Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
2.43575
w
Device for Sterile Filling of Containers
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for sterile
filling of containers, especially before removal of the
container from the mold of a blow molding machine used for
manufacture of the container.
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- Background of the Invention
In known devices for filling containers in a sterile
environment, costly measures must be constructed with great
care to make sterile and keep sterile not only the filling -
tap or, if several containers are to be filled
simultaneously, the filling taps, but also all of those
parts which have surface areas in connection or coming into
connection with the space surrounding the filling tap or
taps. In this circumstance, the retaining block and the
sterile filling chamber housing are to be considered first.
To be able to sterilize the filling tap or taps, the floor
of the sterile filling chamber housing, hereinafter
indicated as the ASR housing, must first be removed, so
that a hood surrounding the retaining block holding each
filling tap can be mounted therein. Following cleaning,
sterilization and drying of the passages of the filling tap
and of its outside cover, the hood must be removed. Then
great care must be taken that no microbes get into the
filling tap or its surroundings. The same is true for the
replacement of the floor of the ASR housing. The inside
surface of the ASR housing and the outside surface of the
retaining block in the known devices can be disinfected
only with use of a disinfecting agent, because the steam or
vapor to be used for sterilization cannot be introduced
into the ASR housing.
Summary of the Invention
Objects of the present invention include providing a
device for sterile filling of containers, which facilitates
completely automatic cleaning and sterilization of the
filling tap or taps and all of those surfaces which are in
contact with the space surrounding the filling tap or taps .
These objects are attained by a device for sterile
filling of containers, comprising a pressure resistant,
sterile filling chamber housing, a first retaining block,
a movable shutter, apportioning mens and retaining block
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CA 02143575 2001-05-29
drive means. The housing has connection means for feeding
and discharging cleaning fluid, vapor and sterile air into
and from the housing and a floor coupled thereto. The first
retaining block has a first filling tap and is slidable in a
longitudinal direction of the filling tap along a guide path
in the housing. A first opening is in the floor of the
housing aligned with the first filling tap. The first
filling tap is movable through the first opening. The first
movable shutter releasably seals the first opening closed and
is mounted exteriorly of the floor. The apportioning means
is coupled to the first filling tap, for dosing volumes of
fluid for distribution through the first filling tap and into
containers. The retaining block drive means is coupled to
the apportioning means for driving the retaining block.
More specifically, the present invention provides a
device for sterile filling of containers while still in a
mold of a blow molding machine for manufacturing the
containers, the device comprising a pressure-resistant,
filling chamber housing, having sterilizable inner surfaces
defining an interior and connection means for feeding and
discharging cleaning fluid, pressurized vapor and sterile air
into and from the housing, the housing having a floor coupled
thereto and being located in an exterior environment, a first
retaining block, having a first filling tap and being movable
in the housing in a longitudinal direction of the filling tap
along a guide path, and sealing means, for separating at
least a part of the retaining block from one of the exterior
environment and the interior of the housing. The device also
comprises a first opening, in the floor of the housing,
aligned with the first filling tap, the first filling tap
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being movable through the first opening to a position in
which at least an end section of the first filling tap is
outside the housing, a first movable shutter, for releasably
sealing the first opening mounted exteriorly of the floor,
apportioning means, coupled to the first filling tap, for
dosing volumes of fluid for distribution through the first
filling tap and into containers, and a retaining block drive
means, for driving the retaining block.
By the pressure-resistant construction of the ASR
housing, the housing's connections for feeding and
discharging cleaning fluid, vapor and sterile air and the
shutter or shutters for the opening or openings in the floor
of the ASR housing, the inside walls and outside walls of the
retaining block and the filling tap or taps can be sterilized
with cleaning fluid, vapor and sterile air. This
sterilization procedure can be especially efficaciously and
simultaneously performed with the sterilization of the
filling tap or taps. Especially advantageously, the hood,
which until now has been required for the filling tap, can be
deleted and the floor of the ASR housing no longer need be
removed before sterilization of the ASR housing and
reinstalled after sterilization. Therefore, completely
automatic cleaning and sterilization is possible for all of
the necessary surfaces. Human contact with these surfaces is
no longer required.
