Method and apparatus for sterilizing containers of plastic material and for filling them with liquid substances
AssigneeI.M.A. Industria Macchine Automatiche S.P.A.
InventorTiziano Brombin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
According to method for sterilizing containers (2) of plastic material and for filling the containers with liquid substances, containers (2) are moved in succession along a feeding path (P), so as to enter a a covering structure (S) containing a one-block apparatus for sterilizing and filling and defining a closed aseptic environment. The containers (2) are sterilized in a first portion (6) of the apparatus (1), situated along a first section (T) of the path (P), then weighted filled with a liquid substance and subsequently closed with pre-sterilized plugs/caps, in a second portion (12) of the apparatus (1), situated along a second section (TR) of the path (P), after the first section (T).
Claims9
A method for sterilizing containers (2) made of a plastic material and for filling the containers with liquid substances comprising the steps of:
- feeding said containers (2) in a succession along a feeding path (P), so as to bring the containers (2) into a covering structure (S) defining a closed aseptic environment containing a one-block apparatus for sterilizing and filling the containers;
- sterilizing said containers (2) in a first portion (6) of said one-block apparatus (1), situated along a first section (T) of said path (P), said sterilizing step including:
- providing a plurality of work stations (9), each of said work stations (9) including plier means (10) for holding and overturning the containers (2) and for bringing each container from a position with an opening turned upwards to a position in which the opening is turned downwards, and vice-versa, nozzle means (11) connected to said plier means (10);
- using said plier means to hold and overturn each container for positioning the container so that the opening is turned downwards, the nozzle means entering said opening of said container (2);
- discharging a fluid through the nozzle means inside of the container, to sterilize an inside of said container while the container is held and transported by said plier means, thereby diffusing a sterilized substance inside each container (2) fed along a first part (T1) of said first section (T);
- diffusing pressurized steam inside each container (2), while moving the container along a second part (T2) of said first section (T) located after said first part (T1);
- and
- drying the inside of the container (2) by feeding filtered sterile air through an opening of the container while moving the container forward along a third part (T3) of said section (T);
- weighed filling of said sterilized containers (2) with said liquid substance;
- and,
- subsequently closing each filled and weighed container with a pre-sterilized plug/cap, in a second portion (12) of said one-block apparatus (1), situated along a second section (TR) of said path (P), located after the first section (T).
The method as claimed in 1 wherein said containers (2) are made of low density polyethylene.
A one-block apparatus (1) for sterilizing and filling containers (2) made of a plastic material with liquid substances, the one-block apparatus comprising:
- a unit (7) for sterilizing and drying an the inside of each container (2);
- a unit (13) for weighted filling of each container (2) with said liquid substances;
- and
- a unit (18) for closing each filled container (2) with a closing plug/cap;
- said one-block apparatus being contained in a covering structure (S) for defining an aseptic environment;
- said sterilizing unit (7) and said weighed filling unit (13) being separated by a wall (W) of the covering structure (S);
- means for subjecting said filling unit (13) to a circulation or laminar flow of filtered/purified air;
- said sterilizing unit (7) including:
- a rotating turret (8) having a plurality of work stations (9), each of said work stations (9) including plier means (10) for holding and overturning the containers (2) and for bringing each container from a position with an opening turned upwards to a position in which the opening is turned downwards, and vice-versa;
- and,
- nozzle means (11) connected to said plier means (10), the nozzle means entering said opening of said containers (2) to discharge a fluid inside of the containers, to sterilize an inside of said container while the container is held and transported by said plier means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.