Patent ID: 12194182

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

InFIGS.1and2, the number1indicates, as a whole, the plant of this invention to continuously decontaminate rigid containers, and in particular drug bottles, indicated by2.

The plant1comprises a compensation chamber3, a decontamination chamber4, and an aeration chamber5. In particular, a wall6of the compensation chamber3has an inlet opening7, which is designed to receive the containers2from an external conveyor (not illustrated). The decontamination chamber4communicates with the compensation chamber3through a first connection opening8and with the aeration chamber5through a second connection opening9. The connection opening8is formed in a wall10separating the decontamination chamber4from the compensation chamber3, and the connection opening9is formed in a wall11separating the decontamination chamber4from the aeration chamber5. In the example illustrated in the figures, each of the walls10and11is a double wall formed by bringing together two individual walls of the relative two adjoining chambers.

The compensation chamber3comprises a belt conveyor12for receiving containers2, one at a time, from the inlet opening7and conveying them in a horizontal feeding direction D1so as to form one row of containers2that is arranged in front of the connection opening8.

The compensation chamber3comprises a transfer system13for transferring the whole row of containers2from the compensation chamber3(FIG.1) to the decontamination chamber4(FIG.2) through the connection opening8in a transfer direction D2that is horizontal and transverse to the direction D1. In particular, the direction D2is orthogonal to the other direction D1. To this end, the connection opening8has a length at least equal to the row of containers2that is formed by the belt conveyor12.

More specifically, the transfer system13comprises a pushing member14consisting of an oblong element designed to push the whole row of containers2in the direction D2and two connecting rod-crank devices15, each of which has a crank16mounted rotating on a respective base17integral with a base wall18of the compensation chamber3to rotate about a respective axis16a(FIGS.3and4) perpendicular to a lying plane of the directions D1and D2, i.e. a vertical axis, and a connecting rod19connecting the crank16to the pushing member14.

The connecting rod-crank devices15are motorised by means of actuators (not illustrated) housed in the bases17to rotate the cranks16according to an angular displacement that causes the pushing member14to translate in the direction D2between a rest position (FIG.1), in which the pushing member14is located along one side of the belt conveyor12to wait for the formation of the row of containers2, and a feeding position (FIG.2), in which the pushing member14is located beyond the opposite side of the belt conveyor12, in particular beyond the connection opening8, and, thus, feeds the row of containers2to the decontamination chamber4.

The decontamination chamber4comprises a tray20that has a plurality of slots21, which can be seen more clearly in the enlarged detail inFIG.1. The tray20comprises an input side22and an output side for the row of containers2. The slots basically extend from the input side22to the output side23of the tray20. In particular, the tray20is a grid comprising a plurality of equidistant slats24to form the slots21. The input side22is arranged along the connection opening8. In the feeding position, the pushing member14positions the row of containers2along the input side22(FIG.2).

The decontamination chamber4comprises a feeding system25for feeding rows of containers2on the tray20from the input side22to the output side23, according to a feeding direction D3that is horizontal and transverse to the direction D1. In particular, the direction D3is orthogonal to a second direction D1and, therefore, parallel to a third direction D2. The slots21of the tray20are parallel to the direction D3.

The decontamination chamber4also comprises a belt conveyor26arranged along the output side23of the tray20so as to receive a whole row of containers2and convey the containers2towards the connection opening9according to a feeding direction D4transverse to the direction D3. In particular, the direction D4is orthogonal to a second direction D3. The feeding system25also takes care of transferring an entire of row of containers2from the output side23of the tray20to the belt conveyor26.

The decontamination chamber4also comprises two edges27arranged at the sides of the tray20and parallel to the direction D3to prevent the containers2from exiting the tray20while they are fed onto the tray20.

The feeding system25comprises two pushing members28and29, each of which comprises an oblong element arranged above the tray20transversely, and in particular, orthogonally, to the direction D3, two guiding assemblies30arranged on opposite sides of the tray20, with respect to a centreline of the tray20parallel to the direction D3, and two raising devices31, which support the two pushing members28and29on longitudinal ends thereof and each of which is movably mounted along a corresponding guiding assembly30to move the pushing members28and29parallel to the direction D3. The pushing member29is located in front of the second pushing member28in the direction D3. As will be more fully described below herein, the raising devices31are designed to lower or raise a first pushing member28and rigidly do the opposite with the other pushing member29, i.e. raising or lowering the pushing member29, for the purpose of using the pushing member28to feed a row of containers2along the tray20in the direction D3, or using the pushing member29to transfer a row of containers2from the tray20to the belt conveyor26.

