Equipment for the sterile filling of products, in particular beverages, into bottles or similar containers

Abstract

Plant (1) for the sterile or aseptic filling and sealing of bottles, namely containers (2), comprising a container feed (1.1) through which the containers (2) to be filled and sealed are fed to the plant (1), which are thereby moved in a container transport direction (A) through the plant (1) to a container discharge (1.2) through which the sterilized, filled and sealed containers (2) are removed from the plant (1), comprising at least one unit designed as a sterilizer (5) for the containers (2), and a unit designed as a filler (7) for filling the containers (2) and as a capper (11) for sealing the filled containers (2), comprising a first enclosure (15) which forms at least one sterile chamber (16) that can be supplied with a sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium, in which the containers (2) are connected at least by a container opening (2).1) container area during filling and closing, in which the unit designed as filler (7) and capper (11) is arranged for this purpose, and with at least one second enclosure (25, 25a) that encloses at least a part of the first enclosure (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16) and the container infeed (1.1) and container discharge (1.2) having, wherein the at least one sterile chamber (16) opens into an interior space (26) of the second housing (25, 25a) at a container inlet and at a container outlet, characterized in that furthermore an activator (6) is provided for the media used in sterilization, which is preceded by the sterilizer (5) in the container transport direction (A), and that the sterilizer (5) and the activator (6) are also arranged in the at least one sterile chamber (16) with at least functional elements that interact directly with the bottles (2).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Systems for the sterile filling of products, in particular beverages, into bottles or similar containers are known, wherein the containers in these systems are, at least during filling and subsequent sealing, but also on intermediate transport routes, contained, at least with their area containing the respective container opening, in a sterile room which, during operation of the system, is supplied with a sterile vapor and / or gaseous medium, for example, sterile air.

[0003] A system with the features of the preamble is known (WO 2009 / 095182 A2). In this known system, the containers are moved through a first sterile chamber formed by an enclosure during sterile or aseptic filling and sealing. This first sterile chamber is supplied with a sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium during filling and sealing and opens into the interior of a second enclosure, which surrounds the first, via a sterile chamber container inlet and a sterile chamber container outlet. A unit designed as a sterilizer is provided at the sterile chamber container inlet and within the interior of the second enclosure. The containers are treated with electron or beta radiation for sterilization before being introduced into the first enclosure.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a system that ensures improved quality and operational reliability in the sterile filling and sealing of containers. To achieve this object, a system is designed according to claim 1.

[0005] In the system according to the invention, the enclosure forming the actual sterile chamber is at least partially enclosed by a further enclosure, which forms the container inlet and outlet of the system and into which the sterile chamber opens via a container inlet and a container outlet. If the sterile chamber is bounded by wall elements between which relative movement occurs during operation of the system, the transitions between such wall elements or seals provided therein are preferably accommodated within the interior of the further enclosure.

[0006] Further developments, advantages, and possible applications of the invention will also become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments and from the figures. All features described and / or illustrated are, individually or in any combination, fundamentally the subject matter of the invention, irrespective of their compilation in the claims or their cross-reference. The content of the claims is also incorporated into the description.

[0007] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments shown in the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 In simplified representation and top view, a system for the sterile filling of containers in the form of bottles with a liquid filling material and for the subsequent sealing of the containers; Fig. 2 in simplified schematic partial representation a vertical section through the part of the system containing the filling machine or filling unit of the Fig. 1; Fig. 3 a representation similar Fig. 2, in a further embodiment of the invention.

[0008] The system, generally designated 1 in the figures, serves to fill containers in the form of bottles 2 with a liquid substance and to seal the filled bottles 2, each under sterile conditions. The bottles 2 to be filled are fed into system 1, or a container feed 1.1 of the system, via an external conveyor 3. The filled and sealed bottles 2 are conveyed to a container discharge 1.2 of system 1 via an external conveyor 4 for further processing, for example, to a labeling machine following system 1. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottles 2 are made of plastic, for example, PET, and are designed, in a manner known to those skilled in the art, with a projecting neck flange 2.2 below the respective bottle opening 2.1.

