Apparatus and method for aseptic filling of containers

Abstract

The device for the aseptic filling of containers comprises an aseptic chamber (1), a filling arm (3), a sealing head (7), a closure carrier (2), a container carrier (4), a container sterilization station (6), a sterile waiting room (8), a power element cabinet (9) and a closure cover (10). A dose of sterilizing medium is applied to an empty container (5) in the container sterilization station (6), the container (5) is transferred under the sealing head (7), the container is activated, the position of the sealing head (7) and the position of the filling arm (3) are changed, the tightness of the container (5) is evaluated and suction is applied, and the container (5) is filled with the product (44). When the filling arm (3) is lifted, the product residues (44) are removed and the product foam (54) is compressed. When the filling arm (3) leaves the container (5), the suction process is carried out again. Sterilization and activation of the closure are carried out simultaneously in the sterile space (13) of the closure. The closure (11) is taken from the closure carrier (2) and the container (5) is closed by movement of the sealing head (7), which closes the sterile chamber (1).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for aseptic filling and sealing of containers in a pressurized space. [Background technology]

[0002] Currently, the equipment used for aseptically filling and sealing products into containers requires that the containers be sterilized, activated, filled and sealed in separate locations and that the containers be moved within a space that is extremely difficult and complex to maintain absolutely clean, as the movement of the containers from the non-sterile to the sterile environment of the equipment creates air vortexes that can lead to cross-contamination of the filled product. Due to their size, these equipment require hundreds to thousands of liters of sterile space, and the containers must be sterilized not only inside but also outside. Summary of the Invention

[0003] The device for aseptic filling of containers and the filling method according to the invention change the usual method of aseptic filling and sealing of containers by minimizing the sterile space. The design of the device prevents air swirling when the container enters and leaves the sterile chamber, preventing contamination of the sterile chamber by the external non-sterile environment. The essence of the invention is that the container and closure are sterilized outside the sterile chamber space before filling and sealing, which ensures that the sterile chamber is not contaminated during the duty cycle. When filling the product, the filling arm forms a sterile space of one pressure with the container and is outside the sterile chamber during filling. This ensures that the sterile chamber is not contaminated with the filled product during the duty cycle. The essence of the invention also lies in the fact that it is possible to close the container at a pressure higher in the sterile chamber of the device than the product pressure above the filling valve. The advantage of the invention is that the duty cycle can be significantly shortened by carrying out several processes simultaneously. The overpressure of the sterile medium in the sterile chamber, the sterile anteroom and the power element cabinet ensures the aseptic cleanliness of the filling device. The essence of the invention during each duty cycle is to evaluate the tightness of the container, the sterile chamber space, the filling space, as well as the sterile anteroom and the power element cabinet. This prevents contamination of the sterile chamber by the surrounding non-sterile environment or the filled product, and prevents the possibility of the device for cleaning and sterilizing the components of the filling arm that have come into contact with the filled product in the parking position of the filling arm.

