US 6,082,418 A · Aseptic container filling assembly

Abstract

A container filling assembly (10) including a carousel (12) having an in-feed station (20) and an exit station (30) for supplying empty containers (22) and exiting filled containers (22). A number valve stations (34) are supported by the carousel (12) for filling the containers (22). An enclosure (42) is associated with each valve station (34) for enclosing the container (22) on the valve station (34). The enclosure (42) has an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement about at the valve station (34). An actuation device (48) moves the enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with the valve station (34) and an open position spaced vertically from the valve station (34). A bottom (50) is disposed within the endless wall (44) to create a sealed chamber (70) when the endless wall (44) is in the sealed position. The filling assembly (10) is characterized by the bottom (50) being fixed to the carousel (12) and remaining below the upper periphery (46) of the endless wall (44) during the movement of the enclosure (42). The subject invention also includes a method of dispensing the product into the container (22) through the plurality of valve stations (34). The method is likewise characterized by moving the elongated endless wall (44) of the enclosure (42) vertically between the sealed position and the open position while maintaining the upper periphery (46) above the bottom (50).

Claims28

Dependent claims

A container filling assembly (10) for filling a plurality of containers (22), said filling assembly (10) comprising,

a carousel (12) for rotating about an axis (14),
an in-feed station (20) disposed adjacent said carousel (12) for feeding empty containers (22) into said carousel (12),
an exit station (30) disposed adjacent said carousel (12) for exiting filled containers (22) from said carousel (12),
a plurality of valve stations (34) supported by said carousel (12) for filling the containers (22) as the containers (22) are moved by said carousel (12) between said in-feed (20) and exit (30) stations,
an enclosure (42) associated with each valve station (34) for enclosing the container (22) on said valve station (34), said enclosure (42) having an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement about said valve station (34),
an actuation mechanism (48) moving said enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with said upper periphery (46) in said sealing engagement and an open position with said upper periphery (46) spaced vertically from said valve station (34) sufficiently for the container (22) to move out of and into said valve station (34) above said upper periphery (46), and
said enclosure (42) including a bottom (50) disposed within said elongated endless wall (44) for creating a sealed chamber (70) when said endless wall (44) is in said sealed position,
said assembly characterized by said bottom (50) being fixedly supported by said carousel (12) and remaining below said upper periphery (46) of said endless wall (44) during said movement of said enclosure (42) from said sealed position to said open position.

5 more elements

A method of dispensing a product into a container (22) through a plurality of valve stations (34) mounted to a revolving carousel (12) with the carousel (12) having an enclosure (42) associated with each valve station (34) which includes an elongated endless wall (44) with an upper periphery (46) for sealing engagement with each associated valve station (34) and a bottom (50), said method comprising the steps of:

feeding the container (22) from an in-feed station (20) to the carousel (12) and placing the container (22) in fluid communication with the valve station (34);
disposing the endless wall (44) and bottom (50) around the container (22) to create a sealed chamber (70) for providing a sterile environment for the container (22);
evacuating any fluid from the interior of the container (22) and the sealed chamber (70);
pressurizing the interior of the container (22) and the sealed chamber (70);
filling the container (22) with the product through the valve station (34);
and
removing the sealed chamber (70) from around the container (22) for the container (22) to be exited from the carousel (12) along an exit station (30);
said method characterized by moving the elongated endless wall (44) of the enclosure (42) vertically between a sealed position with the upper periphery (46) in sealing engagement with the valve station (34) to create the sealed chamber (70) and an open position with the upper periphery (46) spaced vertically from the valve station (34) and remaining above the bottom (50) for allowing the container (22) to move out of and into the valve station (34) above the upper periphery (46) and the bottom (50).

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aseptic container filling assembly

Life of this patent

Aseptic container filling assembly

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims28