AN ASEPTIC-ENVIRONMENT STERILISING, FILLING AND CLOSING PROCEDURE FOR RIGID CONTAINERS EQUIPPED WITH A TOP, AND A MACHINE THEREFOR

Abstract: The invention relates to an aseptic-environment sterilising, filling and closing procedure for rigid containers having a top, and a machine therefor, performed under aseptic conditions and comprising the sterilisation phases of the containers (3) and the tops (5), effected by means of sterilising liquid and free-flowing steam in a first sterilising group (6a) for the containers (3) and a second sterilising group (7a) for the tops (5). There follows an introduction phase of the containers (3) and the tops (5) into a packing block (8) isolated from the external environment and operating under aseptic conditions, with the positioning of a container (3) at a filler group (9) equipped with at least one delivering nozzle (18), this last being the only component of the filler group (9) located in the same environment as the containers (3). The fillling and advancing of the containers (3) is then proceeded to, towards a closing and sealing group (10) for the said containers (3) and tops (5), again performed in an aseptic environment, before the exiting of the packed and sealed containers (3).

Description: An Asept c-envi onment Steri l ising, r- 1 I I i ιv;ι jnd Closing Procedure for Rigid Containers equ i ppe_d_ w.__i__t__h____a___T__o___p__,-__a__n__d__a__M__a__c__h__i„n—e—_t__h_e_refor. Descript on. The invention r lates to an asept c-envi onment sterilising, filling and closing procedure tor- rigid containers equipped with a top, and a machine therefor. 05 As is known, when the use of sterile containers is called for, pre-steri 1 i sed containers of the flexible sack type are used. When, on the other hand, rigid containers are needed, such as metallic cans or glass jars, the 10 ster lisation methods used consist in steril sation by means of steam jets and air- heated up to 300°C in a free environment, causing considerable operation management problems since the operating temperature is so high. 15 In other cases the containers are washed with jets of water or steam, still in a free and therefore polluted environment. Consequently, once the -j filling has been effected, it is necessary to pass » to further sterilising or pasteurising operations 20 which can be performed at high temperatures for SUBSTITUTE SHEET long times. Such prodedures imply however the alteration and modification of the packed product with regard to its vitamin content as well as to its looks. In the continuous and constant research for improvements in conserved products while keeping their characteristics, such as looks, taste, colour, vitamin content, protein content etc., that is to say their organic characteristics, it has been observed that it is necessary to effect a procedure able to obtain perfect conservation without having to perform ster l sation processes downstream of the packing. Aim of the present invention is substantiall to solve the prior art problems by means of a sterilisation procedure and a sterilising, rilling and closing machine, under aseptic conditions, tor rigid containers having a top. A further aim of the invention is to provide a machine which receives containers and their correspond ng tops, sterilises them and then proceeds to the filling of the said containers with an already-steril product and finishes by closing the containers, all under aseptic condi ti ons . SUBSTITUTE SHEET These aims and others besides, which will better emerge during the description which follows, are fully attained by the aseptic-environment sterilising, filling and closing procedure for rigid containers equipped with tops, characterised by the fact of comprising the phases of: - sterilisation of the containers effected by imposing on the said containers a predetermined course inside a first sterilisation group isolated from the outside environment, said sterilisation ennvisaging the subjecting of the said containers to contact with a sterilising liquid and successively to free-flowing steam; the steril sation of the said container tops by separating them from the containers and then imposing on them a predetermined course inside a second sterilisation group isolated from th*.- outside environment, the said ste ilisation envisaging the subjecting of the said tops to contact with a sterilising liquid and successively to free-flowing steam; - the introduction of the said containers and their corresponding tops into a filling and closing station isolated from the outside environment and in aseptic conditions; SUBSTITUTESHEET - the positioning of a container in a t ller group which is part of the filling and closing station, the said group being equipped with at least one nozzle constituting the only component of the said filling and closing group which is in the same environment as the container; the filling of the said container under aseptic conditions; - the advancing of the said container towards a closing group, and the closing of the said container, continually under aseptic conditions; the exit of the said container, packed and sealed, from the said aseptic environment and its introduction into the outside environment. The object of the present invention is also to provide a machine that performs the said operations, a sterilising, filling and closing machine for rigid containers having tops which machine operates in aseptic conditions, of the type comprising: - a feeder device of the rigid containers; - a feeder device of the tops; - a steril sing station of the containers; - a sterilising station of the tops; - a filler group of the said containers; SUBSTITUTE SHEET - a closing group of the said containers; - an exit group for the packed containers, characterised by the fact that the said machine exhibits container and