The aeration chamber5comprises a motorised storage table32and a belt conveyor33to receive a row of containers2from the connection opening9and feed the containers2to the storage table32according to a feeding direction D5. The direction D5is preferably parallel to a second direction D4. An idle-roller plane34is arranged astride the connection opening9to ensure the path's continuity during the movement of the containers2between the belt conveyors26and33.

The decontamination chamber4comprises a transfer system35arranged alongside the belt conveyor26for pushing the containers2remaining on the idle-roller plane34out of the connection opening9, in the direction D4.

The storage table32comprises two contiguous, motorised round-trip belts36and a plurality of accompanying guides37arranged over part of the belts36and suitably shaped to define a container storage path2. This storage path terminates at an output opening5bof the aeration chamber5.

The plant1comprises a plurality of presence sensors (not illustrated) for detecting the presence of the containers2at various points along their path inside the plant1, for example: in the compensation chamber3at the end of the belt conveyor12, in the decontamination chamber4on the input side22and on the output side23of the tray20and on the belt conveyor26, and in the aeration chamber5at the connection opening9. It also comprises an electronic control unit (not illustrated) configured to control and synchronise the actuators of the belt conveyors12,26, and33, of the feeding system25, of the transfer systems13, and35and of the storage table32, according to the signals received from the presence sensors.

With reference toFIGS.3and4, each guiding assembly30comprises two guides38and39that are horizontal and parallel to the direction D3and mounted above each other. Each raising device31comprises two slides40and41, each of which is slidably coupled to a corresponding guide38,39via a respective recirculating ball screw (not illustrated) driven by a respective electric actuator42,43. The slide41is further forward than the second slide40in the direction D3.

The raising device31comprises two arms44, which connect the slide40to a longitudinal end portion29aof the pushing member29to form an articulated parallelogram, and a third arm45, which has a first longitudinal end articulated to the other slide41to rotate about a horizontal axis and a second longitudinal end articulated to an intermediate point of one of the arms44to rotate about another horizontal axis.

The raising device31comprises two additional arms46, each of which has a first longitudinal end attached to a respective arm44at one end of the arm44connected to the slide40and a second longitudinal end articulated to a longitudinal end portion28aof the pushing member28to rotate about a horizontal axis. The two arms46are curved. In other words, the two arms46constitute a kind of extension of the arms44that connect the slide40to the longitudinal end portion28aof the pushing member28so as to form another articulated parallelogram.

FIG.3shows the feeding system25in a feeding configuration, wherein the slides40and41are at the maximum distance from each other, and thus the pushing member28is lowered to the height of the containers2and the other pushing member29is raised above the containers2. The slides are arranged near the connection opening7so that the pushing member28is arranged behind a row of containers2, in the direction D3, that is located on the input side22of the tray20, ready to push the row of containers2along the tray20in the direction D3.

FIG.4shows the feeding system25in an unloading configuration, wherein the slides40and41are at the minimum distance from each other, and thus the pushing member28is raised above the containers2and the other pushing member29is lowered to the height of the containers2. The slides are arranged close to the belt conveyor26so that the pushing member29is arranged behind a row of containers2, in the direction D3, that is located on the output side23of the tray20, ready to push the row of containers2onto the belt conveyor26.

Again with reference toFIGS.3and4, wherein part of the compensation chamber3and of the relative transfer system13is also visible, the inlet opening7is provided with a respective hermetically sealing shutter, indicated with47. The shutter47comprises a corresponding annular seal (not illustrated), which is arranged in a groove47aformed in the wall6and surrounding the inlet opening7, and a respective movable panel47b. The panel47bis moved by a corresponding actuator (not illustrated) to vertically translate to and from a closed position, wherein the panel47bitself closes the inlet opening7by squeezing the respective annular seal.