When the opening or openings in the floor of the ASR
housing are closed, it is preferable to have an inflatable
seal present between the outside of the floor of the ASR
housing and the side of the movable shutter facing the_
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housing floor. The movable shutter can advantageously be
operated by a working cylinder, so that the shutter
operation can also be included in the automation of the
entire assembly.
In one improved embodiment, the apportioning device or
means inside the ASR housing is arranged between the
retaining block or blocks on one side and the filling tap
or taps on the other side. This arrangement of the
apportioning device within the ASR housing advantageously
permits the apportioning device to be automatically cleaned
and sterilized. Since a detachable connection can be
provided for the floor of the ASR housing, preferably by
means of its snap closings, when engagement with the
apportioning device is required, for instance when an
apportioning diaphragm must be exchanged, it is possible to
move the apportioning device downward out of the ASR
housing, after the housing floor has been removed.
When the ASR housing and its floor member houses the
apportioning device and each retaining block has a
cylindrical top part, as is preferably the case, the
retaining block can be guided along the inside wall of the
top cylindrical part. That arrangement is important for
precise guiding of the tap. To guide the retaining block
in its transfer from a top segment to a bottom segment, the
retaining block advantageously has a portion of annular
material projecting radially outwardly over or from the
outside surfaces of both the top and the bottom segments.
The annular material portion guides the block in the manner
of a piston. Despite this guiding and the sealing effected
through it, preferably together with an annular seal, it is
guaranteed that the entire inside wall surface be cleaned
and sterilized.
In one preferred embodiment, the area of the top part
of the ASR housing receiving the top portion of the
retaining block, when it is raised into its topmost
position, is provided with at least one inlet and at least
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- one outlet for cleaning fluid, vapor and sterile air. As
a result, the volume of space in the ASR housing located
above the guide of the retaining block can likewise be
intensively cleaned and sterilized, as well as the volume -
of space lying beneath the guide arrangement.
In the interest of precise guiding, when the retaining
block is completely lowered, the annular material portion
is located at the level of the bottom end of the top part ---
of the ASR housing. Also, a column-like or stanchion-like
support is connected inflexibly or rigidly with the top end
of the top part of the ASR housing and projects from the
top downward into a central, longitudinal passage of the
retaining block closed at its bottom end. The top segment
of the retaining block is longitudinally slidably guided on
the support, over a ball bearing.
The retaining block drive device preferably uses a
hydraulic cylinder as drive element. With lowering of the
pressure, no unintended and unexpected lowering of the
retaining block can occur. In one preferred embodiment, a
proportional control mechanism facilitates precise control
of the movement of the retaining block and is associated
with this hydraulic cylinder.
The device according to the present invention is for
use in new machines, and is suitable for retrofitting,
particularly considering that it has a high degree of
cleaning chamber usefulness. Only two movable passages
extend through to the inside chamber of the ASR housing.
The seals of the passages slide on walls which limit the
evacuable inside chamber of the ASR housing and can be
cleaned and also sterilized.
Other objects, advantages and salient features of the
present invention will become apparent from the following
detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the
annexed drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment of the
present invention.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this
disclosure:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view in section of an
apparatus according to an embodiment of the present
invention with a filling tap in its top most setting;
Figure 2 is a front elevational view in section of the
apparatus according to the present invention with the
filling tap in its bottom most setting; and
Figure 3 is a front elevational view in section of the
apparatus according to the present invention with the
filling top in its top most setting.
Detailed Description of the Invention
A device or apparatus according to the present
invention, is for sterile filling of containers, especially
for filling a series of ampules or bottles, before removal
from the mold of a blow molding machine used for their
manufacture. The device has a quadratic or rectangular
bottom part 1 of a sterile filling chamber housing,
hereinafter described as the ASR housing. The ASR housing
is sealed closed on its bottom by a floor 2. Floor 2 is
connected detachably with the ASR housing by snap closings
3, which closings may be configured as toggle bolts. The
inside surface of floor 2, as shown.rin Figure'1, is sloped
from the two longitudinal sides 1' of bottom part 1 toward
the middle.