top sterilising stations which coincide, and that the said filler and closing groups operate in an aseptic enironment which is isolated from the surrounding environment . Further advantages and character! sties of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which represent a preferred embodiment here illustrated in the form of a non-l miting example, and in which: . figure I shows a schematic view from above of the machine according to the present invention; - figure 2 shows a schematic view from above of the packing block; - figure 3 shows a sectioned frontal view of the packing block; - figure shows a sectioned view of the closing group. With reference to the figures, I denotes a sterilisation, filler and closing group tor rigid SUBSTITUTE SHEET containers 3 equipped with tops 5, operating under aseptic conditions, according to the present in ention. The machine 1 comprises a container feeder device 2 of known type, constituted substant ally by an Archimedes screw 2a to straighten and transport containers 3 towards successive- operating stations. denotes a top feeder device, also ot substantially known type and with the function ot separating the tops 5 and transporting them towards successive operative stations. The feeder device 2 of the containers 3 is connected to a sterilising station 6 of the containers 3, while the top feeder device k is connected to a top sterilising station 7. Both of the sterilising stations 0 and 7, which can also coincide and thus constitute a single station, are in communication with a packing block 8 to which they bring the containers 3 and the respective tops 5. The said packing block 8 comprises a fil ler group 9 for the batching of the product to be introduced into the containers 3 and a closing group 10 to apply the tops 5 to the containers and seal them. The packed containers 3 exit from the SUBSTITUTE SHEET packing block 8 through an exit: device I I. In particular, the sterilising station 6 of the containers 3 comprises a first sterilising group 6a of the containers 3 predisposed to steri lise the said containers 3 during a predetermined course by means of steam and sterilising fluids, all in aseptic conditions, and to lead them towards the packing block 8 through an exit conduit 6b. Similarly, the top sterilising station 7 comprises a second sterilising group 7a of the tops 5 predisposed to separate and sterilise the tops 5 during a predetermined course towards the packing block 8 through an exit conduit 7b. Eoth of the sterilising staions 6 and 7 are connected to a service group 12 which p ovides steam and sterilising fluids tor the sterilisati n of the containers 3 and the tops 5, preferably at a temperature lower than 100°C. Advantageously the sterilising stations 6 and 7 exhibit, internally, a higher pressure than the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the steril sirg stations 6 and 7 and the pac ing lock 8 operate in a aseptic environment isolated from the external environment. The packing block & comprises: a sterile chamber 13, arraivi-.d be lew a SUBSTITUTESHEET sterile laminar-flow cap, and housing mechanical parts of the filler group 9 and the closing group 10; a tunnel 14 arranged internal ly to the sterile chamber 13 and separated form it substantiall hermetically by means of elastomer gaskets and/or steam jets. The fil ling and sterile closing ot the containers 3 is performed ϊ n the said tunnel 14, during their transit through the tunnel i ιts_-lt. The exit conduits 6b and 7b of the container" " ' and the tops 5 from the sterilising stations G and 7 constitute inlet conduits for the containers " > and tops 5 into the tunnel 14. The tunnel 14 houses: a rotaring platform 16 equipped with at least one plate 1? situated &. a delivering nozzle 18 for the fil ling of the container 3; two transfer stars 19 and 22 to transport each container 3 on to a second plate 20 for the positioning of a corresponding top 5 and for transport towards the exit device 11 of the packed containers 3. The tunnel 14 exhibits an internal pressure which is higher than that .of the sterile chamber 13 which, in its turn, s kept at a higher pressure than the surrounding atmosphere. The filler group 9 comprises a rotating filler SUBSTITUTE SHEET head 24 equipped with one or more delivering nozzles 18 for the filling of the containers 3 arranged interiorly to the delivering nozzle 18 and positioned on the plates 17 which are in turn supported on the rotating platform IC, which rotates in synchronism with the rotating fil ler head 24. The rotating filler head 24, substantially of known type, comprises a central tank 25 containing the product, connected wi h a plurality of positive-displacement batching cylinders 26 of the product connected through a conduit to the d livering nozzle 18. Interiorly, the rotating filler head 24 exhibits a separation disc 28, between the tunnel 14 and the sterile chamber 13, from which the delivering nozzles 18 protrude . The filler group 9 comprises a I so a support shatt 31 of the rotating filler head 24, command organs of the del vering nozzles 18 and cylinder's and rotation organs of the plates 17 and the two transfer stars 19 and 22, not described herein as of known type. The filler group 9 exhibits the rotating filler- head 24 with the central tank 25, the batching cylinders 26, the mechanical parts for the closing SUBSTITUTESHEET and opening of the delivering nozzles 13 and for the command of the cylinders, the support shaft 31 as well as the relative movement organs and rotation organs of the plates 17 and th platform, housed in the sterile chamber 13. Also located in the tunnel 14, apart from the delivering nozzles 18 which effect the fil ling ot the containers 3, are the plates i? for supporting the containers 3 and a portion of the support shaft 31 of the