[0009] For the sterile filling and sealing of these bottles 2 under sterile conditions, the system 1 includes, among other things, three units in the form of a sterilizer 5, an activator 6, and a filler 7, which are arranged sequentially in this order in a container transport direction A through the system 1. Furthermore, the system includes several internal container transport elements, including, among others, a transport star 8 forming the bottle or container inlet of the sterilizer 5, a transport star 9 forming the bottle or container transfer between the sterilizer 5 and the activator 6, a transport star 10 forming the bottle or container transfer between the activator 6 and the filler 7, and several transport stars 12 and 13 forming the container outlet of the capper 11 with a subsequent conveyor 14.

[0010] In the illustrated embodiment, the sterilizer 5, the activator 6, and the filler 7 are each machines or units of a rotating design. Accordingly, the sterilizer 5 includes, among other things, a rotor 5.1 that is driven around a vertical machine axis MA5, around the circumference of which a plurality of treatment stations are formed, at which the sterilization of the bottles 2, which are fed via the container feeder 1.1 and the transport star wheel 8 and are oriented with their bottle axis in a vertical direction, takes place.

[0011] The activator 6 includes, among other things, a rotor 6.1 that can be driven around a vertical machine axis MA6.

[0012] The filler 7 includes, among other things, a rotor 7.1 which is driven around a vertical machine axis MA7, on the circumference of which a multitude of positions are formed, to which the bottles 2 to be filled are fed individually and also with their bottle axis oriented in a vertical direction via the transport star 10.

[0013] In the illustrated embodiment, the rotors 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1 are each essentially annular in shape, resulting in a center-free design for the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and filler 7, which makes it possible to provide further functional elements within the space enclosed by the respective rotor 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 that do not rotate with the rotor.

[0014] The transport stars 8-10, 12 and 13 are also driven in rotation around vertical axes. It is understood that the rotors 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1, as well as all transport stars 8-10, 12 and 13, are driven synchronously during the operation of system 1 in such a way that the bottles 2 fed via the outer conveyor 3 are sterilized after transfer to the sterilizer 5 within the angular range of rotation of rotor 5.1 between transport star 8 and transport star 9, then after transfer to rotor 6.1 within the angular range of rotation of this rotor between transport star 9 and transport star 10 for the activation of the media used for sterilization, and subsequently after transfer to rotor 7.1 on the angular range of the rotational movement of this rotor between the transport star 10 and the capper 11, filled and sealed, and subsequently via the transport stars 12 - 13 and the subsequent internal conveyor 14 to the container discharge 1.2 or to the external conveyor 4.

[0015] Again Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the sterilizer 5, the activator 6, and the filler 7 are arranged such that the machine axes MA5, MA6, and MA7 define the vertices of a triangle in a top view of the system 1 (triangular configuration). The capper 11 is shown adjacent to this. In variants not shown, with more than three processing machines, a partial circle or partial polygon configuration would be chosen. All transport stars 8-10 and 12, 13 are arranged within this triangle, or at least within an angular range of two vertical planes E1 and E2. Plane E1 is defined by the two machine axes MA5 and MA6, and plane E2 by the two machine axes M6 and MA7. Planes E1 and E2 enclose an angle significantly less than 180°, preferably less than 120°. This arrangement of the transport stars 8-10 and 12, 13 in relation to the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and the filler 7 results, among other things, inoptimal clarity and accessibility of the system 1 and in particular of the sterilizer 5, the activator 6 and the filler 7, among other things for visual monitoring of the functioning of the system 1 as well as for maintenance and repair purposes.

