STICK FILLER PIPE WITH INTEGRAL STERILIZATION

Abstract

A sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly for an aseptic packaging machine comprises a form section 40, a product supply duct that has a product outlet portion 4 which lies downstream of a distal end of the form section 40, a sterilization medium supply duct that has a sterilization medium outlet portion 16 which lies between the distal end of the form section 40 and the product outlet portion 4, and an exhaust duct that has an exhaust inlet portion 22 which lies between the distal end of the form section 40 and the product outlet portion 4. A gas supply duct is provided that has a gas outlet portion 10 which lies between the sterilization medium outlet portion 16 and the product outlet portion 4.

Claims

1. A sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly for an aseptic packaging machine, which assembly comprises: (a) a form section that has an outer wall, a proximal and a distal end, which outer wall is designed to form a packaging tube out of a 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; (b) 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; (c) 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; (d) 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; and (e) 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.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlet portion lies upstream adjacent the product outlet portion.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, 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.

4. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein the exhaust inlet portion lies upstream adjacent the gas outlet portion and wherein the sterilization medium outlet portion lies upstream adjacent the exhaust inlet portion.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the gas outlet portion envelops a part of the product supply duct and comprises a plurality of gas outlet holes around its circumference that each connect to the gas supply duct.

6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the gas outlet holes are directed inclined forward.

7. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the gas outlet portion comprises a circumferential gutter which lies downstream of the gas outlet holes and into which the gas outlet holes open out, and wherein the gas outlet portion comprises a circumferential ridge which lies downstream of the circumferential gutter and that has a diameter that is larger than a diameter at which the gas outlet holes open out into the gutter.

8. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein the gas outlet portion comprises an air-cushion section which lies upstream of the gas outlet holes, wherein the air-cushion section has a diameter that is larger than a diameter at which the gas outlet holes open out.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the air-cushion section comprises a plurality of gas guiding grooves that extend away from the gas outlet holes towards the exhaust inlet portion.

10. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein the exhaust inlet portion envelops a part of the gas supply duct or sterilization medium supply duct, and comprises a plurality of exhaust inlet holes around its circumference that each connect to the exhaust duct.

11. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the sterilization medium outlet portion envelops a part of the gas supply duct or exhaust duct, and comprises a plurality of sterilization medium outlet holes around its circumference and/or along its length that each connect to the sterilization medium supply duct.

12. The assembly according to claim 11, wherein the sterilization medium outlet portion comprises a sterilization zone which lies downstream of the air-cushion section and which has a diameter that is smaller than the diameter of the air-cushion section.

13. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the exhaust inlet portion envelops a part of the gas supply duct or sterilization medium supply duct, and comprises a plurality of exhaust inlet holes around its circumference that each connect to the exhaust duct.

14. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the form section, the product outlet portion, the gas outlet portion, the sterilization medium outlet portion and/or the exhaust inlet portion are coaxial relative to each other.

15. The assembly according to claim 13, wherein at least parts of the product supply duct, the gas supply duct, the sterilization medium supply duct and the exhaust duct are delimited by first, second, third and fourth pipes that envelop each other over parts of their lengths while leaving free their distal outlet and inlet portions.

16. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the fourth pipe defines the outer wall of the form section.

17. The assembly according to claim 15, wherein the first pipe lies in a center of the assembly while delimiting the product supply duct; the second pipe envelops part of the length of the first pipe while delimiting the gas supply duct there between; the third pipe envelops part of the length of the second pipe while delimiting the sterilization medium supply duct or the exhaust duct there between; and the fourth pipe envelops part of the length of the third pipe while delimiting the other one of the sterilization medium supply duct and the exhaust duct there between.

18. An aseptic packaging machine comprising: one or more sterilizer-filler nozzle assemblies according to claim 1; a web-shaped packaging material feed; a product supply feed that is connectable to the product inlet connector; a sterilization medium supply feed that is connectable to the sterilization medium inlet connector; a gas supply feed that is connectable to the gas inlet connector; and an exhaust drain that is connectable to the exhaust outlet connector.

