gas and the prod ⁇ uct.
- the filling of propellant gas can take place sepa ⁇ rately in time and space from the filling of the product.
- a valve 3 is fitted in a second stage B by means of a valve fitter 4, and in a third stage C propellant gas is supplied at a pressure of, for example, 1-2 atmospheres excess pressure through the valve 3 from a source 5 of pressure gas.
- a product heated to, for example, 130°C is supplied through the valve 3 from a pressure booster 6 via a product heater 7, whereupon the filled container 1 during a passive or retarded cooling period D in a heat-insulated or temperature-controlled chamber 8 is rotated to achieve complete sterilization of the container 1 and its contents which now have a temperature above the lowest practicable sterilization temperature, for example 100°C, during a predetermined minimum steri ⁇ lization period, for example 20 minutes.
- the can may be cooled in a water bath for simultaneous leakage testing.
- the pressure increase is necessary to prevent the product from coming to the boil in the heater 7, but above all it is necessary for the rapid filling of the product into the container, during which the container 1 is under normal atmospheric pressure.
- the heated product introduced into the container thus is used for in situ sterilization of the container inside, of the propellant gas, and of the product itself. It will be appreciated that there are obtained considerable advan ⁇ tages by such a far-reaching reduction in the number of process stages and in the complexity of the equipment employed.
- the propellant gas is air
- the container pressure may increase to, for example, 12-13 atmospheres excess pressure after the container has been filled with the hot product.
- the pres- sure may be, for example, 10 atmospheres excess pressure.
- the container employed may have t e same form as an aerosol can and may be sealed hermetically by the fitting of, for example, a valve, lid or similar tight-fitting closure, or by fitting a lid or a closure comprising a non-return valve which is activated, i.e. closes, when the pressure within the container exceeds the atmos- pheric pressure.
- the container may by manufactured from any material which is capable of withstanding the pressures and tempe ⁇ ratures involved, and which is gas-tight. If the container is a metal container, the heat energy supplied by the product will, due to the heat conduction of the metal, spread to the entire pack which thus is automatically subjected to a uniform heat treatment. To ensure the uniform heating, it is possible, during the passive sterilization period, i.e. after the product has been filled into the container, to keep the pack in motion, for example by rotating or turning it so that all parts of the pack will be treated.
- the pack or the container is made of a mate ⁇ rial whose heat conductivity is inferior to that of metal, such as glass or plastic, in which case every part of the interior of the pack will be subjected to a similar heat treatment if the position of the container is changed for example by rotating or turning the con ⁇ tainer during the passive period of the treatment.
- a test will now be described which was conducted with a conventional pressure container consisting of a monoblock of aluminium.
- the containers had a diameter of 40 mm and a total volume of 100 ml and were filled with air to an excess pressure of 0.5 atmospheres excess pressure before the containers where filled with liquid.
- the containers thus filled where allowed to cool in stationary ambient air of about 23°C.
- the heating assembly consisted of a thermostat-controlled glycerol bath provided with a spiral tube of copper in which the water was heated.
- the hot water was supplied from the heating assembly through an insulated pressure hose to a special filling valve. When the valve was opened, the hot and pressu ⁇ rized water spouted directly into the container via the discharge valve thereof. In this manner, the container, its seal and valve and also the air within the container were heated by the superheated water supplied.
- the metal wall of the can was heated to a temperature above the lowest practical steri ⁇ lization temperature, in this case about 120°C, and was held above this temperature during the cooling.
- the temperature of the metal wall of the can is measured by means of a thermocouple whose probe was clamped against the metal wall by means of a thoroughly heat-insulated clamp.
- the first temperature measurement was made immedia ⁇ tely after the can had been filled to the intended degree of filling, i.e. 75%, whereupon the temperature of the can wall was measured every minute for 20 minutes.
- the test results are shown in Table 1. It appears from the table that the can temperature could be maintained above the minimum sterilization temperature by superheating the "product" prior to filling so that complete steri ⁇ lization could be achieved without any special steriliza ⁇ tion measures. In this case, the cans where allowed to cool in stationary air of room temperature, but if longer or shorter sterilization periods are desired, ambient conditions during cooling may be changed so that cooling will be slower or quicker.
