WO2000045862A1 - Procede et appareil de conditionnement aseptique - Google Patents

Procede et appareil de conditionnement aseptique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000045862A1
WO2000045862A1 PCT/US2000/001688 US0001688W WO0045862A1 WO 2000045862 A1 WO2000045862 A1 WO 2000045862A1 US 0001688 W US0001688 W US 0001688W WO 0045862 A1 WO0045862 A1 WO 0045862A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
bottles
sterilant
bottle
sterilization
tunnel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2000/001688
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Thomas D. Taggart
Original Assignee
Steuben Foods, Inc.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US09/306,552 external-priority patent/US6536188B1/en
Priority claimed from US09/330,763 external-priority patent/US6475435B1/en
Application filed by Steuben Foods, Inc. filed Critical Steuben Foods, Inc.
Priority to AU33493/00A priority Critical patent/AU3349300A/en
Publication of WO2000045862A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000045862A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0006—Conveying; Synchronising
    • B67C7/0026—Conveying; Synchronising the containers travelling along a linear path
    • B67C7/0033—Conveying; Synchronising the containers travelling along a linear path the operation being performed batch-wise
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B67—OPENING, CLOSING OR CLEANING BOTTLES, JARS OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS; LIQUID HANDLING
    • B67C—CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
    • B67C7/00—Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
    • B67C7/0073—Sterilising, aseptic filling and closing