rotating filler head 24, which support shaft 31 however, according to a different embodiment not illustrated since more complicated, could be external to the tunn l 14. The closing group 10 used in the machine 1 is of the seam folding type for metallic cans, or ot the capping type for glass containers or similar, and performs the application of the tops 5 and their sealing to the containers 3. The said closing group 10 is of substantially known type but exhibits, particularly, some characteris ics which permit of real sing the closing ot the containers 3 operating in a sterile environment and bringing the container and the product into contact only with a small number of group components. To avoid any possible contact with organs which SUBSTITUTE SHEET are o could be polluted, the closing group 10 exhibits, in the tunnel 14, one or more chucks 34, each of which is arranged to hold the tops 5 in position on the containers 3, and one or more rollers 36 which effect the closing of the containers 3. A disc 37 superiorly separates the tunnel 14 trom the sterile chamber 13, and is equipped with seals 15. All of the mechanical parts realising the movement of the chucks 34 and the rollers 36 a\-e arranged in the sterile chamber 13 of the closing group 10. Advantageously the isolation of the sterile chamber 13 from the tunnel 14 is maintained by steam barriers obtained from jets exiting trom nozzles 38 positioned in proximity to the shaft 34a of the chuck 34. The plate 20 is situated at the chuck 34 and rises in order to bring the container 3 up against the said chuck 34. The plate 20 exhibits a pivot 20a which crosses a second platform 27 which permits of isolating the said plate 20 from the said sterile chamber 13. The isolation of the sliding zone of the said pivot 20a is made by means of steam barriers also SUBSTITUTE SHEET exiting from nozzles 38, The plate 20 with the pivot 20a which moves upwards is supported by two bearings running with alternated movement above the second platform 27 equipped with seals 23 for separation from the external environment 29. As for the procedure, object of the present invention, performed by the above-desc ibed machine, it comprises a sterilisation phase of the containers 3 which is performed by subjecting the containers 3 to a predetermined course inside a first sterilising group isolated from the external environment, and a sterlisation phase of the tops 5 made by separating the said tops 5 and subjecting them to a predetermined course inside a second sterilisation group isolated from the external environment. The sterilisation envisages bringing the containers 3 and the tops 5 into contact with a sterilising liquid and successively with free-flowing steam. More in particular, the steril sation of the containers 3 and the tops 5 is obtained by means of a mixture of oxygen composites and steam in an environment having a pressure slightly above that of the external atmosphere. SUBSTITUTE SHEET After having undergone the sterilising process, the containers 3 and the corresponding tops 5 are introduced into a packing block 8 isolated trom the outside environment and operating under aseptic conditions, in which each container 3 is positioned at a filler group 9 equipped with at least one delivering nozzle 18, which constitutes the only component of the group being in the same environment as the container 3. At this point the filling of the container 3 is effected, under- aseptic conditions, and then is advanced towards a closing group 10 where the top 5 is applied and sealed, still in a sterile environment. Finally, the packed and sealed container- 3 is made to exit from the packing block 8 for successive work phases not inherent to the present procedure. Advantageously the packing block 8 and in particular the tunnel 14 are kept at a higher- pressure thant he surrounding environment, which is in its turn at a higher pressure than the outside atmosphere. The originality of the invention consists in its having used and combined components which, although substantially of known type, realise a machine having entirely new characteristics, able SUBSTITUTESHEET to perform a sterili ation, filling and closing procedure of containers equipped with tops, all effected under aseptic conditions. With the procedure according to the invention, a cold sterile filling is performed, which permits of excellently conserving the natural characterist cs of the packed product with regard to vitamins, proteins, looks and colour. Processes of steri i ation downstream of the packing are thus no longer necessary, since all the packing phases have taken place in a sterile environment and with elements which do not enter into contact with polluted environments. In particular, by using the machine object of the invention, it becomes possible to perform the packing of a product bringing the container into contact only with a nozzle for the til ling phase and a chuck and the head of a rol ler for the closing phase. SUBSTITUTESHEET

