Abstract:
In a device for producing and filling containers, one tube of plastic can be extruded in an open form ( 17 ). A filling device ( 9 ) having several individual functional channels ( 21, 39 ) enables the filling material to be introduced into the container by a filling mandrel ( 11 ) associated with a related form ( 17 ). A mandrel cover ( 27 ) has at least one functional space ( 31, 35 ) and establishes a media-guiding connection between its functional space ( 31, 35 ) and the associated functional channel ( 21, 39 ) of the filling device ( 9 ) for cleaning and/or sterilizing and/or drying, in its functional position, and is removed from its functional position during the production and filling of the container.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for producing and filling containers in which at least one tube of plasticized plastic material can be extruded into an open mold. By a filling device comprising several function channels separated from one another, at least the filling material can be delivered into the respective containers by a filling mandrel assigned to the pertinent mold. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the pertinent prior art, a system economically enabling automated molding (blow molding or vacuum molding), filling, and sealing of containers is known under the trademark bottelpack®. When the containers are to be filled with highly sensitive products, for example, pharmaceuticals, the international standards for aseptic packaging must be satisfied. To satisfy these standards in the known solutions the mold, when moved into the fill position, is under a sterile filling space (ASR) in which sterile air flows via the open fill opening of the container and forms effective protection against the penetration of germs until movable mold parts are closed after completion of the filling process to make the head closure of the container by a combined vacuum welding process. Such sterile filling spaces and their systems for sterile filling of containers are known in the prior art, for example, in the form of DE 196 48 087 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,840. 
     Careful cleaning and sterilization both of the filling device with its function channels and the parts interacting with it are carried out in rotation and definitely at the start of a production period as a further measure to ensure sterility during production corresponding to Class  100  according to the international classification. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to provide a device for producing and filling in which cleaning and sterilization processes can be carried out especially easily and with an improved efficiency relative to the art. 
     According to the invention, this object is basically achieved by a device comprising a mandrel protective cover having at least one functional space. In its function position, the protective cover produces a media-carrying connection for purposes of cleaning and/or sterilization and/or drying between its functional space and the respectively assignable function channel of the filling device. During container production and filling, the protective cover is moved out of its function position. This protective cover permits delivering those media into the functional space or spaces within the protective cover suitable for cleaning, sterilization, cooling/drying, etc., via a respective function channel of the filling device. In other words, the protective cover forms a component of a cleaning, sterilizing, and/or drier mechanism which can be operated via the corresponding media supply from the filling device to bring the device into an aseptic state for starting the production interval. 
     In constructions of the device designed for efficient production, at least one filling mandrel can be set into the selected operating positions by longitudinal displacement. In the operating position interacting with the protective cover, the filling mandrel is accommodated with a longitudinal section in at least one functional space of the protective cover in the function position. In this way, the medium intended for the cleaning, sterilization, or drying/cooling process to be carried out can be delivered into the pertinent space within the protective cover directly via the pertinent function channels extending within or along the respective filling mandrel. In this way, not only are cleaning, sterilizing, and drying of the function channels of the system through which the media are flowing accomplished, but the corresponding media also act on the outside surface of the filling mandrel located in the functional space of the protective cover. The processes of cleaning, sterilization, and drying then also act on the outside surface of the respective sections of the filling mandrel held in the protective cover. 
     In especially advantageous exemplary embodiments, the protective cover has a first and second functional spaces offset relative to one another in the direction of longitudinal displacement of the filling mandrel. The first functional space accommodates that end section of the respective filling mandrel on which is located the outlet of the function channel extending centrally in the filling mandrel and used as the filling channel during filling. That end section of the filling mandrel is directly flushed by the media flowing out of the filling material outlet and through the filling channel. In the creation of the aseptic state of the filling channel itself, at the same time the outside of the end section of the respective filling mandrel is treated. 