Definitions

  • the filler apparatus 50 includes forty-one (41) index stations 92, hereafter referred to as "stations.” Various index stations 92 are illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 11-15.
  • the conveying motion of the bottles 12 to the various stations 92 through the filler apparatus 50 is based on an indexing motion.
  • the filler apparatus 50 is designed to convey the bottles 12 through the various operations of the filler 50 in a two by six matrix.
  • the twelve bottles 12 in the two by six matrix are positioned in, and displaced by, a conveying plate 94 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Therefore, twelve bottles 12 are exposed to a particular station 92 at the same time.
  • a conveying apparatus 100 moves the set of twelve bottles 12 in each conveying plate 94 sequentially through each station 92.
  • the hydrogen peroxide sterilant concentration level is less than .5ppm and typically about .lppm.
  • this helps to maintain the main product filler apparatus 160 and the lid sterilization and heat sealing apparatus 162 at a low sterilant concentration level. This prevents unwanted high levels of sterilant to enter the food product during the filling and lidding process.
  • the hydrogen peroxide sterilant concentration level is about .1 ppm in the third sterilization zone 172.
  • a gas such as hot sterile air enters the first sterilization zone 164 at a rate of about 2400 cfm (cubic feet per minute). The temperature of the hot sterile air is about 230°F.
  • each bottle 12 generally has a small opening 16 compared to its height "H.”
  • a ratio of a diameter "D" of the bottle 12 to the height “H” of the bottle 12 is generally less than 1.0.
  • the small bottle opening 16 combined with a larger height "H” restricts the flow of hot gas into the interior 118 of the bottle 12.
  • PET and HDPE bottle materials have low heat resistance temperatures. These temperatures commonly are about 55 °C for PET and about 121 °C for HDPE.
  • a low volume of air at a high temperature is applied to the packaging materials. This often results in deformation and softening of packaging materials formed of PET and HDPE.
  • the initial sterilization process for the pressurized reservoir apparatus 180 includes the step of exposing all of the surfaces of the pressurized reservoir apparatus 180 that come in contact with the product to steam at temperatures above about 250°F for a minimum of about 30 minutes.
  • Elements such as cups 198 A and 198B are used to block off nozzle outlets 196A and 196B respectively, to allow a build-up of steam pressure to about 50 psig inside the pressurized reservoir apparatus 180.
  • Condensate generated as the steam heats the interior surfaces of the pressurized reservoir apparatus 180 is collected in the cups 198 A and 198B. This condensate is released when the cups 198A and 198B are removed from the nozzle outlets 196A and 196B.
  • FIGS. 3 and 13 illustrate the lid sterilization and heat sealing apparatus 162.
  • a lid 200 is applied to each of the twelve bottles 12 at station 31.
  • complete lid 200 sterilization is necessary, and therefore a sterilant such as hydrogen peroxide is typically used.
  • the lids are formed of a material such as foil or plastic.
  • the lids 200 are joined together by a small interconnecting band that holds them together to form a long connected chain of lids 200, hereinafter referred to as a "daisy chain" 202.
  • a daisy chain 202 of lids 200 is placed on each of a plurality of reels 210.
  • each reel 210 is located on each side of a heat sealing apparatus 214.
  • Each daisy chain 202 of lids 200 winds off of a corresponding reel 210 and is sterilized, preferably using a hydrogen peroxide bath 204.
  • a plurality of hot sterile air knives 208 which are formed by jets of hot sterile air, activate the hydrogen peroxide to sterilize the lids 200 on the daisy chain 202.
  • the hot sterile air knives 208 also remove the hydrogen peroxide from the lids 200 so that the residual concentration of hydrogen peroxide is less than 0.5 PPM.
  • the heat sealing apparatus 214 includes a heated platen 216 that applies heat and pressure against each lid 200 for a predetermined length of time, to form a seal between the lid 200 and the bottle 12.
  • the heated platen 216 is in a two by six configuration to seal twelve of the bottles 12 at a time.
  • the bottle discharge apparatus 280 comprises a lifting apparatus 286 that includes a gripper 288 that grasps the top portion 284 of each bottle 12 and lifts the bottle 12 out through the opening 282 in the sterilization tunnel 90.
  • the sterile air in the sterilization tunnel 90 is maintained at a higher pressure than the air outside the sterilization tunnel 90.
  • the gripper 288 never enters the sterilization tunnel 90, because the top portion 284 of the bottle 12 is first lifted out of the sterilization tunnel 90 by the action of the rotating cam 290 before being grabbed by the gripper 288.
  • the lifting apparatus 286 lifts the bottles 12 at station 38 and places the bottles 12 in a first lane 292 that transports the bottles 12 to a first capping apparatus 410. In addition, the lifting apparatus 286 lifts the bottles 12 at station 40 and places the bottles 12 in a second lane 294 that transports the bottles 12 to a second capping apparatus 400.
  • the bottles 12 are transported along a first set of multiple lanes (e.g., 4) to a first case packing apparatus 490. From the second labeling apparatus
  • a bottle counter to ensure that a predetermined number of the bottles 12 (e.g., six bottles) on each upper horizontal row 24, 28 enter the loading area of the bottle infeed and sterilization apparatus 60.
  • a pressure sensor to ensure that the pressure of the air used by the sterilant application apparatus 36 is within predetermined atomization requirements.
  • a temperature sensor to ensure that each heat heating element used by the sterilant application apparatus 36 is heated to the correct temperature.
  • a proximity sensor e.g., proximity sensor 71, FIG. 3 to ensure that a bottle jam has not occu ⁇ ed within the bottle infeed and sterilization apparatus 60.
  • E. A temperature sensor to ensure that the temperature of the heated sterile air entering the bottle infeed and sterilization apparatus 60 is correct.
  • F A proximity sensor that to ensure that each conveying plate 94 is fully loaded with bottles 12.
  • Gl A conductivity sensor to ensure that the measuring cup used by the interior bottle sterilization apparatus 116 is full.
  • a conductivity sensor to ensure that the measuring cup used by the interior bottle sterilization apparatus 1 16 is emptied in a predetermined time.
  • a temperature sensor to ensure that each heat heating element used by the interior bottle sterilization apparatus 116 is heated to the correct temperature.
  • a plurality of flow sensors to ensure that the airflow rate of the sterile air entering the sterilization tunnel 90 is correct.
  • J. A pressure sensor to ensure that the pressure of the sterile air entering the activation and drying apparatus 152 is correct.
  • K. A measuring device (e.g., volumetric measuring device 188, FIG. 3) to ensure that each bottle 12 is filled to a predetermined level.
  • a pressure sensor to ensure that the pressure in the product tank 182 is above a predetermined level.
  • a level sensor to ensure that the level of product in the product tank 182 is maintained at a predetermined level.
  • a level sensor to ensure that the hydrogen peroxide level in the hydrogen peroxide bath 204 in the lid sterilization and heat sealing apparatus 162 is above a predetermined level.
  • a temperature sensor to ensure that the temperature of the hot sterile air knives 208 of the lid sterilization and heat sealing apparatus 162 is correct.
  • a concentration sensor to ensure that the concentration of oxonia is maintained at a predetermined level in the sanitizing apparatus 300.
  • a pressure sensor to ensure that the pressure of the oxonia is maintained above a predetermined level in the sanitizing apparatus 300.
  • the follow steps are performed during sterilization of the bottle filler apparatus 50;

