WO1996035632A1

WO1996035632A1 - Apparatus for sterile dispensing of product

Info

Publication number: WO1996035632A1
Application number: PCT/GB1996/001139
Authority: WO
Inventors: Malcolm Shipway
Original assignee: David S. Smith Packaging Limited
Priority date: 1995-05-12
Filing date: 1996-05-10
Publication date: 1996-11-14
Also published as: AU5698196A; GB9509647D0

Abstract

The invention relates to apparatus (1) for sterile dispensing of product from a plurality of aseptic sources (2), comprising a plurality of devices (3) connected together in series to provide a common flow path (4), each device (3) comprising a connection part (5) for connection to an aseptic source (2) for dispensing product therefrom, a closure element (6) to close off product flow from the source (2), and sterilisation means (7), the arrangement being such that the connection part (5) is isolated from the flow path (4) by closure of the closure element (6), to enable separate sterilisation of the connection part (5) and flow path (4) by the sterilisation means (7).

Description

APPARATUS FOR STERILE DISPENSING OF PRODUCT

The invention relates to apparatus for sterile dispensing of product and a product dispensing system including such apparatus. More particularly, the invention relates to apparatus for sterile dispensing of product from a plurality of aseptic sources.

Apparatus for sterile dispensing of products from a plurality of aseptic sources is often employed for example in machines which dispense a product having a number of separate constituents, each of which is stored separately in the apparatus, mixing of the constituents taking place when dispensing occurs. An example of such an application is a drinks machine wherein a concentrate is mixed with water and other constituents prior to delivery from the machine. In all such applications it is a requirement that the apparatus remains substantially free of contamination by micro organisms which cause spoilage of the product. Therefore, the apparatus is normally sterilised with a sterilising medium such as, for example, steam. This can be performed before assembly of the apparatus, however it is more effective to sterilise the apparatus in situ to avoid introduction of contamination after sterilisation has taken place. It is also advantageous to be able to sterilise the apparatus periodically whilst it is installed in situ, to prevent build-up of contaminants in the product delivery lines which may occur if the apparatus is not used for a period of hours or days, or after attachment of replacement product reservoirs. However, it has been found in the past that such sterilisation in situ can result in product spoilage if the sterilisation medium is allowed to contact product in the reservoirs.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate problems such as this.

According to the invention there is provided apparatus for sterile dispensing of product from an aseptic source thereof, comprising a device, a connection part of said device for connection to an aseptic source for dispensing product therefrom, a closure element to close off product flow from the source, and sterilisation means, the arrangement being such that the connection part is isolated from the flow path by closure of the closure element, to enable sterilisation of the connection part and flow path by the sterilisation means.

There may be a plurality of aseptic sources, and a plurality of devices connected together in series to provide a common flow path, each device comprising a said connection part for connection to a separate aseptic source for dispensing product therefrom, a closure element to close off product flow from the source, and sterilisation means, the arrangement being such that the connection part is isolated from the flow path by closure of the closure element, to enable separate sterilisation of the connection part and flow path.

Using the invention it is possible to carry out sterilisation of the product flow path without danger of spoilage of product by the sterilisation medium, and also separately to sterilise the parts of the apparatus which come directly into contact with the aseptic source of product.

It is preferred that the sterilisation means comprises a conduit arranged for delivery of sterilisation medium to the connection part. This provides for efficient sterilisation of the connection part.

The conduit may be arranged substantially to fill with product when dispensing takes place. This has the advantage that during the whole period from when dispensing begins to disconnection of the dispensing apparatus, the conduit remains closed thereby preventing contamination occurring. When a replacement aseptic source is required, the conduit can be flushed with sterilising medium before dispensing continues.

It is preferred that there are a plurality of conduits arranged for delivery of sterilisation medium to the connection part.

The closure element may comprise a plunger, and the plunger may include means to prevent inadvertent operation thereof. The said means may be for example a projection of the plunger, which is movable within a guide slot of the device.

The apparatus is particularly suitable for use with the kind of aseptic container which is accessed by piercing a frangible membrane, and in a preferred embodiment, the closure element may comprise a cutter to pierce a said frangible membrane.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a product dispensing system, comprising a plurality of aseptic sources of product, and dispensing apparatus as hereinbefore described.