[0004] (Explanation of terms used to explain the essence of the present invention) Aseptic chamber: A sterile space in which the product is filled and sealed under a constant overpressure Closure Carrier: Used to move the closure from the sterile space to the sealing head and separate the sterile chamber from the outside space. Container Carrier--used to move containers to and from the equipment and between locations. Filling Arm: Used to fill empty containers with product. Containers, PET bottles, etc. Closures · PET closures, etc. Products: Liquid substances, e.g. milk, beer, wine, lemonade, baby food, juice, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, pharmaceuticals, and bulk substances Sterilization medium: H2O2 steam, etc. Activation medium: Sterile gaseous nitrogen (N2), etc. Sterilization: The process of destroying all microorganisms in a given environment, object, or device. Activation: The process of creating a protective atmosphere by removing the sterilizing medium and replacing it with an activating medium. Container sterilization station...Sterilization medium application area Sealing head: Used to activate the container, close the container, isolate the sterile chamber from the outside space, and connect the sterile chamber to the activation space of the container. External space: the non-sterile space outside the sterile chamber Sterile waiting room: The space that separates the filling arm shaft, sealing head shaft, and closure carrier shaft from the external non-sterile environment. Power Element Cabinet: The space that separates the power elements of the filling arm, the power elements of the sealing head, and the power elements of the closure carrier from the external non-sterile environment. Power elements: e.g. electric motors, servo drives, linear and rotary actuators, etc. Closure cover: Used to create a sterile space for the closure. Sterile space of the closure: used to apply the sterilizing medium or activation medium to the closure. Sterilization and Activation Media Preparation Equipment: Prepares precise doses of sterile and activation media. Container ring: the part of the container neck used to seal the container in the aseptic chamber Sterilization medium injection channel for containers...used to supply sterilization medium to the container sterilization station. Sterilization medium discharge channel for containers...used to discharge the sterilization medium from the container sterilization station. Container sterilization station space: the common space above the neck of the container and the interior space of the container where the sterilizing medium is applied Sterile medium injection channel for closure: used to supply sterilizing medium and activation medium to the sterile space of the closure. Sterile medium discharge channel for closure: Used to discharge the sterilizing medium and activation medium from the sterile space of the closure. Activation space of the container: the space formed by the sealing head and the internal space of the container Container opening: The location where the container enters and is sealed in the sterile chamber Activation medium injection channel for vessel: used to supply activation medium to the activation space of the vessel. Activation medium discharge channel for vessel---used to discharge activation medium from the activation space of the vessel. Injection activation channel of the sealed head: connects the inlet of activation medium for the vessel and the activation needle. The discharge activation channel of the sealing head connects the vessel space and the discharge channel of the activation medium for the vessel. Activation needle: the retractable part of the sealing head used to deliver the activation medium Filling needle: part of the filling arm used to fill the product into the container Product feeding channel: Used to feed the filled product to the filling valve. Filling valve: Opens and closes the product inlet to the filling needle. Suction Channel: Used to remove product residue from the inner space of the filling needle and the bottom of the filling valve. Filling back pressure control channel: Used to remove protective atmospheric media from the filling space of the container and to remove product residues from the space outside the filling needle. Suction valve: opens and closes the suction channel. Filling valve rod...opens and closes the filling valve. Filling back pressure control valve: sets the flow rate of the extrusion medium in the protective atmosphere. Filling Arm Shaft... Used to transfer rotational and linear motion from the power element to the filling arm. Sealed head shaft...used to transmit rotary and linear motion from the power element to the sealed head. Closure Carrier Axis...Used to transfer rotational and linear motion from the power element to the closure carrier. Filling space: A space consisting of a container, a filling needle, a suction channel, and a filling pressure control channel. Sealing surface of the container for the closure...the contact surface of the container on which the sealing surface of the closure rests Pressure equalization valve: Used to equalize the pressure in the sterile space of the closure and the pressure in the aseptic chamber. Sterile chamber pressurization valve: ensures a constant overpressure of the activation medium in the sterile chamber. Suction shutoff valve: A pulse is used to create a sudden change in pressure when suctioning. A pressure equalization channel connects the sterile space of the closure and the sterile chamber. Protective atmosphere: gas remaining in the activation space of the vessel after activation Suction...the process of clearing the filling arm from the residues of the filled product Suitable container: Container suitable for filling Unsuitable containers: containers not suitable for filling [Brief description of the drawings]

[0005] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 shows the overall device and is also a drawing in the Abstract. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 shows the apparatus from above in positions for unloading containers, for sterilizing containers, and for filling and sealing containers. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 shows the sealing head in the basic position. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows the loading arm in the loading position. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 shows the closure carrier in a transfer position. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 shows the space of a container sterilization station. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 shows the device in the process of aspirating product residues after filling. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 shows the apparatus in the process of filling with product. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 shows the filling space. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 shows an apparatus in the process of activating a container. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 shows the apparatus in the process of sealing the filled containers. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 shows the activation space of the vessel. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 shows the sterile space of the closure. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 shows the apparatus in the process of sterilizing and activating the closure. [Figure 15] FIG. 15 shows the device in the process of equalizing the pressure in the sterile chamber and the sterile space of the closure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0006] It should be understood that the embodiments of the device according to the present invention are presented for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the technical solution. Those skilled in the art will be able to ascertain many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the present invention without more than routine experimentation. Such equivalents of the manufactured device and its parts are also included within the scope of the claims. Since it is not a problem for those skilled in the art to optimally design the structure and select its elements, these features are not mentioned in detail in this specification.