Claims: Cl a i ms An aseptic-environment sterilising, filling and closing procedure for rigid containers (3) equipped with tops (5), characterised by the fact of comprising the phases of: steril sation of the containers (3) effected by imposing on the said containers (3) a predeterm ned course inside a first sterilisation group (6a) isolated from the outside environment, said ster lisation ennvisaging the subjecting of the said containers (3) to contact with a sterilising liquid and successively to free- flowing steam; - the ster lisation of the said container tops (5) by separating them from the containers (3) and then imposing on them a predetermined course inside a second sterilisation group (?a) isolated from the outside environment, the said sterilisation envisaging the subjecting of the said tops (5) to contact with a sterilising liquid and successively to free-flowing steam; SUBSTITUTESHEET the introduction of the said containers (3) and their corresponding tops (5) into a filling and closing station (9) isolated from the outside environment and in aseptic conditions; - the positioning of a container (3) in a fill r group (9) which is part of the filling and closing station, the said group being equipped with at least one nozzle (18) constituting the only component of the said filling and closing group (9) which is in the same environment as the container (3) the filling of the said container (3) undei aseptic conditions; - the advancing of the said container (3) towards a closing group (10), and the closing of the said container (10), still under aseptic conditions; - the exit of the said container (3), packed and sealed, from the said aseptic environment and i s introduction into the outside environment. A procedure as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the steril sation of the containers (3) and the tops (5) is done by means of a mixtuie of oxygen composites and steam. SUBSTITUTESHEET A procedure as inclaim 1 , characterised by the fact that the sterilisati n of the containers (3) and of the tops (5) is made at temperatures lower than 100°C. 4. A procedure as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the sterilisation of the containers (3) and of the tops (5) is made in an atmosphere which is at slightly higher pressure than the surrounding external environment. 5. A procedure as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the said filler and closing station is kept at a slightly higher pressure than that of the surrounding environment, which latter is in its turn kept at a slightly higher pressure than that of the external environment. 6. A sterilising, filling and closing machine for rigid containers (3) having tops (5), which machine operates in aseptic conditions, of the type comprising: - a feeder device (2) of the rigid container's (3) ; - a feeder device (4) of the tops (5); - a sterilising station (6) ot the containers (3); SUBSTITUTESHEET - a sterilising station (7) of the tops (5); - a filler group (9) of the said containers (3); - a closing group (10) of the said containers (3); an exit group (.11) for the packed containers (5), characterised by the fact that the said machine exhibits container and top sterilising stations (6 and 7) which coincide, and that the said filler and closing groups (9 and 10) operate in an aseptic enironment which is isolated from the surrounding environment. 7. A machine according to claim 6, characteri ed by the fact that it comprises a single packing block (8) isolated form the external environment and operating under aseptic conditions, kept at a higher pressure than that of the external environment, wherein the fil ler group (9) for' the batching of the product to be introduced into the containers (3) and the closing group (10) tor the application of the tops (5) and the sealing of the containers (3) is housed. 8. A machine as in claim 6, characterised by the fact that the steril sing stations (6) and (7) of the SUBSTITUTE SHEET containers (3) and the tops (5) comprise sterilising groups (6a) and (7a) for- the containers (3) and tops (5) presdisposed to sterilise the said containers (3) and tops (5) during a predetermined course by means of steam and sterilising fluids in a closed and aseptic environment, the said sterilising stations (6 and 7) being connected to feeder devices (2) and (4) for the containers (3) and tops (5), and exhibiting exit conduits (6b) and (7b) for- the containers (3) and tops (5) which are introduced into the packing block (8). 9. A machine as in claim 6, character sed by the tact that the sterilising stations (6) and (7) of the containers (3). and tops (5) internal ly exhibit a higher pressure than that of the external envi ronment . 10. A machine as in claim 7, characterised by the fact that the packing block (8) comprises: a sterile chamber (13), arranged below a sterile laminar-flow cap (21), and housing mechanical parts of the filler group (9) and the closing group (10); a tunnel (14) arranged internally to SUBSTITUTESHEET the sterile chamber (13) and separated form it- substant al 1 y hermetically by means of elastomer- gaskets and/or steam jets; the fil ling and sterile closing of the containers (3) being performed in the said tunnel (14), during their transit through the tunnel (14) itself. 11. A machine as in claim 10, characterised by the fact that the tunnel (14) comprises: a portion of the exit conduit (6b) of the tops (5) from the station (6); - a portion of the exit conduit (7b) of the tops (5) from the station (7); a rotating platform (16) equipped with at least one plate (17) situated at a delivering nozzle (18) of the said filler group (9); two transfer stars (19) and (22) to transport the containers (3) on to a plate (20) of the closing group (10) for the application of a corresponding top (5) and consequent sealing and transporting of the packed containers (3) towards the exit device (11). 12. A machine as in claim 10, characterised by the fact that the tunnel (14) internally exhibits a SUBSTITUTE SHEET higher pressure than that of the sterile chamber (13), the said sterile chamber (13) exhibiting internally a higher pressure than that of the external environment. A machine as in claim 10, characterised by the fact that each said plate (20) exhibits a pivot (20a) which crosses a second platform (27), the isolation of the sliding zone of the said ivot (20a) being realised by means of steam barriers exiting from nozzles (38). SUBSTITUTE SHEET

Inventors: DALL ARGINE FRANCO, DALL'ARGINE, FRANCO
Applicants: MANZINI COMACO SPA, MANZINI COMACO S.P.A.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B65B55
IPC codes: B65B55