A DEVICE FOR STERILIZING THE MOUTHS OF CONTAINERS, IN PARTICULAR OF BAG TYPE CONTAINERS FOR FOODSTUFFS

Abstract: The device serves to sterilize the filler neck and stopper associated with non-rigid bags of the type utilized for packaging tomato juice and similar foodstuffs. The neck is inserted into a heated and temperature-regulated cylindrical housing (1), provided internally with an array of nozzles (7) from which sterilizer (H₂O₂) is sprayed into the encompassed enclosure; sterilization is achieved as the atomized fluid condenses uniformly on contact with the colder surfaces of the mouth and stopper.

Description: The invention relates to a device for sterilizing the mouths of containers, in particular the filler necks of bag type containers used for foodstuffs. Such a device is intended specifically, though by no means exclusively, for association with batching equipment of the type by which the bags are filled in sterile conditions with an edible commodity, for example tomato juice or the like. The single bag is provided generally with a neck, usually of cylindrical shape, the projecting end of which affords a mouth to receive the foodstuff; with the filling operation completed, a stopper is inserted in the mouth to ensure a hermetic seal. Sterile batching is effected by way of a dispensing valve operated internally of a small sterilized enclosure, the bottom of which affords an opening designed to accommodate the neck of the container; in operation, the neck is clasped externally by a suitable device and held in position inside the enclosure throughout the filling cycle. To ensure absolutely sterile conditions throughout the filling operation, the entire area of the bag encircling the mouth, hence the filler neck, must be sterilized prior to its entering the sterilized dispensing enclosure. The European Patent Application EP 0 115 963 discloses a device for aseptically filling flexible containers with food products. That device comprises a cup-shaped cover disposed inside a sterile chamber and designed to cover the area of the opening in the bottom of the sterile chamber defining a small and isolated compartment. A fluid line connects the interior of the cup-shaped cover with a source of sterilizing fluid. However said device does not ensure a complete sterility of the filling process and the walls of the cover are not heated; so it's rather difficult to atomize hydrogen peroxide and to extract the stopper from the container, because an heated stopper can be pulled out in an easier way. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and efficient expedient for meeting the requirement in question. The stated object is fully realised in a device as characterised in the claims appended, by means of which to sterilize the external area of the mouth and stopper of a bag type foodstuffs container prior to implementation of the filling operation. Advantages afforded by the present invention are simplicity in construction and compact dimensions, by virtue of which the device is rendered suitable for application to and operation internally of the sterile dispensing enclosures of food batching equipment as mentioned above. The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with the aid of the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: fig 1 is the section through I-I of fig 2; fig 2 is the section through II-II of fig 1; fig 3 is the section through III-III of fig 1; fig 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device, viewed in longitudinal section. With reference to figs 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, 1 denotes a housing, in its entirety, located for example adjacent to or inside the sterile enclosure of a dispensing head from which a given foodstuff is batched into bag type containers 2. The housing 1 is proportioned so as to accommodate the mouth of a bag type container 2, which consists in a neck 3, affording an opening generally plugged by a stopper 4. The entire filler, comprising neck 3, stopper 4 and mouth 6, is denoted 5 in fig 1. The housing 1 is of cylindrical shape, and provided with a plurality of atomizer nozzles 7 arranged in a ring around the upper section of the cylinder; the nozzles 7 connect with a single annular duct 8 and are positioned with axes radially disposed, to all intents and purposes. In operation, a fluid sterilizer (hydrogen peroxide or other) is directed into the annular duct 8 and forced to pass through the nozzles 7, atomizing internally of the housing as a result. More exactly, the atomizer nozzles 7 are angled, preferably at some 10° from the horizontal, in such a way as to direct the fluid sterilizer onto the external surfaces of the filler 5. The walls of the housing 1 are heated, and held at a prescribed temperature. To this end, the housing incorporates at least one annular cavity 9 in which water vapour is caused to circulate as a means of supplying and bringing about the necessary exchange of heat. Fig 3 is a section in which 10 and 11 denote the vapour inlet and outlet, respectively, whilst the arrows 12 denote the direction in which the vapour is circulated through the cavity 9. Once the filler 5 is inserted into the housing 1, all external surfaces of the neck 3 and stopper 4 are exposed to the cloud of atomized sterilizing fluid sprayed from the nozzles 7. In fig 4, which illustrates a further embodiment of the device, 20 and 21 respectively denote the neck and the stopper of a bag, held between the gripping jaws of a mechanism 22 operated by a pneumatic cylinder 23. 25 denotes the sterilizer device proper, which is carried in coaxial alignment with and above the mouth of the bag, by a rotatable shaft 24. The device 25 comprises a plate 26, affording an internal channel 27 through which fluid sterilizer is directed into an annular chamber denoted 28; the chamber totally encompasses the neck and stopper of the bag, and is created by causing the plate 26 to descend and enter into fluid-tight contact with a further plate 29, which carries the jaws of the gripping mechanism 22. In order to ensure a perfectly tight fit during the sterilization step, the bottom face of the upper plate 26 is embodied with an annular groove 30 in which to seat a seal 31 capable of registering elastically with the topmost surface of the lower plate 29, as illustrated by the phantom lines in fig 4.

Claims: A device for sterilizing the mouths of containers, in particular, the filler necks of bag containers used for packaging foodstuffs, comprising : a housing (1) proportioned so as to accommodate the filler neck of a bag and affording a plurality of atomizer nozzles (7) from which hydrogen peroxide or other fluid sterilizer is sprayed into the space enclosed by the housing, characterized in that it comprises means by which the walls of the housing are heated to and maintained at a prescribed temperature. A device as in claim 1, wherein the atomizer nozzles (7) are arranged in a ring formation around the upper part of the housing. A device as in claim 1, wherein means by which to maintain the walls of the housing at a prescribed temperature comprise at least one annular cavity (9) encircling the lower part of the housing wall, internally of which water vapour is circulated in order to supply and to bring about the necessary exchange of thermal energy. A device as in claim 2, wherein the atomizer nozzles (7) connect with a single annular duct (8) encircling the housing (1), through which hydrogen peroxide or other fluid sterilizer is directed to the nozzles for atomization. A device as in claim 3, wherein means by which to maintain the walls of the housing at a prescribed temperature comprise electrical resistances or heat-generating media other than water vapour. A device as in claim 1, wherein the housing (1) is created by bringing together two plates (26, 29) disposed one above the other, of which one affords a chamber (28) for the accommodation of the filler neck of the bag, and the other incorporates a channel (27) by way of which fluid sterilizer is directed into the chamber.

Inventors: ELLENBERG, MARTIN
Applicants: EL.PO  S.R.L.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65B55
IPC codes: B65B55