[0007] According to the invention, the machine for the aseptic filling of containers shown in Figures 1 to 15 comprises a base formed by an aseptic chamber 1. The parts of the machine, namely the filling arm 3, the sealing head 7 and the closure carrier 2, are movably mounted inside the aseptic chamber 1.

[0008] The other components of the apparatus are connected to the sterile chamber 1. The other components are a container carrier 4, a container sterilization station 6, a sterile anteroom 8, a power element cabinet 9 and a closure cover 10.

[0009] The device further comprises a piping system for the supply and discharge of the respective media, and power / security / control elements.

[0010] The movement of the filling arm 3, the sealing head 7 and the closure carrier 2 is ensured by the power elements housed in the sterile power element cabinet 9 by the axes of the individual components, namely the filling arm axis 35, the sealing head axis 42 and the closure carrier axis 43, which enter the spaces of the sterile chamber 1. The sterility of these axes is ensured by the sterile anteroom 8 in which they are housed. The sterile anteroom 8 and the power element cabinet 9 are equipped with inlet and outlet channels. The inlet and outlet channels ensure the application and subsequent activation of the sterile medium in these spaces.

[0011] In this example of a specific embodiment of the invention, the container carrier 4 is designed as a three-arm carrier with three positions for the containers 5. The container carrier 4 can also be multi-positional and can have different shapes.

[0012] The sterile chamber 1, the sterile anteroom 8 and the power element cabinet 9 are pressure independent of each other. The pressure in the sterile chamber 1 is higher than the pressure in the sterile anteroom 8 and higher than the pressure in the power element cabinet 9. The pressure in the power element cabinet 9 must be higher than the atmospheric pressure of the environment in which the device is installed. During initialization, the sterile chamber 1, the sterile anteroom 8 and the power element cabinet 9 are sterilized. During the duty cycle, the sterile anteroom 8 and the power element cabinet 9 are washed with an activation medium without applying a sterilization medium. The sterile chamber 1 is pressurized with an activation medium without washing. This allows a multi-stage protection of the sterility of the sterile chamber 1 and the shaft entering it.

[0013] Preparation of the duty cycle of the machine starts with the initialization of the machine, which consists of sterilizing all spaces and piping of the machine that may be at risk of being contaminated during filling and sealing of the containers 5, closing the sterile chamber 1 by setting the sealing head 7 in the basic position 50 while setting the closure carrier 2 in the basic position 49 and the filling arm 3 in the parking position 51, and filling the sterile chamber 1 with the activation medium above the filling valve 29 to a pressure higher than the product pressure 44. The sterile chamber pressurization valve 39 opens to ensure the supply of sterile activation medium and to maintain a constant overpressure in the sterile chamber 1. The sterile chamber 1 is equipped with a sterile chamber pressure gauge 46, which monitors the pressure of the activation medium in the sterile chamber 1. If the pressure falls below the desired value, the machine evaluates the situation in the sterile chamber 1 as a leak and requests a reinitialization of the machine.

[0014] An empty container 5 is inserted into the container carrier 4 at the A position 60. The container carrier 4 performs a vertical downward movement together with the empty container 5 and moves the empty container 5 from the A position 60 to the B position 61 below the container sterilization station 6 by a rotational movement. After that, the container carrier 4 closes the space of the container sterilization station 17 by the container ring 14 by a vertical upward movement. After this movement, the empty container 5 is inserted into the empty carrier 4 to the empty A position 60 and waits to be moved to the B position 61.

[0015] A pre-prepared dose of sterilization medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied at the sterilization station of the container 6 via a sterilization medium inlet channel 15 for the container onto the container ring 14, which includes the inner wall of the container 5, the outer part of the neck of the container 5 and a sterilization medium outlet channel 16 for the container.

[0016] A closure 11 is inserted into the closure carrier 2. Once the closure 11 is inserted, it is closed by the closure cover 10 to form a sterile space 13 for the closure.