With reference toFIG.5, the connection opening8is provided with a hermetically sealing shutter, indicated by48. The shutter48comprises a corresponding annular seal (not illustrated), which is arranged in a groove48aformed in the wall10and surrounding the connection opening8, and a respective movable panel48b. The panel48bis moved by a corresponding actuator (not illustrated) to vertically translate to and from a closed position, wherein the panel48bitself closes the connection opening8by squeezing the respective annular seal.

Again with reference toFIG.5, a fixed flat element49and a movable flat element50are placed between the belt conveyor12and the tray20to ensure the path's continuity in transferring the containers2from the compensation chamber3to the decontamination chamber4.

The fixed flat element49passes through the connection opening8to the input side22of the tray20. The movable flat element50is placed between the flat element49and the belt conveyor12and is supported by two L-shaped arms51(only one of which is visible inFIG.5), which have respective ends52hinged to the base wall18of the compensation chamber3to rotate around a horizontal axis52aso as to allow the flat element50to rotate between an operating position, which is the one illustrated inFIG.5, wherein the flat element50is coplanar to the second flat element49and to the transport plane of the belt conveyor12, and a raised position, wherein a passage for the panel48bof the shutter48opens between the flat elements49and50. In fact, the panel48bis movable between an open position, wherein it is located below the flat element50and therefore leaves the connection opening8free, and a closed position, in which the panel48braises the flat element50and closes the connection opening8.

With reference toFIG.6, the transfer system35comprises a pushing member53arranged above the belt conveyor26, a guiding assembly54having a structure similar to the other guiding assembly30(FIGS.3and4), and a raising device55, which supports the pushing member53, is movably mounted along the guiding assembly54to move the pushing member53parallel to the direction D4, and has a structure similar to the other raising device31(FIGS.3and4) to lower the pushing member53towards the belt conveyor26in order to push the containers2(this situation is illustrated inFIG.6), and to raise the pushing member53above the containers2in order to allow the belt conveyor26to receive a row of containers2.

In particular, the guiding assembly54comprises two guides56and57that are horizontal and parallel to the direction D4and mounted above each other. The raising device55comprises two slides58and59, each of which is slidably coupled to a corresponding guide56,57via a respective recirculating ball screw (not illustrated) driven by a respective electric actuator60,61. The slide58is further forward than the slide59in the direction D4.

The raising device55comprises two arms62, which connect the slide59to an end support63of the pushing member53to form an articulated parallelogram, and a third arm64, which has a first longitudinal end articulated to the other slide58to rotate about a horizontal axis and a second longitudinal end articulated to an intermediate point of one of the arms62to rotate about another horizontal axis. When the slides58and59are at the maximum distance from each other, the pushing member53is lowered to the height of the containers2. When, on the other hand, the slides58and59are at the minimum distance from each other, the pushing member53is raised above the containers2.

FIG.6shows a presence sensor65arranged at one end of the belt conveyor26near the connection opening9for detecting when a row of containers2is loaded onto the belt conveyor26and when the latter has transferred the entire row of containers2onto the idle-roller plane14for the purpose of activating/deactivating the belt conveyor26and synchronising the movement of the transfer system35with activation/deactivation of the belt conveyor26.

With reference toFIG.7, the connection opening9is provided with a corresponding hermetically sealing shutter, indicated by66. The shutter66comprises a corresponding annular seal (not illustrated), which is arranged in a groove66aformed in the wall11and surrounding the connection opening9, and a respective movable panel66b. The panel66bis moved by a corresponding actuator (not illustrated) to vertically translate to and from a closed position, wherein the panel66bitself closes the connection opening9by squeezing the corresponding annular seal.7Figure illustrates a portion of the idle-roller plane34which passes through the connection opening9and which is divided into two portions to allow its ascent from the panel66b.

The opening and closing of the shutter66is coordinated with the activation of the belt conveyor26and the movement of the transfer system35.

