Package for maintaining asepsis of a sterile web of bags and method of using

Abstract

A package of book-like shape having three leaves is used for maintaining asepsis of a sterile web of bags during web transfer or start up. Each of the leaves contains an absorbant layer to which a sterilizing medium such as hydrogen peroxide can be applied. The two outer leaves also carry anvil plates and a curved knife blade is positioned on one of the anvil plates, either as part of the original package or just prior to use. Where a transfer is to be made from the expiring end of a web of bags to a new web of bags, the package is applied with the central leaf, carrying a sterilizing agent, interposed between opposing surfaces of the expiring and new webs of bags. One of the outer leaves is positioned on an outer surface of the new web of bags and the other outer leaf is positioned on the outer surface of the expiring web of bags. Thereafter pressure is applied to the entire assembly, causing the knife blade to pierce through all of the layers between the two anvil plates. This provides a passage for a filling nozzle, permitting it to transfer from the expiring web of bags to the new web of bags while the sterility of the webs is maintained. At start-up the procedure is similar, except that in place of an expiring web of bags a sterilizing boot will have been placed about the filling nozzle and filled with steam or some other sterilizing agent. Thereafter the same process is carried out using the same package, except that corresponding surfaces of the boot are substituted for the surfaces of an expiring web of bags.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.