For each filling tap 4, the middle of bottom part 1 is
provided a passage opening 5. These passage openings 5
permit passage of the respective filling taps 4, and for
discharge of cleaning fluid and vapor. .
Passage openings 5 can be shut tightly or sealed
closed by a shutter 6 provided on the bottom of floor 2.
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Shutter 6 can be slid by at least one working cylinder 7
between the closed setting illustrated in Figure 1 and an
unblocking or open setting in which shutter 6 is located in
the vicinity of a retainer 8 provided on the side
longitudinal border of floor 2. On its top side facing
floor 2, shutter 6 is provided with a circumferential,
closed groove 9. An inflatable sealing member 9a lies in
groove 9 and is inflated when shutter 6 is moved into -._
closed setting.
On the top of bottom part 1 in the vicinity of the two
narrow ends 1", two identically configured top parts 10 are
mounted. These parts have the shape of a cylindrical pot
opening downwardly. The longitudinal axis of each top part
extends perpendicular to the top of bottom part 1. Each
top part 10 is aligned with an opening 11 in the top of
bottom part 1 and is connected with the respective opening
with a seal.
A retaining block 12 is slidably guided for
longitudinal movement in each of the two top parts 10.
These two identically configured retaining blocks 12 are
movable by means of hydraulic cylinders 13. Each hydraulic
cylinder is mounted outside of and adjacent to the
respective top part 10, and is longitudinally movable. The
hydraulic cylinder movements correspond to an up and down
movement when integrated into the assembly of the device
and are precisely controlled by a proportional control
mechanism 13a.
In the transition area from a top segment 12' to a
bottom segment 12" of retaining block 12, retaining block
12 has a radially outwardly projecting, annular material
portion 14. Annular portion 14 is guided in the cylinder
arrangement of the inside wall of top part 10. An annular
seal, lying in a radially outwardly open annular groove 15
of material portion 14, seals the space located aboqe the
material portion 14 from the space located below material
portion 14. The space located below material portion 14 is
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2143'75
_ connected with the inside chamber of bottom part 1. As
shown in Figure 2, when retaining block 12 is in a
completely lowered position, the material portion 14 is at
the level of the end of top part 10 connected to bottom
part 1. This lowest possible arrangement for guiding
movement of retaining block 12 allows for great precision
to be attained.
Retaining blocks 12 are provided with central blind- .._
end bores 16 closed at bottom ends thereof. A support 17
extending from above downwardly is received in each bore 16
and is connected inflexibly with top part 10. The top
segment 12' of each retaining block 12 is guided on the
respective support 17 without any play and is positioned by
means of a stainless ball bearing 18. This guide
arrangement also contributes to attaining a high degree of
precision. The bottom end of each support 17 has a guide
piston 19 with a sealing ring therein engaging the inside
wall of the respective bottom segment 12".
The two retaining blocks 12 support a block-like
apportioning device 20 on the bottom of the blocks. The
bottom of the apportioning device is directed toward floor
2 of the ASR housing, and has connections for filling taps
4. For each filling tap connection, apportioning device 20
incorporates the valves necessary for a time-pressure-
apportioning cycle, which, in the exemplary embodiment, are
in the form of diaphragm valves.
Two connection nozzles 21 and 22 are located on the
top of bottom part 1 of the ASR housing. Cleaning fluid,
vapor and sterilized air can be conducted through nozzles
21 and 22 for introduction into the ASR housing and
discharge from the ASR housing. Each of the two top parts
of the ASR housing in that area, which receives one top
segment 12' of one retaining block 12 in its topmost
setting, has a top connection nozzle 23 and a bottom
connection nozzle 24. Cleaning fluid, vapor and sterile
air can be fed in and discharged through nozzles 23 and 24
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in the same manner. In addition to the two connection
nozzles 21 and 22, withdrawal nozzles (not shown) for
taking samples for microbiological research and for
particle counting can be provided. -
As shown especially in Figure 2, pipes 25, extending
parallel to supports 17, pass through covers 10' limiting
top parts 10 at their tops, and are connected with seals to
the associated retaining blocks. Pipes 25 move together ---
with retaining blocks 12 relative to the top part of the
ASR housing. A seal is provided for each pipe in the area
of the passage of pipes 25 through cover 10'.