With reference toFIG.8, in which the feeding system25, the belt conveyor26, and the transfer system35are not illustrated, for the sake of clarity, the plant1comprises a VHP generator67for generating a gaseous mixture comprising air and VHP, and a forced ventilation system68, which is connected to the VHP generator67to receive the gaseous mixture and to the decontamination chamber4in such a way as to generate a flow of gaseous mixture F1in the chamber oriented so as to hit the containers2present in the decontamination chamber4from above. Advantageously, the forced ventilation system68comprises a plurality of filters69arranged so as to define a ceiling4aof the decontamination chamber4and comprises at least one fan compressor70for pushing the gaseous mixture through the filters69so that the flow of gaseous mixture F1is a laminar flow directed top-down.

In particular, the forced ventilation system68comprises one or more chambers71(FIG.8shows two chambers71), each of which houses a corresponding fan compressor70and communicates with the decontamination chamber4through a corresponding filter assembly69, and an additional chamber72, which partially surrounds the chambers71and comprises a feeding inlet72aconnected with the VHP generator67through a delivery duct73and one or more outlets72c, each of which is connected to, and in particular coincides with, the inlet of a corresponding fan compressor70.

The decontamination chamber4comprises a recirculation circuit74, which connects the internal volume of the decontamination chamber4, at an area basically at the level of the tray20, to the chamber72through an intake inlet72bof the chamber72and to the VHP generator67through a return duct75. The intake inlet72bis provided with a grid76having an adjustable cross section to adjust the ratio between the flow of gas mixture entering the chamber72and the flow of gas mixture returning to the VHP generator67.

The recirculation circuit74is defined by one or more interconnecting cavities of an outer casing of the decontamination chamber4, said outer casing comprising a hatch77. In particular, the recirculation circuit74comprises a first cavity78, which is defined inside the hatch77, and a second cavity79, which is arranged above the hatch77, wraps around at least part of the chamber72and communicates with the cavity78through an upper grid80of the hatch77. The cavity78communicates with the internal volume of the decontamination chamber4through a lower slot81formed on the internal face of the hatch77along a horizontal side of the hatch77, at the level of the tray20. The cavity79communicates with the chamber72through the intake inlet72band comprises an outlet79bconnected with the return duct75.

With reference toFIGS.8and1, the plant1comprises a dispenser system82, which is arranged in the decontamination chamber4and is connected to the VHP generator67via a delivery duct83to receive the gaseous mixture and comprises a plurality of dispenser bodies84arranged below the tray20to generate a flow of gaseous mixture F2(FIG.8) in the decontamination chamber4, the flow being oriented so as to hit the containers2present in the decontamination chamber4from below through the slots21of the tray20.

Advantageously, the dispenser bodies84consist of respective tubular bodies, each of which has a plurality of through holes85(FIG.1) oriented towards the tray20and having a cross-section area smaller than the cross-section area of the dispenser bodies84so that the flow of gaseous mixture F2is a turbulent flow hitting the containers2from below. The dispenser bodies84are parallel and equidistant from each other in the direction D3, and the holes85are evenly distributed along each dispenser body84so that the flow of gaseous mixture F2is evenly distributed in the area of the tray20.

In particular, the dispenser system82comprises at least one manifold86, which receives the gaseous mixture from the delivery duct83and distributes it to the dispenser bodies84through as many ducts87.

The system1comprises an additional delivery duct88connecting the VHP generator67directly with the interior volume of the decontamination chamber4at a portion of a vertical interior wall of the decontamination chamber4close to the ceiling4a. In particular, the delivery duct88passes through the cavity79and terminates with its own outlet88ain a portion of a vertical inner wall of the decontamination chamber4located above the hatch77. The delivery duct88is used to perform initial decontamination cycles for the entire plant1, and in particular for the decontamination chamber4, in the absence of the containers2.

The system1comprises a VHP sensor89, which is arranged in the decontamination chamber4to measure the VHP concentration. The electronic control unit is configured to control the VHP generator67and the forced ventilation system68, and thus ultimately the generation of the two flows of gas mixture F1and F2, depending on the signal provided by the VHP sensor89to maintain the VHP concentration of the gas mixture in the decontamination chamber4at a predetermined VHPSET value ranging between 700 and 1200 ppm. The VHP generator67, which is of a basically known type, is controlled in terms of the amount of vaporized hydrogen peroxide per unit of time. The ventilation system68is controlled in terms of adjusting the speed of the fan compressors70and the grid76passage section.