[0016] For sterilizing the bottles 2 and for filling and sealing these bottles 2 under sterile conditions, the system 1 is designed with an inner enclosure 15, which forms an internally enclosed space or sterile chamber 16. This sterile chamber 16 houses, among other things, the sterilizer 5, activator 6, and filler 7, or at least the functional elements of these units that interact directly with the bottles 2, as well as all bottle transport and guiding elements located in the container transport direction A between the container inlet of the sterilizer 5 (formed by the transport star 8) and the container outlet of the filler 7 or capper 11 (formed by the transport star 12). In particular, the transport stars 9 and 10 are also arranged in the sterile chamber 16, or at least the functional elements of these transport stars that interact directly with the bottles 2.

[0017] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the design of the enclosure 15 in the area of ​​the activator 6. The enclosure 15 consists, among other things, of a wall element 17 formed by the rotor 6.1, which, with a circular cylindrical wall section 17.1 concentrically enclosing the machine axis MA6, forms the sterile chamber 16 radially inside with respect to this machine axis, and with an upper annular wall section 17.2 concentrically enclosing the machine axis, closes off the sterile chamber 16 at its top; and of a wall element 18 not rotating with the rotor 6.1, which, with a wall section 18.1 enclosing the machine axis MA6, forms the sterile chamber 16 radially outside with respect to this machine axis, and with a wall section 18.2 closes off the sterile chamber 16 at its bottom. The wall section 18.1 is transparent, at least in part, i.e., it consists of panes or windows 19 made of glass or a crystal-clear plastic.The operation of the activator 6 can be optically monitored through the windows 19. A labyrinth seal 20 is provided at each of the transitions between the wall elements 17 and 18.

[0018] Analogous to Fig. 2. The inner enclosure 15 is also formed in the area of ​​the sterilizer 5, filler 7, and capper 11; that is, the sterile chamber 16 is also bounded there by the wall element formed by the rotor 5.1 or 7.1 and corresponding to the wall element 17, and by the wall element that does not rotate with the rotor 5.1 or 7.1 and corresponds to the wall element 18. As in the Fig. Figure 2 indicates that each filling position of the filler 7 is formed by a filling element 21 and a container carrier 22, on which the respective bottle 2 is suspended by its opening flange 2.2, below a filling or dispensing tube 21.1 of the filling element 21 extending into the sterile chamber 16. With the exception of this filling or dispensing tube, the filling element 21 is located above the wall section 17.2 and thus outside the sterile chamber 16. Instead of the filling element 21, the treatment positions of the sterilizer 5 and activator 6, for example, have a treatment head through which the media used for sterilization are introduced into the bottles 2, which are also suspended by their opening flange 2.2. Instead of the filling element 21, the closing positions of the capper 11 have corresponding closing elements for closing the bottles 2.As in the area of ​​the activator 6, the outer wall elements in the area of ​​the sterilizer 5 and the filler 7, which do not rotate with the rotor 5.1 or 7.1 respectively, are designed, at least in part, as transparent discs 19. The internal transport elements (in particular transport stars 8–13) are also designed, at least for the most part, for the suspended reception of the plates 2.

[0019] In the area of ​​the activator 6, the sterile chamber 16 is formed with an inner vertical partition 23, which, in the illustrated embodiment, extends radially from the wall element 17 to the machine axis MA6 as far as an outer wall section of the enclosure 15. The partition 23, which is not connected to the wall element 17 but only reaches to the vicinity of this element, extends through the space between the two transport stars 9 and 10.

[0020] In addition to the inner enclosure 15, the system 1 has an outer enclosure 25 that surrounds the inner enclosure 15 at a distance (room-within-a-room concept) and forms an interior space 26 in which the inner enclosure 15, the functional elements arranged on the top of the enclosure 15 (e.g., filling elements 21), the transport stars 8, 12, and 13, and the conveyor 14 are located. The outer enclosure 25 also forms the container inlet 1.1 and the container outlet 1.2, preferably forming a lock-like chamber in each case.

[0021] Furthermore, the outer conveyors 3 and 4 extend into the interior space 26, with conveyor 3 preferably being designed as a container guide on which the bottles 2 are suspended by their end flanges 2.2 and moved by conveying or blowing air. This design has, among other advantages, the avoidance of moving, mechanical transport elements that could introduce additional germs into the interior space 26 through the container inlet 1.1.