Landscapes

  • Apparatus For Disinfection Or Sterilisation (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne un procédé et un appareil permettant un conditionnement, à grand débit, de produits à faible acidité traités de manière aseptique dans un contenant (12) doté d'une petite ouverture, tel qu'une bouteille de verre ou de plastique. L'extérieur et l'intérieur d'un grand nombre de bouteilles sont désinfectés de manière aseptique, puis les bouteilles sont remplies d'un produit (50). Les bouteilles (12) sont introduites dans une chambre de stérilisation (90) au moyen d'un convoyeur de bouteilles (106), et un appareil d'application d'agent de stérilisation permet de stériliser l'extérieur du convoyeur de bouteilles (106). Plusieurs zones stériles (164,165,166,172), formées dans un tunnel de stérilisation (90), permettent de mettre en oeuvre, dans ce tunnel (90), plusieurs niveaux de concentration d'agents de stérilisation et de débits de gaz.
PCT/US2000/001688 1999-02-02 2000-01-25 Procede et appareil de conditionnement aseptique WO2000045862A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU33493/00A AU3349300A (en) 1999-02-02 2000-01-25 Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging

Applications Claiming Priority (8)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US11840499P 1999-02-02 1999-02-02
US60/118,404 1999-02-02
US30595199A 1999-05-06 1999-05-06
US09/306,552 1999-05-06
US09/306,552 US6536188B1 (en) 1999-02-02 1999-05-06 Method and apparatus for aseptic packaging
US09/305,951 1999-05-06
US09/330,763 1999-06-11
US09/330,763 US6475435B1 (en) 1999-02-02 1999-06-11 Apparatus and method for providing sterilization zones in an aseptic packaging sterilization tunnel

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2000045862A1 true WO2000045862A1 (fr) 2000-08-10

Family

ID=27494192

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2000/001688 WO2000045862A1 (fr) 1999-02-02 2000-01-25 Procede et appareil de conditionnement aseptique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU3349300A (fr)
WO (1) WO2000045862A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6820660B1 (en) 2000-12-28 2004-11-23 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Device for the sterile filling of bottle shaped containers
EP2391391B1 (fr) * 2009-02-02 2018-12-05 PeroxyChem LLC Procédé de stérilisation
CN110745761A (zh) * 2019-11-06 2020-02-04 无锡生基医药科技有限公司 一种慢病毒载体液无菌分装方法及分装系统
CN114378036A (zh) * 2020-10-20 2022-04-22 怀化市酱香和农业科技股份有限公司 一种酱制品灌装用预处理装置

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4014158A (en) * 1973-08-24 1977-03-29 Ab Ziristor Apparatus for filling and sealing preformed packaging containers under aseptic conditions
US4309388A (en) * 1980-02-04 1982-01-05 Tenney Robert I Ozone sterilizing apparatus
US4979347A (en) * 1988-05-19 1990-12-25 Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd. Fill- and pack in a non-germ atmosphere machine
US5152968A (en) * 1990-12-17 1992-10-06 Elopak Systems A.G. Single pass vapor generation container sterilization system

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4014158A (en) * 1973-08-24 1977-03-29 Ab Ziristor Apparatus for filling and sealing preformed packaging containers under aseptic conditions
US4309388A (en) * 1980-02-04 1982-01-05 Tenney Robert I Ozone sterilizing apparatus
US4979347A (en) * 1988-05-19 1990-12-25 Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd. Fill- and pack in a non-germ atmosphere machine
US5152968A (en) * 1990-12-17 1992-10-06 Elopak Systems A.G. Single pass vapor generation container sterilization system

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6820660B1 (en) 2000-12-28 2004-11-23 Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A. Device for the sterile filling of bottle shaped containers
EP2391391B1 (fr) * 2009-02-02 2018-12-05 PeroxyChem LLC Procédé de stérilisation
CN110745761A (zh) * 2019-11-06 2020-02-04 无锡生基医药科技有限公司 一种慢病毒载体液无菌分装方法及分装系统
CN114378036A (zh) * 2020-10-20 2022-04-22 怀化市酱香和农业科技股份有限公司 一种酱制品灌装用预处理装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU3349300A (en) 2000-08-25

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