CSIP-collector with dual docking function

Abstract

An aseptic packaging machine includes a web-shaped packaging material feed, a sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly with a form section 40, a product supply duct, a sterilization medium supply duct, and an exhaust duct. One or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds are connectable to a product inlet connector and a sterilization medium inlet connector. A collector cup 70 is movable relative to the nozzle assembly between an inactive and a docking position. The collector cup delimits one or more interior spaces 71a, 72a designed to, in the docking position, enclose a product outlet portion 4 to collect and/or drain away pre-sterilization media during a pre-sterilization of the nozzle assembly get to flow through and along it, and to also enclose the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and/or exhaust inlet portion 22 in the docking position inside its one or more interior spaces.

Claims

1. An aseptic packaging machine comprising: (a) a web-shaped packaging material feed; (b) at least one sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly that comprises: (i) a form section that has an outer wall, a proximal end and a distal end, which the outer wall is designed to form a packaging tube out of the web-shaped packaging material around the outer wall while the packaging tube moves downstream and while the packaging tube gets sealed along a longitudinal edge; (ii) a product supply duct that extends at least partly through the form section; has a product inlet connector which lies upstream of the distal end of the form section; and has a product outlet portion which lies downstream of the distal end of the form section; (iii) a sterilization medium supply duct that extends at least partly through the form section; has a sterilization medium inlet connector which lies upstream of the distal end of the form section; and has a sterilization medium outlet portion which lies between the distal end of the form section and the product outlet portion; and (iv) an exhaust duct that extends at least partly through the form section; has an exhaust outlet connector which lies upstream of the distal end of the form section; and has an exhaust inlet portion which lies between the distal end of the form section and the product outlet portion, (c) one or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds that is/are connectable to the product inlet connector and the sterilization medium inlet connector; and (d) a collector cup that is movable relative to the nozzle assembly between an inactive position and a docking position, (e) the collector cup delimiting one or more interior spaces that is/are designed to, in the docking position, enclose the product outlet portion to collect and/or drain away pre-sterilization media that during a pre-sterilization of the nozzle assembly get to flow through and along it; and (f) the collector cup designed to enclose at least one of the sterilization medium outlet portion and the exhaust inlet portion in said docking position inside the one or more interior spaces.

2. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the collector cup comprises an operable gripper that is designed to, in the docking position, releasably grip a section of a formed packaging tube that lies along the form section.

3. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the operable gripper comprises opposing arcuate parts that are designed to, in the docking position, together grip around the form section and onto the formed packaging tube.

4. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the operable gripper comprises opposing jaw parts that are designed to, in the docking position, together clamp the sealed longitudinal edge of the formed packaging tube.

5. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 2, wherein the collector cup is movable relative to the nozzle assembly from the docking position towards the inactive position along the product outlet portion and the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or exhaust inlet portion while having the gripper pull the formed packaging tube along with it over the product outlet portion and the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or the exhaust inlet portion.

6. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the collector cup delimits a first and second one of the interior spaces, wherein the first interior space is designed to, in the docking position, enclose the product outlet portion, and wherein the second interior space is designed to, in the docking position, enclose the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or the exhaust inlet portion.

7. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 6, wherein the first interior space is equipped with a first drain, and wherein the second interior space is equipped with a second drain.

8. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 6 wherein the collector cup is provided with a sealing element that is positioned at a transitional wall part of the collector cup that separates the first and second ones of the interior spaces from each other and that is designed to come to lie sealing around and against an outer circumferential wall part of the nozzle assembly that lies between the product outlet portion and the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or the exhaust inlet portion.

9. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization medium outlet portion is enclosed by an inner circumferential wall part of the collector cup that has an inner diameter that is at least 2 times larger than a largest cross-sectional dimension of the sterilization medium outlet portion.

10. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, wherein the sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly further comprises: a gas supply duct that: extends at least partly through the form section; has a gas inlet connector which lies upstream of the distal end of the form section; and has a gas outlet portion which lies between the sterilization medium outlet portion and the product outlet portion; wherein the collector cup is further designed to also enclose the gas outlet portion inside its one or more interior spaces, and wherein the one or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds is/are also connectable to the gas inlet connector.

11. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 10, wherein the gas outlet portion lies upstream adjacent the product outlet portion.

12. The aseptic packaging machine according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization medium outlet portion lies upstream adjacent the gas outlet portion and wherein the exhaust inlet portion lies upstream adjacent the sterilization medium outlet portion.

13. A method for pre-sterilization of an aseptic packaging machine according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: positioning the collector cup into the docking position relative to the nozzle assembly; connecting the one or more pre-sterilization medium supply feeds to the product inlet connector and the sterilization medium inlet connector; having the pre-sterilization medium flow through the product supply duct and via the product outlet portion into the collector cup; and positioning the collector cup into the inactive position relative to the nozzle assembly.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein an operable gripper of the collector cup, after having been positioned in the docking position, releasably grips a section of the formed packaging tube that lies along the form section.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the collector cup during movement from its docking position towards the inactive position, has its gripper pull the formed packaging tube along with the gripper over the product outlet portion and the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or the exhaust inlet portion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention shall be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIGS. 1a, 1b, and 1c show a perspective view and enlarged partial views of an embodiment of a sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly according to the invention;

(3) FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d show a front view and a longitudinal sectional view over the line A of the distal end of FIG. 1b and the proximal end of FIG. 1c;

(4) FIGS. 3-7 show an enlarged partial views of the details A-E in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d;

(5) FIGS. 8-10 show cross-sectional views over the lines F-H in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d;

(6) FIG. 11 shows an aseptic packaging machine including a plurality of the nozzle assemblies;

(7) FIG. 12 schematically shows the sterilizing-filling process during production with the nozzle assembly of FIG. 1; and

(8) FIG. 13 shows a schematic view of a lower part of the sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly of FIGS. 1-10 and a collector cup;

(9) FIGS. 14.1-14.11 show subsequent phases of a cleaning phase, a pre-sterilization phase, and a production phase for the sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly of FIG. 13; and

(10) FIG. 15 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the operable gripper in FIG. 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(11) In FIGS. 1a-10 the sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly comprises a first pipe that has been indicated with the reference numeral 1. A product supply duct 2 is delimited by the first pipe 1. The first pipe 1 extends along an axial direction y and has a central axis. A product inlet connector 3 is provided at a proximal end of the first pipe 1. A product outlet portion 4 is provided at a distal end of the first pipe 1.

(12) The first pipe 1 is enveloped over an intermediate part, that lies in between its product inlet connector 3 and its product outlet portion 4, by a second pipe 7. A gas supply duct 8 is delimited in between the first and second pipe 1, 7. The second pipe 7 also extends along the axial direction y and has the same central axis as the first pipe 1. A gas inlet connector 9 is provided at a proximal end of the second pipe 7. A gas outlet portion 10 is provided at a distal end of the second pipe 7.

(13) The second pipe 7 is enveloped over an intermediate part, that lies in between its gas inlet connector 9 and its gas outlet portion 10, by a third pipe 13. A sterilization medium supply duct 14 is delimited in between the second and third pipe 7, 13. The third pipe 13 also extends along the axial direction y and has the same central axis as the first and second pipe 1, 7. A sterilization medium inlet connector 15 is provided at a proximal end of the third pipe 13. A sterilization medium outlet portion 16 is formed by a distal end of the third pipe 13.

(14) The third pipe 13 is enveloped over an intermediate part, that lies in between its sterilization medium inlet connector 15 and its sterilization medium outlet portion 16, by a fourth pipe 19. An exhaust duct 20 is delimited in between the third and fourth pipes 13, 19.

(15) The fourth pipe 19 also extends along the axial direction y and has the same central axis as the first, second and third pipe 1, 7, 13. An exhaust outlet connector 21 is provided at a proximal end of the fourth pipe 19. An exhaust inlet portion 22 is provided at a distal end of the second pipe 7.