     Preferably, the second functional space of the protective cover is designed to house the longitudinal section of the respective filling mandrel connected to the end section, and has an input opening through which in the corresponding operating position and in the function position of the protective cover the respective filling mandrel extends. Via the input opening the connection between the second functional space and another function channel of the filling device can be established. Such channels can be provided, for example, for the supply of sterile air used as support air in the process of tube formation, or as a supply channel for cooling media. Because a connection is established between the longitudinal section of the filling mandrel accommodated in the second functional space of the protective cover and at least one such media supply channel, the supply of cleaning, sterilizing, and drying media leads not only to the corresponding treatment of media supply channels, but acts in turn on the outer side of the pertinent filling mandrel held in the second functional space of the protective cover. 
     In designs in which the respective filling mandrel extends through an extruder head, the extruder head preferably has an elongated construction with tube-forming extruder outlet nozzles arranged in a row and assigned a respective row of filling mandrels. The extruder head preferably has a face adjoined flat by the cover wall of the protective cover in its function position. The cover wall has the input opening of the respective second functional space. In especially advantageous exemplary embodiments, the other function channel extends along the outer side of the filling mandrel through the extruder head and ends on its face. By the input opening in the adjoining cover wall of the protective cover, the connection to its second functional space is then formed, specifically by the other function channel continuing along the outer side of the filling mandrel through the input opening into the interior of the protective cover. 
     Preferably, each functional space of the protective cover has a media output via which the respective media supplied by the connection to the function channels of the filling device, for example, cleaning and/or sterilization media and/or cooling/drying media, can be discharged to the outside. 
     In advantageous exemplary embodiments, the protective cover forms a protective body whose respective input opening is adjoined by the second functional space separated from the coaxially following first functional space by a seal insert forming a central passage for the entry of the filling needle-like end section of the filling mandrel forming the outlet for the filling material into the first functional space. 
     The protective cover can be arranged to be able to move by displacing its cover wall along the face of the extruder head into and out of the function position. This arrangement enables a simple construction by only one linear drive for a displacement motion of the protective cover being necessary. 
     In embodiments characterized by an especially compact structure, the filling device, in addition to the dosing system assigned to the central filling material channel of the respective filling mandrel, also has supply devices by which both the filling material channel and the other function channels can be alternately supplied with the desired treatment and/or working media, that is, for example, with cleaning media, sterilizing media, drying media, or cooling media. 
     In especially advantageous exemplary embodiments, at least one function channel extending outside the filling mandrel along its outer side can be supplied with a sterile, gaseous medium. In the course of the extrusion process forming the tube, the gaseous medium can be discharged on the face of the extruder head and on the inside of the tube to be used as support air stabilizing the tube. In this way, not only is collapse of the tube prevented prior to the molding process of the container, but sterile air forms a sterile space in the interior of the tube. More accurately, the interior of the tube and the mold, when it is moved into the filling position, are in a sterile filling space (ASR) in which sterile air flows via the open fill opening of the respective container and forms effective protection against the penetration of germs until the movable head jaws of the mold are closed after completion of the filling process to form the desired head closure of the container by a combined vacuum welding process. 