[0022] At least in the part that encloses the sterilizer 5, the activator 6, and the filler 7 on their side facing away from the transport stars 8-10, the housing 25 or its outer wall is formed by panes or windows 27 made of glass or a crystal-clear plastic, so that the operation of the system 1 or its components can be visually observed or monitored through the windows 27 and 29. A sterile air generator 28 is provided on the top of the housing 25, the outlet of which opens into the sterile chamber 16 in the area of ​​the partition 23 and supplies the sterile chamber 16 with sterile air at a pressure P1 that is above the ambient pressure or normal pressure PN. The partition 23 results in a two-part flow of the sterile air generated by the unit 28 through the sterile chamber 16, namely a flow originating approximately from the partition 23 or...the transport star 10 along the part of the sterile chamber 16 enclosing the activator 6 and the sterilizer 5 (arrow B), with this airflow then exiting at least partially at the container inlet 1.1. A second flow of sterile air (arrow C) again runs from the partition 23 or the transport star 10 along the part of the sterile chamber 16 enclosing the capper 11 and exits at least partially into the atmosphere at the container outlet 1.2. Since the container inlet and the container outlet of the inner enclosure 15 are located within the outer enclosure 25, respectively,Since the interior space 26 is located within the room and an absolutely tight seal of the sterile room 16, especially via the labyrinth seals 20 to the interior space 26, is not mandatory due to the room-within-a-room concept, the interior space 26 is also supplied with sterile air from the unit 28, at a pressure P2 which is lower than the pressure P1 in the sterile room 16, but higher than the ambient pressure PN.

[0023] As the Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the outer enclosure 25 with an upper wall section 25.1 covers the entire top of the system 1, particularly in the area of ​​the filler 7, but also in the area of ​​the sterilizer 5 and activator 6 and the capper 11, so that the filling elements 21 and the corresponding functional elements of the treatment positions or capping positions of the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and capper 11 are located within the interior 26 of the enclosure 25.

[0024] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a similar representation Fig. 2 a modified embodiment in which the outer enclosure 25a is designed such that its wall section 25a.1, which limits the interior space 26 at the top, only extends to the wall element 17 formed by the rotor, and the functional elements of the filler 7, as well as the sterilizer 5, activator 6 and the capper 11, provided on the top of the inner enclosure 15, are located outside the interior space 26 of the outer enclosure 25a.

[0025] At 29, they are in the Fig. 1. Blowers are used to remove excess air from the interior 26 to the surroundings. By arranging the blowers 29 on the housing 25 or 25a between the container inlet 1.1 and the container outlet 1.2, specifically in the illustrated embodiment in the middle or approximately in the middle of the housing 25 or 25a, an optimal or uniform distribution of the sterile air from the sterile chamber 16 in the interior 26 is achieved.

[0026] The room-within-a-room concept means that the sterile room 16 is separated from the interior space 26 by the enclosure 15 to such an extent that the sterile room 16 is only connected to the interior space 26 in the area of ​​the transport stars 8 and 10 or in the area of ​​the container inlets or outlets there, and possibly through leakage in the area of ​​the seals 20, and the interior space 26 is essentially only connected to the outside space, i.e. the environment, via the openings or container inlets or outlets forming the container inlet 1.1 and the container outlet 1.2.

[0027] The blowers 29 ensure that a directed gas flow is also formed in the interior 26, thus protecting the high-quality seals, bearings, drives, etc. from the outside atmosphere. In particular, this protection is maintained even during maintenance and cleaning work when the sterile chamber 16 needs to be opened.

[0028] In an unshown variant, gas is drawn in from interior 26 at the level of the transport stars (analogous to version 26). Fig. 1) and subsequently introduced into the interior space 26 on the opposite side of the.

