Supply unit for the selective supply of a sterilizing material

Abstract

It is described a supply unit (1) for supplying a sterilizing material selectively to a caps sterilizer (3) or to a filter sterilization circuit (2) for sterilizing a filtering device (5), comprising: a first input line (11) for supplying a sterilization agent; a second input line (12) for supplying an atomizing fluid for atomizing the sterilization agent, so that a mixture is defined comprising the sterilization agent and the atomizing fluid; a third input line (15) for supplying a carrier gas, so that the carrier gas is mixed with said mixture to define said material which comprises the mixture and the carrier gas; an output circuit (16) for selectively direct said material to said caps sterilizer (3) or to said sterilization circuit (2).

Description

SUPPLY UNIT FOR THE SELECTIVE SUPPLY OF A STERILIZING MATERIAL

[0001] The present invention pertains to a supply unit for supplying a sterilizing material selectively to a caps sterilizer or to a filter sterilization circuit, which leads to a better exploitation of the available space within an aseptic filling and capping machine.

[0002] It is known, in the field of packaging pourable products by means of containers, to use aseptic filling and capping machines for filling the containers with the pourable product under aseptic conditions, and for capping the filled containers under said aseptic conditions.

[0003] To protect the aseptic environment, usually the aseptic filling and capping machine comprises a system for introducing sterile air in the aseptic environment, which comprises at least one sterile filter which needs to be sterilized. To this end, the filling and capping machine comprises a sterilization circuit which is configured for sterilizing the filter by means of a sterilizing mixture comprising air vapour and hydrogen peroxide.

[0004] The aseptic filling and capping machine comprises also a caps sterilizer which is configured for sterilizing caps by means of said mixture. Therefore, the mixture needs to be supplied to the filter sterilization circuit during a sterilization mode of the machine and to the caps sterilizer during a production mode of the machine.

[0005] The requirement of the mixture being supplied in terms of flow rate, temperature, and titration can vary between the sterilization mode and the production mode. Therefore, two different supply units are used which fulfils the different requirements. Each of the units cannot be modulated and works only in a working point.

[0006] A supply unit according to present description or according to any of the appended unit claims presents an improved flexibility in order to be configured for optimizing the use of the available space within a filling and capping machine, to reduce the mechanical complexity and therefore also lower the costs of production and / or operation.

[0007] A filling and capping machine according to present description or according to any of the appended machine claims comprises a supply unit according to present description or according to any of the appended unit claims.

[0008] The following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention will be referred to a possible example embodiment of a supply unit according to present description and a possible example embodiment of a filling and capping machine according to present description.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The following detailed description will be referred to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] is a layout of the filling and capping machine;

[0011] is a layout of the unit.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] The filling and capping machine 10 is configured for filling and capping containers, and comprises an housing 4 defining an environment 41 which is in a controlled condition. The environment 41 can be for example sterile or aseptic or ultraclean. The filling and capping machine 10 may be for example an aseptic or ultraclean filling and capping machine 10.

[0013] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a caps sterilizer 3.

[0014] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a filtering device 5 for filtering sterile air which is introduced in said environment 41. The filtering device 5 comprises for example at least one sterile filter. The filtering device 5 comprises for example two sterile filters, which are indicated with 51 in.

[0015] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a sterilization circuit 2 for sterilizing said filtering device 5.

[0016] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a supply unit 1 for supplying a sterilizing material selectively to a caps sterilizer 3 or to said sterilization circuit 2.

[0017] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a filling machine 101 for filling the containers with the pourable product.

[0018] The filling and capping machine 10 comprises a capping machine 102 for capping the filled containers.

[0019] The containers are for example bottles, which can be plastic bottles or glass battles. The containers may be alternatively jars or cans or kegs or another type of container.

[0020] The pourable product can be for example a food product, like for example water.

[0021] The main pourable product may for example a pourable food product such as water, milk, beer, wine, soft drinks, juice, another type of beverage, or similar.

[0022] The pourable product may be for example a carbonated beverage or a not carbonated beverage. The main pourable product may be for example a high acid food product or a low acid food product.

[0023] The product may be, alternatively, a product for home or personal care.