     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. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure: 
         FIG. 1  is a highly schematically simplified side elevational view, partially in section, of one exemplary embodiment of a production device according to the invention, in the operating state of production process being in which the single visible filling mandrel with its filling needle-shaped end extends into the mold with movable mold parts; 
         FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of only the extruder head and the filling mandrel with the pertinent filling device, slightly enlarged of  FIG. 1  and partially in the filling mandrel being shown in the operating position in which it is held with a longitudinal section in the protective cover in its function position on the face of the extruder head; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view partially in section of only the extruder head and filling mandrel of  FIG. 1  where the filling mandrel is withdrawn into the operating position into the extruder head and the protective cover can be moved out of its function position; 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged side elevational view partially in section and partially broken away, of production device in the operating and function positions shown in  FIG. 2 ; and 
         FIG. 5  is a schematically simplified side elevational view in section of the production device of  FIG. 1  in the filling position of the single visible filling mandrel and a sterile space extending within the tube along its outer side between the extruder head and mold. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a device frame  1 . On its base frame  3 , an extruder head  5  is mounted and has, as is conventional, at least one extrusion nozzle  50  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), from which in operation a tube  52  ( FIG. 5 ) emerges. Tube  52  is on a face  7  of the extruder head  5  formed from the plasticized plastic material supplied to the extruder head  5 . Since such extruder devices, for example, in the form of devices operated according to the bottelpack® process, are inherently known, such that further explanation of the details of the extruder head  5  is unnecessary. A filling device  9  with at least one filling mandrel  11  extends in the extruder head  5  in the longitudinal direction. While in the figures only one filling device  9  with a filling mandrel  11  is shown at a time, the extruder head  5  is preferably elongated in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing, such that a plurality of filling devices  9  can be located in a row perpendicular to the plane of the drawing with filling mandrels  11 . 
     In a conventional manner for such devices, the respective filling mandrel  11  can be moved in the longitudinal direction into various chosen operating positions, for example, such that with its filling device  9  it is movably supported on the frame carrier  13 . The filling mandrels  11  can be set clock-controlled into the operating positions necessary for the production and filling process and for cleaning, sterilization, and drying. 
       FIGS. 1 and 5  show the filling mandrel  11  in the advanced operating position for a filling process. The end section  15 , tapered in the shape of a filling needle, is advanced into a mold  17  not yet closed on the head side. In the manner of a revolver arrangement, individual mold parts  19  are moved in pairs toward one another on an imaginary arc path to form a closed production mold, and are moved apart again for opening of the mold. For dosed delivery of the filling material from the end section  15 , each filling mandrel  11  has a centrally located function channel in the form of a filling channel  21  in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . From a central filling material line  23 , controllable dosing units  25  of each filling device  9  can be delivered with the product to be added. The dosing units  25  deliver the dosed amounts required for each filling process clock-controlled to the pertinent filling channel  21 . 
     In contrast to  FIGS. 1 and 5 ,  FIGS. 2 to 4  show the operating positions which the pertinent filling mandrel  11  assumes, while preparatory measures are carried out before production is started. In this respect,  FIGS. 2 and 4  show one operating position in which the filling mandrel  11  has been withdrawn from the region of the mold  17  and is held with a longitudinal region within a protective cover  27 .  FIG. 4  best illustrates the fill needle-shaped end section  15  with the filling material outlet and a longitudinal section  29  connected to it ( FIG. 4 ). The end section  15  is in a first functional space  31  within the protective cover  27 , an output channel  33  forming a media outlet from the space  31 . The longitudinal section  29  connected to the end section  15  is held in the protective cover  27  in a second functional space  35  from which likewise an output channel (not shown) enables discharge of the media to the outside. The spaces  31  and  35  are separated from one another by a seal insert  37  through which the fill needle-like end section  15  extends into the first space  31  when the filling mandrel  11  assumes the operating position shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . Besides the function channels extending conventionally in the filling mandrel  11  in such devices, like the central filling channel  21 , at least one other function channel extends and is used as a feed channel  39  for the media, as shown in detail only in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . This other function channel  39  extends along the outer side of the pertinent filling mandrels  11 , as is apparent from  FIGS. 4 and 5 , proceeding from an inflow supply connection  41  ( FIG. 5 ), continuing as far as to an outlet mouth  40  on the face  7  of the extruder head  5 . Connections intended for additional function channels may be present, for example, for the mandrel cooling input  42  and mandrel cooling outlet  44  ( FIG. 5 ). 