The VHPSET concentration value is preselected depending on the type of container2and on the average speed at which it moves through the decontamination chamber4.

The plant1also comprises a humidity sensor90, which is arranged in the decontamination chamber4to measure the relative humidity. The electronic control unit is configured to control the VHP generator67and the forced ventilation system68according to the signal provided by the humidity sensor90to maintain the relative humidity in the decontamination chamber4at a predetermined HRSET value ranging between 80% and 90%.

According to different embodiments, the electronic control unit is configured to control the VHP generator67and the forced ventilation system68in an open ring, i.e. without using the VHP sensor89, in order to keep the VHP concentration at the desired VHPSET value, and/or without using the VHP sensor90, in order to keep the relative humidity at the desired HRSET value.

It should be noted that maintaining the relative humidity HRSET value is correlated with maintaining the VHP concentration VHPSET value.

The plant1comprises an additional delivery duct91connecting the VHP generator67directly with the inner volume of the compensation chamber3. The electronic control unit is configured to control the VHP generator67so that it feeds the gaseous mixture of air and VHP to the delivery duct91independently of the other delivery ducts73,83, and88.

Again with reference toFIG.8, in use, the gaseous mixture comprising air and VHP generated by the VHP generator67is fed to the chamber72through the delivery duct73(flow indicated by F0inFIG.8). The gaseous mixture passes from the chamber72to the other chambers71due to the fan compressor70suction action. Inside each chamber71, the corresponding fan compressor70pushes the gaseous mixture towards the corresponding filters69so as to generate, in the decontamination chamber4, the flow of gaseous mixture F1that hits the containers2from above. The flow of gaseous mixture F1touches the upper and side outer surfaces of the containers2to a greater extent so that the VHP of the gaseous mixture can reduce the microbiological load present on these surfaces.

The gaseous mixture is also fed to the dispenser system82through the delivery duct83, and the dispenser system82generates in the decontamination chamber4the flow of gaseous mixture F2that hits the containers2from below through the slots21of the tray20. The flow of gaseous mixture F2touches the lower outer surfaces of the containers2to a greater extent so that the VHP of the gaseous mixture can reduce the microbiological load present on these surfaces.

The two flows of gaseous mixture F1and F2basically mix in the tray20. The gaseous mixture exits the decontamination chamber4through the lower slot81of the hatch77to enter the recirculation circuit74, collected in a flow indicated by F3inFIG.8. The flow of gaseous mixture F3moves through the cavity78and reaches the other cavity79where it splits into two flows of gaseous mixture F4and F5. The flow F4enters the chamber72through the intake inlet72band the other flow F5exits the cavity79through the outlet79abefore returning to the VHP generator67via the return duct75.

In the chamber72, the flow of gaseous mixture F4mixes with the other flow of gaseous mixture F0fed by the VHP generator67. The mixed gaseous mixture is sucked by the fan compressors70back to the decontamination chamber4. The VHP generator67regenerates, in a known way, the gaseous mixture arriving from the return duct75by enriching it with a suitable amount of VHP.

With reference toFIG.9, the plant1comprises a dry air generator92and another forced ventilation system93, which receives dry air from the dry air generator92and is connected to the aeration chamber5to generate therein a flow of dry air F6oriented so as to hit the containers2present in the aeration chamber5, arranged on the storage table32, from above. In the following, “dry air” is defined as air having a relative humidity of less than 25%. Advantageously, the forced ventilation system93comprises a plurality of filters94arranged so as to define a ceiling5aof the aeration chamber5and comprises at least one fan compressor95for pushing the dry air through the filters94so that the flow of dry air F6is a laminar flow directed top-down.

In particular, the forced ventilation system93comprises one or more chambers96(FIG.9shows two chambers96), each of which houses a corresponding fan compressor95and communicates with the aeration chamber5through a corresponding filter assembly94, and an additional chamber97, which partially surrounds the chambers96and comprises an inlet97aconnected to the dry air generator92through a delivery duct98and one or more outlets97b, each of which is connected to, and in particular coincides with, the inlet of a corresponding fan compressor95.