(16) The product inlet connector 3, the gas inlet connector 9, the sterilization medium inlet connector 15 and the exhaust outlet connector 21 are each provided with a connection flange 24-27 for connecting them respectively to a pressurized product supply feed, a pressurized gas supply feed, a pressurized sterilization medium supply feed and a vacuum exhaust drain of an aseptic packaging machine.

(17) The gas inlet connector 9, the sterilization medium inlet connector 15 and the exhaust outlet connector 21 each have their connection flanges 24-27 provided at sideways projecting connector parts 9′, 15′, 21′.

(18) The second pipe 7 is kept centered around the first pipe 1 while leaving free the gas supply duct 8 between them, by means of the gas inlet connector 9 resting with a radially inwardly projecting side wall 30 upon an outer circumferential wall part of the product inlet connector 3 (see FIG. 7), as well as by means of the gas outlet portion 10 resting with a radially inwardly projecting side wall 31 upon an outer circumferential wall part of the product outlet portion 4 (see FIG. 3).

(19) The third pipe 13 is kept centered around the second pipe 7 while leaving free the sterilization medium supply duct 14 between them, by means of the sterilization medium inlet connector 15 resting with a radially inwardly projecting side wall 33 upon an outer circumferential wall part of the gas inlet connector 9 (see FIGS. 1c, 2c, and 2d), as well as by means of a distal end of the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 being fixedly connected to a proximal end of the gas outlet portion 10 (see FIGS. 1b, 2a, and 3).

(20) The fourth pipe 19 is kept centered around the third pipe 13 while leaving free the exhaust duct 20 between them, by means of the exhaust outlet connector 21 resting with a

(21) proximal end upon a distal end of an outer circumferential wall part of the sterilization medium inlet connector 15 (see FIG. 6), as well as by means of the exhaust inlet portion 22 resting with a radially inwardly projecting side wall 37 upon an outer circumferential wall part of the third pipe 13 adjacent a proximal end part of the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 (see FIG. 4).

(22) The outer cylindrical wall of the fourth pipe 19 provides a form section 40 (see FIGS. 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2d, 4, and 5). During operation, a packaging tube out of a web-shaped packaging material is formed around this wall while having the formed packaging tube move downstream, in the axial direction y from a proximal end of the form section 40 where the forming of the packaging tube starts towards a distal end of the form section 40 where the forming of the packaging tube is completed. During the packaging tube-forming process around the form section 40, abutting longitudinal edge parts of the web-shaped packaging material get sealed to each other, for example thermo-sealed by means of a sealer of the packaging machine that is positioned sideways of the form section. The thus formed and sealed longitudinal edge is also referred to as a fin seal. During this forming of the web-shaped packaging material into the tube-shape, a driving force gets exerted onto the packaging material for moving it downstream along the nozzle assembly. This can be done intermittently or continuously at a constant speed.

(23) The product outlet portion 4 here is formed by a cylindrical distal end part of the first pipe 1. The gas outlet portion 10 lies upstream adjacent the product outlet portion 4. The gas outlet portion 10 comprises a plurality of gas outlet holes 44 around its circumference that are directed inclined forward (FIG. 3). In front of the gas outlet holes 44 a circumferential gutter 45 is provided. In front of the gutter 45 a circumferential ridge 46 is provided. Behind the gas outlet holes 44 a cylindrical section 47 is provided that delimits a gas supply chamber 48 that connects the gas supply duct 8 to the gas outlet holes 44. Behind the cylindrical section 47 an air-cushion section 49 is provided. The air-cushion section 49 has a larger diameter than the cylindrical section 47 that in turn has substantially the same diameter as the one at which the gas outlet holes 44 open out. The air-cushion section 49 comprises a plurality of gas guiding grooves 50 (see FIGS. 1b and 3) that extend in the axial direction y.

