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US 7,832,185 B2Granted
Active sterilization zone for container filling
AssigneeStokely-Van Camp, Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Mastio, Rei-Young Amos Wu, Michael F. McGowan, Subodh K. Raniwala, Gregory Schimmel, James D. Schuman, Steven Havlik, Richard O. Powell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for sterile filling of beverage containers has a first module and a second module. The first module rinses and sterilizes empty containers and delivers the sterilized containers to the second module. The second module fills and caps the containers with beverage product at ambient temperature in an active sterilization zone utilizing an e-beam sterilization unit.
Claims40
A method of sterile filling of containers comprising:
- (A) receiving a container in an isolator unit with a transfer wheel having at least one gripper and passing the container out of the isolator unit to a filler assembly,
- (B) treating a container gripper located on a filler wheel of the filler assembly by directing a first filler wheel e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface prior to receiving the container for filling, receiving a container with the gripper, filling the container, and directing airflow at the container;
- (C) treating a gripper located on a transfer wheel by directing an e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface of the transfer wheel prior to receiving the filled container, and passing the filled container to a capper wheel;
- (D) treating a capper chuck located on a capper wheel by directing a first capper e-beam emitter at the capper chuck, and further treating a cap located on the capper chuck prior to placing the cap on the filled container.
1 more element
A method of sterile filling of containers comprising:
- (A) receiving a container in an isolator unit with a transfer wheel having at least one gripper and passing the container out of the isolator unit to a filler assembly,
- (B) treating a container gripper located on a filler wheel of the filler assembly by directing a first filler wheel e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface prior to receiving the container for filling, receiving a container with the gripper, and filling the container;
- (C) treating a gripper located on a transfer wheel by directing an e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface of the transfer wheel prior to receiving the filled container, and passing the filled container to a capper wheel and directing airflow at a top portion of the filled container;
- (D) treating a capper chuck located on a capper wheel by directing a first capper e-beam emitter at the capper chuck, and further treating a cap located on the capper chuck prior to placing the cap on the filled container.
1 more element
A method of sterile filling of containers comprising:
- (A) receiving a container in an isolator unit with a transfer wheel having at least one gripper and passing the container out of the isolator unit to a filler assembly,
- (B) treating a container gripper located on a filler wheel of the filler assembly by directing a first filler wheel e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface prior to receiving the container for filling, receiving a container with the gripper, and filling the container;
- (C) treating a gripper located on a transfer wheel by directing an e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface of the transfer wheel prior to receiving the filled container, and passing the filled container to a capper wheel;
- (D) treating a capper chuck located on a capper wheel by directing a first capper e-beam emitter at the capper chuck, and further treating a cap located on the capper chuck prior to placing the cap on the filled container and directing a second e-beam emitter at an inside surface of a cap prior to capping the container such that when the cap is rotated by the capper chuck substantially all of the inside surface of the cap is exposed to the second e-beam emitter.
1 more element
A method of sterile filling of containers comprising:
- (A) receiving a container in an isolator unit with a transfer wheel having at least one gripper and passing the container out of the isolator unit to a filler assembly, and delivering air in the isolator unit;
- (B) treating a container gripper located on a filler wheel of the filler assembly by directing a first filler wheel e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface prior to receiving the container for filling, receiving a container with the gripper, and filling the container;
- (C) treating a gripper located on a transfer wheel by directing an e-beam emitter at the container gripper surface of the transfer wheel prior to receiving the filled container, and passing the filled container to a capper wheel;
- (D) treating a capper chuck located on a capper wheel by directing a first capper e-beam emitter at the capper chuck, and further treating a cap located on the capper chuck prior to placing the cap on the filled container.
1 more element
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a transfer wheel e-beam unit, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving a container;
- a capper wheel having a capper chuck, and a first capper e-beam unit;
- wherein the capper e-beam unit is directed at the capper chuck such that a cap loaded in the capper chuck receives e-beam treatment prior to the capper wheel placing the cap onto the container;
- and
- a local air management system operably associated with the filler wheel, wherein the filler wheel localized air management system comprises an inlet manifold, an intermediate supply section, and a generally annular channel that defines a pathway for the containers.
