Drive Actuator Decontamination Box for Aseptic Filling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for aseptic container filling and closing face challenges in maintaining sterility due to indirect sterilization methods and potential contamination from sterilization air flowing into the working zone, especially when drive shafts penetrate the conditioned area frequently.
Innovation Solution
A decontamination box with an outer suction chamber and inner sterilization chamber surrounds the drive shaft, allowing for direct sterilization medium flow along the shaft, with controlled pressure differences to ensure sterilization media are effectively drained and prevent contamination, using an inner inflow gap and outflow gaps to maintain a balanced flow system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a telescopic decontamination box with free flow system is used, then the drive shaft can move in and out of the conditioned zone, but the sterilization medium flows indirectly through the working area first, reducing sterilization effectiveness
Solution Approach 1:
The decontamination box is segmented into two distinct chambers: an inner sterilization chamber and an outer suction chamber. The sterilization chamber is further divided into a first region (for pre-sterilization) and a second region (for maintaining sterility during operation), separated by a partition wall with openings. This segmentation ensures that sterilization medium flows directly through the drive shaft path without contaminating the working area first, resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and structural complexity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If sterilization air flows continuously through the working zone to maintain sterility, then the environment remains clean, but any contamination in the sterilization air will flow into the working zone and contaminate the product
Solution Approach 1:
The partition wall with openings between the first and second regions of the sterilization chamber acts as an intermediary structure. It allows controlled flow of sterilization medium from the first region to the second region, ensuring that only sterilized air reaches the drive shaft path. The outer suction chamber serves as a second intermediary, capturing and removing any potential contaminants before they can reach the conditioned zone, thus maintaining sterility while enabling continuous operation.
3Productivity
If the drive shaft frequently penetrates into and out of the conditioned zone, then the operating system can perform operations efficiently, but maintaining aseptic conditions becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The decontamination box maintains continuous sterilization medium flow through the drive shaft path regardless of the drive shaft's position or speed. The inner sterilization chamber ensures continuous sterilization during both pre-production and production phases, while the outer suction chamber continuously removes contaminants. This continuous action allows the drive shaft to move freely for efficient operation while始终保持 aseptic conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution ensures continuous and reliable sterilization of the drive shaft during both pre-sterilization and production phases, preventing contamination and maintaining aseptic conditions by ensuring all sterilization media are actively flowing along the drive shaft, independent of translation speed, and directing non-sterile media discharge outside the conditioned zone.
Implementation Method 1
A sterilization medium supply is connectable or connected to the sterilization chamber for supplying sterilization medium thereto. At least one outflow gap is provided which connects the sterilization chamber to the suction chamber such that the sterilization medium which is fed into the sterilization chamber is able to flow into the suction chamber
Implementation Method 2
A media discharge is connectable or connected to the suction chamber for discharging media to outside the decontamination box
Data Source
AI summary
A filling/closing device comprises a conditioned zone 2 for performing operations to containers. A drive actuator 11 of an operating system is movable with into and out of the zone. The drive actuator extends through a decontamination box 14 with an outer suction chamber 15 and an inner sterilization chamber 16 is provided. A sterilization medium supply 17 connects to the sterilization chamber, and a discharge 22 connects to the suction chamber. One or more outflow gaps 20, 21 are provided which connect the sterilization to the suction chamber. According to the invention an inner inflow gap 24 is provided in between the suction chamber and the drive actuator which connects the zone to the suction chamber.