[0017] In the formed closure sterile space 13, a pre-prepared dose of sterilization medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied via the sterilization medium discharge channel 18 to all surfaces of the closure 11, including the closure sterile space 13 and the closure 11 sterile space 13, including the closure sterile medium discharge channel 19.

[0018] After the required sterilization medium exposure time, a pre-prepared dose of activation medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied to the entire area of ​​the closure sterile space 13 and to the entire area of ​​the closure 11 via the closure sterilization medium inlet channel 18. The activation medium is discharged outside the closure sterile space 13 via the closure sterilization medium outlet channel 19.

[0019] The device of the present invention is then ready to begin the duty cycle.

[0020] The working cycle starts with the container carrier 4 performing a vertical downward movement with a container 5 placed in the B position 61 where a dose of sterilization medium is to be applied and an empty container 5 placed in the A position at the same time. By a rotational movement, the container carrier 4 moves the container 5 from the B position 61 to the C position 62 below the container opening 21 and at the same time moves the empty container 5 from the A position 60 to the B position 61. By moving the container 5 upwards, the container carrier 4 closes the container activation space 20 and the space of the container sterilization station 17 by means of the container ring 14. By this movement, the arm of the container carrier 4 is set from the C position 62 to the A position 60, where an empty container 5 is inserted and awaits to be moved to the B position 61.

[0021] The activation medium is applied to the container 5 through the activation needle 26 via the activation medium inlet channel 22 for the container and the inlet activation channel 24 of the sealing head. The activation needle 26 is pushed into the container 5 by the pressure of the activation medium. In this way, the sterilization medium is discharged from the container 5 and the sterilization medium is activated. The extension of the activation needle 26 ensures a good flow of the activation medium in the space of the container 5. It is discharged from the container 5 around the outer wall of the neck of the container 5 through the outlet activation channel 25 of the sealing head and the activation medium outlet channel 23 for the container outside the activation space 20 of the container. By discharging the sterilization medium, the activation space 20 of the container is sterilized. The activation of the container is completed by setting the desired pressure in the activation space 20 of the container equal to the pressure in the aseptic chamber 1.

[0022] The sealing head 7 is moved from its base position 50 by a vertical upward movement into a parking position 53, thereby enabling the movement of the filling arm 3 and the closure carrier 2 inside the sterile chamber 1. With this movement of the sealing head 7, the container 5 becomes part of the sterile chamber 1. The sterile chamber pressurization valve 39 is closed and the pressure inside the sterile chamber 1 is monitored by the sterile chamber pressure gauge 46.

[0023] If the pressure in the sterile chamber 1 does not drop during monitoring, the device evaluates the vessel 5 as suitable for continuing the duty cycle. This above-described monitoring of the pressure drop in the sterile chamber 1 is called a primary vessel tightness test, but is also called a tightness test of the sterile chamber 1. Once the vessel 5 tightness test is complete, the sterile chamber pressurization valve 39 is reopened. If the vessel 5 is evaluated as suitable, the device continues the duty cycle.

[0024] The filling arm 3 opens the suction valve 32 by a vertical upward movement, passes the suction channel 30 up to the suction shutoff valve 40, and then moves the filling arm 3 over the container 5 by a rotational movement. During this movement, residues of the sterilization medium trapped in the filling needle 27 during sterilization of the aseptic chamber 1 or residues of the product 44 trapped in the filling needle 27 during filling are simultaneously drawn. The suction is achieved by a sudden pressure change during pulsing opening and closing of the suction shutoff valve 40 via the suction channel 30 and the filling back pressure control channel 31. When the suction is finished, the suction shutoff valve 40 closes.

[0025] The filling arm 3 moves vertically downwards and rests on the neck of the container 5. Thus, the container is sealed and a filling space 36 is formed. At the same time, the space of the container 5 is separated from the space of the sterile chamber 1 by the filling arm 3. By moving the filling arm 3 vertically downwards, the suction valve 32 closes.

[0026] The fill back pressure control valve 34 opens and when the pressure in the fill space 36 drops to a desired value as monitored by the vessel pressure gauge 47, the fill back pressure control valve 34 closes and the vessel 5 is rated as compliant.