3 more elements
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit emitting a first filler wheel e-beam field, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the field encompasses the gripper prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product, wherein the filler wheel has an air management system, wherein the air management system provides a conduit for the supply of air proximate an opening of a container as the container is being filled with product by the filler wheel;
- a transfer mechanism adapted to receive the container from the filler wheel;
- and
- a capper assembly adapted to receive the container from the transfer mechanism, the capper assembly adapted to place a cap on to the container.
1 more element
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a transfer wheel e-beam unit, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving a container;
- a capper wheel having a capper chuck, and a first capper e-beam unit;
- wherein the capper e-beam unit is directed at the capper chuck such that a cap loaded in the capper chuck receives e-beam treatment prior to the capper wheel placing the cap onto the container;
- the apparatus further comprising an isolator unit having a housing and an intake wheel within the housing, the intake wheel configured to receive the container and pass the container to the filler wheel, the isolator unit further having a filtered air source adapted to provide air into the housing wherein the filtered air source provides a positive pressure to the isolator unit.
2 more elements
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a transfer wheel e-beam unit, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving a container;
- a capper wheel having a capper chuck, and a first capper e-beam unit;
- wherein the capper e-beam unit is directed at the capper chuck such that a cap loaded in the capper chuck receives e-beam treatment prior to the capper wheel placing the cap onto the container;
- and
- a transfer wheel air management system, wherein the transfer wheel air management system comprises an inlet duct in communication with an outlet manifold, wherein the inlet duct is connected to a filtered air source, wherein the filtered air source provides filtered air to the outlet manifold in a downward direction.
3 more elements
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a transfer wheel e-beam unit, wherein the transfer wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the gripper receives e-beam treatment prior to receiving a container;
- a capper wheel having a capper chuck, and a first capper e-beam unit;
- wherein the capper e-beam unit is directed at the capper chuck such that a cap loaded in the capper chuck receives e-beam treatment prior to the capper wheel placing the cap onto the container;
- and
- wherein the first capper wheel e-beam emitter is directed at the cap loaded in the capper chuck, wherein the capper chuck rotates the cap such that substantially all of the inside surface of the cap is exposed to the first capper wheel e-beam emitter.
3 more elements
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit emitting a first filler wheel e-beam field, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the field encompasses the gripper prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer mechanism adapted to receive the container from the filler wheel;
- and
- a capper assembly adapted to receive the container from the transfer mechanism, the capper assembly adapted to place a cap on to the container wherein the transfer mechanism further has an air management system, wherein the system has a conduit for the supply of air in a downward direction past the containers on the transfer mechanism.
1 more element
An apparatus for the sterile filling of containers comprising:
- a filler wheel having at least one gripper adapted to receive a container, and a first filler wheel e-beam unit emitting a first filler wheel e-beam field, wherein the first filler wheel e-beam unit is directed at the at least one gripper such that the field encompasses the gripper prior to receiving the container, the filler wheel configured to fill the container with a product;
- a transfer mechanism adapted to receive the container from the filler wheel;
- and
- a capper assembly adapted to receive the container from the transfer mechanism, the capper assembly adapted to place a cap on to the container;
- wherein the capper assembly has a capper wheel having a capper chuck adapted to receive a cap to be placed on the container;
- and a first capper wheel e-beam emitter operably associated with the capper wheel, the first capper wheel e-beam emitter emitting a first capper wheel e-beam field, wherein the capper wheel moves the capper chuck into the first e-beam field at a start position adapted to be prior to receiving the cap and a second capper wheel e-beam emitter operably associated with the capper wheel, the second capper wheel e-beam emitter emitting a second e-beam field wherein the capper wheel moves the capper chuck into the second e-beam field at a cap loaded position.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.