     In the operating state shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cover body  45  of the protective cover  27  has its cover wall  47  adjoining the face  7  of the extruder head  5  flat. The edge of the input opening  51  in the cover wall  47  of the cover body  45  is aligned to the mouth  40  of the function channel  39  so that the function channel  39  continues into the interior of the second functional space  35  via the input opening  51 . At the same time, the first functional space  31  of the protective cover  27  is connected to the filling channel  21  by the filling material opening on the end section  15 . 
     In the state shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4 , the cover body  45  of the protective cover  27  with its cover wall  47  adjoins the face  7  of the extruder head  5  flat within the edge of the pertinent extrusion nozzle opening  50 . The extrusion nozzle  50  is sealed relative to mouth  40  by a seal arrangement  49  held in the cover wall  47 . Within the seal arrangement  49 , the cover wall  47  of the body  45  has an input opening  51  through which the longitudinal section  29  of the filling mandrel  11  extends into the protective cover  27 . The size of the entry opening  51  is dimensioned such that the mouth  40  of the media supply channel  39  on the edge of the entry opening  51  is connected to the second functional space  35  in the protective cover  27 . At the same time, the first functional space  31  of the protective cover  27  is connected to the filling channel  21  on the end section  15  by way of the filling material opening. 
     In this operating state, all the measures associated with cleaning and sterilizing can be carried out via the connection between the channels  21 ,  39  of the filling mandrel  11  with the spaces  31  and  35  of the protective cover  27 . In this respect, it is possible to proceed such that by way of the supply connection  23  and the dosing system  25  switched into the throughflow state, cleaning liquid cleaning the filling channel  21  is delivered into the functional space  31  from which the liquid emerges via the channel  33 . By the connection between the media supply channel  39  and the second functional space  35 , from the supply connection  41  of the filling device  9  further supply of media is possible, resulting in the longitudinal section  29  of the filling mandrel  11  being cleaned or sterilized on the peripheral side. In the same operating position of the filling mandrel  11  and when the protective cover  27  is in the function position, following the cleaning of the filling channel  21 , the sterilization process can be initiated by superheated steam of at least 121° C. flowing in by the filling device  9  via the filling channel  21 , sterilizing the inside of the filling channel  21 , as well as the outer side of the end section  15  within the space  31  of the protective cover  27 . In the corresponding manner, sterilizing superheated steam can be delivered into the space  35  of the protective cover  27  via the media supply channel  39  so that the outside of the section  29  is sterilized as well. 
     In the conventional manner conventional in cleaning and sterilizing processes, the corresponding drying/cooling processes can then be carried out via the same media connections. The condensate of the preceding sterilizing steam is blown out by supplying sterile air. 
     Subsequent to the drying, the pertinent filling mandrel  11  is withdrawn into the operating position shown in  FIG. 3 . The protective cover  27  is then moved out of the function position shown in  FIGS. 2 to 4 . The protective cover  27 , for example, is pushed in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the drawing on the face  7  of the extruder head  5 . 
     After moving the protective cover  27  out of the function position, the device is ready for the start of a production interval. Because the mouth  40  of the function channel  39  extending along the outside of the filling mandrel  11  during the production phase shown in  FIGS. 1 and 5  is located within the tube  52  ( FIG. 5 ) emerging from the extrusion nozzle opening  50 , the medium supplied via the function channel  39  flows into the interior of the tube  52 . The tube  52 , in its path from the extruder head  5  into the mold  17 , then forms a closed space. When sterile air flows in tube  52  via the function channel  39 , a sterile filling space  53  is formed within which the entire production process is carried out, i.e., up to formation of the head closure on the filled container. The head closure formation is done by closing the pertinent head jaws of the mold  17 . Since the corresponding mechanisms of the mold are known, in the drawings the mold  17  is schematically simplified without a separate representation of the primary mold parts and head mold parts. The execution according to the invention therefore yields not only stabilization of the tube by the supplied support air via the outlet mouth  40 , but also, by sterile air being blow in, the formation of a sterile zone so that the device satisfies international standards with respect to asepsis (Class  100 ) to a special degree. 
     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.