[0027] The above-mentioned monitoring of the pressure drop in the filling space 36 is called a secondary container leak-tightness test, but also a leak-tightness test of the filling space 36 .

[0028] If there is no pressure drop in the fill space 36 during the secondary tightness test of the container 5, the fill back pressure control valve 34 closes and the system rates the container 5 as non-compliant. The fill arm 3 is moved to the parking position 51 by a vertical upward movement, a rotational movement, and then a vertical downward movement. The duty cycle continues with a non-compliant container cycle as described below.

[0029] If the container 5 passes this secondary tightness test, the device continues the duty cycle. The filling process is started by opening the filling valve 29. As the product 44 flows into the container 5, the protective atmosphere medium is discharged out of the filling area 36 via the filling back pressure control channel 31 and the filling back pressure control valve 34. The filling back pressure control valve 34 controls the filling speed of the product 44 into the container 5 by adjusting the flow rate of the discharged protective atmosphere medium. After the product 44 reaches the required filling volume, the filling valve 29 closes. The filling arm 3 is lifted above the container 5 by a vertical upward movement, connecting the container space 5 with the sterile space of the chamber 1. The pressure in the aseptic chamber 1, which is higher than the pressure of the filled product 44 in the container 5, is equalized by the communication between the container 5 and the space in the aseptic chamber 1, compressing the product bubble 54 downwards and stabilizing the product 44 from contacting the threads of the container 5, while the action of the high pressure in the aseptic chamber removes product residues 44 from the container sealing surface 37 for closure into the container 5.

[0030] The upward vertical movement of the filling arm 3 simultaneously opens the suction valve 32 which allows passage of the suction channel 30. Through the suction channel 30 and the filling back pressure control channel 31, residual filled product 44 that may have been trapped in the filling needle 27 during filling is aspirated. The suction is achieved by a rapid pressure change during the pulsating opening and closing of the suction shutoff valve 40 via the suction channel 30 and the filling back pressure control channel 31. When the suction is over, the suction shutoff valve 40 closes. A rotational movement followed by a vertical downward movement moves the filling arm 3 to the parking position 51.

[0031] During the filling process, the process of inserting the closure 11 into the sealing head 7 also takes place by first opening the pressure equalization valve 38, which allows the pressure in the sterile space 13 of the closure to be equalized with the pressure in the aseptic chamber 1 via the pressure equalization channel 41. The closure carrier 2 moves the closure 11 under the sealing head 7 by vertical downward movement and rotational movement.

[0032] The sealing head 7 presses the closure 11 into the sealing head crown 45 by a vertical downward movement and returns together with the closure 11 to its parking position 53 after a subsequent vertical upward movement. The closure carrier 2 reaches the home position 49 by a rotational movement and a vertical upward movement, so that the sealing head 7 together with the closure 11 can be moved towards the container 5. In the home position 49, the closure carrier 2 separates the space of the sterile chamber 1 from the sterile space 13 of the closure. The closure carrier 2 also separates the space of the sterile chamber 1 from the outside non-sterile space after the closure cover 10 is lifted. A new closure 11 can be inserted into the closure carrier 2 by a vertical upward movement.

[0033] The closure 11 is inserted into the closure carrier 2 and once inserted is closed by the closure cover 10 to form the closure sterile space 13. In the formed closure sterile space 13, a pre-prepared dose of sterilization medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied via the sterilization medium discharge channel 18 to all surfaces of the closure 11 including the entire surface of the closure sterile space 13 and the sterilization medium discharge channel 19 for the closure.

[0034] After the required sterilization medium exposure time, a pre-prepared dose of activation medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied to the entire area of ​​the closure sterile space 13 and to the entire area of ​​the closure 11 via the closure sterilization medium inlet channel 18. This activation medium is discharged outside the closure sterile space 13 via the closure sterilization medium outlet channel 19.

[0035] The process of inserting and sterilizing the closure 11 begins the process of sealing the container 5 .