[0024] The filling and capping machine 10 is configured for operating selectively in a production mode or in a sterilization mode. In the production mode, the containers are being filled and capped. In a sterilization mode, at least said filtering device 5 is being sterilized. The machine 10 comprises an automatic control unit 6 which is configured so that the supply unit 1 supplies the sterilizing material to the caps sterilizer 3 in the production mode or to the sterilization circuit 2 in the sterilization mode. The automatic control unit 6 can work for example based also on input of an operator, who can select the production mode or the sterilization mode.

[0025] The supply unit 1 comprises a first input line 11 for supplying a sterilization agent. The sterilization agent is hydrogen peroxide.

[0026] The supply unit comprises a second input line 12 for supplying an atomizing fluid, so that a mixture is defined which comprises the sterilization agent and the atomizing fluid. The atomizing fluid is air.

[0027] The supply unit 1 comprises a third input line 15 for supplying a carrier gas, so that the carrier gas is mixed with said mixture to define the sterilizing material comprising the mixture and the carrier gas.

[0028] The supply unit 1 comprises an output circuit 16 for selectively direct the sterilizing material to the caps sterilizer 3 or to the sterilization circuit 2.

[0029] In this way the supply unit 1 can provide the sterilizing material both to the caps sterilizer 3 and to the sterilization circuit 2, to allow a simplification of the mechanical configuration of the filling and capping machine 10.

[0030] The unit 1 comprises a first flow regulator, to regulate the flow of said agent along said first line 11.

[0031] In this way the flow rate can be adapted for the specific mode in which the machine 1 is operating. The flexibility of the unit 1 is therefore improved.

[0032] The unit 1 comprises a second flow regulator, to regulate the flow of the atomizing fluid along said second line 12.

[0033] The titration of the sterilizing mixture can therefore be varied depending on the specific mode in which the filling and capping machine 10 is operating.

[0034] The first flow regulator can comprise a respective first modulating valve 111 and a respective first flow rate detector 112.

[0035] The second flow regulator can comprise a respective second modulating valve 121 and a respective second flow rate detector 122.

[0036] In this way the unit 1 can define a modulating supply unit, which can adapt the flow of the agent and of the atomizing fluid depending on the specific circumstances and on mode in which the filling and capping machine 10 is operating.

[0037] The unit 1 comprises a first temperature influencing device 163 for regulating the temperature of the material, before the material is directed selectively to the sterilization circuit 2 or to the caps sterilizer 3.In this way the temperature of the sterilizing mixture can be influenced depending on whether the mixture is to be supplied to the caps sterilizer 3 or to the sterilization circuit 2.

[0038] The first temperature influencing device 163 is a vaporizer for vaporizing said material.

[0039] In this way the sterilizing mixture can comprise vapour of hydrogen peroxide.

[0040] The unit 1 comprises a second temperature influencing device 153 for influencing the temperature of said carrier gas before the carrier gas is mixed with said mixture.

[0041] In this way the final thermal effect in the final first temperature influencing device 163 can be finer and / or more accurate, because the temperature of the carrier gas has been already at least in part influenced. Moreover, with this two steps temperature control phase, there is globally less degradation of the sterilization agent due to the heating effect, because the carrier gas is already heated before the final thermal effect in the first influencing device 163. Therefore, the supply unit 1 has an increased flexibility without impacting on the efficacy of the sterilizing mixture. In this way, there is an optimization of the efficiency and of the flexibility of the supply unit 1, and a better use of the available space where the capping and filling machine is located.

[0042] The first temperature influencing device 163 can be a first temperature regulator, for regulating the temperature of the material, before the material is directed selectively to the sterilization circuit 2 or to the caps sterilizer 3. The second temperature influencing device 153 can be a second temperature regulator, for regulating the temperature of the carrier gas before the carrier gas is mixed with said mixture.

[0043] Each temperature influencing device comprises a respective heater for regulating the respective temperature by heating.

[0044] The heating of the carrier gas by the second temperature influencing device 153 helps the vaporization in the first temperature influencing device 163, in particular helping the first temperature influencing 163 device to reach the correct vaporization enthalpy.

[0045] The unit 1 comprises a third flow regulator for regulating the flow rate of the carrier gas. In this way, also the flow rate of the carrier gas can be adapted to increase the flexibility of the unit 1 with respect to the specific working mode of the same unit 1.

[0046] The third flow regulator can comprise a respective third modulating valve 151 and a respective third flow rate detector 152.