The aeration chamber5comprises a recirculation circuit99, which connects the internal volume of the aeration chamber5, at an area basically at the level of the storage table32, to the dry air generator92through a return duct100.

The recirculation circuit99is defined by one or more interconnecting cavities of an outer casing of the aeration chamber5. In the example inFIG.9, the outer casing of the aeration chamber5comprises a hatch101and the recirculation circuit99is partially defined in a cavity102of the hatch101that communicates with the inner volume of the aeration chamber5through a lower slot103formed on the inner face of the hatch101at the level of the storage table32. A second cavity104of the recirculation circuit99is arranged above the hatch101, wraps at least partially around the chamber93, and communicates with the cavity102through an upper grid105of the hatch101.

The electronic control unit of the plant1is configured to control the open-ring, dry air generator92to maintain the relative humidity of the dry air at a predetermined HRSET2 value of less than 25% and preferably ranging between 15% and 20%.

In use, the dry air arriving from the delivery duct98passes from the chamber97to the chambers96due to the suction action of the fan compressors95. Inside each chamber96, the corresponding fan compressor95pushes the air towards the corresponding filters94so as to generate, in the aeration chamber5, the flow of dry air F6that hits the containers2from above. The flow of dry air F6touches the outer surface of the containers2removing from the surfaces and collecting the VHP residues. Air laden with VHP residues exits the aeration chamber5collected in a flow F7that passes through the lower slot103of the hatch101to enter the recirculation circuit99. The VHP-laden air exiting the aeration chamber5will undergo a catalysation process to remove the VHP.

The overall operation of the plant1, controlled by the electronic control unit, is described below with reference to all the figures.

The shutter47is opened while the other shutter48is closed and the belt conveyor12receives the containers2one at a time through the inlet opening7so as to form one row of containers2in the compensation chamber3, in front of the connection opening8. When the row of containers2is formed, the shutter47is closed.

With the shutters47and48closed, the VHP generator67is commanded to feed the gaseous mixture of air and VHP to the delivery duct91in such an amount that in the compensation chamber3, after a certain time interval ΔT3predetermined by the closure of the shutter47, a certain grade of particle contamination is reached, and in particular a grade A of particle contamination according to EEC-GMP standards.

At the end of the time interval ΔT3, the supply of the gaseous mixture to the delivery duct91is stopped, the shutter48is opened, the transfer system13transfers the row of containers2from the compensation chamber3to the decontamination chamber4through the connection opening8, arranging it on the input side22of the tray20, and the shutter48is closed again. The shutter47remains closed while the row of containers2is transferred.

At this point, before re-opening the shutter47to accommodate another row of containers2, an air exchange is performed in the compensation chamber3to remove VHP residues.

The purpose of the compensation chamber3is, therefore, to allow the introduction of the containers2into the decontamination chamber4without there being any dispersion of VHP into the environment in which the plant1is located, and, at the same time, to keep the VHP concentration in the decontamination chamber4stable.

The VHP generator67is controlled to feed the gaseous mixture of air and VHP to the delivery ducts73,83, and88continuously and the forced ventilation system68is always active so that the flows of gaseous mixture F1and F2into the decontamination chamber4are continuous.

The shutters48and66, connected to the connection openings8and9, are normally held in the closed position if there is no row of containers2to enter or leave the decontamination chamber4.

A suitable presence sensor (not illustrated) is arranged in the decontamination chamber4so as to detect when a row of containers2is present on the input side22of the tray20and, if present, the feeding system25is brought into the feeding configuration (FIG.3) and then commanded to feed the pushing member28in the direction D3so as to push the row of containers2that is on the input side22to a certain position of the tray20, or against a previous row of containers2that is already present on the tray20, so that the previous row of containers2, in turn, is fed in the direction D3. The above sequence of operations is repeated each time a row of containers2enters the decontamination chamber4. In this way, the decontamination chamber4is filled with a predetermined number of rows of containers2.

An additional suitable presence sensor (not illustrated) is arranged in the decontamination chamber4so as to detect when a row of containers2is present on the output side23of the tray20and, if present, the feeding system25is brought into the unloading configuration (FIG.4) and then commanded to feed the pushing member29in the direction D3so as to push this row of containers2on the belt conveyor26.