- Aerosol can 40 mm. Total volume 100 ml. Fill-up volume 75 ml.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Vacuum Packaging (AREA)
- Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
FI892704A FI82223C (en) | 1986-12-03 | 1989-06-02 | FOERFARANDE FOER FRAMSTAELLNING AV EN STERIL TRYCKFOERPACKNING. |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
SE8605188A SE455299B (en) | 1986-12-03 | 1986-12-03 | PROCEDURE FOR PREPARING STERILE PRESSURE PACKAGING |
SE8605188-5 | 1986-12-03 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1988004260A1 true WO1988004260A1 (en) | 1988-06-16 |
Family
ID=20366505
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/SE1987/000575 WO1988004260A1 (en) | 1986-12-03 | 1987-12-02 | Method for making a sterile pressure pack |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0409826A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JPH02501473A (en) |
AU (1) | AU593453B2 (en) |
FI (1) | FI82223C (en) |
SE (1) | SE455299B (en) |
WO (1) | WO1988004260A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP3722559B2 (en) * | 1995-08-07 | 2005-11-30 | 株式会社ダイゾー | Aerosol production method and aerosol products produced by the production method |
Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH327701A (en) * | 1953-04-28 | 1958-02-15 | Boehm Walter | Process for preserving milk and milk products in containers and installation for carrying out the process |
US3232770A (en) * | 1965-02-15 | 1966-02-01 | Swift & Co | Method of sterilizing and canning food material |
US3259152A (en) * | 1963-01-31 | 1966-07-05 | Auto Prod Inc | Apparatus for filling and shaking a can |
US3446636A (en) * | 1966-04-20 | 1969-05-27 | Big Stone Canning Co | Method for heat sterilizing food in sealed containers |
US3476574A (en) * | 1965-11-19 | 1969-11-04 | Swift & Co | Canning |
SE353874B (en) * | 1968-11-26 | 1973-02-19 | Milchwirtschaftliche Forschung | |
US3763900A (en) * | 1971-09-10 | 1973-10-09 | Milchwirlschaftliche Forschung | Process for sterilizing and filling aerosol containers |
-
1986
- 1986-12-03 SE SE8605188A patent/SE455299B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1987
- 1987-12-02 AU AU10407/88A patent/AU593453B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1987-12-02 WO PCT/SE1987/000575 patent/WO1988004260A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 1987-12-02 JP JP50042588A patent/JPH02501473A/en active Pending
- 1987-12-02 EP EP19880900047 patent/EP0409826A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
1989
- 1989-06-02 FI FI892704A patent/FI82223C/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CH327701A (en) * | 1953-04-28 | 1958-02-15 | Boehm Walter | Process for preserving milk and milk products in containers and installation for carrying out the process |
US3259152A (en) * | 1963-01-31 | 1966-07-05 | Auto Prod Inc | Apparatus for filling and shaking a can |
US3232770A (en) * | 1965-02-15 | 1966-02-01 | Swift & Co | Method of sterilizing and canning food material |
US3476574A (en) * | 1965-11-19 | 1969-11-04 | Swift & Co | Canning |
US3446636A (en) * | 1966-04-20 | 1969-05-27 | Big Stone Canning Co | Method for heat sterilizing food in sealed containers |
SE353874B (en) * | 1968-11-26 | 1973-02-19 | Milchwirtschaftliche Forschung | |
US3763900A (en) * | 1971-09-10 | 1973-10-09 | Milchwirlschaftliche Forschung | Process for sterilizing and filling aerosol containers |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU1040788A (en) | 1988-06-30 |
FI892704A (en) | 1989-06-02 |
FI82223B (en) | 1990-10-31 |
FI82223C (en) | 1991-02-11 |
FI892704A0 (en) | 1989-06-02 |
JPH02501473A (en) | 1990-05-24 |
AU593453B2 (en) | 1990-02-08 |
SE455299B (en) | 1988-07-04 |
SE8605188D0 (en) | 1986-12-03 |
EP0409826A1 (en) | 1991-01-30 |
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