Apparatus embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is a side view partially in longitudinal section of a device for use in apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a full longitudinal sectional view of the device of Figure 1 , rotated through 90° away from the viewer;

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of apparatus embodying the invention; Fig. 4 shows schematically an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 , of apparatus according to the invention providing a connection to a pack of aseptic product;

Fig. 5 shows the apparatus of Fig. 4, with part broken away, the apparatus providing connection to a pack of aseptic product and sterilisation of a cutter and a membrane of the pack; and

Fig. 6 shows schematically flow of product from the pack.

Referring to the drawings, there is illustrated apparatus 1 for sterile dispensing of product from an aseptic source 2, comprising a device 3, comprising a connection part 5 for connection to an aseptic source 2 for dispensing product therefrom along a flow path 4, a closure element 6 to close off product flow from the source 2, and sterilisation means 7, the arrangement being such that the connection part 5 is isolated from the flow path 4 by closure of the closure element 6, to enable sterilisation of the connection part 5 and flow path 4 by the sterilisation means 7. In the embodiment shown, there is a plurality of devices 3, connected in series to provide a common flow path 4, each device 3 comprising a said connection part 5 for connection to respective aseptice sources 2, to enable separate sterilisation of the connection part 5 and sterilization means.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the valve device 3 has a body part 9 in the form of a barrel 10 in which is received an elongate plunger 8. The plunger 8 has a handle 11 and a head part 12 upon which is mounted a cutter 13 for piercing a frangible membrane of the aseptic source 2. The plunger 8 is slidable within the barrel 10 to bring the head from a first position A (Figure 2) in which the valve is closed, to a second position B in which the valve is open, the frangible membrane having been broken by the cutter 13. It will be noted that the barrel 10 has mounted within it an O-ring seal 10a which provides a fluid tight seal between the head 12 and barrel 10 in position A. In position B, it will be noted that fluid is prevented from passing up the length of the plunger 8 towards the handle 11 , by a thickening 22 of the plunger which, in position B, provides a fluid tight seal with an O-ring seal 10b.

The body 9 of the device 3 has two conduits 14 terminating at one end adjacent the plunger head 12, and at the other end, in spigots 15. It will be noted that the conduits 14 are positioned to facilitate entry of product during the dispensing operation by having their openings angled towards the direction of product flow from the source, the conduits 14 and spigots 15 filling with product providing a closed system to ensure that no contamination can enter the device 3. Sterilisation medium (not shown) is provided to the spigots 15 by any suitable means, such as plastic tubing which may include one or more external valve device (not shown) . The device 3 is mounted on an aseptic source 2 by means of a collar 16 which may be provided with any suitable attachment means, such as for example a screw thread, for securing the device 3 to a spigot of the aseptic source 2. Referring to Figure 2, the product flow path 4 through the body 9 comprises an inlet port 18 and an outlet port 19 which communicate through the body 9 by means of a bore 23.

The plunger 8 is provided with means to prevent inadvertent operation of the device 3, which in the illustrated embodiment takes the form of a projection 20 from the plunger 8, which is received in and movable within a slot 21 in an extension 10 of the body 9, the slot 21 being substantially U-shaped.

In use, a number of devices 3 are connected in series, as illustrated in Figure 3 for dispensing product from a number of aseptic sources 2. The entire apparatus is sterilised by introducing a sterilising medium, such as for example steam, via a port 'X' at one end of the common flow path 4, and also via conduits 14, thus sterilising the entire apparatus. In all embodiments of the invention, it has been found that operation of the apparatus to give an initial long sterilisation of the entire apparatus of for example from 10 to 30 minutes, followed by a short selective sterilisation of the connection parts of one or more device and source, by means of conduits 14, for a few seconds, such as from 5 to 30, is particularly effective and convenient in practice. Thus the connection part, the head part 12, and cutter 13 of each device 3, as well as the aseptic source parts such as the frangible membrane, are selectively sterilisable immediately before a dispensing operation. The invention therefore provides for direct sterilisation of all parts of the apparatus as well as selected local parts of the apparatus where this is required, by means of this dual regime.