[0047] The unit 1 comprises an atomizer 13 for atomizing the sterilizing mixture before it is mixed with the carrier gas.

[0048] The unit 1 comprises a mixer 14 for mixing the sterilizing mixture and the carrier gas.

[0049] The output circuit 16 may comprise a second output line 162 for supplying the material to the caps sterilizer 3 and a first output line 161 for supplying the material to the sterilization circuit 2. The output circuit 16 may comprise at least one valve 164 to select one of the output lines depending on the mode in which the filling and capping machine is operating.

[0050] The unit 1 can define a modulating VHP system that allows to use vapour of hydrogen peroxide to sterilize the caps during the production mode, and the air filtering device 5 during the sterilization mode.

[0051] The number of components is reduced, reducing the cost of the complete equipment.

[0052] Also the complexity of the global piping system for the circulation of the hydrogen peroxide is reduced.

[0053] Moreover, the probability of hydrogen peroxide degradation is reduced, as the sterilization agent can be used more continuously.

Claims

Supply unit (1) for supplying a sterilizing material selectively to a caps sterilizer (3) or to a sterilization circuit (2) for sterilizing a filtering device (5), comprising:a first input line (11) for supplying a fluid sterilization agent, which is preferably a liquid;a second input line (12) for supplying an atomizing fluid for atomizing the sterilization agent, so that a mixture is defined comprising the sterilization agent and the atomizing fluid;a third input line (15) for supplying a carrier gas, so that the carrier gas is mixed with said mixture to define said material which comprises the mixture and the carrier gas;an output circuit (16) for selectively direct said material to said caps sterilizer (3) or to said sterilization circuit (2).Supply unit (1) according to Claim 1, comprising:a first flow regulator (111, 112) to regulate the flow of said agent along said first line (11);a second flow regulator (121, 122) to regulate the flow of said atomizing fluid along said second line (12).Supply unit (1) according to Claim 2, comprising a first temperature influencing device (163) for influencing the temperature of said material, before the material is directed selectively to the sterilization circuit (2) or to the caps sterilizer (3), said temperature influencing device (163) being preferably a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of said material.Supply unit (1) according to Claim 3, wherein said first temperature influencing device (163) is a vaporizer for vaporizing said material.Supply unit (1) according to Claim 3 or 4, comprising a second temperature influencing device (153) for influencing the temperature of said carrier gas before it is mixed with said mixture, said second temperature influencing device (153) being preferably a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of said carrier gas.Supply unit (1) according to Claim 4 or 5, wherein each temperature influencing device comprises a heater for regulating the respective temperature by heating.Supply unit (1) according to any of Claims from 2 to 6, comprising a third flow regulator (151, 152) for regulating the flow rate of said carrier gas.Supply unit (1) according to Claim 2 or 7, wherein each flow regulator comprises a respective modulating valve (111; 121) and a respective flow rate detector (112; 122).Supply unit (1) according to any of the previous Claims, comprising an atomizer (13) for atomizing said mixture before it is mixed with said carrier gas to define said material.Supply unit (1) according to any of the previous Claims, comprising a mixer (14) for mixing said mixture and said carrier gas to define said material.Supply unit (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein:the sterilization agent is hydrogen peroxide;the atomizing fluid is air, so that the sterilizing mixture comprises vapour of hydrogen peroxide.Filling and capping machine (10) for filling and capping containers, comprising:a housing (4) defining an environment (41) which is in a controlled condition, for example in an aseptic and / or sterile condition;a caps sterilizer (3) which is located in said environment (41);a filtering device (5) for filtering sterile air which is introduced in said environment (41);a sterilization circuit (2) for sterilizing said filtering device (5);a unit (1) as claimed in any of the previous claims.Filling and capping machine (10) according to Claim 12, comprising:a filling machine (101) for filling the containers with the pourable product, which is located in said environment (41);a capping machine (102) for capping the filled containers, which is located in said environment (41).Filling machine (10) according to Claim 13, configured for operating selectively in a production mode during which the containers are filled and capped or in a sterilization mode during which at least said filtering device (5) is sterilized, and comprising an automatic control unit (6) which is configured so that the supply unit (1) supplies the mixture to the caps sterilizer (3) in the production mode or to the sterilization circuit (2) in the sterilization mode.

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