Cleaning, sterilizing and drying are required before
the device can be placed in operation. For these
procedures, all retaining blocks 12 are first moved
upwardly as far as they will go, i.e, to the setting shown
in Figs. 1 and 3, in which filling taps 4 are pulled
completely upward out of passage openings 5 of floor 2.
Shutters 6 are brought into closed settings as shown in
Figure 1. The closed setting is held with the inflatable
sealing arrangement so that floor 2 is sealed tightly.
Application of a tap hood to each tap and removal of the
floor from the ASR housing, which is necessary when using
conventional devices, is not required.
Cleaning fluid is introduced through connection nozzle
21, top connection nozzle 23 and tubes 25. Tubes 25 also
serve to feed the products to be fed subsequently into the
containers. The cleaning fluid cleans all of the passages
of filling taps 4 and their conduits and also all of the
wall surfaces of the ASR housing, retaining blocks 12 and
apportioning device 20 which are in contact and can come
into contact with the space surrounding filling taps 4.
The cleaning fluid is discharged through connection nozzles
22 and bottom connection nozzles 24. If, as in the
exemplary embodiment, the shutter is provided with a
discharge passage 6', a portion of the cleaning fluid can
also be discharged through passage 6.
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After this cleaning, all parts are sterilized with
vapor which can have a pressure up to 3 Bar. Because of
the pressure-resistant construction of the ASR housing, the
vapor can be fed into and discharged from the ASR housing
through pipes 25 and through connection nozzles 21 and top
connection nozzles 23. All of the inside walls of the ASR
housing and all of the outside walls of apportioning device
20 and retaining blocks 12 are sterilized by the vapor.
This is also true for the area located above the material
portions 14 of retaining blocks 12, the supports projecting
into the ASR housing, the outside of pipes 25 introduced
through cover 10', and the operating rods 26 inserted
through cover 10' by which hydraulic cylinder 13 drives
retaining blocks 12. Consequently, all sealing mechanisms
in the area of the passages as well as the seal of the
material portions 14 move on a wall surface which can be
cleaned and sterilized.
During the cleaning and sterilization, it is important
to move retaining blocks 12 somewhat up and down. The
vapor is conducted and released through the discharge
passages of filling taps 4, through which air escapes from
the container being filled during the filling process,
through connection nozzles 22 and 24,.as well as through
discharge passage 6' to a condensate discharge.
Sterile air is blown in through connection nozzles 21
and 23 as well as through pipes 25 following sterilization.
In this manner, a vacuum pressure does not occur through-
out the cooling, and fluid residues can be removed
simultaneously. A Level 100 atmosphere is thus provided
inside the ASR housing.
The cleaning and sterilization can thus be carried out
completely automatically, considerably increasing the
certainty that no microbes come into contact with the
inside surfaces of the ASR or any of the parts engaging the
product being filled in the containers. With the
conventional method, the operator must exercise extreme
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caution to avoid contaminating the above-noted surfaces and
parts.
Although the apportioning device is included in the
contact-free, automatic sterilization area no difficulties _
arise upon breakdown or for maintenance of the apportioning
device, for example, to replace a diaphragm. For these
purposes, floor 2, together with its shutter 6, can be
removed by the snap closings without difficulty. Retaining
blocks 12 can then be lowered to the bottom. Apportioning
device 20 can then be brought down out of the ASR housing
and become easily accessible.
While one embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the
invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the
art that various changes and modifications can be made
therein without departing from the scope of the invention
as defined in the appended claims.
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