METHOD AND INSTALLATION FOR MANUFACTURING AND TREATING STERILE PLASTIC CONTAINERS

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and an plant for the production and treatment of sterile plastic containers, in which preforms made of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating section and then formed into containers by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and wherein the preforms or the containers or both are sterilized and pass through at least one low-germ zone which is surrounded by an enclosure, characterized in that the enclosure 2, 2′ has an outer housing 3, 3′ and an airlock chamber 4, 4′ through which treatment medium is extracted from the low-germ zone 1, 1′ and at the same time air is extracted from the outer environment of the outer housing 3, 3′.

Claims

1. A method for producing and treating sterile plastic containers, in which preforms made of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating section and then formed into containers by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and wherein the preforms or the containers or both are sterilized and pass through at least one low-germ zone which is surrounded by an enclosure, characterized in that the enclosure has an outer housing and an airlock chamber through which treatment medium is extracted from the low-germ zone and at the same time air is extracted from the outer environment of the outer housing.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the airlock chamber js formed between the outer housing and an inner housing of the enclosure.

3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the airlock chamber js formed at the lower end of the outer housing by a channel.

4. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the airlock chamber has a downwardly directed suction opening.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that a gaseous treatment medium is sterilized via a filter device and then passed into the low-germ zone.

6. A plant for the production and treatment of sterile plastic containers, in which preforms of a thermoplastic material are heated in the region of a heating section and then formed into containers by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, and wherein the preforms or the containers or both are sterilized and pass through at least one low-germ zone which is surrounded by an enclosure, characterized in that the enclosure has an outer housing and an airlock chamber with a suction opening positioned in such a way that a suction device, which is connected to the airlock chamber, can extract treatment medium from the low-germ zone and at the same time the suction device can extract air from the outer environment of the outer housing through the airlock chamber.

7. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the airlock chamber js formed between the outer housing and an inner housing.

8. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the airlock chamber js formed at the lower end of the outer housing by a channel.

9. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the plant has a filter device via which a gaseous treatment medium is sterilized and then conveyed into the low-germ zone.

10. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that the suction opening of the airlock chamber is directed downwards towards an installation surface (11).

11. The plant according to claim 6, characterized in that one or more treatment stations for treating the preforms and/or the plastic containers are accommodated in the low-germ zone.

Description

[0037] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of two enclosures 2, 2′, each with an airlock chamber 4, 4′ between outer housing 3, 3′ and inner housing 5, 5′ and

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of two enclosures 2, 2′ each with an airlock chamber 4, 4′ in the form of a channel 7, 7′ at the lower end 6, 6′ of the outer enclosure 3, 3′.

[0040] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0041] FIG. 1 shows two enclosures 2, 2′ each with an airlock chamber 4, 4′ between outer housing 3, 3′ and inner housing 5, 5′, which is formed here between all four vertical sides of outer and inner housing 3, 3′, 5, 5′. The enclosures 2, 2′ each surround a low-germ zone 1, 1′. The first low-germ zone 1 houses a sterilization device, and the second low-germ zone 1′ houses a fill device. Since, in principle, sterilization and fill equipment and their design is known, they are not described in detail.

[0042] After sterilization, the containers can be fed to a drying station having as known design. Such a drying station can be located in the same enclosure 2 as the sterilization equipment. The sterile containers can be transported from a drying station to the fill device. Depending on the equipment being accommodated in the low-germ zone 1, 1′, the enclosure 2, 2′ can have individual or several extensions 18 to prevent the total volume of the low-germ zone 1, 1′ from becoming too large overall.

[0043] The walls 15, 15′, 16, 16′ and ceilings 17, 17′, 18, 18′ of outer and inner housings 3, 3′, 5, 5′ may be made of metal or plastic, for example stainless steel or acrylic glass. In addition, the walls 15, 15′, 16, 16′ and ceilings 17, 17′, 18, 18′ may also incorporate shut-off devices such as doors, flaps, roller blinds and the like to allow access to machines and containers, for example for maintenance purposes or in the event of production interruptions.

[0044] In the embodiment shown, the entire enclosure 2, 2′ is placed on an installation surface 11 using feet 20, 20′, 21, 21′. Outer and inner housings 3, 3′, 5, 5′ are spaced from the installation surface 11 and form a circumferential airlock chamber 4, 4′ which extends upwards to the ceiling 17, 17′ of the outer housing 3, 3′ and is open downwards, towards the installation surface 11. This opening represents the suction opening 8, 8′, through which treatment medium from the low-germ zone 1, 1′ and at the same time air from the outer environment of the outer housing 3, 3′ can enter the airlock chamber 4, 4′ and can be extracted. The arrows illustrate the flow path. The installation surface 11 is preferably the floor of the installation location. It is also conceivable to use a base plate which at least partially forms the installation surface 11.

[0045] An extraction of treatment medium and air through the airlock chamber 4, 4′ takes place by a suction device 10, 10′, which has an extraction pump 13, 13′ and which is arranged at the upper end 12, 12′ of the airlock chamber 4, 4′.

[0046] FIG. 2 also shows two enclosures 2, 2′ each with an airlock chamber 4, 4′. In this embodiment example, the airlock chamber 4, 4′ is formed at the lower end 6, 6′ of the outer housing 3, 3′ by a channel 7, 7′. The channel 7, 7′ is closed towards the low-germ zone 1, 1′, and open towards the bottom, towards the installation surface 11. As in the embodiment example according to FIG. 1, treatment medium from the low-germ zone 1, 1′ and at the same time air from the outer environment of the outer housing 3, 3′ can enter the airlock chamber 4, 4′ through the suction opening 8, 8′ and can be extracted. A suction device 10, 10′ with extraction pump 13, 13′ is arranged laterally on the outer housing 3, 3′ or the channel 7, 7′. However, suction can be provided from the top of the channel 7, 7′ via appropriate suction lines through the enclosures 2, 2′.

[0047] In both embodiment examples according to FIGS. 1 and 2, a filter device 9, 9′ is provided, via which a gaseous treatment medium can be sterilized and subsequently conveyed into the low-germ zone 1, 1′ by a pump 21, 21′. Depending on the type of treatment device present in the low-germ zone 1, 1′, the sterile air can be introduced in a distributed manner via several inlet openings in the ceiling 17, 17′, 18, 18′ of the outer housing 3, 3′ or of the inner housing 5, 5′ to generate a displacement flow adapted to the respective treatment device.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0048] 1, 1′ low-germ zone

[0049] 2, 2′ enclosure

[0050] 3, 3′ outer housing

[0051] 4, 4′ airlock room

[0052] 5, 5′ inner housing

[0053] 6, 6′ End

[0054] 7, 7′ Channel

[0055] 8, 8′ Suction opening

[0056] 9, 9′ Filter device

[0057] 10, 10′ Suction device

[0058] 11 Installation surface

[0059] 12, 12′ End

[0060] 13, 13′ Extraction pump

[0061] 14 Extension

[0062] 15, 15′ Wall

[0063] 16, 16′ Wall

[0064] 17, 17′ Ceiling

[0065] 18, 18′ Ceiling

[0066] 19, 19′ Foot

[0067] 20, 20′ Foot

[0068] 21, 21′ Pump