[0036] The sealing head 7 seals the container 5 with the closure 11 by a downward movement. After the filled container 5 is sealed, the sealing head 7 closes the aseptic chamber 1. The container carrier 4 pulls the sealed container 5 from the sealing head 7 by a vertical downward movement and moves the container 5 from the C position 62 to the A position 60 by a rotational movement. After this process, the filled and sealed container 5 is replaced with an empty container 5 and a new duty cycle begins.

[0037] If the container 5 is rated as non-compliant in the container 5 primary leak-tightness test or the secondary leak-tightness test, the duty cycle continues at the duty cycle of the non-compliant container.

[0038] By opening the pressure equalization valve 38, the pressure in the sterile space 13 of the closure is equalized with the pressure in the space of the aseptic chamber 1 via the pressure equalization channel 41. The closure carrier 2 moves the closure 11 under the sealing head 7 by a vertical downward movement and a rotational movement.

[0039] The sealing head 7 pushes the closure 11 into the sealing head crown 45 by a vertical downward movement and returns together with the closure 11 to the parking position 53 after a subsequent vertical upward movement. The closure carrier 2 reaches the home position 49 by rotation and vertical upward movement, separating the sterile chamber 1 from the sterile space 13 of the closure, thereby allowing the sealing head 7 to move together with the closure 11 towards the container 5. In the home position 49, the closure carrier 2 separates the space of the sterile chamber 1 from the sterile space 13 of the closure. Furthermore, the closure carrier 2 also separates the space of the sterile chamber 1 from the outside non-sterile space after the closure cover 10 is lifted. The closure cover 10 allows a new closure 11 to be inserted into the closure carrier 2 by a vertical upward movement.

[0040] A new closure 11 is inserted into the closure carrier 2 and, once inserted, closed by the closure cover 10 to form the closure sterile space 13. In the formed closure sterile space 13, a pre-prepared dose of sterilizing medium from the sterilizing and activating medium preparation device 12 is applied via the sterilizing medium discharge channel 18 to all surfaces of the closure 11, including the entire surface of the closure sterile space 13 and the sterilizing medium discharge channel 19 for the closure.

[0041] After the required sterilization medium exposure time, a pre-prepared dose of activation medium from the sterilization and activation medium preparation device 12 is applied to the entire area of ​​the closure sterile space 13 and to the entire area of ​​the closure 11 via the closure sterilization medium inlet channel 18. This activation medium is discharged outside the closure sterile space 13 via the closure sterilization medium outlet channel 19. During the process of inserting and sterilizing the closure 11, the process of sealing the container 5 begins.

[0042] The sealing head 7 seals the container 5 with the closure 11 by a downward movement. After the container 5 is sealed, the sealing head 7 closes the aseptic chamber 1. The container carrier 4 pulls the sealed container 5 from the sealing head 7 by a vertical downward movement and moves the container 5 from C position 62 to A position 60 by a rotational movement. A subsequent vertical upward movement completes the process of sealing the incompatible container. After this process, the unfilled sealed container 5 is replaced with an empty container 5 and a new duty cycle begins. [Industrial Applicability]

[0043] The device and method for aseptic filling of containers according to the invention find particular application in the food and pharmaceutical industries. [Explanation of symbols]

[0044] 1: Sterile chamber 2: Closure carrier 3: Charging arm 4: Container carrier 5: Container 6: Container sterilization station 7: Sealing head 8: Sterile waiting room 9: Power element cabinet 10: Closure cover 11: Closure 12: Sterilization / activation medium preparation equipment 13: Sterile space of the closure 14: Container ring 15: Sterilization medium injection channel for container 16: Sterilization medium discharge channel for containers 17: Container sterilization station space 18: Sterile medium injection channel for closure 19: Sterile medium discharge channel for closure 20: Container activation space 21: Container opening 22: Activation medium injection channel for the vessel 23: Activation medium discharge channel of the vessel 24: Injection activation channel in the sealing head 25: Ejection activation channel in sealing head 26:Activation needle 27: Filling needle 28: Product supply channel 29: Filling valve 30: Suction channel 31: Filling back pressure control channel 32: Suction valve 33: Filling valve rod 34: Filling back pressure control valve 35: Filling arm axis 36: Filling space 37: Sealing surface of container for closure 38: Pressure relief valve 39: Sterile chamber pressure valve 40: Suction shutoff valve 41: Pressure equalizing channel 42: Sealed head shaft 43: Closure carrier axis 44:Product 45: Sealing head crown 46: Sterile chamber pressure gauge 47: Container pressure gauge 48: Position of the filling arm during filling 49: Basic position of closure carrier 50: Basic position of sealing head 51: Position of the filling arm during filling 52: Closure carrier movement position 53: Sealing head parking position 54: Product foam 55: Closure sheet 56: Sealing surface of closure carrier 57: Closure carrier discharge channel 58: Closure carrier arm 59: Closure carrier application channel 60: Position A - Position for loading and unloading containers 61: Position B - Position for sterilization of containers 62: Position C - Position for activating, filling and sealing the container

