Patent ID: 6635216
Filing Date: 2003-10-21
Classification: A61L,B29C

Abstract:
A blow pin assembly for use in blow molding aseptic plastic bottles, the assembly including:A) an elongate blow pin having a blow end, the pin including a sterile internal blow air passage extending along the pin and having a blow mouth at the blow end of the pin; B) an annular blow pin housing surrounding the blow pin, the housing defining an upper opening and a lower mouth, and a sterile gas inlet port opening into a first annular chamber between the housing and the blow pin; C) a first circumferential seal adjacent the upper opening, said first seal extending between the housing and the blow pin, said seal closing the top of the chamber and permitting axial movement of the blow pin relative to the housing between a retracted position where the blow end of the pin is adjacent the housing and an extended position where the blow end of the pin is extended outwardly below the housing in position to blow a parison held in a closed mold below the housing, the surface of the pin below the first seal being sterile; and D) a drive for moving the blow pin between the retracted and extended positions; E) wherein when the blow pin is in the retracted position sterile gas flowed into the chamber through the sterile gas inlet port at low pressure surrounds the blow pin, flows along the blow pin in laminar flow and across the blow end of the pin to shield the sterile pin from contamination by atmospheric air.