At this point, based on the signal provided by the presence sensor65(FIG.6), the following operations are carried out. The shutter66is opened and the belt conveyor26is activated to feed the containers2towards the connection opening9. When there are no more containers2on the belt conveyor26and the latter remain on the idle-roller plane34, the belt conveyor26is stopped and the transfer system35pushes these containers2towards the connection opening9. After that, the shutter66is closed.

The rate at which the containers2enter and leave the decontamination chamber is predetermined based on the number of rows of containers2that are on the tray20and a minimum time interval ΔT4required for the microbiological load present on the containers2to be substantially reduced while the containers2are in the decontamination chamber4.

The dry air generator92and the forced ventilation system93are always active so that the flow of dry air F6into the aeration chamber5is continuous.

A suitable presence sensor (not illustrated) is arranged in the aeration chamber5so as to detect when the containers2enter through the connection opening9and, if present, the belt conveyor33and the storage table32are activated to convey to the storage table32and store therein the containers2that have just entered the aeration chamber5. The storage table32is sized to hold a certain amount of containers2so that each container2remains in the aeration chamber5for a minimum time interval ΔT5required for the flow of dry air F6to remove any VHP residue from the surfaces of the containers2.

According to an additional embodiment illustrated inFIG.10, the feeding system25differs from that illustrated inFIGS.1-4basically in that it comprises a feeding grid106, instead of the pushing members28and29. In particular, the two raising devices31support the feeding grid106from intermediate points of two respective sides thereof, basically parallel to the direction D3.

In addition, each raising device31of the embodiment illustrated inFIG.10differs from that illustrated inFIGS.3-4in that the slide40is further advanced than the slide41in the direction D3and in that it does not have any arms46(FIGS.3-4). The arms44connect the slide40to a respective side of the feeding grid106via a basically vertical bracket107, again so as to make an articulated parallelogram.

The feeding grid106comprises a plurality of oblong elements108, which extend transversely, and in particular orthogonally, to the direction D3, for a length at least equal to that of a row of containers2and are uniformly equidistant from each other along the direction D3according to a distance ΔG so that the space between any pair of elements108adjacent to each other can receive a row of containers2.

The feeding grid106basically extends across the area of the tray20in the direction D3so that multiple rows of containers2can be simultaneously fed along the tray20, each row being arranged between two adjacent elements108, and transfer one row of containers2at a time from the output side23of the tray20to the belt conveyor26. In other words, in use, each element108of the feeding grid106, in use, acts as a pushing member to feed a corresponding row of containers2. In addition, the penultimate element108of the feeding grid106, in the order defined by the direction D3, acts as a pushing member to transfer the row of containers2from the output side23of the tray20to the belt conveyor26.

Advantageously, the elements108of the feeding grid106are vertically oriented so as not to disturb the laminar pattern of the flow of gaseous mixture F1.

With reference toFIG.11, advantageously the elements108present, for their whole extension, a plurality of openings109to reduce the contact points between the surface of the elements108and the surfaces of the containers2and, thus, reduce the risk of having small portions of surfaces that are not decontaminated because they are not touched by the gaseous mixture of air and VHP.

The electronic control unit of the plant1is configured to drive the electrical actuators42and43of each raising device31so as to move the feeding grid106up and down and back and forth in relation to the direction D3in accordance with the so-called “reciprocating rolling”, as described in greater detail below.

In a hypothetical initial position, the feeding grid106is raised above the maximum height of the containers2and moved towards the wall10of the connection opening8. As soon as a row of containers2appears on the input side22of the tray20, the feeding grid106is translated towards the wall10comprising the connection opening8, i.e. in the opposite direction to the direction D3, and then lowered so that the row of containers2is arranged in the space between the first two elements108closest to the connection opening8. The lowering of the feeding grid106is achieved by bringing the slides40and41to the minimum distance from each other.

At this point, the feeding grid106is translated in the direction D3to feed the row of containers2according to a passage that has a width depending on the distance ΔG, then raised above the containers2and translated in the opposite direction to the direction D3to be brought back to the initial position. The raising of the feeding grid106is achieved by bringing the slides40and41to the maximum distance from each other.