Claims

1. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: The apparatus comprises the aseptic chamber (1), the filling arm (3), the sealing head (7), the closure carrier (2), the container carrier (4), the container sterilization station (6), the aseptic waiting room (8), the power element cabinet (9), the power element housed in the power element cabinet (9), the closure cover (10), the filling arm shaft (35), the sealing head shaft (42), and the closure carrier shaft (43).

1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

2. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: said sterile chamber (1) together with said sealing head (7) and said closure carrier (2) arranged in a basic position form one common sterile pressure sealed space; 1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

3. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: the filling arm (3) comprises the filling needle (27), the product supply channel (28), the filling valve (29), the suction valve (32), the suction channel (30), the filling back pressure control channel (31), and the filling valve rod (33); All of these are sterile during the duty cycle.

1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

4. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: The sealing head (7) comprises the activation needle (26), an inlet activation channel of the sealing head (24), an outlet activation channel of the sealing head (25), and a crown of the sealing head (45).

1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

5. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: The closure carrier (2) comprises a closure carrier arm (58), a closure carrier sealing surface (56), a closure carrier application channel (59), a closure carrier discharge channel (57), and a closure seat (55).

1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

6. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: the container sterilization station (6) is arranged outside the space of the aseptic chamber (1); 1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

7. 1. An apparatus for the aseptic filling of containers, comprising: the device has an A-position (60) for unloading the containers, a B-position (61) for sterilizing the containers, and a C-position (62) for activating, filling and sealing the containers, the operations at each of the positions being carried out simultaneously and independently of each other; 1. An apparatus for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

8. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: an empty container (5) inserted in said container carrier (4) is transferred to said container sterilization station (6) and a dose of sterilization medium is applied to said container (5); Then, the container (5) is transferred to the container activation space (20), where the container is activated by the sealing head (7) and the required pressure is set in the container (5), The movement of the sealing head (7) to the parking position (53) connects the sterilized container (5) to the space of the aseptic chamber (1), Then, a suction process is performed while the filling arm (3) moves over the container (5), When the filling arm (3) is placed on the neck of the container (5), the tightness of the container (5) is evaluated in the filling space (36) and the container (5) is filled with product (44), The change in pressure caused by lifting the loading arm (3) removes the product residues (44) and compresses the product foam (54), Then, when the filling arm (3) leaves the container (5), the suction process is carried out again, Simultaneously with these processes, sterilization and activation of the closure (11) is carried out in the sterile space of the closure (13), The closure (11) is then removed from the closure carrier (2) by the sealing head (7), The container (5) is sealed by the rotational and vertical movement of the sealing head (7), After the filled container (5) has been sealed, the sealing head (7) closes the sterile chamber (1). A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

9. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: an empty container (5) inserted in said container carrier (4) is transferred to said container sterilization station (6) where a dose of sterilization medium is applied; Then, the container (5) is transferred to the container activation space (20) and the activation medium is applied to the container (5) through the activation needle (26) via the activation medium injection channel (22) and the injection activation channel of the sealing head (24); the activation needle is pushed toward the inside of the container (5) by the pressure of the activation medium, thereby discharging the sterilization medium from the container (5); the sterilization medium is discharged from the container (5) through the discharge activation channel (25) of the sealing head and the activation medium discharge channel (23) for the container outside the activation space (20) of the container and outside the space of the aseptic chamber (1) around the outer wall of the neck (5) of the container, so that the entire volume of the container is filled with the activation medium, the required pressure of the activation space (20) of the container is set to be equal to the pressure in the aseptic chamber (1), and the activation space of the container (20) is sterilized and becomes part of the aseptic chamber (1) by the movement of the sealing head (7); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

10. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: Activation of the vessel (5) is carried out by means of a gaseous activation medium, The activation medium simultaneously serves as a protective atmosphere for the filled product (44). A method for aseptically filling containers comprising the steps of:

11. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: by pulsating the opening and closing of the suction shutoff valve (40) with the suction valve (32) open, sterilization medium residues that may be trapped on the filling needle (27) during sterilization of the aseptic chamber (1) or product residues (44) that may be trapped on the filling needle (27) during filling are extracted by a sudden pressure change via the suction channel (30) and the filling back pressure control channel (31); A method for aseptically filling containers comprising the steps of:

12. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: the filling arm (3) is placed on the neck of the container (5) to seal the container (5) and form a filling space (36) separated from the space of the sterile chamber (1) and the suction valve (32) is closed to evacuate the protective atmosphere medium from the container (5); thereafter, assessing the tightness of the container (5) and the sterile chamber (1) by monitoring the pressure at the container pressure gauge (47) of the filling space (36) and at the sterile chamber pressure gauge (46) when the sterile chamber pressurization valve (39) is closed; Opening of the filling valve (29) starts the filling process and after the required filling amount of the product (44) is achieved, the filling valve (29) closes. A method for aseptically filling containers comprising the steps of:

13. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: by lifting the filling arm (3) over the container (5) and connecting the space of the container (5) having a lower pressure with the sterile space of the chamber (1) having a higher pressure, product residues (44) are removed from the sealing surface (37) of the closure in the container (5) and the product foam (54) is compressed. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

14. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: A closure (11) is inserted into the closure carrier (2) and then closed by a closure cover (10) to form a sterile space (13) for the closure in which sterilization and activation of the closure (11) are performed; Then, after the pressure in the aseptic chamber (1) has been equalized by the sealing head (7), the closure (11) is picked up from the closure carrier (2) and transferred onto the container (5); The container (5) is closed by moving the sealing head (7) downwards. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

15. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: the sterile chamber (1), the loading arm (3), the power element cabinet (9), the power element housed in the power element cabinet, the sterile waiting room (8), the loading arm shaft (35), the sealing head shaft (42) and the closure carrier shaft (43) are sterilized at the initial time and maintained in a constant sterile state by overpressure until the end of the last duty cycle; A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

16. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: The container (5) and the closure (11) are sterilized by application of the sterilization medium, followed by application of the activation medium, outside the aseptic chamber (1); by moving the sealing head (7) vertically to a parking position (53) and by moving the closure carrier (2) vertically downwards, the container (5) and the closure (11) become part of the sterile space of the sterile chamber (1); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

17. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: Only the sterile element, the container (5) and the closure (11) enter the space of the sterile chamber (1); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

18. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: By monitoring the pressure changes in the container (5) and the sterile chamber (1), the device evaluates the tightness of the container (5), the container ring (14), the sealing surface (37) for the closure and the sterile chamber (1) according to the invention. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

19. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: the filling arm (3) separates the sterile chamber (1) from the filling space (36) in a filling position (48) and the filling takes place in the filling space (36) outside the sterile chamber (1); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

20. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: the rate at which the product (44) is filled into the container (5) is controlled by the flow rate of the activation medium forced through the filling back pressure control valve (34); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

21. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: After the filled container (5) has been sealed, the sealing head (7) closes the sterile chamber (1). A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

22. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: The sealing head (7) performing the functions of activating said container (5), sealing said container (5) by means of said closure (11) and sealing said sterile chamber (1); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

23. 1. A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising the steps of: The closure carrier (2) and the closure cover (10) form a common sterile space for the closure (13); The sterilizing medium is applied to the closure (11) in the sterile space; the closure (11) is held in the space by a minimal contact surface between the closure cover (10) and the closure sheet (55), thereby ensuring uniform application of the sterilization medium and the activation medium to the closure (11); A method for aseptic filling of containers, comprising:

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