(24) The sterilization medium outlet portion 16 lies upstream adjacent the gas outlet portion 10 and provides a cylindrical sterilization zone along which a plurality of primary sterilization medium outlet holes 53 are provided that connect to the sterilization medium supply duct 14, see FIG. 2d.

(25) The cylindrical sterilization zone has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the air-cushion section 49. The sterilization medium supply duct 14 also connects to a plurality of secondary sterilization medium outlet holes 54 that are provided around a circumference of a proximal end of the air-cushion section 49 while opening out inside proximal ends of the grooves 50 that are provided therein. Both the primary sterilization medium outlet holes 53 as well as the secondary sterilization medium outlet holes 54 are directed radially outward.

(26) The exhaust inlet portion 22 lies upstream adjacent the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and comprises a plurality of exhaust inlet holes 56 around its circumference that each connect to the exhaust duct 20.

(27) FIG. 11 shows an aseptic packaging machine that is equipped with a number of the nozzle assemblies NA, that are positioned next to each other. For each nozzle assembly NA, the machine comprises web-shaped packaging material feeds WPMF, for example wound around reels, from where webs of the packaging material can get guided towards the respective form sections. The machine further comprises a product supply feed PF, for example a tank, that is filled with sterile product and that is connectable via hoses, pipes or the like, to the product inlet connectors. The machine also comprises a sterilization medium supply feed SMF, for example leading to a tank, that is filled with sterilization medium and that is connectable via hoses, pipes or the like, to the sterilization medium inlet connectors. The machine furthermore comprises a gas supply feed GF, for example leading to a compressor, that is connectable via hoses, pipes or the like, to the gas inlet connectors. And the machine comprises an exhaust drain ED, that is used to subtract sterilization medium and sterile gas, and for example exhaust it to the environment and that is connectable via hoses, pipes or the like, to the exhaust outlet connectors.

(28) At a position sideways of the form sections, a longitudinal sealer LS is provided that is designed to continuously make fin seals to the packaging tubes, for example by having their opposing longitudinal edges getting continuously guided along or through heated portions of the sealer LS for connecting them with each other.

(29) At a position downstream of the nozzle assemblies, a cross-sealer CS is provided that is designed to make cross seals into filled sections of the packaging tubes, for example by having two heated portions of operable press jaws that are positioned at opposing sides of the filled packaging tubes getting pressed towards each other for connecting opposing wall sections of the filled packaging tubes with each other.

(30) Before operation starts, the product outlet portion 4, the gas outlet portion 10, the sterilization medium outlet portion 16, and the exhaust inlet portion 22, get pre-sterilized. This can be done in various ways, for example with or without the formed packaging tube of packaging material already around them.

(31) After the pre-sterilization has been completed, the actual sterilizing-filling process of the packaging tube can be (re)started. This is shown in FIG. 12. Web-shaped packaging material WPM is fed towards the form section 40 and there formed into the packaging tube PT, while having its fin seal formed. Pressurized sterile product starts flowing through the product supply duct and via the outlet opening in the product outlet portion 4 into the packaging tube PT. At a same time pressurized sterile gas (air) starts flowing through the gas supply duct 8 and via the outlet holes in the gas outlet portion 10 into the packaging tube PT at a position above a product interface PI, and pressurized sterilization medium starts flowing through the sterilization medium supply duct and via the outlet holes in the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 into the packaging tube PT at the position above the gas outlet holes. Simultaneously, a vacuum force gets exerted through the exhaust duct and via the exhaust inlet holes in the exhaust inlet portion 22 to the packaging tube's interior at a position above the sterilization medium outlet holes such that used sterilization medium and gas get drained away.

(32) The pressures of the product, gas and sterilization medium, as well as the vacuum force, get tuned relative to each other in such a way that the injected product forms the product interface PI that lies downstream of the gas outlet holes 44, while at a same time the injected gas forms a gas barrier on top of the product interface PI, while overflow of injected gas flows towards the exhaust inlet holes 37 while drying the packaging tube's interior wall and while taking along the injected sterilization medium to also flow towards the exhaust inlet holes 37 while sterilizing the packaging tube's interior walls.