The cycle described above is repeated for each row of containers2entering the decontamination chamber4resulting in step-by-step feeding of the rows of containers2along the tray20until the same is filled.

When the tray20is full of containers2, the first row of containers2that entered the decontamination chamber4will be on the output side23of the tray20and the subsequent translation step of the feeding grid106in the direction D3will transfer this row of containers2to the conveyor26.

The embodiment illustrated inFIGS.10and11has the advantage, compared to that illustrated in detail inFIGS.3-4, of avoiding contact between adjacent rows of containers2, thanks to the feeding grid106that keeps the rows of containers2separated from each other, and therefore of reducing the risk of having small portions of surfaces that are not decontaminated because they are not touched by the gaseous mixture of air and VHP. As mentioned above, the contact points between the surface of the elements108and the surfaces of the containers2are reduced due to the presence of the openings109along the elements108.

According to an additional embodiment not illustrated, the dispenser system82comprises, instead of the dispenser bodies84illustrated inFIGS.1and8, a single hollow body arranged below the tray and defining within it a chamber, which has a flat upper wall parallel to the tray20and having a plurality of through holes, uniformly distributed along this upper wall. The through holes in the body are then oriented from below towards the tray20. In addition, this chamber is fed under pressure by the delivery duct83so that gaseous mixture exits the holes generating the turbulent-type flow of gaseous mixture F2that hits the containers2from below.

According to another embodiment not illustrated, the slats24of the grid defining the tray20are not parallel to the direction D3, i.e. they are inclined in relation to the direction D3, so that the containers2of a certain row of containers2when they advance, because they are pushed by the pushing member28or by a subsequent row of containers2, tend to rotate in relation to their longitudinal axis due to the rubbing of the bottom of the containers2, which advance in the direction D3, on the slats24, which are inclined in relation to the direction D3. In this way, the contact points between the side surfaces of the containers2change and, therefore, the possibility of having small portions of surfaces that are not decontaminated, since they are not touched by the gaseous mixture of air and VHP, is reduced.

According to an additional non-illustrated embodiment, the decontamination chamber4comprises, instead of the feeding system25and the tray20, a belt conveyor, which is arranged to feed the row of containers2in the direction D2and comprises a conveyor belt having a plurality of through-holes uniformly distributed along its surface. These through holes have the same function as the slots21of the tray20.

According to an additional aspect of the invention, the plant1comprises control means, which are configured to control the vaporized hydrogen peroxide generating means67and the first forced ventilation means68so as to maintain the concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide in the decontamination chamber4at a predetermined VHPSET value ranging between 700 and 1200 ppm. The plant1preferably comprises a first sensor89, which is arranged in the decontamination chamber4to measure the VHP concentration of vaporized hydrogen peroxide.

According to an additional aspect of the invention, the plant1comprises control means, which are configured to control the vaporized hydrogen peroxide generating means67and the first forced ventilation means68so as to maintain the relative humidity in the decontamination chamber4at a predetermined HRSET value ranging between 80% and 90%. The plant1preferably comprises a second sensor90, which is arranged in the decontamination chamber4to measure the relative humidity.

The plant1described above in fact implements a method for continuously decontaminating containers2, and, in particular, rigid containers, for example bottles, for containing pharmaceutical substances.

The main advantage of the plant1and the corresponding decontamination method described above is to make the decontamination process efficient and effective, thanks to the generation of two flows F1and F2of a gaseous mixture of air and VHP that hit the containers2to be decontaminated from above and below.

In addition, the decontamination can be repeated, due to the fact that the flows of gas mixture F1and F2are generated continuously and, therefore, can be controlled with extreme precision, and uniform, due to the fact that there is a laminar flow F1from the side downwards and a turbulent flow F2from the bottom up.

Finally, the decontamination process is relatively fast and can be integrated into a bottle filling and/or packaging line, thanks to the cascade connection of a compensation chamber3, a decontamination chamber4, and an aeration chamber5, and to the presence of all motorised feeding and conveyance means within the above-mentioned chambers that move the containers2and transfer them from one chamber to the other.

The plant1and the method for decontaminating containers2are suitable for decontaminating any type of rigid container for pharmaceutical substances, for example bottles, tubs and nests.