[0029] The use of the inner enclosure 15 and the outer enclosure 25 or 25a, and the room-within-a-room concept realized with these enclosures, results in a particularly high quality of sterile or aseptic product filling. The stress on seals, bearings, and other functional elements of the entire part of the system 1 enclosed by the enclosure 25 or 25a, especially within the sterile room 16, caused by dirt, temperature fluctuations, and / or drafts in a production hall, etc., is significantly reduced. Consequently, such components are subject to less wear and tear or can be manufactured with lower quality, particularly with regard to the materials used.

[0030] Especially when room 26 is at least partially accessible, a direct influence of the external atmosphere or the atmosphere of a production hall on sterile room 16 is avoided, even when sterile room 16 needs to be opened for maintenance or repair purposes, for example, when enclosure 25 or 25a is closed. Furthermore, the use of windows 19 and 27, as well as the specific arrangement of the units and transport stars in a triangular formation or configuration, results in improved transparency and clarity.

[0031] The invention has been described above using exemplary embodiments. It is understood that modifications and adaptations are possible without departing from the underlying inventive concept.

[0032] The room-within-a-room concept means that the sterile room 16 is separated from the interior space 26 by the enclosure 15 to such an extent that the sterile room 16 is only connected to the interior space 26 in the area of ​​the transport stars 8 and 10 or in the area of ​​the container inlets or outlets there, and possibly through leakage in the area of ​​the seals 20, and the interior space 26 is essentially only connected to the environment via the openings or container inlets or outlets forming the container feed 1.1 and the container discharge 1.2.

[0033] In a further embodiment of the present invention, sensors, probes, or similar means for detecting a fluid flow are arranged at the container inlet 1.1 and / or the container outlet 1.2, wherein these means are intended to detect a gas flow exiting the container inlet 1.1 and / or container outlet. These means generate a signal indicating whether or not a fluid is flowing out of the container treatment machine. By connecting this to a suitable, preferably electronic or computer-based, evaluation device, it can thus be ensured that a continuous fluid flow exiting the machine is present, thereby reliably preventing the ingress of ambient air, germs, or other harmful influences or foreign substances into the container treatment machine. Reference symbol list 1 facilities 2 bottles 1.1 Container loading 1.2 Container Disposal 2.1 Bottle mouth 2.2 Mouth flange 3, 4 outer carrier 5 Sterilizer 5.1 Rotor 6 Activator and dryer 6.1 Rotor 7 fountain pens 7.1 Rotor 8 - 10 Transport Star 11 sealers 12 - 13 Transport Star 14 Carrier 15 inner enclosure 16 Sterile room 17 wall element 17.1, 17.2 Wall section 18 wall elements 18.1, 18.2 Wall section 19 windows 20 Labyrinth seal 21 Filling element 21.1 Filling tube 22 container carriers 23 Partition wall 25, 25a outer enclosure 25a.1 Wall section 26 Interior 27 windows 28 Unit for generating sterile air 29 blowers A Transport direction of the bottles 2 B, C Direction of flow of sterile air E1, E2 Level MA5, MA6, MA7 machine axis