(33) In FIG. 13 a filling zone of the nozzle assembly is shown, that needs to be pre-sterilized before the actual production can begin of continuously starting to fill formed sterilized packaging tubes with sterile product, like a food or pharmaceutical product, in particular a liquid food or pharmaceutical product, as described here above. This filling zone comprises the product outlet portion 4, the gas outlet portion 10, the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the exhaust inlet portion 22.

(34) A collector cup 70 is provided that comprises a first circumferential wall 71 that delimits a first interior space 71a, and a second circumferential wall 72 that delimits a second interior space 72a. The first interior space 71a is configured to enclose the product outlet portion 4 in the docking position that is shown in FIG. 13. The second interior space 72a is configured to enclose the gas outlet portion 10, the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the exhaust inlet portion 22 in the docking position that is shown in FIG. 13.

(35) A sealing element (not shown) can be provided at an upper transitional wall part of the first circumferential wall 71. The upper transitional wall part is designed to come to lie sealing around and against an outer circumferential wall part of a distal end of the gas outlet portion 10, downstream of the gas outlet holes 44 therein.

(36) An operable gripper 75 is provided at an upper wall part of the second circumferential wall 72. The gripper 75 is configured to releasably grip a fin seal of the formed packaging tube that lies along the form section 40. For this the gripper 75 is provided with opposing semi-cylindrical parts that are configured to grip around the form section and onto the formed packaging tube in the docking position that is shown in FIG. 11.

(37) The first interior space 71a is provided at its lower end with a first drain 78 that is connectable via a hose, pipe or the like, to one or more suitable storages, filters or the like for further treatment of one or more types of cleaning and/or pre-sterilization medium that may get used during cleaning and/or pre-sterilization phases. The second interior space 72a is provided at its lower end with a second drain 79 that is connectable via a hose, pipe or the like, to suitable storages, filters or the like for further treatment of one or more types of cleaning and/or pre-sterilization medium that may get used during the cleaning and/or pre-sterilization phases.

(38) The collector cup 70 is movable up and down in the axial direction y relative to the nozzle assembly from the docking position towards an inactive position in which the collector cup 70 has come to lie at a lower position underneath the nozzle assembly where it cannot interfere with the actual production of filling formed sterilized packaging tubes with sterile product and making cross seals into them.

(39) A possible mode of operation for the collector cup 70 and the nozzle assembly during the cleaning and pre-sterilization phases shall now be described with reference to FIG. 14.

(40) In FIG. 14.1 the nozzle assembly is shown ready to be cleaned and pre-sterilized. A free end of a web-shaped packaging material gets fed from a packaging material feed PF and then gets (manually) formed into a tubular shape around the form section 40 while having its longitudinal edge sealed together in order to form a so—called fin seal. This is shown in FIG. 14.2.

(41) Subsequently the collector cup 70 starts to move upwards. During this upward movement the gripper 75 is in an open position such that it has enough play to freely position itself around the free lower end of the formed packaging tube PT that lies along the form section 40. This is shown in FIG. 14.3.

(42) As soon as the upper transitional wall part of the first circumferential wall 71 has come to lie sealing around and against the distal end of the gas outlet portion 10, the docking position is reached. In this docking position, the gripper 75 has come to lie around the free lower end of the packaging tube PT. Furthermore, in this docking position, the collector cup 70 has gotten to enclose the product outlet portion 4 inside the first interior space 71a, while it has gotten to enclose the gas outlet portion 10, the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the exhaust inlet portion 22 inside the second interior space 72a. This is shown in FIG. 14.4.

(43) Subsequently the gripper 75 gets operated to move towards its gripping position in which it firmly grips the fin seal of the formed packaging tube PT. This is shown in FIG. 14.5.