19. A method for using an aseptic packaging machine according to claim 18, comprising the steps of: pre-sterilization of the product outlet portion, the gas outlet portion, the sterilization medium outlet portion, and the exhaust inlet portion; forming of a packaging tube around the form section; having sterile product flow through the product supply duct and via the product outlet portion into the packaging tube; having sterile gas flow through the gas supply duct and via the gas outlet portion into the packaging tube at a position above the product outlet portion; having sterilization medium flow through the sterilization medium supply duct and via the sterilization medium outlet portion into the packaging tube at a position above the gas outlet portion; and having a vacuum force exerted via the exhaust duct and via the exhaust inlet portion into the packaging tube at a position above the gas outlet portion.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become more readily appreciated as the same become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0058] The invention shall be explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0059] 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;

[0060] 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;

[0061] FIGS. 3-7 show an enlarged partial views of the details A-E in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d;

[0062] FIGS. 8-10 show cross-sectional views over the lines F-H in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 2d;

[0063] FIG. 11 shows an aseptic packaging machine including a plurality of the nozzle assemblies;

[0064] FIG. 12 schematically shows the sterilizing-filling process during production with the nozzle assembly of FIG. 1; and

[0065] FIGS. 13a, 13b show a schematic perspective and a cross sectional view of another embodiment of a sterilizer-filler nozzle assembly according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] 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.

[0067] 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.

[0068] 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.

[0069] 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 pipe 13, 19.

[0070] 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.

[0071] 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.

[0072] 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.

[0073] 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).

[0074] 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. 2a, 2b, 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 FIG. 3).

[0075] 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 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).

[0076] The outer cylindrical wall of the fourth pipe 19 provides a form section 40 (see FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c, and 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.

[0077] 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. 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 2 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 FIG. 1) that extend in the axial direction y.

[0078] 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. 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.

[0079] 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.

[0080] 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.

[0081] 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.

[0082] 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.

[0083] 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.

[0084] 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.

[0085] 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.

[0086] In FIGS. 13a and 13b, a variant is shown in which a product supply duct 60 is delimited in a center of a thick walled cylindrical housing 61 that at its lower end terminates into a droplet-shaped product outlet portion 62. Inside the product supply duct 60 an operable valve 63 is provided.

[0087] Upstream adjacent the product outlet portion 62 a gas outlet portion is provided. This gas outlet portion comprises a circumferential gutter 65 inside which gas outlet holes 66 are provided that connect to gas supply ducts 67 that extend in the axial direction through the housing 61 parallel to the product supply duct 60.

[0088] Upstream adjacent the gas outlet portion an exhaust inlet portion is provided. This exhaust inlet portion comprises a circumferential gutter 70 inside which exhaust inlet holes 71 are provided that connect to exhaust ducts 72 that extend in the axial direction through the housing 61 parallel to the product supply duct 60.

[0089] Upstream adjacent the exhaust inlet portion a sterilization medium outlet portion is provided. This sterilization medium outlet portion comprises two spaced circumferential gutters 76 inside which sterilization medium outlet holes 77 are provided that connect to sterilization medium supply ducts 78 that extend in the axial direction through the housing 61 parallel to the product supply duct 60.

[0090] The cylindrical housing 61 is provided with guiding grooves 80 that extend in the axial direction between the respective gutters 65, 71, 76. Those grooves serve the purpose of having gas that gets injected via the gas outlet holes 66 as well as sterilization medium that gets injected via the sterilization medium outlet holes 77 perform an air-cushioning effect onto a formed packaging tube that gets moved downwards along the housing 61.

[0091] A form section 85 is provided along an upper part of the cylindrical housing 61 (of which form section merely a lower distal part is shown).

[0092] During operation, in this embodiment also, pressurized sterile product may start flowing through the product supply duct 60 and via the product outlet portion 62 into a packaging tube immediately after this packaging tube has been formed around the form section 85. At a same time pressurized sterile gas may start flowing through the gas supply ducts 67 and via the gas outlet holes 66 into the packaging tube at a position above the product interface, and pressurized sterilization medium may start flowing through the sterilization medium supply ducts 78 and via the sterilization medium outlet holes 77 into the packaging tube at the position above the gas outlet holes 66. Simultaneously, a vacuum force gets exerted to the packaging tube's interior via the exhaust inlet holes 71 at a position in between the gas outlet holes 66 and the sterilization medium outlet holes 77.

[0093] The pressures of the product, gas and sterilization medium, as well as the vacuum force, now get tuned relative to each other in such a way that the injected product forms a product interface that lies downstream of the gas outlet holes 66, while at a same time the injected gas forms a gas barrier on top of the product interface, while overflow of injected gas flows upwards towards the exhaust inlet holes while drying the wetted packaging tube's interior wall and while the injected sterilization medium flows downwards towards the exhaust inlet holes while sterilizing the packaging tube's interior walls.

[0094] 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 may be changed.

[0095] Thus according to the invention sterilizer-filler nozzle assemblies are provided with which new but, if desired also already existing aseptic packaging machines can easily and quickly be equipped.

[0096] 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.