Claims

[1] A system (1) for the sterile or aseptic filling and sealing of bottles, namely containers (2), comprising a container feed (1.1) through which the containers (2) to be filled and sealed are fed to the system (1), which are thereby moved in a container transport direction (A) through the system (1) to a container discharge (1.2) through which the sterilized, filled and sealed containers (2) are removed from the system (1), comprising at least one unit designed as a sterilizer (5) for the containers (2), and a unit designed as a filler (7) for filling the containers (2) and as a capper (11) for sealing the filled containers (2), comprising a first housing (15) which forms at least one sterile chamber (16) that can be supplied with a sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium, in which the containers (2) are connected at least by a container opening (2).1) container area during filling and closing, in which the unit designed as filler (7) and capper (11) is arranged for this purpose, and with at least one second enclosure (25, 25a) which encloses the first enclosure (15) forming the at least one sterile space (16) at least in part and has the container inlet (1.1) and the container outlet (1.2), wherein the at least one sterile space (16) opens into an interior (26) of the second enclosure (25, 25a) at a container inlet and at a container outlet. characterized by, that furthermore, an activator (6) is provided for the media used in sterilization, which is preceded by the sterilizer (5) in the container transport direction (A), and that the sterilizer (5) and the activator (6) are arranged in at least one sterile chamber (16) with functional elements that interact directly with the bottles (2). [2] Plant (1) according to claim 1, characterized by, that in the container transport direction (A) the unit designed as filler (7) is provided with the unit designed as sterilizer (5) and the unit designed as activator (6), that the units (5, 6, 7, 11) are arranged in a triangular or partial circle formation, and that the container transport elements (9, 10) of the system (1) connecting these units (5, 6, 7) are arranged within a common angular range of the triangular or partial circle formation. [3] Plant (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that container transport elements (9, 10, 12, 13) of the system (1) are arranged between the container feed (1.1) and the container discharge (1.2) within the common angular range of the triangular or partial circle formation. [4] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by that the sterile room (16) is designed to fully accommodate the containers (2). [5] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the second enclosure (25, 25a) surrounds the first enclosure (15) forming at least one sterile room (16) at a distance in the sub-area. [6] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first enclosure (15) or the wall elements (17, 18) forming this first enclosure (15) are completely enclosed in the second enclosure (25), or that the second enclosure (25a) only partially encloses the first enclosure (15) in such a way that the first enclosure (15) is partially located outside the interior (26) of the second enclosure (25a). [7] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that at least one unit has a transport element, preferably in the form of a rotor (5.1, 6.1, 7.1) which can be driven around a vertical machine axis (MA5, MA6, MA7), on which treatment positions (21, 22) for the containers (2) are formed, and that the sterile space (16) in the area of ​​this unit is limited by at least one wall element (17) which moves with the transport element and by at least one wall element (18) of the first enclosure (15) which does not move with the transport element. [8] Annex (1) according to claim 6, characterized by , that at least one seal (20), preferably at least one labyrinth seal, is provided between the wall element (17) which moves with the transport element and the wall element (18) which does not move with the transport element, and that the at least one seal (20) is received in the interior (26) of the second enclosure (25, 25a). [9] Plant (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a device (28) for supplying the at least one sterile chamber (16) with the sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium in such a way that the pressure of this medium in the sterile chamber (16) is greater than the ambient pressure (PN). [10] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the interior (26) of the second enclosure (25, 25a) can be supplied with the sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium, preferably with sterile air, preferably such that the pressure (P2) in this interior (26) is less than the pressure (P1) in the sterile space (16) but greater than the ambient pressure (PN). [11] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by, that the wall elements (17, 18) defining the at least one sterile room (16) and / or the interior (26) of the second enclosure (25, 25a) are formed at least in part with windows (19, 27) made of a transparent material, preferably glass or a crystal-clear plastic. [12] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the sterile space (16) is designed for a flow of the sterile gaseous and / or vaporous medium in a first flow direction (B) from a medium inlet towards the container feed (1.1) and in a second flow direction (C) from a medium inlet to the container discharge (1.2). [13] Plant (1) according to claim 11, characterized by , that a partial flow of the first flow direction (B) and / or a partial flow of the second flow direction (C) is formed in the direction of at least one central suction unit (29). [14] Annex (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by that two central suction units (29) are provided, which are arranged opposite each other. [15] Annex (1) according to claim 11 or 12, characterized by , that at least one central suction unit extracts gas or air from a space between the sterile room (16) and the second enclosure (25) and introduces it at another location, in particular at an opposite location, into the space between the sterile room (16) and the enclosure (25). [16] Annex (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the second enclosure (25, 25a) in the area of ​​the container loading (1.1) and / or in the area of ​​the container discharge (1.2) each forms a pre- or lock chamber into which an outer conveyor (3, 4) extends for feeding or removing the containers (2).

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