(44) Then the cleaning process gets started during which the product supply duct 2 gets fed with lye and acid, whereas the gas supply duct 8 and the sterilization medium supply duct 14 if deemed necessary may get fed with warm water. The lye and acid then get to flush through and along the product outlet portion 4, before getting drained away by gravitational forces via the first drain 78. The warm water then may get to flush through and along the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the gas outlet portion 10 before getting drained away by gravitational forces via the second drain 79. This is shown in FIG. 14.6.

(45) Then the pre-sterilization process gets started, during a first phase of which the product supply duct 2 gets fed with hot steam, whereas the gas supply duct 8 and the exhaust duct 20 get fed with dry air, and the sterilization medium supply duct 14 gets fed with HPV. The hot steam then gets to flow through and along the product outlet portion 4, before getting drained away via the first drain 78. The dry air and the HPV then get to flow through and along the exhaust inlet portion 22, the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the gas outlet portion 10 before getting drained away via the second drain 79. This is shown in FIG. 14.7.

(46) Then a second phase of the pre-sterilization process gets started, during which the product supply duct 2 gets fed with product, whereas the gas supply duct 8 and the sterilization medium supply duct 14 get fed with HPV. Furthermore the second drain 79 then gets closed and the exhaust duct 20 gets activated by having a suction force exerted onto its exhaust outlet connector. The product then gets to flow out of the product outlet portion 4, before flowing away via the first drain 78. The HPV then gets to flow through and along the gas outlet portion 10 and the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 before getting exhausted via the exhaust inlet portion 22. This is shown in FIG. 14.8.

(47) After a certain period of time that is deemed sufficient for obtaining an aimed degree of pre-sterilization, the collector cup 70 gets moved downwards towards its inactive position.

(48) During this downwards moving the gripper 75 remains in its gripping position. Since the gripper 75 is fixedly connected to the collector cup 70, this causes the collector cup 70 to pull the formed packaging tube PT along with it. During this downward movement while pulling along the packaging tube PT, the product supply duct 2 remains being fed with product, whereas the sterilization medium supply duct 14 remains being fed with HPV, while the gas supply duct 8 gets fed with sterile air. In this way, newly formed packaging tube PT, that starts leaving the form section 40, gets continuously sterilized with HPV and dried with sterile air. This is shown in FIG. 14.9.

(49) As soon as the collector cup 70 has reached its inactive position while having pulled the packaging tube PT over the exhaust inlet portion 22, over the sterilization medium outlet portion 16, over the gas outlet portion 10 as well as over the product outlet portion 4, cross seal heads CS get operated to make a cross seal into the packaging material. This is shown in FIG. 14.10.

(50) From then on the critical filling zone is cleaned and pre-sterilized and can stay sterile. A pre-production cycle can then be started during which a certain number of packaging tubes already get formed, sterilized and filled. Those filled sticks can then be checked and if found well in order, the actual production can be started. This is shown in FIG. 14.11.

(51) The operable gripper 75 can be based upon various principals, like for example one that makes use of vacuum forces that get to act on the outer side of the packaging tube.

(52) Preferably however use is made of a gripper 75 as is shown in FIG. 15. This gripper 75 comprises hingedly connected opposing semi-cylindrical parts 80 that are designed to, in the docking position, together grip around the form section 40 and onto the formed packaging tube PT. Furthermore, this operable gripper 75 comprises opposing jaw parts 81 that are designed to, in the docking position, together clamp the sealed longitudinal edge of the formed packaging tube PT. For operating the gripper 75 to move between its open position and its gripping position, it is provided with operating arms 82. A spring can be provided in between the outer ends of the arms 82 for biasing the gripper 75 either towards its open either towards its gripping position.

(53) Besides the embodiments shown numerous variants are possible. For example the shape, dimensions and choice of materials of the respective parts of the nozzle assembly and collector cup may be changed.

(54) Thus according to the invention collector cups for sterilizer-filler nozzle assemblies are provided with which new but, if desired also already existing aseptic packaging machines can easily and quickly be equipped.

(55) While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.