To dispense product, the plungers 8 are moved into position B, so that product can flow from each source via each respective connection part 5 into the common flow path 4 and out of the apparatus at connection 'Y' to a filler or dispense mixer. A valve 'V is provided externally to the apparatus to control product flow. As previously mentioned, product also fills conduits 14. When it is desired to close off the flow from any one, or all sources, the plungers 8 are moved back to position A, thereby isolating the connection part 5 of each device 3 from the common flow path 4. Sterilising medium can then be introduced into the common flow path 4 via the inlet and outlet ports as already described, without sterilising medium contacting the product still present in the connection part 5 of each device 3. If it is desired to replace a particular source 2 without dismantling the entire apparatus, the same operation is performed, to close the relevant device 3 before removing the desired source 2. The connection part 5 of the particular device can then be sterilised by means of the conduits 14, as can the new aseptic source 2. Product in the conduits 14 is flushed out by the sterilising medium. When sterilisation of this part is complete, dispensing can be initiated as described above. Referring now to Figures 4 to 6, the apparatus 100 shown is similar to that of Figures 1 to 3, so like reference numerals are used for like parts. In Figure 4, the apparatus 100 is connected to a pack 2 as before, and before piercing the membrane 101, the product line is sterilised by passage of steam along the line from 'X' - Υ\ 'V being a valve, in direction of arrow 'Z' , and 'Y' being a connection with a line connected by a conduit to, for example, a filler or dispense mixer.

This cleaning or sterilisation of the line V, X, Y in direction Z can take place over as long a period as desired, say approximately 20 minutes.

Then by suitable positioning of the plunger, the direct path between 'X' and 'Y' is closed, so that steam passes through ports 'R', 'S', for a desired time which can be as little as a few seconds, whereby to pass between and over the outer (in use) surface of the membrane 101 and the cutter, to sterilize the parts.

After the sterilising step of Figure 5, the sterilized cutter 13 is moved to pierce the now sterilized membrane 101 , after ceasing the flow of steam, and the product flows from the pack in the direction of the arrows 'P\ through the port ' Y' to the filler or dispense mixer (both not shown) .

Thus the apparatus 1 , 100 described herein with reference to the drawings and embodying the invention provides a way of cleaning/sterilizing the interface between the valve and the membrane at any required time.

In the multi -manifold embodiment of Figure 3, each said interface between a respective membrane of a pack and dispense apparatus can be selectively operated at all times by operation of the plunger to provide selected sterilization as required.

Thus, using apparatus embodying the invention, it can be seen that separate sterilisation of the connection part 5 and common flow path 4 of a device 3 can be carried out without needing to disassemble the entire apparatus.

Claims

1. Apparatus for sterile dispensing of product from an aseptic source thereof comprising a device, a connection part of said device for connection to an aseptic source for dispensing product therefrom, a closure element to close off product flow from the source, and sterilisation means, the arrangement being such that the connection part is isolated from the flow path by closure of the closure element, to enable sterilisation of the connection part and flow path by the sterilisation means.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1 , comprising a plurality of devices connected together in a series to provide a common flow path, each device comprising a said connection part for connection to a separate aseptic source for dispensing product therefrom, and a closure element to close off product frow from the source, and sterilisation means, the arrangement being such that the connection part is isolated from the flow path by closure of the closure element, to enable sterilisation of the connection part and flow path by the sterilisation means.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the sterilisation means includes a conduit arranged for delivery of sterilisation medium to the connection part.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein the conduit is arranged substantially to fill with product, when dispensing takes place.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or Claim 4, there being a plurality of conduits.

6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, the closure element comprising a plunger.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, the plunger including means to prevent inadvertent operation thereof.

8. Apparatus according to Claim 7, the means comprising a projection, movable within a guide slot of the device.

9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the closure element comprises a cutter to pierce a part of the source, to initiate product flow therefrom.

10. A product dispensing system, comprising a plurality of aseptic sources of product, and dispensing apparatus according to any preceding claim.