EP 0078260 A4 19850218 - APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASEPTICALLY FILLING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS.
Title (en)
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ASEPTICALLY FILLING FLEXIBLE CONTAINERS.
Title (de)
VORRICHTUNG, SOWIE VERFAHREN ZUM ASEPTISCHEN ABFÜLLEN FLEXIBLER BEHÄLTER.
Title (fr)
APPAREIL ET PROCEDE DE REMPLISSAGE ASEPTIQUE DE CONTENEURS FLEXIBLES.
Publication
Application
Priority
US 8100614 W 19810507
Abstract (en)
[origin: WO8203832A1] An apparatus (10) for aseptically filling premanufactured, presterilized, flexible containers (24), connected in a continuous web, includes a chamber (18) with an inlet mouth (19) for receiving empty containers (24) seriatim, and an outlet mouth (21) for dispensing filled containers (24) seriatim. The inlet and outlet mouths (19, 21) have respective seals (64, 66, 67) for sealing to the surface of the containers (24) to prevent entry of contaminants into the chamber (18). This chamber (18) is partitioned to form a spraying compartment (70), adjacent to the inlet mouth (19), and a filling compartment (68), adjacent to the outlet mouth (21), with a drying compartment (72) therebetween. A sterilizing agent (88) is continuously sprayed, as a mist, into the spraying compartment (70) to coat the exterior of the containers (24) with the sterilizing agent (88) as they are serially advanced through the chamber (18). This mist also provides an aseptic barrier between the inlet mouth (19) and the drying compartment (72). A source (76) of sterile air is input to the filling compartment (68) to maintain a positive pressure therein, and thus, prevent entry of contaminants. This heated sterile air flows from the filling compartment (68) to the drying compartment (72) to dry the containers (24) after they have been sprayed. The containers (24) are then advanced to the filling compartment (68) where they are filled and dispensed through the outlet mouth (21). The length of time the empty containers (24) are exposed to the atmosphere, and thus, the amount of contamination on the exterior of the containers (24), may be reduced by utilizing the sealed overwrap bag (120), in which the containers (24) are presterilized, to form a relatively sterile tunnel for feeding the containers (24) to the inlet mouth (19).
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
B65B 55/02 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
B65B 55/022 (2013.01)
Citation (search report)
- [X] FR 1343586 A 19631122 - HAMBART COMPANY
- [A] US 3941306 A 19760302 - WEIKERT ROY J
- [Y] DE 2208069 A1 19730830 - ROBINSON DAVID VINCENT
Designated contracting state (EPC)
AT CH DE FR GB LI LU NL SE
DOCDB simple family (publication)
WO 8203832 A1 19821111; AU 7412081 A 19821207; EP 0078260 A1 19830511; EP 0078260 A4 19850218; IT 1210883 B 19890929; IT 8221139 A0 19820507; JP S58500661 A 19830428
DOCDB simple family (application)
US 8100614 W 19810507; AU 7412081 A 19810507; EP 81901835 A 19810507; IT 2113982 A 19820507; JP 50229781 A 19810507